We Love DIRT!

Charlie and Gabbie have decided that they like the taste of the dirt at the top of the steps to the back yard. After roughhousing together and blowing off the initial head of steam, they turn to eating DIRT. Yes, there used to be grass there, but that's ancient history!

We try to distract them with frisbees and tug-of-war toys, but the only thing that seems to work for any length of time is...
CHERRIES!

Now that the season is over, there are lots of dried cherries on the terraces and hanging in the bushes. It's just like a doggie's Trader Joe's in the backyard!

Then and Now

When Charlie first met Gabbie, the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, in April, she was much smaller than he was. And he consequently ruled the backyard play sessions.
Now, only 4 months later, Gabbie is about Charlie's size - in fact she makes him look kind of petite. And she gives as good as she gets.
I can't wait to see them together when she's all grown up!

Tagged

I too have been tagged. Here are the requisite 5 (I can't count) weird things about me:

- I don't like my mom to talk to anyone but me, and I jump on her and bite her if she tries it.
- I get scared of stuff when we go on walks and insist on going home, right now (!).
- I want to sit in the front seat of the car, preferably in the driver's lap.
- When my mom put up a dog barrier in the car, I bent the bars and got through it. However... in the house, I always honor the baby gate we've had since I was a puppy - I never push it or try to get past it.
- I like to hold paws.
- I have never ever (yet) chewed furniture or shoes or carpet or anything else my humans have ... but I've demolished every toy and dog bed I've ever been given - - - post haste!!

The Rules: "The player of this game starts by listing "5 weird things/habits" about yourself, then you "tag" five friends and list their names. Those who get "tagged" need to write on their blogs about their "5 weird things/habits", as well as state this rule clearly, then "tag" five more victims. Don't forget get to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

Now, as to victims... almost everyone's been tagged already, so I nominate only one - - US First Dog, Barney. Those in favor*, say "Woof!"


*I figure we dogs are non-partisan and non-political. Dogocrats, republicanines,... what does it all mean anyway?

So darn helpful!

This afternoon, Charlie decided to help me outdoors. I was washing the patio furniture on the back lawn and turned away to hose off the soap. When I turned back, there stood Charlie with my scrub brush in his mouth.

I don't have a picture (because I didn't want to give him time to eat the brush while I found the camera), so you'll have to imagine this scene: Charlie, standing defiantly, looking at me, brush in mouth. Me running after him, and Charlie easily dodging; cutting left when I ran right, cutting right when I ran left. Around and around and around the yard... And, whenever I'd stop to catch my breath, he'd stand just out of reach, facing me, taunting me to come get the brush.

If I hadn't been laughing so hard, I might have gotten it back sooner, but it took easily 10 min. of "Chase Charlie" to reclaim the brush. That dog's fast and agile!

Camping - Part II

Next stop on Charlie's camping trail was Ilwaco, WA. We walked the boardwalk, checking out the people and shops, and watching boats come in and unload their catch.
At Jessie's Fish Market, the staff invited Charlie in and fed him smoked salmon tidbits and gave him a big container of water to wash it down.
Then up the Long Beach peninsula to the wildlife preserve, where we hiked a little around Willapa Bay.
Charlie's kitty companion came on the trip too, but didn't get to make any extra-vehicular excursions. So, before bed, Charlie told her all about the day.

CDX - Camper Dog Excellent

This week Charlie got to go RV camping for the first time and had a great time!

We did a joint trip with a sailboat part-way down the Columbia, camping at spots along the river.

We picnicked at St. Helens, overlooking the river. Charlie had a bowl of food, as well as tidbits that dropped.



Then we stayed overnight in a county park near Rainier and a marina at Cathlamet. Charlie was a good camper and even went down to the docks at Rainier (he found Cathlamet a little too scary.)

Tug of War

MY Stick!

Picture Perfect

Last week, Gabbie came over, and Charlie tried to show her how to use the camera to take a self portrait. It didn't really work, though... big puppy paws are just not very good at pressing the right button at the right time.


It worked a lot better when they took pictures of each other.













Finally, they let me have the camera back to take a picture of the two friends relaxing together.

A Good Time Was Had by All

Today Charlie had his first lunch outing.

Portland is one of those great dog-friendly places where dogs are allowed at some restaurants' outdoor patios.

We happen to live near one such brewpub, and today was "not-too-cold, not-too-hot, just right" in temperature, so off we went.


Charlie was interested in everything (except his water bowl) and very well behaved. He growled a little bit when he saw a pug at a nearby table, but who wouldn't?

"That's a real good pickle! Mmmmm...."

After lunch, we walked home together.

At this rate, he'll be ready for The Lucky Lab, whose patio is filled with other dogs, real soon!

Devil in Disguise

Charlie is one of the most challenging golden retrievers I know. He's just a bundle of pure energy. He's also willful, stubborn, pushy, bitey, domineering... Why, if I didn't know better, I'd think he was part husky.

But he's also one of the sweetest, most loyal, playful and loving dogs I've ever been owned by.

Just look at that face...

Could that dog do ANYthing wrong? I don't THINK SO!

Landscape redesign

Charlie loves his backyard.

He jumps the terraces and explores through the shrubs and bushes.

He patrols for intruder cats.

He forages for cherries that have dropped from the neighbors' tree.

He finds Pouncer's secret lairs and scoots her back to the patio.

And he redesigns.

Never content with the gracefully arching branches of the azaleas, nandina, roses and rhododendrons, he grabs them in his teeth and pulls until they're his.

Then he races with them around the yard, playing "Keepaway."

I'd rather do the work myself, but who can be cross with such enthusiastic help!?

