Catching up!

Wow...So sorry I haven't written on here in such a very long time! Lots happened... but first my mom got really sick, and had to go stay a few times in some place that wasn't here at home where she belonged. She came home smelling all sorts of medicine-y, and it took her time to be able to walk, and then run.

But then we spent LOTS of time working on various things, and planning, and doing a bunch of other things I don't understand...but in the end, we all went away for over a WEEK! It was so much fun, 'cause I got so MUCH attention! I showed off in harness, and played on some agility stuff, and went in a show ring and we left with those pretty ribbons my mom likes so much..best part though was that I got groomed at least once a day- and you all know how much I love grooming......I wish every week was all about me....it was just as it should be.

And now we've been working really hard on our agility training. Even though I had fun when we went away, I guess mom needs me to be better at some things...I think she needs to find a way to be more clear when she tells me what she wants. I admit though, sometimes I just don't pay attention...so maybe we both need to communicate better with each other.

Mom is also trying to teach me to chase and bring back a toy...now, I'll do most anything for food, and I like to play with toys..well, when I feel like it. But why would I go get and bring back something a human threw?? I think if she wanted it, she shouldn't have thrown it away. Duh.
But I'll think about it. What she's doing right now, is she's using click and treat methods..I love getting her to click, and she's clicking me for touching these two special toys with my nose. Yesterday I actually DID bring her the red firehose toy, and then she played tug with me for a minute, before she gave me a piece of chicken and put the toy away. I don't usually like playing tug with people, only with my uncle Ash...but it was kind of fun! I might do it again. Maybe. The other special toy is a bright green ball, she calls it a "tennis" ball. It's sort of fun how it bounces, and I like to watch it, and then grab it after it stops bouncing. So we'll see....I might be willing to give it a try. I'll let you know how that goes!

I'm a STAR!

WOW! I had the HARDEST time logging in to my own stupid blog! What's up with that? I hate google changing everything they own over to make you need to link your accounts together- my mom is so frustrated, she can't get into her youTube account at all!

Mom got a new thing: she calls it a cam-corder, or something like that. I really want to lick it, but she keeps not letting me (no fair, I'm the Princess, remember??). But what I've learned from watching her plug in cords and groan and utter vile things under her breath, is that this 'corder thing made ME a movie star!

Anyway so here I am, just sort of waiting my turn and cooling down at agility class this week..

Once Mom actually learns how to really use this thing, I look forward to all kinds of movie clips starring ME, Princess Center of the Universe- as it should be.

Been Workin'

Wow! Sorry I've been MIA for such a long time...I've been doing all sorts of things! We went away again, right after the agility thing. It was fun! My mom was really happy, I won some more of those colored ribbons, and my dog-mom Rhya did too.

It was REALLY hot where we went, too- SO hot...good thing mom was thinking of us, 'cause she brought big fans, one for each of us, and turned them on high- that felt sooooo goooood. I love fans, I sleep next to one all summer!

AND: there was a neat contest later in the evening, and I got to show off my specially-learned trick to everyone! I was right on cue, and everyone laughed and I did it again and again, and there was clapping- I like clapping, you know it's always for me, right?

This past weekend, we went away again- this time we got to do some REAL work, like Malamutes are s'posed to be doing. We went backpacking! Well, the humans called it "hiking", but us dogs all carried backpacks and made ourselves useful, of course. We went over 10 miles through the forest on the edge of the mountains- it was hilly, lots of up and down, and mud, and water, and streams. It was a bit warm out at first, but later on we ended up right in the middle of a thunderstorm! I think mom might have been a bit nervous, but me & Rhya, we just tried to catch the rain drops, same as we do at home. There were lots of biting bugs though, and even though we'd gotten bug-sprayed, we got some bites in our ears. They ITCH! Mom put some medicine on, and it helps but I still feel itchy. I think mom got bit some too, 'cause she's been scratchin' at her hands and arms, and I did see a big welt on her face too..

I like hiking though- it's just another chance for me to flex my big muscles, and the pine forest smells yummy and fresh. I got REALLY dirty! So of course, today I had to have yet another bath- I think that's the third or fourth one in like 4 weeks! I have to admit though- I really DO feel better when I'm clean..

OH! And today I was minding my own business in my own yard, when a sharp piece of tree seed stabbed my foot and made it bleed! OUCH! I was limping for a little while, but I feel better now- mom cleaned it all really good and put some spray on my foot. I think I'll be fine tomorrow, but I'll let you know.

Wow, Busy!

