A Puppy's Life

We Chew for FUN!!

2007-12-21T00:46:00.000-06:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: Since our folks signed up for different doggie e-newsletters, they are really beginning to understand us puppies better. For instance, sometimes we think they feel we chew up things, just to behave badly. But now they have learned that chewing is an essential and necessary part of our lives.

Our human mom recently read an article in the Iams e-news entitled Take the Bite Out of Chewing. She learned that we crave to crunch. As it stated "dogs are curious animals with heightened senses of smell, hearing and taste. They use their mouths to investigate objects that are making all those irresistible smells (and there are so many desirable smells out there for a puppy to explore), whether it's the leather on your shoes or the three-day-old food in the garbage bin." (When we were little bitty puppies, still with our doggie birth mom and other siblings, we use to go throughout the neighborhood and drag trash back home to enjoy at our pleasure. FUN, FUN, FUN!!! Unfortunately, our doggie birth mom's human parents did not approve of this activity, and we would be sternly warned. It's a good thing we have outgrown this hobby, since our new home has a fence all around, and garbage is not as accessible.)

In addition, our human mom learned, from the article, that "dogs, especially under 3 years of age, also chew as an outlet for their high amount of energy." Yeah! they finally get it! Heck, we will chew on one another, if we get bored enough. We are young, single, puppy guys who LOVE to mingle and get into stuff. So, as our folks have come to appreciate, destructive chewing can be lessened by a "healthy dose of daily exercise and mental stimulation." We like to walk and we like to play! And we need plenty of chew toys!! Because "no matter how much exercise dogs indulge in, it doesn't alleviate their inherent need to occasionally chew on something. Chewing feels good for dogs, and it is actually necessary for the health of their teeth and gums."

Now, the choice is yours - either you can provide an assortment of interesting chew toys, or we can find our own. If we do the picking, it might not meet your approval, but a puppy has got do what a puppy has gotta do, it's in our genes. And remember, like we have tried to tell our folks - if you tell us "Nooo!," and take away something you don't want us chewing on, please replace it with something we can chew on. Don't just leave a puppy hanging dry, or we will be forced to find something else of our choosing. You might not like that choice either, it will probably be another illegal object. Oh, well!!

We're Back!

2007-11-24T23:02:00.000-06:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: We're back! Unfortunately, we have had to take a bit of a hiatus, since our mom's old computer broke down and went to that great computer afterlife (where ever that is). It has taken her a bit of time to get up and running on her new computer, and so we have been unable to say hello to everyone in awhile. She is still working on getting everything setup, so no new pictures of us guys yet. But, mom did find a very interesting article about vacations and your dog, written by the fine people at Pedigree (we had a can of their lamb and rice yesterday - LOVE IT!!!) Anyway, at some point the family is planning to go away, where we supposedly can't go, so the article gave mom some pointers on what to look for in a quality, high-class kennel (only the best for us high-class mutts - we might be mutts, but we do have class, or at least we like to believe we do).

Things to look for when boarding your dog at a kennel:

The establishment should have a current license, evidence that it is being inspected by a local government authority.
Ask other dog owners if they can recommend a kennel in the local area.
Go check the place out, to see if it is clean, dry, and sanitary. Ask yourself, "If I was a dog, would I be happy staying here, while my folks are away on some fabulous vacation." If not, we dogs probably would not be happy there either.
Exercise runs should be concrete rather than grass, so that they can easily be disinfected. (Who wants to pick up other people's germs and parasites, when they are trying to relax away from home.)
All the cages, gates, and kennels should be secure and in good repair. (Some of us canines are good escape artists - we might decide to go look for our folks and catch up with them.)
VERY IMPORTANT - Make sure the kennel requires current vaccination paperwork of all dogs on the property. (Don't put us in harm's way, there are some scary diseases out there.) Also, remember to vaccinate us in sufficient time, since some vaccinations take from 7-14 days to become effective. (Please plan ahead, people. A doggie's life could be at stake.)
Let the kennel know if your precious furry friend is on a special diet or medications. Also, be sure to leave the name and telephone number of your vet, just in case it is needed.
Don't just go dump us off at some kennel, with people we don't know, and go on a long extended vacation. We need to work up to these kinds of situations. Take us for a day trip there, or a weekend visit. Then we can get to know the people there, and you and we can decide if that is the best place for us to stay when you go on vacation.
Don't forget to leave us with a favorite toy or bedding. We already suffer separation anxiety when you leave us, so at least leave us with some kind of security blanket, something that reminds us of home sweet home.

