Happy Holidays From Your FavoriteBlogging Dog!

Hello!  Since it's holiday time, I want to show you the best gift I ever got in my whole life - my family!

This is a picture of me on the first day in my new house with my new family. Those girls are my cousins, Jane and Lauren.

How lucky am I?  I am the luckiest dog in the whole world!  I've lived with my family for almost six years now, and I love having a forever family - it's so much better than living in a crate at the animal hospital.

Here's an old picture of me at the holidays.  Sometimes my Mom puts this jingle bell collar around my neck (it's so annoying, but at least it makes her happy).

Happy Holidays!  Make sure to tell your family how lucky you are to have them!

My brother, Andrew, should share his food!

My brother, Andrew, went away.  He told someone that he missed me THE MOST of anyone in the family when he was away.  Well, you wouldn't know he missed me from looking at these pictures:

Look at how nicely I'm asking him to share just a tidbit of that ENORMOUS pile of food.  Then notice how ANGRY he looks:

 

Look at this HUGE PILE OF FOOD!  How can he eat all of that himself?  What about me?  I WANT TO HELP HIM OUT BY EATING SOME OF THAT FOOD!  After all, he could get sick from eating TOO  MUCH FOOD  at one time.

Like I always say, try to share your delicious food with your dog.  Your dog will love you even more.  Plus, you'll eat less, and nothing is wrong with that.  YUM - I LOVE TO EAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD!

My brother is finally back!

It's about time that my brother, Andrew, got home, especially after I had to wear that shirt:

 

On top of having to wear that shirt, I had to watch TV which is a TOTAL waste of my time.  I'd much rather watch what's happening in my yard.

Luckily, my brother, Andrew, is FINALLY home:

 

Look at how happy we are to see each other.  See a dog really is man's best friend!

Like I always say, if you want a real best friend, get a dog.  No one will love you more.

 

I had another best day of my life!

Last week was very exciting.  All of a sudden, all of these people came to my house.  Not only that, there was A LOT of food, too.  The more people who come to my house means there are more opportunities for me to mooch and get food.  Then, of course, there's my Dad who gives me whatever I want anyway.  I know just how to get my way, too!

 

First, I make sure to make my presence known.  I'm not about to let my Dad eat all by himself.  I'm right there at his elbow making sure that he leaves me some leftovers.  Guess what?  He put his plate on the floor, and I got to lick that plate clean.  I also lick the floor if food falls off the plate.  I'm a very clean and thorough dog when it comes to food.

Like I always say, if an opportunity presents itself, be ready.  Keep your eyes, ears and nose open so you know what's happening around you at all times.  I wouldn't want you to miss out on anything!

More excitement right outside my door!

I just LOVE when I get to go for a walk.  I especially LOVE when there's a delicious treat right outside my door:

YUM!  The first snow tastes the best.  It's a good thing that I have such a big tongue so I can scoop up this delicious snow.  Can you see my tongue in the picture?  After I scoop up the snow, I have to lick my chops a - dogs don't use napkins, after all.

Like I always say, get outside every day and check out what's new in the world right outside your door.  I'm always finding something exciting.  Even a little snow is a BIG treat - especially when you eat it.  Only dogs should eat snow though - NOT YOU!  Leave all the snow for the dogs in your neighborhood - they'll enjoy it more than you will.  Just tell them, Gabi, the Dog, told you this information; after all, I give the BEST advice - for a dog, that is.

This was the best day of my life!

You are NOT going to believe the excitement I had today.  There were some deer in my backyard this morning:

By the way, those aren't the actual deer, but it's close enough.

Any way, my Mom and Dad were going out so they were going to tie me out front.  Of course, I smelled the deer right away.  On top of that, I was up all night barking because I knew that the deer were in my yard.  No one got up to check them out, but that's another story.  Back to the deer, I went bolting after them.  Finally, I got to get up close and personal - I LOVE DEER!  They're even more exciting than bunnies.  The sad part was that they took off - faster than fast.  I didn't stand a chance.  Plus they went in different directions.  One ran right in front of my Mom.  She thought it was me at first - she must need new glasses.  Again, that's another story.  Sadly, the deer got away, but it was so exciting for me!

Like I always say, you never know what excitement is right outside your front door.  You need to be on the lookout EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE DAY!  I hope those deer come back again so I can chase them and bark at them.  Yes, this was definitely the BEST day of my life!

