Honest Award

Thanks to Farley for giving me the Honest Scrap Award. My first award! Unless you count the fancy certificate I got when I graduated from doggie school!

I love awards!

Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you 10 true things about me you might not know and then I'm s'posed to pass this award on to ten other bloggers. That would be almost everyone who follows this blog.

Hope you enjoy reading. Here goes!

10. I can jump real high -- I get that from my bio-dad.

9. I come from Dallas -- originally.

8. In the winter I like to snuggle, but in the summer I sleep waaaay over on the other side of the bed (and sometimes on the floor).

7. I live with my Mama, but she lives were her mom and dad. So I have a Mama, a Grandpa and a Grandma. And my uncles are around a lot too!

6. I can deconstruct stuffies. Once I get the stuffing out, I can turn them inside out and tear them apart at the seams. Good times!

5. I sleep in one position, like a log, all night log.

4. I have a secret crush on the German Shepherd across the street. Shhhhhh!

3. I have excellent hearing.

2. I still love to chase my tail.

1. When armchair hunting in my upstairs perch, I place my chin on the windowsill and sometimes I fall asleep.

Okay, I would like to pass this award on to...Lexi, Fiona, Harlequin, Sierra Rose (even though I think you got it already), Miss Muddy Paws (who has a great site with lots of delicious tidbits about living the dog's life), Luna and Sole' (who haven't blogged in a while. Helllooooo?), sweet sweet Miley who hasn't been feeling well due to the swallowing of a rock. Maybe this will help you stave off the boredom of your post-surgery convalescing. Tucker, Daisy and Leo: I'll let you three fight over who gets to give the answers. Scout and Freya who will one day save the world entire with their sweet faces and wagging tails. And last but definitely not least, my friend in Brasil, Thor.

Hard Work = Soft Rewards

After a long hard day of hanging out with Grandpa (gardening) while Mama was at work, I decided a nap was in order.

But not just any nap.

If I wanted just any nap I could splay myself all over the cool kitchen tile, but that's not what I was in the mood for. I wanted privacy, and a dark room and one of my most favoritest things -- goose down.

I love goose down!

So I got on to the bed, on the comforter, and started the time-consuming and tedious process of creating a nest.

Paw at the comforter, turn, paw at the comforter, turn, paw, turn, paw, turn, turn, turn, sit, not quite right, turn, paw some more, turn, paw, turn, paw, turn, paw, turn, turn, turn, sit, still not right, stand, turn paw, paw, paw, turn, paw, turn, paw, turn, paw, turn, turn, turn, sit.

Aahhhhhhh....

And that's how Mama found me when she came home from work. Too comfy to greet her at the door.
I made a mess of the bed. Don't tell Mama, but I think I pawed so hard I pulled the undersheets off the mattress.

But it sure was worth it!

Wordless Wednesday (Video)

RIP: Mr. Popo

Mr. Popo...

You were a good friend and toy.
Good for chewin'
Good for fetchin'
Good for flingin'
Especially good for carrying.

There will never be another like you...

Good while you lasted.

Reliant Dog Show (Part 2)

This time I post with visual aids.

It was a long tough day of love and pats at the GBGRR booth at the Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows. As an attention-getter I wore my Fiona Tie given to me by Farley, and boy, did it ever work! Since I had to be on a leash my tie kept moving around to the back of my neck, but people could actually see it better that way.

And yet more love....

Some of the other rescue groups...

Boxers

Italian Greyhounds

Mama says there's something not right about Italian Greyhounds. She thinks they came from outer space. She says you should beware of anything so skinny that it disappears when it turns sideways.
That cannot be comfortable!

My older (and perhaps wiser) buddy, Pecos agrees that there's something shifty about the little mini-greyhounds, and decides to keep an eye on them.

But I guess, like all breeds, Italian Greyhounds occasionally need rescuing too!


But the worst of it -- I hesitate to mention -- were the potty facilities.

Oh the Indignity!!!

I was meant to use the same patch of grass as everyone else!?!

I don't think so...

So I just led Mama around the field for while and refused to potty on principle. I think any self-respecting princess would have done the same.

I'll just hold it until I get home. Thank you very much!

And that's exactly what I did.

