Trick or Treat!

I'm ready...

Punkin's ready...

Let the treats begin!

A Kitty Kind of Day

Thanks, Gabbie!

The weather has turned nice again in Portland, and Gabbie came over to play yesterday. And... she brought presents!

A new Evil Orange Cuz
And SWEET POTATO CHIPS!
They played Chase Charlie with the Cuz...
...and Chase Gabbie with it. Back and forth.

Occasionally, a Cuz extraction was required.
But good humor reigned, and the two had a great time!
Thanks, Gabbie!

Name Game

Charlie's friends have done a great job of cheering him up!

Now he's going to try to make his kitty friend, Baby Mao, smile with the name game:

• YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (favorite stuffie + tail characteristic)
  Squirrel Wag
  
  
• YOUR GANGSTER NAME: (favorite toy-filler + favorite cookie)
  Air Chops
  
  
• YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color + favorite animal species)
  Golden Kitty
  
  
• YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name + first 2 letters of your first name)
  Cha-In
  
  
• SUPERHERO NAME: (“The” + 2nd favorite color + favorite drink)
  The Black Water
  
  
• STRIPPER NAME: (your favorite scent + favorite treat)
  Cat Food Twistie
  
  
• SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday + favorite flower)
  Thanksgiving Tulips
  
  
• CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit + article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
  Apple Tags
  
  
• HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast + your favorite plant)
  Kibble Anything Teeth Can Reach
  
  
• YOUR ROCK STAR TOUR NAME: (“The” + Your favorite hobby + favorite weather element + “Tour”)
  The Chase Charlie Snow Tour

Now you dogs & cats and hammmies do it, too!

Post-birthday letdown

The walks are walked, the games played, plates licked, the candles eaten. Now we resume Charlie's regular program, already in progress...

Three Wonderful Years of Charlie

Today, October 16, is Charlie's third birthday.



As a puppy, Charlie was a truly devilish little angel. He was perfect in so many ways - never had accidents, never rarely chewed on anything in the house except his own toys and beds. Yet he had razor-sharp puppy teeth and reveled in using them... inside on toys and dog beds, outside on plants and sticks... and anytime on his people. And he had a stubborn streak that, when combined with those teeth, was formidable! "Charlie won't let himself be toweled dry? No problem, wet dog sounds fine with me. Charlie won't go any farther on his walk? Hey, guess we'll just sit here a while."

The only thing that got us through those early days (and, frankly, some of the later ones) was food. Any food, any time. Want dinner in peace? Time for a rawhide chew. Want to clip his nails? No problem with a helper to feed him tidbits. Want him back in the house? "Puppy treats! Come get a puppy treat!"

Now that he's growing up, Charlie is mellowing a bit. He'll allow himself to be toweled without chewing on the toweler. I can sometimes almost clip his nails myself. And he rarely tries to play doggy-rough with me anymore. But to get him back in the house... well, fortunately that "Puppy treats!" trick still works. Usually.

Happy Birthday, Charlie -- it's still fun working out who rules whom!

Charlie at 10 days

1 month old

2 months old

Charlie at 3 months

4 months

Catching treats at 5 months

6 months

Charlie at 1 year

Charlie at 2 years

Charlie on his 3rd birthday

Happy Birthday Big Guy! We love you!

And, p.s. Happy Birthday to Charlie's sister Sophie in Indiana, too!

For Freda

Like Thor, Charlie wants to give this award to one of his very first dog blogger friends -- Freda.We heart your blog, Freda!

Obrigado Thor!

That means "Thanks Thor," and I say it because my friend Thor, who lives in Brazil and just turned one year old, gave me this:

He's a golden retriever, just like me... and his birthday is in October, just like me... and he barks Portuguese, just like... well with Babelfish I can read Portuguese. So maybe we're not quite twins... 'cause he's only 1 year old and I'm almost 3. But we're good friends!

Thanks again, Thor. I'm honored!

Charlie - Live from Carnivore Hall!

A couple of weeks ago I reported how Charlie demands to sing every night. After dinner, he climbs up on my lap to signal it's time. Then he joins in a rousing family sing, the "woooos" being his favorite part. Tonight we caught him on video:



Charlie hopes that Sophie's band Blind Squirrel Rum (9/27/2007) thinks he's good enough to join.

Rain Dog

Our winter rains have started early this year.

Fortunately for me, Charlie seems to have decided that being toweled dry no longer requires biting the toweler.

Fishing with Squirrels

Yesterday, Gabbie came over to play and brought her favorite squirrel toy. The thing is like a fishing pole with a stuffed squirrel tied to the end of the line, and it's really awe-inspiring to watch Gabbie play with it. She's faster than any dog her size could imaginably be!


At first Charlie was afraid of the toy and wouldn't go anywhere near it. But he gradually warmed up to it and began chasing it, too. Then Gabbie joined in and it became a tug-of-squirrel game.

Oh, save me from the scary squirrel.

Hmmmm... Gabbie likes it.

Maybe it's not too scary...

Hey, this is kind of fun!

The fun heats up.

Mmmm... tasty squirrel, freshly caught.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Mr. October

Welcome to October... or Chucktober as we like to call it!