Merry Christmas from our pack to yours!
4 hours ago
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Getting Ready For Christmas
Monday, December 12, 2011
Treat Catching with the Mailman
I mentioned recently that Charlie has conned convinced our mailman, Jeffrey, to play "treat catch" with him. Charlie lies at the top of our entryway stairs every morning, waiting. If, by some chance, he's in another part of the house begging for treats, Charlie still listens carefully for steps and/or the sounds of mail dropping through the slot and races to the door upon hearing them. If it's Jeffrey there, Charlie's barks are high and yappy and breathless, almost cries. If he finds anyone else at the door, his barks are deep and threatening.
Somehow, Charlie's also trained himself to spot Jeffrey's white van -- he gets excited when he sees it drive by or if we pass it out walking. At first, I think, treat-catching for Charlie was all about the treats, but now it's as much a social event. And fortunately, it's one that Jeffrey seems to enjoy, too!
I can't believe how lucky Charlie and we are to have such a nice mailman!
Somehow, Charlie's also trained himself to spot Jeffrey's white van -- he gets excited when he sees it drive by or if we pass it out walking. At first, I think, treat-catching for Charlie was all about the treats, but now it's as much a social event. And fortunately, it's one that Jeffrey seems to enjoy, too!
I can't believe how lucky Charlie and we are to have such a nice mailman!
Monday, December 05, 2011
Charlie and the Snood
I decided I was tired of cleaning food out of Charlie's ears, so enter... the snood!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Treat Catcher
There is a game we play with Charlie, called "Treat Catching". He learned it as a puppy, and over the years has become a very accomplished player.
Puppy Charlie catching treats
You take a small treat in hand and, holding it shoulder-high so Charlie can see it, swing back once... twice... On the count of two, point it towards his face and let go. Occasionally it may bounce off a tooth, but more often than not, the treat will disappear into Charlie's gaping mouth, almost like it was sucked in by a gravitational force.
Adult Charlie catching treats.
The mailman also plays Treat Catch with Charlie almost every day. Since the game ends when he misses, Charlie is very very focused. He's up to 12 consecutive catches and it's only a matter of time until he hits 13.
Puppy Charlie catching treats
You take a small treat in hand and, holding it shoulder-high so Charlie can see it, swing back once... twice... On the count of two, point it towards his face and let go. Occasionally it may bounce off a tooth, but more often than not, the treat will disappear into Charlie's gaping mouth, almost like it was sucked in by a gravitational force.
Adult Charlie catching treats.
The mailman also plays Treat Catch with Charlie almost every day. Since the game ends when he misses, Charlie is very very focused. He's up to 12 consecutive catches and it's only a matter of time until he hits 13.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Get Ready for the Holidays!
Hey everypup,
If you belong to Dogs with Blogs, don't forget to sign up for this year's card exchange and calendar. The November 15 deadline is rapidly approaching!
And if you're not a member of Dogs with Blogs yet, then sign up and become one! It's free and lots of fun -- a labor of love, not money. You'll meet other people around the world who love their dogs and like to write about them too.
Charlie says "Put down that book and do it today!"
If you belong to Dogs with Blogs, don't forget to sign up for this year's card exchange and calendar. The November 15 deadline is rapidly approaching!
And if you're not a member of Dogs with Blogs yet, then sign up and become one! It's free and lots of fun -- a labor of love, not money. You'll meet other people around the world who love their dogs and like to write about them too.
Charlie says "Put down that book and do it today!"
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Another Fun Trip to ... Hey!
Charlie had been itching and scratching recently, so having made an appointment, I steered our walk over to the V E T.
Although they're unfailingly nice, Charlie usually freaks out a little at the vet's -- he shakes and shivers and tries to climb into my lap.
This time Charlie didn't act nervous at all! He watched all the other animals, solicited petting from all the people, and did not refuse to go into "the room". Perhaps I wore him out on the walk over... or maybe he remembers the peanut butter they've fed him the last few times they've clipped his nails?
In the exam room, Charlie's lack of nervousness continued. As a true measure of his calm... he squinted for Dr. Tokar! Charlie doesn't do that for just anyone -- only for people he's really really happy to see.
Once the exam was complete, it was time for
Afterwards, the tech that brought him back apologized, saying "I think we got it all wiped off his face, but he may smell a little like peanut butter..." Charlie was ready to leave, but I'm hopeful that he'll be happy to go back again, too!
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p.s. Charlie has seasonal allergies, and they gave him some medication that's made him much more comfortable.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Charlie - The Hunter Gatherer
This weekend, while the east coast dug out from an early snow, we in the Pacific northwest were in search of mushrooms. When it gets a little cool and the rains start coming back here, chanterelles start popping up and the forests fill with mushroom hunters. Charlie and I jumped at the chance to go out with friends who can tell the good 'uns from the bad 'uns.
"Where are we going, Mom?"
Happy dog, ready for an adventure
I wasn't sure how Charlie would behave in the woods, especially if we ran into another dog or a deer or a varmint, so I kept him leashed a lot of the time. He wore a light pack and carried his own water (for the first time) and seemed to have no trouble with the weight.