I got another bath!

I sure was lucky yesterday because I got to go to Janet, the Groomer, for a bath.  I even let Janet trim my toe nails, and I never let her do that.  Here's how I looked after my bath:

All I know is that I can't wait to get home and relax, and then there's my family.  They make such a BIG fuss over me because of the bows in my ears.  Now, as you know, I do NOT like the bows.  For some strange reason, they LOVE the bows.  That means MORE pictures.  UGH, I just can't win!

Like I always say, just make the best of any situation, and do what it takes to make your family happy.  All I know is that I ALWAYS make my family happy.  That's because I'm such a CUTE dog (as long as I don't have to wear those AWFUL BOWS).  It's a good thing I'm an expert at getting rid of them!

Check out this video, and tell me what you think!

You know that I don't like getting my picture taken.  On top of that, my Mom painted me, and then took a picture of me with the painting.  As if all this wasn't enough, now my friend, Casey the Dog's brother, has made a video of my Mom's painting of me:


Click here:  Video of Gabi Painting!


Here's the picture my Mom wanted to paint of me, but the lady at the paint store said that this wasn't a good picture because of the shadows - whatever that means.

Like I always say, someone is always going to be annoying or bothering you so you just have to get used to it.  I'm sure I can be annoying, too, but that's just because I want a treat, and my Dad always gives me what I want - that's if I annoy him enough.  Annoying someone can have benefits IF you're the one doing the annoying.  On the flip side, you have to put up with other people's annoying behavior, too.  I hope I haven't been too annoying in my blog.  Also, let me know what you think of the painting video.  Personally, I find it flattering and annoying.

Look what I saw!

My Mom and our friend, Paula, went for our walk in the forest.  The most amazing thing happened.  I saw some deer!

Of course, I knew they were there because I could smell them.  How exciting is this!  I love seeing deer!  They ran away as soon as they saw us, but I wouldn't let that stop me.  I was trying so hard to run after them.  It's the leash - that's the problem.  It keeps me from running away.

Like I always say, be on the lookout for exciting events.  You never know what you might see, especially if you're lucky like me!

Wow! I've been painted!

I must be doing something really amazing because my Mom painted a picture of ME!

I can't believe it!  I feel so special.  I mean, how many people take the time to paint pictures of their dogs?  Plus, the picture looks just like me, and it's a painting of me outside in my yard which is one of my very favorite places.

Like I always say, you can never have enough love and attention.  I sure love feeling like I'm important, and now I know it for sure because I'm in a painting.  Some day I might even be as famous as the Mona Lisa!  Life can be so exciting (although I could do without having my picture taken, but I've given up on that - my Mom never listens to me any way).  I sure do LOVE this painting of me!

Do I really need to Skype?

What will my family make me do next?  I mean they put a cookie on the table, and then when I go to get it, they make me stay standing up:

Then they're all saying, "Say hi to Andrew.  Look, it's Andrew."  This is what I'm thinking:

"My family is crazy."

"Just let me get my cookie and eat it."

"Give me a break."

I could hear Andrew's voice, but he's not here.  I think I got tricked, but at least, I got a treat - even though it was annoying to get it.

Like I always say, if you have a family, they're going to be annoying.  You just have to learn to put up with them and just hope you get some treats along the way.  The treats make it all worth it.  I hope this blog post wasn't too annoying for you.  Thanks for checking in with Gabi, the Dog!

Learning to wait is very IMPORTANT!

You know that I am one very lucky dog.  I also like to be a very good dog because then my Mom takes for rides in the car.  When it's hot out, my Mom even opens the window for me so that I can stick my head out, and she puts the air conditioning on for her.  Now I have a very kind Mom.  When I go places, I end up having to wait in the car.  Don't worry - my Mom or another person in my family always stays with me so that I don't get too hot.  No one should leave their dog in a car on a hot day.  This is another example of how lucky I am.

Any way, here I am waiting again:

 

This is an important lesson that I've learned from all my waiting:  wait quietly and just check out what's happening outside.  I NEVER complain because then my Mom might get mad at me.  Plus, I might not get to stick my head out the window on car rides which is one of my very favorite things to do.

