What to Do for Chocolate Poisoning

Hi all, DogMom here.

I hope that none of you dogs or your moms, dads, owners or masters have to live through what Gomer, Opie and I went through over the weekend.

If you are a dog, STAY AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!

If you are a dogmom or dogdad, put the chocolate way out of reach from your pets. Don't assume anything... locked in a suitcase on top of the counter is not a good enough barrier for a motivated dog (like Opie)! Their smellers are 100-1000 times better then ours...

Anyways, here's some advice pulled from several sources on the Internet and from the veterinarian that treated my boyz at the Affiliated Emergency Veterinary Services. (Thank you, Dr. Yantes!)

What you should know:

• Dark chocolate is worse than milk chocolate, because of the higher levels of theobromine.
• The truly worrisome guideline level of chocolate ingestion for dogs is 1 oz. for every 5 pounds of body weight. This is only a guideline... some dogs have a severe reaction at lower levels; some seem to be able to process more with less reaction.
• While vomiting and diarrhea are troublesome, the real danger is cardiac arrhythmia and nervous system disorders, including seizures. (Opie's heart rate increased from 84 to 160 in the course of an hour...)

What you need to do:

• STAY CALM. Not the easiest thing in the world, but if you can stay calm, your pet will stay calmer.
• Check their pulse. Normal pulse range for dogs is 60-120 beats per minute. If you need help on how to take a dog's pulse, see this site: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1670&articleid=1077. If the pulse reaches 150 beats/minute for a dog Gomer & Opie's size (50 pounds), call the vet and get them to the hospital.
• Induce vomiting. Get as much of the chocolate out of their system as quickly as you can to reduce the effects. You can use syrup of ipecac (available at pharmacies), which you should have on hand in your medicine chest anyways. If you don't have that, give 1-2 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide every 15 minutes until they vomit. (From experience, I recommend waiting till they vomit after you've given the hydrogen peroxide before you put them in your car...)
• After vomiting, administer activated charcoal, if you have it on hand... (It is recommended to be part of your poison control kit by several web sites. You may have to hunt for it; I asked my local independent pharmacy to special-order it for me.) Give 1-2 tsp mixed with water to the texture of slurry. If you don't have it on hand... get them to the vet! The charcoal absorbs the toxin and prevents it from getting into their bloodstream and nervous systems.
• Take them to the vet.

Stuff to have on hand:

• First Aid Kit: Deluxe
• Toxiban: Activated Charcoal
• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook: First Aid/Medical Reference Book -- Poisoning Included. By: Dr. James Griffin

Here's another good web site for info... http://www.dogownersdigest.com/news/library/chocolate-poisoning-dog-care.shtml

Good luck and keep your puppies safe!

Until I bark next... DogMom

Chocolate Feast! (Weekend)

Whew! Dogmom remembered that she forgot me at the hospital. I'm exhausted, cuz I didn't get to sleep all night cuz they kept doing stuff to me.

They seemed happy when I finally kept all the black stuff inside my tummy. Weirdo humans.

They seemed relieved when my heart stopped racing like I had been running around the bark park. Weirdo humans.

They seemed relieved when I peed a lot and didn't vomit. Weirdo humans.

Dogmom seemed happy to see me. Something about me learning my lesson and not liking chocolate any more. She shouldn't have bought it for us if she didn't want us to eat it.

She let me ride in the front of the truck on the way home. Good thing, cuz even though she had taken out the rugs that we puked on, it really smelled like a chocolate factory back there. Yuck. She's right, I don't think I'll eat that stuff for a while.

I was really excited to see Gomer, since I wasn't sure what happened to him last night. After we figured out that we're both pretty much ok... except for the queasy stomachs we have from eating so much and then puking it up and then eating the black stuff and puking that up and then being pumped full of fluids and getting a lump like a camel and then peeing that out... I mean, I guess we're ok.

Dogmom got really anal-retentive again and took everything off of the counters and put it in the cupboards. She wasn't very happy when she realized again that I shredded her new duffle bag... anyways... Gomey and me, we just vegged all day Saturday and all day Sunday. Going to the hospital is exhausting... and I don't recommend it.

Well, really, I don't recommend eating three pounds of chocolate that has nuts and liquor in it. Bad idea. Really bad idea. I'm going back to waiting for the big chew bones with treats hidden inside.

Gomer's still got an upset stomach... he probably should have stayed with me in the hospital instead of going home...

Chocolate Feast! (Friday Night)

Yo... Dog, did I have a night. DogMom was a freakazoid when she saw that Gomer and I ate all that yummy chocolate. I soon figured out why, I guess.

So, she cleaned up the mess from all the wrappers and boxes while we were stuck together in the "room," a.k.a. doggie jail. She seemed more worried than angry now. She took us outside to do our business and dog, it was cold outside. Gomer had a bit of an upset stomach. I felt fine.

But she kept making us stand still and looked at that silver clock on her wrist and held me on the neck or the inner thigh. What was that all about? Anyways, the more she did this, the more I kinda went berserk. It must have been because of her doing that. What else could it be?

I wanted to run around a lot and was breathing really hard and my heartbeat was going faster and faster. She talked to somebody on the phone. Then she made both Gomer and I drink this yucky stuff with bubbles that was hard to swallow. Not a lot of it, but she watched us close and made us all stay in the bathroom upstairs. Then she held my thigh again, looking at that silver clock. Then she gave us some more of the yucky stuff. She talked on the phone again.

I'm feeling really weird now. Like I want to sit down but I can't sit still. And, my heart is racing faster and faster like I just ran around the bark park three times... but I didn't.

Anyways, she seems to be getting more anxious. I mean, she was really weird. She even PRAISED Gomer for puking all over the rug. What's up with that?

Anyways. She took us for a ride in the car. What a dumb thing to do, dogmom! I mean, we just ate our weight in chocolate for dogness sakes. And, you gave us this bubbly stuff to drink. Can you not figure out the outcome? We both upchucked all over the rugs in the back of the truck.

She didn't seem upset about this, but praised us instead. I don't get this; I don't get it at all.

We went to the hospital. The looked us over and also looked at their clocks on their wrists and held our thighs. And, they stuck that little stick up our butt. And they held that cold circle against our chests. At least they were treating us both the same.

Then they took Gomer away. I was worried. I heard him and smelled him on the other side of the door. I cried, but they didn't bring him back right away. What were they doing to him?

I got sick on the floor again. Then they brought Gomer back. It was my turn. He didn't seem too phased by the whole thing, so I went. They tried to get me to eat this black stuff. Yuck. Like I want to eat anything right now. Didn't she tell them I was full and I just puked my guts out? Anyways, they brought her out to feed me some. I ate a little, but really didn't want it.

Then, they kept squirting it in my mouth. Force-feeding me black stuff. Can you believe it? What's up with that?

But, I showed them. After they took me back into the room with dogmom, I proceeded to upchuck the whole amount onto the floor. Ha!

Dogmom was really worried. She talked to the doctor some more. I wish I knew what they were talking about. Anyways, I think the gist of it was that Gomer gets to go home, but I have to stay at the hospital. If I can't keep down the black stuff, I could get even more sick. How could I possibly feel more sick than I do right now? Something about my heart rate being too fast for too long and possible seizures. Geesh.

Know what? Dogmom actually left without me! Took Gomer and left me there. I was scared and alone and afraid she would forget I was there...

I had to eat some more black stuff. They gave me some "ace" (that mean's I'm #1, right?), to calm me down. That worked a little bit. They pumped me full of fluids, which made me have to pee. They kept checking my thigh with the clock all night.

I started feeling a little better. I heard dogmom talking to the doctor on the phone. It's way past my bedtime... and I just want to go home. But, instead, I fall asleep in the cage with the blanket that smells like somebody else...

Chocolate Feast! (Friday)

So, we knew that dogmom brought us some special treats from her trip to Vegas. We just knew she did. I mean, how could she not?

But, she kept forgetting to give them to us. We could smell them. They were right there, in that duffle bag up on top of the counter. That blue one, yep, that one. The treats are in there taunting us. Such good smells. Not like the Hershey kisses on top of the fireplace, unh-uh. This was really good stuff.

So, anyways, we didn't get them all day Thursday, thinking she must want to give us the surprise herself.

