Happy Howl-O-Ween!

Hey, where is everyone?

Charlie the Gardener

Gardening, with Charlie in the yard, is always an iffy proposition. He loves being outdoors, but he's just so inquisitive, playful, and mouth-/food- oriented that everything I cut or dig seems to want to end up in his stomach.

And this has always been true. As a puppy, he would mill around where I was working, and he would snatch dirt clods or cut branches or seed pods and run off with them.

Magnolia seedpod in mouth
As an adult, Charlie still exhibits all his puppy characteristics, plus a tendency to want to help... If I'm digging, Charlie feels he should dig. If I cut branches, he pulls off more with his teeth. Heck, I've got him pulling weeds out of the lawn now! And the amazing thing is - he knows what's a plantain weed and what isn't!!

Helping plant tulips
Now if I can just convince him not to eat everything, I think we'll be a great team!

Battle Tactics

It's a hoot watching Charlie play with his friend Gabbie. Their play-fighting tactics are very much like humans. And, while they each have their preferred techniques, they learn from each other and adapt.

Invitation

Ear Chewing

Going for the Throat

The Body Slam

Baiting the Hook

Face Chewing

The Pin

Play Ball

Now We Are Two!

Today Charlie is two years old! Almost two years ago, Aunt Karen in Indiana found him (and his sister Sophie) and told us about him. Almost two years ago, we flew to Indiana to pick him up. Almost two years ago, we began learning what it means to be ruled by Charlie!


Two years ago, we were in California, and Charlie had to sit on a lap to help with his blog.







Now we live in Oregon, and the lap is no longer an option. Charlie directs from the floor.



Happy Birthday, Big Guy!! We can't imagine life without you!

p.s. Happy Birthday, Sophie, too!

A Rose by Any Other Name

Call him anything you want:

Charlie...

Chuck...

Chucker...

Chuck Chuck...

Charlie Horse...

Cha-chan...

Big Guy...

Little Dog...

That Good Dog We've Heard About...

...just don't call him "late for dinner"!

Hurrah for Catfood!

Slurp slurp.





Just a little to the left...





Ahhhhhh....

Crazy Dog

Charlie has always had an overdrive gear. It starts with "the zoomies," and then quickly escalates into "pogo stick to lick mom's face," followed by "nip mom's clothing," and culminating in all-out play biting. With mom, of course.

At such times Charlie seems beyond listening, beyond caring about consequences. He lives to play and play hard! I expect it's about extreme excess energy and needing someplace for it to go.

We tried to train him as a puppy to "sit" and "down" at such times and then diverted his attention with treats and legal toys.

And to an extent that works with adult Charlie. But it requires patience, discipline, and a toy within reach. When the "down" finally does get through, you can't pet his head or expect to just walk away unscathed. You are a target. The only options are to scratch his chest and stomach until he calms or to throw a ball and make an escape when he goes after it.

As he's gotten older this has manifested less. And since he started playing with Gabby, we've experienced hardly any episodes. But when she's not around for a few days... look out! Trouble on the hoof!!

Charlie and the Postman

Charlie has a love-hate relationship with the postman.

Our mail carrier has gone to great lengths to curry Charlie's favor. When a package is handed in, it's usually accompanied by a treat or two. And Charlie sometimes barges outside to be fed extras.

In fact once, when we were gone for the daily mail delivery, we returned home to find a package with the requisite treat on top.

Still, every morning when he hears the familiar *snap* of the mail slot, Charlie launches into fiercely protective barking. You'd think he'd at least not want to scare the treats away!

I'll be watching you.

As I got the RV ready for our recent trip, I noticed a constant observer, moving from window to window.





...Every breath you take





Every move you make...





...Every step you take




I'll be watching you!

5 Things that Make a True Doggie Friend

A true doggie friend...


1. is always eager to see you



2. likes to roughhouse, but eases up when you cry 'uncle'



3. steals the chew, but lets you steal it back sometimes, too



4. doesn't care if you slobber on them



5. shares the water bowl

Episode 4: Orcas Island, Dances with Deer

Well, not exactly "dances". More like "runs". And in the opposite direction...

All the islands, but especially Orcas, were covered in deer. They were everywhere! So I should have known better than to take Charlie out for a final night's walk to an isolated part of the campground. And then shine a flashlight into the dark.

There were 2 deer, not very far away, caught in the glare of the flashlight. They looked at us. And we looked at them. And then two things happened almost simultaneously - - the deer gracefully leaped into the air and bounded off... and my arm was nearly separated from my shoulder, as this 80 lb golden retriever tried to get as far away from the deer as quickly as possible. I don't know who was startled more - - Charlie or the deer or me!

Episode 3: San Juan Island Sightseer

- - Arriving in Friday Harbor on the ferry.










American Camp at San Juan Island National Historical Park - where the US & Great Britain almost went to war over a pig. - -





- - Watching for whales.








Hiking at Lime Kiln State Park - -








- - Back home at last in the RV, exhausted!