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!

I am a Canine Good Citizen

Mom and Dad are really working with me to make me the best Meg I can be.  We went to obedience classes and I learned how to sit, lay down, stay, wait at a door and be around other dogs.  I had one mean doggie bite me, so I was a little scared (I still am, especially around energetic doggies).  When that class was done, I thought that was it.  Then we went back.  I learned how to greet other doggies, made a new friend (my instructor called him by boyfriend) and even learned not to be afraid when a great, big, huge, large, Great Dane puppy run at me.  By the end of the week, the others in my class said that I went from being scared to being a social butterfly.  Then, I HAD TO TAKE A TEST!!!  I passed.  I am a Border Collie, after all.  Now, mom says I am a Canine Good Citizen.  I even had my first rehab visit (see below).  What's next?  Well, I am not sure, but mom AND dad took me back to that building.  I was so excited, I jumped through the glass of the Jeep to find out.

Happy New Year - Whatever That Means!

Yesterday was a little strange.  Mom left the house and a little later dad did too.  That wasn't too odd, they do that sometimes.  However, it was really late when they got home.  It was dark for a VERY long time.  Even though they did let on two lights and a radio (thanks Dad), I was getting worried.  It just wasn't like them.  When they got home, I was so excited that I ran laps around the house and barked.  Then we all sat together, they counted (it was funny, mom started with 60, then 50, down to 10, then it was every number).  They said HAPPY NEW YEAR and I gave them both a kiss and they kissed each other.

I don't know what it was, but they were happy, so I was happy.  They said that we would get to do this many more times and I get to spend many more years with them.  Mom and dad were talking about resolutions, and since I am a Border Collie, I am smart and know what they are.  My resolutions are to become a Canine Good Citizen then train as a Therapy Dog.  Who wouldn't want to go visit new people and make them smile?  Mom says I should also make a resolution to be nicer to my brother - we'll see about that one.

Oh What A Feeling!

Today, I met Ciji.  We met outside a new store.   She was really friendly and we went inside the store with lots of good things to sniff.  Then we went into a room that I wasn't too sure of, but Mom was there, so I was okay.  I got lifted up into this big, shiny thing.  She brushed my teeth - mom was impressed, I never let HER brush  my teeth.  Then I got ALL WET.  Then I got sudsy - Twice - and ALL my bits got cleaned.  Ciji was very careful to remove all the suds, though.  Next was something called a furminator conditioner, it sounded scary, but Cigi said that it would make my coat stronger.  FINALLY, the water was turned off.  My face got dried well with a towel, but then that same towel was wrapped on my head.  Ciji told mom it was a babushka to dry my head more and keep the drier from being so loud for me.  I didn't know what a drier was, but then it got really windy from the thing Cigi was holding, so I guess that was a drier.  All I know is that I was not wet when she was done.  I got to walk around the store a bit more, then we went home.

Ciji followed us!  She came in the house, set up a table, then continued to brush me.  It was very nice - she used something that looked like a small rake and removed more fur from my tush.  She removed mats from my toes, cut my nails and cleaned my ears.  I did NOT like the ear cleaning, but it was quick, so I guess it was okay.  She put a bow on my collar (it has a bell!), stayed and loved me a little bit, then she left.  I was tired, so I took a nap.

I hope I get to see her again!

What's THAT?

I went outide today with mom.  There, standing in MY yard was something new.  It had a LONG black  neck  and two feet.  It was also kind of fat....I tried to drag mom down the steps to investigate.  She let me loose.  I ran down the steps and got close to it - about my length away from it.  It barely moved, so I barked at it.  Just once.  IT GREW WINGS and flew away.  I ran back to mom so she wasn't scared.  From behind her legs, I could see where it stopped in the creek.  I saw that there were more of them.  Now, every time I go out, I sniff where it was very thoroughly.  I don't want invaders in MY yard.