Like I always say, if you have to wait, it's ok.  Just wait quietly and find something to look at.  In the picture, you can see that I'm just enjoying the view.  You never know who might be walking by.

It's a special day today!

Hello!  It's National Dog Day so it's time to celebrate how great us dogs are:

This might be an old picture, but I can still open my mouth that wide which is a good thing - just in case I get something BIG to eat - which I should today since it's National Dog Day.  All my Dad gave me was a whole banana - gone in seconds - thanks to my BIG mouth. 

Like I always say, every day is worth celebrating, especially if you're a dog or you have a dog in your family.  Make sure to tell your dog how much you love him/her - just like your dog lets you know how much he/she loves you.  I sure love when you visit my blog - especially on National Dog Day!

More Fun With Russell, the Puppy!

Russell, the Puppy, is my new best friend!  He loves to come play at my house.  We even have a routine.  First, we wrestle:

We love to roll around in the grass.  We even snack on this grass when we need a break:

All that playing makes us thirsty so we get some water.  Russell, the Puppy, drinks A LOT of water.  He's a very thirsty dog.  I always wait until he's done drinking to get my drink.  One time, Russell, the Puppy, tried to drink water from the bowl at the same time as me.  This is not acceptable or respectful so I had to correct Russell, the Puppy.  I chased him away from the water bowl and barked at him.  He needs to learn to wait for his turn.

Finally, we take a rest together:

 

Like I always say, wait to take turns when you need a drink of water.  Make sure to be respectful to your friends.  If your friend tells you that you made a mistake, think about what happened and see if you can learn from your mistake.  I don't think that Russell, the Puppy, will cut in line to get water again.  You wouldn't try to drink water at the same time as your friend.  That's because you're smart and respectful - just like me!  Keep up the good work by reading my blog because that makes me happy.  See you soon!

Check out this bench!

My Mom and Dad took me for an adventure in the car to visit my sister, Bethany.  Bethany lives in Boston.  I was so excited about this adventure because I got to go in the car and feel the wind in my face.  Then I got to go on a walk in a new place with lots of new smells and dogs.  Everything was very fun and exciting until... 

Here's an example of how a perfectly fun time can change in a flash.

We came to a bench that was different than any other bench I've ever seen.  After talking it over, everyone seemed to think it was a dog bench.  Then my family decided that I needed to sit on it.  Check me out on the dog bench:

Let me make this clear:  this is not a dog bench.  Why would my family think this?  If you ask me, this is a weird bench.  I only went on it because my family made me.  You can't even sit on this bench.  If I could have, I would have run in the other direction and sat on a regular bench.  See the bench in the back of the picture?  Now, that's a people and a dog bench.  Of course, I would much rather sit on my couch than a bench.  At least, my couch has cushions on it so it's comfortable.

Like I always say, some things just don't make any sense - see the bench I'm standing on.  Just because it doesn't make sense, doesn't make it a dog bench.  What does a dog bench look like any way? 

p.s. I got off that dog bench as soon as possible.  Also, if you can explain what this bench really is, please let my Mom know so she doesn't make me sit on it again.

Thanks for your help!

Meet my neighbor, Emerson, the Cat!

I'm so lucky to have such wonderful neighbors on my street.  One of my neighbors is a cat.  His name is Emerson, and he loves when I walk by his house.  Some times he'll come and roll on his back on the sidewalk - right in front of me.  Most of the times, I'll walk over to say hello to him, but I always keep my distance:

As you know, my family got me when I was older, but they've figured out one of my secrets:  I'm afraid of cats.  I admit it:  I think cats can hurt me, and I don't want to get hurt.  I'm getting braver around Emerson, the Cat, but that's because he's always nice to me - even then, I still approach slowly without making eye contact.

Like I always say, play your cards safe, especially around cats or dogs you don't know.  You don't want to get hurt - that's a smart decision to take care of yourself.  People always ask my Mom if they can pet me.  She never actually asks me; she just says "yes."  That's because she knows that I'm a well-behaved and gentle dog when I'm on my leash.  If you want to say hello to me, I would be so happy, especially since you read my blog.  Just remember my excellent advice:  be careful and stay safe, around unknown animals or people.  Ask an adult first to make sure it's o.k.

My cousin, Lulu, the Puppy, came to my house!

