A playdate for Hawkeye!

So, who says only people can have friends?
Last Saturday I was invited to my friend Dexter's house to play in his backyard. So who, you ask, is Dexter?
Dexter is an almost-year-old brown dog called a Boxer, and we met at intermediate obedience class. We liked each other, and talked during class. (That didn't go over too well, as we both got the Coke can stuffed with pennies shaken at us so we'd be quiet.) We stopped the barking, but when "socialization time" rolled around at the end of each class we'd play tug with the same toys and roll around on the floor. Turns out we're about the same weight, so it was an even match. Sometimes I got the rope, and sometimes Dexter did.
Our people saw we were having fun, and when classes came to an end my mom and dad, and Dexter's mom, decided we should get together. Apparently they have things called "schedules", though, and it took a few weeks for them to pull it off.
But before I could figure out the calendar in the kitchen, mom and dad put the leash on me and we all went in the car to Mary's house to play. Dexter was excited to have me in his home--so much so that we were quickly ushered out the back door to play. We both ran around on the deck, down the stairs, through the yard, and around in crazy circles. We pounced, we chased, we rolled in the dirt, we ran after a squirrel, we panted, and we drank water from bowls that Dexter's mom thoughtfully provided. (Boy, was she surprised to find out how much labs like to stick their feet in the bowl--guess Dexter doesn't do that!)
Mom and Dad got to hear the story of how Dexter tried to eat a bat before he had his rabies shots--that could have turned out badly, but he survived his quarantine, the bat wasn't rabid, and THEN Dexter got his shots and could come home. So glad I never met a bat!
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to another play date with Dexter in his fenced backyard. It's good to have friends.

How I Helped the Hawkeyes Beat Penn State

So, it's fall now and dog life continues. If you have been reading my blog from the beginning you know how I got the name of "Hawkeye". If you haven’t been following me all along, here’s how: the first night in my new home my parents’ college football team, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, were on TV and beat rival Minnesota 55-0. So that very night they changed my original puppy name of Astro to Hawkeye.

Since then, the Iowa Hawkeyes have gone 4-0 in football. When last week’s Iowa vs. Penn State game started I was having a nap in my crate upstairs. Penn State was rated #5 in the country, while the Hawks were not even voted in the top 25. (Silly sportswriters--what did they know!?!) The Hawks were trailing Penn State 7-2 when I was coming down the stairs to go out. On my way down, the Hawkeyes blocked a Penn State punt and returned it for a touchdown! After coming in I joined the family to watch the game on the big TV. Iowa went on to WIN 21-10 in a huge upset. So there you have the story of how I helped the now-ranked #13 Iowa Hawkeyes keep their winning streak alive. I'm a good luck charm!

Other than that, I've been doing regular dog things. I had a birthday (I'm a year old, as of September 17), graduated from intermediate dog obedience school--although Mom says I'm not really more obedient, I've just practiced more--and I've grown bigger and stronger. I now weigh more than 60 pounds. (I know. I really need to change my blogger photo to be more accurate.) But some things never change. I"m still a bit skittish when I hear the sound of garbage trucks and school buses. I still have to dig in the couch cushions because you never know what might be under there. And I LOVE to rip through rather expensive tough dinosaur chew toys. They're even more fun when torn to shreds and you can trot around the house with various dino parts in your teeth and throw them into the air. I have perfected a great game of throwing my own tennis ball and then chasing it when no one else will play. And today all three of us dogs treed a cat! (How exciting!) This was an outdoor cat creeping through the backyard, not one of the "usual suspect" cats that live in the house with us. Oh, joy! And barking! Even if we were only looking through the back door.

More later.
Hawkeye

Too busy to blog . . .

I know it’s been 3 months since my last blog posting, but I have been very busy. First I was going to elementary dog obedience school, graduating in mid-May. (Insert scanned picture of my graduation). While my class only met once a week, I had homework assignments that took up a lot of time. Like practicing with my parents: stay, sit, down, come and drop it! I also worked on extra credit like: find mommy, find your bone, and crate. Can you believe they signed me up for the intermediate course? What more could I possibly learn!?!

