Precious warmth

Talking of unsolicited ‘parental urges’ I have been noticing something else recently – as the weather has been getting colder my parents seem more and more keen for me to sit on their lap or lie by their sides. At first I thought it was a continuing part of the ‘calm’ training I have mentioned before – but it really is starting to reach an unmanageable peak – they steal my warmth and I don’t have a chance to be active and replenish myself. However, one other tactic against the cold my humans have employed comes in the form of sheepskin. I have long been a fan of M’s slippers but she has upgraded to knee-high ugg boots – which as yet I have not been allowed to share – to be honest I am not sure she has taken them off since they came home. But G, perhaps jealous of M’s fine new footwear, came home which a piece of sheepskin this afternoon and proceeded to cut out pieces to go into his Blunestone boots. The exciting part of this was that there were offcuts – which he gave to me!! Maybe I will make little slippers for my paws – NOT!!! – I think the bigger pieces are just more fun to play with.

I will leave the whole topic of clothes for dogs for another blog as well – I can see why humans put on coverings, having so little fur – but at this point I just think clothes on dogs looks silly – it makes me laugh when I see dogs with little coats at the park! But I know M and G have been worried about me in the winter with my short hair and my tendency to shiver – I think they have some outfits lined up for me and to keep them happy I suppose I will just have to give them a go.

The kindness of my heart

Don’t get me wrong I love exercise, but I also enjoy a great sleep. After my many months on this planet I’ve developed a powerful regime of sleeping and exercise that revolves around M and G lifestyle – I think they sleep a lot but as I said before I’m very accommodating. However, what I’m not happy about is when one of them wakes me from a cosy slumber to satisfy their own corrupt parental urges. Take this evening for instance: we had all eaten and started to relax and G wanted to watch Reservoir Dogs which I must admit sounded quite interesting as I assumed that it would be about dogs frolicking happily near the edge of a great body of water. However, this was not the case so M and I settled down to post meal nap. Some time into the sleep G insisted that I “play” and rudely awakened me. And out of the kindness of my heart I obliged him. I must admit that it was enjoyable, even fun, but I knew G would soon tire and I’d be left wide-awake wanting more. Guess what – my premonition came true. And I was left, excuse the pun, hanging like a dog. But there was also a plus side, G rewarded me for my involvement by giving me a rawhide chew stick. So I guess my point is that it’s great to have routine, it gives one a sense of stability, but every now and then a break in that – even though it may seem on the surface to be annoying and only indulging someone else’s whims – can have its own rewards.

Trivia

Pub trivia is a funny thing – the pubs endorse it because it is way of getting in punters (the pub we go to also allows dogs) – I am not entirely sure why we enjoy it. Maybe it is about winning! Well tonight we didn’t – we came second and even then it was a matter of tossing a coin because we had tied in points with another team. But perhaps in this case the whole thing is actually about community – the pub’s locals and the also the feeling of being in a team. Our team name always includes my name – I am the team mascot but also the final arbiter when it comes to multiple choice. And certainly there are regulars every week - they all know me and I have my favorites as well. BUT I won’t really be able to contribute to the trivia contest until there is a lowering of the seating! I have to sit on laps to follow what is going on – it is all tall tables and stools! – why can’t they lower the tables so I can see? Is it really too much to ask? I am the shortest dog in the pub – the grey hound has no such problems – but it also seems to me that all the other dogs don’t mind if they are not involved. However, I do want to be involved! Yes, I love my team – but I also want them to respect my input – they need me!

I also include a picture with the trivia host Jeffrey – see really it is all about the people!

New friends and disclaimers

The weekend was busy with new people, different parks, cool air and sunny skies. But the big news is that on Friday I got to meet the infamous Dr. L. With entourage in tow she swept into our flat (M, G, B and N were just part of this party) and I will admit I was so excited I accidentally pee-ed on the floor! I had heard a great deal about L – M and G would whisper about her and I am lead to believe that her absence (‘abandonment’ M jokes) was another part of the reason for my adoption. Clever Dr. L joked I was her replacement – a joke we all know has more than a grain of truth to it. We are about to head off to trivia at the pub in Balmain – she is going to be there! - I am very much looking forward to seeing her again.

I apologise for the lack of posts on the weekend but we heard a number of comics on the radio having a go at “dog blogs” on Friday afternoon and I felt somewhat embarrassed, then affronted, then … 

However, in discussion with M and G we have all decided – who cares: no one is forced to read this! This is for my close friends, family and admirers and we hope you enjoy this and read it with the same spirit of generosity with which I jump, lick and wag my tail.

An existential dilemma

One of the biggest questions in life is which ball to choose: if two balls sit in front of you which one do you play with? Can you really take on both at once or do you have to choose – in essence to prioritise one over another? And if you do have do choose what forms the basis of your criteria? The ball that is more worn – the one you have formed to your mouth and that holds the memories and scents of previous encounters, or the path less travelled – the newer one with all it’s promises of new horizons? Truly it is a difficult dilemma I faced when G. teasingly held up two balls and placed them at two points – equidistant on the ground in front of me. I have to say I hesitated – in the end the decision I made was based purely on instinct. One ball rolled away and therefore demanded my attention –but I still wonder whether my decision was the right one. Just because it caught my attention through its movement doesn’t mean it was the better toy. 