And, we waited just as long as we could on Friday. But then, the taunting from the blue bag was just too much for us. We dragged it off the counter. Hmmm... it doesn't seem to have any openings. What a dilemma...

Oooh, oooh, that smell. Can't you smell that smell?

So, we decided to try harder. Yeah, that must be the plan. It's like those Kong toys that you have to work really hard to get the treat. Yeah, that must be it. So we bit the bag. And we tore at it with our paws. This must be why she didn't trim our nails this week. Yeah, that must be it. She WANTS us to tear the bag open and get the treats.

Hey, it's working! We've got a hole. Gotta make it bigger. The box won't come out. Hey... there's more than one box! Wow! We've got the best mom ever. She not only gets us special treats and makes it a game to get them... she gets us each TWO boxes!

Lid comes off easy. Wait, what's this? There's some kind of film over the chocolate. I can see right through it, but licking it doesn't work. Ah, the nails again. Yeah, good idea Gomer!

Yum! All kinds of chocolate! Different kinds of nuts... whoa, that tastes funny... but good. What do you think that is, Gomer? Wait! That one's mine! I was just asking a question!

Let's get the second box. Yeah, yum! And the third box. Hmm... I'm getting kinda full. And, I'm not so sure I feel so good. Here comes DogMom! Let's go thank her!

Uh-Oh. She doesn't seem so happy about this. In fact, she seems very angry and upset. Maybe these treats weren't for us after all. Yeah, dogmom, I'll happily go to jail right now...
Wuf Ya - Opie

It's Good to Be Home!

Hi, Opie here. Gomer's too exhausted to post today from all our days of fun at Dog Pad. It's really tiring to be good boyz for Tory and Mike, specially for us two...
Anyways, I'm lounging now, too, but wanted to let you know that we're back. (Did you notice in the picture that I have Gomer's bunny?!?)

I was so totally excited yesterday... first, to see dogmom and to ride in the truck with her. I was licking her neck and standing with my front paws on the console between the front seats and sticking my neck way out far like a turtle and looking out the front window, just in case she forgot where she was supposed to be going. She didn't like me licking the front window so much... but I was just telling her, subtly, that she needed to wash it so I could see better.

Anyways, when we got home, I was even more excited. I couldn't contain myself any longer.

I tucked my hind legs under myself with my feet up by my head and my front paws pointing off in a "V" shape in front of me for balance and I bounced around and sorta ran but mostly hopped like a bunny in funny concentric circles all around the living room and dining room for several minutes. Dogmom really wanted to get a picture of me doing this, but I'm way to fast and all she can capture is the carpet after I've moved again.

Then, I'd stop and look at dogmom and bark and start the whole thing all over again. After about six or seven times, I collapsed on the floor, laying on my side, with my legs sticking straight out. I was sooooooooo happy to be home.

Gomer was happy, too, but he just spread himself out like a frog-dog on the floor and watched me go crazy...

Wuf Ya - Opie

We Be Da Bestest Boyz!

So, we're still playing at Dog Pad this morning and we're so excited, cuz we think DogMom is going to come and get us today and take us home. It seems like the right amount of time.

We're really excited, cuz we think we've been the absolute bestest boyz ever for Tory and Mike this time...

• I (Gomer) didn't growl at anybody for trying to pay too much attention to me, especially the new girl.
• Opie hasn't jumped the fence even one time!
• Opie didn't get snarky with anybody because he didn't want to go inside and take his "going home today" bath.

Ok, well, we weren't both perfect... ahem, although I was... since Opie pee'd all over his t-shirt after Tory put it on him since he was cold.

Anyways, we were really good boyz this time and we can't wait for dogmom to come get us so that Tory can tell her and she'll be all excited and, you know what?

I bet we'll get one of those special chew bones when we get home!

Wuf Ya! (Oh, yeah, and we're really glad to be back blogging again!)

Getting Closer!

I can tell, it's getting closer. I mean, it just feels like it should be.
We're have a great time at Dog Pad... but it seems like the time should be close that dogmom comes back to get us. Should I be worried? Hmmm... we've been good the last couple of weeks. I'm sure she'll be back.
But, well, we did have that time when we unstuffed the birds from the comforter and only found feathers.... and the garbage thing... and Opie's ear thing... you don't think dogmom will leave us here, do you?
I'm gonna wait one more day... if she doesn't come tomorrow, then me and Opie are BOTH jumping the fence and going to find her...

We Be Dog Pad Dogs!

We're gonna go to Tory's house! We're gonna go to Tory's house!
We're going to Dog Pad! We're going to Dog Pad!

We wuf Dog Pad almost as much as we like being at home with dogmom. I mean, if we can't be snuggling and playing with dogmom, then the next best place to be is at Dog Pad. We wuf it there.

Tory and Mike take the bestest care of us.
We get to eat our food, just like at home.
We get cookies, just like at home.
We get to run around outside all day ... which we don't get to do at home.
We get to play with lots of other dogs ... which we don't get to do at home.
We get to play with Tory and Mike ... which we don't get to do at home.

Tory and Mike have figured out our personalities... and, guess what! They actually put up with us anyways!

Anyhow... if we can't be at home by ourselves ... (which I think our postings the last couple of months have proven) ... then we'd rather be at Dog Pad!

We might not post for a few days, since we'll be way to busy having fun at Dog Pad... but we'll tell ya all about it when we come back!
Wuf Ya!

Could It Be True?

Could what dogmom is telling us be true? Really, I mean?

She said that Randi's coming today to take us for a walk. Ok, that's pretty normal. Randi from Lake Minnetonka Pet Sitters (www.tonkapetsitters.com) comes to take us for a walk a couple of times a week. We really like Randi... even when she makes us walk nice and not tug her down the trail...

But, dogmom said that in addition to Randi coming today... tomorrow (she keeps emphasizing it), we're gonna go to Tory's house, aka Dog Pad (www.dogpaddogs.com). Can you believe it?

We get extra belly rubs and hugs.
We get special chew bones.
We haven't been in jail for weeks.
Randi's coming today to take us for a walk.
AND!!!!
We get to go to Dog Pad tomorrow!

Wow! Do we have the bestest doglife on earth, or just what?
Wuf Ya!

Bunnies and Kitties !

OK, dogs. So this New Year's resolution thing of ours seems to be working. We can manipulate dogmom into doing exactly what we want... I mean, ANYTHING GOES now.

First, we get extra belly rubs and hugs and kisses.
Then, we get those extra special chew bones every coupla days.
And, we haven't been in jail for weeks!

But, now, things have gotten even BETTER! I mean, whoda thunkit?

Look at our new toys! ...



<---- This one is Opie's!

And, this one is mine! ---->



Can you see it? Did you figure it out?
OK... I'll tell you.

Opie has ALLways WANTed a KITTY!
And, I have ALLways WANTed a BUNNY!

Can you believe it? DogMom finally got us what we've always wanted! Each of us!
(Well, in addition to wanting a safe, loving place to call home...)

We're in DHOE -- Doggie-Heaven-On-Earth.
Wuf Ya!

Can You See Us Now?

We're Exhausted!

*** Anybody who wants one of our "special" chew bones needs to email dogmom with your mailing address at dogsayeview@aol.com. First come, first shared... she'll send them to the first 10 dogs to respond! ***

Whew! We're so glad that dogmom went back to leaving the house again today... she said she's going to work, whatever that means. We're just glad that she won't be home today and we can finally get some rest!

Dogs, do your humans spend a couple days in a row just harassing the heck out of you? I mean, come on, we got this groove going most of the time. We get up... we stretch... we go outside for a walk and do our business... we eat... we wait for dogmom to get clean and dressed... we play with one of our toys... we get a cookie and she leaves... and we sleep. Dogmom comes home and we do it all again, except that we watch her cook and eat instead of get clean and dressed... and she stays... and we sleep.

Sometimes, we get into mischief... sometimes Randi comes to visit. But, basically, the list above summarizes our established this-is-the-good-life-to-do list.

Then, it happens. Dogmom messes everything up by staying around all day. She gets out the big green monster... she puts our dishes into a machine that hums for a while... and she moves her clothes from one machine to another and then puts them back in the closet. I mean... come on... how are we supposed to get our 19 hours of sleep in when she's around all day. Something interesting might happen, ya know?