A week after I graduated, I was collaterally affected by my human sister Jordan’s wedding on 24 May. She and her fiancé Mike brought both of their dogs, my BFF Cori and his sister Luna, to my house 1 week before the wedding. (Insert scanned picture of me playing with my dog cousins). Luna likes to play rough. But unfortunately for her I had been watching the Capitals vs the Penguins hockey playoff games. So if Luna was giving me a tough time I just body slammed her against the cabinets in the kitchen.

I also had to spend time in my new, blue wading pool. Even though I’m originally from Georgia, I didn’t recall it being HOT. (Maybe because I lived there in November?) Anyway, it is HOT here, and that has particular meaning for a very black dog like me—we heat up faster! We need to be cooled off in a wading pool. I learned right away to check the water with one front paw, then add one more, and then hop in with both back feet. That’s why us Labs have webbed feet—we were made for water. Within a few seconds of going out the back door I sit in the water, stick my nose under and blow bubbles, and then stand up and dig at the bottom of the pool so the water flies out! Pools are lots of fun, and you can shake water all over the deck if you really try.

Now you know why I have not been blogging.

My BFF Cory

As you can tell from my earlier blogging, I have a very good life. I have parents and a vet who take good care of me. I have people-siblings who love to play with me and bring me new toys. But unfortunately, my Maryland dog-siblings Murray and Daisy, who in people years are 12 and 13, do not ever, ever want to play with me (:

On the way to living here, I rode up from Georgia with my dog-sibling Luna. Luna can flat out play! She taught me several of my favorite games. Unfortunately, like the title of the last episode of Star Trek the Next Generation, “All Good Things Must End,” and Luna drove home after Thanksgiving with her people mom and dad, Jordan and Mike. And I was left with the stuck up, grumpy and way-too-unenergetic Daisy and Murray to not play with. Even pulling Daisy all the way across the kitchen floor by her tail would not motivate her to play with me!

Right after Christmas break Jordan and Mike discovered Luna’s only imperfection: even though she loves to play with her people and brings her A-game every time, she is not fond of snuggling. BUT, Luna had made friends with someone at Pawtropolis doggie daycare while there for Christmas vacation. Jordan and Mike liked the friend dog, and they brought him home to be part of the family. The new dog was eventually named Coriollis, or Cory for short. Everyone is happy because Cory snuggles AND plays.

Cory drove up with Jordan for spring break. He is a black and white colored boy dog about 1 year old. Cory doesn’t talk about his puppy days, but apparently he was out on his own and has a burn mark on his back to show for it (poor guy!). I have videos of me and Cory playing together (I’m the all black dog if you forgot) in my parents house--but, oops! Dad forgot to download them for me. Boy dogs just love to have FUN, and you'll have to take my word for it.

When Cory arrived at my house he had already gone through puppy “boot camp” training. He knew the proper response to the commands: SIT, DOWN, STAY, and OFF. He impressed my parents by not always pulling on the leash when being walked. At the time we met, I was always pulling my people wherever I wanted to go. So impressed were my parents by Cory’s training that I was enrolled the next week in my own puppy “boot camp” training.

During spring break Cory left my house for a few days to play with Mike’s family dog Sadie, and then went home with Jordan as Luna missed him a lot. It took me several days to stop looking for Cory at my house. But now we text each other whenever someone leaves their cell phone within paws' reach. (Don't tell!)
Hawkeye

A Typical Day in My Life

I used to wake up before my mom and dad, but since something called “daylight savings time” they now get up before I do. Mom or Dad opens the door on my crate right after the alarm goes off and the radio man starts to talk . . . and then I step half-of-the-way out and stretch my front legs. Then I step all-of-the-way out and stretch my hind legs. This is when I routinely get complemented on how much I gave grown overnight and get my leash connected to my collar.

