Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree

25 December 2008 by admin.

As my first Christmas draws to a close I wanted to wish all my fur friends and their two legged pets a Merry Christmas. So, here was my Christmas.

 

My Christmas started Christmas Eve. Mom invited some friends over and told me I had to be on my best behavior.  Hmmmmm! I guess that means I can’t jump on people or counter surf.  Hmmmmm!

 

 Mom put me and Belle and Halo outside just before her friends arrived. She said it would be better since Ellen was bringing a ham and I might tackle her in the door.  We were having a typcial nice Texas winter day with lot’s of sunshine and about 70 outside.  Belle and I started rough housing and playing around. It was allot of fun.  Then I noticed mom’s nice house plant sitting by the door.  This was the one I helped her put outside earlier in the day when she said it needed some sun.  She also told me that she thought it needed trimming up. I thought that mom would be really happy if I trimmed it up for her. You know a nice Christmas present, and after the last Christmas present I brought her I thought it would be an improvement (last night I killed a rat and brought it to her). She was really good about the rat.  She even told me I was a good boy, but she was muttering something under her breath about what to do with a dead rat. So, here is a picture of the trimmed up houseplant that I gave mom for Christmas.  Now to get the whole effect you have to understand that this plant was about 6 feet tall when I started.

Nice job isn’t it?  I consider it one of my better endeavors.  Mom was speechless when she saw it.  I guess she must have liked that Christmas present.

 

Anyway, back to Christmas Eve. We had a splendid time and mom eventually let us in to meet everyone.  I knew Mariah, Ellen and Dave.  Mariah had brought her boyfriend from Mexico and I hadn’t met him before.  I think he liked us though because he kept petting us.  He told my mom Belle and Halo were very well behaved.  I guess I have a little work to do on manners.  After about thirty minutes (about the time I was getting bored and looking for something fun to do, like grab some ham off the counter) mom told me it was time for a break.  That means I have to go get in my crate and take a nap.  I was good because it was Christmas and we had presents under the tree.  I didn’t want Santa to come and take the presents away if I was bad, so I went and got in my crate and was a very good little boy.

 

Mom and her friends ate and talked and then started playing board games.  The one that sounded like the most fun was a Lord of the Rings version of Monopoly.  About 10PM mom came and got me and let us four legged kids out to do our business (that means go potty). Then we got to come in and visit.  I was really good and watched the adults carefully waiting my chance. I waited and waited until everyone was in a big discussion about who should sell Mount Doom and for how much.  The time was perfect so I ever so carefully stood up with my feet on the counter, being quiet as a mouse, and got a big bite of ham.  Mmmmm!! Ouch!!! Mom caught me and I got a smack, but the ham was worth it.  Everyone was laughing at me, so I gave a good performance of a sweet innocent little boy.  Ellen took pity on me and my sisters and said we all needed a bite of ham since it was Christmas. Mmmmm!! was that good.  My sisters also liked the ham.

 

The Monopoly game went on for a while longer, then everyone left and us four legged kids were laying on our bed by the Christmas tree and the fireplace.  I was waiting for Santa, but I was really sleepy and falling asleep.  That was when mom got out the camera and took pictures of us.  She said she might never get a better opportunity because we were all laying there tired from all the fun and games of Christmas Eve. 

Here is a picture and me and Halo, and another of all three of us.

So after the pictures, we all went to bed with visions of bones in our heads.  Tomorrow was the big day and time to open presents.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention I already got one of my presents a little early.  Halo and I got under the tree a few weeks ago and there was this one present, well we couldn’t resist.  We opened it and were having a blast playing with it when mom walked in.  She told us if it happened again the presents would all go back to the North Pole. I think she was kidding, but we didn’t take any chances.  We didn’t touch those other presents.  Mom did let us keep the one we opened and we got to play with it.  It was a big squeaky bone. So far, the squeaker is still working too.

 

Christmas Day started just like any other day at our house.  We get mom up at the crack of dawn.  Except today mom said it was way to early and we should be sleeping in because we were up so late last night.  Well we would have none of that, it was time to get up, go outside and do our business and then eat. We did give in to mom though after eating.  We really were tired since we had been up until about 2 AM the night before.  So, we all piled in bed with mom and dreamt of opening presents later in the morning.

When mom finally rolled out of bed, we were raring to go.  So, she put us outside and we had some fun chasing the squirrels and generally making their life a living hell.  Boy was that fun. Mom was getting stuff ready for dinner later in the day.  Memaw and Papaw (that’s mom’s mother and father) and Thomas (mom’s nephew) were coming for Christmas dinner. After mom got all the stuff ready, she called us in and said it was time to open presents.  That was fun.  We got some really cool stuff and the cat’s got to play with the boxes and paper.  Santa brought us a bone on a rope, some hooves on a rope, a tough tug toy, a round frisbee ring, a tire with a rope,  a big rope with knots and Belle got a special bone.  I grabbed the hooves and Halo went for the bone on a rope and Belle took her bone.  Here is a picture of Belle with her bone.

