Workin' for the Weekend *Throw Back*

Another missed post! I tried to get a bunch of stuff started, with the fabulous intentions of blogging, blogging, blogging. But, alas, I got side tracked by all the fun there is to have away from the computer.

We all know that I go to work with Mom every day. But, because I am tucked away, I don't get to spend a whole lot of time with people! Over the summer, we all went out to one of Mom's co-worker's houses for a get together.

There was lots of chatting
Lots of eating
And some new friends! Even the French can be welcoming. Francois (aka Gogi), was not all together thrilled that I was there. But, I left with all my toes.
I'm not sure how anyone could not adore this face, but that's his deal.

It was a fun fun day! I'm glad that we all got together to hang out away from the office. I can't wait to do it again!

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

Some "Illegal" fun

As a guide dog puppy, I have lots of rules that we have to follow. Lots of those rules revolve around what toys we are allowed to play with. But, if someone gives me a Birthday present, it would be rude not to play with it, right??

So, when we were visiting family in Benicia the weekend after my Birthday, I did the polite thing and spent some time enjoying the stuffed giraffe I was given. It's special because it is made for dogs. It's supposed to hold up to super chewers. If that is true, I must the be the bestest chewer around!
Notice that I was also given a Nylabone - an approved toy. But, that's no fun! Time to squish the giraffe!
Then, you stand giraffe up and give it a good ummm... hand shake. Don't forget to continue ignoring the allowed toy!
Once you know that the giraffe is who he says that he is (you never really know, right?? That's why we have so many cells in our nose!) take a leg and start chewing!

OOH! So good!! The illegals are just so tasty! Can't wait for another Birthday!

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

I guess it will do...

Dear Mom,
Sometimes a dog wants to crawl up into your lap and cuddle. But, no, you always say that I cannot sit on the couch. I don't think it is fair. You also say you can't come sit on my bed with me whenever I want to (I know you do that lots, but come on, I would prefer to be sitting with you all the time!)

So, when you won't stop and cuddle with me, I have to make do however I can. Sometimes, when I don't have my own comfy bed around, it takes some creativity to make do.

If you take one Mom-shoe and curl up around the chair that Mom is sitting in, you can almost pretend that you are cuddle with her.
So Mom, next time you can't cuddle when I want to, don't you fret. I'll figure something out.

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

Happy Halloween - a little late!

So, here is a look into the most embarrassing day of my life! I cannot believe that I survived this humiliation! Seriously?!?! How much can one dog take?

I knew that Halloween was coming. Mr. Kitty and Simba warned me that I might want to hide before Mom got a hold of me. I seriously should have listened to them! Who knew that the cats could a) tell the truth and b) be right?!?

The cats told me that Mom tries to use our names to dress us. Poppy was a flower. Beamer was a BMW. So, I thought I was safe. Since one of the meanings of my name is "Black haired" I thought I had lucked out! What could be easier than that for me?!?

Umm... Not so lucky! Mom decided to go with my nickname: Dog. Nope, not the Bounty Hunter. Like "woof woof" dog. Again, I thought it was a simple costume that I could pull off. Then, I heard them talking about making me a Yellow Lab! Are you kidding me?!?!
Yeah. My face tells you what I think of my costume. If my own ears showed under my stupid yellow lab ears, they would tell you that I am tolerating my costume, but not happy about it. Can I go back to black please??

At least my other friends were tortured with me for our Pre-Halloween puppy meeting.

Sparky is always clowning around!
Ginger is a dancing queen (said just to get that song stuck in Mom's head as punishment for my costume. Ginger is really a ballerina!)
My poor poor baby brother Ned! He was the horse for the Headless Horseman.

Hestia's costume was missing, but she found a way to celebrate!

I cannot tell you how happy I am that Halloween is behind me! Let's hope it doesn't show up for at least another year!

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

13 Things at 13 Months

OK, I know! I know! A whole month has gone by without posting! Maybe now that the weather is cooling off, I will be less of a blog-slacker! (Don't get your hopes up though!) Mom suggested I do something different this month. She's tired of helping me think of more things about me that are normal. So, this month, we are doing:

