Colorado Adventures Part 2: Rocky Mountain Favor

I’ve got a new surrogate mum! Her name’s Shirley. She has three little dogs I love to play with and she absolutely adores me. She snuck me treats that she said were from my Mum and Dad and she called me her sweet golden baby girl. I heard her telling them on the phone that she would adopt me in a heartbeat. If she did I hope she would take me on adventures like they do.

See Mum and Dad and I went on vacation to my favorite place ever, except for maybe the beach: Colorado! It’s got creeks and rivers and mountains. It’s even got grass. I can roll around in it all day, race around the woods sniffing things until I get hot, then jump in the creek. It’s perfect.

Of course it took about a hundred years to get there in the car. We camped, which is one of the funnest things to do, way up in the aspens, with snow in sight. When we got to the campground one of my best people was there, Uncle Rob. I was so surprised. He took me for walks and I got to play with Wolf, the dog that used to have Rob until she went to live with the angel dogs. She’s around Rob a lot.

The next day Mum and Dad and I got back in the car and drove to a strange house with grass in the backyard. That’s where Shirley lives. And my new friends. We all got along great. We played and dozed, and Shirley took all four of us for long walks every day. I missed my Mum and Dad, who were at some music thing that doesn’t include dogs, which is pretty pathetic, but I was well taken care of for four days. I hope I get to see Shirley and my pals again sometime.




When Mum and Dad picked me up I raced and raced and scooted under Mum’s legs to get to Dad, and then under his legs to escape into the front yard and run all around the block. I was so excited to see them. We spent the next two days playing in all the creeks we could find and camping in the woods next to a big river. I would get so tired I would ask to go to bed inside the tent before it even got dark. I can sprawl across practically the whole tent every night just like I do on the bed at home. Mum and Dad try to move me so they can have some room, but I know how to be like a thousand pound sack of flour. You can try to move me if you want.




I got lots of sticky and prickly stuff in my fur from thrashing around in the woods. I couldn’t even lick it clean. Mum had to cut some fur off. It was worth it to chase after squirrels and chipmunks, which I hardly ever see at home.








(This is a special tent Mum made me by the creek to keep the sun off me so I could snooze).




Eventually I remembered no one was really guarding the house properly while we were off having fun. We left it with my friend Serena. She’s sweet and gets down on the floor with me and makes me feel all melty inside, but she just doesn’t bark at passing coyotes and javelinas like a real security professional.






So I had to come home.

Colorado Adventures

Here's what Mum and Dad were doing. They went to some kind of music festival that they were all excited about.

I can't understand what all the fuss was about. I think my trip was much more interesting... I'll tell you all about it soon.

Cabins, creeks, lakes and forests

I love car rides! Last week Mum & Dad packed up the car and took me on a great adventure. 
At first, I thought we were going to the creek with the blue/green water, but when we got to the place where we should have turned, Dad kept driving. 

I kept trying to guess where we would stop, but it was dark by the time we got there. I sniffed all around but couldn't recognize anything. The place was made of wood. It smelled really good, and when they said we were "home", I was so excited I raced round and round. It was a bit smaller than at home, so I could only race around in small circles. 

When we got up the next morning, I was very happy to find out there was a creek running just a few steps from the back door. Mum and Dad let me stay out there watching the birds and taking in all the new smells.

There were creeks and lakes everyone around there. I had a fine time jumping in and out of the water, 

swimming, soaking,

running, wagging, rolling in the grass,

 

shaking myself off and slurping up that cool, fresh water.

 

I had a grand time!

Back at the cabin, all the usual house rules were off and I was allowed to sit at the table for dinner with everyone else. Well, I didn't actually eat my dinner up there, but I did manage to stay very close to make sure everyone ate up their salmon.

The next day we went to a lake, which was even better than the creeks. 

While Mum and Dad were taking a nap, I sorted out some ravens that were getting a bit close to our picnic. Then I jumped in the water again, to cool off. And when I got out, I ran around, and then ran some more. I was a bit tired on the drive back to the cabin.

I tried really hard to keep my eyes open, so as not to miss anything, but my head got so heavy, I just had to rest it for a while.

I think there was buffalo for dinner, but I'm not really sure...

my bed felt so good!

Spring in Sedona

This is my special creek where Mum and Dad have been taking me a lot this spring. It's only there sometimes, and now it's nearly gone again. As soon as we get out of the car, I race down there and over to the other side where the big galloping area is. Sometimes it's too deep for Mum and Dad to cross over, so I have to do all the running around on my own. It's better when they come too and throw me sticks. Best of all is when they play hide and seek chase. I race around looking behind every tree and bush for them. Suddenly, they jump out at me and I take off as fast as I can. We've played this game for as long as I can remember. It was the first game Mum played with me when she brought me home from the dog shelter and I still love it more than any other game we play. Well, maybe not tug-of-war, but almost.


My next favorite thing to do at the creek is digging a hole. Here's my 5 step method for the perfect hole:

1. Find a suitable sandy patch. It should be a little damp so it doesn't make too much dust and is nice and cool underneath.