Of course the best of all parts was the potential for treats. There's always someone with treats. And this time it was Mama's friend Gina (who is also Tatum's mom). Here's a picture of Me, Tatum and Pecos (in that order) awaiting our proper tribute.

By the time we got home I was tuckered out and barely had the energy to type yesterday's post. But I had a GReat time and really learned not be scared of all the loud things going on around me.

I can't wait for next year!

Reliant Dog Show (Part 1)

I took Mama to the Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows today, where I proudly and most excellently represented my breed at the Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue booth. There were many other rescue groups there, but I have to say that our booth was always the most crowded.

And I got lots and lots of love and pats and scratches on my rump.

Mama took pictures but we're too tired right now to worry about editing them and posting them. I'll do that for "Part 2" tomorrow. So stay tuned.

Mama said she was so proud of me because I did not get the least bit foamy at the mouth, as I can sometimes do when I'm around large crowds. It was good to see some of my buddies from Rescue Meet & Greets (Reef) and to meet new buddies (Tatum!). Especially since -- I hate to admit it -- I kind of, sort of, maybe just a little bit...miss Jazz. Somewhat. A speck. A smidgeon. A teensy bit but no more.

Okay a lot.

Jazz's new mama called my Mama yesterday just to let her know that Jazz is fitting right in and getting along with the cats (that Mama didn't know about and fretted over when she found out) and the other dogs.

I have to go now. Mama keeps saying that her dogs are barking. I listen real hard but I don't hear anything, but I should go be with her so I can bark back at those barking dogs. Take note: no body should bark at my Mama 'cept me (and I only do that for treats and to let her know that for sure I want some of what she's having).

Bye ya'll! See you tomorrow.

Jazz's New Mama

Jazz got a new mama today! They seem to like each other a whole lot.

My mama said she didn't even cry when it was time to say goodbye. She was pretty proud about that.

As for myself...well I'm glad to have my mama all to myself again.

No more interrupted love sessions. No one sniffing around my food bowl for leftovers (as if that would happen!) No one leaving strange new smells around my home.

Best of luck to Jazz and her new Mama. I bet she's as lucky as me.

Special Delivery

I got a special delivery this evening all the way from Farley and his mom! You see, they had a special contest and I won. Here's a picture of me wearing my prize.

I love prizes!

Isn't it beautiful?

If you like it, you can get one of your very own. Just go here.

While you do that, I'm going to go look at myself in the shiny glass.

Bye!

In the Wee Hours

In the early morning hours, before the sun wakes up, I go outside to do my business, but I almost always get distracted by potential prey before I can make it to the grass. Mama says I'm easily distracted from my business, but I simply remind her that hunting is my business.

The best early-morning and nighttime prey are the pink geckos that like to hang out on the white wall you see behind me. There weren't any there this morning, but I have check every day, you understand. Those little pink squirmies are fast and they have the ability to climb up on the wall farther than I can reach. I caught one once but didn't like the taste much, so now I just use them for practice.

Helps to keep my skills sharp and my reaction times well-honed.

Happy hunting!

Feeling Good!

My foster sister Jazz is feeling great these days! She's got her energy back and her appetite (boy, howdy!). Here's a video of her playing with the new stuffie my Mama bought just for her ('cause she was stealing all of mine!). That's me chilling out on the bed and watching her play some fetch.





But the best news of all is that Jazz has found a new mama! One just for her.

I love Mamas!

Jazz's new mama is special too 'cause she's a pet nurse. In fact, they met when Mama rushed Jazz to the vet hospital. Mama says Jazz practically threw up on the lady's shoes, but the lady loved her at first sight anyway. And the lady knows all about Jazz's health problems, even the ones she only might have but are really scary -- and she loves Jazz anyway! Jazz's new mama can't pick her up until Wednesday, so we'll still have lots of time to play together before she leaves. Oh, and Jazz will have two four-legged siblings and three two-legged ones. She's going to have lots of people to focus all that love on.

And then I'll have my mama, and my toys, and my yard all to myself again. Hooray!

So...maybe...even though she got sick...and that was bad...maybe it wasn't meant to be all bad. Maybe some of it was meant to be good. Maybe Jazz got sick that bad just so she could meet the new mama who works at the open-all-night hospital.

That must be what Mama calls a "golden lining".

Wordless Wednesday

Subi Says...

