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!

Scent Discrimination: The Conclusion

So a few weeks ago we had our last day of scent discrimination and it got a lot harder.  As a surprise my friend Mumble and his mom came to see me finish my class and even took some pictures to share of me in action.

First, the trainer made us do a quick review - easy peasy.  My mom asked how he knew we weren't just trained to find the boxes and not the smell even though we were sniffing even the blank boxes (thanks mom for the vote of confidence) but the trainer assured my mom it would get hard (personally I wanted to relax a little). 

Next, he hid the boxes all over the Zoom Room - behind the agility equipment, behind a bucket - he was trying to fool us.  But we were too smart and we found those boxes (let's remember that my turkey hot dogs were in the boxes so I was highly motivated).

THis is me when I found the treat behind the big blue container!

After a few rounds of hide and seek he made it really hard for our last turn.  He took away the boxes and the treats and just left the scent.  (Personally I think we missed a step there because now there was no box and no treat - how about just get rid of the box first?) 

Anyway this was a little hard, especially since he had a table fool of treats and boxes and scents next to him - I tried to "find" that stash first but my mom made me keep going.  The idea was that I would find the scent and then my mom would put the treat down after I sat, letting her know I had found it.  But I was hungry and I got distracted by her having the hot dogs and paid no attention to the scent so my mom got rid of the treats and I had to find the scents and then get a "high five" for a reward.   I was able to find two of the scents pretty easily but the third was hidden under the "box" that we use in Agility and while I eventually got on the box my mom thinks maybe I didn't actually find that scent.  (I'll let you in on a secret - I knew where that scent was the whole time but I was trying to draw out my turn and make a very dramatic ending when I eventually found it.)



My dramatic ending!

After the class Mumble and I celebrated with a little trip.  I'll share more on that later.

All in all I had fun in this class and they are talking about doing a Scent Discrimination Class Two - sign me up.  In the mean time we are talking a break from training for now because my mom had to go out of town for work but we are thinking of doing an Obedience Two class next (maybe then I won't have to wear that stupid Gentle Leader anymore).

P.S.  My mom has video of the last class but we couldn't get it to upload - we'll try again in a few days!

Back from Vacation

Well my mom had to go to San Antonio for work last week so I had to go on vacation too and the end of this week she has to go somewhere else for work so more vacation time.  She promises to help me get some posts up soon of my last scent discrimination class (we have pictures!) and my visit to Phydough - a food truck for dogs (more pictures). 

I also want to show you the presents my mom brought back from San Antonio - I'm resting for my photo shoot later.

Dog Treats

For the past year I have been trying very hard to use all the dog treats in our house before we buy new ones. Now it is not that I have a year's worth of treats in my house I have just not been very good about sticking to this rule. I will inevitably find myself in some sort of dog or pet store with some new treat Chopper has not had and think he needs to try it.

If I travel somewhere and there is a treat that I haven't seen before I will buy it for him. When I visit my parents' in Pennsylvania there is a store called Brandt's Mill that has these hard sausages for dogs that he LOVES and I can't find anywhere else so I will inevitably come back with at least a dozen of those after every trip. (Chopper is well aware of this fact and will raid my luggage when I come back from Pennsylvania.) Also I seem to get lots of samples of different dog foods and I will use those as treats as well.

Since October though I have been sticking to this rule pretty well and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I like to empty Chopper's treats into big glass jars all around the house and there are no treats left in storage at this point and only the treats in the jars. When we finish all the treats we are going to celebrate with a shopping trip to the local pet food store and spend the $25 gift certificate a co-worker gave me for Christmas (they know I love my dog) and go to town. We have our favorites - freeze dried liver, dried chicken strips, Zuke's, and a few others which will likely make it into the cart. I'm sure I will be supplementing the gift certificate though.


Since we will be starting from scratch though the possibilities are endless!!! Do you have any treats that your dog would recommend?