The Way We Puppies SEE the World

2007-10-05T14:56:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: We puppies have tried to tell our folks that we experience things differently from them, but we don't think they always understand. So, we are somewhat relieved that our mom recently read a Pedigree Puppy Scoop Newsletter, that helped to explain our perception of the world. The newsletter covered all five senses:

SIGHT - Puppies can see in colors, but the colors are more muted to us. Now they know why we puppies get so excited when they get us a new toy that is in a really bright color, like bright red or green. Although we may not see colors as easily as humans, we can see clearer than people in dim light. And our eyes are very quick to pick up any movement.

SMELL - Our folks already know we are obsessed with smell. Sometimes we have to be coaxed to eat our dry food, if it doesn't smell the way we like it to (a little smell-inducing treat on top of the dry food helps out). Our world really is about smell, we sniff everything. They have been wondering why we sniff them when they come home. Well, they found out that puppies sniff you to learn more about you, where you've been and how you're feeling emotionally. If we sense you are not feeling so good emotionally, we will give you a lick of sympathy, and we are outta there (bad vibes rub off, and we already have enough to deal with as puppies). Oh, yeah, bet you didn't know that a wet nose is a good thing. The wetness of our puppy noses helps to strengthen our sense of smell because the moisture helps to capture different smells. You humans probably don't have that ability - don't be jealous.

SOUND - A puppy's hearing is a lot keener than a human. Sometimes they look at us puppies like we are crazy when we start barking, and they can't see anything. But usually we are always right, someone or something is coming. This is because, as puppies, we can hear sounds at a greater distance, and over more frequencies. So, just take our word next time, there really is someone or something out there!

TOUCH - Now they have finally found out about our special hairs: the hair on dogs below their jaws, on their muzzles, and above their eyes. These hairs are very sensitive and can actually sense airflow. That's partly the reason we hate it when you clean our puppy faces (the other reason is that we just like to give you a hard time). But you know we have our special places that we love to have touched, like our bellies. WE LOVE BELLY RUBS!!

TASTE - Dogs don't have a lot of taste buds, which explains some of the strange things we choose to eat. But we puppies can tell when something is sweet, sour, bitter, or salty (you know we LOVE sweets, we just don't get sweet things very often). Because our taste buds are not up to par, that's why we really value it when our food or treats smell good.

REMEMBER, this is vital information about the senses of puppies and dogs. Please keep it in mind when you are interacting with us, especially when you are feeding us. WE LOVE THINGS THAT SMELL DOGGONE GOOD!!

A Puppy's Delight - A Pleasant, Sunny Day

2007-09-14T21:07:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: Today was a puppy's kind of day. It was warm, but not as hot as it has been. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Today made up for yesterday, when it rained. Rain can be a real bummer for active puppies like us. But today was great, a true DOG DAY AFTERNOON!

More Than One Doggie is Very Good

2007-09-10T12:27:00.000-05:00

RUSTY: Our mom was recently reading an old clipping about having multiple pets in one household. The article was called "The Multi-Pet Household," by Steve Dale, and it appeared in USA Weekend dated July 6-8, 2007. It appointed out that "most of the 63% of homes in America that have a pet actually have more than one." (Hurray, for us pets!) Also, that studies have shown that if having one pet is good for a human's heath, then having two or more could possibly be that much more beneficial. (We can use this information for bargaining when we have done some mischievous deed. We can remind them that we are good for their health, even if sometimes we are bad.) It mentioned that pets make humans laugh (we are extremely good at that), "a stress-buster that causes a release of endorphins. With two pets, there's more potential for laughter, in part because the interplay between them may be amusing." (That Steve guy knows us so well.)

The article brought out several reasons that people have multiple pets, but the reason we (Smoky and I) particularly like is guilt. Humans love their pets so much that they consider them to be members of the family and "actually feel guilty if the poor little things spend too much time home alone." (We guys work that angle alot. We have our folks twisted around our little paws. We look really pitiful when they leave, so they are always sure to place a treat for us upon departing. And we are joyfully happy when they return, ensuring a welcome back treat for us. Don't get us wrong, we really do love them, and miss them when they are gone. So, a little treat just eases the pain we feel, and momentarily distracts us.)

