Sophy's Dog Eye View of the World

Guarding Against Bunnies

2009-09-02T09:24:00.001-07:00

LuLLu and LoLLy have an excellent article about Doga or doggy yoga. But I get my exercise guarding against bunnies. There's one that likes to hang out outside this window. I think it knows I can't get out this way. But I bark lots whenever I see it and this morning I chased a bunny right out of the back yard!

My Mom is Back!

2009-08-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

My mom is back from her trip! I've been running around a lot to make up for the time I spent in a kennel. (We won't talk about that. I lost my squeaky bear there but they gave me a new toy to make up for it.)

My mom's daughter is gone. I hope she comes back soon. Meanwhile....I'm spending lots of time with my new squeaky toy perched on my mom's lap so she can't escape again any time soon....

New Toy and Suitcases

2009-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Guess what! My mom felt so bad about me getting shots that she got me a new toy! It's a fish that squeaks.

Now the only problem is that she's got out the suitcases again. I don't think that's a good sign....

Seeing the Vet

2009-08-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

My mom took me to the vet this week and I got poked and prodded in places I don't like anyone touching! And then they stuck me with needles. Needles! I licked and licked the faces of the vet and his helpers and they STILL stuck me with needles!

My mom says it's a good thing to do and that she needs to know I'm healthy and that she's taking good care of me but she's not the one who was getting poked and prodded and stuck with needles! And if it's so good for me how come I was so tired the next day I didn't even have the energy to chase rabbits?????

I'm okay today and I even got to try to go see a cat on someone's lawn. My mom stopped me but at least I had the energy to try! And when I saw the rabbits today I know that if my mom had let me, I could have caught them.

Still, it's a darn good thing I don't have to go back to the vet's office for a good long time. Hmmph!

My Battle Scar

2009-07-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

My mom kind of freaked when she saw my battle scar right below my left eye.

I'm not telling her what I tangled with but I won!

July 4th and LuLu and LoLLy

2009-07-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

LuLu and LoLLy put my pictures up on their blog! See, they blogged about going to work with your human and it inspired me to help my mom work, too. And they have some good tips about July 4th. I'm kind of nervous about July 4th 'cuz fireworks scare me but my mom promised she would keep me safe so maybe it will be okay.

Destroyed Toy

2009-06-25T08:48:00.001-07:00

My mom took away one of my favorite toys just because I did this to it....

Come and Gone

2009-06-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

My mom's daughter came back and then they were really busy putting stuff in boxes. I tried to help but they wouldn't let me. Now she's gone again. I've been squeaking my squeaky bear a lot. Sometimes my mom lets me sit on her lap and squeak it and that helps, too.

New Toy

2009-05-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling really sad 'cuz my mom's human daughter has been away this week so my mom gave me a new toy! It squeaks and everything! She even let me pick it out myself from a stash she's got somewhere in the house. Don't tell her but when I get the chance I'm gonna see if I can find the rest of the toys, too. Shhhhhh

Moving In

2009-05-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

My mom's daughter is moving in and we've been helping her so I haven't had much chance to post. My mom says it's only for a couple of weeks but it's sooooo exciting!

Here's some of her stuff. Not most of it, just a small bunch. Most of it they put in a room and closed the door so I can't get to it. But that's okay. I'm happy just to have my mom's daughter to play with!

Ssshhh

2009-05-06T13:49:00.001-07:00

Ssshhh. Don't tell my mom I'm here and posting. I kind of got grounded.

See, a couple of weeks ago, I caught a bird. Eventually I let my mom have it but she wasn't happy with me, the way I thought she would be. She kind of shrieked and grabbed the bird and took it away!

And I don't understand 'cuz when I was on the street I had to take care of myself and you would think she'd be proud of me for being so clever. But like I said she shrieked and I got grounded. So don't tell her I snuck in here and posted to you guys, okay?

Gardens and Grief

2009-04-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

My mom has been sad this past week. A friend died. I've been giving her lots of kisses to cheer her up and I tried to tell her the friend's doggies would be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge but my mom was still sad.

This is part of my mom's garden. It's my favorite place to bury things. Well, it was. But she put up this little fence to keep me out.