It's tough work trying to be a good dog, especially when there's so much temptation. Sometimes it takes more than adoring looks and precious antics to earn my keep around here. That's why I practice the ability to be what I call a "good canine citizen". We can all be good canine citizens and I can give you some tips.

Here's one of the easiest (and my personal favorite):

Offer to "pre-rinse" the dishes before they go in the dishwasher.














Of course, this is tongue-breaking work, especially if you have a large human family...















But, I cannot tell a lie...it has its benefits!
















Pre-rinsing the dishes is an extremely important job but just like me, I'm sure you're up to the task. After all, pre-rinsing helps to keep the dishwashing machine from turning leftover bits into hard, crusty, caked-on bits. What a waste of nibbles.

I love nibbles!

We Got Ourselves a Good News/Bad News Situation

This afternoon my foster sister Jazz, was cut loose from the hospital 'cause they said Mama could give her the medicines from now on.

Boy was Jazz happy about that!

Here's Jazz with one her nurses and Miss Carol from GBGRR. Miss Carol brought homemade cookies for the hospital staff for taking such extra special care of Jazz and another GBGRR puppy named Tucker.

I love cookies!

(Of course, Mama's the one taking the picture.)

That's the good news....

The bad news is that Mama brought Jazz home and she was in no condition to play...

As hard as I tried to get to her play she just wouldn't bite. In fact the only thing Jazz wanted to bite was her tuchus which is why Mama had to put the cone on Jazz's head.



Look away now if you have a queasy stomach.

Jazz's rear end and most of her tail feathers had to be shaved because the diarrhea caused redness.

Yup! That's gonna take a while to grow back.




Also, that's just plain 'em-bare-ass-ing'.

Get it?

Anyway, thanks to everyone who kept their paws crossed!

Happy 4th of July

Today we celebrate Independence Day in the U S of A.

Here I am posing with the American flag. Notice I am still wearing a leash.

So much for independence. <Sigh>

Also notice, I am hearing the German Shepherd bark across the street, so I am really wishing I was independent! I would like to play chase with the German Shepherd, but Mama says he would eat me for lunch and then ask for more.

Mama and her family, which will include my Uncle and my Human Grandma and Grandpa (HGM & HGP) will celebrate by having good eats that smell delicious. And maybe if I am extra good and cute they will give me some on top of my regular food.

But other then that, this posing is all the celebrating I will be doing since July 4th is my least favorite holiday, because when the sun goes down the loud popping starts. Out where we live the loud popping lasts for almost a whole week and I do not want to go outside when that is happening. Why, just last night I had to hold my pee-pee all night because it was too scary in the dark to go outside. So, this morning when Mama woke up (finally!) I was raring to go outside and get down to business.

So everyone out there have a safe and happy holiday. But don't make the popping noises for too long because it scares the puppy dogs.


JAZZ UPDATE:
Mama called the hospital today instead of going in 'cause hospitals are always super busy doing holidays and she said she didn't want to get in the way. Anyway...Jazz ate some chicken last night but was not interested in solid food this morning so she was fed with a syringe.

Maybe she's not a breakfast person...

The nurse says at neither time did she vomit, which is all good news. Nurse also said that Jazz is happier when someone is with her all the time. That sounds like the Jazz I know who is a real attention-hog and love-stealer. I have warned Mama that Jazz is probably just pretending to be sick to get attention, but she says she is pretty sure that is not the case.

No word on the Distemper test which takes a long time. Mama says they have to determine the DNA...whatever that means. I don't know why three little letters make for such a long test.

Paw still crossed?

Today's Visit

Mama finally returned from her now routine visit to the hospital after being gone a loooong time. After my dinner time! She said she was sorry but the hospital was busy today and she had to wait a long time to get in. She also said I shouldn't complain about eating a little bit later than usual, especially when there are sick puppies in the hospital who can't eat. Her tone of voice made my head hang down lower than usual, but when she fed me she gave me extra fish oil so I knew she wasn't too mad.

I love fish oil!

Oh! And speaking of eating, Mama said the nurse said that Jazz had some baby food today and a bit of cold chicken. But the best news is that it didn't make her throw up. The nurse also said that when she isn't on painkillers, Jazz is is seeking attention and comfort and loves belly rubs.

That Jazz always was a love hound. Even more than me!

Mama says this is all good news, but that we still have to keep praying 'cause Jazz has to keep improving. Keep your paws crossed too!

