Having Fun With Toys

Boy oh boy, I was lucky tonight! Daddy played with me in the family room! He got one of my favorite tennis balls and threw it to me so that I could catch it. Mommy was upstairs and I don't think she knew what we were doing. She might have been mad if she knew that I was up on the couch without it being covered.

Here's a picture of me waiting to catch the ball and another one of me after I caught it!

Safire and Sammy are so jealous that Daddy played with me and not with them! I think Safire is really mad that she can't post in here anymore. She says she's going to start her own "blob". I have started calling it a "blob" too just to confuse her. I bet she'll never even figure out how to get started. If she does figure it out, I hope people read her blog but I hope they don't forget about mine!

I think I'm going to curl up on the couch next to Mommy and see if she'll pet me. I'll write more tomorrow. Bye for now!

Okay! That's Not Fair!

I can't believe Safire used the computer while I was asleep! I apologize to all of you who read my posts. She wasn't supposed to be in here. That'll teach me to click on the "Remember Me" option. She couldn't have gotten in if I hadn't done that because she wouldn't have known the password. Anyway, I told her that if she wants to write her own stuff she should get her own blog. Then she got mad because she thought I called her a blob. I said, "no, I said you should get your own BLOG." That's how dense she is. See what I have to put up with?

The weather is very nice outside today and I can hear some other dogs barking because Daddy left the door open for us so that we could get fresh air while he's at work. I love Mommy, Daddy, Chris, Brittany, and Stephanie so much! They take care of me, Safire and Sammy so well! I love Aunt Wendy and Uncle Merle too. They are so nice to us and they wouldn't even have to be because we're not their dogs. They have two cats and one of them looks like a tiger. His name is Boomer and he likes to look at us dogs through the window. But when Aunt Wendy or Uncle Merle let us inside to meet him he runs away and hides. Uncle Merle says Boomer is 7 generations removed from a real Bengal tiger. I don't know what that means but he sure looks like a tiger.

I found an old toy at the bottom of the toybox today and I am going to show it to Mommy when she gets home from work. She always makes such a fuss over old toys. But it makes her happy and that's all that matters.

I'd like to take a nap on the pet bed but Safire is already on it and she growls at me when I come close. I think I'll just lie down on the carpet here in the kitchen. It smells like Mommy and that makes me happy because I know she'll be home soon .....

Hey, How's This Thing Work?

My name is Safire but everyone calls me Sassie. My master, Brittany, always wanted a dog named Sassie but for some reason she also liked the name Safire. So she named me Safire but nicknamed me Sassie. I don't think it's fair that Spencer is the only dog in the family who can use the family's computer. Why can't I do it sometimes too? Because I'm a girl? Girls like me are smart too ya know! Is it because he thinks that Black Labs like me aren't as smart as Chocolate Labs like him? Well, here's a news flash Bubba ... Black Labs came first. Chocolate Labradors came along later.

Anyway, I wanted to see if I could write some things like Spencer has been doing. When he first started doing this he kept telling us that he was just looking at dog clothing and dog treats online. But I thought it was unusual that he always had to do it when Mommy, Daddy, and Stephanie were not around. He said that he thought they would be mad at him if they saw him using the computer. But I know that it was because he just thinks he's smarter than me and our other sibling Sammy. Sammy is a Red Dachshund and his master is Stephanie. I think it's funny when Sammy jumps up on the desk and walks on the computer keyboard while Daddy's trying to work.

See, here's the thing. There are three of us dogs in the house now that Ella is gone. Ella is a Yellow Labrador Retriever who came into our lives a few months ago. Stephanie's boyfriend brought her as a gift to Stephanie. But now Stephanie and her boyfriend aren't together anymore and Ella went to live with the boyfriend. I miss her (a little) but I don't miss the way she was always so bossy. She used to want to play all the time but she was so rough. Mommy used to say that it was because Ella is still a puppy. I don't think I was ever like that when I was a puppy! I KNOW I didn't go around biting Spencer and Sammy. I did take their toys while they were playing with them but I won't apologize because I like toys! Mommy says I'm just like a human woman who likes alot of purses. I don't have any purses because I wouldn't be able to carry one anyway. I do like to wear dog clothes though. Brittany, my master, is a student at The University of Michigan and since I miss her so much Aunt Wendy brought me a dog shirt that has Michigan in yellow letters on the front of it. I feel pretty and special when I wear it! Brittany's boyfriend is a football player at Michigan and I like to wear my Michigan shirt while Mommy, Daddy, and all the other humans are watching him play on TV. I'm proud that I'm the only dog in the family that has a Michigan shirt.