It's just not fair! No other place is as good to dig in! And sometimes I lean over to eat some of the plants a bit. But mostly I figure it's just one more strange human way of doing things. And she's a pretty good mom so--for now anyway--I stay out.

Hunting Bugs

2009-03-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

We've had nice weather lately so my mom has been leaving the patio door open for me. Which means bugs get in so I've been hunting them for her because she's so busy...

And I'm getting really good at it too.

For the Wii

2009-03-18T12:50:00.001-07:00

I found a great way to stop my mom playing Wii when I want her to pay attention to me! I just climb on her lap and start kissing her and she starts laughing and puts down the thing in her hand and pets me and loves me! I'm so glad I figured this out 'cuz barking and pawing her didn't work but kisses do!

Busy Mom

2009-03-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

My mom is teaching two online writing classes now so she's been busy and I had to sneak in to use the computer today.

I tried being really cute but she still kept working on the computer.

Sometimes all you can do is just chew on a good rawhide.

New Toy

2009-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

My mom got something called a Wii Fit. I was helping her exercise but she didn't seem too happy about that and I don't know why! But it's okay because she decided to give me a new toy of my own to play with while she played with hers. It squeaks and everything!

Fitting on My Mom's Lap

2009-02-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

My mom says some people might be trying to figure out how I can sit in her lap and that I should show you. So here's one picture of me chewing the fleece toy she made me where half of me is on her lap. And here's a picture of me all the way on her lap. Sometimes I stand up on her lap, too, but she said there was no way she could take a picture of that!

I don't know why everyone thinks it's so funny that I want to sit in her lap. It's so nice and cozy there.

Chew Toys That Last

2009-02-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

My mom says I should show what's been happening with my chew toys 'cuz she says there are lots of us who chew through things real fast. Here's the rope ball which has lasted way longer than a regular rope chew toy and the fleece toy my mom made for me. (I really like to untie the fleece toy and have my mom retie it for me! She says it gives me mental exercise, too.)

Me and Mom

2009-02-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

My mom has been really busy and sneezing a lot. So I've been busy, too, but that only seems to make her grouchy.

I tried sitting on her lap so she would pay attention to me but she said she had work she had to do.

And then even though I carefully put it on my blankey mom wouldn't let me keep this shoe.

I don't have a picture of it but she got really upset with me when she was too busy to take me for a walk so I went on one by myself. You'd think she would be happy about that, right? And I only went a block or two from home. Okay, so I would have gone farther if she hadn't dragged me back home but really! I was just trying to take care of myself and a dog's got to explore, right?

Squirrels and Naps

2009-02-07T12:57:00.001-08:00

Some days those pesky squirrels are just out of reach.

And sometimes, after barking at them or chasing them in the back yard, I just need a nap.

Mud and Towels

2009-01-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

My mom has started insisting I use a towel when I come in after playing in the mud. I don't see why. Wouldn't she rather I decorate the couch and her and the rug?

Mom Is Back

2009-01-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

My mom is back and I helped her unpack!

It was fun having my mom's daughter stay with me but I'm really, really glad my mom is back.

She said she was visiting her son who has something called Down syndrome and helping him move his stuff from his dad's house to his group home. Maybe some day I will get to meet him.

Airplanes and Suitcases

2009-01-13T14:23:00.001-08:00

Anyone know what an airplane is or what suitcases are for? My mom has been talking with her daughter about going on an airplane and she's got something called a suitcase in the living room and my mom is putting some of her clothes in it. She says her daughter is going to come over and stay with me but I'm not sure why. It's all very confusing and she doesn't have much time to play.

Surviving Toys

2009-01-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

My mom said to show you the toys that have survived. I don't know what she means. She took away some of my toys before I could pull out all the stuffing so they still survive, don't they? But she said to show you the ones I play with a lot that survived so here they are.

PS: My mom found this website that has a dog that looks a lot like me and my mom says that everything they say sounds like me, too!

http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/english_springer_spaniel.asp

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

My mom keeps saying that to people over the phone. I don't know what it means but my mom stayed up late last night and I was kind of glad because I could sit in her lap while all the noise was going on outside. I was shaking. She kept telling me it would be okay but there was so much noise! And it smelled funny outside, too.

