Working-K9: September 2007 Posts

Sunday, September 30, 2007
Boogie down

Don't let it be said that I don't know how to get down and boogie with the best of 'em. Even I, a simple golden retriever enjoy breaking out in dance now and then. True I don't dance in the human sense but if you were a dog you'd rank me up there with Fred Astaire.

Please follow this link and come shake your booty with me!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Too Sexy

Each month I get a bath. I have no say in this, apparently smelling like a dog is a bad thing. Every third bath is a special one. This one is when the guys in the small white bus pull up to the house and give me the full make over. Yes I'm talking about a mobile groomer.

Being a service dog my human doesn't feel comfortable dropping me off at a groomer and picking me up many hours later. Not that I blame her. I wouldn't like being stuck in a kennel for hours waiting my turn. So when I am bathed it's either in the tub at home or in the mobile groomers' bus.

While I will never enjoy a visit from the groomers I must admit that once he is done with me I look fantastic. In fact I'll go as far as to say....

"I'm too sexy for my
too sexy for my
too sexy for my

'Cos I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I shake my little touche on the catwalk

I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me

And I'm too sexy for this song"

© Working-K9 2007 permalink

Monday, September 24, 2007
Shopping with the ladies

Today was one of my favorite days. These days happen two to three times a year at most. Yes today was the day my human re-stocked the dog goodies! Annie was kind enough to bring her human along as well. We all piled in the van and headed out across town. It's a bit of a drive and as usual I dozed off a few times. Annie prefers to look out the windows whenever possible; she's a bit odd but that's ok. It'll be our little secret.

This was the first time my human took me along for this trip and I must say I had never been to a more glorious place. Treat, bones, biscuits, toys, beds, collars and so much more. I thought I had landed in dog heaven.

As usual my human also picked up a few silly items. Mostly stuff to make me look goofy come the holiday season but she did find a new rope toy, chew toy and my personal favorite, the monster bone!

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Service Dog Awareness Day

Today was an eventful day. Today Annie and I went to the Mesa Southwest Museum to see Power Paws demonstrate their service dogs' skills and teach the public about service dogs. By public I mean mostly kids but they'll be considered the general public someday.

We arrived right on time and were ushered right in by the museum staff and guard. Then we had to break the news to them that we weren't with Power Paws. Rather we came as escorts to our humans who wanted to see what Power Paws could do.

Then things got interesting. Power Paws was late and couldn't be reached. The staff was in a bit of a tizzy and had 5 scout troupes coming in throughout the day to see the dogs. For a short time it was considered that Annie and I would have to stay all day and do the demonstration. Naturally we would have, and our humans would have gladly assisted us as well. Thankfully it didn't come to that and Power Paws did indeed show up.

They came with several Golden puppies a few adult Golden Retrievers and even one Golden-Doodle. That's a Golden Retriever Standard Poodle mix. He was rather tall and very poofy looking.

Of course since we were there and people kept asking questions our humans answered the questions and Annie got to lick and cuddle several of the children. She's a therapy dog so she can get away with that. I on the other hand demonstrated my skills at fetching falling objects, obeying simple commands like returning my dropped leash to my human and heeling. I even upstaged the Power Paws dogs a bit by picking a credit card up from the slick tile floor and placing it on a really tall counter top. Then I retrieved it from the counter and gave it back to my human.

Everyone was very impressed. Well, everyone except this one lady with Power Paws. She did glare at me and my human several times. Of course, to that I can only say. Neener neener neener.

I would like to point out that both my human and I do like the Power Paws organization as a whole and think they do a wonderful job training service dogs for those in need. We donate to their group every year and attend their Walk 'n Roll Dog Walk each winter. Its great fun and we are looking forward to attending again in January.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sleeping Arrangements

I do have a kennel. It's very spacious and contains a pillowy soft mat for me to lie on. Do I use it? Rarely. Though I do enjoy taking my chew bones in there to munch on when it's too hot to eat them outside.

When I first moved in I tried repeatedly to sleep on my humans' bed, but she wouldn't allow that. I finally settled for sleeping in the master bathroom shower. Curling up under the shower chair on the nice cool tile feels so good after a long days work. Or a long days nap if we didn't go anywhere on that particular day.

During the colder winter months I'll leave the shower and curl up between my humans' bed and the wall. It's a nice cozy and warm spot when there is a bit of a chill in the air.

I've heard that most dogs sleep all through the night. That's something I never could do. I'm just a restless sleeper. I get up and move around several times each night. Often I'll even go outside and wander around the back yard in the pre-dawn hours, come back in and loudly lap up some water from my bowl. The sound of me quenching my thirst is often followed by my human yelling out “Sandi, be quiet! Go back to bed!”. Ok so maybe I wake her up, but at least I know she's still alive. I figure that's part of my job too.

Lately however things have changed. My human has been shutting me in her room with her each night so I can't go out and wander around at all hours of the night. At first I found this very annoying and would give a quick lick on any exposed area of my human so she'd know I was awake and wanted out. I soon realized that wasn't going to work. I have to give my human credit; she is very good at rolling over and going back to sleep without even acknowledging me!

I'm not really sure why this change in sleeping arrangements has occurred; but I have heard much talk of family coming to stay for a wedding in the near future. Who knows, maybe my human thinks I'll be up all night pouncing on people if we do have a lot of company for a few days. Actually, she'd be right. *evil grin*

Sunday, September 9, 2007
Doggie Day Camp

It was a party, it was crazy fun, the fur was flying and the tails were wagging. The best part was; I didn't have to leave home! Yes my human hosted the doggy day camp at our place. The humans mostly stayed outside in the carport – something about a multi-home yard sale – and we dogs had run of the back yard and kitchen area. Unfortunately my human didn't want a mess in the living room so she blocked off that area and every other room in the house.

Who was there you ask? My stud muffin Raine brought his little sister Jovie and their roommate Jarron. Then much to my surprise Kevinmiller showed up too!! Five dogs in one big yard and some nice cool tile flooring to rest on. It was glorious.

Now everything wasn't all peaches and cream however. While I was making out with Raine Kevinmiller got a little jealous and pushed Raine aside so he could play with me. Oh how I love being the center of attention. Jarron was wise and stayed out of the kanoodling fest and Jovie could have cared less what we were doing. In the end we did all still play and romp together.

The humans were good enough to take turns checking in on us and refilling the water bowl. They even tried to get all of us to sit and pose for a photo but let's face it; that just wasn't going to happen. *laugh*

Every time a human came in to use the bathroom we'd let ourselves in to the bathroom and watch the human pee. Humans need constant supervision you know.

After the sale Raine, Jovie and Jarron headed home and I got to spend a little extra time wrestling before his human showed up to take him home. Kevinmillers endless energy always amazes me. I can pounce on him all I want and he never tires of it.

Once everyone was gone my human let me join her on the bed for a little nap, then I supervised and she cleaned the kitchen. My goodness we dogs sure did leave a lot of hair on the floor.