 

And a picture of Belle licking her chops after a good chew.

And here are some pictures of me and Halo playing with the tire on a rope (you know dancing around the Christmas tree, GSP style).

Halo finally got tired of the game and I ended up the winner (of this round).

Halo pretending she doesn’t care I won.

And now for round too. This time we ditched the toys and really went after it.

Look at my big boy teeth. Nice huh?

Mom didn’t get the next shot, but after this one Halo had enough and flip me over and pinned me. You know, we didn’t even knock one tiny ornament off the tree either.

 

Well it is getting late and everyone is napping after our Christmas dinner.  So, Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope you and your family had a much fun as we did.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

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On meeting DogBoy

19 November 2008 by admin.

Tuesday I got to meet DogBoy. Who would have thought that would be so much fun?

 

It’s gotten cooler here in Texas.  It is really nice weather now and me and my sisters’ stay outside allot.  It gets down in the upper 30’s or low 40’s at night, but warms up to about 70 during the day.  The days too have been sunny. Perfect weather for romping and taking hikes.  Mom took us on a short hike to our green belt on Sunday.  We met mom’s best friend Marcia.  Marcia is really nice and likes us kids.  Mom and Marcia had a good talk while we walked and us kids got to sniff and do doggy things.  Belle and Halo were off leash, but I still have to be on leash.  Mom usually puts me on a flexi so I can hang out with my sisters some.  Belle and Halo do come and sniff stuff with me too. 

We had a big surprise at the beginning of the walk.  We had just met up with Marcia and were walking back down to the creek area when this big 8 point buck came racing across the field right at us.  Marcia grabbed for Belle and Halo because they were off leash and she was afraid they would chase the buck.  Mom told her not to grab them because if they decided to pursue they could jerk her off her feet.  Mom quickly told them to stay.  Me, I was all excited and wanted to chase that buck.  I think Belle and Halo did too, but they stayed. A few minutes later we found out why the buck was running.  There was a dog that had been chasing him.  It was really exciting.  Mom told Belle and Halo they were good and we kept walking.

 

Toward the end of the walk though, Belle and Halo got in big trouble. They went across to the other side of the creek bed and were yelping and barking.  Mom hadn’t brought the whistle so my sisters couldn’t hear her.  She gave me to Marcia and went across to the other side.  I wanted to go and see what happened, but mom said no. I think what happened though wasn’t pretty because Belle and Halo came hightailing it back toward us.  It took mom a little longer because there was allot of undergrowth and bushes.  I heard mom tell Marcia that the girls had treed something, probably a squirrel, but you never know.  We have all kinds of critters that live in the green belt, foxes, skunks, squirrels, deer, opossums, coyotes…. Mom said there even used to be bobcats in the area along time ago.  She told Marcia though that she hasn’t seen one since she was, well, allot younger.

 

That was Sunday, but it was the first time I heard mention of DogBoy.  As we walked back to the trailhead, mom said now that the weather was cooler it was time I met DogBoy.  Belle and Halo already knew DogBoy, but they wouldn’t tell me anything about him, just that he was really cool. Mom said she would make reservations for us to meet DogBoy on Tuesday.

 

We got up early Tuesday morning and got dressed.  I was a little nervous about meeting DogBoy.  Well, it was almost time to leave when mom told us we had to get our DogBoy collars on.  Belle and Halo knew what that meant and went right up to mom and sat nicely while she put on some old leather collars that looked pretty worn to me.  Now mom didn’t have a DogBoy collar for me, so I got to wear the bright orange collar I wear when hunting.  Once dressed, we all loaded in the GSP mobile and off we went to meet DogBoy.  We drove for what seemed like forever.  Then we turned a corner and Belle and Halo woke up.  Halo started whining like she does when we go to the lake or hiking, so I new we were close.  Then we stopped and got out of the car.  There was a small building near where we parked and about 15 acres of land that was fenced in different ways.  I learned later that those were for the play groups. Anyway, we went in the building and met a nice man by the name of Jay.  Mom knew Jay and they talked a little about me.  Jay seemed really happy to see Belle and Halo and came over and said Hi to me too. Mom signed us in and Jay called the nice lady from the back to take Belle and Halo to their play group and me to my orientation. Mom must have left at that point, but I was so excited I don’t remember.  This was DogBoy’s place.

 

Once out back, I finally got to meet DogBoy.  Here is a picture of DogBoy.  He and mom went to the same high school together. 

He is really nice and loves dogs.  His place is DogBoy’s Dog Ranch.  He can board dogs and he also has doggy daycare.  There is also a huge training area and mom says he wants to put in a pool so that we can do dock diving.  He also does Search and Rescue with his dogs on the side.  Mom also says you have to be a good dog to come to DogBoy’s. She explained that they evaluate the new dogs for temperament and compatibility, that way they can place us in play groups with other dogs that we will like.  That is what they did with me at my orientation.  They told mom I was a green like Belle and Halo which normally means I could play with any dog I wanted too.  But for me, since I am not neutered they will have to be careful with some of the other male dogs.  They were worried that some of those other males might not like me. 

