Blizzard? What Blizzard?

I was told there would be snow. There is no snow. I like that it is finally cold, but I want snow. If I wasn't on a leash all the time, I would start walking north and not stop until I found SNOW.

S.N.O.W.

Today I went to River Park. It's really big and there were lots of good smells. Is that a muskrat I smell? Or maybe a beaver? Whatever. It smelled GOOD. Here's a picture of me in River Park.

 
See any snow? Me neither. I met a couple of dogs on my walk and I liked both of them. I give River Park 3 Paws. My human says we are going to go to some other parks next week just for fun. She called it a Winter Parks Tour. Know what would be really fun? An Ice Cream Shop Tour! Can we do that instead?

Midwest Furfest 2012!

Last weekend I volunteered with Felines & Canines at Midwest FurFest 2012. My human dressed up like a cat. Why? I don't know. Here's a picture of me with my human.

 
I didn't need a costume - I'm already furry. There were some kittens there too. Can I have some kitten kibble, please? I didn't get any. There were a lot of people in big fursuits. One woman was dressed in a suit that looked a lot like me. Here's a picture of me posing with my doppelganger.

I get a cheeseburger for this, right? I was promised a cheeseburger. Lots of people came over to pet me. Some of them were dressed up like wolves and stuff, but I knew they were people. More belly rubs, please! I liked FurFest, but I never did get any cheeseburgers. And they had sloppy joes there too - I could smell them! Sigh. I give Midwest FurFest 3 paws, but next time I want food!

Agility!

After I finished my therapy at Integrative Pet Care, I started taking an agility class with Stacey Hawk at Hawk City K9. My human tried to take some pictures of me doing agility but they are all blurry because I am moving so fast. Here's a picture of me going over a jump.

See the piece of cheese in front of me? Mmmmmmmm! Cheese! Here's a picture of me going over another jump.

I could jump higher if my human would let me! Here's a picture of me coming out of a tunnel.
 

I went so fast I'm almost not in the frame anymore! Here's a picture of me going over the bridge.
 

I get cheese at the end! Here's a picture of me asking one of my trainers, Janice Triptow, for some more cheese.

 
I didn't get any. And here's a picture of me running down the A-frame.

It's blurry because I'm running really fast (and because my human isn't a very good photographer). Last week was my graduation class. That means a graduation party, right? I was hoping for hot dogs, pizza, cheeseburgers and ice cream cake - with bacon!! MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!! I got some dog treats instead. They were good too!

Bling for BARC...and some other stuff

I haven't posted anything in awhile, but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing stuff! I've been spending lots of time hanging out on the deck. Here's a picture of me under the picnic table.

I prefer going under the big bush, but my human wouldn't let me.

Here's a picture of me sunbathing.

I'm dreaming of snow. (It's coming soon, right?)

I finished my 8 weeks of therapy at Integrative Pet Care. Here's a picture of me waiting for my final evaluation.

There's a mat, but I'm not lying on it. It's squishy. I did up to 20 minutes on the underwater treadmill. I'm not going to miss the treadmill, but I am going to miss the peanut butter. Next time can I just get the peanut butter and skip all the walking?

Last night I went to the Bling for BARC fundraiser at Chicago Party Animals. BARC is the group that helped my humans rescue me. So my humans took me to the fundraiser to show everyone what a great dog I am. They say I'm an example of all the wonderful dogs that are out there on death row. Although I'm pretty sure they think they got the best one - they keep telling me that anyway. Here's a picture of me at the fundraiser.

I'm excited because I just got some beef and rice from The Jibarito Stop food truck! Mmmmmmmmmore, please! I got some more!! I got some macaroni and cheese from the Southern Mac & Cheese truck too! Mmmmmmmmmmm! I thought there was going to be more food, but there wasn't. Sigh.

I got my portrait drawn at the fundraiser. Here's a scan of my portrait.

The artist who did it is George Berlin. My human is going to take it to her office since she can't take me. I don't see why not. I bet if she took me no one would even notice. I can be very discreet.

Windy City Pet Expo

On Saturday I went to the Windy City Pet Expo. There were a lot of booths there. You know what that means? Lots of treats! I tried to get treats at every booth. My human didn't let me. I got some, but not nearly enough! Here's a picture of me by the Doggy Doughnuts booth.

