12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS...paw la la la, lah lah la la

On the first day of Christmas my Mom gave to me,

a squirrel in a pine tree.

On the second day of Christmas my Uncle gave to me,

2 rawhide sticks, and a squirrel in a pine tree.

On the third day of Christmas my Neighbor gave to me,

3 pigs ears, 2 rawhide sticks, and a squirrel in a pine tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my Walker gave to me,

4 squeaky toys, 3 pigs ears, 2 rawhide sticks, and a squirrel

 

 in a pine tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my Vet gave to me,

5 Den-tal Chews!

On the sixth day of Christmas my Trainer gave to me,

6 bags of cheese snacks, and 5 dental chews.

On the seventh day of Christmas my Grandma gave to me,

7, no wait 8, red booties, 6 bags of cheese snacks, and 5 dental chews.

On the eighth day of Christmas my Grandpa gave to me,

6 ( cause i found 2) basted beef sticks, 7 small somethings,

6 bags of cheese snacks, and 5 dental chews.

On the ninth day of Christmas my Groomer gave to me,

9 Greenie mini's, 8 basted beef sticks, 7 I don't like them,

6 bags of cheese snacks, and 5 dental chews.

On the tenth day of Christmas my pal Ollie gave to me,

10 flying duck toys, 9 Greenie mini's, 6 basted beef sticks,

7 sticky somethings, 5 bags of cheese snacks, and 1 dental chew.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my friend Lola gave to me,
 

11 Chuck-It Balls, 10 flying duck toys, 9 Greenie mini's, 8 basted beef

 

sticks, 7 little strange things, 6 bags of cheese snacks, 5 den-tal

 

chews...4 squeaky toys, 3 pigs ears, 2 rawhide sticks, ...

 

and a squirrel in a pine tree!

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas my Mom gave to me, lots of empty

boxes for donations to other dogs from me!

HAPPY DOGGONE HOLIDAYS... From All Of Us ... Arf!

 

 

sorry, i need a nap....

A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

 

 

A Test and A Turkey

My big news is that I passed my AKC Canine Good Citizenship Test last night! My mom was really happy and proud of me. But we both knew I would. However, just before the test my mom told me that even if for some reason I didn't get my certificate we would still find a way to do good things together.

My mom's goal and vision for our life together has been for us to visit people in convalescent places, assisted living, wherever we will be welcome, so I can bring smiles to faces, maybe fond memories, but mostly some unconditional love. And who doesn't need that! Arf!

My mom said it's important to be of service in any way we can. She said most people would like to do it in some big way...but really it's the small daily ways that add up. That's why she carries on this mindset from her friend who died of breast cancer, and takes a minute to clean off the counter with paper towels in a public restroom, or clean up the milk/sugar/napkins station at Starbucks. Her friend always said 'if you have the opportunity to make somewhere better by your having been there, then you should take it.'

With that in mind and Thanksgiving coming (turkey...yum :-), I am thankful

for having a good home

for having good food

for having a cozy bed

for my new sweater

for having grass and bushes and trees (and not just to pee on)

for everyone that has helped me and my mom

for having the opportunity to live a useful life

and for being loved.

Happy Turkey Day to Everyone...and if you ever need a lick, a smile or some love, email me...and if you don't, then maybe you can pass your own on to someone (maybe not the lick). Arf! 

 

           Pablo

A Dog's Tale

This is a story about my chihuahua friend, Lola (names have been changed to protect the innocent). Lola lives at The Shores in a building near the back fence. Now Lola is not the kind of dog to bolt out an open door. But "someone" left the front door open by accident and so Lola wandered out...and down the stairs...and down the path...and across the grass...and through the fence...and then she laid down in the sunshine in the grass. She was 50 feet from home.

"Oh, no!" said a woman walking along, "a dog without a collar on! She may be lost!"...and so the woman walked over to Lola and picked her up...and took her.
But then when she got Lola to her home she realized that Lola should not be around her sick puppy. So she called a friend. Please come take this dog I found. And so another woman came and took Lola.

And now you may be wondering about Lola's mom. Oh yes, Lola's mom got a phone call from the "someone". Your dog ran out the front door!  Lola's mom came home from work and started looking everywhere for her. She called my mom. We walked everywhere with a flashlight and called Lola! Lola!

Meanwhile, the second woman said "oh, no, my dog doesn't like this chihuahua!" So she called a friend and asked her to come take Lola.