We've been so busy! I was right though- we DID go somewhere, and we were gone for DAYS! I was pretty sure, 'cause we all had baths, and mom washed a bunch of our stuff, and packed stuff in bins and this wheely thing she calls a "suitcase"...I guess it's a case, alright, but I don't get the "suit" part.
Anyway, we traveled most of a day in the van, but I don't mind that part- I just roll onto my back in my crate and sleep most of the time. Oh, and talk my aunty Sharon out of french fries...I love my aunty Sharon, she dances for me and she's just so silly! I wasn't so sure I liked her putting strange dogs in MY van at first..but after a while, I remembered that these weren't strangers, I just hadn't seen them in many months.
It turned out that we went to a dog show! Dog shows are GREAT- I get so MUCH attention- all that brushing, and spraying, and combing, and that awesome blower thing, and then in the ring: LIVER...I just love it. I DON'T love it when mom has to give that same attention to the other dogs, though, even my dog-mom Rhya. I want mom all to myself! She's MINE. We had a good time though, and mom was happy when we won pretty strips of satin ribbon and some sparkly glass stuff. THIS dog show was extra cool though, because we got to work in harness, too! We did good, I think, 'cause everyone said so. I was a little unsure of that big cart behind me at first, but pretty soon I figured out that mom liked it when I pulled it to her, and then I just had fun showing off how strong I am! Mom made me stop before I was ready to though- just when I was really sure I was getting good at it! Just wait'll next time...
Then, we get home, and things JUST get back to normal, and then we spent two days going to this weird building, with springy green carpet on the WHOLE floor, and lines painted on it..but they had agility equipment on it! I didn't get to go near any of the equipment, bummer! But Rhya did, and she said she was good sometimes, and really had a hard time paying attention to mom some of the time. But there were more of those colored ribbons, and new STUFFY TOYS! I will take them..oh yes, I will...they will be mine...

Spring clean

Today I had a bath!! And I liked it..I always like it, which is good, I get quite a few baths. The water part isn't my FAVORITE thing, exactly, but I always get some sort of treat in the bath for being good... but I can't get enough of that high-powered blower thing that dries me! It's wonderful- like a massage...I lie right down on my raised table, and just relaaaaaxxxx....so good! And sometimes I bite the air that comes out of the hose, which always makes my mom laugh so then I kiss her 'cause she's funny.
Before the bath, though, it was such a nice spring day out, and I got to spend it running and playing in the yard, and getting nice and dirty romping through the mud with my Uncle Ash! We've had lots of rain, and the whole yard is soggy, which makes for great squishy-between-the-toes mud. So I left lots of dirt in the tub and now I'm all clean and shiny and fluffy. Uncle Ash had a bath last week, and my dog mom Rhya had one yesterday...I think we must be going somewhere! I'll find out soon...
Oh! I almost forgot: my new trick is SOOOOO easy! All I haveta do is lie back on my side, and mom says "bang" and then clicks for me and tosses me a treat! It only took me a couple minutes to get her to start clicking for this- humans are so easily amused! Woooo!

Click!

Tonight was school night! We did some shaping and clicker stuff tonight- I love being the "demo dog", it's my chance to show my smarts! I was working toward putting my feet in a laundry basket, and I was doing fine until the basket jumped out at me and scared me! Aaaahhhhh! It moved all on it's own, right at me- I swear I'd just barely set my foot on the edge of it..so scary! But I showed I was brave again! Once I was sure it was sitting still, I worked up the courage to come right back and start touching it again. Mom gave me a yummy "jackpot" of treats when I put my chin on the basket, and then we called it quits. It's kind of funny, making her wait for me to do something that she'll click for..sometimes I can REALLY make her wait, too! Hee hee wooo!
It was actually kind of neat: see, the other dogs in my class haven't worked with clicker training before, so I'm glad they got a chance to see that I can do it, and I hope they can too! So now this week we have "homework"- my mom has to teach me a new trick before class next week... I know I can learn whatever she comes up with, but I think her imagination might be a little limited... I already know how to shake paws, and of course sit and down and stand, and I know to "touch" my nose to her hand or a target, and to "look".... so now, what else??? Oh, and I almost know how to bow already, so we can't use that... any suggestions, anyone?

Shopping day

Today my mom was at that "work" place again. But when she came home, she took me shopping with her! I hopped right into my crate in the van, and kept her company all the way up the long, long road to the yummy food store, and then I got to go INSIDE! It's a little bit scary in there- I don't like the jangly bells on the door- but mmmmmmmmm...it smells sooooo gooood...the nice people who own the store bake scrumptious homemade doggie cookies in there, and they sell those, along with only healthy and natural kibbles and yummy frozen bones and meats... oh, I'm sorry, I'm drooling on the keyboard just THINKING about all the wonderful things in that place...
We poked around all over the store, my mom was looking for a couple things..and then I saw an ANIMAL! Right in the store!! It wasn't another dog. It wasn't one of those squirrels, but not much bigger... mom said it was a "kitty". I've never seen one before!! I thought about chasing it, but my mom told me not to. And then later, I spotted another one! It was sitting so still up on the counter, it took me awhile to realize it was real! But it didn't move, just quietly looked at me. And I felt strangely like this "kitty" was just nice, and though it didn't speak to me, clearly we were OK with each other. So I left the kitty alone, and minded my own business..besides, mom was ready to carry out some of those yummy things from the store, and I needed to go lead her out to the van, and make sure she put everything inside where it needed to go so it would all get home safe. Mom was so glad for my help, I got a cookie in my crate to eat on the way home!