I had the BEST treat!

I got left home ALONE yesterday.  Well, when I'm ALONE, I need to find something to do.  Here are some of my favorite activities to do when I'm ALONE.

1.  Look out the back sliding door for bunnies.

2.  Sniff around the house to see if there are any good smells, like food.

Well, yesterday, I hit the jackpot!  I sniffed my way around the house and into my brother, Derek's room, and I found a bag.  Not just any old bag, it was a bag FULL OF AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS JELLY DONUTS!  Hey, it's not my fault he left this bag inside another bag on his floor.  I mean, my snout is on the floor all the time.  That's just the way dogs are made.

Here's the bag:

I must admit that I was very neat and very thorough.  I didn't leave any crumbs, and the bag is still in one piece.

More importantly, Derek got those donuts for my Mom - who LOVES jelly donuts.  Now she won't have to eat them because I beat her to it.  After all, I'm just helping her stay on her diet.  Actually, she should be thanking me for saving her from all these calories.

Like I always say, be on the lookout for opportunities, especially if they involve getting to eat delicious treats or getting to see amazing sights like a deer or a chicken.  Remember, if you don't look in the first place, you'll never find out what you're missing. 

Happy New Year!

Good news/not so good news....

Today started out promising.  I was supposed to get a bath, but Paula couldn't take me.  What a relief!  I wouldn't have to wear bows after all.

Then my Mom bought me a shirt.  You know me - I DO NOT LIKE TO WEAR ANYTHING!  Now I've been wearing this all day:

Of course, everyone has been giving me so much attention which I actually like, but why do I have to wear a shirt? 

Like I always say, REAL DOGS DO NOT WEAR CLOTHES!  Clothes are for people, not dogs.  The things that I have to do to make my family happy can be quite annoying.  When is my family going to leave me alone?  At least I can go outside and recover from my newest humiliation.  I can't wait to get this shirt off.  Hopefully, my luck will be better tomorrow.

My cousin, Lulu, came to visit!

I had an amazing and exciting day yesterday!

My Mom is trying a new idea.  She opens the front door, I run to the front yard, I go to the bathroom, I run back in the house, I get a cookie.  I LOVE this idea because I get a cookie for going to the bathroom.  That's easy enough.

Yesterday, she opened the door, and within seconds, my Aunt pulled into the driveway.  Then, my grandfather pulled into the driveway, too.  I was jumping up and down on their cars because I was jumping with joy.  I know that when my grandfather comes, I'll be getting plenty of munchkins - he always makes sure to give me A LOT.

Of course, Lulu, the puppy, is not allowed to get munchkins.  My Aunt says munchkins make a dog sick.  Hmmm...I never get sick of munchkins.

Any way, here's me checking out Lulu:

 If you ask me, Lulu kind of reminds me of a cat because she's small like a cat.  She also wears clothes.  On top of that, she's always getting picked up.  That's not possible with a dog like me - I'm way too big to get picked up.

Lulu decided to focus on one of my Christmas gifts.  My brother, Andrew, gave me a Moo Tube, which is a cow trachea (part of the cow's throat).  I mean, it's a fine gift and all, but I'd rather have real food like munchkins.  Since Lulu can't have real treats, she was quite delighted with my Moo Tube.  She even brought it home with her.

As you can tell, I'm happy to share my Moo Tube and couch space since I'm an easy going and definitely not jealous dog.

Like I always say, share those treats, especially if you share them with me.  Also, you won't see me wearing one of those sweaters or getting picked up and carried around.  I just want to be liked for who I am - just like I like Lulu for who she is.  I'm a perfect dog just the way I am.

My friend, John, is one of my favorite people!

Just a quick update, my Dad came home a few days ago.

Before he came home, I was so sad.  One night I just walked around the house.  I cried outside my brother, Derek's door.  Then I went and cried next to my Mom's bed.  I was so lonely when my Dad was away.  Plus my Mom kept leaving me home alone.

Then a miracle happened!  It was dark out, and John came to my house to get me.  He took me to his house, and 3 cats live there.  I tried to eat their food, but I didn't get to eat any of it.  I got to lay on John's couches, and the VERY BEST PART, I got to sleep on the bed.  Talk about having one of the best nights of my life - I LOVE sleeping on the bed.  John has a wife, Kathy, and I got to sleep in the bed with her, too.  It's a good thing that we could all fit since I'm on the BIG side.

The next day, I got LOTS AND LOTS of attention from John and other people who visited the house.  My life just got so much better that I forgot about how sad I was.

Later in the day, John brought me home to my house.  Here's a picture of him on my couch:

Since he let me sleep in his bed, I let him sit on my favorite couch.  He's pretty lucky, too - just not as lucky as me.

Like I always say, make sure to appreciate the special people in your life, especially people who let you sleep on their bed.  Also, never give up hope.  Just when I thought I wasn't going to get special attention, my luck changed, and I got MORE attention than I ever expected.  Remember:  you can never have enough special friends so make sure to tell them how much you appreciate them TODAY!  I sure do appreciate John giving me so much love and attention!

Happy Holidays!

Being With My Family + Sleeping On The Couch = My Idea Of A Perfect Time

As you know, I LOVE my family very much.  I pretty much live to take care of them.  That is my job, after all, keeping them safe. 

Here's a picture of me and my brother, Andrew, having a fun time:

 

Notice how most of my good times involve one of my couches.  I have 3 favorite couches in the house, and you can always tell where I sit by the black fur that I leave behind. 

