Whisker Walk is Sunday June 3, 2012

Mom told us she saw the announcement for the Whisker Walk in the paper Saturday and we are so excited. For those of you in the Massachusetts area the 5th Annual Whisker Walk is being held on Sunday, June 3rd from 11AM-3PM at the Lancaster Fairgrounds. You can find all the information here. Along with the walk, there is a whole fair to enjoy. This is a big fundraiser for local animal shelters in the area.

Last year we not only walked, but we had a wonderful time at the fair. Bailey won the bed you constantly see us photographed on at the dog games last year. Mom and Dad had professional pictures taken of us that now are on t-shirts and coffee mugs. It was very dog friendly event.

This was us waiting as we lined up for the walk

This is where we won the bed. We did not do so well at the agility. However, the bed more than made up for our embarrassment at the agility arena. After all, there were no prizes in agility. The ball retrieval won us a comfy TV watching bed.

We encourage all of you who will be in the Massachusetts area to come out for the Whisker Walk and support the local shelters and rescues in the area. It is a great fundraiser and lots of fun for dogs and their family members.

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting for the Ball

Exploiting Fear of Dogs

Mom was angry this morning. She was on one of her message boards and again saw someone trying to start dog fear by posting a link to a few stories about children killed by dogs. One story was questionable at best because it seems more likely a case of child abuse/neglect than a dog killing. The other was more typical of what one reads about in these cases, poor parenting. In this case, a child visiting a relative’s home attacked by a family pet.

Ironically, the vast majority of posters admit they fear or do not like dogs, but feel they are experts in knowing that dogs are not safe around young children. Well if you are afraid of dogs, it is best not to bring your children around them. Your fear and dislike of them is not likely to make the experience a successful one. However, creating the hysteria that NO family should ever have a dog in the house that has a baby or a toddler only increases the potential for homeless dogs as parents are manipulated into fearing that the family dog will kill the child.

Frankly, I was amazed at how many people bought into the scenario. As a dog owner, I am always careful when children come into my home. I have learned not to expect parents to be responsible for their children. I must always be responsible for my dogs and supervise any and all interactions. While I have never had an issue, it does not mean there is not potential for one. Children and dogs are unpredictable and when you do not know how they will react to each other, it is important to supervise.

I respect parents who do not feel they have the time, resources, or patience to handle both pets and young children. However, the current hysteria and hostility seems ridiculous. As with all things, responsibility and supervision are at the bottom of so many of these dog and children issues. Instead of focusing on the lack of those skills, people have chosen to scapegoat the dogs.

Warming up the Wii Board for Mom

Well they do say to warm up before starting. I was just helping it along. Nothing like a warm Sheltie blanket.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday: The Purpose of Wii Fit Boards

Enjoying a Warm Spring Day

It has been an unusually warm spring. If you remember last year, we had an April Fool's storm that left us with a late start to spring. This year it feels like we have moved right into summer.

The birds have moved into their summer condos in our tree house. We heard them outside the windows this morning as they were waking at 4:00 AM. We like listening to the birds and we have peaceful relationships with them. In fact they appreciate we keep the squirrels away from their nests in our tree house.

Happy Patriot's Day!

Happy Patriots Day!

To those of you who don't celebrate, this is the day Massachusetts celebrates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, not that Boston is running a marathon.

We are celebrating that dog Dad has an extended birthday weekend.

Happy Birthday Dad!

It's a birthday weekend for Dad. We decided he needs more fresh air so we are taking him on a nice walk for his birthday. After all chasing squirrels does not an income make. We give from the heart. We are inspecting Dad's gift bag to make sure everything is in order.

Happy Birthday Dad. Lots of kisses and furry snuggles are coming your way.

This weekend is also Patriot's Day weekend in MA. Mom says they will be reenacting the Battles of Lexington and Concord. What it means to us is Dad has a long weekend.

Preparing the Baby Binky with Sheltie Love

Mom doesn't realize this, but the baby binky needs some Sheltie Dreams and love to be complete before she sends it off to its new home.