Anyways... we're glad she's back to normal again today. Nap time...
Wuf Ya!

YUM! "Special" Chew Bones!

Yummy yummy yummy I got bones in my tummy and I feel like rolling 'round!

Dogmom said she went to Costco, whatever the heck that is, and we were worried because she didn't come home right away at the usual time. It was ok, though, cuz Randi had come and taken us for a walk.

Anyways, we forgive dogmom completely because she bought us the biggest, bestest chew bones at Costco. She calls them special chew bones. She's pretty stingy with them, but it's ok, cuz dogs, these things are totally worth it!

They look a little deceiving... they really look just like any other retriever roll that she brings home. But, they're different. They have yummy lamb chews hidden and wrapped inside! Can you believe it? They are like the best chew bones ever.

Opie and me try to chew up and eat the whole thing in one sitting... which can take hours, let me tell ya. That's like a whole year in human time. Sometimes, though, dogmom takes them away from us and makes us finish them a few days later. Something about my being too potent at night ... hmmm... what do you think that means?

Anyways... sometimes she does other stuff while we're chewing... you know, gets out the big green monster or moves her clothes from one big machine to another. But sometimes she just sits with a book and watches us... that's the most awesome fun... attention AND chew bones!

Dogs, we gotta be the luckiest dogs in the world. Want us to send you one? It will be like a worldwide group chew. Yum!

Wuf Ya!

Caution - For Real!

Dogmom's kicking me off the blog today so that she can post a warning to all the humans that are connected to all the dogs that read our blog. Guess I'll let her, since she controls the food... and, at the moment, the keyboard...

Hi. This posting has absolutely nothing to do with Gomer and Opie or with dogs, for that matter. I received an email from security@ebay.com this morning at one of my other personality's email accounts. It just so happens that [red flag number 1] the email address that received the email DOES NOT HAVE AN EBAY ACCOUNT!

Second, there is a link in the email that includes a DNS number (I think that's what they're called... the 000.00.000 number...).

Ok... so that's distressing enough, right? BUT... the email INCLUDED account information FOR SOMEBODY ELSE! The guy's name... credit card number... PIN NUMBER! ... mother's maiden name... password... full street address... everything...

BEWARE. BE CAUTIOUS. BE INFORMED.

DO NOT click the link. DO NOT respond to the email. DO NOT verify your information through the email or link. Exit your email program and then sign into ebay if you have an account and check your information!

And, take a moment every day for the next 10 days if you get one of these to check your bank accounts...

Now... how do I let this guy know that I have all his info?
Dogmom

Added 1/12/07 A.M - Here is the response I just received from Ebay...
Hello,Thank you for writing to eBay regarding the email you received. Emails such as this, commonly referred to as "spoof" or "phished" messages, are sent in an attempt to collect sensitive personal or financial information from the recipients.The email you reported was not sent by eBay.
We have reported this email to the appropriate authorities. In the future, be very cautious of any email that asks you to submit information such as your credit card numbers or passwords. If you are ever concerned about an email you receive from eBay, simply follow these steps:
1. Open a new Web browser and type www.ebay.com into your browser address field to go directly to the eBay site.
2. On eBay, click on the "My eBay" link at the top of the page and sign into your account.
3. Check the "My Messages" link located on the left side of the My eBay page. If an email affects your eBay account, it's now in "My Messages." Any email sent to your registered eBay email address from eBay or from another eBay member via eBay's member-to-member communication system will also appear in "My Messages."
Just remember, if you get an email regarding a problem with your accountor that is requesting personal information, and the email looks like it is from eBay, please check My Messages first. If it's not there, it's a fake email. If you still have any doubt about whether an email message is from eBay,please forward it to spoof@ebay.com immediately. Do not respond to it or click any of the links. Do not remove the original subject line or change the email in any way when you forward it to eBay. If you have already entered sensitive personal information, financial information, or your password into a Web site based on a request from a spoofed email, you should take immediate action to protect your identityand all of your online accounts. We have developed an eBay Help page with valuable information regarding the steps you should take to protect yourself. http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/isgw-account-theft-reporting.html
To review eBay's new tutorial about Spoof Emails, please see the following Web page: http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial/ To help you better protect yourself from fake eBay and PayPal Web sites,we have developed a feature for the eBay Toolbar called "Account Guard." Account Guard includes an indicator of when you are on an eBay or PayPal Web site or a known spoof (or "phishing") site, buttons to report fake eBay Web sites, and a password notification feature that warns you when you may be entering your eBay password on an unverified site. To learn more about the eBay Toolbar with Account Guard, please go to www.ebay.com, click on "Downloads" at the bottom of the page, and then click on the "eBay Toolbar" link.
We also recommend that you keep your browser, operating system, and virus protection software up to date. Check for updates at the "Windows Update" link on www.microsoft.com and scan your computer for viruses often.
Once again, thank you for alerting us to the spoof email you received. Your efforts help keep eBay a safe and fair place to trade.
Regards,
Ande
eBay Safe HarborInvestigations Team

Labs Still Rule!

By now, you've seen the list of most popular dog breeds according to registration data at the American Kennel Club... the poster girl sure doesn't look very enthused about her reign, does she?

Sabrina Fairchild, a five-year-old female Labrador Retriever, is photo-graphed by members of the media after the breed was named the most popular dog by the American Kennel Club in New York January 15, 2007. REUTERS/Keith Bedford

I have one important question, dogs. If Labs are #1 (which, by the looks of me, my dad was) and Beagles are #5 (which my mom was)... does that mean that Gomers are #3? OK, and another question... if Gomers are #3, then why does their list say German Shepherd dogs are? Cuz I sure ain't no German Shepherd by any stretch of the imagination.

Anyway, I have some things to say to Tosca, too, today. She's kinda upset that Collies are not on the top 10 list. (http://www.mypuppytosca.blogspot.com/) First, Tosca, being on the top 10 list isn't all it's cracked up to be... have you never watched David Letterman with your mom?

Second, even if I'm a #3... which we all know I'm not because I was a dumpster dog and don't have no papers... Collies are at least in the top 40 (#37)! Just look at Opie. We don't even know what breed he is, other than it's an odd breed. The vet doesn't even know; calls him "some kind of hound." If he's mostly coonhound, like dogmom thinks he is... then he's way down at #131 on the list. If he's a foxhound, like some people think, then he's even further down... almost at the bottom, in fact... somewhere between 151 and 155.

Hmmm... If I'm at the top and Opie's at the bottom... does that mean that dogmom only got an average dog between the two of us?

Anyways... third thing is that papers or no papers... top 10 or bottom 10... we wuf you more than hooman food!

Wuf Ya!

Link to the AKC List: http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm

Link to the Reuters story: Labs are #1, followed by Yorkies in the #2 slot. At No. 3 in the American Kennel Club's top 10 was the German Shepherd, followed by the Golden Retriever, Beagle, Dachshund, Boxer, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Miniature Schnauzer. (But in New York City, the poodle was top dog.) The full story can be found at... http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-01-15T190736Z_01_N15428963_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-DOGS.xml

A New Kid in Town?

Yo, Dogs! This is freaky. There's a new kid in the neighborhood.
But he's really kinda weird. He just stands there. Outside. In the cold.
Doesn't say anything. Doesn't do anything.
Doesn't taunt us or tease us.
Doesn't ask dogmom if he can pet us.
Doesn't try to give us treats behind dogmom's back.
Or, for that matter, right in front of her.

Come to think of it... he doesn't smell either.

We don't get it. What's up with this kid?

Is it cuz we've been being really good boyz? Yeah, that must be it. Maybe we should go back to our old mischevious ways.

Wuf Ya!

More Snow! More Snow!

Yippee! We got more snow last night. This is really cool (no pun intended)! Opie and me like totally love to run around in the snow.

I, especially, love to play snowplow with my nose and run as fast as I can with my nose to the ground and my butt up in the air. The snow makes like a sailboat wake (according to dogmom... cuz I have no idea what a sailboat or a wake is)... and dogmom laughs hysterically. I lift my head and all I see is snow, cuz it's piled high on my nose.