In the article, an animal behaviorist named Ian Dunbar, who writes and broadcasts on pet behavior at dogstardaily.com says that well-socialized dogs enjoy the company of other dogs. But Dunbar does note, that "based on his experience, it's best to add a new dog of the opposite sex and dissimilar in age - it's less threatening to the established hound." And that the dogs meet "for the first time on neutral turf" where your dog does not usually go. (Oh, no! I hope our mom was not reading this article to get ideals about adding to the family. Smoky and I are not ready for that.)

Anyway, I hope the article helped our mom to appreciate the value of having two of us. It may be double the trouble, but it's also double the fun! Although we have been known to have knock-down, drag-out fights on occasion, we (Smoky and I) love each other and really enjoy one another's companionship. Listen up, all you single pet owners! More can be better than one, if you have the time.

Scratch a Dog

2007-09-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

SMOKY: When I have a scratch, I don't mind taking care of it myself, but it certainly is nice when you have a little help with your grooming needs. This saying my mom found is proof of that:

Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.

We don't know who said it, but Rusty and I certainly agree with it. You don't even have to scratch us, just rub our bellies all day. WE LOVE BELLY RUBS!!

Puppies Enjoying the Holiday

2007-09-03T17:06:00.003-05:00

We are just hanging out, and relaxing with our folks on this holiday weekend. Hope you are all doing the same. HAVE FUN!!

Is Your Dog Prepared for Disaster?

2007-08-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY'S MOM: Is your dog prepared for disaster? What will you do with your furry doggie children, in the evident of an emergency evacuation? The second anniversary of Katrina is a time for reflection. It may have happened in New Orleans, but being realistic, natural disasters can occur anywhere in the world and to anyone. Therefore, we really should prepare before something unplanned happens. Most of us rarely prepare for the unexpected, so we panic when the unexpected happens.

As is evident from Katrina, we must really be prepared when we have four-legged family members to be concerned about. In the evident of an emergency evacuation, what would we do with our beloved dogs, cats, and other family pets? Now is the time to give consideration to their safety, before something happens. Many families that were affected by Katrina not only lost family members, their homes, their livelihoods, and their normalcy of life - they also lost beloved family pets. Most pets that managed to survive the disaster, were not happily reunited with their owners. We need to prepare now, so that should the worst ever occur, we can hopefully be united with all of our family members, including our pets.

Puppies Keeping Cool in Summertime

2007-08-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

RUSTY: Our folks are doing their best to keep Smoky and me cool when we are outside. It has not been easy, since there have been some hot and humid days here. But we really enjoy being outside, exploring and running down everything and everyone of interest to us. That doggone fence keeps us from catching the ones we are really after, like: the squirrels, birds, cats, other dogs, and any loud and funny-looking cars or people that pass by. You see, we consider ourselves to be the guardians of this street, and we don't let nothing pass by without our approval or at least a woof at it.

We always enjoy the frozen water that our folks set out, next to our regular water, when we are outside. That way, we can cool down by licking the ice or just laying besides it. There are also the frozen treats we enjoy, like an occasional frozen hot dog. DELICIOUS!! In addition, we also have our little pool, but we are still getting used to it - we have not learned how to swim yet.

Mom just found a new dog site called PetPlace, that featured an article on how to keep your dog cool in the summertime. She put a link to the article below, if you want to check it out. Anyhow, that's all we have time to say today, because the weather is a little bit cooler, and we have to do some of the things we have been missing out on when the days have been hotter.

KEEP COOL EVERYONE!!!

Wagging Puppy Tails

2007-08-15T19:34:00.001-05:00

SMOKY & RUSTY: Our folks recently found a little saying that we certainly agree with.

"Money will buy a fine dog, but

only kindness will make him

wag his tail."

We don't know who wrote it, but it fits our sentiments perfectly. Please be kind to your canine friends. In return, we will shower you with LOTS OF LOVE AND KISSES.

Dog's Life

2007-08-13T18:56:00.001-05:00

RUSTY: While we boys were getting our rest, our mom was reading a free guide she received from Purina's Beneful, called Dog's Life. She seemed to really enjoy the guide, since it had some helpful tips about: toys for dogs, ways to calm our fears (she has not fully come to appreciate that me and Smoky are not afraid of anything, or at least almost anything), do-it-yourself grooming, as well as fun and games (which we really like, new games).

You can probably get a free guide for your folks too, by contacting Beneful. It's always helpful to keep our human folks informed about our special needs and wants.

Puppy Baby Pictures, So Cute!!