My mom said "look on craigslist for a found dog ad...and also do a posting for a lost dog".  The next day Lola's mom saw a Found Chihuahua posting with a picture. It was Lola! So she replied and sent her phone number. Finally the woman called and said "I had her but I gave her to a friend...who gave her to a friend. I don't know who the person is that finally got your dog."

Since Lola's mom isn't a dog, she couldn't pee on this woman.

Finally after hours of waiting and phone calls, Lola's mom found out that the woman who had Lola was working a 12 hr. shift in Marin until 9pm. Lola's mom left her a voicemail. Finally at 10pm on saturday night, Lola's mom went to get her. Not one person had thought "how can we let this woman know where her dog is...who to call...she must be worried"...and yet, every person involved has a dog. Amazing. When Lola's mom got her, she said "Lola was only 50 feet from where she lived and had only been gone 15 min. She would have come home."

Lola herself took it all in stride. But then Lola was dognapped by a coyote when she was a puppy and fortunately quickly rescued by her Jack Russell companions. After that, this adventure was as easy to swallow as liver biscotti...or chicken sticks...or cheese. I'll be right back, I have to go get a snack.

The next day Lola's mom went with my mom and we both got microchipped. Plus Lola got a new soft 'indoor' collar...she will never be without a tag!

So I was thinking how some people say the sweetest words to hear are "I Love You"...and my mom says it's "I'll Buy It For You"...but I think it's "I Found Your Dog". :-)

May you always be returned home safely....Pablo

Sharing Bones

My mom told me that I have a fairy dogmother. Her name is Julie and I liked her at first sniff! She likes me sooooo much that she is paying for all my vet bills and license and microchip. Wow, wadda human! She is willing to share her coins.

Some dogs are willing to share their toys. Some will even let you eat some of their food in the bowl. Some will share their chewy. Everyone will share their water. I have a dog friend and when I was at his house I went over and sniffed his Kong rubber bone. He immediately ran over and barked in my face. Seriously. I guess some dogs get worried that another dog will take their food or toy. The thing I've noticed is that it doesn't matter how many toys they have or how much food is in their bowl...they still don't want to share it.

My mom says humans can be the same way. The pile of coins a human has is not indicative of their level of generosity. My mom told me that once she went to meet a man on a blind date. She wanted to go into a cheese store and he wanted to go across the street to the post office. So she asked if he could buy her a first class stamp. 35 cents. He held out his hand for the money. She only had a $5 bill. He took it. Brought her back the stamp and paper and coins. Since she wasn't a dog, she couldn't pee on him.

I hope you meet lots of humans that will share their bones....Arf!
                      Pablo

Chasing Balls

Today I went to Aquatic Park in Berkeley with another dog. I had a really good time running through the grass while the other dog ran after a ball.  Someone said to my mom that I run funny like a rabbit does...hopping on my back legs.

I think we all run in a unique way. Woof. And some dogs run after the ball with fierce focus and determination. Other dogs want someone to throw the ball but they aren't paying attention so then they don't know where it went. Some of them then give up. Others know the ball got thrown and start searching. But after a few minutes some of them give up. But then other dogs will keep sniffing and searching and searching. When people see that this dog is serious about finding the ball, they start helping by pointing or yelling...and sometimes they even find the ball and walk over and hand it to you. The best.

Don't worry about what you look like running...and keep your eye on the ball!

Here's a pic of me in my new fall sweater...Arf!
Pablo

 

Lost and Found

well, first a big happy Arf! to all my good smelling neighbors that were so kind to my new mom.

i love living in marina bay. the air is so much nicer with so many lovely smells. geese. ducks. flowers. grass. water. people. dogs. cats.

i get to go look at the water and the birds and run through the grass...yay!!! i also get to go ride in the car.

my mom got me a car seat so i can look out the window. but it has a horrible smell. she makes a funny face around it. i keep jumping out of it. it smells bad. and there is no room to lounge. sometimes you have to give up a view so you can stretch out. with your squeak toy and greenie.

i am eating really good food. i get Evo dry food and also my mom cooks for me all the time. tonight i had fish/rice/sweet potatoe/peas. i think cooking = love.

i am very happy. sigh. and the cat is liking me more every day. but, hey, what's not to like!

i hope you get to sniff good things... arf!               Pablo