Honey, I've Shrunk The Dog!

Is it the weekend already?  Or maybe it's my birthday.  I went to the dog park tonight, which is unheard of on a school night.  Between you and me it's a bit of night off for my human.  All she has to do is sit there and pet the other dogs while I run around exchanging business cards with all the other dogs.  She really needs to take some treats with her though.  It's embarrassing begging for treats from other humans when they are handing them out to their dogs.

There was this tinny little dog that looked like a Doberman that had shrunk in the wash.  I don't think he realized he was 12 inches tall because he acted like the full size variety, all bold and confident strutting around the compound.  He was a perfect match for his human, she was tiny.  She couldn't have weighed more than 7 stones when soaking wet.  Guess what car a shrunken Doberman and a tiny lady drive.... a Hummer!  Yes, a huge great hummer, more at home in the Iraqi desert than the parking lot in a state park.  It was so big shrunken Doberman had to be lifted in the back.

Coolest dog of the evening was a white Great Pyrenees.  He arrived in the back of a pick up truck.  Actually stood up on the bed of the truck - how cool is that?  He'd been to the grooming parlor for a severe hair cut.  For a dog that is bred to survive in subzero temperatures 35oC was proving a bit too much for the big guy.  I wish I'd taken a video camera with me - a classic Pets do the funniest things clip when the shrunken Doberman tried to mount the Great Pyrenees.  Absolutely hilarious!   

Furry

I went to the pet store today to watch the dogs in the grooming parlor.  What great entertainment.  There were 4 dogs in, all being clipped and trimmed down to the bone. There was this huge white poodle who was having a serious short back and sides.  It's a good job it's warm outside otherwise he'd need a coat.  I've never seen so much fur in my entire life.  

Stormy Nights

And stormy days come to think about it.  Sorry I haven't posted anything for a few days I can't get the computer under the sofa.  As anyone who knows me will testify I hate thunder and we've had storms pretty much every day for the last week so I've taken refuge under the sofa seeing as I'm living in an apartment and don't have stairs to hide under.  Friday was particularly noisy with storms throughout the day.  I was lucky here it was just rain and high winds but a town near by was hit by a tornado which caused quite a bit of damage.  OK so it wasn't on the scale of the big twisters in tornado alley but pretty scary for an area that doesn't usually get them.

The absolute highlight of the past week was my first visit to the dog park.  Finally a chance to get off the lead and have a bit of freedom.  It didn't look very promising when I first got there as there were only two dogs there but it soon filled up.  It was ace!  There were so many dogs I didn't know which butt to sniff first.  All the dogs were so friendly and their owners were pretty good too.  I can't remember all their names but I was particularly taken by a rescued greyhound who was ever so elegant and even more sensitive than me.  I hope I get to go again soon.

On the way back from the park I had a stark reminder that America isn't a very safe place to live.  I passed 4 police men who had their guns drawn and a 'baddie' on the floor in handcuffs. Scary stuff!

Doggie daycare

I'm going on my holidays next month so I've been checking out the local kennels. I can't decide whether to go for the one with doggie day care included, the one where I get a bath or the one that will read me a bedtime story and feed me ice cream - I kid you not, look.

I've never stayed in a kennel before so I have no idea what to expect.  Is it scary? Will the other dogs like me?  I hope I get one of the deluxe kennels, I don't want to be caged up all day long.  

I quite fancy going to doggie daycare though.  A whole day of being with other dogs with loads of toys to play with. Sounds brilliant and miles better than listening to Terry Wogan all day.  I need to pass an entrance exam before I can go to day care.  Shouldn't be a problem, look at me, who wouldn't let me in?

 

Prevention

Is better than cure so they say.  If that's the case I never want to be sick.  I went to the vets for my booster vaccinations and ended up having a full medical.  Eyes, ears, nose, bum, full blood work up, Lyme disease check, heart worm, neurological exam and a few other tests I better not mention in case you have eaten recently.  The result.... I'm in excellent health.  Well d'oh, I could have told you that without being poked and prodded in areas where, quite frankly, human hands should not go.  

Here's another saying for you: when in Rome.... I'm having my teeth cleaned in a couple of weeks. Pearly  whites, how American is that?

It's been a tough week.

Not so safe

It would appear this area isn't as safe as I thought.  Accroding to the local paper six people were arrested for drug offences in the square opposite our appartment and a man was robbed at gun point just down the road.  So far I haven't seen any trouble unless you call the little terrier type dog that tried to bite my nose off the other day.

My human went on a trip without me last weekend to Luray caverns.  It was quite a drive away and dogs weren't allowed so I stayed home and watched TV.  She asked me to put these photo's up for you to see.  It's all real, not a film set or make belive, althoug the photo's don't do the place justice according to Rachael.

Luray Caverns

Snake

Yep I saw my first snake today, it was no big deal, I'm a laid back kinda guy.  Yeah right who am I kidding?  It scared the heebee geebees outta me.  It was the surprise factor more than anything.  Not the surprise of seeing the snake, the shriek from my human.  I was just going about my business sniffing along through the grass and there he was, all curled up in the sun at the side of the path.  He did look rather cute.  I got pulled away before I could have a sniff of him.  I'm no expert but I think it was a garter snake like this one.  A pretty small guy really.

    

Legal

I'm a legal resident dog of Gaithersburg which means I can go to the dog park and not get fined. To celebrate my new status I ate all my dinner, had a huge drink of water, walked into the lounge and vomited!  Did I mention we have cream carpets throughout?  Ooops!

Ghostly goings on

Did I tell you the apartment is haunted?  The human thinks it is anyway based on two facts: I will not go into her bedroom even though she keeps putting my bed in there; and the sock!  About a week after we arrived a sock appeared in the middle of the bedroom floor one morning.  A single white sock with a red top.  It's not one of mine and it's not one of hers so if you are missing a white sock with a red band then get in touch.  We are obviously at the other end of your sock vortex!

Cool Dog

I met a really cool dog the other day, a Siberian Husky called Indie.  I know, not the best place for a winter dog to be living but he seemed to be coping better than me, I guess he's 'acclimated' as the Americans say.  He had the most amazing blue/white eyes.  The humans were talking while me and Indie exchanged business cards (that's butt sniffing to you humans).  Indie goes to doggy day care three times a week and is training to be a therapy dog.  He also likes to play with snakes which is bad - number one rule in these parts, don't play with the reptiles!

There are two poisonous snakes in Maryland: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake both of which inhabit Sugarloaf mountain which I was made to walk up at the weekend.  OK, so the view was pretty good but did we have to walk in snake country.  Everyone says they are more scared of me than I am of them... they clearly underestimate how scared I am! 

Happy Birthday

To the 300 million Americans who celebrated their independence on the 4th.  It was a low key affair for us British folk - probably best to keep the plum English accent under wraps for the day.

My human was very cruel to me that day.  She took me for a walk past every BBQ in the area I think.  Ah the smell of fresh steak on the grill, my nose was in over drive.  Not a single scrap for me though.

Bill Oddie Returns

Did I tell you I saw a bald eagle on our way to Harpers Ferry.  It was majestically soaring on the thermals, we couldn't stop to get a photo though.  We did take this one of some kind of heron I think near Harpers Ferry.  Like I said, I'm no twitcher.

I've seen a few other birds as well this week: Eastern Bluebird, Mourning Dove, Red Cardinal and there's a family of barn swallows living in the stairwell of the apartment building.

I can also confirm I'm not going mad! Remember the moving rock from last week?  I saw one in the water yesterday.  He was a bit shy so doesn't show up very well but if you look really carefully you can just see his head poking out of the weeds.  

  Still waiting to see a humming bird.