Opie even likes the snow... although he gets cold a lot faster than I do. Wimp! You'd think he has short hair or something. Oh yeah, he does. Anyways... he likes to go outside and run around and sniff everything. But, then, he wants to go back in sooner. He crawls under his blanket and hides... or just tries to get warm again.

After a few minutes in his blanket... he's ready to go outside again. He was driving dogmom nuts yesterday... and especially this morning! He whimpered and whined to go outside three times!

Anyways... dogmom is still skeptical about our new year's resolution to be good boyz. She thinks we're up to something and planning something big. Ha! Joke's on her! (for now...)

Wuf Ya!

Day 3

I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.
DogMom

Expectation Prognostication

Help! It's Dogmom, again. I'm getting really worried now.

I think, almost with 100% certainty, that this is the first time ever... well, at least, this is the first time in the last six-and-one-half years... that my two dogboyz have behaved for 48 hours in a row.

I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.

What on earth could they be planning? Have they mentioned anything to all you dogs out there?

It's not that I care that they're planning something. It's not even that I want to prevent it. Cuz their antics are what this blog is all about.

It's just that I'm not very good with surprises... and I would like to prepare myself as best I can for whatever might happen soon!

Can you help? Any ideas about what's coming?
Wuf Ya!

Where did Gomer and Opie Go?

Hi - Dogmom here. Something's up. There's literally nothing in my brain to post today since my boyz were well-behaved yesterday. No shredded paper. No unstuffed pillows. No tipped-over trinkets. No missing-food-on-top-of-the-refrigerator. No injuries. No barking fits. No messes. No challenges. No sickness.

Ok. So who took my dogs and replaced them with very exact-looking replicas that behave?

I know this is what I wished for... but now I'm bored.

Wuf Ya!

Pony Thinks He's A Labrador!

Wow - even the ponies want to be dogs now! This is great!

http://prelaunch.reuters.com/tv/videoStory.aspx?storyID=3502fb9328f43bd1cf02c5b5833441634b9d5007

Keep dog-blogging, dogs!!!
Wuf Ya!

Please Help Tosca See The World!

Hey, we just found out that our Perfect Collie dogfriend Tosca has never been more than 30 miles from her house! That's just not appropriate for a perfect ... or for that matter an imperfect ... dog! We gotta do something, dogs!

Or, are we just well-traveled adopted rescued strays? We've been all over the place. Well, in the US anyways. Dogmom doesn't usually take us when she has to fly on an airplane to get somewhere...

Although she did take me, Gomer, on a plane once from Arizona to Ohio. It was a very interesting experience, let me tell ya. I was just a young pup... about five months old... and still scared of everything. Literally. So the vet gave me some drugs and I learned how to stay in a crate and people I didn't know wheeled my crate from one place to another. When I got to Chicago, some guys in blue clothes let me out of the cage to run around these great big huge noisy vehicles. I think they called them planes. (Dogmom said to tell ya it was before 9/11, whatever that is, and things were different then.)

Then, I went back in my crate and they wheeled me back inside with everybody's suitcases. I was awake now and missed my dogmom... so I whimpered and whined and barked the whole way from Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana. There were only seven people on the plane and I heard them all barking back at me and laughing... so I barked even more. Dogmom was so embarrassed.

Anyway, everybody on the plane was so curious about me, that they waited until I came off the conveyer so they could meet me... which, according to dogmom, was about an hour after everybody's stuff was already off. They save the best for last when they unload the plane, apparently! Anyway, I was still scared of all these people... but they gave me treats and made a big fuss and everything, so I let 'em.

Anyway... back to the task at paw... we need to get Tosca some exposure to places outside of central New York where she lives with her mom. Opie and me will pull out some pictures of our travels... will you do the same? And email them to us at dogsayeview@aol.com so we can share them with Tosca here?

Thanks. We wuf ya!

Our New U.K. Buddy!

We met a new buddy yesterday!

He is a "long-legged" Jack Russell terrier named Jim. Dogmom says he lives "across the pond" in the U.K. I say ok, UK, whatever. I looked and looked across the pond behind our house but I couldn't see him. (Is this another one of those examples where dogmom just isn't making sense again?)

Anyways, Jim and his buddy Paula have a really cool web site and Jim has daily podcasts and a blog and photos of his vacations and an online store and everything. Check it out at http://www.jims-jaunts.co.uk -- or you can find him under our Links at the left.

(Hey Jim, we hope you don't mind that we stole your photo off your web site... We think you're very handsome!)
Wuf Ya!

DogsAyeView Wufs Snow!

This New Year's Eve picture that dogmom took pretty much says it all, don't you think?



Wuf Ya!

DogPad, Company AND Randi!

Wow! We must be the bestest, luckiest, spoiledest dogs ever!

First, we get to spend all that time at Dog Pad -- playing with all the other dogs and with Tory and with Mike and with Aubrey. And running around outside all day and sleeping wherever we want at night and getting all smelly and dirty and everything. It's like totally the bestest place ever. (Well, except for dogmom's house, of course!)

And then, we got company! On New Year's Day, uncle Matt and cousin Kristin came over to visit.

You remember Uncle Matt... Izzy owns him... and they live in Plymouth, MN, where we lived with dogmom when we first moved to Minnesota in 2002. And, uncle Matt used to live in Cincinnati, where dogmom lived a long time ago and where auntie Dawn and Ginger live now.

And, well, Kristin we hadn't met before. But she seemed ok. She smelled like a cat. Her cat's name is Daphne. Kristin was really cool. She gave us special treats when she first came... goldfish crackers! And, she's not a cat snob... she likes dogs, too! Anyway, we like her a lot. I even did my "sit-down-by-the-couch-with-my-butt-next-to-it-and-bend-my-neck-all-backwards-and-look-at-her-upside-down" thing. I usually reserve that special trick for Jennifer (Victor and Gladys' mom)! Opie liked Kristin, too! We got all cuddly and snuggly on the sofa and watched a movie... My Big Fat Greek Wedding... we like that one cuz it makes dogmom laugh out loud!

Anyway, even after we went to Dog Pad... AND we got company... AND we watched the movie... RANDI CAME TO TAKE US FOR A WALK! Yep. While dogmom went to work, Randi showed up and took us for a walk. It seemed like forever since we saw her. We were really good on our walk and showed her how much we love the snow. Even Opie! Her dogs love the snow too!

It just doesn't get any better for a dog's life. Dogmom must really love us, don't you think?
Wuf Ya!

We're Baaaaaaaaaccckkk!

Wow - we really missed chatting with all our doggie pals the past few days. But, let me tell ya, we had tons of fun at Dog Pad (www.dogpaddogs.com) while dogmom went to Ohio without us. We were pretty good for Tory the whole time.

I only say pretty good cuz Opie did get out once by jumping not one, no not two, but THREE fences (!) in order to get out. Tory just wasn't fast enough to catch him. It was like he had his route planned out in advance -- which we know that Opie wouldn't do... he's pretty much a spur-of-the-moment-when-the-idea-hits-him-don't-think-it-through kind of dog.

Anyway, then he got into a spat with another dog just before dogmom showed up to pick us up. He got bit on the ear and dog, did he bleed a lot. Dogmom said it was no big deal. (She's been through a lot of ear bites with us dogboys over the past six and a half years.) She took him to see Dr. Kelso the next morning cuz it was still bleeding a bit when she took the bandage off. He came home and had his head all wrapped up like he had brain surgery or something.

Sometimes I think he needs brain surgery. Anyway, he's getting all kinds of attention he doesn't deserve. I think I'll go take a nap now.

Wuf Ya! (Oh yeah, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

A Christmas Wish from DogMom

(DogMom here... I'm feeling much better today! But, Gomer and Opie were really really naughty boys yesterday. They ate the entire Harry & David treat box that my supervisor gave me... only left two gumdrops and the bag of chocolate-covered cherries. Randi, my dog walker from Lake Minnetonka Pet Sitters, cleaned up the mess and called me to inform me of their consumption of five pounds of goodies. Thankfully, they didn't eat the chocolate! So, in their honor, please sing this posting to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas...)

On the twentieth of December, my two dogs gave to me... An empty box of sweet treats.

