swimming skills put to the test...

It was a a beautiful day on the beach at Traverse City, Michigan and I found a friend to play with. It was a larger size lab type dog still in his puppy years so I had the upper hand now being 2 years old! (that is 14 in human years!) This guy was getting a little rough, him being bigger than me, and I was backing up to this wall on the beach. I thought I could get the upper hand by jumping up on the wall...only to find this canal on the other side. Lucky I have been given swimming lessons by my master! Couldn't get out, though...and the dog's owner jumped in to get me out. This will be one of those kodak moments that will flash by in my old age!

snow...

I am trying to picture running around here on green grass (Mocca tells me this is coming) but I just can't imagine it. It seems like I've only seen snow since I've been here.
We've got a path worked in from the back door to the pool and it really helps me out when I "get busy" under the deck. I think it's really going to smell under there come the spring, though. It's snowing again tonight and we're going to have to redo that path. Oh well...dogs have a rough life.

I'm starting to appreciate Mocca's patience...I was at a place called Petco doing a "socialization" seminar...I thought I'd be meeting other dogs that wanted to make more friends.

I'm a nice guy...

I'm friendly...

I reach out...

The only other one to be there was this "huuuuuuge" German Shepherd that looked at me like I was lunch. Not much fun. Peed right there on the floor. Embarrassing! Came home and reeeeeeally appreciated the one that's been there...helping me out everyday.

Thanks Mocca...you're the best!

shots, etc...

Went in to the place they call the "vet" this week and though they are nice,...I found out it is just a front! Sure...they talked to me in their cute voices, "reuben this" and "reuben that," "...oh how cute!" "isn't he just darling?!" They even took me in the back before "the appointment" to introduce me to the other "friends" back there. But when it came time for the exam table there was a sting (...no two stings!) in the butt and I KNEW the friendliness was just a front. (They do have good treats, though!) I should have listened to the other dogs' warnings barking from the back when we went in to the place. Couldn't sit for about a day.

a whole "nother" level...

major, major accomplishment today....
I am no longer dependent on others to get me to the second floor. I have managed to climb the stairs by myself today! The way down is still a hurdle (I tried it a couple of days ago and tumbled half way down...). I have also learned the ropes of getting inside through the convenient "doggie-door" that mocca uses. She makes it look like a breeze. Though I'm not sure about using it to go out...coming in is a done deal. Must be something about that step out going down...similar to the "down" staircase...still gives me the willies! But I feel good about my progress today!

1 week

Today was the first time I got to explore the basement! Seems there's a whole other world down there! New smells, new places to explore, more toys to chew....amazing! We were just sitting there relaxing on the couch...and all of a sudden I'm hearing dogs barking, lions roaring, and other people talking on the big screen. I barked...but no one responded. G-pa was the only one laughing at me. I don't get it. Is this movie thing real or not? I'll have to explore some more.

day 5

Things were going well but the long absences of g-pa and g-ma I was getting tired of staying in the office. Mocca was out and free...why not me. Got a little bored and found out scratching at the do or and carpet didn't make them happy. Also found a few cords and things in the room to keep me entertained but ended up pulling a huge printer-thing down that they weren't happy about either. The longer big bed privileges taken away and...now they have a cage (they call it a crate) I had to sleep in last night. Tried my whimpering...but he didn't seem to cave. Wasn't too bad, though. Still got to spend time in the big bed in the morning. But when they left again...the "crate" was a little confining. One ball and one chewy rope toy is not enough to keep me entertained! Thought I'd take my frustration out on the cushion in the "crate." I guess they weren't happy about that either...now I see g-pa searching the internet for some answers. He'll learn...I'll learn...time is a great teacher...so I hear!