2007-08-06T16:08:00.003-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: Our folks were recently looking at some baby pictures of us, and decided to put them on our site. They think the pictures are so cute! Yuk!! Don't they realize that we are little doggie men now. Sometimes your folks can really embarrass you. But we do love them so, therefore, we will overlook this parental slight. We guess they just can't get enough of us, and want us to be their sweet little babies forever. What a mushy moment, we are getting a little sentimental now, so we better say no more. The way they treasure these pictures, though, let's us know how much our folks love us.

May I Please Have Some Doggie Ice Cream?

2007-07-28T15:26:00.000-05:00

SMOKY: I may have a lean figure, but I do love to eat. I like my regular meals, I love my treats, and anything special on the side I enjoy too. Rusty enjoys his food also, but I must admit that I am the bigger pig. I have been known to resort to taking food items that don't belong to me. I am working on my evil ways.

Anyway, our mom recently told us about a story in the newspaper. It seems that the latest dog fad in Austria is an ice cream created especially for dogs, called "Dogissimo." The ice cream is available at a Vienna ice cream parlor. Apparently, it gets very hot in Vienna in the summertime (sounds like here in the South, where we live). So, this Italian woman came up with the idea as a way to cool dogs off from the sizzling summer heat. She says she owns three dogs herself, and wanted to help keep them cool.

The ice cream is supposed to be fat-free, without any additives or artificial food coloring, and comes in three flavors: rice, vanilla-rice, and soy. She claims she taste-tested it on her three Golden Retrievers, but how in the heck did she come up with those flavors. I personally think flavors like: cheese, hamburger, grilled T-Bone steak, lamb and rice, juicy liver, plump hot dog - you get the drift, would have made much more tastier selections. Speaking about hot dogs, when Rusty and me are really good, and it's really hot outside, we get an occasional frozen hot dog as a extra special treat. Now that's what I'm talking about! I bet that tastes better than that fancy European ice cream! But, I am willing to do a taste test; in fact, I would willingly submit myself to tasting all three flavors, just for good measure. There is only one problem. The ice cream is in Vienna, and I'm stuck here in the Southern United States. Also, the ice cream costs $10 for a large portion, and $7 for a smaller container. I would, obviously, need the large portion to do a proper taste test. That is a large portion of all three flavors. I just don't see how it would be possible, being that our mom, the main shopper of the house is very CHEAP. She even tries to get our dog food on sale, and will use coupons when she can. She knows how to stretch a penny. Me and Rusty both, we really love the girl, but I don't think she is going to shell out $30 for doggie ice cream. I wonder if there is such a thing as a exchange program for dogs. Where I could go stay with a nice Vienna family for just say, a week, and then come back to my beloved home. After, of course, I have tasted all the fine canine delicacies of the area, including "Dogissimo."

I'm going to have to check into this as a possible option. But, if things don't work out, it least I will take comfort in that one society columnist was quoted as saying: "It tastes like steel that a dog peed on." I would, though, really like to find out for myself. Me in Vienna, I can picture it now.

Are We Puppies Too Skinny?

2007-07-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: Our mom always worries about whether we are eating enough. We personally feel that we look great, and feel great. Yet, we must admit that the recent dog recall scare caused some changes in our diet, that did require getting used to. Our diet now consists of more dry dog food, which our mom claims is better for us. But we are sure glad that we still occasionally get our favorite canned meal, and our folks have not forgotten that we do have to have our snacks. Also, for extra special times, we get freshly cooked chicken. Now that's living!!

Our mom read the Pedigree Healthy Living Enewsletter (http://www.pedigree.com/) that arrived today. It featured an article entitled, "Can Dogs Suffer From Anorexia?" It mentioned that there are several different reasons that dogs can appear to lose their appetite:

Medical Illness (That's not us.)

Pain (That's not us either.)

Change in environment (Which does fit our situation. Our diet has changed, and it's just too HOT to eat as much as we usually do.)

Our mom seems to be more at ease. Yet, she is still keeping an eye on us. We try to let her know that we are just fine. We don't want to lose our lean and muscular figures, because then we won't be able to do all the physical activities that we enjoy. We are young, and just want to have FUN!!

Why, Oh Why, Do We Dig?

2007-07-21T16:39:00.002-05:00

RUSTY: That's the question our mom always seems to ask. We don't know what the big deal is. She is always digging in the garden, so why can't we dig too? Apparently, she feels that her digging has a loftier purpose, than does our digging. We basically dig because we are trying to get something, we are bored, we are frustrated, we haven't had a nice long walk, or just for pure fun. When is that woman going to get it? Besides, it is a good way to get a little attention, when we feel neglected. Sometimes negative attention is better than no attention at all.