This week I had a very exciting visitor, Lulu, the Puppy, who is my cousin.  Lulu is always happy to see me, and I'm always happy to see her.  We both LOVE to sit on my front lawn:

What I especially like about Lulu, the Puppy, is that she gives me my space.  Other dogs have to jump all over me, and I don't mind that once in a while.  I usually like to have some personal space.

Like I always say, you don't have to be in someone's face to spend time with them.  You can have a fine time just being around each other and hanging around.  Just make sure that you're on the same page as your friend. 

p.s. Can you even see Lulu, the Puppy, in this picture?  She kind of blends in - unlike me - I'm big so I'm easy to find.

Meet Russell, the Puppy

I have a new friend and neighbor:  Russell, the Puppy.  Russell, the Puppy, loves to come visit me in my front yard where I am usually sitting.  I'm sitting and waiting for excitement, and Russell is sure full of energy.  Plus, he's always excited to come see me.  First, we chase each other:

Even for an older dog, I can still wrestle with the best of them.  Of course, when push comes to shove, I can always put Russell, the Puppy, in his place:

 Don't worry!  Russell, the Puppy, was fine; I would never hurt him.  I just wanted him to know who was the BOSS!  After all, I'm older and bigger.  Before I know it, Russell will be a REAL dog, and he might be bigger and stronger than me.  I have to take advantage of my strengths - while I have them.

After all our playing, Russell and I rested together:

Doesn't Russell look cute learning against me?

Like I always say, be open to having friends of all ages.  You can teach younger kids important lessons - just make sure to teach them in the right way - by being kind and respectful.  If you're older, you need to set a good example.  Even if you play a little rough, just make sure you're friends afterwards.  It's always fun to make and meet new friends.

Casey, the Dog, and his Mom Come for a Visit!

Casey, the Dog, is my neighbor, and I always like when he comes to visit because I've known him for quite a while.  I especially like when his Mom, Lisa, comes over because she gives me treats.  There's one sure way to win me over, and that way involves treats.

 

As you can see in the picture, I know exactly what to do to get my treat:  I sit up tall and straight, and I smile and look at the person.  In this picture, the person is Lisa - those are her feet.  For some reason, she doesn't want to have her picture in my blog, and I totally understand that since I don't want my picture in the blog either.  Of course, try telling that to my Mom - she doesn't listen to me any way.  By the way, that's Casey, the Dog; just in case you forgot.  He's always happy to come for a visit.  My Mom even gave him a squeaky toy - that's the sure way to Casey's heart; he sure loves squeaky toys.

Like I always say, the way to my heart is through my stomach so make sure to bring me treats if you ever come to visit.  I'll always be thankful, too.  Plus, you might get your picture in my blog - like Casey.  Also, if you want to make someone happy, find out that special way to their heart.  It's always a good idea to keep your family and friends happy.  Here's another way to my heart:  reading my blog.  Thanks for checking in today! 

p.s.  Thanks again to my friend, Lisa, for always giving me treats!

I am the luckiest dog!

Over the weekend, my Mom took me to a yard sale to raise money for PAWS.  PAWS is a caring and generous group who take care of homeless cats and dogs - like me - I was a PAWS dog.  When we went to the yard sale, my Mom told the people, I was a PAWS dog, and I become an instant star!

The nice lady in the blue shirt gave me a new striped collar and a beautiful new leash.  Then they gave me so much attention - which you know I LOVE!  Plus, I look all spiffy in my new collar.

Like I always say, when people are happy to see you, make sure you're happy to see them, too.  I really appreciate when people are nice to me; it makes me realize how LUCKY I am to have people who care about me.  If someone is nice to you, make sure to show/tell them how much you appreciate their kindness - it will make their day!  You make my day every time you visit my blog!

Afternoon Walks with my Mom and Kristen!

Every afternoon I go for a walk with my Mom and our friend, Kristen.  I LOVE when Kristen comes to my house because I know it means that I'm going for a walk!

Today Kristen came over, like every other day, except my Mom said, "Kristen, I have the same shirt as you!"  This is what I was thinking:

"So what!  It's time for my walk already!"

Then my Mom had to put on her shirt that was just like Kristen's shirt.  Finally, we started our walk, but things went downhill because my Mom wanted a picture.  UGH, you know how I feel about that:

 

Did you figure out how I felt?  I hope you guessed BORED because that's why I'm yawning.   Plus, I don't think Kristen was too happy about the picture either.  Oh, well, at least my Mom is happy.