 

After orientation I got to spend some time with Belle and Halo and some other dogs in my first play group.  That was allot of fun.  What I didn’t know (but soon learned) was DogBoy switches the play groups periodically during the day so we get to meet new dogs and also so we don’t get bored.  I can’t imagine ever being bored at DogBoy’s place.  Well, my turn to switch play groups came and I really didn’t like leaving my sisters, but I went anyway and I was glad I did.  We went to a bigger play group and I met some other really nice dogs.  We ran and played and played and ran. Later in the day (because we were good) we all got to go on the afternoon hike.  That was really fun because Belle and Halo came too.  The hike is on the back 9 acres of the ranch and has a huge swimming hole in it.  Right now it is more a mud hole than a swimming hole because it has been so dry, but it is still fun.  (Mom always puts on the sign up sheet to rinse us if needed, because she knows we will need it.) Here is a picture of the swimming hole from this summer. I don’t know the dogs in the picture, but Belle and Halo say they have met some of them.

That lady in the picture is one of the ladies that works for DogBoy and she takes allot of the dogs on hikes. This next picture is one of the play group areas.

If you haven’t figured out by now, DogBoy’s ranch is a great place for us dogs.  I had a ton of fun at DogBoy’s and didn’t want to leave, at least not until we heard the GSP mobile coming up the road.  The lady that was watching us told mom that we sure had good ears.  She said Belle and Halo knew when mom turned on the road. We love DogBoy, but there is no one like mom and no place like home.  We had had a good day, but we were all really happy to see mom and ready to go home. Mom was happy too because we were all sacked out in the back of the GSP mobile sound asleep the whole way home.

Mom says we get to go back to see DogBoy again soon.  Maybe for daycare before Christmas, but definitely for camp (that means boarding) for a whole week in January when mom goes skiing in Colorado. I can’t wait.

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I’m a Bird Dog

18 November 2008 by admin.

Mom took me to a Fun Hunt Day on Sunday and it was the most fun I have ever had. I was really tired when we were done, but boy was it fun.

 

I wasn’t too happy with mom this last weekend, because on Saturday Halo got to go with mom to school and then Belle got to go with mom to do therapy dog work (I will tell you about Belle’s first day as a therapy dog in another post.). Anyway, I was feeling pretty left out and sad because mom didn’t take me anywhere.  She kept telling me Sunday was going to be my day and was I going to have fun.  I still felt left out.

 

Then Sunday morning mom got up even before I got up, and that is really early.  She got us all out of bed and fed us and put us outside while she got dressed.  We could see mom through the window and she was getting stuff together like a cooler and dog bowls and check cords and stuff like that.  Belle and Halo were getting really excited, so I got excited too.  When it came time to go mom came to the back door and called me.  She actually wanted me to go with her, and not Belle or Halo.  Yippeeee!!

 

So we got in the GSP mobile (mom’s minivan) and we headed out to the lease.  I was in my crate and couldn’t see much so I took advantage of the time and slept.  We drove a really long way to the lease.  When we got there we were in the middle of no where and there were other people there with funny looking grayish brown dogs mom called weimaraners, there were also Vislas which I already know about because I have a cute little Visla girlfriend, and other GSPs. 

 

Mom put me on a check cord and a bright orange hunting collar, and we went out in the field to introduce me to birds.  I thought mom was kinda crazy because we have lot’s of birds in our backyard.  There was another nice lady they called the bird lady.  Now I didn’t know what she was doing at first, but I did later and I sure liked the bird lady.  Mom and I headed downwind of the planted birds (they were using homing pigeons for this part of the training).  I was supposed to smell the bird and point.  Sounded pretty easy to me. So, I started using my nose and I thought I smelled a bird.  Now I had never seen a pigeon before this so I wasn’t too sure at first about what I was supposed to do, but when I thought I smelled one I locked into a point.  The bird lady then came up and flushed the bird and it flew.  The first time I just kinda stood there, but mon and everyone told me I was a good dog.  We did this exercise several times and I finally was getting so excited I was chasing those pigeons.  They would fly off and then land on the coop.  Well that ended the first lesson of the day and we just hung out to let me watch other dogs on birds for a while. Then it was lesson number two. They brought all the young dogs back out into the field.  The bird lady was there and another guy that went way to the other side of the field.  The bird lady started releasing pigeons and then the guy would fire the blank pistol.  This was supposed to get us used to the gun and also teach us that good things happen when the gun fires.  I wasn’t worried about the noise of the gun though because I was so interested in the birds.  They said I was ok with the gun and they could shoot with me in a brace because I just didn’t pay it any mind, not even when they got really close to me.  Finally, it was our turn to run in a mock hunt test.  I was going to be braced with a more mature dog and we were going to hunt quail.