On the same day in December, my two dogs gave to me... Two crazy dogs, and an empty box of sweet treats.

Still that same day in December, my two dogs gave to me... Three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

That same day in December, my two dogs gave to me... Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

Yet the 20th of December, my two dogs gave to me... Randi Going Nuts. Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

Just five days before Christmas, my two dogs gave to me... Six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

It's five days before Christmas and my two dogs gave to me... Seven stairs-a-stepping, six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

Still five days before Christmas and my two dogs gave to me... Eight paws a pausing, seven stairs-a-stepping, six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

Now five days before Christmas and my two dogs gave to me... Nine lives gone prancing, eight paws a pausing, seven stairs-a-stepping, six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

It's still five days before Christmas and my two dogs gave to me... Ten gourds a leaping, nine lives gone prancing, eight paws a pausing, seven stairs-a-stepping, six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

The twentieth of December and my two dogs gave to me... eleven crated cravings, ten gourds a leaping, nine lives gone prancing, eight paws a pausing, seven stairs-a-stepping, six sempty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

A few days before Christmas and my two dogs gave to me... twelve days of jail time, eleven crated cravings, ten gourds a leaping, nine lives gone prancing, eight paws a pausing, seven stairs-a-stepping, six empty boxes. Randi Going Nuts! Four falling crates, three frayed nerves, two crazy dogs and an empty box of sweet treats.

Anybody smiling with me? Want to know my Christmas wish???? NORMAL DOGS for just one day!

The boyz are off to Dog Pad (www.dogpaddogs.com) and I'm cruisin' to Ohio for the Holidays. Hope yours are happy and healthy and bring only pleasant surprises. Most likely won't be posting until after the first of the year.
Wuf Ya!

DogMom CAN'T Be Sick!

Ya know, Tosca and Hudson, you're pretty smart dogs. But OUR dogmom is never ever sick... she takes care of US when WE're sick. There's no way that she could be sick and not be feeling well. It's just not possible.

I don't know tho, you might be right. She did kind of sound like Opie and me when we upchuck chew bones or onions or pieces of paper, plastic and toys that we try to swallow.

And, she didn't cook anything in the kitchen for the last three days. She just keeps drinking something called tea -- and let me tell ya, it does NOT taste good. (We both tried it when she wasn't looking.) So, she must not be quite right in the head if she's drinking that stuff, right?

And, she always takes us for walks and plays with us... even when she pretends to be mad at us for getting into stuff and going to jail... but she hasn't been doing that, either.

She didn't even want me to smell her face and sneeze like I always do. And, she didn't seem amused when Opie laid his head on her with his butt up in the air and that tail-whip-thing that he has flying all back-and-forth and 'round in circles.

In any case, I hope she gets back to normal soon.
Wuf Ya!

DogMom at Home All Day!

Ok... so we're conflicted again.

We love it when dogmom stays home with us all day and doesn't go to that place where she disappears to and wears the clothes we're not allowed to jump on. Seems like every few days or so, she stays home and gets out the big green monster and puts all our stuff and her stuff into that machine that goes round and round.

But, this time was different. Dogmom stayed home and the first daylight she was normal and did all those things she usually does. But the second and third day, she was different. She just laid around and slept all day. Except when she took us outside and expected us to do our business without walking and without smelling everything. Goofy human.

But then she'd go back to bed again. Sometimes she'd get up and hug the dogbowl in the bathroom that for some odd reason she keeps the lid on. Guess that one's hers and she doesn't want to share it. Must be some really good water in that one, huh? With her wanting to hug it like that?

Wuf Ya!

Uh-Oh! DogMom Forgot the Birthdays!

So, for once, it's not Opie and me in trouble. It's DogMom, this time.

See, two of DogMom's siblings have birthdays this month and she forgot one of them. She remembered her sister's and sent her a present. But she totally forgot about her brother's birthday. Well, she remembered, but then she forgot to do something about it.

So... this posting is for Uncle Danny from DogMom... but she's too embarrassed to write it, so Opie and me did.

Happy Barkday to You! Happy Barkday to You! Happy Barkday, Uncle Danny! Happy Barkday to YOU!

(How did we do?)
Wuf Ya!

UFOs? In Chaska?

Ok. So this is really freaky.
We went outside early this morning to do our business, like we always do.
But it was different. Well, something was different.

See the lights? They only showed up on Opie's photos... not in mine. If I'm in the picture, there are no funny lights. If I'm not, there they are.




Whatever does it mean?
Wuf Ya!

We're SO Big!

This post was prompted by "tiny" Tosca's dogmom's claim that she "ain't lifting me [Tosca] without a crane" and that Tosca weighs "a whole lot more than a big bag of rock salt."

Ahem. Tosca - you're nothing more than a petite, svelte lady collie.

Dogmom did the measurement thing on us last night (after some squriming and running away and generally wreaking havoc, which we're best at). Here's what she found:

I, Gomer, am 39" long from my black nose to the white tip on my tail. My tail, if she holds it straight, is 11" long. But usually it is shorter cuz it curls up over my back like a beagle tail. I'm 22" tall and I weigh 52.1 pounds.

Opie's measurements make him seem like he's about the same size as me, but really he's a lot smaller, albeit taller.

Opie is also 39" long from his black nose to the white tip on his tail. But, like I told ya before, he's got that whip for a tail. He's like 40% tail, in fact! His tail is a whopping 16" long. That's 5" longer than mine! So what if he's an inch taller, if we docked his tail, he'd be a lot smaller than me. He weighs about the same - 52.5 pounds.

Oh, and Tosca, you're snout isn't really that big. Mine from my ears to my nose is only 7 inches, but Opie's is 9.5 inches... and he's not even a collie!

Wuf Ya!

Nothing to Report

Well, since we were in jail all day yesterday, we didn't get into any trouble. (Surprising, I know.)

DogMom let us out of our crate-jails last night. She must have felt guilty, cuz we each got one of those BIG retriever rolls last night. And, it wasn't just a big retriever roll... it was a big retriever roll with liver paste inside. We hit the jackpot, I tell ya!

Man, if staying in jail and not getting into trouble for a day means we get one of those... I volunteer to just sleep in my crate until she comes home!

Wuf Ya!

Jailbirds... Again!

So... you all know us by now. We think we can stay out of trouble. We really, really try to stay out of trouble. We say we're going to. We promise. We try.

But then, something happens. It starts off as just playing. We're having so much fun at the time that we just don't think about what might happen next. We just kinda go into automatic dogilot... ya know?

Well... um... they say that a picture says a thousand words. Whoever they are.

I can assure you that we heard more than a thousand words from dogmom when she came in Saturday afternoon and saw this...

Wuf Ya!

What's with All the Stuff?

Geesh, it's getting crowded at our house. Boxes and bags and packages everywhere. On the tables... stacked in the corner... on the counter. Man, it's just a mess, let me tell ya.

Worst part is that Opie and I aren't allowed to even sniff around over there any more. Well, we do when dogmom leaves, but please don't tell her. We're in enough trouble these days on our own.

I just don't get it. Every couple of days she comes home from whereever it is she goes during the day and lays down another package or bag. Sometimes she moves stuff from one to another. Other times, she writes something illegible on the bag. Other times, she sticks the new bag into an old bag. What a weirdo.

Nothing smells like food or like dog toys. Well, some of them smell like dog toys, but I'm not looking really close yet -- I'm not very high on her "get-away-with-anything-today" list yet... and Opie's even lower.

What do you thing she's up to?

Wuf Ya!

Can We Keep It?

Opie's still on the mend and it's waaaaaaayyyyy too cold to go outside -- it's 2 degrees and -12 with the wind chill factored in. So, we probably won't escape and get into any more trouble this week. (Frankly, at this point, I'm not 100% sure that dogmom would come after us again.)

So, we thought we'd post something about somebody else for a change.

You know, we have lots of dogcousins and people cousins living in Ohio. One of them is Bailey, an almost white golden retriever that is a couple of years older than us. I like going to Bailey's house out in the country cuz we can run around the field and go into the woods and generally just be dogs while dogmom visits with the humans. Opie and Bailey got into a spat last time we were there, but it was cuz Opie didn't want to listen to Bailey when he told him to stop being a brat.

