A Dog Day Lazy Friday

Mommy and daddy say I have way too much energy in the morning. I don't think so. So I like to run around the house and jump on the bed in the morning. So I like to throw my bone up in the air and let it fall on the ground...over and over and over again. So I like to following my mommy everywhere she goes...and I mean EVERYWHERE! I especially like to follow her to the bathroom and sit outside the door and wait. When she comes out...it's play time!!!

This morning my mommy and daddy said I needed to go out for a car ride. OK, I like the car. They took me to lunch at this outdoor place. I sat there watching everyone pass by while they ate their human food. I liked the guy that came to the table and asked my mommy and daddy questions about me. I liked him because he brought me a big bowl of water. I also liked to watch the guys go in and out of cars. I could spend all afternoon watching them.

Then we went to another outside place where I watched the birds eating on the ground. I wanted to go and play with them but my mommy wouldn't let me. That was ok because we went for a long walk. I had a nice day but now I just want to lay down, play with my bone and maybe take a long long nap. OOOOOOO!!!!

As the "Paw" Turns

I'm in LOVE!!!! She's the most beautiful female doggy in the world! She has beautiful golden brown/red hair. Her eyes are dark brown and she's got short legs with cute little paws. I've seen her a few times coming to visit the kids across the street but yesterday, I finally got to meet her. She played hard to get...that's what I heard my mommy tell her daddy. I tried to get her attention but she didn't want to play. That's ok, because I know that when she sees me a few more times and sees I'm a good boy, she'll want to play with me. Her daddy said that she only likes boys that are older because she's 12 years old. I think that's old...reallllly old. But it doesn't matter to me. She's beautiful!!!!!!!!

I also heard that she is a "cat whisperer." I don't know what that means. Maybe she likes to whisper to cats? I don't know why because cats are boring. They just sit on top of cars and stare at you.

Maybe if I let her play with my MFT (that would be "my most favorite toy") then she'll like me?

Going to School is Fun!

I went to school today!!!! I didn't want to go at first because I prefer to play with my toy and chew on my bone at home but my mom said I had to go. When I got there I jumped out of my mom's car and I started to sniff around. I realized that I had been there before and that I used to really like it. Mom walked me around at first so I could really get a good sniff of the place. WOW! I didn't know where to begin!

Then my teacher came out. His name is Mr. Darryl. I like him because I've known him all my life. He used to play with me when I was a little puppy. He was also the first person to show me how to sit and platz (that's "lie down" in German). I got a chance to show off in front of Mr. Darryl before we start our class. I showed him how well I walk with my mommy and sit down the minute she stops. Mr. Darryl said I was doing really good! Then he had me platz down and wait while my mommy walked away. I had to stay in my place eventhough I wanted to run after her. But I was a good boy and waited. Then my mommy called my name and I went running straight to her. I was so happy that I jumped on her. But I wasn't supposed to do that. So Mr. Darryl showed me that when I run to my mom, I'm supposed to sit in front of her. I think I got it. I tried it again and this time I did what I was supposed to do. Boy, was my mom happy!

We did more running and staying and after class Mr. Darryl let me play with MFT (that would be "my favorite toy.") for a little while he talked with mom. Then we got back in my mom's car and went home.

When I got home, I was tired and thirsty. I drank almost all the water in my bowl! Since I had been a good boy in school, my mom gave me a special peanut butter treat. YUMMMMMMYYYYY!!!

I like to make my mommy and daddy happy. They pet me and give me treats because I'm a good boy and do all my work in school. Can't wait for school again!

It's My "Ruff" So I'll Tell It!

I don't believe we have "officially" met. My name is Dante I am 1 year old. I was born in Burbank, California but my family comes from Germany. I was told by my father that I come from a long line of champions. That is the reason why I am soooo special. But my mommy says I'm speical just because I am me....don't know what that means, but it sounds nice! Anyway, I am a dog, just in case you don't know by now....nice to meet you! My mommy started this blog about me and that was very nice of her. But the other day while I was lying by her feet and she was typing away I suddenly thought, "I should be telling everyone about my life not her." I know she loves me but she sees things like a human. I see things like a dog. We are different!