Mom took me over to the horse trough and hose to wet me down.  She said it was pretty warm and we were going to be working hard so I needed to stay cool.  Then we headed out to the field. My brace mate was named Sprint and there was also a person on a horse. I wasn’t at all afraid of the horse or the man riding.  He kept telling my mom what a nice pup I was, and he also said we needed to be careful I did not catch a bird.  I didn’t understand that one, but mom agreed so I guess all I was going to do today was find and point.  I ran off with Sprint and we started looking. The first three birds Sprint found and then we came up over a hill and I knew I smelled a bird.  I started zeroing in on the bird and then I had it.  Nose down to the bush and tail up and froze.  Mom called point and then flushed the bird.  It was my first quail and I chased it for a while.  When I came back everyone was making a big deal over my first bird. That pretty much wrapped up the morning.  Mom said I did good on the birds and we headed in for a rest.  When we got back I was so tired and hot.  Mom took me over to the trough and I just climbed right into it and stood there.  The water was over my back and if felt so good.  I stood their drinking for a while and then got out.  Mom put me in my crate for a rest and she went and ate lunch.

 

That afternoon we were again going to run the bird field only this time the birds weren’t planted.  There were allot of birds out there because we had run 5 braces that morning and the birds were scattered everywhere.  This time my brace mate was another GSP named Troy.  He was 4 years old.  So, I went over to the horse trough again and got good and soaked down and then we were off.  We weren’t in the field 5 minutes and I got wind of my first bird.  It was at the base of a mesquite tree in the tall grass.  I locked on that bird and mom called point and they flushed the bird.  So, off we went again and I found bird number 2.  By this time everyone was surprised because the squirt (that was me) was finding all the birds and it was my first time.  Mom said I came from good hunting stock (that meant my doggy mom and dad) and I just had a great nose. She also whispered to me that she knew I was a great hunting dog.  Boy did that make me want to find more birds. About that time I got wind of bird number 3. Bird number 3 was really hard because it was in a cedar, but I knew that bird was there so into a point I went and mom called point and flushed it.  The lady on the horse that was acting as judge for the afternoon said finding a quail in a cedar is pretty hard as the cedar will mask the smell of the bird, but I did find that bird in the cedar. Bird number three flew off and over to some more trees and the lady judge told the other GSP handler to take his dog over there and see if that GSP could find the bird since we kind of knew where it was.  Mom tried to hold me back, but nothing doing. If that other GSP was going to look for the bird then so was I.  Mom did catch up to me though and held me back, but that other GSP just didn’t have the nose I did.  He couldn’t find that bird. We moved on ahead and left them looking for that other bird. We had just reached a new tree line and I wasn’t picking up any scent. I was getting really hot and tired by that time.  Mom said we would try one more area and then call it a day.  We went into another area that looked pretty good, and that is when I found my fourth bird.  About that time the other handler and GSP and the lady judge were coming along when mom said point.  The lady judge asked her if she thought I could hold that point until we got the other dog up there and mom didn’t even hesitate, she said yes.  Of course, she was holding my check cord just in case ‘cause they didn’t want me to get too excited and spook the bird before that other shorthair got up there to us.  It didn’t take too long and they brought the other shorthair up to find my bird and after a bit he did find it and point it. At that point they flushed the bird for the both of us. Still everyone knew that last bird was mine too.

 

Mom said we were done and were going to head on back so I went ahead of her.  After a little while I was pretty far ahead so I found some shade and laid down until mom caught up with me.  I was pretty comfortable, but she said I needed to get up so she could get back and get some water for me.  That sounded good so we walked the last little bit together.  When we got back to the picnic area I went right over to that water trough.  I was so hot and tired, but I got my front feet up over the trough and into the water, but I just couldn’t get my butt into the water.  I was too tired.  So, mom came over and asked me if I needed a boost and I just wagged my tail. She lifted my butt up and splash I was in the water.  It was heaven.  I didn’t want to get out, but there were other dogs waiting for their cool down so after about 10 minutes I climbed out.

So ended my first day on birds and hunting.  I was pretty proud of myself and mom just couldn’t quit bragging about me.  I slept the whole way home and then when I got home I ate and fell into bed.

 

I think I dreamed about bird hunting.  I can’t wait to do it all over again.

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I graduated!!!!

28 October 2008 by admin.

I have been going to puppy school for the last six weeks, and this week I graduated with honors.

 

Six weeks ago mom and I started puppy class.  Mom said before the first class, that it was going to be a long six weeks.  Now I didn’t understand how six weeks could be longer than six weeks, but she said something about lack of focus and not being able to keep my little butt still.  I still don’t know what she meant.  I was just having fun visiting with all the other students in class.  I am absolutely sure they loved meeting me.  I know I loved meeting them.  We are all friends.  There was a little poodle that barked and whined all the time.  What an annoyance that was, but we still had fun playing.  There was a Teruvian that sure was cute and shy.  There were a couple of shepherds and a mutt.  My favorite though was this cute little female Vizla.  She was sooooo cute.  Mom kept calling her my girlfriend.  She sure was cute. 

