Working Dog

I had to work this past weekend and since the office was (mostly) deserted I brought Chopper along with me.  At home Chopper is content to lay down, have a bone, take a nap.  But at the office he wanted to hunt - he tracked down every stray crumb anyone had left behind or stash of snacks.  After two days he had found everything and he was bored.  So he sat and stared at me until I stopped working and took him home. 

Chopper's Halloween

This little corner of Chopper's world seems to have been a little forgotten. Chopper and I are still running around doing our thing - visiting Starbucks, running in Agility League (though Chopper is more of a prancer than a runner), outings to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica now that the tourists are gone. And a lot of work on my part.

Also one of our favorite holidays has come and gone - Halloween. In the spirit of keeping up Chopper's end of his adoption bargain he willingly subjected himself to yet another costume. I think he wouldn't have agreed if he had known I would make him wear costumes that matched me.

We went to the Zoom Room's Halloween Party as Mickey and Minnie and I forced him into donning the costumes again on Halloween for trick or treaters. We only got one trick or treater this year (which means Chopper got to sample some Skittles and he likes them). But on the positive side Chopper didn't bark at her or her dog that accompanied her to the door.

Chopper, however, was not a fan of all things Halloween this year. Our neighborhood notoriously has some GREAT Halloween decorations. Inflatable spiders, clowns with heads removed, talking lights, ghosts hanging from four story high palm trees. Everyone goes all out. This year one of our favorite houses had a few new decorations however - giant cats.

Chopper and I were on our morning walk and I was admiring the decorations and didn't notice that when we came around the corner there were two giant inflatable cats - with moving heads and glowing eyes - in the driveway of this house. These cats were at least seven feet tall and in the crouching attack position. Chopper immediately started growling and then barking and refused to cross in front of these cats - he was convinced that they were, in fact, giant cats that were obviously going to kill him. After a lot of convincing and more pulling on his leash I got him past the house but he refused to stop staring at the house and growling and even ignored his doggy buddies at the park. So what did I do - well the next day I videotaped it. It's pretty hilarious (though not as great as that first day). By the fourth time we passed the house that week he was not at all affected by the those cats and this week when a giant inflatable football player appeared he gave it a quick inspection and decided it meant no harm and moved on. Another learning/conditioning experience for the old guy.

Now we are getting ready for Christmas (work obligations means that we have for the time being at least had to "cancel" Thanksgiving at our house - although I managed to pick up some special Thanksgiving Dinner canned wet food for my favorite guy). Chopper's been on his best behavior recently - I think he's trying to get on Santa's "nice" list (as opposed to the "naughty" list).

Bette Davis Eyes

I usually win a staring contest with my mom. 

Look into my eyes . . . you are getting sleepy, very sleepy.  

No Sew Doggy Cape

I don't sew - I wish I did. My high school did not offer a home economics class but instead I took wood shop, stain glass and jewelery making. I wish I could add sewing to my list of skills. I thought by watching Project Runway I could learn but that didn't work.
What I can do is glue. And cut. So when it came time to make Chopper a rainbow cape for his birthday that's what I did. I used some other shirts of his to get the right length and figure out how to attach it around his next and penciled out a pattern on a large piece of red felt.

Next I just divided it up and cut out the stripes. I used felt glue (which I did not know existed the last time I made Chopper a felt outfit and this stuff is so much easier to work with than other glues I tried).

You can see where I just glued the Velcro on in the neck closure.

A little dry time and voila! An easy (but slightly time intensive) cape. I'm thinking I could easily make him a Super-Chopper cape next.



I had to use Chopper's stuffed gorilla as a model as he was not cooperating

Then on his birthday I just slipped it on him. It would sometimes wiggle to one side so I'm thinking if we make another one we may need a tummy strap as well.

Chopper's 5th Birthday Party

So now that it has been over a month since Chopper's birthday I am finally getting around to sharing some pictures. We had a rainbow themed birthday party (mainly because I wanted to try out all these rainbow recipes and crafts).

We made sure everyone knew it was Chopper's big day.