Next, I lick whomever opened my crate door and then get up on the bed and lick whomever didn’t. Then it’s time for me to go OUT. On the way, I take a quick chew on the nearest toy, and when the bedroom door is opened I stick my head out into the hall and reconnoiter for cats. If any cats are lingering, I stare them down until they cower and slink away. (For this story, I’ll ignore the times when they fluff up their fur and hiss at me.) When my counter-cat mission is completed I make a mad dash down the stairs, pulling my person behind me. I stop at the front door and walk out on the front porch, hoping nothing scary like a big truck, a snow plow, a school bus, or a jogger is going by.

When the coast is clear I head out into the yard and, having done so much since waking, I pee right away on the grass. Then I walk into the driveway and look for the morning paper. When I see the paper, I approach it from my right side and turn my head 90 degrees towards it so my parent knows where it is. (I have no idea how they found it before I came to live here.) After that I walk around our yard looking for things to smell and sticks to nibble on. Then it’s to my secret lair, where I poop on groundcover vines. (Well hidden, but I still hope it will keep away outdoor cats and other dogs that may stop by.)

Then it’s another mad dash to the front door. Once inside I get my leash off so I can go into the kitchen where my big brother and sister have been sleeping. Once in the kitchen, I serpentine wiggle towards the laundry room where my food dish is—every inch of myself is excited about breakfast! I get 1.25 cups of puppy food and a puppy vitamin each morning. Then the laundry room door is closed so I do not steal food from my siblings, as they eat slower than I do.

When they are done eating, I am let out of the laundry room and then sprint to the community dog water bowl for much lapping and splashing—this always results in puddles. (No water in the bowl? I just dig in the metal bowl and make a ruckus until they pour more.) After that, I sit by or under my parents while they eat breakfast and read the paper that I found for them. Following their breakfast I get leashed and go OUT again for a post-breakfast voiding. (That’s British-speak for going to the bathroom). Next, I say goodbye to mom and dad takes me upstairs into my bedroom where I pretend to get tricked into going into my crate by chasing a yummy treat he tosses in for me.

I nap and chill in my crate till my dad comes home and we repeat the stretching and going OUT like when I wake up in the morning.
Next it’s into the kitchen and family room area where my big brother sniffs me (he must be losing his sight) and then tells me that although I am getting bigger he’s still Top Dog in the house. Next I go to see my dog sister, who still has not forgiven me for pulling off all the fur from the tip of her tail when I was a little puppy.

After that its PLAY time for me and dad. We play fetch, and tug, and slobber until his glasses need cleaning. Then dad gives me a CHEW toy and we watch a show he recorded for me while I was asleep (luckily I like Sci-Fi TV shows) and then we watch NCIS on the USA network (Abby is my favorite cast member, as she saves military dogs from bad things). I like to chew my toy cuddled up by my dad while he pets me in between playing with his BlackBerry and keeping track of the TV.

When mom comes home all three of us dogs bark like crazy as it means time for DINNER. Mom feeds me while dad feeds my big brother and sister. After we are done with dinner and “have taken care of business” outside its time for a short evening nap. (I strongly suspect that the people eat their dinner during this time.) After my evening nap there are hours of uninterrupted playing, walks, watching TV, chewing on toys or playing tug, going OUT and, if I’m lucky, chasing cats!

My day ends with one last trip OUT and then its upstairs to play seal. (You don’t know about the seal game? It involves a tennis ball and squirming around while writhing on the bed.) Then I let them trick me again with a yummy treat, and I get into my crate for a good night’s sleep. I am very lucky to have typical dog days that are so filled with fun and love!

Growing by leaps and bounds!

Much, much puppy news these days. I have been growing like crazy--and I have fur! No more trips to the vet for dips, no more smelly baths, and no more nakedness! My back has fur, my face and neck have fur, I have fur on my legs, and there's just soft black fur all over me. I look like I should--that is, like all the other Black Lab pups on YouTube. (Have to go with that, since I've never seen a Black Lab in these parts, and my memory of my dog mom is getting a bit fuzzy--or furry, as the case may be.) But as you can see from my lovely photo, I'm now proud of my looks. It just took awhile.