Trips I Don't Get to Take

Everyday after making the money that keeps my belly full and my toy basket overflowing, Mama rushes home and changes clothes, most particularly her shoes, and then she's off again. Even though I follow her to the door and sit real pretty 'neath the hook with my leash on it, Mama does not seem inclined to take me with her. She says I sure would not want to go where she is going 'cause there are puppy doctors aplenty there and not one of them is Dr. P, who I like. Mama says they might want to poke me with needles and stick temperature takers in my tuchus, just 'cause that's what they know how to do.

Of course, I'm no dummy. Mama is going to visit Jazz, who seems like a faraway memory to me now. If it weren't for pictures I'd almost forget what she looked like. Anyways, Mama says yesterday she had a long chat with Dr. N. at the hospital (Dr. N is the BIG BOSS!) and she said they sure hoped that it was "hump day". I don't know what that means 'cause yesterday was Thursday and everyone knows that Wednesday is Hump Day and why would anyone want a Thursday to be a Wednesday when everyone knows Thursday is closer to the best day of the week which is Saturday?

Anyways, I'm guessing from Mama's sad face that Jazz is not getting well like they hoped. Mama was particularly sad 'cause the Dr. N said that the are testing Jazz for Distemper which is bad, bad, bad -- especially if she has it while the ParvoMonster is chasing her.

Mama says that the Lion is still on the job, though he's been washed a whole bunch and is looking somewhat threadbare, but he is still hanging in there.

Poor Jazz has to wear a cone on her head.

Mama says it's 'cause her (shaved) tuchus is raw and red from bad, bad diarrhea and the cone keeps her from making it all worse. That must be tough on Jazz -- I know when I have red spot I want to lick at it to make it feel better.

But the news isn't all bad. She didn't throw up or have diarrhea yesterday. But they are still waiting for her to eat. She hasn't eaten anything in a whole week. I cannot imagine being so sick that I wouldn't eat anything for a whole week!

Mama's going back this afternoon for another visit, so keep your paws crossed that Jazz got a little better overnight. And also say a little prayer that the test for Distemper comes back negative. 'Cause if the test is positive my Mama will surely cry and I don't want that.

The "P" Word

There's a monster stalking Jazz and its name is PARVO! Run for your lives!

Mama says my foster sister Jazz is really sick. Of course I already knew that 'cause Jazz kept throwing up and throwing up all Sunday night. Once the smelly stuff started coming out of her mouth I went into hiding 'cause I knew it was bad. So bad that Mama even skipped work on Monday morning to take Jazz to see another doctor. Mama's friends at GBGRR said Jazz needed some "big guns". I don't know what "big guns" are but I sure hope they scare away the ParvoMonster.

Apparently, "big guns" has something to do with a place called a hospital where they put my foster sister in another cage (also without a television) and then stuck needles in her and attached tubes to her legs. All of which makes it very hard for Jazz to run for her life from the ParvoMonster.

After visiting Jazz at the hospital yesterday, Mama came home more worried than ever because the ParvoMonster is evil. Everything that the ParvoMonster touched in its chase to catch Jazz has to be cleaned, cleaned, cleaned!!

Maybe that has something to do with why some of my toys don't taste like my toys anymore and instead they taste like the giant water bowl in the back yard.

My blankie doesn't smell like me and Mama anymore either!

It's enough to make a body worried, I'm telling you. Mama tells me not to worry though 'cause back in the "barely 'member" times, Dr. P gave me medicines to make me invisible to the ParvoMonster. Yea! Those were good times, way-back-when, when it was worth getting stuck with medicines 'cause Dr. P would give me some sweet ear rubs afterwards to make the pain go away. I love me some ear rubs!

Anyway, that's where Jazz has been since Monday morning and Mama says she may be there a while. And that we have to keep our paws crossed -- and it wouldn't hurt to get some of our friends to cross their paws for Jazz too. Would you cross your paws for Jazz?

Oh and not to worry, 'cause Jazz is not alone. Mama took her a lion to help protect her from the ParvoMonster. And if you look carefully you might be able to see that the lion looks like he's seen some combat and survived so he knows his business and that's a good thing 'cause Jazz needs all the help she can get.






















Don't forget. Keep your paws crossed for my foster sister Jazz!