The Napa Valley in Spring

Today we went on a short drive to the Napa Valley. She wanted me to have the chance to walk in the vineyards and to see bud break. I didn’t really care about all that, but the air smelled sweet so I closed my eyes and I drank it all in.

I Passed Again!

So a little while ago, M-Guy and M-Gal took me out one night. We came to a place called a nursing home and he told me that I had to be a good boy so I could pass my Therapy Dog test. What's with all these tests that I have to pass? Isn't it obvious by now that I'm a good boy? Sheeeesh! I guess all dogs have to pass this one though if they want to go visit people in nursing homes and hospitals. That sounds like it would lead to some fun adventures and more places for me to check out, so I guess I'm down with that.

It was a lot like that Doggie Good Something-or-other test, or whatever it was called. M-Guy and these other folks threw me some curve balls on this one though. There were treats I had to walk past without eating, a bunch of ladies yelling, screaming and acting crazy, and the kitchen was at the end of the hall with people pushing carts in and out banging pots and pans together. To top it off, one time we had to walk the other way down the hall while the crazy ladies ran past us, all rowdy like, with a corgi riding in a chair with wheels! The only thing I want to know is how did the corgi get that gig? I want that job next time! It looked a lot more fun than having to walk nicely next to M-Guy through the whole thing.

Anyway, I passed another test again, so I can become a Therapy Dog now. Everybody there kept saying how good I was, and how handsome I am. DUH! What else did they expect from the Handsome Hector? That place was pretty fun, so hopefully I get to go back soon to visit the folks staying there. Hey M-Guy! I didn't help you and M-Gal out around the house that much before this test like I did last time, but don't worry.....I made up for it. I cleared off M-Gal's night stand, and cleaned the kitchen counters for ya. No need to thank me! Just an FYI.

H - Oh....and by the way, I made the Rochester paper again also! Check it out

I got a brother!

I’m not sure how they knew, but the people here got me just what I have been wishing for…a new dog! And it wasn't even my birthday! I love him. His name is Benny. We are best buddies.

I know I said before that I take time to warm up to new things, but I knew I liked Benny from the moment I saw him. They crated him across the room from me and I whined on and off for two days until they moved him right next to me...hey those tiny, little people who visit are right...whinning does work!

When he first got here they were calling him "compassion case" and now they are calling him "foster dog"...I don't know what any of those words mean, but it must be sorta like "big dork" or somethin' if Benny is one. Anyway, we have the best time together and his busted pelvis doesn't slow him down at all...(don't worry it's an old injury and it doesn't hurt him anymore) just makes him walk a little funny.

I also wanted to tell all my buddies who have gotten their CGC...CONGRATULATIONS! I am so proud of you guys...

Uba the Lady's Man

I have been busy recently collecting lots of girl friends.

My first love will always be Lulu. She is a great big sister and she's taught me all about how to be a normal dog. Lulu is the very best and she is really patient and kind to me even when I get the zoomies and crash into her. She's a good pillow, too.
















I've made some new lady friends lately and it has been lots of fun. First Sidney came to stay with us. She is tall and beautiful and I know she thinks I'm really great even if she told me I'm annoying. I hope she comes back to stay again soon.


























Next we got a new neighbor.
Her name is SweetPea and she is really sweet and calm. I am teaching her to be wild and crazy and to play like a maniac. She's learning but she needs more lessons. Woo Hoo! I'm the best teacher!



Then Lolo came to stay. I LOVE Lolo, she is just like me! She loves to play and be fun. One day she went to the vet and they did some crazy things to fix her ouchy legs, including shaving her butt. Now I can't play with her for WEEKS. She says she is all better, but my people say she needs more time to heal. I'm trying to be patient, but I can't wait to play with her again. I hope when she goes to her forever home I can still play with her lots.




I've also been spending more time with my sister, Zippy. Everyone says we are too cute together. We are almost identical twins and we understand each other and see things the same way. She is pretty cool for a sister.

Its really great having all these pretty girls in my life! I am one lucky dog.

hugs,

Uba

Friday Funnies

CGC for me....too.

Hi Everybody..It's me Grace. Yesterday my foster dad woke me up early like usual and took me for my walk, but then we got into the car, and left for doggie school. Wait, don't Jonny and me get to play after walking ??? That was kind of weird. It wasn't like a normal day at school too, it was way eariler.