I've been learning lots of things. I'm almost trained, and go to the gate between the kitchen and the hallway when I need to go out. I have learned that those tasty little treats that come out of a red crackly bag on the upstairs bookshelf are meant just for me, and I get one every time I run to the door of my crate and wait to go in. (This involves jumping and barking because I'm so excited with the thought of those yummy little things.) And, I've learned that after a long day at work, Mom and Dad will spend hours playing with me in the evening--but if I go nuts and "get bitey", I have to go into my crate. I've also learned to jump up on the bed and wake Mom up in the morning, because Dad almost always hears me first. I've learned to walk on the leash and not act like an idiot, and walks in the neighborhood are pretty enjoyable. I've learned that it is hard to walk on ice, and that you fall down if you run on it. And another thing: I eat in the laundry room by myself, and am left there for a few minutes while the big dogs eat. When someone comes to the door to let me back into the family room, I hold my dish in my mouth and look cute--and I've learned that I get extra hugs and pats for that.

Now, for what everyone else in the house has learned lately. First, teething dogs are hell on shoestrings and Mom and Dad wear them at great risk. Pups can be easily distracted by cats, which results in a chase either up or down past the person walking on the stairs. A 20-pound bag of Science Diet Large Puppy dog food doesn't last long. Shopping at PetSmart is an activity, not a spectator sport. And, of course, my basic Lab need to chomp on something has resulted in a slight hole in the leather couch, a stuffed squirrel with no more tail, and a VERY large and tough Pterodactyl dog toy which is always underfoot in the family room. They've also learned I am now tall enough to reach things on the kitchen counter, and were quite surprised to find me grabbing leftovers from the kitchen sink as they disappeared down the garbage disposal. Mom cannot run it when I'm in the room until I learn better kitchen manners!

So, what have you learned lately?

Hawkeye

About time!

So, my first holidays have passed and I've heard several pointed comments about my lack of blogging. OK, so I've been busy . . .

Mom has had her hands full, what with my constant growing, eating, barking, ball chasing, and yes, trips to the vet. I've been a bit ashamed to post a photo. Shortly after my last blog Mom discovered that the little wrinkles on my forehead were really quite naked--and getting more so. Not only did my skin show through my wrinkles, but I was going bald! During a trip to the nice vet people at A.P.A.W. (All Paws Are Welcome, of course), they quickly diagnosed me with Demodex mites. Which they say I got from my Dog Mom. She probably didn't know she gave me mites, cause she had her paws full with a new litter of pups. But I've had a really good case of them. My fur fell out!

So, all of that led to weekly "dips" at the vet every Friday. Which I prefer to think of as a dog spa. Mmmm, friendly people who greet me at the door, a medicated bath, air drying in a nice warm place, and fresh towels and puppy blankets in my crate when I get home. Once they even gave me a red and black paw-print bandana to tie around my neck 'cause I looked so naked! Of course, there are nice chewy vitamins to take with breakfast, too. They taste good, but somehow I keep forgetting that as I gulp them down so I can get to the kibble.

After all that, my fur is starting to grow back on my face and around my eyes. My elbows, belly, knees, and neck are still a bit naked, but these things take time. Dad says I have a cookies-and-cream complexion, since my white skin is showing through the thin black fur!

But, I am growing up to be a big Black Lab. I had playtime with Luna for Christmas. I chase cats on the stairs daily. I love tennis balls. I'm pretty well house broken. I'm getting the hang of going for a walk without grabbing the leash in my mouth, sitting down on the sidewalk, or trying to pull my head out of my collar. And I'm still attempting to play with Murray and Daisy, the old dogs in my house--but they're pretty standoffish and either ignore me or growl. I'm ever hopeful that they really don't hate me. (Sometimes I'm pretty hard to take, what with the jumping and barking and teething and running into walls while playing fetch.)

I do like my family and I'm glad to have a good home. I promise to write more, and even post a photo or two when more fur grows in!
Hawkeye