Mother's little helper

Today I decided to finish putting in the gladiolas. And Charlie decided to help. In his own high-spirited way.

I put down the tray with the bulbs in it and turned to start digging the first hole. Up came Charlie to investigate. He snatched the biggest, most beautiful bulb and off he went. He raced to the other end of the yard and stood there, just daring me to come get him. So I did, figuring that if he was running, he wouldn't have time to chew and swallow.

So we played "Chase Charlie." I chased him up one side and down the other. Around and around the yard we went, until finally he was tired. When I told him to "down," he did. And I was able to rescue the precious bulb, wet but uneaten.

What a helpful dog!

Three Cheers for Cherries

At first I wasn't sure what Charlie was doing back there. He was hanging out in the back corner of the yard. And when Gabbie came over, the two of them hung out there together more often than not.

It seemed to involve some foraging, so I thought "Aha, they've discovered a cat's favored 'business' spot." Upon closer examination, however, I modified my hypothesis.

And a final test confirmed the new theory...

Charlie LOVES cherries!

I've Been Tricked!

"Hmmm.... what's this? Maybe I should help!

Want me to, Mom? Huh? Huh?

I can hold it down with my paw. Or I can open this little bag of stuff with my teeth."














"Better look at the instructions...
F O R F R E E S T A N D I N G P E T G A T E S M A L L
Huh? Do I eat it or chew it or bark at it or what?"



"WHAT?

This is WHAT??!!

MO-OM, this is definitely NOT what I had in mind..."

Havin' company over

"Hey Gabbie! Wanta come over and play? Yeah, right now! Can your mom bring you? Ok... see you soon. Bye."

"Get this spot right here. Mom! Gotta make the yard all clean and nice."

"Oh, won't she ever get here? I've been waiting and waiting. Probably for 2 minutes, already!"

"Yippee! There she is!"

"Let's PLAY!"

Hot Dog!

Charlie's back to normal today, but yesterday was another story!

We'd had two 100+(F) degree days here in Portland, and even though the house didn't get above the mid-80's, we all felt like taking it easy and quiet. So when Charlie did the same, we didn't think too much of it.

But yesterday, when it got cooler, Charlie didn't return to his usual bouncy bitey playful self. He stayed conked hard all morning. He didn't bark at the mailman. He drooled - way more than usual. And when he refused lunch, we knew for sure it was time to go see the vet!

The doc did some tests to make sure, but immediately knew what was up - heat stroke! So Charlie spent yesterday afternoon there getting re-hydrated (and petted and coo'ed over). He's feeling much better today, and we're very grateful to all the great people at his clinic for the care they gave him!

So all you doggies out there... be careful of the heat this summer and drink lots of water! You don't have to be in a hot car to have a problem.

I feel better!

Dog Cup Soccer

Charlie and Gabbie decided that humans shouldn't have all the fun. They want to play soccer, too!


Kickoff!


Off the ball attacking


Dangerous play


Arguing with the ref... ?

Friends

Charlie is not often friendly with other dogs. When we tried to introduce him to Lefty, the two of them acted like dogs-from-hell, wanting to take each other apart.

And when sweet, imperturbable, best-friend-through-the-fence Ramsey came over, Charlie acted so ferocious, that Ramsey decided he would just go home, thanks all the same.

So we're grateful that Charlie and Gabbie have such a good time together!

They run and leap and play and bite and make dogs-from-hell faces. And then one lies down and the other lies down along-side.

It's good to have friends!

Close, but no cigar...

Charlie loves to carry these little rolled chews around, hanging out of his mouth like a cigar.

Eventually he lies down and chews them, but until then, it's like having a furry dog version of Winston Churchill wander around the house. But without the smoke!

Positions

When reclining on the floor, Charlie often favors an... unusual (to my mind)... position.

His head goes one direction. His front paws go the other direction. And his back legs go the direction of his head. It looks contorted and uncomfortable, but it's always the position of choice.

When he wants to make sure he can see what's going on, he goes for the flattened frog position ...

And late late at night, when he's totally relaxed and fast asleep, he'll roll on his back and stick all four paws in the air.

What about you, doggies? Do you lie these ways, too?

The Things We Do for Love

Since they've been getting along so well, this weekend when Charlie's friend, Gabbie the Bernese Mountain Dog, came to play, we put out some chews to spice up playtime.

Gabbie, who normally isn't very chew-oriented, immediately siezed a cigar-chew and ran around the yard, with Charlie close on her heels.

From time to time she would drop it, and then it would be Charlie's turn to take the chew and be chased.

But after awhile, things changed. Gabbie got tired and lay down for some serious chewing. Whenever Charlie approached her, she growled at him. And he, gentlemanly, backed off.

Gabbie's usual companion, Cody, rules the chews in her house. And, since Charlie has seemed so dominant when they play, we were all surprised to see him defer to her. Maybe Charlie isn't the absolute ruler we thought? Or maybe it's a case of puppy love...

Pooltime, anyone?

This week brought record heat to Portland. Although just the middle of May, it felt like the "dog days" of summer! So when Gabbie came to play, we broke out the pool.

Charlie and we tried to teach her how to use it. He splashed. And we splashed. And toys were thrown around and in.

But to no avail. Gabbie would watch and sometimes even approach the pool. But she was not at all interested in playing in it. After all, Gabbie surely reasoned, "I'm a Bernese Mountain Dog, not a Bernese Water Dog"!

So back to standard play they went. Running, jumping, chasing, rolling, nipping... And did I mention the baring of teeth? There was much display of showy teeth!

So, again, a good time was had by all!

"What part of stay in the shade, don't they understand"?