 

So the first class we learned something called heeling.  That is where I was supposed to walk really nice next to mom.  Then we also did sits where we were supposed to sit really still for along time.  My butt just wouldn’t stay on the ground that long.  My favorite exercise though was the down stay.  I liked it best because I could take a nap during that exercise.  I think it was mom’s favorite too cause she would get so excited and tell me how good I was when the teacher said exercise over.  School is fun, but kinda boring too.  So, mom said she would start bringing more stuff to future classes so they would be more interesting. 

 

After a few classes learning the heeling, sitting and downs we got to also start doing a recall.  Mom told me that this was one of the most important things I would ever learn, so I have been working really hard at it and I try to stay enthusiastic and come really fast.  That makes mom really happy. She is also happy because she says my fronts are really good.  I try really hard to sit nice and straight in front of mom, because if I do a nice front then I get a really good treat.  Boy do I love mom’s treats.

 

After one of my puppy classes we were standing around talking with the instructor and some of mom’s friends, and I heard mom tell her friend, Marty, that I was doing better than either Belle of Halo in my heeling at this stage in school.  She said I really knew where I was supposed to be and wasn’t even pulling on the leash.  That made me really proud that I could do something better than either of my big sisters.  Well, maybe not better, but at least I was doing really good.  Then I heard mom say I was sit challenged.  I wasn’t sure what she meant by that as I never sit unless she makes me.  I am starting to think that maybe mom wants me to be sitting when we stop in a heeling pattern as she always says sit and then pushes on my butt a little bit.  You know though, it just doesn’t make sense to me to sit as we are just going to start walking again.  I guess I will eventually figure that one out.

 

Mom is really patient with me and we always have fun in school.  Sometimes we play with toys and sometimes I get special homemade liver treats when I do something really good.  Mom also said I was ready for graduation. 

 

I was a little nervous graduation night because when I walked into school it looked really different.  There was a ring just like at dog shows (at least that was what mom said) and there were chairs for the audience, and some people even had cameras. Mom said we would get a number and when they called us we would have to do everything the instructor told us to do and not make mistakes as we were being scored.  She said it was all for fun and we shouldn’t be nervous, but I was kinda nervous because I wanted to do good. We went third and our turn came really quick.  I did really good on the heeling, but I forgot to sit until mom helped me.  She said not to worry as the other dogs didn’t do as good as I did.  After that I relaxed allot.  The next two exercises I aced.  The sit for exam (we don’t do a stand yet in puppy school) and the recall I do really good. Then it was time for all of us to do sits and downs.  Mom didn’t know it, but I had a big surprise for her.  I had never done a long sit for a minute for her before (remember I was sit challenged), but tonight I was going to keep my little butt planted no matter what happened.  It was hard because that darn poodle kept whining and getting up, but I just kept watching mom and thinking I can do it and next thing I knew mom was walking back to me with a big smile on her face.  I had done it. Yippeee!!  The last exercise was the down, and that one is so easy. I knew I could do the down, and mom knew it too.  Then we were all done and waiting for the big moment when we got our scores.  Mom was pretty happy. She said we did good and she was still happy because of my surprise for her.  If I had known sitting for a whole minute was going to make her that happy, I probably would have done it sooner.  She even gave me a jackpot.

Now the moment we had all been waiting for,,,,,who would get the high score…we did it.  Mom and me got a 91 out of 100.  That was the best in the class.  We got a blue ribbon for it, and everyone was clapping and laughing and having a good time. Mom said I scored better than either Belle or Halo did at their graduations.  She says I am going to be awesome.  I sure hope so, because it sure it fun to make mom happy.

 

Well now I am off to Intermediate school where I will continue to perfect my heeling, recall, sits and downs, and learn new stuff like a figure eight, a stand for exam, and the finish.  I can’t wait, if it is as much fun as puppy school, I know I will like it.  Plus, some of my puppy friends will be in intermediate class with me.  Sure hope that darn whiny poodle isn’t in my class.

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Anybody got a bone?

23 October 2008 by admin.

Boy does my mouth hurt. These days all I want to do is chew on something. I don’t really care what; just give me something to chew on.

 

I am now a little over 5 months old.  I weigh 41 lbs. and I am about 24 inches at the withers.  Everyone says I am a big boy.  I don’t feel so big though.  When I play with Belle and Halo they still win.  Plus, my teeth have started hurting me something awful.  I am always looking for something to chew on.  Mom is mad at me because I shredded her new chair cover for her nice chairs in the backyard.  I think it was because it was new.  She didn’t get as mad when I shredded the old one.  She even said, “No big deal, it was old.”  I thought it must be ok to chew on, but it wasn’t.  I also put some teething marks in her wood chair on the back porch.  Let’s see, I also have gone through about a half dozen of the really big leather chew toys.  I only get those when mom can watch me.  She says that is because she doesn’t want me to swallow any of the chew.  I also tried to chew on her slipper, but her foot was in it.  I guess that was a mistake.  She just found her small travel mouse for her laptop this evening.  I didn’t do too much damage to it.  After all it still works, sort of. I like to chew on my sisters ears, but they don’t like that and try to bite my head off.  I have lost all my front teeth top and bottom and my new big boy teeth are coming in.  I even lost my first fang, a little bit early.