 

Well, all that fun makes me tired so I need to take a nap:

I'm always happy to join my family on the couch, especially if we can nap together.

Like I always say, try to squeeze in some time either sitting or napping on the couch.  It's a great way to recharge your batteries so you can feel more rested.  That way you'll be ready for any adventures that come your way, like playing in the snow.  I'm going to sleep well tonight after watching my Mom shovel all day. 

Namaste.  That means that I hope you find peace and happiness in your life - just like me!

Not again - my treats have disappeared!

Oh dear, I am a little sad these days.  My Dad has gone away to Florida, and now I'm not getting any treats.  Here's an example of how I look when I'm waiting for him to come home:

When I get outside, I like to sit on my front steps and check out the neighborhood.  First, I see if Midnight the Cat is outside in her bushes.  Then, I look for any bunnies or squirrels.  Next, I make sure there's no dogs walking by.  After that, I sit and wait.  These days I'm waiting for my Dad to come home so I can start getting treats again.

By the way, see that blue car?  That used to be my Mom's car.  I used to get to ride along in that car, too.  Now we're driving around in the little car.

Like I always say, get outside and check out the neighborhood.  There's always something going on - even if you have to wait a little while.  The scenery is always changing so it's much more interesting than sitting on the couch watching TV.  Also, if you drive by and see me, remember I'll be waiting for my Dad to come home.  I really need a treat - this is a desperate situation indeed.

WHAT?!? Time for a reality check!

I can't believe this!  Someone gave my Mom this mug as a gift:

I have an ENORMOUS problems with "DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO."  Here are my main reasons:

1.  I am truly a dog in every way.  I wear a fur coat all year long.  I walk on 4 legs.  I will eat anything and everything (the only person who comes close to the eating requirement is my Dad, and he doesn't eat everything, like mushrooms and rabbit poop, to name a few).

2.  My seeing, hearing and sense of smell are MUCH BETTER than any person's.  Who knows there's a coyote in the yard in the middle of the night?  If I didn't howl and bark, no one in my family would know.  See how lucky they are.  It's a good think that I'm on the ball.  I wouldn't want my Mom to miss out on any of the excitement - even if it is the middle of the night.

3.  How many people do you know who jump up and down; scratch the floor; and/or do a dance every time you come home at the end of the day?  Only a dog would do this for you.

I mean, I could go ON AND ON AND ON to prove my point, but I think you get the idea.

Like I always say, a dog is a dog NOT A PERSON.  We are very special and unique, and it is an insult to a dog to say that we're people.  I LOVE people, but I LOVE being a dog more.

Plus, do I look like a person to you?

 p.s. Food falls in the couch, and it's my job to get it out from under the sofa cushions.  I sure am a useful and helpful DOG!

December is Delightful with Moe, the Dog, Guest Blogger!

What a delightful way to start December with a guest blogger - my friend, Moe!

Hi Gabi!  You have to know who to stand next to at dinner.  Grandma always shares with me.

 

I ate too much turkey.  Time for a nap with my brother, Alex.  I hope you got turkey today, too.

Thanks, Moe, for checking in today.

Like I always say, eating is always fun.  That's why I LOVE to eat whenever I can.  I think Moe LOVES food as much as me.  We sure are lucky dogs!

Winner, Winner - I got a TURKEY DINNER!

The other day was AMAZINGLY EXCITING!  First, my grandfather came over with the Munchkins which you already know how much I LOVE those.  Then my aunt (the one who hates ALL dogs) came over with her family and my new cousin, Lulu, who's a PUPPY, by the way.  Any way, there was SO MUCH FOOD, and I got to lick A LOT OF plates clean.

Here's an example:

See that - dreams really do come true!  I was wishing for a chicken dinner, but I got a turkey dinner instead.  You won't hear any complaints about that from this dog.

Like I always say, be thankful for any plate-licking opportunities.  I even shared one of the plates with my cousin, Lulu, who's really a dog (even if my aunt call her a "good girl).  I'll take whatever I can get, even if it's leftovers or crumbs.  Something's always better than nothing, especially when it comes to food.  I LOVE TO EAT MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD!

Happy Birthday and Happy Pointing!

Today I want to wish happy birthday to my grandfather who turned 81 years old last week on November 21st.  Here he is standing next to a person with a bird on his shoulder:

 

 

 

 

I really LOVE my grandfather because he LOVES to give me treats like Munchkins.  Anyone who gives me treats is one of my favorite people.

 

This is another first for my blog.  I'm getting to wish Happy Birthday to another dog.  Last week was Poppy, the dog's birthday, too.  Her birthday was on November 20th, and she turned 8.

 

 

Unlike me, I wonder if Poppy got a birthday cake.  I'll have to find out.

 

Over the weekend, I went for a walk in the forest with my Mom AND my Dad.  When I'm in the forest, I like to keep my Mom up to date with any animal sightings.  This is what I do if I think there might be an animal nearby:

 

 

This is called pointing.   Pointing involves lifting one of my front paws and looking toward where an animal could be.  Notice how I point with my whole body.  Dogs point to alert their owner that an animal is in the area.  After all, it is my very important job to protect my Mom and Dad from any danger.  I am exceptional at pointing because I can SEE, HEAR AND SMELL better than any person.  My Mom should be thanking me for doing such an awesome job keeping her safe because I take my job very seriously.

Here's another important point.  This is one of the very few times my Mom actually listens to me.  She stops and looks because she wants to see the animal.