 

I made Chopper this cape for his party and I ordered him a crown from Young Urban Puppy for the occasion.

I decorated and made sure there were plenty of birthday sweets.



There were lots and lots of sweets.  We still have some of those Oreos laying around.



Rainbow birthday cake.



Rainbow dipped Oreos - really sweet but super cute.

I really liked the way they looked.

Rainbow dipped dog bones were a big hit!

Pupcakes!  The pupcakes came from Sprinkles and I added the Chopper heads and rainbows!

The whole dessert table!



Yes this was all a little overboard - but I had the tablecloth already and it kind of went from there.  Plus you only turn five once.

Chopper's favorite treat was the people rainbow cake - I only got one shot of the inside and it was me bribing him with the top of the cake I had to cut off to make the cake nice and flat. 

So Chopper wasn't the only one in a rainbow outfit there were corsages for the doggy guests!



I made these corsages with some felt, glue and Velcro.

Chopper's favorite part aside from the cake was opening his presents - this dog figured out how to do this at his first birthday - we haven't seen if he can open a wrapped present yet but I have a feeling it wouldn't be a problem.



I think Chopper got a little tired of having his picture taken but he looked so cute in that hat I couldn't help it.

Chopper got some birthday blues.



Dreaming about all the cake he was going to eat.



A few weeks after all this it occurred to me that Chopper looked like someone famous in that hat.

Yep - I made my dog look like Jughead.  They have the same appetite and both have long noses (although I think Chopper's looks better on him) - so I am surprised it took me this long to figure it out.

World Oceans Day

Chopper loves the ocean and the beach and although today is not a particularly nice day here in Southern California (all gloomy and gray) we enjoy a walk at the beach about once a week (next to rather since dogs are not allowed on the beach near our house) and a few times a year make the drive up to the dog beach so that Chopper can explore the shells and the sand and the best part the ocean.

So on World Oceans Day we remind you - "Don't Trash Where You Splash!"

This is Not Underwear

I have mentioned before that I'm a big car barker in the car.  My mom got me some music which helped a lot but I still like to bark at things.  My vet recommended the Thunder Shirt (because we already had one) to see if that would keep me calmer in the car as it has helped with visitors and thunder.  That didnt' help too much in the car though.  She said if that didn't work to try the Calming Cap. So a few weeks ago my mom ordered me this contraption and when it arrived a few days ago she decided to give it a try.

This is what the website says about it:

The directions on how to get the thing on were a little hard to understand but once she figured out how it was supposed to attach to my collar in two places we got it on.  I wasn't so sure about this thing but I kept getting chicken (one of my favorite) treats so I put up with it.



Just chillin at home with my Calming Cap

We tried it at home a bit and my mom made me walk around and I was able to find my food bowl and my treats.  Next came the big test though - wearing it in the car.

My mom got me in the car (with my cap on) to go to class.  We passed bicylists, trucks, people walking - all the stuff I usually love to bark at and nothing.  While at a stop sign my mom got a quick picture of me with the cap on.


Me not barking at anything in the car.

 This picture caused a lot of ruckus with my mom's friends the other day. One asked if there was a calming cap for lawyers, several thought I was wearing underwear on my head and one thought I was so anxious in the car because my mom was taking pictures instead of driving (we were at a stop light). 

So far so good but we'll have to see if I use my spidey sense of hearing (notice those long ears) to determine when there is a bike or big truck nearby and still bark.  My mom is hoping this will retrain me to ride in the car without being agitated at everything and then I won't have to wear the underwear - I mean calming cap - all the time.  We shall see.

Who's the Boss?

There are just some days when you need a good rest . . . on a mom's bed.  This was one of those days.

"Yeah I know this isn't my bed and you are telling me to get off but that's not going to happen."

My Fancy New Going Out Collar

A few weeks ago my mom came across a bow time that she though I had to have.  Well guess what?  She decided to buy it for me (!) so that I could be prepared in case I did have somewhere fancy to go.  So the other day it came in the mail and my mom made me try it on (along with some other goodies we got for some future holidays - she said we were playing dress up - all I know is that she kept giving me chicken so I cooperated).

