It couldn't be helped...

I've been trying to be a good doggie, I really have. But the puppy in me got the better of me, and I ended up doing this last night:

It's really not that big of a hole, seriously. But you would think that it was a crater by the way I was treated after that. I got the full garden hose spray on all of my paws and my chest, and then both humans vigorously towelled me down. And today, as Richie was trying to fill it in, I tried to help by removing the grass bits that he was putting on top. I got lemon sprayed for that.

Anyhow, they say that there will come a time when I grow out of this kind of stuff, but I don't think it will be anytime soon!

Buddy

Two months

So they tell me that it has been two months since I arrived at this place - we dogs have no concept of time, nor can we count. But I've really settled into a routine here, so much so that it's a little boring. Don't get me wrong, it's great here, but things are almost the same every day. Same food, same schedule, same humans. It's enough to make a puppy like me calm down.

Like this for instance. Every afternoon, after we've gone for our afternoon walk, we often hang out on the deck, and I wait for Christine to come home. I have almost gotten used to the sound that the garage makes when her car comes home, and I get excited.

Sometimes however, I just like to hang out on the deck when Richie sits out there with me. I'm not much of an outdoor doggie, like my predecessor was. As soon as it gets too cool for him, we both go inside, and he'll watch that window thing in the living room.

That's ok by me too, and I'll take up one of my favourite spots, lying right at his feet, and he'll give me a pat on my head before I have a snooze. Sometimes, they come and lie with me on the floor, and I cuddle with them. I'm looking forward to spending more time here - who knows, maybe I'll even become predictable for these humans!

Buddy

Mystery solved!

For the longest time, everyone has been asking, "Who's a good boy?"... well, it turns out, I am! Ok, maybe only sometimes. But lately, I've been getting lots of "good boy" praise, and many cookies. Yes, there are still times where I can lose my mind, and get into trouble - like the time I raced around the yard like the Tasmanian Devil, tearing out Christine's puny little plants.

Turns out they don't like it when I do that... they replanted them and I pulled them back out anyways. And sometimes, I find that I just need to do something, and so I push the limits of what I am allowed (and not allowed) to do. 

Let's take this for example. I found out that I am not allowed to take the placemats off the table. But once I am caught and I get the "leave-it" command, I usually relinquish my prize to them. I've learned other things too, like "hurry-up" to get me to go pee before we go to bed for the evening. I think the one that makes these humans happiest, is "no-bite" - for whatever reason, they don't like it when I gnaw on their arms/legs/hands/feet.

Anyhow, being a "good boy" is a lot better than getting sprayed in the nose with that smelly stuff!

Buddy

Stairs, what stairs?

When I first arrived at this place, I was faced with these things that go between the living space and the backyard. There's even a set going upstairs, which I inadvertently went up one time, and had to be escorted back down again.

"What? I'm coming down... don't rush me."

But over the last 6 weeks (who's counting, really), I've been working on going up and down on the deck stairs, and was at the point where I could really cruise down them, and sometimes take two at a time going up. While I prefer to use the outside ones, I have been going down the inside stairs, and can pretty much do them in my sleep now.

This week however, Richie went away somewhere (apparently to go fishing - why did I not get to go?), and Christine spent the day at home but was upstairs. So I decided it was time for me to get over my upstairs issue. Well let me tell you, there is a whole other world up there! All sorts of things to sniff around at, and new pieces of paper and cardboard to destroy! Anyhow, I'm going up and down to this new undiscovered country, forcing Christine to "Buddy-proof" the upstairs rooms - whatever that means.

Buddy - King of Stairs

Sept. 24 update: Well, apparently I have a little work left on these stairs, as I inadvertently went down the slippery staircase like a toboggan. It's definitely not how I had planned it. 

So this is my backyard

Yep. Mine. Like I own it. As in, I have exclusive rights to use it, and get to say who else can come here.

One of the a few spots I have staked claim to

Let me explain. I thought I was coming here for a tryout, or "fostering" as they call it. But apparently I am done with that stage, and have proved that despite some crazy puppy antics, can be a pretty good dog. Sure, there will be more hijinx to come, but these two humans have managed to show me what they want me to do (and what they don't want me to do). I sometimes get rewarded with a cookie, or if I'm being overly pushy, I sometimes get sprayed in the nose with something smelly. But I've really calmed down a lot, and prefer hugs and cuddles to getting into trouble.