Like I always say, celebrate any and all birthdays of anyone you know.  Most importantly, pay attention to your dog's body language.  If I didn't do this, my Mom would never know about the possibility of seeing a forest animal.  She actually gets excited to see animals in the forest - JUST LIKE ME!  Be on the lookout today for something exciting to see today. 

 

Winner, winner! Chicken dinner!

I LOVE going on adventures because I never know where I'll end up or what I might see.  Here's an example from the fall:

I saw a chicken - how cool and amazing is that!  Can you tell how amazed, fascinated and interested I am?  This is the first and only time I've ever seen a chicken, and I just can't believe how lucky I am to get so up close with one.

Like I always say, every day is a new day.  Enjoy what you're doing and seeing because there's always something new and exciting to learn.  If you're feeling bored, make believe you're excited and interested, and maybe your thoughts will be real.  Try it out, and you'll be a winner like me.

p.s. I didn't really get a chicken dinner, but maybe next time I will.  In the meantime, I'll just dream about having my very own chicken dinner.

Why don't some people get the message?

I really don't understand why my Mom doesn't listen to me.  She knows quite well that I do not want to get my picture taken.  Unfortunately, she never gives up - as you can tell in this picture from the weekend:

I'm out front trying to enjoy myself, and here she is with the camera - AGAIN!  I think you can easily tell that I ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT MY PICTURE TAKEN!

Like I always say, sometimes you just have to look the other way and forgive the person who is annoying you.  I mean, what else can I say or do?  She's never going to listen to me any way.  It's a good thing I love her so much.  More importantly, it's more important that I can FORGIVE her for her flaws.  You should try forgiving people, too.  It's much easier than being angry. 

p.s. I feel much better now.

Where in the world has Gabi, the dog, been?

I have been so busy lately that I haven't been able to write in my blog.  I have missed all my friends who have been waiting for me to write.  Well, I'm back, and I must say that it's about time, too.

Here's a picture of me taken today by my Dad:

I must admit - I can sit so tall and straight.  Actually, you should sit tall and straight like me.  It's much better for your back. 

Any way, let's get back to my exciting life.

My Mom has this thing that wakes her up every morning.  It actually wakes me up, too, because I have excellent hearing, and the noise is so loud.  After she gets up, we go for a walk - IN THE DARK - which I don't mind at all since I have excellent night vision.  Well, we were walking down this street, and I could see this person, a dog, and this moving light.  I was getting scared and nervous because the person seemed nervous.  The person and the dog were trying to hide in a yard.  When we got close to them, my Mom said:  "Hi, Edie.  It's just me and Gabi."  So far, so good.

Then this person told my Mom, "I thought it was a coyote."

She thought that I was a coyote.  Is that a compliment or an insult?  Here's a picture of a coyote to help you decide:

Like I always say, be careful when you're outside walking in the dark.  Look where you're going and make sure the street is well lit so you can see who's coming.  Make sure to bring along your dog so the dog can protect you.  I would never let anyone hurt my Mom.  Also, be careful what you say, especially if you think it might hurt someone's feelings.  Be glad that no one will ever think that you're a coyote.  I'm just a proud dog who loves my family and the people who read my blog.  I'll be back soon with more news to make up for last week.  See you soon!

 

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH! Why did I need another bath?

I really don't understand why I need to get a bath because it happened again today.  I got shipped over to Janet the Groomer's with my friend, Paula.  I mean they are really nice to me and give me a lot of attention, BUT I don't need to be clean.  To make matters worse, Janet the Groomer, always has to make me look like a girl dog:

Did I REALLY need blue bows?  Did I REALLY need to get my picture taken AGAIN?  Most importantly, did I REALLY need a bath?  If you look at the above picture, I'm sure you can tell exactly how I feel about the whole situation.

Like I always say, some times you just have to put up with aggravating situations.  I was not happy about the bath and the bows, but I didn't say anything.  I didn't complain - I just put on my "I'm not exactly happy" face.  I'm sure I'll be getting another bath and more bows before I know it.  I just have to accept that I have to be clean every once in a while.  It's actually a small price to pay because it makes my Mom happy.  Hopefully, I'll be able to roll around in some dirt tomorrow.  Then I can smell like a dog again.

p.s. I got rid of the bows as soon as I could.

Hooray! It's Halloween and my Birthday!!!!!

Today is a very special day in my life.  It's my birthday!

Actually, when the Dog Officer took me from my first family, he forgot to ask when my birthday was.  I guess it must have slipped his mind.  Any way, when I went to live at the VCA Animal Hospital, they had to estimate my age and when my birthday would be.  They told my Mom that my birthday would be at the end of October.  My Mom, who can be rather forgetful, decided my birthday should be on Halloween, October 31st.  Plus, our good friend, Lisa (Casey, the Dog's, Mom) has a Halloween birthday.  How exciting is that!  I get to share my birthday with Lisa!

My Mom and Dad have already said Happy Birthday to me.  Some dogs - not me - get a birthday cake.  Check out this example:

 

How cute is that!  I hope it's meat flavored because dogs like the taste of meat rather than sugar.

 

Like I always say, celebrate your birthday by having a delicious treat - like that cake - YUM!  When it's someone's birthday, make the person feel very special.  I hope I made Lisa feel special because I'm wishing her a Happy Birthday in my blog.  This is the first time I've wished anyone a happy birthday in my blog. 