Like I always say, if you're going for a walk, walk!  There's no need to stop and take pictures, especially since walking is such good exercise, when you're on a diet, like me.  Also, when you yawn, you should cover your mouth with your hand.  Since I only have paws, that's impossible for me so excuse me for yawning.

Favorite Walk = in the Forest

Every day my Mom takes me for a walk.  Once a week we walk with our friend, Paula, and Jasmine, the Dog.  We walk in the forest:

I LOVE the forest - there are so many animals and other dogs.  Once I even saw a deer.  These days I mostly see bugs because they like to try to bite me.  I have it under control though - if they bother me enough, I just gobble them up.  That solves the problem quickly - for me, any way.

Like I always say, take a walk every day.  If you can, walk in the forest because it's very busy, and there is A LOT to check out.  You know me, I'm always looking for something to check out, and guess what?  I usually find something exciting!  That's because I always look in the first place.  You never know what you might find.  (Just don't eat bugs, they might make you sick.)

Here we go again.....

My Mom wanted my Dad to take her picture.  Nothing is wrong with that until she decides to put me in the picture, too:

Was it necessary to put me in the picture.  Absolutely not, but since it makes my Mom happy, I just go along with the request.

Like I always say, happily do what your Mom asks you to do.  It will make her happy and you happy, too.  Why?  When my Mom is happy, I can't help but be happy.  I LOVE knowing that I can help make someone smile.  Did reading my blog make you smile?  I hope so because it makes me smile to think of you checking in on me!

Meet my new friend - Barney, the Dog

As you know, I spend as much time as possible in my front yard.  I don't want to miss anything - this includes people and/or dogs walking by my house.  Well, I have made a new friend, and his name is Barney, the Dog:

First, Barney let me check him out since this was the first time we met.  Then I let Barney check me out:

I really LOVE meeting and making new friends!

Like I always say, it's always a good idea to meet and greet new friends.  If you're nice to others, they'll usually be nice to you, too.  Everyone wants to be treated kindly.  Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone was nice to each other?  I hope you'll be my friend by remembering to read my blog.  Thanks for being my friend!

I LOVE going for a ride in the car!

When my Mom says, "Come along," I am right there because I just LOVE to go on any and all adventures.  Going for a ride in the car is an extra special treat, especially when I get to stick my head out the window and feel the wind on my face.  Plus, I get to see all kinds of dogs as we drive along.

Like I always say, enjoy your time in the car.  Looking out the window is so much fun and so interesting.  I just LOVE going for an adventure!

Good News and Bad News at the Vet

Well, my Mom took me to the vet to have my ear checked - thanks to Janet, the Groomer.  I get very nervous when I go to the vet.  All I want to do is get out as fast as possible so I sit at the door and hope that I can go home:

Then the nice nurse, Amanda, came in to weigh me.  She tried so hard to make me happy:

 

You know me, I LOVE attention.  After Amanda, the nurse, weighed me, my Mom had to embarrass me by asking if I peed on the floor again like I did the last time.  I DIDN'T THIS TIME!  Why does my Mom have to ask these questions?   UGH, I don't like when she asks embarrassing questions.

After that, Dr. Pelletier came in to check my ears:

 

Here's the good news:  I didn't have an ear infection!

Here's the bad news:  I gained 6 pounds in 6 months.  Now I have to be on a diet.  This is totally NOT fair.  I LOVE TO EAT A LOT!  My Dad, who gives me most of my treats, says that it's not his fault.  Well, it's not my fault that he always gives me some of his food when I mooch.  I'm only taking advantage of his good nature - I LOVE when he shares his food with me.  That's why I always mooch from him.

Like I always say, life has its ups and downs.  Make sure to eat the right amount of food so you don't have to be on a diet like me.  I hope I can lose this weight fast so I can start having MORE treats - I do love and need my treats.  Of course, I'll still be mooching off my Dad.  It doesn't hurt to try any way.

 

Resting After My Bath

Today I got a bath.  Janet, the Groomer, even says that I have an ear infection so now I have to go to the doctor tomorrow.  UGH!  Just when I think the worst is over, something even worse happens.

