Wait! Come here!

I learned something.  It is very important!  And, guess what?  It makes my Mom really, really happy!  And that makes me happy and then my happy meter goes and goes!  Want to know what I learned?  When she says "Come here!"  she wants ME to show up!  And I do!  Everytime I do it, she tells me what a good boy I am, and I get extra pets and sometimes a hug! It's amazing how happy it makes her!  And Dad, too!  Haha - then we are ALL happy!!

I know what "wait" means, too!  When I wait, I look at Mom until she says "Ok" and then I know I can walk again.  Hey, I'm a pretty smart guy!

One of THE most important things to teach your dog is for them to come to you.  Harry finally "got it."  I am totally delighted when he comes with the first command and make sure I praise him and give him lots of pets, kisses and hugs. Positive reinforcement works wonders.  He has "wait" down pretty well, too....another important command -"wait" or "stay"...whichever you choose.  Mr. Smarty also knows "go home."  When we are within sight of our house and  I am sure there are no cars nearby, I tell him to "go home" and he merrily trots himself to the front door, happy meter wagging all the way!  Good boy!

Saturday in the Park!

Oh, boy!  Did I have a big day!  I got all excited because we got up extra early.  I took my morning walk in the DARK!  Then we climbed in the car!  We spent the day in a big park and there were lots of people and lots of dogs!!!  It was kind of cold in the beginning, but then it got warmer.  I got to sniff noses with a Sheltie and and Golden and a poodle and all  kinds of different dogs!  Everyone was friendly!  And so many people were talking to me and petting me!  Wow!  I got soooooo tired, I jumped back into the car to take a nap!   Mom and Dad must have been tired, too, because we went to bed early, but I didn't mind!  I was happy to see my comfy bed!

Allaire State Park's open air market is a long day for the people who are there as "vendors."  I underestimated how chilly it was in the morning and was quite frozen for a couple of hours.  Luckily, the day warmed up as the sun rose higher in the sky - there was not a cloud to be seen.  A lovely, fall day.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to all the nice people who made donations to "Almost  Home Dog Rescue of NJ" and a big "Thank You" to the people who bought books!  Each "Harry Spotter" book sale results in a donation to them also!  It was a successful day -
all three books were bought ("Astoria Story" and "KittenCat") - and I am most grateful!!

Yeeeeooouuuuch!

Oh, boy! No monsters day!  The big rain is over and it is cool outside......we're all going on a big walk.  Yay!   Doo doo doo........I smell a kitty.....where are you, kitty?  Dum dee dum......oh, there's a chippy.  I wish I could catch him.    OW!  Yikes!  Sorry, Mom, I almost knocked you over.  That hurt!!!  Something hurt my foot!  I can put it down and I can walk, but it feels funny.   

 

When we get  home, Mom looks at my paw - the back one....she is pressing and stroking.  There's nothing there, but it still hurts.  Just let me lick it for awhile.......Then she comes with a wet cloth and wipes it all over my foot.  That's kind of nice.  It still hurts, though.

She rubs my tummy......I fell asleep.  

Oh, boy.  It doesn't hurt anymore.  I'm all better now.  I guess I better be careful where I step - there's all sorts of things on the ground now, especially after that storm!

There was a hurricane offshore.  We had lots and lots of rain and high winds.  Some branches came down, and a whole bunch of acorns fell, too.  In the middle of a perfectly pleasant walk Harry leapt into the air and bolted for the street.  It was all I could do to stay vertical and get him under control.  I think he stepped on an acorn.

I examined his foot and couldn't see anything wrong - no pine needles or thorns....I wiped it down with a facecloth and warm water, in case something was lodged somewhere.  He was still limping after his breakfast and fussing with it, so I lulled him to sleep with tummy rubs.  Since the ground is now pretty much covered in round and pointy acorns of various kinds, that is my best guess.  Perhaps he bruised his paw a bit.  He seems to be walking normally now.  A nice nap helped him a lot.