 

Also, have a safe and happy Halloween.  Be super careful when you're walking in the dark, especially when you cross the street.  Enjoy a special treat for me, too, since it's my birthday.  By the way, I'm 6 dog years old; that's 42 in human years.  Luckily, I'm still younger than my Mom and Lisa.  Oh, well, age is just a number, isn't it?

 

Hooray! My Dad is home! Now I can get treats again!

This is the most amazing and best news ever!  Yesterday my Mom said, "Come along.  Let's go get Dad."  Well, I'm always ready to go on an adventure in the car so off we went.  Then, after a while, my Dad got in the car, and I was the HAPPIEST DOG IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

The whole way home in the car I stood up, and I didn't take my eyes off of him for one second.  I wanted to make sure he got home and gave me a treat.  This is very important business, after all.

After he got home, I watched the Patriots' game with my Dad and my brother, Andrew:

 

This is the best part of sitting on the couch:

 

My Dad loves to give me A LOT of attention which I, of course, LOVE AND APPRECIATE A LOT!

 

Like I always say, celebrate whenever possible, especially if it involves someone special in your life.  Make sure to let your family know how much you love them every day.  Make sure to appreciate any and all treats every time because every treat is the best treat ever.

 

Where are my treats? Where is my Dad?

This is horrible news.  My Dad is in Florida, and now I'm not getting any treats.  I've resorted to watching the door so I know the exact moment he comes home so I can start getting treats again.

Here I am staring at the door where he comes in every day.  Of course, I'm always happy to see my Mom because she takes me for walks and feeds me my dinner.  I need my treats!  I need to mooch at dinner!  I need to jump on someone!  When is my Dad coming home already?

Like I always say, appreciate your family - especially the person who gives you treats.  Enjoy every single treat you get because you never know when the treats will disappear.  Also, make sure you keep an eye on the door to your house so you know who's coming and going, especially if it's someone special.  In the meantime, enjoy some treats for me because my supply has dried up.  Life can be so difficult sometimes.
 

I saw a deer in the forest the other day!

Every Sunday morning when it gets light out, I go for a walk in the forest with my Mom and our friend, Paula.  Of course, I have my eyes, ears and nose open for any activity.  Most of the time, I have my snout on the trail, and I pull my Mom and Paula along for our walk.  While they're walking and talking, I'm working my tail off making sure it's safe in the forest.  Well, last Sunday, I saw a deer run across the road.  My Mom and Paula were too busy yapping so it's a good thing that one of us (namely, me) was paying attention or they would have missed this:

Like I always say, be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.  You never know what you might be missing if you don't look in the first place!
 

How to communicate without words

As you know, dogs cannot speak with words.  It can be very frustrating for me sometimes because I can't seem to get my family to know what I mean.  Of course, my Dad usually gives up and gives me a treat.  That's not so bad, but there are times when I have to resort to other means of communication.  For example, I was sitting on my couch looking into the kitchen to see if my Mom was about to eat anything.  I ALWAYS have my ears open for sounds like the refrigerator or the cabinets.  I wouldn't want to miss out on any food opportunities.

Any way, I was just looking at her, and the next thing I know, she gets the camera.  UGH, I didn't want to get my picture taken so this is what I did:

I think I got my message across, don't you?  I DO NOT WANT MY PICTURE TAKEN!


Like I always say, pay attention to what your dog or another person does.  Obviously, I didn't want to get my picture taken, but that didn't stop my Mom from taking my picture.  Be on the lookout for non-verbal cues or hints.  People can also "say" things without using words.  I can usually tell by a person's tone of voice if they're happy or angry.  Plus, check out the person's body language.  Of course, you can always get annoying people - like my Mom - who doesn't listen any way.  Sometimes you're better off just turning your back and putting your snout in the corner.  You can't get in too much trouble if you're just minding your own business.

Find out what dogs do when they have a play date

How exciting is this!  Casey, the dog, came over to my house.  I love having human visitors, but having a dog visitor is really exciting and rare.  Here are some pictures from our fun visit:

Of course, Casey and I have to look out the back sliding door.  We wouldn't want to miss out on any of the action in my backyard.  You never know when a bunny is going to be there.

When we needed a rest, we sat on the couch:

Having a friend over IS THE BEST!

Like I always say, invite your friends over to your house and make sure that you all have a terrific time.  I can tell that Casey LOVES my couch.  Also, you can tell that he doesn't mind getting his picture taken.  Me, I'm thinking that we should be able to relax IN PEACE.  Why do people always want to take a picture?  I'm resting on the couch - what's so exciting about that?  Of course, I do LOVE my couches.  It's a good thing I can rest and relax on the furniture at my house.  Some dogs aren't as lucky as me.  I'm such a lucky dog, and I'm going to appreciate my good luck EVERY DAY!  By the way, you should appreciate your good luck, too.  Have a lucky day!

 

Terrific - Tanner, the Dog, is guest blogging!

Hello!  I am so excited to announce that Tanner, the dog, is my newest guest blogger!  I LOVE HAVING A GUEST DOG BLOGGER!  Plus, he is so cute - don't you just love the way he looks?  I would love to meet him myself.  Here's his picture:

Here's what Tanner has to say:

HI! My name is Tanner. I am a cockapoo. I don't really like my breed name. Can you guess why? Yes, because it has the word "poo" in it. Gross me out! I am a mixture between a Poodle and a Cocker Spaniel. I am very soft and I don't shed because I have hair instead of fur. My family likes that I don't shed. I was named after the Woburn Tanner's.
Do you have something that you just love so much? I do! It's my red thing-a-ma-jig. I love to play with it in my paws and chew on it. My mom will sometimes throw it so I can go fetch it too! My red thing-a-ma-jig just makes me so happy! I also have a secret. When my family leaves for the day I sneak up on the big, yellow, comfy chair in my living room. It is my favorite place to rest while I wait for them to come home. I'm not allowed on any furniture in my home so I hope I don't get caught one of these days. My comfy place makes me feel so good! Is there a comfy place in your home that makes you happy?
My mom works at your school. She always talks about how working with the kids and teachers at the Goodyear School makes her so happy! Can you guess who she is?