When we got there , I went to a table with my foster dad, where he scratched a stick on a paper, and then we waited around. Ok, this is weird. Where are the treats, where are all orange thingys we walk around ? Hmmm. Then I heard our names being called. We wend over to a nice lady who took our paper and scratched it with a stick some more. Then she shook my foster dad's hand, brushed me, looked in my ears, at my teeth, and shook all my paws. Ok. This is good and all, but don't I get a cookie ? So we walked around a little bit, did some fancy turns, met another dog, had to sit, lay down and sit again before wearing a really long, and I mean really long, leash. Then I sat still while foster dad walked back and forth, then called me to him. Then my foster dad left me with this nice lady, and went away. I guess he had to go potty. He came back, and the nice lady scratched the paper some more.


Then...OMG...a huge party !!!! My foster dad was so happy, I got a huge helping of cookies, a toy, and lots of people saying nice things to me. They all said I just didn't pass, I breezed through the test. Wait..what test ??? You mean we just took a test and I passed. Does this mean I get steak tonight like Jonny and Hector did ? WOOOO HOOOOO. I love tests.

So now I am a CGC. Foster dad says it stands for Cute, Good, and Cuddly.

Hey, that's just like me.

Grace-

A CItizen of Canine Goodness

I am a Canine Good Citizen. Just check out my collar...

I have learned a real lot over the last year when I've lived in this old house with my person and my pack. The people who brought me here to this place said I was real scared when I got here and that mostly I crawled on my belly and didn't want to look at people too much. But I don't really remember that cause now I love to be a good girl and make people laugh and sometimes jhump (that's how I spell it but my person says it's supposed to be spelled "jump") on them to see if they have a cookie for me. Me and my person have been doing this thing called school every week since I came here and sometimes at school I sit and stay and sometimes I fly over jhumps and sometimes I weave in these poles and I am always really good around other dogs like me cause I really like dogs and cats, too.

But last week my person said we had an important test and so I got real serious (that is SO hard for me cause my person says silly is my middle name). Anyway we met this nice lady, Bev, who petted me and touched my ears and my feet and brushed me and stuff and then I sat and stayed and walked with my person and stuff, and all of a sudden I was this thing called a Canine Good Citizen. Ha!

All my teachers, Catherine and Glenn and Nancy are all so cool and have helped me so much. And the lady who gave the special test, Bev, is so cool, too and I really liked her. And all the people who are so nice to me are so awesome and make me feel so happy and remind me that this is a real good life.

I love being a good citizen but now I'm real tired (see my picture with my brother, Pig).

Thank you, everyone.

Going to Brave School

"Chug-a-chug-a-chug-a. Going to Brave School, going to Brave School. Chug-a-chug-a-chug".  

Dats what my mum sings to me when we're going to my CGC class.  Hi everybody I've been away learning dat the world is not such a scary place.  One of my favorite places is Brave School, where I get to see all my friends and dat makes me so happy!  I specially like it when my best-bud Uba is there.  Since going to Brave School I'm not such a scarrdy-cat er I mean, scarrdy-dog anymore.   I don't even care if dat nice lady there comes by me wit dat noisy metal thing wit da wheels on it. Nope, nope not me!  So if you want to learn how to be a braver pooch, just drag your human out da bed bright and early and have dem take you to Brave School.  And maybe on the way home, they will let you sit in the front seat and hang your head out da window like your da bravest dog in town.  Hugs, Frodo

Being a Good Boy

Hey Everybody!

Here I am looking out my sliding glass door. That might seem pretty ordinary, but I didn't used to get to do this on my own because SQUIRRELS are REALLY EXCITING!

There's a tree right outside my door, and those rascals come wave their tails and tease me, and then I get in trouble for shouting at them to CLEAR OFF! WOO! But my Lady says I am a big handsome boy now and that big boys don't shout at squirrels. Even when they really, really want to. Plus, big boys get more cookies! So I'm trying extra hard, and most of the time now I can watch them quietly and just think loud thoughts in my head.

Love,

Ernie

behind the scenes

Hi Everybody-

Im sure you have seen when a few of us got to be in a famous sports magazine a while back. It was a lot of fun meeting all the magazine folks and getting my picture taken. Picture time means lots of cookies come my way. The people always hold cookies next to a camera so I will look at it. Then I get one. Heh, little do they know, I got them all figured out. I only look for a second or two, then turn away. I get way more cookies doing that. Mmmmm, cookies.



Anyway, my dad thought I should share this " behind the scenes " photo of my bud Cal and me working it for the camera. He said it was too cute not to share. Phooey, cute is for girls. We don't do cute. What we do is look cool. Yeah...Cool.

My dad also said I shoud thank everyone who helped, and for once, I think he might be right. So, BIG THANKS to, Jim and Deanne for the great story and pictures they put in thier magazine. Also big thanks to Cal for taking pictures with me, even though you didn't get any cookies. And I can't forget Brian, Asha, and Debbie down at Peninsula Humane for helping me score this great job. You guys are more than cool.