Well, anyway, our mom recently received a Puppy Scoop eNewsletter from the pedigree website (www.pedigree.com). She LOVES that eNewsletter. She was so excited because it featured an article on why do puppies dig. (Is your puppy turning your yard into a minefield?) The article outlined four main reasons that puppies dig, and ways to deal with the behavior:

FUN (We already told her that, she just didn't listen. We puppies have alot of energy, and we have got to get rid of it somehow.)
NESTING (Nothing like a nice cool hole in the ground, to deal with all this heat and humidity. That ice water she puts out everyday helps too. But when are we going to get to use our new wading pool?)
ESCAPE (This fence seems to be almost invincible; but, when we haven't had our walk, we give it a shot anyway.)
FRIGHT (We men are not scared of too much. We do get concerned, though, when our folks don't come home at their usual time. Search and rescue may be necessary!)

I hope our mom realizes now, since she isn't listening to us, that we have plenty of good reasons for digging. She may not agree with the reasons, but at least she will know what we need, if she doesn't want more minefields. We don't dig as much as we use to, but sometimes a guy has got to dig!!

Please Stop the Rain!

2007-07-20T19:45:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: It's a doggone shame! All of this rain is getting in the way of our fun! We still have fun, but it seems that we spend too much time inside right now. It's much more fun outside when the sun is shining, and the grass is dry (like in these pictures that our folks posted). Then you don't have to worry about getting wet and muddy. Of course, that means our folks want to clean us up, and this rubs off all of the good dog smells we like.

We do love to walk in the rain. Our folks always walk as fast as we want when it starts raining; we think they are afraid of melting. HA, HA!

We hope the rain slows up a bit. It can rain, but just not so much. Young guys just want to have more FUN, and the rain is sort of becoming a drag. Too much time inside for us, we are the active kind of fellows!

Petcentric

2007-06-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: We just wanted to let everyone know about a new website that we just found. It's called: Petcentric. We think it's a really neat site that Purina has put together. Some of the highlights we enjoyed:

It lists fun dog events taking place across the country. For example, there is a Doggie Olympics that is happening in Long Beach, WA on Saturday, June 23rd. (Man, we would like to be there! We know with our speed and agility, we would be sure to win something, anything, we are not choosy! We would take a nice, juicy dog bone.)

It has a section called Dogs Making Headlines, that features interesting bits of news. Like on June 13th, it had a story that Japan plans to start a nursing home for dogs. (Interesting, but we are much too young to begin to worry about things like that yet.)

Also, there are feature stories. Right now, one of the stories tells what they are looking for to be on David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks show, and what it is like to be on the show. (Now that sounds like something we would give serious consideration to. Fame on David Letterman's show....)

There is a photo gallery, where people can submit pictures of their canine and feline family, doing all kinds of things.

In addition, there is information about pet products, books, and more.

It's a FUN site, check it out.

Rusty's Recent Bathtime

2007-06-15T21:33:00.000-05:00

RUSTY: I'm in your face! How many times have I told you that I'm just fine, no bath needed. Yet, every couple of weeks you people insist on lathering me up, and rinsing me off. The only good thing that comes out of this experience is the treats. The treats are pretty good.

Now that you are finished, I am going to completely ignore you. I am going to read the newspaper, and see what else is happening in the world today. Don't talk to me, I'm still upset with you! Talk to my back!

I do know, though, that you guys love me. You do try to take such good care of me. If this dreadful experience will help us bond more, I'm willing to endure it. I'll do anything for your love!!

Smoky's Recent Bathtime

2007-06-13T20:07:00.001-05:00

SMOKY: They always catch me off guard, and before I know it, I'm in water. I'm just not taking it anymore, I will decide when and if I want a bath. I was just perfectly happy with the grit and grime on me. I was a little itchy, but I was willing to live with it. And Rusty had not expressed any complaints about body odor from me. I think I could have went at least another couple of weeks without a bath.

I know they are watching me, but if I'm really fast, I might be able to make a getaway.

Oh, it's no use! I might as well go ahead and submit to this. I'm going to let them know, though, through my body language and eyes that I do not approve of my treatment!

When I got out of the water, I showed them, I turned my back to them. They will not enjoy the pleasure of my company!

It does feel sort of good being clean. My itchiness has went away. I'm not going to let them know though. If they think I'm very displeased, that will mean more treats for me! I have got them wrapped around my fingers. Now for my treats! Yummy!!