 

Wow, Tanner can't go on the furniture!  I'm glad that my family lets me go on the furniture so I can leave lots of black fur and dirt wherever I sit. 

Like I always say, every family and dog are different, and that's ok.  It's important that we accept and respect our differences.  As you can tell, Tanner and I are VERY DIFFERENT, but I still think he's awesome for sharing his story with me.  I love seeing how other dogs live.  The most important thing is that all of us dogs, are happy wherever we are because we love our lives and our families.  I hope you do, too.

My Sunday Walks

On Sunday, I went for TWO walks.  I went on my usual morning walk in Breakheart where I love to walk in the forest. 

Then my Mom took me for a very long walk around Horn Pond in Woburn.  When we first got there, I saw a horse.  I wanted to go check him out, but I just got pulled along with all these other people and dogs.  It was very crowded.  While we were walking, I saw the horse again - up close and personal.  When I saw how ENORMOUS he was, I pulled as fast and hard as I could.  Horses are huge - he makes me look small.  Yikes, it was scary!

The best part of the walk was meeting two clowns.  One of the clowns is named Spatz - he used to be in my Mom's class last year.  Does he look familiar to you?

In the background, do you see those red pants?  Those belong to Jimbo - another clown!

Look at Jimbo's shoes - they're so big and colorful.  He walked around the whole pond wearing those shoes.  I wonder if his feet hurt.

I know that I was quite tired after this walk - that's why I could only write a little yesterday.  Today I rested on the couch while everyone was at work.  Some times it's really nice to have the house to myself, especially when I need to rest and recuperate from all these walks.

Like I always say, walking is great exercise.  Plus you get to see and smell the sites.  If you walk too much, take it easy the next time so your body can get a rest.  I LOVED meeting two clowns - I think they liked me, too.  Clowns and dogs have a lot in common - we LOVE to make people happy.  Also, we love to smile.  I hope I made you happy today when you read my blog.  Have a happy day!

My cousin, Lulu, came to my house!

This weekend has been so busy that I can barely keep my eyes open.  Today I'll tell you about Saturday, but I'm too tired to write any more so check back tomorrow to hear about the rest of my very busy weekend.

As I was saying, Lulu, the puppy, came to my house.  For some reason, my Aunt calls her "a baby" or "a good girl."  Lulu is a dog - just like I'm a dog.  Of course, she can't call me a baby since I'm full grown and BIG.  She should refer to Lulu as a puppy because a dog is a dog even if it's a puppy.

Lulu loved my yard, and she found an old bone which she chewed on A LOT.  When she was done, I chewed on the bone, too.  Check it out:

I sure am big compared to Lulu.  No matter how big she gets, I'll always be MUCH BIGGER.

Like I always say, accept dogs for who we are.  We come in all different shapes and sizes, but most of us have good hearts.  We all want to be loved for who we are.  Also, remember we are DOGS, not people! 

I'm tired so I'm going back to rest on my couch - I need some beauty rest.  Until tomorrow....
 

Life is back to normal.

Alas, today I had a very usual day.  I went for my walk in Breakheart.  I went to the dog park.  I ate my dinner.  I laid out on the front lawn.  I laid out in the backyard.  The highlight of my day was going on the trampoline with my brother, Andrew, and his two friends.  Finally, I ate my second dinner.  Now I'm laying on the floor.

Where's the excitement?  Where's my miracle?  What can I tell you that's exciting?

Well, here's the truth.  Life is what you make it.  That's right, I can choose to be bored and complain OR I can choose to be happy and appreciate the great life that I have.  I have made a decision - I am going to be happy and thankful for my life. 

Check out this picture.

As you can see, this dog is not letting anything stand in his way - he's jumping right over and moving on.  He's taking action - he's moving ahead.

Like I always say, no one wants to listen to you mope around and complain about how hard your life is.  You have a choice, and I hope you'll make the same choice as me:

HAPPINESS!  GRATITUDE OR THANKFULNESS!  APPRECIATION!

Do your work and move on - it might be easier than you think, if you just do what you need to do without thinking and complaining so much about it.

Please let me know what you decide so we can be happy together and celebrate our good attitudes!

Guess what? Now it's a MIRACLE weekend!

Last week was Miracle Week on my blog.  I never knew this many miracles could happen to me. 

For example, this morning - when it got light out - my Mom and I went for our usual walk.  When we turned the corner, we saw our friend, Ken, who called me over.  Just a reminder, I LOVE Ken because he once gave me a steak to eat!  That is the one and only time I had my very own steak, and I've been very thankful to Ken ever since. 

Of course, I ran right toward Ken and took a quick turn to the side door.  After all, the food is INSIDE the house - I do have my priorities:  FOOD FIRST, SLOBBERY LICKS SECOND (to say thank you, of course).

Check out my very delicious first meal of the day:

 

This is the best meal I've had in a very long time!  It's been quite a while since I got my first very own steak, after all.