2. Start the dirt flying. Alternate between the left and right paws so it's nice and even.


3. Pick up the pace and use both paws together. This creates depth - you don't want it to be too shallow.

4. Lie down and test it out for size and coolness. You should sniff it thoroughly to make sure.5. Get up, turn around several times, then lie down again in exactly the same position as before. Make sure the front paws are spread far apart for maximum chest contact with that nice cool earth. Smile.

It's my Birthday and I'll bark if I want to!

Or maybe that should be barf...

It was my 8th birthday yesterday, which apparently is a BIG DEAL. Mum and Dad took me and Beau (he was staying for the weekend) to my favorite place to celebrate - the Euro Deli!

I was so excited when we got there that I couldn't wait for Mum to put my leash on. I just leapt out of the back of the car and went running down to the front door. Beau hadn't been there before, so didn't know what all the fuss was about. I don't think he could believe it when Swava brought us each a huge bowl of the most delicious meats. I thought I'd have a chance to finish off Beau's, so I gobbled mine up in record speed, but Beau didn't seem to have any trouble woofing his down too. In fact, it all went down so fast that I sort of forgot that I'd eaten it and started waiting for the bowl to appear all over again. Well, guess what? It did! Yes, I could hardly believe it myself, but Swava brought us each a second bowl. It was just as lip-smackingly good as the first one.

Mum just read me my DogoScope for the day and said I should post it because it's very apt. I don't know what that means, but here it is anyway.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

Good Dog, Sweet Boy/Girl, those are beautiful words, but you expect more than that for all your hard work. Demand biscuits, and if they aren't on hand, go for the table scraps.

Mum and Dad were a bit concerned about the amount we ate yesterday, and I even heard whispers of reduced rations at dinner. But there's nothing like a few hours of napping to give you an enormous, raging appetite all over again. I did hear Beau saying something about a tummy ache today... he probably just needs more practice.

Ocean Spray

Have you ever been to the beach? I have - it’s great!

There’s nothing better than running on the sand and chasing those seagulls. You can explore for miles and it all smells totally different than home.

Sometimes you find really neat stuff to roll in like dead fish parts or seagull entrails. It doesn’t come off my fur for days, no matter what Mum or Dad do, so it’s a yummy souvenir of fun times.

The waves come in so fast. Every time I think I know how close I can go without getting wet the wave just zooms right in and sprays me.

And I don’t know if you know this: that water is definitely not for drinking. I did an experiment last time we went. I tried a sip where we started at the bottom of the wooden steps, then at another place a romp away and a third and a fourth place. It was all way too salty for my taste!

Seawater is off my diet and I don’t think you should drink it either.

But chasing those gulls – well, ya just gotta do that.


Plus there are lots of dogs at the beach. Some of them play ball with their people or run alongside them. Some are happy to chase me in and out of the water.

Next thing you know it’s like the whole beach shrank and the waves are coming right up to the rocks. That’s when Mum and Dad and I go back to the hotel.

We just got back from one of my favorite all-time beaches in California where we had a great funny-shaped room with a bunch of sides. I counted eight and then I was back where I started.

There were lots of towels just for me and a special dog bath outside that I could jump into so Mum could hose me off. Lots of sand to get out of my fur.

And the coolest thing. Our front door had a peephole near the bottom just for me! Can you beat that? They really know how to treat a dog at that place.

When we checked in the guy asked my people who will be staying with Ruby? He knew right away which one was me!

Lemme tell ya, the fish you can eat there is the best ever. All fresh and lovely. I think Mum and Dad ate it every meal so I always got a taste of course. They kept going on about how good it was. They were right.

After a hard day playing at the beach I was more than ready for a full night’s snooze. When we had to leave I slept in the car all the way home.

I can’t wait til we go back. Maybe I’ll see you there. I’ll be that pretty red dog racing back and forth, catchingcatchingcatching a gull finally. And I’ll have a big grin on my face.

Me & Beau

My friend Beau is staying with us. His people are away for awhile, so we’re a two dog house right now.
I’m the top dog of course. Let’s be clear about that.
Even though Beau is big, huge really, and barks really loud.
My Mum and Dad say I look like a toy dog next to him, but that’s no problem. I still don’t let him up on my couch on the porch.

Beau doesn’t exactly play, not like I do anyway, with chasing and tugging. But yesterday – wait, can you keep a secret?

Good, cause this is great! Yesterday we ran off together when we were on our trail hike and got into some really cool stuff.
When we came home limping and covered with cactus spines Mum was really put out, and she still doesn’t have any idea where we went or what we did.

See, there was this sniff trail where coyotes had gone, and we took off in pursuit. All of a sudden, I heard…

Gotta go, Mum’s coming! You didn’t read this…






Adventures? Us?













We're too busy napping!

Holidays And Varmints

Hello, everyone! Do you like Christmas? I do! Mum and Dad put a tree in the house that’s all green like the trees outside, but it doesn’t have sticky stuff that gets in my fur like some of the outside ones do. They put lights and hang shiny, sparkly things all over it. But that’s not the best part. I know to sniff all around the tree and inspect it very carefully because I always find special Ruby treats hidden in the branches!