Bathtime

2007-05-31T01:20:00.000-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: The indignities of life that a guy is subjected to, it's just not right! We know our folks love us, but must we be clean! What's so wrong with being dirty and a little smelly? Can't they love and appreciate us in a gritty and stinky kind of way?

More photos and more to say about this recent experience next time . . .

Looking Forward to the Garden's Harvest

2007-05-18T22:36:00.001-05:00

RUSTY & SMOKY: Our folks have been taking advantage of a little cool spell in the weather, to catch up on some gardening in their spare time. So, unfortunately they have not posted alot of updates on our life this week. Yet, we are not holding it against them, as we have been assured that we will be sharing in the garden's harvest. Yummy!!

Wrestling is FUN!

2007-05-13T21:26:00.000-05:00

RUSTY: There is nothing like good, old-fashioned wrestling. It's really FUN when I'm winning!!

Just Hanging Out

2007-05-12T00:06:00.000-05:00

Smoky and Rusty, just hanging out - looking for something to get into. Hopefully nothing naughty, but that may be too much to ask for, since they are good-time boys.

Learning from the Bad Food Recall

2007-05-11T00:07:00.000-05:00

Like most pet lovers, we were greatly distressed by the bad pet food recall. You hate to think that you may be doing anything to harm your little furry kids, and they can't even tell you exactly what is happening to them. Fortunately, there were just a few treat items that appeared on the lists, that we possessed. So far, they do not appear to be harmed by eating the suspect food items; but, since they were treats, they were only receiving them on occasion. The recall has forced me though, to take a closer scrutiny of not only the food the puppies receive, but also what the whole family eats. Sometimes you feel like you have to be the food police, investigating the source and the contents of the food we eat. It certainly can make life more complicated.

When the recall first occurred, we found it really difficult to get through on the phonelines. So, I started referring to the food companies' websites, to get updated information about recalled items. In doing so, I made a wonderful discovery - several of the major dog food companies have regular newsletters that you can receive by email, with helpful information. I have created links (on the sidebar to the right) for a couple of them. I especially like Pedigree's newletters, because you can select newsletters for puppies, adult dogs, and mature dogs. The articles are always informative and enlighting, yet brief and simple. Check them out!

Life is Good

2007-05-09T00:16:00.000-05:00

Life is good! So, we boys decided to just nap and relax today.

May I Please Have a Belly Rub?

2007-05-07T00:20:00.000-05:00

SMOKY: Belly rub, please. I really need a belly rub, and I'm begging for one. I've been sort of good, if you don't mind that little hole I made around your freshly planted roses.

We're Back!!

2007-05-05T01:31:00.000-05:00

RUSTY: It's good to be back! Our folks have been so busy, that they have not had time to keep our blog going. But now things are not as hectic, so we once again can share the adventures and experiences of our lives! Our mom says that she is going to try really hard to keep our postings regular, allowing us the opportunity to express our feelings about the everyday life of two puppy dogs that just like to have a lot of FUN.

These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago, when we had our monthly bath. Speaking about that, I believe that another bathtime should be coming up anyday now. Our baths are usually a very pleasant experience, sort of like a spa day. We not only get a bubble bath, we also get a manicure and pedicure. After being cleaned and refreshed, we are served a yummy selection of appetizing treats. If we are really good, sometimes we even get a piece of freshly broiled chicken. Those are days to look forward too.

The only drawback is that after getting our bath, we are usually detained until we are fully dry. As is evident from the photos, Smoky uses this as a opportunity to get a little post-spa nap. I must say, though, that I find it quite offensive to be treated so well, and then confined like a common criminal. Despite my best efforts at a protest, I was not released until I was fully dry. What a guy doesn't have to go through in order to look good!!

What Shall We Get into Today?

2006-11-13T15:58:00.000-06:00

Even puppies have decisions to make. It's hard work deciding what activies to get into. Shall we eat, and then play? Or should we look pitiful, and try to get a bellyrub and a biscuit first? There are so many things to explore and smell, a puppy just doesn't know where to start.

(Rusty asks Smoky:"What should we do today?")

(Smoky tells Rusty his opinion about the day's activities.)

(Smoky hoping to get my approval on the day's agenda.)

(Ah! The good life!)