I think I need an ascot now too.

I can't wait to have somewhere to where it too . . . maybe I will wear it to my Obedience Two class tonight and show those other dogs that I am a serious student.

Where would you wear a doggy bow tie?

Birthday Preparation

My birthday is next month and I will be FIVE! My mom has always made a special day of my birthday.

On my first birthday my Aunt Joey came to visit from San Francisco and Mumble's Mom Carrie made me special doggy cupcakes (this was before Mumble was even born).

On my second birthday my mom got me a cake from Three Dog Bakery and had some of my favorite people and dogs over for a party.

On my third birthday my mom invited some friends - people and doggies - for a hike in Malibu and then we had a picnic.

Last year on my fourth birthday we had a party at the Zoom Room in Culver City - Carrie made me an Agility Cake and there was lots of running around and playing. My grandma and great-grandma were there for that party (and my great-grandma kept sneaking me chicken from the people food table). It was lots of fun (but my mom wished she had had more time to plan it but she had to go talk to some fancy people in black robes the day before). I wore my blue birthday hat and it was lots of fun!

This is my Agility Cake - there was a cake for people and one for dogs!

Me and Mumble waiting for some snacks!

Mumble and Me sneaking a peek at the cake - it looked good!

 Anyway - my mom hasn't decided what to do for my birthday this year but she ordered me a birthday crown (with removable numbers so we can use it year after year).

What did you do for your last doggy birthday?

A Rare Smile

Chopper is a very serious little dude - he often looks drowsy and gets his face all wrinkled like he is thinking very hard about something. Occasionally, however, he will grace me with a smile - and sometimes I'm quick enough to capture it.

Happy Easter!!!

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter - Chopper will be participating in his very own Easter egg hunt. (I put treats in those plastic eggs and hide them and he cracks them open and eats the treats.)

You Talking to Me?

Sometimes my mom catches me relaxing in some odd places.  And then she disturbs me by taking my picture.

"I don't know anything about a chair that goes here."

Monkey and Me

My mom has come up with a lot of nicknames for me over the last few years but the only one that ever stuck was "Monkey."  I even answer to it.  She says that if we ever have to go into the witness protection program that she can change my name to Monkey and then I can go with her.  She's odd like that.

Anyway when she was in San Antonio she found me a stuffed cowboy monkey.  He has a squiggly tail that I can shake him by and he's a great nap buddy.

Monkey and Me taking a nap!

Sleepover

So Mumble and I have had a lot of sleepovers in the last few weeks.  First he stayed with me when my mom had to go out of town for work and now he is staying with us because his mommy had to go out of town.  We brought my big bed from the living room in for him to try but that lasted about five minutes before he decided to sleep on my mom's bed with her.  I guess he misses his mom because normally we don't do that here. 



Mumble didn't last long on the dog bed - I guess that means we have room for another friend.



TGIF

My mom has been busy busy busy lately and she has to travel for work a few times in the next week so I will get to have a slumber party with my buddy Mumble and his mom (but at my house because Mumble's brother is a cat and I like to chase cats).  I'm very excited but still sad that I won't get to see my mom.

On the upside she's been so busy I have been able to sneak up on the couch a few times without her noticing - I've gotten pretty clever about the whole thing.

You can barely tell I'm there!

I'm super excited for Week Two of Scent Discrimination Class on Sunday and hope that my mom buys me the kit to practice at home (I'm sure she will).  Other than that I plan on spending the weekend lying around doing nothing.

In n Out

So last night my mom got stuck in traffic and was late picking me up from daycare.  Then she said she had to use the restroom (she won't go outside like me) and it was getting past my dinner time so she pulled in to this place with a big yellow and red sign and went inside for a little bit.  When she came back she got me out and we had a picnic - it was my first In-n-Out hamburger (well just the patty) and it was FANTASTIC.



I think I'm in love!


I hope we get to go back again - I better be on my best behavior.