Life is good,

Jonny-

Introducing Mr. Barker

My whole name is Iggy Piggy Barker,
but you can call me Iggy.

As an explanation of why I haven't introduced myself until now, I will just tell you that I like to take new things sorta slow...like the other day I got a new bed in my crate, and I decided that I shouldn't touch it for at least 24 hours...no sense in rushing into things if you ask me. This is me 14 months ago...

and this is me now...

Every morning I wake up really early, just before the sun and I peek one eye open to see if I am still in my cozy bed in my new life and when I see that I am, I am so happy that I get up and do a little dance in my crate...it makes the people here think I need to go outside and pee. I don't have to pee, I am just glad that California isn't a dream.

Week Six and Steep Next Steps

Thursday was my six week surgery checkup. The surgeon said my x-rays look great and my knees are most definitely on the mend. If you’ve been following my little story, at my 3 week blog I complained of being picked up, put down, and picked up yet again because I just wanted to have some fun and RUN. I heard the surgeon say the next step in my rehab is lots of steps, as in lots of stairs. My first thought was boy, oh boy, freedom at last! It started this morning, up the stairs, down the stairs, up the stairs. It’s not what I thought it’d be. This is hard work. I look up at her, but she won’t pick me up by my handle. She ignores my big round pleading eyes and I have to do it on my own. Those stairs are so steep and my legs are so tired. I wish I’d never complained about feeling like a purse. Now will you puleez pick me up!

My New Years Workout

Since the New Year, my people have been helping me workout more. They have been letting me run on my treadmill almost everyday. I LOVE running on my treadmill, it is so much fun!  

I got this cool new harness called a back pack to help me work out while the tiny human was here. My people say I am a real working dog when I wear it. When I am more used to wearing it and I don't bump in to things so much, I can carry stuff around for us all, like water and treats. That will be really cool. I like to work and be a good boy. Here I am getting ready to go for a walk in my back pack. I was wondering what was taking so long - lets go!

I have been helping my dad on his bicycle, too. When we go to his races I run next to him after his race to show him that I am a good athlete too. I can run so fast I'm sure he has a hard time keeping up with me. Here we are resting after our workout.My people say a tired Uba is a good Uba, so I hope all my working out makes me a good dog because I do get tired.

hugs,

Uba

A Very Important Day

Hey Everybody!

I got long snuggles with my lady this morning while she watched TV. It was great- just like a whole extra Saturday! I even got a cookie! She said it was a Very Important Day because of something called Politics. I don't know much about Politics, but she said the man on the TV was our new President, which is like a pack leader. She said he talked about freedom and respect for everybody no matter who you are or what you believe. That sounds just like what pit bulls need, too. Sometimes people make faces at my man and lady or say mean things about us, and they haven't even met us! But this year things seem different. Lots of new friends are finding forever homes, and more people are getting a chance to learn new things about all of us. Maybe they'll keep letting us be ourselves and not judge us just because of where we came from. I sure hope so.

Well, after all that hard TV-watching I was ready for my nap, and today I'm just glad I'm free to be me in the sun.

Love,

Ernie

It's the Jhumpa Cam! Say "Cheese"!

You are never gonna believe this! Back when we had the real tree in our house and all the pretty lights everywhere, I got a whole bunch of new toys and fun games and lots of treats from my person and my Gramma and Grampa and my Uncle Glenn and my cousin, Kapowie. See, Powie is my favorite friend in the whole wide world - he's a dog, like me, but he's really big and so silly and fun and he makes me want to jump and play a lot. He's so cool.

Anyhow, Uncle Glenn and Powie gave me this awesome present when we had the real tree in the house called a camera. I know my person has one of those but it looks real different from the one I got. Well, my camera snaps on the fancy necklace I wear every day and it clicks pictures of the stuff I'm looking at. Like this:

That's in my dining room and I'm sitting up on top of a big snuggle box (my person calls it a 'kennel' or sometimes a 'crate') so I can see out the window. I learned that cool trick to jump on top from one of my cats, Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion and now I can jump up high just like him. Sometimes we sit up there together in the sun and I love it.

So then I wore my camera on my walk with my big brother, Pig, and got this funny picture of him walking. I like to walk back behind Piggy next to my person and my person says I heel real good. I don't know what that means but I really like to be by her so it works out great. Anyway, we all had to wear our warm coats today cause it was colder than ZERO degrees. Brrrrr. I still liked it anyway cause I got to see a lot of stuff with my camera.

Well, I'm real tired from my big Saturday so that's all for now. Stay tuned for more adventures from the Jhumpa Cam!!!