 

Then, when it got dark out, my brother, Andrew decided to have some candy in an orange wrapper.  Well, he accidentally dropped the candy, and I gobbled it right up - paper and all. 

 

Like I always say, take advantage of every tasty miracle that comes your way.  You never know when delicious food is going to fall into your lap so gobble it up right away before someone else beats you to it.  As you know, I NEVER share my food, especially when it's absolutely delicious.  Yum, I still remember how much I LOVED those meatballs.  I have to admit that food miracles are definitely the tastiest miracles, that's for sure!

Miracle Week Finishes Up With A VERY MAJOR MIRACLE!

I am the proudest dog right now - my brother, Derek, has gotten a job!  How exciting is this news!  He's going to be working as worker for a congressman in Peabody.  Here's a picture of a very happy Derek with his very favorite dog:

As you can see in the picture, I am congratulating Derek with my paw.  Derek has been looking for a job for months and months so he is over the moon that he got a job.  It's a sensational way to end Miracle Week here on my blog - I LOVE GOOD NEWS, and reporting a miracle is ALWAYS the best news.

Like I always say, celebrate the BIG events in life - like finding your first job.  I love celebrating whenever possible - especially when I have the opportunity to lift my paw.  Hey, wait a minute, I think Derek should reward me with a treat since I shook paws with him - I better go find him and remind him that I deserve  a treat, too.

I hope you all enjoyed Miracle Week here on my blog.  Remember:  miracles are happening ALL THE TIME so be on the look-out - you just never know.....
 

It's another miraculous miracle - A GUEST BLOGGER!!!!

This is the BEST WEEK EVER!  I even have another miracle to report - I have a guest blogger!

Now let me introduce you to my guest blogger.  Check her out - she's definitely more my size, too.  Here is Poppy, the dog:

 

Let me turn the blog over to Poppy:

 

I'm so happy to be a guest blogger at Gabi the Dog's blog because I'm a rescue dog, too.  We have so much in common.

Actually, my real name is Fox Craft.  Of course, that's my racing name - my real name.  My nick name is Poppy.  I prefer to be called Poppy because everyone I know calls me Poppy.

Did you know that racing dogs always have two names?  I'm only called Fox Craft when I'm racing, but I've been retired for six years now.

Even though I am willing to admit that I LOVE to race around outside in my yard and around the house, I make sure that I stretch first.  It's always a good idea to stretch before any exercise so the exercise is fun.  Plus, running makes me smile every time.

When I'm not running or walking around my neighborhood, I am just the BIGGEST couch potato there is.  The only time I get up is to greet people at the door.  I don't bark at the people who come to my house because I just don't like to bark.

It took me a while to get used to being in a house.  Everything was different than what I was used to.  The steps, for instance, were very hard for me to get up.  The steps are still hard so I have to run up the steps.

Well, it was nice to visit Gabi the Dog's blog, but I have to go now and get to my bed because I'm very tired from all this blogging.

Poppy, the Dog

Thanks to Poppy for being a guest blogger!  Poppy actually belongs to Ms. Marcia who works at my Mom's school. 
If any other dogs want to guest blog, please let me know.  I'm always happy to share the limelight.

This is the MOST MIRACULOUS EVENT EVER!

I have to be honest, I am still quite pleasantly surprised and amazed that my Aunt bought me a fancy dog collar from Hawaii. 

Wait until you hear this!  This piece of news just about knocked my white socks off!  (If you haven't noticed, I have built-in white socks - see the picture to the side of this post.)

My Aunt got a dog!

Even though she always used to say, "I hate ALL dogs," she still got a dog.  How miraculous is this!  I don't know if there is a miracle that could top this one.  She even got a black dog - just like me, almost.  Her dog is going to be much smaller than me, and her dog has hair, not fur.  These are just small matters - A DOG IS STILL A DOG NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL, NO MATTER FUR OR HAIR.  Not only that, she is head over heels in love with her dog.

Here's an actual picture of Lulu, my new cousin:

This puppy is so small - especially compared to me - I'm feeling like a giant dog now.

Like I always say, welcome any new members of your family with open arms.  I LOVE having a DOG cousin.  I am absolutely amazed that my Aunt - who used to HATE ALL DOGS - has an actual dog!  Life is full of surprises and miracles! 

Make sure to check back tomorrow - just in case there's another miracle - you just never know.

Another Miracle to Report!

I live across the street from a very beautiful, black cat named Midnight.  Midnight and I go way back because we're always looking at each from across the street.

Some times, when I go for a walk with my Mom, Midnight will be outside, and I get to go over to say hello to her.  Even then, I give Midnight her space.  Actually, she usually hides under a table and looks at me from a safe spot, but I'm very careful not to get too close any way - I don't want to get hurt.

Well, one day, a miracle happened!  Midnight's Mom let me come into Midnight's house.  Wow, I went into the house where she lives, and I got to see Midnight's food and water bowls!  I even helped clean up the floor by licking up any crumbs.  I'm always a very helpful guest, if you ever want to invite me over.

Here's proof of my actual visit:

 

As you can see, Midnight and I are very careful not to invade each other's personal space.  We are still getting to know each other, after all.