Their Serious Side

2006-11-10T13:50:00.000-06:00

The boys were getting a little puppy rest up above. It's hard work, having all that FUN! But, they want it to be known that they do have a serious side. So, the boys have been requesting that I do close-up photos of them for their blog, reflecting their serious nature. They are not just good-time boys, they sometimes stop to consider what life would be like without a daily belly rub. They need a bath, which they will be getting today. Therefore, these photos show them in, let us say their "rugged handsome" appearance. Here they are:

There is a Price to be Paid for Fun

2006-11-01T21:57:00.000-06:00

I realize that Rusty and Smoky are having fun digging those giant water holes. But even puppies must learn that fun can cost you. Most of us have done wild and crazy things in our youth, like party into the wee hours of the night, and then have to drag yourself to school or work the next day. As you suffer thru the following day, you wish you maybe didn't have so much fun; even Mountain Dew has you barely functioning. Well, little puppy dogs must learn there are consequences for their actions too. That is a Mom's duty, to instill discipline, right? Well, after reading in my Puppies for Dummies book (I admit it, we are dummies when it comes to puppies), and looking at several episodes of The Dog Whisper, I now know that they were enjoying way too much freedom. So, we have made a slightly smaller yard enclosure area, that still allows them to enjoy a good run, but isn't as close to garden beds with freshly tilled dirt (that is more than a dirt addict like Rusty and Smoky, can bear). We will see how things go.

(A smaller water hole, but deep.)

(Rusty trying to assure me that he definitely did

not do it. Look at those eyes!)

(Rusty trying to get Smoky to take the rap.)

A Dirty Passion

2006-10-30T20:59:00.000-06:00

The boys have been busy playing, as usual, of course. The rest of us have been busy working, as usual, of course. All of the helpful tips and comments we have received, have been much appreciated. I am sorry that I have not had time to respond to each comment, but I am buying out time to do so this week.

The boys do have a little digging problem, that we are currently working on, for fear that they injury themselves in the holes they have dug. Just the other day, Rusty fell in a hole while running. He looked around, as if to say, "Who put that hole there?" Like he didn't know who did it. Those little rascals are better diggers than Bugs Bunny! When I have caught them digging, they are usually digging with all their heart, like they are searching for some valuable treasure. So far, all they have dug up is dirt and junk. Yet, it seems to be their passion, particularly, when they are bored. We are all working on the problem, including Rusty and Smoky. They appear very guilty after digging a new hole, I think sometimes they just can't help themselves. We are considering positive solutions to help them fulfill or find a new passion. In the meantime, we have put pieces of wood around fruit trees, so that little beaver-dogs don't uproot them.

Good-looking Boys

2006-10-05T15:41:00.000-05:00

Such good-looking boys!

Sometimes I Wish I Was A Puppy

2006-10-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

I was looking out the window, watching the puppies play. The thought occurred to me that these little fellows have a pretty good life. We feed them, we brush their hair, we bathe them, we play with them, we rub their bellies, we spoil them, we give them toys and treats, we pick up their poop, we clean up their house. They sleep whenever they want, they play whenever they want, they look at us with those big puppy eyes and twirl us around their paws. If they decide that a meal is not to their liking, we rake our brains trying to find a more appetizing menu for those little discriminating tastes. Sometimes I wish I was a puppy. A puppy that someone would love and cuddle, and try to fulfill my every wish. (Good husbands do their best, but I do find that they let the dogs get away with more than they would ever let their wives get away with, and not whine and complain.) Yet, there are usually more advantages to being a human, so I will be content with my place in the universe. And, of course, enjoy unconditional love from Rusty and Smoky!

These little rascals really know how to have a GOOD TIME!

BAD Puppies!

2006-09-28T21:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a BAD puppy day. The puppies had torn up paper and spread it all over the yard - not an attractive scene. Which is made worse when you have a thousand and one things to do, and not enough time to do it all in. Who wants to pick up little scraps of paper all over the yard? Not me, or anyone else in my family! We pick up dog poop out of love, but we have our limits! Anyway, the puppies are really 'in the dog house.' So, I would rather reflect on more pleasant days in the past, like when they enjoyed an early meal on Chinet plates. Only the best, for our BAD boys.

(Nothing like a little wrestling match to help whip up a good appetite.)

Puppies Enjoy a Beautiful Fall Day

2006-09-21T00:48:00.000-05:00

To mix things up a little bit, I am posting recent pictures of the puppies enjoying a beautiful fall day. As usual, they enjoy and look, while we do all the yard work. I do think that they really enjoyed the freshly mowed yard, free of puppy poop. I believe that the loving glances and wet kisses on the hand, was their way of saying: "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

(The puppies are checking out the freshly mowed yard, to see if it meets their approval.)

