I need some opinions!

Well, as some of you may know, Mom is almost obesessed with Retro-Pet. She's decided that it's time for me to get a collar that shows off my personality! We checked out all of the patterns and everything that they have to offer, then Mom and I picked out a few that we really like. We need your help to pick the best one for me. Besides, Mom says that if everybody likes a certain one, she can override my dad's opinion that the collars are "too girly". I don't know what Dad's talking about - I don't wear girl collars!

Anyway...here's our 3 choices. We need your vote to help us decide!

Wow that's a wild collar!

Retro Lime, Baby!

It's my New Collar!

I'm really excited to get my new collar, so let us know your vote!

My mom thinks I'm part Terrier. . .

...because I'm always digging under things.

My bed:

(that's me under there)

and under the couch...

Grrruufff!

Do any of you other doggies like to dig and hide under your human's furniture?

Take Care!

Mmmmm...food

Hi everydoggy out there. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about the new food my mom is feeding me. You see, for a while I was really itchy and I kept scratching myself so much that I got a couple of 'owies' (as my mom calls them) on my tummy and my chest. I kept complaining to my parents and they told me that I might have food allergy. I thought OH NO!!! I can't eat food anymore?! That's one of my favorite things to do! But then I found out that it wasn't ALL food that made me itchy - just chicken.

We went over to Tomlinson's Pet Supply (which is now one of my favoritest places) and we looked at a bunch of different kinds of food that Mom called 'holistic'. I don't know about that, but they all looked yummy to me. After poking around for a little bit, we brought home a bag of Solid Gold Wolf Cub Formula for me to try. Oh man did I like it. It's made with a bunch of stuff called 'bison' and 'salmon'. I don't know who they are, but they sure taste good. I've been eating it for a week or so and guess what? I'm not itchy anymore!

You can look at Solid Gold foods at their website: Solid Gold

Take care!

Tails and Twigs

This is my neighbor, Jessie. We met at the park the other day and played tag for a while. That little white blur in the picture is me trying to get away from him.

We played for a long time until finally Jessie's Mom said that it was time to go home. We live in the same neighborhood though, so we'll see him again.

Mom, Dad, and I stayed at the park and chewed on sticks. . .well. . .I chewed on sticks and they threw them around for me to chase. The bigger the stick the better, and I'll search everywhere for the biggest one.

Mom!!! I want this one!

I can't reach it...

...just a liiiiittttlllee further...

...little more...

...got it!!!

Look Mom! Take a picture, I got it!

Take care!

Funny Comparisons

My mom told me that I look like a bird. "A bird?" you might ask. Oh yes.

Blue-Footed Booby

Pink-Footed Labby

Hehehehe...Somebody got a hold of a food-dyed bone.

Blue-Footed-Booby photo credit to www.greglasley.net/bfbooby.html

From Orion's Mom

Hobbsie

I met Hobbs almost one year ago when Marc's niece brought him home after she and her boyfriend "found" him. He was a small, cute as a button lab mix with little white spots on his nose and a sweet sensitivity that made anyone and everyone want to cradle him. It was soon after that we realized that where they "found" him was an acquaintance's house where labrador/dalmatian mix puppies had just been born. Knowing that this was a large responsibility, most of the family tried to convince them to give Hobbs up. He was so cute and loved however, that their attempts were futile. So for the past year, he's been part of the family. He's become very special to Marc and I in particular. For the past 6 months or so we've been taking him out periodically to train him and get him some exercise. Months ago, we knew that there was something different about him - he wasn't quite labby. Sure, he liked to play fetch, but there was another overriding characteristic that we couldn't quite figure out. Now we've come to understand that his dalmatian mix parent was a dalmatian/heeler of some kind. Man, does this boy like to herd things. He's got all of the skill and technique - including the herding nip. This was never so clear as it was on Friday when we took him out with Orion. He's always been very protective of us, but he stayed on top of Orion all day long, getting in between him and other people and watching other dogs diligently. Since we've figured out a little bit more about him, Hobbs has become especially near and dear to me.

In the past, I've owned many types of dogs - a Lhasa, a Rhodie/Great Dane mix, a Cocker, and of course my beloved labs Hooper and Amadeus. Though I've become quite partial to Labradors (this is why we were certain about where to look when we got Orion), I've ALWAYS loved and adored herding breeds. Unfortunately with work schedules, school schedules, and trying to find time to write I've never had the time to designate to owning a herding dog. Hobbs has made me remember that it would be a mistake (and maybe even a disaster) to try and love a dog when you're not ready to take care of them the way that they should be. Thankfully, even in my younger years, I was smart enough to realize that I couldn't possibly try to make that work. One day in the future, I hope to have the time, space, and patience to love a dog that needs so much attention - because what they give back is so extraordinary.

Knowing Hobbs for this short amount of time, and though he doesn't live with us, I've fallen in love with his intelligence and his desire to please. Not to mention, he's just as handsome as any dog I've ever seen. It's easy to see that he and Orion have become fast friends.