 

Now that is a story.  It all started innocently enough.  I was playing rough house with Halo in the backyard.  We were really going at it.  She would grab me, then I would chase her.  On and on we went.  Our big sister Belle was just watching and mom was laughing.  Then I finally caught up with Halo and tried to grab her neck and then it happened.  I caught my upper fang (mom says it’s a canine) on Halo’s collar and snap.  The tooth broke.  No one noticed though, and it didn’t really bother me.  After all I am a GSP and everyone knows we are tough dogs.  So, I went on playing with Halo and having fun.  The next day though it started hurting, but I wanted to be a big boy so I didn’t complain.  That afternoon mom came out to play with us.  I wasn’t really feeling too good though.  Mom was working to get me playing, not knowing I had a broken tooth.  Well she came over and touched my muzzle.  OW!!! That hurt and I jerked away.  Mom got to looking and said, “Ringo let me see your nose.  It looks swollen a bit.”  Then she realized that I had a broken tooth.  She said it looked awful as the tooth was turning a grayish black.  She also said my gum was red.  She immediately put me in the GSP mobile (that is mom’s minivan) and we went to see Dr. Buell.  Well Dr. Buell had the day off, so we saw Dr. Maltby instead.  I like Dr. Maltby because she says I am one fine bird dog.  Dr. Maltby very carefully looked at my mouth and said that tooth had to come out, and that I should stay with her for the day. 

 

That is when the adventure began.  First, they gave me some pain medication.  My tooth felt a little better after that.  Then they let me rest in a crate and the assistants took turns keeping me company. Finally, it was my turn to get that nasty tooth out. A little while later I started waking up and it was really cold.  I was shaking really bad. That is when one of the assistants (the one that is my favorite) came and got in the crate with me and we cuddled.  She put her arms around me and loved on me and was keeping me warm.  It was really nice.  Almost as good and when I curl up and snuggle with mom.  Almost, but not quite.  It wasn’t too long after that that mom came and picked me up.  I was happy to see her, but I had made some good friends at the doctor’s office too. Now for most this would be the end of the story, but not for me.

 

So, a week went by and then another.  Mom said the big boy fang was coming in where I had had my broken tooth removed. And then, mom got really upset.  She was looking at the lower fang and all she saw was some blood.  Well you see, Halo and I had been playing again, and well that darn fang on the bottom broke. Mom took one look and said, “Ringo if you want to go to the vet I will take you. You don’t have to break your teeth to get to go.”  This time we had to wait until the next morning because it was too late to go that night.  So, the next morning I got to go visit my friends at the doctor’s office.  Both Dr. Buell and Dr. Maltby were there and Dr. Kelly too.  They tried to take this one out without surgery, but all they could get out was one of the pieces as I had really done a job on this tooth.  It was shattered.  So, I got to visit with the assistants again, and Dr. Kelly did my tooth this time.  Well this time when I woke up I wasn’t cold, but all my friends came and loved on me any way.  Dr. Kelly just laughed and said he had fixed me up this time so hopefully I wouldn’t be coming back with broken puppy teeth. My mouth was kind of sore on both sides too. 

 

Mom finally got there to pick me up.  I could hear her talking out front, but she took awhile paying and talking to Dr. Kelly.  I also heard Dr. Maltby talking about what a fine bird dog I was and that I must have awesome parents.  I think Dr. Maltby likes me.  Anyway, when they finally brought me out to mom she was laughing with Dr. Kelly.  She said, Dr. Kelly had fixed me up good and that Belle and Halo would be very happy about all the work that Dr. Kelly had done.  You see, Dr. Kelly had not only taken out my broken fang, but he had also taken out my other two puppy fangs that weren’t broken.  He had told my mom he didn’t want her bringing my back again in a few days with another broken fang.  I think Belle and Halo are happy too, because every time I try to grab their ears or neck, well there are no fangs to catch on with.  Mom says, “Ringo, don’t worry you will have your big boy fangs soon enough.”

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My third hike with pictures

5 October 2008 by admin.

Mom took me and my sisters hiking again yesterday and today, but today she took pictures.

 

Yesterday Mom took me and Belle and Halo to the Greenbelt which is just below our neighborhood where we live.  It is about a 2 mile area with a creek running through it.  It is closer to our house than Turkey Creek, but also not as rugged.  She said just in case we couldn’t go to Turkey Creek again this weekend, she wanted to get us out and hiking again because the weather was nice.  It was fun, but Turkey Creek is better.