See how excited I look? Don't I deserve a doggy doughnut? I didn't get one. Huh??!! I think all the booths should give out samples. I did get some Pork Chomps. Mmmmmm! Pork! So good! More, please! I didn't get more. I'm pretty sure my human got samples for later. How much later? Later now? Now?

I stood in a long line to meet Shorty Rossi from the show "Pit Boss". I don't see why. He didn't have any treats. Here's a picture of me with Shorty.

I was more interested in the next booth. I think they have peanut butter! Mmmmmm! Peanut Butter! I definitely smell peanut butter!

There were lots of other dogs at the Expo. I only got annoyed by a few of them. There were some booths that we didn't go to. I'm pretty sure they had treats. And one of them had rabbits! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! RABBITS!! I smell rabbits! Oh please can I have a rabbit? Pleeeeeeeeaze!!! I didn't get a rabbit. Sigh.

I did get to try the Rally Obedience course. It was so easy - except my human couldn't follow the signs. I did fine though. Isn't there supposed to be a celebratory cake at the end of the course? I'm pretty sure there is. I was told I'd get cake.

I give Windy City Pet Expo 3 Paws! Next time I want cake - and a rabbit!

Another Photo Contest.

My human entered me in another photo contest. Sigh. It's for The Wildcat Sanctuary's No More Wild Pets Campaign. Here's my picture for the contest.

I'm wearing a bandana that says "I Am An Appropriate Pet." Um, I find wearing bandanas very inappropriate - they're too small to fit around my neck! I'm getting extra treats for this, right?

Keeping Cool!

I don't like all this hot weather, but I still want to be outside! I bet lots of other dogs agree. So here's a tip for keeping cool outside in the tropics (which is apparently where we live these days): lie under a bush.

Step 1 - Find a nice big bush.

Here's a picture of me checking out a bush in the backyard.
 

Yeah, I think this one will work.

Step 2 - Make a nest.

Here's a picture of me rearranging the branches for the floor of my nest.

Here's a picture of me turning around to make the nest wide enough.

It takes skill to make a perfect nest.

Step 3 - Lie down and enjoy!

Here's a picture of me in my new bush nest.

See how happy I look!

Lying in a bush is good camouflage too. Here's a picture of the bush from the other side.

If I wasn't looking at the camera, I would be completely hidden! Ahhhhhh! So comfy! Just call me when it's time for dinner, please! Um, no, seriously. I don't want to miss dinner!

Heat Wave. Ugh.

I think the world is melting. Here's a picture of me at the beach before it got too hot to go outside.

It was hot, but I could manage. Here's a video of me with my friend Roethke playing in the snow last year.

I want to go to there!! It was cooler today, but not cool enough! I want winter back! NOW!

Peanut Butter Therapy!

A few weeks ago I started going to Integrative Pet Care. My human says I have bad hips. My hips are fine. She says the x-rays say different. Whatever. My hips are fine. I met a doctor and a therapist and they did an orthopedic evaluation of my hips. They said I don't show any signs that my hips are bothering me. Hmph! But I go to therapy anyway. I didn't think I was going to like therapy, but you know how they show me what to do? By giving me treats! Mmmmmm! Yes, please! Can I go to therapy every day? Twice?

First I did some exercises with a big blue ball. I put my front paws on it - hey, "paws up", I know that trick! Then I had to stretch really high to get the treat. Last week my human dropped a treat during my exercise - no problem! I just jumped up onto the ball and off the other side to get it! I also walked over some poles and stood on a wobbly surface. It was pretty easy stuff. And I got treats the whole time!

Then we went into a room that looked like a really big bathroom. Ummm. I'm not so sure about this...My human and the therapist convinced me to go into a big see thru tank. Then they closed the door. I didn't like it very much, but my human kept telling me it was ok. You wouldn't lie to me, right? Then there was a noise and the whole thing started filling up with water. Help! Let me out of this thing! I tried pawing at the door handle, but it wouldn't budge. The whole time my human was telling me it was ok. It was SO. NOT. OK! Finally the water stopped. And my human gave me some peanut butter. Mmmmmmm! Peanut butter! I was starting to think it wasn't so bad after all. Until the ground started moving! I DON'T LIKE THIS! The therapist was in the tank with me and she held onto my harness - did I mention they made me wear a harness? - while I walked on the moving ground. I really didn't like it, but then I got some more peanut butter. In fact, I got fed peanut butter the whole time! Here's a picture of me licking peanut butter off a spatula while I walk in the water tank.