For example, the other day I was bored just lying around the bedroom while she was in the bathroom. I like my bone and all but sometimes it gets boring. Anyway, I was lying around when suddenly I saw this rubbery toy in front of me. It was bigger than my bone and softer too. It had all these holes in it and even two round "thingies" that I could pull on. I figured it's there, right in front of me, why not?! So I started to chew on it. I was having a great old time when suddenly my mommy comes out of the bathroom and pulls my new toy away and yells at me. She said it was "foowie" and that I was a bad boy for chewing on it. Boy did I get in trouble!!!! I guess it was her toy and she didn't want me playing with it. She called it a "shoe." Whatever! Don't get her sometimes, I let her play with my toys. You see what I mean...we see things differently.

So from now on, I'll be writing my own blog! Hey, maybe I can get my friends and family to write things too! That would be so much fun! I have a lot of friends and even a cousin named Roxy. You'll like her, she's smaller than me, but older and she has a funny face. She likes to eat my bones. I let her because she's smaller. I have a friend named King. He's older but big like me. He's from Holland but his daddy is from Lebanon. We love to play. He has a front yard in his house and we run around and jump on each other. Then there's Rocky and Chauncy and Cooper and Bulwinkle and Buster. Boy I have soooooo manyyyyy friends and stories to tell you...!!!!! This is going to be fun!!!!

The Birthday Boy!

Today is Dante's 1st birthday! Since it is only right that I gift him with something special, I gave him an extra scoop of kibble this moring. I think he was grateful. His tail was wagging. He jumped up on my shoulder and gave me a big wet kiss on the nose and then a nice little nibble on my ear. I would say that qualifies as happiness for a dog.

I know I'll sound crazy to say this but, I believe dogs know when it's their birthday. I don't mean in a cognitive way but in a metaphysical or instinctual way. They see their owners making a big fuss about then. They get fed special treats. They get an extra special walk or perhaps a new toy. Some owners even throw elaborate doggy birthday parties with cake and all. The dog has to instinctually feel that something is special. They play, they get excited they jump up and down, they do everything children would do on their birthday. They celebrate their youth. So I wonder, as they get older, into their later years, do they also sense their impending immortality. Do dogs sense that death is approaching?

Perhaps it is a question I will ponder on and later respond myself. Today is a day to celebrate...my boy turns 1!

A Little Bit of Dante in the Morning

It was going to be a great morning!!! I was going to sleep late, be lazy, watch the news, have a cup of coffee in bed...ahh! But Dante, that would be my dog, decided that just was not going to work for him. I was up at 6 am! But let me say that having a dog as wonderful as Dante (and I'm not being biased. It's a fact. He's wonderful.), is a blessing. The house was so lonely without the pitter patter and plunk plunk of a doggy running around the hall and bedrooms. I missed Luna with all my heart. I still do. In fact, I think I miss her more today than I did when she passed away. I see her everywhere and especially since Dante is sleeping in what was once her bed. I don't mind that really. He loves it. Her scent must be on the bed so he feels safe. But I can still see her laying in it; looking up at me, curled up in a ball. I miss her kissess and hugs. I miss her special dogality (that would be personality but for dogs). She was special, she was my girl.

Ok enough with the sentiments, let me get back to the start of my day. Dante loves to eat. He will eat anything! In fact, as I write this, he is laying by my side eating a new bone and has not come up for air. This will be his 3rd bone in 3 days. He has a jaw like a shark! This moring at 6 am, Dante wanted to eat. He made that perfectly clear to me when he jumped on my head. Dante is a German Shephard. Having him jump on my head when I was in dreamland having a glorious dream about something or other was not my idea of a great way to wake up. But he's a puppy and puppies will be puppies. I got up and fed him his bowl of kibble. He ate it in 2 minutes...I timed him. (A side note; the bone that he has been chewing for the last 30 minutes reeks!!!!!! It smells like old, dirty socks mixed with farts. I'm dying here!!!) Getting back to his morning escapades; potty training has been, shall I say, challenging. He knows where he as to "go." But he "goes" when he wants to "go", which means if it's at 4 am then it's at 4 am. But I won't be perturbed. I will dominate! I'm the Alpha dog. he will "go" when I say he "goes'. This morning at 5:30am I won! Ok, so it's only an hour later...but it's the principle...I won!