In the meantime, this is what I'm doing today:

Here I am in my front yard - my favorite place on Earth - trying to rest and recover from my bath, and along comes my Mom to take my picture AGAIN!  Why does she need another picture?  I always look the same.  Of course, today I smell like soap - SUPER UGH!  I want to smell like a REAL dog.  It shouldn't take me long to get back to my usual delightful smell - I just need to roll around in some dirt and/or rabbit poop - this does the job every time.

Like I always say, life doesn't always go your way, but you'll get through it.  Just make sure to take some time to rest and recover after any BIG events - see above picture. You'll feel much better if you are rested.  Plus, these BIG events just get you ready for even BIGGER events, like going to the veterinarian - check back tomorrow for news on that BIG event.

The Bad Guy

Every morning my Mom takes me for a walk.  I LOVE my walks because I LOVE to check out what's new.  Well, sometimes we see the BAD GUY:

Now I don't know the BAD GUY's name, I just know when he's there - even before I see him.  I can smell the BAD GUY - even when it's dark in the morning.  I just know he's there so I pull my Mom across the street or I try to escape.  I don't want the BAD GUY to come near me.  This is how I look when I see the BAD GUY:

When the BAD GUY is around, I cry, snort and pull on my leash.  Also, I put my tail between my legs because I'm that scared of the BAD GUY.  This is what the BAD GUY says every time he sees me:

"I see you over there.  I don't get it.  I have 2 dogs of my own.  Dogs love me.  I just don't get it."

Oh, well, I don't get it either, I just know he's the BAD GUY, and I don't want him near me.

Like I always say, you're not going to like everyone, but you do have to be respectful.  I'm respectful - I just mind my own business.  That's just what you have to do some times.  I've had a LOT of practice minding my own business when it comes to the BAD GUY.  Of course, if he gave me a treat, I might consider going near him.  At least, it would be a start....

It's a ducky day!

Every morning my Mom takes me for a walk.  I LOVE going for walks because I love checking out what's new in the neighborhood. 

Well, as soon as we got out the door, some ducks landed right in my yard!

 

I couldn't believe how incredibly lucky I was.  I was definitely in the right place at the right time.  I absolutely LOVE ducks.  After all, I am part Labrador Retriever, and that's what labs are supposed to do:  swim out and retrieve ducks.  That's why I have webbed feet so that I can be an amazing swimmer.  These ducks would have been easy to chase - unless they decided to fly off.  Then I would have been out of luck which I was any way since my Mom had me on the leash.

Like I always say, be on the lookout for new adventures because they could be waiting for you right outside your front door.  Make sure to go out and look - if you don't look in the first place, you'll never know what you're missing!

Now I have a Red Sox shirt!

As you might remember, I DO NOT LIKE TO WEAR ANYTHING!  I already wear a fur coat ALL THE TIME!  I don't need clothes.  Well, guess what?  It was my Dad's birthday, and look what he got for a present - a Red Sox shirt for me!  The worst part was:  it was a present from my Mom.  Now she should know better than this!

Why would my Dad's birthday present be a shirt for me?  I don't understand.  Plus, my family kept taking pictures of me like I'm someone famous or something.  UGH - HOW ANNOYING!

Like I always say, just put up with all the annoyances, and don't let anyone know you're annoyed.  Do I look annoyed?  I hope not, but I can tell you, I AM REALLY ANNOYED!  It's hard to get these shirts on, and it's EVEN harder to get them off.  Well, I just hope my Dad enjoyed his birthday present - plus, now Father's Day is coming up.  Help!  What are they going to do to me next?

Just Me and my Mom!

It's happening again - my Mom is slacking off on my blog.  What's a dog to do?  I guess I can get my picture taken.  I guess that's the first step in getting my blog updated:

Here's me and my Mom sitting on the front steps.  Actually, I LOVE to sit on the front steps, especially with my Mom.  The picture - well, I can live without that, but I definitely can't live without my Mom because she takes such good care of me.

Like I always say, some times you just have to do what you have to do - even if you aren't so happy about it.  I certainly don't want to get my picture taken, but I'm going along with it because look at my Mom smile - she's happy.  Who doesn't want to make their Mom happy?  You should make sure to make your Mom happy today by being caring and nice to her. Make sure to tell her how happy you are to see her.  Look at how happy I am in the picture.  See, a picture is really worth a 1,000 words!

My friend, Ken, is the BEST!