Well, today we went to Turkey Creek and Mom took the camera, so here are a few pictures.

 

This is me waiting for Mom and her friend Mariah.  They were talking and I wanted to go catch up with Belle and Halo.

I am on a flexi as I get a little carried away and take off running.  Mom says there are too many areas for me to get lost or hurt.  There are a couple of pretty good drop offs and she says I get a little crazy when I am running.  She told me Halo used to be like that too, but is now reliable.  Boy, I can’t wait to be reliable.

 

Here is another picture of me backing Halo (with a little help from Mom and the leash).

We don’t know what Halo was pointing in the bushes ’cause we never saw anything, but Halo sure thought there was something there.  Mom says she has seen quail on this trail and that they are slowly coming back into Central Texas.  She said the fire ants ran them out, but that the fire ants aren’t as bad anymore.  Rumor has it that the fire ants are because those darn Aggies at A&M brought them up here to study and accidentally let them loose.  My mom is a Longhorn and bleeds orange, so she is always saying things about the Aggies.  She also says they have a phenomenal vet school.  Good thing too since my vet is an Aggie.

 

Anyway back to the the pictures of me hiking.  This next one is me and my sisters using our noses.  That is what we call Quality Nose Time or QNT for short.  My dad was the one that came up with that name.  He always said time for some QNT and Belle and Halo new what that meant.  I am just now learning.

And finally, this is me and Belle after we got home from the hike.  We sure were tired.

Mom says a good GSP is a tired GSP.  I guess this means me and Belle are really good.

 

Bye for now.

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My first hike

2 October 2008 by admin.

Well Fall is here (at least the temps have dropped) so we get to go hiking more often now…

 

Mom says now that the temps of summer have broken, she is going to take us hiking more often.  Geez, I didn’t mind the heat, but mom and Halo like it cooler.  Anyway, mom took all us kids to Turkey Creek this last weekend.  We went with friends (three of mom’s friends and another furkid GSP named Hannah).  Well Belle and Halo got to go off leash because this is a really cool 3 mile loop where dogs are allowed off leash, and Belle and Halo are reliable.  Mom said I had to be on leash cause I’m not reliable yet and I am way to fast.  It was still fun because she put me on a flexi and I got to go out to the end of the flexi.  My sisters were pretty good about staying with me too.  Hannah is a pretty cool friend.  She is an 8 year old GSP that has been rescued.  She says her new forever home is the best. 

 

Well back to the hike.  It was really awesome.  Belle and Halo were a little disappointed because they said there is usually water (11 creek crossings) on this trail, but due to the dry summer the creeks and springs are all dried up.  Except for one mud hole that is.  I found that slimy mud hole with green stuff on top.  I almost got into it too, then mom looked up and saw what I was doing… Boy did she yell. 

 

That hike was really long - 3 miles.  Of course, my sisters did about 10 miles and I probably did more than the 3 miles even on my flexi.  We met some other dogs on the way.  Mom wouldn’t let me run up and greet the other dogs until I had been properly introduced.  That is something I am also learning at puppy school.  But I met allot of other dogs.  It sure was fun, and I sure was pooped by the time we got back to the car.

Mom says we get to do it again next weekend and she is going to take her camera this next trip.  So, hopefully I will have some pictures to post next time.

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Learning to Swim

10 August 2008 by admin.

Mom took us to the lake today. My sisters knew where we were going, and Halo was might excited. Belle was excited too, but she is a little more laid back than Halo.

 

Mom took us to the lake today.  My sisters knew where we were going, and Halo was mighty excited. Belle was excited too, but she is a little more laid back than Halo.  The lake we went to was Lake Travis just outside of Austin, TX. It is one of the big lakes that make up the Highland Lakes in Central Texas.  Mom was kinda sad though as she said the lake was way down because of the drought.  It still looked like allot of water to me.  I was a little scared at first, but my sisters went right in.  I figured if they weren’t afraid I wasn’t going to be either.  Here is a picture of me getting my feet wet.

And here is a picture of my sisters after they went out and got the bumper.  They always do stuff together.

Belle and Halo are really good swimmers, but I think Halo is a little better.  Mom wants me to swim like they do.  She says they are fish.  Anyway, I played in the shallow for a while, but then I just had to go for it.  I wasn’t sure if I could swim or not, but mom told me I would just know what to do.  She has been pretty honest so far, so here goes….

Wow, she was right.  I can swim!!! Of course, it was still kind of scary, and as soon as I was swimming I thought I should head back to shore.  When my feet touched the ground again I started splashing allot.

It sure felt good to be on stable ground again. 

 

We didn’t swim the whole time we were at the lake.  We did allot of horsing around and playing too.

 

I also tried to get Belle to pretty please play with me, but she really wanted to go after the bumper.