Wordless Wednesday

Easter Toys

Along with the bones we found in the Easter Eggs, the Easter Bunny brought us some new toys. The bunny frogs were cute, but the duck and the bunny have this amazing paper crinkling sound. We love attacking paper and Mom told the Easter Bunny this might distract us from real paper. She has discovered one problem. The sounds we make playing with these sound just like the sounds we make when we are getting into trouble with the real stuff. Bailey liked pulling the duck from the egg, until he realized he could not get the duck back inside its home. It does not seem to bother Katy, but while Bailey likes getting the toys out of puzzles, he gets upset when they do not go back where they belong on their own and he cannot manipulate them back in with paw and mouth. Mom came to his rescue, placing the duck back into his egg pouch.


As with all our holiday toys, these will head to the attic when the decorations go away, so Mom will not be dealing with the paper issue for long.

The Pink Ones Had Dog Bones

Mom and Dad said the Easter Bunny hid 30 eggs in our yard and all the pink ones had dog bones. There were four pink ones. We were really too excited to help much as there was a Easter Egg hunt on the other side of our fence, too. It was very exciting.

Mama said the Easter Bunny did not leave us more eggs because we do not like to save our treats for later. Once we found them, we would expect to eat them.

Where Will He Put all the Eggs?

Mom stopped having the Easter Bunny hide plastic eggs last year. Our Easter guests still get baskets. However, she thought after observing a lack of interest in the hunt the previous year, the tradition of the hunt had been outgrown and she was not complaining too much. She had fun having Katy and I find our plush eggs and toss them.

Last night she got a call requesting that the Easter Egg hunt be put back on the day's agenda. She had to head to the attic and dig out the plastic eggs. You see when you have Sheltie's in the house arrangements have to be made for the Easter Bunny's safety when he visits. Mom sets out the eggs in advance so we know he is coming and we do not attempt to remove him from the house/yard. After all the Easter bunny leaves us a basket too and the last thing we want is an angry bunny who fails to leave us anything.

We are wondering if there will be any dog treats in those eggs.

Practicing for the Easter Egg Hunt

We thought we should get some practice in before the big day when humans like to hide our eggs so we can find them.

Enjoying the Weather

After a few questionable days we are enjoying today's weather.

Wordless Wednesday

Really Even My New Blanket?

I am trying to decide if I like my new blanket. Is this the right spot for it? Is the floor more comfy without it. Can I have a moment of peace to think about it? Of course not, that was too much to expect. Pictures must be taken.

Wordless Wednesday: Katy's Shadow

Wild Bunny Advice

While Mama has no problem with us chasing squirrels, mice, and many other wild creatures from the yard, Mom and Dad have become attached to the wild bunnies visiting the yard.

Now we know that when these bunnies start eating Mom's veggie garden she will appreciate our vigilance in scaring the bunnies away now. However, right now she is against our scaring the bunnies. Last night we went out and there was a bunny bold as could be sitting right in the middle of the yard without a care in the world. It had to smell dog everywhere and still not a care in the world. Dad says he has found it in one of the flower gardens this spring as he has been cleaning it out. It likes hanging out in the growth that needs to be cleaned out from last fall. We did what any dog would do we chased it into the tiny space it keeps squeezing into to get into the yard. Dad was not pleased with us.

So what would you guys do?

The Dog Cave

I won this bed for Katy and I last summer at a fundraiser for local dog rescues. Mom never thought we would get so much use out of it, but we constantly slide it around on the floor to get it into new locations. Lately Katy and I have taken to cave dwelling under the table. This was one of my earlier attempts. Mom missed the shot she wanted where Katy had managed to wedge almost the entire bed and her body underneath to create her cave.

Mom was uncertain of the bed’s future when I won it, but it seemed like a comfortable downstairs resting spot. Who knew it would be the most creative toy fort any dog could have.

Play with Me!