Anyways, Bailey owns dogmom's godchild, Ryan, and his sister Addy. We got this picture in the mail this week of them outside last summer. Addy wanted to keep it as a pet, but for some reason her humom and hudad wouldn't let her. Crazy humans!

Wuf Ya!

We've Been Elfed!

Dog-gone-it Tosca and Hudson! We told you that we didn't want you to tell dogmom about the elfing thing. Now look what she's done!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=c69c742dd766ae3d792f199_20061206

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=61fbd99c578c381ada73b3d_20061206

Jeesh.
We wuf ya anyways.

Worth It?

So, dogfriends, I'm just not sure that my 15 minutes of freedom was worth it at this point.

Not only do I have to live with the humiliation of dogmom taking photos of my bruises and posting them online... but just look at what she's done to my paws!

Somebody please save me from this insane life!
Opie

Battered and Bruised

First of all, we want to assure you that dogmom had nothing to do with this, other than she took the pictures. She didn't beat Opie, I swear it. In fact, she has never hit either one of us, which is why we're so glad that we get to live with her.

See, Friday night when dogmom got home, she found out that we raided the new special treats that she bought for us. She doled them out only one per day and we decided that we really liked them by the second day. So, we helped ourselves after Randi left but before dogmom came home. And yes, we ate the WHOLE bag.

Then, on Saturday afternoon when dogmom opened the front door to pick up a package that was delivered, Opie got a wild hair and decided to take off through the door. It was cold, but that didn't seem to matter to him. He kept running and running and running. Dogmom tried to chase him and catch him; but he's still too fast for her.

Eventually, she tried to convince him that we were going for a car ride and opened the back of the Explorer. But he didn't jump in. Instead, he ran across the street and jumped into the neighbor's SUV. What a dope. Anyway, dogmom caught him when he did that.

When they came in the door, she looked worried. He was making some blood tracks on the carpet. So, she had him lay down on the blanket on the couch and looked at his paws. She was very worried and got the doggie first-aid kit out of the closet. She cleaned and wrapped his paws.

Then, she took pictures of his new bruises. He must have tried to jump over something and missed. That's what dogmom said, since all the bruises are on his belly and inside of his thigh and because of the cuts on the pads of his feet. We're gonna keep a really close eye on him, let me tell ya!

Wuf Ya!

DogMom's Short Memory

Hi. It's me, Gomer! Good thing for me that dogmom has a really short memory. It's like she forgot that I got stuck in the muck the other night. I'm out of jail. I've had my bath. I've been checked out for injuries and none were found. (Except for the pride that was bruised since I couldn't get myownself out.)

Opie's perturbed that I'm free again. (Snicker)

Anyway, all seems to be forgiven.

Well, except that I have this newer, heavier, tighter collar on now. And, I have to use the leash instead of getting to use the wireless fence collar or the tie-out stake. And, it seems like Opie gets to wander farther away from her than I do. And, if there is a squirrel or a rabbit outside, I have to wait until they can't be seen before I can go pee.

Other than that, all seems to be forgiven and life is pretty much back to normal.

Wuf Ya!

Help Rename Gomer

Yo. Opie here again. I've decided that Gomer needs a new name cuz of his experience getting stuck in the muck. DogMom said you all could help me choose his new name.

But, I just can't seem to pick one. What do you think his new name should be? Can you think of a new name that we should consider?

Maybe MuckyDog or MuckyMutt.
I, dogonally, like Muckluck or YuckyStuckyMucky.
Dogmom, personally, likes Happy-Go-Mucky.
Auntie Dawn and Ginger suggested DirtyLittleMucker.

Too many good names... can you help me decide?
Wuf Ya - Opie

Gomie Disappeared! Oh My!

Yo. Opie here. The Gomester's in jail again. He got in trouble last night, big time.

See, dogmom came home and fed us and took us for a quick-business-walk and then she left again. Something about class and she'd be back. Whatever.

Anyway, when she came home again about 9:00, it was dark outside and she hooked our collars to those long ropey things and let us out the back door. Gomer saw something move and went to chase it. (I think it was a leaf, but he swears it was a squirrel; but I sure didn't smell any squirrels.)

Anyway, he took off so fast that he broke his collar and then he was free. He ran around the yard a few times... but then he didn't come back when dogmom called because now there really was a squirrel back there. Dogmom was definitely not happy.

She took me back inside when I was done with my business and gave me a treat for being a good boy and doing my business and everything. Then, she grabbed Gomie's harness and leash and went back outside. She came back in a little while later and got one of those tubes with a light on the end and left again. Then she came back in and got her coat and the car keys. I heard her call the policeman and talk to them. (I recognized it cuz that's what she did when I took my three-hour tour back on July 18.)

Anyways, she described Gomer to the little silver thing that she holds up to her ear sometimes when she talks. She said he was shy around men and that he probably wouldn't come to a stranger if they called him. She seemed especially concerned because he didn't have his collar on with the jingly things. And, Gomer ALWAYS comes back when he's called and he didn't this time.

And he didn't. And, he didn't. And he, still didn't.

It was like forever. I swear; it was at least a whole day in dog years. I saw the news people come on the TV. I watched that funny guy do the Top 10 list and interview George Clooney. I even watched the other funny guy with the Scottish accent that used to be on the Drew Carey show for a while. No Gomer and no dogmom.

Then, when Oprah came on... I'm usually way asleep by now but I can't sleep because dogmom and Gomer aren't here. Anyways, when Oprah came on, I heard the door open downstairs. There was my long-lost bestest friend.

I think.
Cuz it didn't smell like Gomer. Gomer smells like dog and this dog smelled really really funky.
Cuz it didn't look like Gomer. Gomer's yellow and white and this dog was most definitely black.
Cuz it didn't feel like Gomer. Gomer's soft and this dog was kind of crusty.
And, it didn't sound like Gomer. Gomer doesn't whimper and whine like that.

Anyway. Dogmom said he'll be fine. But, he has to stay in jail until she can give him a proper bath. Who's the dope now, Gomer?

Wuf Ya! - Opie

Boomies Go Away!

We don't like boomies, Opie and me. They're loud and scary and usually come with flashing light outside. It's freaky and frightening. We don't like it, not one bit.

Dogmom used to call it thunder. But she thinks that if she gives thunder a different name, that we won't freak out as much. Guess what, dogmom. It's not working.

You call it what you want. I'm going to stay here under the bed until it stops. And, I'm betting Opie's going to stay right there behind the curtain in the bathtub till then, too. (Not that I'm going to go look and find out.)

Wuf Ya!

A Moment of Silence

Ok, we know it's hard. But we want to observe a moment of silence in honor of Tosca's Kitty, who had to walk over the rainbow bridge on Saturday. Tosca and her dogmom are really sad about it and so are Opie and me, even though we never met Tosca's Kitty.

But, we've met lots of cats and most of them are okay and since this one chose to live with Tosca and his dogmom, she must have been really special and spoiled too. We know they are going to miss her and hope that they won't be too sad for too long.

Wuf Ya!

Happy Turkey Day, Turkeys!

So, we were really busy yesterday and didn't have time to post anything cuz dogmom was home all day. We'd rather play with her than play on the computer.

Anyway, we hope everybody with tails and even those without had a happy happy Thanksgiving day. We hope you got to spend it with your humans in your forever home or at least with humans that love you back as much as you love them.

And we hope that if you didn't get to spend it with your family, cuz you haven't been adopted yet, that you get adopted really really soon. Some human somewhere is smart enough to love you; you just have to be patient sometimes.

Opie and me are really thankful and glad that dogmom brought us to live with her. Even with all her rules about not eating stuff off the counters (yeah, right) and not laying on her bed (uh-huh) and being kind of specific about where dog kisses can land on her. So, we're not very good at all those rules. But, we love her anyways and she must love us cuz she puts up with our craziness.

That, and we got to eat STEAK yesterday instead of turkey!

Wuf Ya!

Randi's Coming! Randi's Coming!

DogMom said that Randi's coming today. We can't wait.

Well, we really can wait and we will by running upstairs and sleeping on dogmom's bed until we hear the garage door open. THEN, we can't wait.

Well, we really can wait and we will until Randi gets our harnesses and leashes on us and then we'll run around in circles and try to drag her out the door.