(Smoky seems to give his OK. Rusty is still making up his mind.)

(Finally, Rusty indicates his approval of the yard - hence his relaxed pose.)

(Nothing is more fun than a wrestling match on a newly mowed yard.)

(Rusty is not having anymore to do with this match, that is, if he is on the losing end of things.)

(This is more like it, according to Rusty, when , of course, he is coming out on top. Smoky doesn't care, he just wants to have FUN!)

The Early Days of Puppy Life

2006-09-18T22:34:00.000-05:00

More photos from the early days of puppy life:

(Two guys just hanging out, looking for a good time.)

(Rusty pondering what he should get into.)

(Rusty and Smoky wondering what the heck is that little silver box in front of my face - the camera.)

(Rusty tells Smoky: Don't try to hide behind me!)

(Rusty and Smoky decide to grit their teeth at me, hoping that will intimidate me from taking their picture.)

(The boys have a little fight between themselves.)

(Rusty tells Smoky: I'm not talking to you anymore.)

Puppies - A New Addition to the Family

2006-03-06T23:52:00.000-06:00

The sight of new puppies makes me warm all over! They are so cute and cuddly!

We have two real cutie pies that live at our house. They are BAD, but really sweet and cute! The dark, handsome one on the left is Smoky; and the lighter reddish, striking one on the right is Rusty. I can only begin to describe the joy and terror those two have bought into our lives. But to tell their story right, I have to go back to when they first came home. And, also, it would not be fair to only tell our version of things, so I will let the boys speak for themselves. So, let's go back to the beginning. . . .

Owner's story:

Puppies, puppies, puppies!! What were we thinking when we adopted not one, but two puppies! It's double the pleasure, but double TROUBLE too. They were the only two boys left in the litter. (Yes, it's hard to believe, but they really are brothers, from the same little of puppies.) We really wanted two puppies, so that they could be playmates and companions for one another. And they were so adorable.

We will always recall the day we took them home. The two little bundles of joy were put in a box lined with newspaper, and placed in the back seat of the car. They were so frightened that they trembled, and each one tried to bury their head under the other one. They squeezed into one corner of the box, and became very quiet, except for the occasionally little whimper. We drove home very carefully, so as not to cause the puppies any more stress or frights than they were already experiencing. Once during the trip the little black one got up his nerve to lift his head up, and try to climb out of the box. But, as soon as I lovingly, yet firmly told him to sit down, he scurried back into the corner of the box. In fact, a little scuffle could be heard coming from the box, as they again fought over who could squeeze further into the corner of the box.

At last, we arrived to their new home. Even when we sat the box on the ground, they refused to make a move. Finally, the little black one dared to lift up, and step out of the box. His brother soon followed his exit. When we attempt to reach out and touch them, the startled puppies fled to a woodpile, and took sanctuary there. Then they begin to cry and whimper, sometimes in unison, and other times in a alternating chorus. It took us about twenty minutes before we managed to get both puppies from under the woodpile. We had to put them back into the safety of their box, until we could further puppy-proof their new surroundings. We had not fully realized the cramped spaces those little fellows could squeeze into. Finally, though, with some modifications, the puppies' living quarters were ready for them. As soon as we put them to bed, that first night, they looked relieved to be able to call it a day.

..........

Puppies' story:

We were really, really scared, the day we left our momma and sister behind. Our momma's owner picked each of us up, and placed us in a box. She gave the box we were in, to strange people who we had only seen once before. We were so frightened that we fought over who could squeeze their head deeper into the corner of the box. We wanted to see where they were taking us, so maybe we could find our way back to our momma. But the strange lady in the front of the vehicle we were in, told us to sit down. Her voice was uncompromising, so we thought we had better listen.

It seemed like an eternity before the vehicle stopped moving. Then the strange people put the box we were in, on the ground. The people were encouraging us to come out of the box, but we were very wary of their intentions. So, we gingerly came out of the box. And then it happened! One of the people reached out toward us. We ran for our lives! We took refuge under a pile of wood, but we had to squeeze together very tightly for our paws not to stick out. It was very hard to do! Our hearts were beating so fast, that it felt like they would jump out of our chests!

The next twenty to thirty minutes are a blur, but somehow those strange people managed to pull us from under the woodpile, and we found ourselves cowering once again in the box. After some time, the people showed us to our sleeping quarters. We were so exhausted by then, that we were just happy that the day's events had come to a close. As our eyelids grew heavier, we wondered what our momma and sister were doing . . . .