Like I always say, take advantage of every opportunity you get to explore new experiences.  You never know when a miracle will take place.  I never expected to get so close to Midnight, let alone go inside her house.  All I can say is that I am one lucky dog to have a get together with a cat, and we get along - as long as we keep our distance, that is.  Midnight and I are getting to know each other slowly - you can't become friends with someone overnight - friendship takes time.  In the meantime, I'm just going to be thankful for having Midnight for a neighbor and for getting to see her house up close and personal.  Also, if you ever want me to come clean the crumbs off your floors, please let me know - I'll be right over, and I'll do a very thorough job, too!


 

Miracles do happen!

Let's begin with a review:

I have an Aunt who does NOT like dogs at all - that includes me - even though I never did anything.  She just said:  "I hate ALL dogs." 

Well, it's a good thing that I never gave up trying to make her like me because she bought me a special dog collar in Hawaii.  That's right - last summer, she and her family went to some big island in Hawaii - wherever that is.  Since there were hardly any stores, she only bought two gifts - a cap for my grandfather and a pink, flowery collar FOR ME!

Check out this very fancy collar:

Well, I am speechless to say the least because this is a MAJOR miracle - she has finally seen the light - dogs are OK after all.

Like I always say, never give up hope.  I was hoping my Aunt might decide to consider liking me, and what do you know?  She bought ME - a dog - a fancy collar.  I feel so honored and special.  Miracles really do happen - just make sure to stop and appreciate the miracle when it does happen, and let the light shine down on you - just like in the above picture.  Getting a fancy collar just made my day!  I LOVE MIRACLES!

Wow! Check out this information from the Uncommon Dog!

This lady contacted my Mom about MY BLOG because her company is looking for QUALITY dog blogs.  Of course, you already know that my blog is a QUALITY blog - that means it's an awesome blog.  How could it not be awesome - I'm the main character!  The company wants me to show you this information.  Did you know that my ancestors were wolves? 




This is all pretty amazing and fascinating information.  No wonder my Mom says that I'm one of her best friends!  It's true - DOGS ARE MAN'S BEST FRIEND!  I can't say it any better than that.

Also, you can check out the web site who sent this to me at:

www.theuncommondog.com/

Tell them that Gabi the Dog sent you!
 

AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!! - More Bows!

It has happened again - I got sent to Janet, the Groomer.  This time, I got RED bows on my head instead of on my ears because Janet, the Groomer, figured that I would have a harder time taking them out.  Plus the RED bows matched my collar.  Never fear - I got the bows out, but it did take a little longer than it normally does.

Not only did I get RED bows, I am clean and spiffy.  Why do I - a dog - have to be clean?  I LOVE to be dirty; not only that, I LOVE to smell like I've been rolling in dirt.  Dirt makes me smell delightful.  Have you ever smelled dirt?  If not, try it out.  Plus, you should take a good look at dirt - IT'S THE BEST!

Look at this picture.  How happy and excited do I look to have RED bows on my head?  Exactly, that's why I should NEVER get bows or a bath ever again. 


Like I always say, dirt can't hurt you.  Dirt is part of the Earth, and we should enjoy any dirt we find.  Let's face it - dirt is very useful in so many ways.  Plants need dirt.  Animals make their homes under the dirt.  Dogs absolutely NEED dirt to roll in so we smell delightful, just like the Earth.  Smelling like the Earth is a much healthier smell than the smell of soap - if you're a dog, that is.

The Joys of Napping in the Sun!

Here's a picture of me enjoying one of my favorite activities:

Look at me - I can sleep so soundly under the right conditions which include warm sun and warm bricks.  I just LOVE being able to sleep on the job.  Of course, I am still working even though I'm asleep so don't be fooled.  If I hear or smell anything suspicious, I'm on the case.  Nothing/ no one walks past my house without me knowing about it.  I need to protect my family - I know where my next meal is coming from.

Like I always say, if you're tired, and you have the opportunity to sleep, take a nap.  Naps are very important and useful, especially if you're tired.  Isn't everyone tired at some point during the day?  If you take a short nap, you'll feel rested and refreshed.

By the way, why do they call short naps "cat naps"?  Dogs take short naps, too, as you can see in the above picture.  I'm going to call my naps "dog" naps because I'm a dog and I'm taking a nap.  That makes much more sense, doesn't it? 

It's National Dog Day - August 26th!!!!!

It's a happy holiday today known as National Dog Day!  This holiday was started in 2004 to bring attention to shelter dogs - I USED TO BE A SHELTER DOG!  Actually, I lived in a crate at the VCA Animal Hospital - I guess that's close enough to being a shelter.  Luckily, my family came along and decided to take me home.  I went from a crate to this:

Yes, my life took a definite turn for the better when my family adopted me.  I am A VERY LUCKY DOG!  As you can see in this picture, I get to join in Sunday dinner because my Dad LOVES to share his food with me.  If you look closely at his plate, you can tell that I've already licked it clean, and now I'm trying to see if I can mooch any other goodies from him. 

Like I always say, EVERY DAY IS NATIONAL DOG DAY if you have a family who loves you.  Hey, that means that every day is a holiday for me, and guess what?  It's true!  Make sure to celebrate your dog today!
 

Introducing my friend, Dillon the Dog, from my neighborhood

You probably already know about my friend, Dillon the dog, from the dog park.  He's the dog whose Mom has nicknamed him Dill Pickle.

Any way, I have another friend, Dillon, too.  This Dillon is a very handsome yellow lab.  Yesterday he was even wearing a bandana around his neck.

Just for the record, I DO NOT LIKE any type of adornment such as barrettes, raincoats or bandanas.  I LOVE the way I look just the way I am - I don't need or want anything to detract (take away) from my natural beauty.