A role model

Today M came home and she asked me if I had been moonlighting as a model. I was indignant – what did she mean? She then showed me a book cover, “Secrets to Happiness”. The cover photo shows a puppy lying on its back on the greenest thick grass with the sun shining down and I will admit that if you squint a bit the puppy looks like me. Without reading the book I can guess that the secrets it will reveal is to take joy in the little things – like lying in the warm sun. This is something I know all about – and I am teaching M and G this everyday: the feeling of rubber on your teeth, cuddling together during an afternoon siesta, the thrill of a new smell, the tiny adventures of exploring your body as you roll around on the floor. Yes the secrets to happiness reside in me. Although, the money my agent is tucking away for me off shore won’t hurt either. 

Haiku

Wet drops from outside

Mudlicious days of joy in the park

Warm bath new treats joy

 

Green round fuzzy new ball

Easy made toy return and fetch

Pride and satisfaction

 

Growling at landlord

Hiding like spies in Russia

Sleeping on white sheets

What is in a name?

Because it was pouring with rain outside I had time lie around in my basket and ponder my life so far. And with all the recent media focused on Bo Obama’s arrival at the Whitehouse it seems fitting that I shed some light own my nomenclature. My full name is Steve Obama Fletchenberg. My last name is a Scottish-Austrian hybrid that reflects the names of my adoptive parents G. and M. But obviously it is my middle name that is the real story here. The story, as I understand it, is that G. and M. were watching Barack Obama’s acceptance speech on live TV – they had been celebrating the moment with their friends B. and N and a few beers so when Obama told his girls they could now have a puppy (his election promise to them), M. looked at G. with tears in her eyes and G. looked back with a plaintive hang-dog expression.  M. could not help but capitulate to G’s desire for a puppy. They adopted me the next day!  Next to explain my first name – and it’s not because Barack joked during the campaign that his middle name was Steve (as opposed to Hussein), we only found this out later – the reason was because when G. was a child he had wanted to call the family dog ‘Steve’ BUT he was told by his mother that this was “no name for a dog!”. So in conclusion I must say that I am disappointed to hear that Michelle Obama had told her daughters that 'Frank' would not do as a name for their Portuguese water dog. I expect one day either Malia or Sasha will convince their partner to get a puppy and to call it Frank!  I would have liked to meet Frank Obama.

Tomorrow is another day...

Today was a mutinous day – it was forever out of my control. M & G decided to sleep in so whimpering started promptly at 9:35, resulting in G getting up, giving me my well deserved breakfast, and allowing me the opportunity to relieve myself. But from there the day seemed to slowly spiral out of control. G was focused on moving the furniture and pounding the living-be-Jesus out of the rugs. Finally, I did what any young blooded dog would do and grabbed my tennis ball and dropped it continuously at G’s feet until we were playing catch. However, as soon as his training had begun, strange noises and different scents came bounding in from the direction of the backdoor. I took to my paws and raised my voice in the direction of the door “How dare you interrupt my play time!! Don’t you know how long it took me to gain control of G !!”, I barked in my most fierce voice. It was B. and Nugget. Now I have only met Nugget once before and he growled at me – but I gave him the benefit of the doubt because we were in a pub and I presumed he’d had one too many. So I made an effort to friends, jumping and sniffing enthusiastically (against my better instincts) – and guess what – he just growled at me again and pee-ed in my spot! Once they left we went to the park – and I tried to make G. jealous by befriending a cute girl. I pretended to be scared of her ‘big dog’. But ignoring that I am the adorable one, she asked G. if he was single. Damn Her! – she was supposed to be interested in me – what has happened to my charm! I am cutting my loses and going to bed early. Tomorrow, I will be the centre of the universe again and cosmic balance will be restored.

The Daily Diary - Day One

Two things of significance happened today. G. bought us a ball launcher and the wireless internet in our flat went down. This meant that after a walk to Prattan Park (where there was limited use of the ball launcher due to a soccer match on the field) I spent the rest of the day tripping over, and being tripped up, in the wires of G’s computer. It is on the coffee table so it can be plugged into the ethernet cable for the modem. Not only is there the power cords and all that – the keyboard and mouse keep falling on my head while I try and play. I mean it’s not my fault if the cords keep getting caught around my legs – but you would think from G and M’s cries of “Steve!” that I pulled all the stuffing out of the sofa arms again. Hopefully there will be more ball throwing tomorrow and G will put his computer back on his desk. Until then I will just enjoy curling up in the sofa – G and M are trying to train me to be “calm” it is fantastic! It means I get treats for doing nothing – I can’t say I really understand but I am not complaining.