Anyway... it's chilly outside, since we live in Minnesota and it's November and all. But it's warmer than it's supposed to be or something. Anyway, Opie's cold all the time. I think he thinks he's a miniature daschund or something and he needs to wear a coat. Goofball. Next time, remind me that I should bring home a real dog for dogmom instead of a goofball.

He actually wants to and likes to wear clothes! See what I have to deal with? See? He's wearing the t-shirt that dogmom bought him at the Jordan Valley Bike Tour. He even has his eyes closed so he can't see me makin' fun of him. I don't wear my shirt. I'm a real dog.

Can't wait to see how Randi makes fun of him with his shirt on.

Wuf Ya!

Clash of the Dog People - II

So, I told you about dogmom's experience on Saturday with adoption day for the Carver-Scott Humane Society. So many dogs and cats and other pets... so little room. Anyways, the reason for the title of this posting is because after going to the adoption day at Petco, dogmom went to see our dogfriend Gladys strut her stuff on the runway.

See, our dogfriend Gladys owns my bestest dog-walker girlfriend Jennifer who owns The Pet Crew in Plymouth. Jennifer used to come to our house to walk Opie and me before we moved to Chaska and Randi started coming. But once again I'm veering away from my story. Well, sort of.

See, our dogfriend Gladys is a beautiful specimen of a bull terrier. Everybody knows what bull terriers are, right? They're the "Target dog." But Gladys is prettier than the Target dog, cuz she has some color on her besides the red circles around her eyes. (Which my dogmom says aren't really dog colors.) Anyway, Gladys was in the All Breed Dog Show out at Canterbury that was held by the Minneapolis Kennel Club.

Is that a clash of activities, or what? One minute trying to find homes for strays and rescues and mixed breeds... and the next minute watching dogs try to prove they're the best manifestation of their particular dogginess.

Anyway, Gladys was one-upped (ok, two-upped) by the male dogs in her breed and came in third. But, she did win a ribbon for "best opposite sex." Opie and me think that was a no-brainer, even for humans. She's the best girl-dog that WE know! Even if Opie gets snippy with her when he's tired. He doesn't mean it; he's just immature some times.

Anyways, we're trying to get Gladys's dogmom and our dogmom to share some pictures of our beauty pageant queen so you can see that Opie and me, even though we're mutts (ahem, designer dogs), know some pretty high-falutin' dogs and their humans. Like Gladys, the bull-terrier-beauty-pageant-queen ... and Wigglebutt Seven of Nine, the mini-Aussie-2006-Skyhoundz-Champion ... and even Tosca, the Perfect-Collie-blogger-pal! (Um... I guess there are THREE best girl-dogs that WE know!)

Wuf Ya!

Clash of the Dog People

So DogMom seemed even more humanly confused than normal this weekend. She said her dog worlds were colliding or something. As usual, Opie and I just don't get what she's talkin' about. Dog worlds are so totally simple and make total sense. It's the humans that mess things up.

So, she left on Saturday and said she was going to go take some pictures at the Carver-Scott Humane Society's adoption day. We just don't get it cuz she adopted Opie and me a long time ago; or, maybe it was yesterday but I don't think so cuz it seems like a long time ago. Ya know, we just don't define time the same way that humans do.

Anyway, she came home smelling like she had all kinds of fun. There were dog smells and human smells and cat smells and I think, but I'm not sure because I never actually met one, but I think I even smelled a ferret.

She said there were some really happy stories. That three of the four pets featured in the Pet Bragger section of the newspaper that were available for adoption actually have adoptions pending! Yea! Clyde and Smokey and Tripper just might have found their forever homes! Isn't that terrific?

And, Josey came in for a visit at adoption day. She was found abandoned in a garage when her people moved away and left her there. Can you believe it? Just left her there in the garage to starve to death. She weighed only 26 pounds when the good people at CSHS found her. Can you believe that a chocolate lab could only weigh 26 pounds? It was really really sad.

Anyway, Josey found her forever home with a nice couple who also have a jack russel terrier. She attached to her male human and he treats her like a queen, which she deserves after what she went through. And, she doesn't weigh 26 pounds anymore. See how healthy and beautiful she is!
It really doesn't take much, does it?

So, if you think you could help bring some joy to one of the dogs or cats that don't have a home, could you maybe, please, contact your local animal shelter and see how you could help?

We'd all be eternally grateful. Opie and me would bring them all home to live with us, but dogmom says we can't cuz we're renting. So, can you help?

Wuf Ya!
Oops... I got sidetracked... we'll talk about the clash of the dog worlds tomorrow in Part 2...

Double Trouble

Geez... dogmom says that if Opie and me don't start behaving that she's going to trade us in for one of the other thousands of dogs in Minnesota that need a good home. I don't think she's really serious... but she has been kind of unenthusiastic and unamused by our antics lately.

I tried to tell her that it's really Opie that's the problem so she'll keep me. After all, I was here first. But then he looks at her with his sadder-than-sad face and I think sometimes he's winning.

I mean, really. Could she really give up having one of these two faces lick her face every morning?

Wuf Ya!

In the Dog House ... Again

Dogs, we need help. We just don't get it. DogMom leaves us new toys to find all the time when she leaves for work. And then she seems to be mad when we find them. Is your dogmom and dogdad like this?

Like, yesterday, for example. She left this cool-looking set of toys all wrapped up in a vinyl bag up on the counter ... there were some interesting-looking things in there. Opie liked the sponge the best and started in on that. I liked the wooden one with a hole in it.

Anyway, Randi came to take us for our walk and she took them away and put them up higher on the counter. We just thought that was part of the game.

So, we got up higher on the counter, on top of the little oven and got the toys back down again between the time that Randi left and the time that dogmom got home.

Whew... dogmom was NOT happy with us at all. Something about eating her new pottery tools. Calling us bad boys and acting all freakazoid. If she doesn't want us to play with stuff, why does she leave it on the counter where we can find it?

So... we're in jail again today. It's just not fair.
Wuf Ya!

Wild Boys!

Hi! DogMom here. Gomer and Opie are temporarily confined to their "room" for being wild and crazy boyz last night and this morning. That, and I woke up this morning with hives that looked like I rolled around naked in a bed of poison ivy.

Did you see the Buckles cartoon in last Sunday's newspaper comics? It was like that. Three frames of crazy running around like wild dogs and then stopping to pant only to start all over again.

And Buckles is just one... imaging the cartoon with two of them "letting out the wild."

Guess I should have taken them to the bark park instead of going to pottery class last night, eh? I can see the headline now... "Dogs Go Wild, Woman Turns to Clay"...

Wuf Ya!

Dogaholics Anonymous

DogMom got this email a while back. Something about being a dogaholic... like being addicted to dogs would be a bad thing. Silly humans. She would like your dogmom and dogdad to take this test. Let us know if your human passes or not.

"Good Evening. My name is ______ and I AM a dogaholic.
I would like to welcome all of you to this month's meeting of "Dogaholics Anonymous". Some of you are here tonight because a friend or relative brought you here. You may be sitting here thinking that you are OK and that you really don't need any help. It is not easy to admit that you are a dogaholic, and it is even harder to bring yourself to a DA meeting for help. DA is here to assist you.

Ask yourself these questions. If you can answer YES to more than three of the following, you have come to the right place.

1. Can you say "Bitch" in public without blushing?
2. Do you drive a station wagon, van, or 4x4 when everyone else drives a real car?
3. Do you have more than one car? One for you and one for the dogs?
4. Do you spend your vacations and holidays going to dog shows, specialties, and seminars when everyone else goes on a cruise?
5. If you do go overseas, is it to London, in November, to attend Crufts?
6. Do you discuss things at the dinner table that would make most doctors leave in disgust?
7. Do you consider formal wear to be clean jeans and freshly washed tennis shoes?
8. Is your interior decorator R.C. Steele? PetSmart? PetCo? Drs. Foster & Smith?
9. Was your furniture and carpeting chosen to match your dogs?
10. Are your end tables really dog crates with tablecloths thrown over them?
11. Do you know the meaning of these abbreviations? CD, CDX, UD, CGC, HIC, WC, JH, MH, CH, and OTCH? (Not sure? Look here... http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/lists/acronym-list.html)
12. Is your mail made up primarily of dog catalogs, dog magazines, and premium lists?
13. Do you get up before dawn to go to Training Classes? Dog Shows? Seminars? On a walk with a leash?
14. If you do have dresses, do they all have pockets?
15. Do those pockets often contain freeze dried liver, poo bags or squeaky toys?
16. When you meet a new person do you always ask them what kind of dog they have?
17. Do you pity people if they don't have at least one dog?
18. Do you remember the name of a person's dog sooner than you remember their name?
19. Do you find non-dog people boring?
20. Do you write and read blogs supposedly written by dogs – or from the Dogs’ Aye View?