Some of the terrain was a little steep, but we both managed it without incident. The leash even turned out to be of benefit (to me, anyway), as Charlie charged ahead uphill. ;)
Some parts were easy walking and others had downed trees and sometimes dense undergrowth, but Charlie and I learned to work together, spotting and clearing paths.
For the most part, Charlie ignored the mushrooms. He loved it, however, when someone found one - they'd let out a little cry, and Charlie would help them celebrate by jumping on them and snuzzling their face. In truth, that's probably the best argument for continued leashing in future trips -- the chanterelles often grow in little groups and it's not hard for an unrestrained celebratory big dog to trample the delicate fungi.
Charlie sniffs a white chanterelle (I think)
I mentioned that Charlie ignored the mushrooms for the most part. There was one very notable exception. As we approached a big downed log, Charlie went over to something big and started sniffing around it -- suddenly I could see that it was a flying-saucer-sized mushroom. I called in the expert, who pronounced it an edible bolete. I don't know if it's as tasty as a chanterelle, but it's certainly dramatic-looking and big enough for a family of 4!
Charlie's mushroom (on the right) and a smaller one (left)
The bad news now for Charlie is that I'm going to eat our findings and he's not. My reasoning is that if he learns they're edible and, dog forbid, develops a taste for them, he'll find the chanterelles first and eat them on the spot the next time we go mushroom-hunting. So he'll have to be content to lick the saute pan for now.
Our mushroom catch of the day (we gave the flying saucer away)
It was absolutely a great day! We got to tramp around in the woods and came home with mushrooms, to boot. You don't find as many 'shrooms when you're managing a big dog, but we'll definitely do this again!!
I wasn't sure how Charlie would behave in the woods, especially if we ran into another dog or a deer or a varmint, so I kept him leashed a lot of the time. He wore a light pack and carried his own water (for the first time) and seemed to have no trouble with the weight.
Some of the terrain was a little steep, but we both managed it without incident. The leash even turned out to be of benefit (to me, anyway), as Charlie charged ahead uphill. ;)
Some parts were easy walking and others had downed trees and sometimes dense undergrowth, but Charlie and I learned to work together, spotting and clearing paths.
For the most part, Charlie ignored the mushrooms. He loved it, however, when someone found one - they'd let out a little cry, and Charlie would help them celebrate by jumping on them and snuzzling their face. In truth, that's probably the best argument for continued leashing in future trips -- the chanterelles often grow in little groups and it's not hard for an unrestrained celebratory big dog to trample the delicate fungi.
I mentioned that Charlie ignored the mushrooms for the most part. There was one very notable exception. As we approached a big downed log, Charlie went over to something big and started sniffing around it -- suddenly I could see that it was a flying-saucer-sized mushroom. I called in the expert, who pronounced it an edible bolete. I don't know if it's as tasty as a chanterelle, but it's certainly dramatic-looking and big enough for a family of 4!
The bad news now for Charlie is that I'm going to eat our findings and he's not. My reasoning is that if he learns they're edible and, dog forbid, develops a taste for them, he'll find the chanterelles first and eat them on the spot the next time we go mushroom-hunting. So he'll have to be content to lick the saute pan for now.
It was absolutely a great day! We got to tramp around in the woods and came home with mushrooms, to boot. You don't find as many 'shrooms when you're managing a big dog, but we'll definitely do this again!!
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Charlie, the Supervisor
Over the last few weeks we've had sewer reconstruction going on in front of our house. Fortunately, Charlie has supervised every second... except for a couple of instances that involved jackhammering and earth tamping -- and, frankly, who WOULDN'T hide under the desk under those circumstances?
"Momma, what's that big saw doing to our sidewalk!?"
"Maybe they need a big dog to help them dig!"
"Yeah, no Barking, I mean "P"arking...
Charlie, the Supervisor
Over the last few weeks we've had sewer reconstruction going on in front of our house. Fortunately, Charlie has supervised every second... except for a couple of instances that involved jackhammering and earth tamping -- and, frankly, who WOULDN'T hide under the desk under those circumstances?
"Momma, what's that big saw doing to our sidewalk!?"
"Maybe they need a big dog to help them dig!"
"Yeah, no Barking, I mean "P"arking...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Charlie and the Conehead Kitty
Pouncer, the kitty, had some minor surgery yesterday and will be a conehead cat for about a week. She doesn't have the hang of it yet and keeps sideswiping walls and furniture with a bang!
Charlie was initially terrified of "Robo-cat", but has begun to recognize the advantages of a kitty that can't easily scoot into tight places.
They're good friends, and we're watching to make sure that Pouncer gets enough rest and recovery time, but they're also pretty funny together!
Charlie was initially terrified of "Robo-cat", but has begun to recognize the advantages of a kitty that can't easily scoot into tight places.
They're good friends, and we're watching to make sure that Pouncer gets enough rest and recovery time, but they're also pretty funny together!
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