It's really blurry because my human took it on her phone. Mmmmmmmmore, please! I got more! After a few minutes the ground stopped moving and then the water started to go away. Unfortunately, the peanut butter went away too. Here's a picture of me in the tank after my therapy.

It's another blurry phone picture. If I get more peanut butter, I'll do it again! When are we coming back?? I give Integrative Pet Care 3 Paws!

One Tail At A Time Photo Contest!

My human's camera broke, so I haven't posted anything is awhile, but she used and old picture to enter me in a photo contest on Facebook that supports the One Tail at a Time rescue group. Please vote for me by liking my photo here and pass it on! Thanks!

Bishop Shepard Little Memorial Center

Yesterday I visited Bishop Shepard Little Memorial Center to show the kids there how to be safe around dogs. It was like when I volunteer with Safe Humane Chicago except it was just me and my human and some students from Roosevelt University who were giving a presentation on animal cruelty. Here's a picture of me with the kids at Bishop Shepard Little Memorial Center.

Everybody in? No? Here's another one. 

It was a lot of work! I had to sniff all the kids there and get petted. Then I did some "tricks" - sit, down, wave, stay. That's a game we play where I do a bunch of different things to try and get my human to feed me. Mmmmmmmm! Cheese doodles! I was really asking for string cheese and meatballs. Some of the kids wanted to play too. It was a little confusing. I asked for peanut butter and bacon and whipped cream, but still I only got cheese doodles. My human gets it wrong most of the time, but we keep playing anyway. Um, I'll just do some things and then you feed me whatever you've got, okay? All of the kids wanted to feed me. My human let them each give me a treat. Mmmmmmmore, please! I didn't get any more. I give Bishop Shepard Little Memorial Center 3 Paws! If we go back again can I have string cheese? Please??

So Much Stuff!

I've been really busy the last few weeks. I'm still going to work with my human almost every day. Here's a picture of me at work.

It's exhausting. I also helped transport a cat. We went to The Anti-Cruelty Society. Hey! I remember this place! I went to the vet clinic there to get spayed. I went right in. We stood around for awhile and then we left - with a cat. I wasn't sure I liked that, but then we went straight to Felines & Canines. Hey! This place smells like my friend Knuckles! Knuckles wasn't there. But there was lots of cat food. Mmmmmmm! Kibble! I wasn't allowed any kibble. Brandi gave me a dog biscuit. (I think it was one of Knuckles'.) Mmmmmm! It was so good! Here's a picture of me eating my dog biscuit.
See those giant bowls of cat kibble? I was trying to get closer to the bowls, but I wasn't allowed. The cat who's sniffing my tail is Sven. He was nice and followed me around. He's still waiting for his forever home. There were lots of other nice cats there too and they all need homes. I was in a shelter before I came to live with my humans, but it wasn't as nice as Felines & Canines.

On Friday I went to lululemon on Halsted Street for my human to pick something up - not a cat though! I liked lululemon. They had a big bowl of dog biscuits right inside the door! Mmmmmmm! Biscuits! Two, please! I didn't get two. I give lululemon 3 Paws! Then we stopped by Family Pet Animal Hospital to drop something off - again, not a cat - and I got weighed. My human said it was good because I didn't gain any weight since last time. I say that's proof I don't get fed enough!

Then on Saturday morning I went for a really long walk. First I went to the beach. Here's a picture of me at the beach.
Ahhhhhh! So cool! Then I walked to Starbucks. I'll have a Venti Whipped Cream, please! I didn't get one. Why not?? I need to gain weight, remember? When I got home my human read a book on the front steps and I got to lie in the yard. My friend Moses stopped by. He's a doberman. We played a little and then I went upstairs. I could have gone to bed right then, but instead we got in the car and went to Aunt Alyenne's for dinner. Oh boy! I love going there! On Easter I went there and had elk - ELK!!!! I'm an Elkhound, I should get elk all the time! It was sooooo gooooood! This time we had chicken. Mmmmmmm! Chicken. There were two little girls there, Taylor and Grace. Oh boy! Kids! I like kids. They always drop food on the floor for me. They were scared of me. I don't see why. I wasn't scared of them! After awhile Taylor came over and petted me for a long time. Bellyrub, please! She didn't give me a bellyrub. Maybe next time. They dropped some peas during dinner, but I wasn't allowed to eat them. Huh? That's just wasteful! After dinner I went into the kitchen and cleaned up the floor. I got two peas! Mmmmmm! Peas!! Right before they left, Grace finally petted me. See, I'm not scary! Here's a picture of me with Taylor and Grace and their mom, Emily.

