Called Up!

When we lined up for Bad Rap class today, Donyale told us to go to the advanced class!!  She warned me that I might get sent back down to the minors, unless Tim (Racer, not my Uncle Tim from the shelter) approved.  So I really had to step up my game!  I got into a lovely down-stay for Janet, and let her walk all around me and even step over me.  Then we went to the center of the area in two lines and greeted other handlers and dogs and I was PERFECT the whole class.  OK, almost.  When I was in a down-stay and Tim came over to distract me, I popped up two out of three times.  But was this test fair to me?  I think not.  The man keeps HOT DOGS in his pockets!!  What kind of sadistic dog-trainer would do that???  I thought I had the rest of the exercises nailed, but on the last greeting, the other dog got snarky so I got snarky back.  I won't even tell you what she said, 'cuz Janet will probably say "that's no excuse".  But---other than those two ever-so-tiny infractions---I was PERFECT.  And I do get to come back to Tim's class next week!

Bosco and I have had two more dates out in the country.  We now walk so close together that we can touch each others' sides with our noses.  At the end of the second walk, Janet and Bernie kept us on our leashes, but they let us have some private time.  We kissed---it was so romantic!  I think I could fall for him---he really knows how to treat a girl.  Sigh.......  Here we are watching turkeys together.  Or maybe deer.  At this point I don't know which is which.  But isn't this guy a HUNK???

Bill cut me a nice piece of carpet that covers the space where I'm supposed stay when we're traveling.  I quietly amused myself all the way to Berkeley today by chewing my Squeaky Kong into little pieces.  Janet says the back of her car has become "The Place Toys Go to Die." 


I have to admit it would be nice not to have to spend 90 minutes on the road before I have to do all that hard work in class.  So we went to watch a dog-training session this week at a school close to home.  We're doing a "drop-in" this week, so we'll see how that goes.  Of course we'll keep going to Bad Rap, but Janet seems to think I need more training.  I don't know why.

Ya Gotta Have Friends!

Click here to listen to the Divine Miss M Singing this week's title theme!

On the way to Berkeley today, Janet told me I'd be seeing a special friend again.  Since I already knew I'd be seeing my buddies from Bad Rap, plus Amelia and my Uncle Tim from the shelter, I knew it had to be someone I hadn't seen since I got adopted.  While Janet was sitting on the bench and telling me to stop trying to pull her down the sidewalk cuz' I was bored, an SUV pulled up.  My nose told me before anyone even opened a door that it was my very own Auntie Ferne!    And she thought I wouldn't remember her----silly girl!  We had a wonderful scritching and jumping and wiggling and treating session before class started (I got ALL the treats, of course, which is as it should be).  I was so excited to see her!  I finally got to thank her for my Squeaky Kong, which remains my favorite toy.  I always look in Janet's bag for it when we go to the park if she gives me something else.  She doesn't seem to get that there's just NOTHING I like as much as that Squeaky Kong!

Because I spent time with Auntie Ferne, I wasn't the first one past the classroom gates like I usually am.  So my favorite spot under the tree had already been taken by that darn Reggie.  While Janet was talking to his handler, I laid down on the grass and stretched out like I was just relaxing and v e r y  v e r y  s l o w l y scooched closer and closer to him.  I thought I might be able to intimidate him and make him leave.  And it worked!  He barked and lunged at me, so of course I had to bark and lunge back.  After we both got scolded, Reggie's handler offered to move (YESSSS!!!)  I could not believe it when Janet said, "No thanks, our Miss Clover needs to learn that life is full of little disappointments."  Really?????  He gets my grassy spot in the shade and I get a lecture???  Whenever he was behind me in class today, he'd brag about it, too.  AND I overhead today that Amelia wrote on my shelter evaluation form that I was "bossy"....seriously---where does she get this stuff???

The new friends I made this week are Trudi and Alicia from All 4 Seasons Pet Services who will be walking and feeding me if Janet and Bill go out of town again.  They took me for a walk and said how well-behaved and how pretty I am.  So we already know they have great taste.  They had never seen a Squeaky Kong, and I was delighted to demonstrate it for them!

Bosco and I had two more walk-dates this week.  He's not used to all the cats and cars and people in my neighborhood, but I'm not used to the turkeys and deer in his.  So we both have to make some adjustments if this relationship is going anywhere.  I've always hung around with the bad boys---I'll admit that I'm a little out of my element.  Frankly, I'm not sure how to act around a real gentleman, but I'd like to learn!

Week Three Musings

Bad Rap class on Saturday was with Donna, who put treats on both sides of the wedding-march cones and made us walk past them without eating or even sniffing the treats.  Then she picked up the treats (without sharing!) and we dogs had to walk around the cones really close to each other without talking or being sharky---even me and Joey.  It seemed like all I heard for a whole hour was "Leave it!"

"Leave it" is definitely in the running for my least-favorite command----right up there with "Stay!"  Sniffing another dog?  "Leave it!"  Sneaking a treat off the ground?  "Leave it!"  Chewing on something tasty, but unauthorized?  "Leave it!"  Making noise?  "Leave it!"  In my head I'm writing a song I call "I Wanna Leave 'Leave It' Behind!!"  Maybe Scott's band The Dejenerates can record it and make copies for all the other Bad Rap dogs.  I think there's a niche market out there......

Twice last week Janet and I went for walks with her friend Bernie.  Bernie's dog is a big, handsome German Shepherd named Bosco.  Our first walk was in my neighborhood and through the park, which was a new experience for Bosco.  Our second walk was in his territory, out in the country with lots of interesting smells and birds and deer and a neighbor who walked out of the bushes and had to be barked at a little, because Janet might have needed my protection.  (After we were all properly introduced he turned out to be OK.)  Bosco seemed really pleased to see me on our second date, but I've learned not to jump into a relationship so fast.  I've been burned before, and this time I'm playing hard-to-get.

At home, I have assigned myself a job.  When Janet and I first started walking around the garden on my leash, I noticed she would find snails on the ground and pick them up.  Then she'd throw them in the fish pond for the koi to eat.  Now I find them for her and point them out---then Janet tells me how wonderful I am.  I'm HELPING!

This video is me with my Squeaky Kong.  I LOVE doing zoomies with it and chewing on it.  I hate letting go of it, even though letting go means I get to chase it again.  It's a dilemma......