Sometimes putting your paw down is not enough. You have to refocus human attention away from the computer to more important tasks like ball and tug. They seem to be easily distracted and require constant reminders.

Got Bones?

We do. Dakota from Dakota's Den generously had a contest on his birthday and we won. The dark brown truck showed up at the house yesterday and Mama was very confused because very few things arrive by UPS. She checked the label and sure enough, it was our very own box filled with chicken and peanut butter Smart bones.

Mom let Katy and I each have a peanut butter bone. We had the best time chewing and chasing after each other as we traded bones.

So, thank you again Dakota for sharing your birthday with us. We are enjoying our bones.

Spring Flowers

We helped Mom find flowers. She shot these pictures while we were out exploring yesterday. Some of them first appeared in the snow and Mom was afraid they would not actually appear in the spring weather. However, she hunted them down and now has pictures.

Katy did not want to be in the pictures. However, she strangely appeared in the outdoor craft pictures Mom was trying to keep her out of yesterday. She kept slipping into the picture after Mom thought she was gone.

Helping Dad with the Gardening

Last year at this time, we were still dealing with snow. This year, Dad decided to take a break from March Madness and head out and start clearing out the flowerbeds. We of course were tasked with providing security details to keep him safe from garden predators. As a reward for our efforts, he gave us bully sticks to keep us alert during our shift.

Mom noticed lots of the spring and summer bulbs are starting to come up. We were praised for not helping Dad with the digging although the smell of spring dirt was so tempting.

The Mystery of the Drain Pipe

Normally Mama is very interested in mysteries when they are in books or movies. However, we have been trying to get her interested in one in her own backyard and she pretends as if it does not exist. We know she is terrified of snakes, but this mystery started when snow was on the ground and snakes don't do snow. Try telling that to Mama who is convinced he could have been wearing a parka with a down bootie to keep its tale warm. Mama has an aversion to the crawly ones.

However, this morning she did go out and snap pictures of the crime scene. While I tried to show her what was wrong, she still cannot figure out the problem.

What is It About Bunnies?

Someone else mentioned this in a post yesterday, so I know we are not alone. Mama is cool with us chasing just about any critters in the yard with the exception of skunks (which from what we have been told is justified) and bunnies. She will cheer us on as we chase down squirrels, but a cute fluffy bunny and she loses it. She becomes protector of all that is wild. She is very strict about the no chasing the bunnies rule.

Wait until that fluffy thing gets into her lettuce and we will see how kindly she feels towards it and its growing family then.

Look What Mom Made

Mom does these crochet swaps and she cannot post pictures on her craft blog until the other person gets the presents. The woman Mom was swapping with has three dachshunds. So, she made the bird the woman wanted, but she could not resist making this guy to go in the box either.

So what do you think?

Birthday Weekends are Wonderful

We had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday. We had birthday bones. Mom and Dad found many wonderful toys. We had extra playtime and one of our favorite humans brought special birthday cookies for Katy and I along with a cool new ball to try out. Mom noticed we were really attached to the Valentine's owl so she made sure we got one that can stay out year round.

Now that Katy is coming to appreciate this whole birthday thing, she is already creating a list of demands; I mean requests for her special day.

We Won Bones

Just in time for Bailey's Birthday, we won Smart Bones from Dakota's birthday giveaway at Dakota's Den.

We want to say thank you to Dakota for giving presents out on his birthday. We are looking forward to peanut butter and chicken bones.

Wordless Wednesday: Stealing Dad's Magic Blanket

A Salute to Dr. Suess

Frankie invited us to join in Amber's Dr. Suess challenge.

You must not hop on Pop.

When we heard the rule,

it seemed so cruel.

When Shelties are flying,

it can be so trying.

Somtimes a hop

is really more of a flop.

We know that Dad

is always glad

and wouldn't miss

a Sheltie kiss.

We have no more time

to rhyme.

We must race

as there are squirrels to chase.

Enjoy the day

Make time for lots of play.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!!!!