By the way, I LOVE Dillon's Mom.  Every time Dillon and his Mom walk by my house, they stop by for a visit.  Dillon's Mom tells me that I'm beautiful, and then she says that I'm very laid back.  You know me - I LOVE MY COMPLIMENTS!  Then, and here's the BEST part, she gives me and Dillon a treat!  As soon as she asks, "Who wants a cookie?", I know EXACTLY what to do.  I sit up tall and straight, and I put up my front paw.  SHE LOVES WHEN I DO THIS!  Of course, I am willing to do what it takes to get a treat.

Here's a picture of me and Dillon sitting and waiting for our DELICIOUS treats:

Like I always say, get outside and check out the neighborhood.  When the weather is perfect, there is A LOT OF action going on right outside your front door so DON'T MISS OUT ON ALL THE FUN!  I go out AS SOON AS POSSIBLE in the morning because I don't want to miss any opportunities, and you shouldn't be missing out either.  Enjoy the great outdoors while the weather is fine, and don't be surprised if you see a lot of dogs out and about.  You never know, some day you might even see me so be on the lookout for a beautiful, big, black dog with white paws who has the name, Gabi.  In the meantime, you know you can always find me right here on my blog.

Fabulous Fun At The Dog Park!

One of the BEST parts of going to the dog park is greeting your friends.  Here's a picture of me saying hello to my friend, Lucy:

Lucy is a regular at the park on Sunday mornings which is when I usually go. 

Here's something important to know about dogs and our tails:

1.  When a dog's tail is up straight - please see picture above of my tail - that means a dog is feeling confident and secure (sure of herself).  For example, I'm VERY SURE that Lucy is happy to see me, too.

2.  When a dog's tail is straight out in the back, that means a dog is feeling OK - neither happy nor sad.

3.  When a dog's tail is between its legs, that means a dog is worried, scared or nervous.  If your dog's tail is between her legs:

A.  She's made a mistake and feels very guilty.  (Remember:  before you think about getting angry at your dog, remember how your dog ALWAYS forgives you!)

OR

B.  She probably needs a little TLC (tender loving care).  Of course, dogs ALWAYS LOVE TLC so please don't wait until our tails are between our legs - WE LOVE ATTENTION!

Back to the dog park....as always, Dillon was very generous and shared his ball with ME AND LUCY!

Again, notice how Lucy's tail is up in the air, and she is totally focused on the ball.  Me, I'm taking a breather.

Since I don't want to leave Dillon out, here he is - he's also taking a breather - just like me!

Like I always say, if you need a rest, TAKE A REST!  Some times you just need to catch your breath and regroup.  Also, make sure to keep an eye on your dog's tail - see if you can tell how she is feeling.  Make sure to greet your friends when you see them, and make sure to take turns doing what each of you wants to do.  It's BORING if the same person gets to control what everyone else is doing - YOU NEED TO TAKE TURNS!  Remember:  every day can be a walk in the park - you just need to make good choices - like us dogs!

Treats are terrific and tasty!

As you might already know, I LOVE TO EAT, AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE TO EAT TREATS!  Now most people expect me to sit before they give me a treat.  There is always an exception to every rule, and the exception is my Dad - HE'S EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT GIVING ME TREATS THAN I AM ABOUT EATING THE TREAT!  When my Mom buys treats for me, she tells my Dad, "I bought some treats for you."  That's because he loves and enjoys the treats as much as me.  Now that is really TRUE LOVE.

Back to reality....like I was saying, before someone gives you a treat, they expect you to sit.  Here's an example:

For example, in the above picture, Casey's Mom, Lisa (those are even her feet in the picture - if you were wondering), is offering us a treat.  Look at how OBEDIENT AND WELL-BEHAVED we are!  We want to get our treat ASAP (that's an abbreviation for as soon as possible).

In addition, I also add in an extra special movement:  I lift up one of my front legs.  Why?  People usually say, "Oh, look at how cute!" or "Oh, she's saying please!" or "I love when she does that."  Being as smart as I am, I have figured out that I get MORE TREATS when I lift up my front leg.  Wow, how amazing and lucky is that!

Like I always say, if you want to earn a reward like a treat, be extra polite, respectful and well-behaved.  People notice these things - remember how I lift my front leg - IT REALLY WORKS!  Not only do I get a treat, I get COMPLIMENTS!  Compliments make me feel proud and good about myself.  I REALLY LOVE THAT PROUD FEELING, and I want you to feel it, too.  So remember - say please and see if you can earn some compliments today!
 

Living the Dog's Life

I certainly do have THE BEST LIFE EVER!  I never forget how lucky I am to have a forever family.   You might not know this, but dogs like me - big and black - are the last dogs to be adopted.  It's sad to think that people judge you on your size and color, but that's life.  Of course, I have no idea what color is so I LOVE EVERYONE! 

Here's a picture from June.  Let me introduce you to Lola - she's behind me, and she's a puppy.  Just think - she's not full grown yet; and people think that I'm BIG.  Being a puppy means Lola has TOO MUCH ENERGY FOR ME!  I did play and hang out with her because she was visiting my house, but she wore me out. 

Like I always say, DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!  Take time and get to know someone, and if you're super lucky, you might have a new friend.  You can't be friends with everyone, but you can try your best to be respectful to everyone.  Lola respected my need to have a rest just like I respected her need to run around.  Some times you just need to go with the flow - that's why I'm such a flexible dog.  If I can do it, you can, too!