I'm still hoping I'll get more chicken. I didn't.

Summer...Already??

Last week I went to work with my human on "The Rosie Show". Here's a picture of me in her office.
Why is there a baby gate on the door? I do not need a baby gate! It hampers my ability to get to the kitchen! Her office has lots of windows and a rug. My human does payroll. I would work for peanuts, but I'd much rather get paid in rolls! I didn't get any rolls. Here's another picture of me in the office.
Do you see any rolls there? Me neither. Sigh. Someone came and fed me a piece of string cheese. Mmmmmmmm!!!!! String cheese!! More, please! I didn't get any more. I met Rosie, but she didn't feed me anything. Why not? Here's a picture of me in the office later on.
Being an office dog is hard work. I'm over it. Can we go home now?

When we went to work it was warm outside. When we left, it was hot. Huh? This isn't Chicago - it's Costa Rica! Here's a picture of me from this weekend.

I'm panting and there are flowers blooming behind me - who stole Chicago and replaced it with Costa Rica? And how so I steal Costa Rica and replace it with Norway? Or Siberia? Really, any frozen tundra will do. Here's a picture of me from just the other day.

I'm with my friend, Lucky. See what's on the ground? SNOW!! And here's another picture of me in the park on the same day.

See what I'm lying in? SNOW!!! If I'd known that we were moving to Costa Rica, I would have stayed outside all day in the snow. Hmph!

This weekend I went to the beach. At least the water is still cold. Here's a picture of me in the water.

Ahhhhhhh! So cool! I didn't want to get out. Here's a picture of me on the dog beach with some orange dog.

Do I look like I want to play with you? No. I don't. Here's a picture of the orange dog going to the other end of the beach like I told him to.

Good dog. Here's a picture of me lying on the beach near my humans.

I'm making sure none of the other dogs come to our end of the beach. Guarding the beach is hard work. But I got corned beef leftovers when we got home, so it was worth it! Mmmmmmmmm!!!! Corned beef!!! More, please! I didn't get any more.

We're Running a Hostile

No, I didn't misspell that. Right after Knuckles left Roethke showed up. With his bed. That used to be my bed. Why do these interlopers always have to bring their furniture? And he doesn't even sleep on it - Ivan does. Whatever. I like Knuckles and I like Roethke. I especially like seeing them outside. Here's a picture of me and Roethke at the beach.
Oh boy! I love the beach! I love rolling in the sand and running around of leash. What do you mean I have to stay on leash? So what if Roethke's on leash - I'm not Roethke. Huh? I don't get it. If I can't run around off leash, then I'm not running around. Period! I sat down by a bench with my human and my other human ran around with Roethke. Humph.

Did I mention that Roethke eats breakfast after his morning walk? What do you mean I'm eating after my morning walk? I don't think so! I don't like walking before I eat and here's what I'm doing about it! Here's a picture of me protesting morning walks before breakfast.

I'm not moving and you can't make me! Roethke is chewing on a stick. Here's a picture of me trying to ignore the insanity going on nearby.

I had to turn away. Here's a picture of me turning away.

I can't watch. It hurts my sensibilities. Seriously, dogs are very sensitive. And we can smell crazy a long way away. Here's a picture of me trying to enjoy the cold morning in the park - even though I'm starving.

Here's a picture of Roethke being crazy.

I think Roethke got annoyed that I was annoyed because he made me wrestle. Hey! I was annoyed first! Here's a picture of us wrestling.

Here's another picture of us wrestling.

Um, okay, I may have actually enjoyed it. But it was still too early and I want my breakfast - NOW! We went back inside and had breakfast. The next morning we had breakfast before our morning walk. My house, my rules!