Then Halo said she was going to do a pose for the cover of Gundog Magazine.  Halo is already a cover girl (mom calls her a super model).  She is on the cover of the Whole Foods Holistic Dry Dog Food.  So now she is always posing like a model. 

We had fun though and were all really tired by the time it was time to go home.  In fact, when we got home we all piled on the sofa and took a long nap.  I sure will remember my first swim.  Mom says just wait until we go to the beach as that is really big water.  I can’t imagine any more water than the lake, but maybe.

 

I better get back to my nap now as I need to be really rested for my next big adventure.

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Me and my big sister, Belle

8 August 2008 by admin.

Boy I love Belle. She is teaching me all kinds of cool things, like squirrel hunting and that it is a good idea to mind mom. Here are some picts of me and Belle.

Well, I found out mom likes to do obedience training every day with me and my sisters.  So, I have now learned sit really good. If I sit, I get a treat.  It works too, and I really like treats. I am also getting pretty good with a leash, but I still like to carry it in my mouth.  Mom doesn’t like that much, but I keep trying.  I have also learned that when mom says no, she means it.  This means I don’t mouth or bite on mom much any more.  I don’t bite Halo either because she really lets me have it, but Belle, well Belle is special.  She and I are real buds now.  I follow Belle everywhere and we wrestle allot.  She even tolerates a bite or two as long as I don’t bite her too hard. Here are two picts of me and Belle wrestling while mom was working.  We had to be kinda quiet though because mom was on a business call.

 

All those toys on the floor are us kids.  Mom has this big toy box in the living room and we can get anything we want out of it.  It has all our stuff that we can play with in it.  There is some cool stuff too and allot of bones.

 

And here are me and Belle on the back patio resting after hunting squirrels and just playing. We are also watching out for intruders like squirrels, or something.

Oh, and this last one is just me sniffing around mom’s garden.  Belle was showing it to me and telling me that it is off limits and mom gets real mad if we get in it.  It’s about the only area in the backyard that we don’t get to explore.  Mom says she has to have one nice area in the backyard with flowers.

Any how, I heard mom and dad talking today about maybe taking us kids to the lake this weekend for some swimming.  Mom really wants me to learn to swim.  Sounds like fun to me as I really like the water and nothing scares me.  Mom says Belle and Halo are great swimmers.  Mom said it was high time I learn to swim too.  So, maybe if we get to go, I will gets some pictures of me swimming with the big dogs.  Yippee, I can’t wait.

Until next time….

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Now I know what a booster is

1 August 2008 by admin.

Today I went back to see the Doc at my vet. Mom said it was time for my booster. Want to know what a booster is?

 

Today mom said it was time for me to get my boosters.  I still didn’t know what a booster was, but I was about to find out.  Halo, my princess sister, got to come too because mom said she need a bordatello booster.  So, we loaded up into the Pointermobile.  I got in my travel crate and Halo was in her seat, and off we went to see the Doc.  When we arrived everyone was really happy to see us.  All the people in the front office thought I was cute and Halo was so well behaved.  Halo didn’t really want to go in and I wasn’t sure why, but once we got in mom told her to sit and she sat so nicely and stayed that allot of the people in the Doc’s office were really impressed.  I hope I can be that good someday, but boy it must be hard.  Well we registered at the front desk and the nice lady told us we could take a seat in the waiting room and the Doc would see us soon. I got to sit in mom’s lap because she didn’t want me on the floor.  Something to do with not having all my boosters yet.  Hmmm…still don’t get that.  Pretty soon the nice lady came out and told us we could go to the back room.  Once in the back room, all the technicians came in to see me and Halo.  Many had not ever seen GSPs before and they thought I was cute and Halo was really pretty. The Doc came in and told mom that Halo didn’t need her Bordatello yet and wasn’t sure why they had sent a card, but in any case Halo seemed to relax and laid down. Then the tech came in and said she had to weigh me.  I gained 3 pounds in just 9 days. I now weigh a little over 13 pounds.  That was pretty cool.  After I got back to the room,  I got to get on the table. The doctor came back in and she had the booster with her.  It didn’t look to cool, but I knew I needed it so I acted like a big boy.

 

Now I know what a booster is.  I was a big boy though and didn’t cry or whine and the Doc was pretty slick. It really didn’t hurt much.  After I got the booster another lady technician came in and she got all excited seeing me and Halo.  She also had just gotten a GSP puppy and her puppy was 14 weeks old.  Her GSP was named Riley.  Well Riley was in the back, so she went and got Riley and we got to play for a few minutes while Riley’s mom and my mom talked about GSPs.  My mom loves to talk about GSPs.  She always tells people we are soooooo smart and the best breed ever.  Well Riley’s mom agreed and they talked about training, tail length, and of course how smart we are.

 

Soon it was time to go home.  Mom said I was such a good boy I could have a special treat when we got home.  When we got home Mom gave me and Halo a special cookie, and my big sister Belle even played with me a little.  Here is a picture of us playing.

Then I got a little tired so I crashed with all my friends.

Until next time….

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