I am almost 10 years old and I sleep more now than I used to when I was younger. My hips hurt a little too. I had an operation on my knee when I was about 5 years old and the nice doctor really took good care of me! My knee doesn't hurt at all anymore.

I'm getting sleepy and Spencer keeps scratching at the door and barking to get me off the computer, so I better get some sleep. I think I am going to post messages at least once a week from now on just to show that I can do it. Girl Power!

Thunderstorms

I AM SO SCARED!!!! There are bright lights flashing in the sky and loud noises that hurt my ears. I can't get away from them! I tried to hide in the closet but I still hear the noises and I can see the flashes. I can't stand this! I am panting so hard that I'm drooling all over Mommy's carpet. Where can I go? Mommy is petting me and telling me it's alright but I can't take this! I hear a crackling and sizzling noise every time I see the bright lights. Mommy just gave me some medicine that's supposed to make me feel better but it's not working. What am I going to do? Daddy keeps telling me that it's alright and that he won't let anything hurt me but I'm so scared! I'm shaking so bad. I'll lay here under the table where I can't see the lights so much. I hate when this happens!

Daddy says that the "thunderstorm" is almost over. I'm still scared but at least the noises aren't so loud and I don't see the lights as much anymore. Mommy gave me a carrot but I didn't even feel like eating it. I'll save it for later. I don't see the flashing lights at all now. I wonder if other dogs feel this way? It doesn't seem to bother Safire and she's a Black Labrador Retriever. It doesn't bother Sammy the Red Dachshund either. Maybe it's just because I'm a Chocolate Lab?

I feel a little better now. Maybe it's over. Yes, I think it's okay to come out now. Mommy is on the couch watching TV. I'll go get a toy and show it to her. I bet she'll call me a good boy and she will pet me some more.

Yup! Mommy is letting me cuddle with her on the couch and she's petting me. She says she loves me and that I'm a good boy. I feel better now. Getting sleepy ....

Just Another Day

It has been just another day for Safire, Sammy and me. Mommy, Daddy, and Stephanie left for work as usual but Daddy was able to come home at lunchtime and let us go outside for a while. He even let me get a carrot out of the refrigerator! Sammy and Safire got one too.

I barked at the men working in Aunt Wendy and Uncle Merle's yard. They didn't bark back but they spoke human to me and they knew my name! I like when humans are nice to me and talk to me.

Safire was snoring while she was sleeping. She likes to sleep with her head up against the kitchen cabinet. I don't see how she can be comfortable that way but she sure likes to do it. Sammy was sleeping next to her to keep warm. He likes to cuddle. I don't like to cuddle too much unless it's with Mommy. I like to lay my head on her lap while she's watching a movie on the sofa. She gives me popcorn, pets me, and calls me a good boy. I love her so much and I try to make her happy whenever I can. I'm getting sleepy again. I think I'll take a nap and wait for Mommy to come home from work. Maybe she'll tell me about the therapy dogs again.

Wow! What A Nice Surprise We Had Tonight!

I thought we were going shopping tonight but something better happened! The humans that live next door (we call them Aunt Wendy and Uncle Merle) stopped by to see us. Aunt Wendy always brings us nice things and tonight she brought Doggie Stogies. They are treats that look like cigars. Safire, Sammy and I really, really liked them! So it was better than going shopping after all! Then, I saw deer in the field again and I ran out and barked at them. They ran away as fast as they could when they saw me coming. I'm going to catch them one of these times. I wonder if they'll play with me? What kind of games do you play with deer? Maybe just see who can run faster? Tonight is the kind of night that makes be glad to be a dog. The humans in my life are so good to me that I just want to do everything I can to make them happy. Just before I posted this message I was laying at Aunt Wendy's feet and she was petting me. Ahhhh, life is good for me. I think I'll drift off to dreams out here on the deck ...