13 Goofy Things at 13 months!

1. I am a complete ham! I LOVE being the center of attention.
2. But, not too early in the morning. If Dad leaves for work before 6 AM, I can't wake up to say good bye. After 6, I'm all wiggles!
3. I drool like a maniac when it is meal time.
4. When I play with my Jolly Ball, I like to hang on to the rope and fling my head back and forth so that the ball bounces off my head.
5. When watching the Giants on TV, I think any clapping Mom does is specifically for me. I jump up and come running to check her out. She's been clapping a lot since the WS started. I'm getting kinda tired.
6. A couple times a week, I find a bone that I MUST take to work with me. I will comply with "That's Enough" because I am a good boy. But, if it is at all possible, I will grab the toy again on the way out the door. It goes from house to car and from car to work.
7. My ears tell you all my secrets.
8. Sometimes, when I am greeting someone I know, I spin in so many circles trying to get my whole body rubbed that I make my self a bit dizzy.
9. Whenever I hear drums, I perk up and look for my Dad (he's a drummer). I get kinda confused when there are drums playing and I am sitting with me dad.
10. It hurts my feelings when my people friends walk by me without saying Hi. a) I specify people friends, because dog friends would never do that! and b) Refer to #7 on my list for further information.
11. If I am on my living room dog bed and hear people making noise, I will slyly open one eye to see if it is worth getting up and joining in. It often isn't.
12. I am jealous of cats. They sit in people's laps and take over my beds.
13. I've been told that I would be an excellent dog for commercials by more than one person. (Good to know I have a back up career if this guiding thing doesn't work out!)

OK, I promise not to make you wait another month to hear from me!

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

It's My Birthday, I'll cry if I want to...

Or not! I'm more of a pouter than a crier! I am a few days late, but I have been having trouble getting pictures to upload! So, I've given up putting you all off. I spent the week before my birthday with Brittany and her family for a puppy swap It was SO much fun! But, I was super glad to get home and see my favorite people for my special day. Most of the pups traded back at puppy class, but Mom and Brittany met to take me Birthday shopping before the meeting. So lucky! I got a giant new Nylabone. Love it! Then, at the meeting, once all the puppies had been swapped back to their raisers, we did some obedience. After obedience class, Mom said there was Birthday cake. SCORE! Sounds yummy! Wait... What?!?! No cake for ME!?!? Who's birthday is it anyway?!?!? Yeah. Thanks for the dog cookie.

Since I know you've all been waiting for it, I'll give you my 12 things at 12 months:

1) I ROCK school!! I went to high school with Brittany and Kerri takes me to college once a week.
2) I won over my cousin Lupe. She is my Uncle Steve's dog, who generally dislikes and grumps at the guide dog puppies. But, me, she likes! Score!
3) I respond VERY reliably to the "come" command. But, I have to work on it in more situations. You see, I have to turn that the shortest route is not always the best way to respond to "come." That is especially important if the shortest route includes jumping on the kitchen counter...
4) If you take ANYthing from a store, it is considered shoplifting. Even those plastic size things that go on hangers. Big lips are not supposed to be used for hiding such things. Eating them is the best way to hide the evidence - at least for a day or so.
5) I am gaining trust with my people in other people's homes. A little less leash is a good thing.
6) Mom says that I am doing fabulous on all my outings. I can go anywhere and not bat an eye lash.
7) I LOVE my people. I know who loves me and think that they are most fabulous!
8) I am doing better when other people handle me. Walking me, I respond better and I do less testing of newbies.
9) I am sleeping off tie-down without messing with anything.
10) I am SO happy to see my kitties when I have been away from them.
11) I love making eye contact with people. I prefer to look INTO them, rather than at them.
12) There is nothing better than cuddle time!

Happy Birthday to me! Looking forward to many more!
Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan

Who Invented Screen Doors??

They should be shot! OK, maybe not shot, but at least sent to bed on the dog bed, rather than the big comfy bed where the people sleep! Now, I can either choose to tell you my story of pain and disgrace or keep it to myself. I am sure that you are already suspicious that something embarrassing happened to me. Since you are already laughing, I'll just do it. Share my story of woe.

We went to a friend's house today. I hadn't been there before. We hung out in the back yard. I played with my friend Luke. When he (or Mom - but let's face it, she was way less fun!) walked me in or out of the house, the glass door was obvious, sporting white lines in a grid. Ya know - something a dog can see!

Luke showed me his truck. He walked me around the yard. He helped me drink from my water bottle (I LOVE my water bottle!)I visited with other people (let's face it - I'm darn cute and people want to see me!) I ate dinner - always a high light of my day.


It was a long day and the sun had set. The glass door had been opened to let the fresh air in. Since it was dark, we all of a sudden had kiddos biting the dust left and right. Since I'm black as night, I was just waiting for one to flip over me. Luckily, everyone decided to head in to the light before any more crying happened. One of the kids ran up the stairs to where the glass door had been. Some force field grabbed him as he tried to enter the house and threw him to the ground. The adults waivered between laughing and consoling him. I hung back a little and witnessed other people successfully entering the house, with no trouble from the force field.

Then it was time for me to go in. I walked up with confidence, knowing that I would have no problem entering the house. Step one. Step two. Step three up into the house. DENIED! Wham! The force field was back in tact and rejected my entrance.

Or so I thought. Once Mom stopped laughing at me, she reached up and opened a door. Yes. A screen door. Obviously, since two of us were creamed in a matter of minutes, it is a door that is hard to see. Seriously people, who thought of these screen doors?? I, for one, do not approve!

Wags and Wiggles,
Dagan