If you answered YES to ONE of the above, there is still hope.
If you answered YES to TWO, you are in serious trouble.
If you answered YES to THREE OR MORE, you have come to the right place.

My advice to all of you with three or more YES's is to sit back and smile, turn to the smiling person next to you and know that your life will always be filled with good friends and good dogs and it will never be boring." ... author unknown

Opie and me are happy to report that our DogMom answered yes to 16 of the questions... and another two she wished she could. Looks like we're set for life.

Wuf Ya!

New Friends!

Wow - Opie and me are really happy to see all our new friends who have found our blog lately! Dogs with blogs from Australia, Germany, Canada, Malasia, Spain and all over the United States.

Hi and welcome to Opy, Boo, Buster the Wired Fox Terrier and Big Paw Blog.

And welcome back to Tosca, Skidbo, Hubba-Hubba Hudson and the whole gang!

We wuf chawin' the fat with y'all... we've had more than 1100 visitors to DogsAyeView since our first postings in July. Keep comin' back and we'll keep sharing our life story with ya. When the mood strikes, send us a comment or two.

Wuf ya! Gomer and Opie at DogsAyeView

Happy Friday!

We love Fridays!

Of course, being dogs, we love every day... but especially Fridays.

Lots of good things happen on Fridays.
Well, lots of good things happen every day... but especially Fridays.

Of course, being dogs, we don't really know what Fridays are, but we love 'em anyways.

Randi comes and takes us for a walk while dogmom's at work.

When dogmom comes home from work, we get an especially long walk.

And then we get to help her take her clothes out of the baskets and run around the house with them to save them from that noisy machine that makes them all wet and the other hot one that makes them dry again and in the process they don't smell like us or dogmom very much anymore. Sometimes she pretends to be upset with us when we drag her clothes around the house. She only really gets upset when Opie and me try to use them as tug toys.

We love Fridays!
Wuf Ya!

What a Sunset!

Wow! Did you see the sunset yesterday? It was totally awesome here in Minnesota. Well, at least where we live in Minnesota. I wonder sometimes if the sunset we see is the same sunset as people other places get to see.

Anyway. Some people think that dogs are colorblind. That's not really true. We just don't see the same colors as people do because we only have two color cones in our eyes instead of three. (There is a really good graphic of what a dog sees compared to what a human sees at this link: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/DrP4.htm. It's by Dr. Mark Plonsky at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.)

Anyway... Here's a picture that dogmom took of the sunset on her way home from work. She says it's blurry because she was also driving the car. I think she just takes blurry pictures...

What Humans See...

What Dogs See...

Wuf Ya!

That Was One Big Bird!

Something weird was walking in the yard this morning. Really weird, I'm tellin' ya. Mom said it was a bird.

I think she's lost her mind. Birds are those tiny little things that Opie jumps in the air and tries to catch. This thing was as big as a horse.

Well, maybe a cow.
Ok, Ok, it was the size of the neighbor's cat. But it sure wasn't no bird; that's for sure.

What do you think? Isn't this the biggest "bird" you've ever seen?

Me too.
Wuf Ya!

All Dogs Should Vote Today!

Don't forget! It's not only your civic duty as a human to vote, it's your privilege.

My name is Gomer and I approved this message.

Gosh, Opie and me wish that we could vote. Don't you, Izzy? And Tosca? And Ginger? And Gladys & Victor? And all our doggood friends? I'm tellin' ya, things would be different if we could vote.

• Every dog would have a bed and a warm place to call home. Cats, too.
• People who throw dogs in dumpsters (like I was) and who leave their dogs in the park (like Opie) would be thrown away, not allowed to work or have a home or money and have to fend for themselves. See how many of them get rescued.
• People wouldn't be able to breed new litters of puppies until every dog in the shelters has a home. Anybody who does gets fined $5,000 per litter and that money goes to the shelters so homeless pets get homes.
• After there are no more homeless pets, the shelters become day-care and boarding centers for all the dogs with people who care that they get playtime with other dogs.
• There would be bark parks (ok, in Minnesota, you call them off-leash areas) in every neighborhood, or at least the neighborhoods that have dogs living in them.
• People walking their dogs on the trails without leashes and without picking up after their dogs would be fined big time. Or, better yet, they would be leashed and forced to pick up after everybody else's dogs.
• Every 100 yards on the sidewalks and trails would be a treat station... and pick-up bags for our humans and a garbage can that gets emptied regularly.
• Dogs could go with humans into restaurants and bars and hotels. We're cleaner than the rats and cockroaches that live in them.
• Rabbits and squirrels would be outlawed. (Just cuz they make me crazy... oh, wait, that's not fair. That's why dogs are outlawed in most places now, cuz some dog somewhere made some human crazy.)
• Dogs that travel on planes with their people wouldn't be treated like baggage. They'd have special hooks for their leashes and would be able to lay down at their human's feet in the cabin... just like at home. Sure would be less stressful on us, not to mention on our people.
• New schools that cost $92 million to build would include play areas that can be shared with dogs... so the 60% of households that don't have kids could benefit from some of that money they paid.

So... off my soapbox. Get your human out to vote today!
Wuf Ya!

Happy Birthday DogMom!

Ok. I'm a dog. Opie, too. And, we should be in the dog house for not remembering our DogMom's birthday on Saturday. We missed our dogmom's birthday completely. Yup. Forgot all about it. We thought it was odd that she didn't get up and go to work on Friday. Opie thought maybe that meant we weren't gonna get fed anymore. But that didn't happen. Anyway. After all, DogMom threw a big party for us.

It was in the Let's Go! section of the Southwest Saturday paper -- the story about our party -- on October 28. Here's a reprint... I think if you click on it, you'll be able to read it.

Wuf Ya! (and, we're really sorry, dogmom)

Opie & Onions

Ok. So the dopey Opie has been vying for extra attention ever since my whole mouth ordeal began a couple of weeks ago. He thinks it's all about him... and I let him think that, even though everybody knows that I'm dogmom's favorite beagle-boy.

So, while I was locked in jail with the funny mask on (until I chewed through the strap so it can't be tied on anymore), Opie was left to his own devices and had to entertain himself during the day instead of having me chase him around in circles and up and down the stairs. When Opie's left to his own imagination... weirdness ensues.

So, what does he do?

Sleep all day? Nope.

Raid the chew-bone basket? Nope.

Empty the toy basket? Nope.

Dump out all the garbage? Nope.

Pull the blankets off the bed? Nope.

Unstuff the dog beds? Nope.

He pulls the basket of onions and potatoes off the kitchen shelf and takes a big bite out of one of the onions. Yup. And we thought he had bad breath before! Dopey Opie Onion Breath!

I always knew he wasn't a normal dog; now DogMom knows it, too.

Wuf Ya!

"Tails Required"

So, y'all know that dogmom works for a newspaper company, right? Yup. Something called Southwest Newspapers that publishes a group of community weekly newspapers in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis. There are seven of them... well, really, there are 10 of them because Southwest Saturday is really three different papers, although Southwest Saturday isn't news you need to know... it's news that's fun to know.

Anyway, I'm tellin' y'all this because Opie and me are famous now (again). We were in Southwest Saturday this weekend. Our buddy, Hercules, is pictured on the front page, but there's a story about us and our party that Hercules attended. And dogmom wrote a couple other fun features, too.

Anyway, the story is all about our big party at Top Dog Country Club. It was all about us! We got to play and run around with Izzy and Hercules. The humans tried to get us to bob for apples and swim, but we didn't do that too much, although Gomer got his feet wet. We got to eat cake! Wuf Ya!