Holiday time and all that excitement!

Happy Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This blog entry was written by the Roadster~

Yep it's that time again.  That time of year when I can't wait to convince that evening vistor who comes down the chimney with care dressed in his best red suit and boots that I really was a "Good Boy" all year long.  

In order to help keep all the excitement and changes that happen around this time of year down to a minimum, my parents try their best to keep my routine as usual as possible.  I still have to be on my best behavior when visitors come to the door.  I still follow my feeding routine.  But I find that I have to really try and be on my best behavior with guests once their are in the house.  Not jumping up on them or trying to climb into their laps.  I have to be reminded that they may not want to play all the games I want to.  As long as my parents stay in turn with how I am feeling and maintain my excitement level to stay well below my threshold, our guests have a good time, I stay out of trouble and the Santa Dude is none the wiser.  :-)

Take care everyone and looking forward to a great 2012!!!

Playgroup and Boarding-

Hello everybody!


Apologies for being away for so long.  Here's what has been going on.  Mom and Dad have been slammed with their jobs, having to go to places like Phoenix and working on something called F12.  One of the largest shows that they do sent them far, far away to a place called Sunriver, Oregon for a really long time.  Okay well not a really long time but 15 days on the doggie clock is like "Forever!!!" 


So when Mom and Dad get really busy, I get to hang out at one of my favorite places, Pooch Hotel!!!  I get to play with all kinds of dogs there, hang out with the staff and sleep in my own kennel space with my buddies in the same room.  Mom and Dad can check in via a web cam to make sure I'm playing well with others.  And then at the end of my long stays, they send my parents a report card.

I did well, but had a few time outs because I get too excited.  Mom had given them a heads up that I sometimes need those time outs to calm myself down.  And the staff at Pooch is awesome!!!  They are very in tune with the playgroups and keep all us dogs at a good level of stimulation for play.  


Mom and Dad are still trying to find the right formula for feedings while I board because I play so much that I tend to lose weight.  This last time I was being fed 2.5 times a day and I still lost pounds.  And as my girl Lola can testify I do not have much that I can lose. 


Playgroups and boarding have played such a large part of my development into a well balanced pooch.  I learn how to play nicely and when there are mentor dogs in the group, my poor behavior gets gently corrected.  I learn what is okay in the dog world regarding manners and styles of play.  


Needless to say, as much as I enjoy my time at Pooch Hotel, it's way better being at home with the pack.  I'm tired so off i go back to a nap.  Till next time!!!

Operation Bar Exam-

That's right I took the bar exam today.  Not the kind legal people take.  The one I took was a 2.5hr exam where I joined my humans with a friend of theirs for lunch at the local Rock Bottom Brewery where they allow dogs to sit at the patio outside.

So to set me up for a successful outing we walked around the Pruneyard to get my yayas out.  This helped me get familiar with all the sights and sounds surrounding the area where we would be hanging out.  We also went at a time when the brewery was less busy, post lunch rush.

There was an English Bulldog and a pit bull mix hanging out when we got there.  I was able to walk calmly past them without caring.  We took a table off to the side where I could sit on my mat and enjoy my peanut butter stuffed Kong.

The first two dogs left but not before a 170lb Mastiff joined the party.  Now I wasn't so sure about this dog, mainly because I thought it was a cow.  So I got a little fussy.  Momma did what I think she thought was best which was get up and take me for a quick walk away from the situation so I could calm down.  We returned to our table and I opted to turn my back from the Mastiff and relax.  Then I decided that I wanted to relax under the table and not on my blanket.  I quietly laid down looking quietly at the huge dog but didn't say a peep, which must have made my humans very happy because I kept getting treats.

Then the family with the huge Mastiff left and his big head shaking startled me a little bit so I woofed. But quickly looked at momma who told me to relax and lay down again.  Next came a tiny young puppy who didn't know that staring is rude, but I took her staring as a sign that she wanted to play.  I couldn't contain myself and woofed again.  But my humans were on it and reminded me that I had to be a good example for this young pup, so I settled back in my spot under the table while they finished their meal.