If you’ve never seen me unwrap a present, let me tell you, I’m good at it. Paper and ribbons and bows can’t keep me out when there’s a treat to eat. Mum and Dad make movies of me sometimes when they hand me a present, but I like it best when I can do my special snatch-and-snarf without waiting for any silly pictures. I just reach out, grab the wrapped treat, tear it open with a little flick of my head and get my jaws on it. From branch to gullet takes less than a second. That’s professionalism.

When Monty was here just after Christmas he nearly knocked the tree over while we were playing. He’s a bit clumsy, that boy, and he might have eaten something off the tree he wasn’t supposed to, like a chocolate ball, which is supposed to be for Mum and Dad, but all in all he was pretty good staying off it. I made sure to hunt down all the treats before he got here ‘cause I knew what could happen if Monty thought the tree was something to eat. I can’t bear to think about it.




All the people came to sing on Christmas Eve and I had to wear my Christmas cape and hat. Bit boring, but I did manage to sneak a few scraps of yummies I might not have asked for while no one was looking. The next day we had to go to another party at Windy’s house. She always makes a big fuss over me and I love it. There was turkey at that one.

(Guess I won't be wearing this Christmas hat again! Now I wonder how that could have happened?)


The other night it rained and was all drippy cold. My Mum figured she could just let me out in the front yard to pee since I don’t really like it when it’s so wet. She thought I’d come right back to the house. But I got a brilliant idea. Those yappy dogs Cheech and Chong who live around the corner always make such a ferocious racket when I go past on my leash walk. First they yell and taunt me. I just ignore them. Then they get so worked up barking at me that they turn on each other. By the time I’m past their house it sounds like they’re tearing each other limb from limb. It’s a bit over the top, really.

So I saw in a flash this was a great chance to get even. I looked over my shoulder at Mum who immediately saw I was going to bolt. She started yelling just as I took off in the dark. I hid under the neighbors’ bushes while Mum came after me with a flashlight. I almost came out – she sounded so worried – but I was on a mission. She went round the block a couple of times while I ran the back way to Cheech and Chong’s. Those boys were going to get a first-class razzing from outside their fence, the kind they’ve been giving me for two-and-a-half years.

Well, call me a housecat. I looked and sniffed everywhere. Those little sock puppets were nowhere to be seen. Or heard. Must have been away. They would have smelled me even if they had been inside being little wussy dogs. They would have started that high-pitched raspy growling that sounds like weasels with indigestion.

Mission wasted. I felt downright silly. Worrying Mum like that. She was still calling my name all over the neighborhood. What to do? Just then I heard Dad! He was out in the street in front of the yappies’ house calling me like he knew right where I’d gone. He wasn’t even home when I ran off. How did he know? Well anyway, I was glad to go home with him since it was Mum I ran away from. We all know that’s how the naughty game works.

That was all fun and games but I worried myself just a little when I went after that big coyote the other day. The one that lurks in the bushes or stalks me on the street during my leash walk before bedtime. It’s all sleek and smug and healthy looking, not scrawny and desperate like those gray trash ones that slink around in a big pack at night. This one watches me and knows how to get my goat. Well it’s not hard, really. Just existing is bad enough for a coyote.

So there it was in broad daylight when Mum and Monty and me went on our off-leash forest romp one afternoon. I chased it. It chased me. We rolled in the bushes. We each landed a few cuffs and scratches. One of us yelped. Way in the distance I could hear a tiny voice that sounded like Mum’s. I was in trouble here. I knew it but I just can’t help myself around coyotes. I have to chase them. I have to fight, I just have to. But they fight way different than I do. Their teeth are so sharp. They work toward my belly and my hamstrings. Like they want to kill me.

Just then I heard a roar nearby. So did the coyote. It couldn’t get off me fast enough. It scampered away while I got up to see what the big noise was. It was Monty. He came to save me! He’s usually afraid of his own shadow. All shadows really. He gets completely panicky when Mum goes around a corner inside the house. The littlest dogs intimidate him. But here he was rescuing me. And Mum running up behind him.

When we got back to the car Monty didn’t need any help like he usually does jumping in the back. He just ran and leapt in like a real man dog. My hero!

At home Mum found the cuts and scratches on me plus about a million cactus spines. Dad was all concerned when he heard about it. Monty was the toast of 420 until he went home a few days later.

Did I learn? No way! That coyote and I had another tussle two days later. Now I’m not allowed on that trail. But who cares – Dry Creek is a raging torrent after all the rain and snow. I love it down there. But that’s another story.

Dog Astrology

This is what Only Natural Pet has to say about me:


Feb 20-Mar 20
Soulful but a bit unpredictable, a Pisces pet loves water or adventures.

Mum and Dad both agree that this is me to a T, (whatever that is).

I promise I'll be writing some more news on here soon. I've lots of adventures to tell you about, and there are probably some new pictures I can show you too. But right now, I've some important business to attend to out on my snoozing couch.