To see more pictures of Hobbs and Orion, check out Orion's Photo Gallery.

Fun in the Sun

Hi everyone! I had such a great day yesterday. Mom, Dad, and I went to my cousin Hobbs' house and picked him up to go to the lake. Hobbs is a lab/dalmation/heeler mix (what a combo!) He likes to retrieve like me, but oh man does he like to herd! He's a really cool dude. We got to ride in the backseat together, but he took my spot! You see, I like to stick my head between the front seats so that I can see where we're going. And apparently, Hobbs likes to stick his head through the seats too. We argued over it for a little bit, but finally we reached an agreement.



After what seemed like forever, we arrived at the lake. It was such a gorgeous day outside - not too cool, not too sticky either - and the sun was shining brightly. We found the perfect spot right by the water. Hobbs seemed to think that I was too little to be out on my own, so he kept nipping at my heels and pushing me under the table. He ran really fast circles around me like this:


Hobbs ran around and and chased the ball into the water and even swam against the current for a little while.

I stayed under the table where it was safe. I like playing around and getting wet, but that big water was too much for little ol' me.

But I didn't want to stay under there for too long. Finally, I convinced Hobbs that I was a big boy and that I could take care of myself. So he said okay and let me come out and play with him . . . but he was never too far behind - watching over me and making sure that I was playing safely. I found a really cool stick and we played tag for a while.

Then he caught me and we rolled around and wrestled. GRRRRRUFFF!! Mom kept telling us to "be easy" and "play nice", but come on now - we're rough and tumble boys!

After a couple of hours of fun, Mom and Dad started packing up and said that we needed to get going. I really didn't want to because I was having fun and I didn't want to drop Hobbs back off at home. He's my bestest buddy, now.

When we got to the car, Hobbs thought HE would drive us home.

Mom talked to him and convinced him that it would probably be best if he let Dad drive us home. After all, he'd been drinking a lot. WATER, of course.

It was a good thing she did, because as soon as we hit the road, both of us knocked out and took a looooooong nap.

We took Hobbs home and then headed home ourselves with lots of memories (and pictures!) from the day. Hobbs really is a good friend of mine now and I can't wait to see him again. All you doggies out there: Who's your best friend?

Until next time, Take care!

New Adventures

So, Mom and Dad told me that they're looking for a new home - a bigger place for all of us. They said they're going to find one with a big yard so I can run around and play with my favorite toys, chase after birds and balls alike, and bask in the sun. I'm even going to get my own wading pool! Since we're all sooooo ready to find a new home, Mom's been spending A LOT of time on the computer looking at houses all over the place. No matter how much noise I made and no matter how many times I barked (and believe me, I barked a LOT), she still didn't get off the computer! And then Dad was looking at it, too! Finally, I gave up and and took a nap. Soon, they woke me up and said that we were going to the park to do something called a "barbeque." I was kind of mad that they had ignored me for so long (like 45 minutes!!!!!), but Mommy gave me kisses and said she would make it up to me. So off to the park we went. I don't know exactly what this "barbecue" thing is, but it sure smelled good! We played around in the water and played some fetch. I found this really cool dead snake, but my mom wouldn't let me near it. I ran around a bunch and we stayed until the sun went down.

I'm going to meet my cousin, Hobbs on Friday and if it's nice weather, we're going to go to the lake!!! I'll definitely tell you all about it and maybe post some pictures (I'm sure Mom will take some.)

Take care!

Let sleeping dogs lie...

...in their favorite labby sleeping positions, of course.

Tuesday was such a busy day for me! First, Lani and I played tag all through the house. She would jump up on a table, then she'd jump onto the couch and I'd go crashing over the table to run after her. I was JUST about to tag her when Mom stopped me. I think she was a little angry that everything that was supposed to be on the table was on the floor, but I gave her my best 'I'm sorry' look and she started laughing at me. I think it might have been because some of the stuff that was on the table (namely the ketchup and the jelly) was all over my face and chest. (Mom wishes she had the camera.)
After all of that excitement and a quick bath, it was time to go back to the vet's! It was just a quick visit this time; I didn't even see Dr. Cottier. Denise gave me another shot, but it didn't hurt too much. They told me that it was a Bordetella shot and that it's really important. I need to go back in 6 months to get it again. Everybody wanted to play with me and I did some tricks for them out in the waiting room. And then the best part! My mom gave me my Heartgard chew. I can only have it once a month, but it's my favorite!
Then it was off to the park! I got to roll around in the Blue Bonnetts for a while, dig in the dirt, and run around after birds. My mom wouldn't let me swim though because she squished that Frontline stuff on my back. I'm supposed to have it every month so that I don't get fleas and ticks. It's the best stuff out there because I don't get itchy at the end of the month.



When we left, I was soooo tired. The second I got back into the car I stretched out and took a nap on the way home.

It was too bad I got a bath earlier that day because I was DIRTY! Shh...don't tell Mom, but I left muddy paw prints on the carpet.