Gosh, who knew this test would be so hard and last forever!!!  Well okay maybe not forever but 2.5hrs is a long time for a teenager like me.  But I'm told that I did well and if I were being graded I earned a B.  So hopefully we changed a few people's minds about dogs like me.  Till next time!!!

Playmates-

I love play dates!!!  I live for play dates.  But due to many doggie parents not knowing how to read doggie body language or how to be familiar with doggie play styles, playing at a dog park isn't exactly the best option for me.  Too often the attitude of dog owners at dog parks is to let the dogs "figure it out among themselves" instead watching what's happening and intervening when needed.  Ya see, my bully face could be the first one blamed should anything negative happen at the park; even if I'm not involved.  Mainly this is because the public fears dogs that look like me, believing what the media tells them instead of taking the time to learn on their own.

How do I get to play with other dogs you might ask?  Through well matched playmates who are owned by responsible humans of course.  Each dog's temperament and play style is considered; as well as any behaviors they are working on.  If a match doesn't work, we don't force it.  Instead we go for a walk as a pack and socialize that way, thus being able to still have a positive association.  Also each of Momma's friends are very familiar with dog behavior and help watch to make sure no one gets too excited, snarky, nervous, or aroused.  When each dog's human is involved in managing energy levels with the well matched dogs, the play date continues to be a positive experience for all.  I prefer chase me games and wrestling games.  Now you know why momma and my doggie friend's parents watch us while we play.  It's this pibble play style that can get any dog super excited when playing.  So time outs and breaks are also key to aiding in a successful play date.     

Here is my friend Abbey and me playing together earlier this summer.

And here are some photos of me playing with my best girlfriend ever Lola.

 We love wrestling on the big pillow beds!!!

 Here's me going in for a quick smooch!

 And Lola likes to whisper sweet nothings into my ear.

And I'm crazy about her.  I follow her every where!!!

Cheers!!! 

I'm Swimming!!!!!

Yesterday I got to go up to Livermore with my friend Cara and her momma.  We met another dog named Chilly and her momma at Starbucks (I like hanging out at Starbucks).  Then we all drove out to Del Valle State Park to go play.

Chilly is what her momma calls an "Elderbull".  But I would have never thought Chilly to be old because she could swim with the best of them!  Her momma threw her tennis ball way out into the water and Chilly jumped right in after it.  Cara and her momma did the same and man does Cara swim fast.  Of course seeing those two have all that fun I couldn't wait to try it out.  "Throw the ball Mom!"

We had so much fun!  Check it out!

Hi!!! I'm Roadie!!!

This is how i usually greet most people and dogs.  It's very rude and my humans are teaching me that I shouldn't be introducing myself that way.  I'm learning that I should look to my humans for directions but it's soooo hard with the things I find distracting....Which is everything.

Dogs, cats, garbage trucks, semi trucks, my ball, food...You name it and there's a good chance that I'm distracted by it. 

But I'm told that my humans have the best resources and tools available to them to help me out.  This is where Our Pack, Inc classes and HikeABulls hiking group come into the picture.  8 months ago I began classes with the trainers and dogs of Our Pack.  There are all kinds of dogs there and each of them are working on their own issues just like me.  Ya see, I don't like being on leash.  I'm not able to do what I want, which is great people and dogs.  And when I wasn't able to do what I wanted, I would get frustrated and I would let everyone know I was.  It's taken a lot of time but I've gotten much better with keeping myself calm and containing my outbursts.  I still have them once and a while but i go into "recovery" quickly, which make my humans very happy.  Classes and hiking have helped me become a more balanced dog and taught my humans how to read me better and keep me calm.

And guess what!!  I even earned my CGC certificate.  My humans are very happy about this but what made me happy about it was getting a new toy.  I picked out a stuffed rat and we named him Dave.

Stay tuned for more of my adventures!