Last week, my Mom and Dad took me to my friend, Ken's house.  Ken did not waste any time checking out the available food in the refrigerator.  That is what he found for me:

1.  Rice

2.  Spinach

3.  A pork chop

4.  Steak for dessert

Wow, does it get any better than this?  I don't think so.  That's why I ALWAYS want to go visit Ken - after all, he has the BEST food!

 

I made sure to give Ken a BIG thank you slobber for giving me ALL that food.  I have only one word to describe the whole experience:

DELICIOUS!

Like I always say, you just never know when life will take a change for the better.  When you least expect something, your life will change, and you'll get just want you want - just like me!  Of course, make sure to thank the person who makes your life better.  Also, if I ever show up at your house, make sure to have some steak for me - it's my favorite dessert.

Some New Friends and Getting Teased at the Dog Park

Well, it's about time - I have a new friend at the dog park, and she's a girl dog!

Her name is Sydney, and she's a very nice dog.  We have a lot in common as you can see in the picture.  We even like to look at the same things.

Also, check out another new friend, Walley the Dog!  He's just like me - we like to put everything in our mouths!

 

Or, maybe he's just sniffing that toy - I can't tell.  I can tell that Walley, the Dog, is a strong and handsome dog - just like me!  See, I have something in common with him, too!

Now here's my friend, Hunter the Dog who likes to tease me:

 

My Mom bought me a nice new ball - even though I don't really like to play with these balls - unless they belong to someone else.  Well, Hunter must feel the same way.  He took my ball and wouldn't give it back to me.  I would try to grab it, and he would grab it away every single time.  It was fun for a while, but then I got bored.  That's when Hunter decided he didn't want the ball after all, and neither did I.  

Like I always say, if someone's annoying you, make believe you don't care.  That way the annoying dog or person will get bored and leave you alone.  Also, make new friends whenever you can.  It's always very exciting and fun for me to meet new dog buddies - even if they're annoying.  Teasing isn't really fun so I wouldn't recommend it.  It's much easier to play nicely and get along.  Plus if someone's bothering me, I just wander off and do something else.  That's much easier than getting upset.  I would much rather be happy by myself.

 

How to make good choices and be a smart cookie!

Life is full of choices, even for dogs.  For example, every day I have to decide which couch to sit on.  Of course, I make my decision carefully because I want to be aware of what's going on in the kitchen so I don't miss out on any food opportunities. 

Last week these food eating opportunities were available:

Choice One:

Choice Two:

Choice Three:

                                                         zero = nothing = saddest, but best choice

What should I do?  I didn't want to get in trouble so I made the best choice which was getting nothing to eat.  It's sad but true.  I LOVE TO EAT so this was not an easy choice.

Like I always say, think before you do anything, especially something that might get you in trouble.  It's hard to make the good choices, but it's much harder to get in trouble for making mistakes.  Of course, I learned the hard way; that's why I don't jump on the counter and grab whatever food I want.  That means that it's ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.  So be smart and make smart choices - just like me.  We'll be smart cookies together.  After all, cookies are one of my favorite treats!

I had an amazing day!

 When my Mom, Dad and brother, Derek leave for the day, I'm left all alone in the house.  When this happens, I patrol the house to make sure that there nothing on the floor to eat - remember the jelly donuts I found in Derek's room?  I'm so hopeful that I might find another special treat that I check the whole house - just in case.

Well, last week, I hit the jackpot!  Instead of finding a treat, I found my brother, Andrew, asleep in his bed, and it was light out so I woke him right up.  Later, I heard him tell my Mom that I woke him up early at 9 o'clock - whatever that means.  Any way, if it's light out, it's time to wake up and enjoy the day.

My lucky day continued with a walk around the lake.  I even got to go IN the lake:

How AMAZING is this!  I walked in the lake.  My Mom NEVER lets me do this.

Then Andrew got lunch at Fred's Franks.  I was wondering why they didn't have any treats for me.  I'll even eat food that falls on the ground since I don't care if my food is dirty.  Actually, dirt makes food taste even better.

Like I always say, check out EVERYTHING EVERY SINGLE DAY.  You never know when an adventure is waiting for you right under your nose (that's a snout, if you're a dog).  If you do have an adventure, enjoy every single minute because your life is NOW!  Make every moment count!