Doggy Loot

Well I love free stuff and a deal as much as the next dog- sometimes my mom will go to some dog event and come home with a whole bunch of samples of treats or dog food (which she uses as treats but I know its just kibble I'm not stupid).

So the other day I came across a site that had mentioned my review of the yep yup door organizer. The site is called Doggy Loot.  I'm not sure how long Doggy Loot has been around but it seems like a fun site if you're a dog or have an owner that likes to spoil you rotten (enter me).  Anyway the site allows you to buy a voucher for a product at 50% off or more.  Right now most of the deals are available for local businesses in Chicago but once a week there are national deals.  Also the site indicates that they are looking at expanding to other cities (at least that's what my mom said).

So while I keep my paws crossed for a LA doggy loot website you should check this site out!

Happy Valentine's Day

Just thought I would say Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. 

Last night I celebrated with my mom - she's my Valentine - at the Zoom Room in Culver City.  They were having an Italian-themed Valentine's Party so Mumble and I wore some Italian necklaces my Aunt Joey sent me (you can see Mumble's better because he has a white neck).  My mom also dressed up to match me!



Me and Mumble with our Valentines - our moms!



Bath Time at Bark Williams

So yesterday my mom decided that I needed a bath.  I've been a bit flaky and she keeps telling me I stink (which I don't think is very nice of her).  So after our Scent Discrimination Class we went to Bark Williams.  This is a place where you go and it looks like a groomer's but then your mom stays with you - my mom calls it a self-service dog wash.  It was busy yesterday because it was Sunday.  Usually my mom goes when they first open so we don't have to wait but today we had to wait.  I kept trying to convince her to leave but she was not having it.

When it was my turn the man cleaned out the tub for me and lowered the ramp.  After the promise of some hot dogs I begrudgingly went up the ramp and let my mom hook me up.  My mom likes to hook me up so I don't try and jump out because she has to use both hands to wash me.  They have nice tubs at Bark Williams that have some sort of double floor system so you're not sitting in all your own hair and dirty water - yuck.  they also have a nice nozzle that has warm water (something we don't have when my mom washes me in front of the house).

They have different types of shampoo to pick from right there - no need to bring your own.  My favorite is oatmeal but they also have "tear free" and "flea and tick."  After the shampoo my mom uses the "rinse" to condition my fur.  Now I have to say that I am not the most cooperative dog when it comes to bath time and I try and get back at my mom by giving her a bath.  Lucky for her they have aprons for the moms and dads so that they don't get too wet.

After you are rinsed off they have some shammies to dry you off.  Now here is the one negative part of Bark Williams.  I was there a few years ago and enjoyed those shammies because the more dry I can get with those the less time I have to be dried with the "monster."  But today the shammies had lot of holes in them.  I think they need some new shammies.  After my mom pre-dried me she turned the orange "monster" on.

Now I know it's not really a monster but I hate it.  It makes noise and air comes shooting out of it and I'm strapped to the tub so I can't get away.  My mom is pretty nice about being gentle and drying my face from farther away so it isn't too scary.  She also let me take breaks and used some treats to keep me calm. 

Then it was (finally) time to go.  Now my mom says we have too many treats and toys at home but if you are in the market for some of that stuff they have lots at Bark Williams.  They had some treats that I have used before and some fancy stuffed toys. 

The people are friendly and helpful (the first time we went we had lots of questions but now we know what to do) and the place is very nice and CLEAN.  And when you pay for your bath they give you a "cookie" - who can beat that.  All in all if you're going to get a bath I would recommend it - it's nicer than getting a bath outside because there is warm watter, your parents don't have to hunch over as the baths are up high, and your parents don't have to clean up the mess.  It costs about fifteen dollars for a bath but my mom thinks it is well worth the money.

P.S.  When my mom decides I need a professional bath and haircut she takes me to Paws 'n' Claws in Pacific Palisades.  They are the only people that have ever been able to cut my nails.  They also deal with glands that need to be excreted and given nice haircuts.  I've been going since I was a puppy and if you have to get a bath it's a nice place to go.