Mommy Says We're Going Shopping Tonight!

Daddy came home to see us at lunchtime and he said that Mommy is going to take us shopping at the mall tonight! Safire, Sammy and me love to go bye-bye in the car because we know that we will get treats from the bank teller. If we're really, really lucky, Mommy will take us to Petco or Petsmart and let us pick out a toy. I really want another kong like the one we had before. Or maybe I can get one of those balls that Mommy puts treats in before she gives it to us. Safire and I push it around the kitchen floor because the treats spill out that way! Sammy picks up the treats that Safire and I don't get to first. He still gets quite a few even though he doesn't have to work for them. It's okay though because I like to see that everyone is happy, human, dog, or even the cats. I better take another nap so I'm ready to go shopping tonight!

I Fell Asleep On Ella's Toy Last Night

I must have fallen asleep on Ella's stuffed toy last night. I woke up with it under my chin. I miss her and I wish she could come home. This morning Safire and I barked at the Alpacas in the corral at the horse farm. They didn't bark back. I guess they don't understand my language. The horses were running around the pasture this morning and I barked at them too. They didn't bark back either. Daddy served Safire, Sammy and me breakfast on the deck this morning. I like to eat breakfast outside but it makes me sad because I know that Mommy and Daddy leave for work right after breakfast. I dream about them and the rest of the family when they're away. I try to think of ways that I can get them to talk to me and call me a good boy when they come home. Mommy works at a hospital and sometimes she smells like other dogs when she comes home. She says that some dogs called Therapy Dogs visit the hospital to see sick humans and cheer them up. I wish I could be a therapy dog. I like cheering humans up. I would show them the trick I do where a human puts a treat on my nose and I sit and stay until they tell me "Okay". Then I flip my head real fast and catch the treat in my mouth. I bet that would cheer some people up and make them smile. I'm gonna take a nap on the sofa.

It was deer alright

I was right. There were four deer in the field behind my house. Daddy opened the door for me and I ran out into the backyard. I was pretty fast but I couldn't catch them. I never do. But I'll keep trying.

I think I miss Ella. She is a five month old Yellow Labrador Retriever and she came to live with us two months ago. She belongs to my master Chris's younger sister Stephanie. Her boyfriend adopted her for Stephanie. But now the boyfriend and Stephanie have broken up and he took Ella away. She was very hyperactive and a real pain sometimes, but I have to admit I miss her. I felt that it was my responsibility to teach her how to behave and she seemed to be learning but now she's gone. I wonder if she misses me? I see one of her favorite toys in the toybox. I'm gonna go get it and use it as a pillow. Maybe I won't miss her so much. She really liked this toy. It's a stuffed animal that looks like a monkey. She used to carry it around and show it to everyone. Ella was so proud! She also LOVED to try and get peanut butter out of the black kong toy. I can't find the kong anymore. Maybe she took it with her. I'm getting sleepy ......

Finally! My first real entry into a series that I hope will go on for a long time.

My blog is devoted to dogs and humans everywhere who understand just how much we mean to each other.

As it says in my About Me section, my name is Spencer and I am a 9 year old Chocolate Labrador Retriever. I live in Pennsylvania with a wonderful, loving human family, a 9 year old Black Labrador Retriever named Safire, and a 9 year old Red Dachshund named Sammy.

Ever since the first day I met my master, Chris, I have devoted my life to pleasing him. He tells me all the time how much I please him, how much he loves me, and that I'm a good boy. If I could talk, I would tell him the same things. Since I can't communicate in human language, I do everything I can to show him my feelings.

I learned early on that I am a people dog. I don't like being away from my family if they're anywhere nearby. When they're home, I try to be in the same room with them. When they're gone, I wait and wait and wait in anticipation of them coming back. Even though I know that they always come home to take care of me, Safire, and Sammy, I do get worried sometimes when they are gone so long. They were gone this whole weekend and someone else had to look in on us. I was so happy to see them that I carried two of my toys to show them. They said I am a good boy! They are home now and I'm watching Monday Night Football with Daddy ... uh oh, I think I sense some deer in the field behind the house. I'm gonna go bark at them! I'll report in later ....