Thunderstorm = A Good Day For Soko

I know, that doesn't sound right.  I have had a scary start and mom wasn't sure how a thunderstorm would scare me.  I saw that it scared sister - she was cuddled tight to mom on the bed.  I was eating, I really didn't care, and I laid back down.  Then, I heard sister whine.  She sounded scared, so I jumped on the bed with her.

We stayed that way a long time.  Sister was getting petted.  I slipped my head in there and mom was petting me, too, but didn't realize it at first.  When the storm was over, sister got up but I stayed a while.  Then we went into the other room.  I was so comfortable that I stretched out and kicked the pillows off the couch.  Then mom called me off the couch to get a drink - the first time I have done it off lead.

Finally, we all went downstairs.  I was laying against the couch, but mom and sister kept running by with a toy.  I just couldn't control myself, I tried to pick it up one time sister put it down.  She stopped, got excited and stuck her butt up in the air - mom said she got all BC.  It freaked me out a little, so I laid back down.  Mom and sister kept playing, then the most amazing thing happened.  SISTER THREW ME HER FAVORITE TOY!!!!  She went and cuddled with mom and I got to explore the toy.  I got greedy, I laid on it and pulled another one in, then we all napped.

It was a good day.

Three stages of rescue...

Soko:  Not entirely sure what is going on.  People came to see me last week with a cute girl.  it was a little scary, but they were okay.  This week, they came back without the girl and took me with them.  We had a long car ride - but I didn't get sick.  When we stopped, I got out and hid in a corner.  The new people were patient with me and my new dad took me outside to walk around the yard.  I wasn't too sure of mom at first, but I walked past her several times until I was comfortable.  I could hear that girl dog talking, but I didn't see her.  Then mom disappeared and came back with the girl.  I walked behind her, she walked behind me, then we walked together.  Finally, a nice sit in the yard before going inside.

Meg:  Last week, I went and met a new boy.  Today, he is AT MY HOUSE!  He seems a little scared, but we sniffed each other.  After sitting in the yard, we came inside and he stayed with me as I showed him around.  We sat upstairs.  We got supper.  I ate, he didn't seem interested.  Mom wouldn't let me eat his food, so I left it alone.  When it was bedtime, we all went to our own beds.  By morning, he was sleeping on his back like I do.

Izzy:  REALLY?

SOMETHING IS UP!

Izzy Here.  I don't know what is going on, I just know I don't like it.  We have a water bowl downstairs.

My bowls are upstairs.  One for wet, one for dry:

Then there is my water bowl.  Sister gets the one next to it and uses my water bowl (if she must):

I think these are plenty, don't you?  But on Sunday morning, after everyone came home Saturday night smelling like another one of THOSE 4 legged things, this showed up:

This cannot mean anything good.  I stared mom down, but she didn't move it.  I think I might have to train another one.

What a Weekend!

This was a GREAT weekend - full of car rides, walks, dogs and mom/dad time!  Saturday morning started with a walk, then Mom's Jeep left with something behind it.  When it came back, there was more behind it.  I didn't know what it was, but I didn't care because they next time they left with nothing behind the jeep, I GOT TO GO WITH THEM!

It was a long car ride and I didn't get out at first.  When I did, there was another dog.  He was nice to me - sniffed a little, let me sniff then we just walked around the yard.  Mom and dad both scratched him a little bit, then they came back to me.  We visited awhile, then we left.  When we got home, we all went in the yard.  Mom and Dad built me a dog walk.  I am learning how to use it when I go to school on Monday's, now I get to practice at home.

After a walk, we had some cuddles then we went to bed.

Sunday morning started with another walk and then a car ride in the afternoon.  We got to a place that had A LOT of other doggies (one was REALLY BIG and walked on two legs - he was a little scary, everybody else was okay).  Dad put my special leash attachment on me - they call it a harness.

Then we went into a building and I had my picture taken.  That big two legged dog was there, but they asked him to leave.  I think my picture is cute (too bad Mom couldn't turn it for you).

Then we went back outside and waited some more.  I liked to wait in the back of the Jeep - I could see more that way.

When dad said it was time to start, I jumped out of the jeep, then in the jeep, then out of the jeep and we walked to the edge of the field.

Daddy said FIND IT and we walked off.

He stopped and showed me what I was looking for, mom picked it up, then he said find it again.  I walked past a lot of them, I nosed the ones that I thought smelled good.

Mom picked up the ones I touched.  Most I nosed, some I sat on.   Chickens can do it, why can't I?  When we got back to the jeep, I had a lot in my bag.

Mom opened them all, gave me a couple of the biscuits from the eggs and put most of them in the bag.  The eggs stayed there - maybe we'll get to do this again?  We got back in the Jeep and left, I thought we were going home.  Boy, was I wrong.  We went to the park and there were kids I could play with!

They were in the water, dad said I could go in, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to.

I did, but I just got my paws wet (at least, the first time).

Then we ran and played and I dried off, then I got cuddled.

After another walk, we got back in the Jeep and came home.  It was a great puppy weekend.

First Hike of 2014!

Mom was supposed to do one of her all morning walks this morning.  Sadly, we have not walked much because of the winter, so she decided to not participate.  GOOD FOR ME!!!!! That means that dad and I went along and we went for our first hike of the year.  We went to French Creek State Park. Mom and Dad stopped at the park office and got a map, but it was challenging.  After deciding to visit the fire tower, we started to drive.  According to the map, there was a parking area off the road.  Mom mentioned that we appeared to be exiting the park, no parking area.  I saw lots of places for squirrels, so I was excited to get out.

After driving a little more, we stopped and looked up something called coordinates for the tower.  That helped us learn that the parking area was off of a different road.  That road also lead all the way to the top at the fire tower.  I would have walked, but we drove (mom and dad said it would be safer to walk on trails, not on roads.  Once we stopped, we WALKED.

 We saw people and squirrels and what appeared to be a person but he had a wheel in front and behind.  We stepped off so he could go past.  A couple of times, we had to stop and look at the map.  I helped dad figure out where we were going.

We walked in a great big circle.  That circle ended on the road (the one mom and dad said we weren't going to walk on to start).  But the good news is, we got to see the fire tower because we went that way.  They even had a roof and tables - kind of looked like we could have a picnic.  What a great day!