"What? You weren't using these things, were you?"

Anyhow, back to my backyard. I get to go out there pretty much whenever I want (that is, if I ever get comfortable going down the stairs to the basement), and can go almost everywhere. I say "almost", as I've now been banned from the garden tool area, where Christine leaves all sorts of neat toys for me to play with. I haven't done much digging really - apparently the previous occupants were notorious for digging many holes in the lawn AND garden - we'll see if I can keep up the tradition.

Sometimes it's nice to just sit on the deck and keep watch over my backyard. I'm not really sure what I would do if someone uninvited came in, but I'm certain that my imposing presence might be enough to keep them away. Once in a while, Richie will come sit with me, and the two of us will watch together, and take silly selfies.

They tell me that summer is drawing to a close... it is getting cooler, and sometimes when I lay out on the grass late into the night, my fur gets damp. I don't mind, as this grass is awesome for napping on, as shown above. Anyhow, I'm thrilled with my new backyard - I love it here.

Buddy

A one month summary

So if we dogs could keep track of time, I could say that it has been a little over a month since I arrived at this place with these new humans. We seem to do mostly the same things everyday, which I don't really mind. On the weekends, we do different things, but still spend lots of time cuddling and stuff... well, at least until I get into my crocodile mood.

When that happens, I get sprayed right in the nose with some stuff that I don't like, and it usually makes me stop - usually. I have had some episodes in the backyard where I couldn't contain my puppy energy, and either inadvertently bit one of these new humans, or got my teeth into their clothes. I've even bitten Richie on the bum a few times - love bites, really - but he doesn't seem to like it.

He also doesn't seem to like it when I lie in his favourite leather armchair - I got excited one afternoon and ran into the basement and jumped right in! Anyhow, I much prefer the couch in the basement, or even better, the bed upstairs.

"Hey! Wait for me!"

We've been doing lots of walking - usually twice a day, sometimes even three times! We went back to that place called the Endowment Lands again recently too. It was great fun running around off-leash, but as usual, it was probably too much exertion for me, as it made me limpy again. When will I learn? Anyhow, we've been meeting lots of new people in the neighbourhood. I often stop to meet people I hear coming up behind us, but I am still a bit leery sometimes, and bark at them if they try to pet me on the head.

Here I am, keeping this silly plastic thing from moving around while Richie stops and plays some game with a neighbour down the block. I wanted to get closer to the action, and it was pretty easy for me to pull the big plastic thing around, so we had to leave. Regardless, I think I like this neighbourhood... maybe I will get to stay?

Buddy

Road trip!

Richie put me in the Rover recently - I say that because I don't jump/get into the back on my own. In fact, I don't like getting in at all, and resist with all my effort to not go towards the cargo area. But in the end, he lifts me up into the back and everything is ok. This time, I had to share the my space with a big plastic thing (no, I didn't chew on it) and some other stuff.

Then we drove for a few minutes over to our friends' place, and picked them up and headed off on a road trip! We must have gone a long way, but I can't tell, as I lie down for most of the trip and can't see out the window. But after a while we all got out at a place called "the cabin". I got tied up on a long rope, as this place doesn't have a fence to keep me from wandering too far. But that didn't bother me, as they spend all their time outdoors with me here! It was pretty hot that first day we got there, so I spent most of my time on the grass in the shade of the Rover.

They too, were trying to find cool areas to sip their silly drinks, and would move around to find the coolest spots to sit. I'd come over to get some cuddles every once in a while, but that darn rope would get caught on things, and someone would have to come over and rescue me. I was allowed to run free a few times, and for the most part was pretty good at staying closeby. However, one morning, I decided to wander around a bit, and Richie had to go back and get Brian and Tyson to come get me.

They would also play this game where they throw these small things back and forth - I really wanted to play too, and would try and get one of those things in my mouth. But after a few tries, they put me back on my rope, so Tyson and I had to be content to simply watch.

Sometimes they would leave us dogs in the cabin while they went away somewhere, other times we'd simply hang out in the shade. Dog, these humans are almost as lazy as I am! Anyhow, it did cool down a little bit in the evenings and later on in the weekend, so we were able to walk down to the beach a couple of times. I wasn't allowed to go in the water, as there is something about the water here that isn't good for my tummy. But I did get a good look from the wall, as you can see here.

Anyhow, we had a great weekend, and now I'm really tired!

Buddy