Will Work for Treats

Is this the Meaning of LIfe? Gummy Greenies, Dog ("Doggie Crack") Loaf, Crispy Iams Treats, Turkey and Sweet Potato Bites,  Peanut butter-laced Nylabones? Well, yes. Every day is sweeter; every command turns to a delight; life's milestones are highlighted by treats.

We STOP and SIT at street crossings, hoping for that coveted morsel instead of just "Good dogs!"

Breakfast, Part I: SIT, WAIT, WATCH ME, OK -- Whatever it takes to get that bowl, which is really just one big serving of treats.

Breakfast, Part II:  "Treat Balls" (filled with kibble deducted from First Breakfast) make another, and more time-consuming, delight. (Here, LEAVE IT)

Then, time to get the paper. First Wallace, while Wrenny does "GO LIE DOWN".  Both jobs (Yay!) deserve treats.  Then switch jobs. (More treats)!  

THEN it is "Bone Time," when two well-loved Nylabones are lightly dipped in peanut butter, and the ensuing pleasant activity helps to sweeten the wait until the humans finish their own breakfast and give hints that the Morning Walk might be about to occur. (More treat ops for Good Dogs).

Later, a human might be persuaded to play in the back yard, and award treats for stellar performance.  (Here, Wallace does the Dog Jumparoo). 

 Bedtime? Just as enthusiastic.

Treats, glorious treats!

We'll do anything for 'em,

"Sit," "Shake," or "Down,"

"Heel" all over town,

We absolutely adore 'em.

Treats, wonderful treats!

Dog loaf or stick Pupperoni,

Biscuits or kibble,

We'll never quibble,

We want 'em! It's hungry-dog money.

We will roll over, come, stay, bring it and give it,

Watch, turn, go to bed, fast, slow, WHATEVER,

For beautiful treats, fabulous treats,

Yummy, amazing, wonderful, glorious TREATS!

YUMMMMM.

Unlikely Alpha

Wallace is taller and heavier (by +/- 8 pounds), more hyper, AND he's a boy, but after indulging his puppy ways all this time, Wrenny has emerged as the leader of this pack.

She gladly wrestles and races, but when she wants to stop, they STOP.  She has to be watched at dogdinner time or she will shoulder him away from his dish. She um, leaves her mark over his when we go for double walks.  She starts the games, and she ends them:

She is making "snarly face"; he is saying "Sorrysorrysorry."

She excels in games that produce treats. The humans had to modify our games of "fetch" when Wrenny realized she could get more treats by letting Wallace catch the ball (he can snatch it out of the air) and then taking it away from him:

It's hard to discipline such a sincere mouse face, so the humans are taking care to give Wrenny a few special and advanced opportunities (extra cuddles, jumping games in the part of the yard that Wallace avoids), to make sure she knows she is the BEST -- the best girl dog, that is.

Dogs in the Outback!

On an otherwise unremarkable February morning ...
 

Things started happening in the back yard

 

Which required closer inspection.

The fence opens up a whole new territory for play and contemplation.

No more spontaneous rampages into the lake, but life in the Outback is good, Mate!

Wallace and Wrenny: Together Again

Wrenny is back for another extended stay at Camp Grandmom. Everyone is delighted about this, not the least Wallace, whose now-dominant size does not necessarily mean that he is always Top Dog. To avoid confusion, however, many activities are having to be done TOGETHER,

 LIke SIT

 

STAY

 

DOWN

                                                                   
                                                                           LEAVE IT

                                                                           
                                                                          PLAY

 

                                                                   AND SLEEP !

Christmas for Dogs

Being a dog and possessing certain linguistic limitations, one can only go so far in the appreciation of the season. But certain things did not escape notice, like the attractive but useless Christmas outfit --




The reappearance of a favorite cousin



-- and the necessity of sharing one's toys.

 

A houseful of people and food --

 And gifts: the giving (I tried this one out first, but let that be our little secret, huh)?

-- and the receiving.

Christmas seems to be a day of happy messes

--when the kids can start something on their own



possibly resulting in the end of the Christmas outfits. 

Most of all it was good times with favorite people.  Four paws up!

A Certain Family Resemblance

Maybe it is a little trick of Mother Nature, but we have noticed that one's own children, even those adopted ones who are not technically children, are especially good-looking.  Remember the undeniable beauty of Grandog Wrenny? Walking with Wallace (who walks politely -- mostly) I have come to expect compliments, and enjoy mentally preparing a good-natured response just in case: "Why thank you, yes, he is extremely handsome."  Thus endowed with familial prejudice, we couldn't resist sending a sample of his dna for analysis.  Presenting Wallace Collins, Siberian husky/border collie/cocker spaniel and  more!

  

At 10 months, Wallace now weighs 44 pounds. We are lucky to have come across his brother Baxter and we trade occasional emails.  In addition to sharing their "border husky" good looks, they seem to share an interest in rearranging the plants in their respective back yards.  We hope to encounter their other brother, Max, one day. I'm sure we will recognize him, too!

Baxter lookin' good


 

This look, however, says "No, I don't believe I want to do that, just now."

Wallace Gets Ready for Halloween

One late October afternoon,

Wallace's people started doing some really funny stuff

                                          

                                          -- that just had to be investigated

 

--and thought about, from the right point of view

 

-- and asked about nicely, not worrying at all--

But everything turned out OK.  It was just a Dog-O' Lantern.

One had to admire their inspiration.