Why do humans do such strange stuff?

I Love Christmas!!!

2008-12-26T12:06:00.001-08:00

I love Christmas! Now I know what it's all about. I got presents!!!

Mom finally let me have the treats Addie sent.

And I got some presents from Mom, too. First I had to get them out of the bag she put them in.

I got toys.

And I got a bone (even if mom did take it away before I was done with it....)!

I really love Christmas!

New Toy

2008-12-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

My mom made me a new toy out of something called fleece. See? Every time I untie the knot, she just ties the two pieces back together again.

I really like to chew it while I'm sitting on her lap when she's at the computer. She says I'm kind of big to be a lap dog but I don't think so! Do you?

Rope Ball Toy pt. 2

2008-12-18T15:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I got an end loose on my rope ball.

But now my mom says she's going to cut off the loose ends so it's just going to be a ball again and I don't think that's fair!

New Rope Toy

2008-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

My mom took away the old rope toy. And the tennis ball I chewed up. And the plastic donut I chewed a hole in. But she got me a new squeaky ball and she got me this new rope toy.

I haven't quite figured out how to unknot it yet, but I'm working on it!

Tree

2008-12-08T08:51:00.001-08:00

We have this new thing in the house. My mom put it up this weekend. It kind of looks like a tree but it sure doesn't smell like one!

I thought maybe it was for me to eat so I tried chewing on the branches and some of the stuff mom hung on it. Mom laughed but she told me “no!” really, really loud. So I guess I'm not supposed to chew on it after all. But then what the heck is it for?

My Rope Toy

2008-12-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

Dennis the Vizsla asked about a picture in my last post. Yes, this used to be a green and white rope toy. My mom said it was supposed to be for dogs 85 pounds up to 120 pounds but it only took me 3 weeks to do THIS.

First I undid the knot at one end. My mom retied it. (She said some of those bad words again!) So I undid the other end. My mom says she can't figure out how it can end up so long when it started out much shorter.

Mud

2008-11-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

I was going in and out the open patio door and it started raining.

My mom didn't notice and I found lots and lots of mud!

I came in and jumped on my mom's lap to share it with her but she wasn't as happy as I thought she would be. Don't tell anyone but she yelled and said some bad words.

Humans are very strange, aren't they?

Dog Food Bags

2008-11-22T09:07:00.001-08:00

My mom finally managed to get all the food from the big bag in the bin and she let me check the bag to see if she missed any. Good thing, too, 'cuz I was getting bored with mom cutting our walks short just 'cuz she's still sneezing a lot and it's gotten colder outside. Well, I don't think it's cold but I've noticed humans are funny about things like that. Oh, and my mom's daughter is coming over again today so I'll get extra treats and another human to play with!

Squirrels and Mom Sick

2008-11-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of me chasing squirrels. They ran right up this tree and I barked and barked but they wouldn't come back down.

My mom keeps sneezing. She didn't want to get up this morning even when I gave her my very best rope chew toy! I hope she feels better soon because she didn't take me on my walk today. Good thing there are squirrels and rabbits to chase in my back yard!

Pssst

2008-11-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

Psst! Anyone know how to work the latch on these things? My mom filled it up today and I've been trying to get it open. I've never seen so much food just for me!

Oh and I got a new toy! My mom says she hopes it lasts at least a day or two.

Rugs and Toys

2008-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

I decided to keep my treats inside and eat them and take toys outside instead of food. Here I have my squeaky donut outside.

My mom found the rug I've been chewing on. She wasn't very happy about it. I was going to say it wasn't me but...she found me with it. Can you see the hole I chewed? I didn't mean to but there was this loose bit and I chewed on that and then some more came loose and....

PS What was all that human silliness on Tuesday? My mom and her daughter were watching tv really late and making lots of noise and I could tell they were very emotional.

Hiding Stuff and Forever Homes

2008-11-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Halloween was pawsome! I got to see lots and lots of kids and I was really good. I didn't bark or anything!

Yesterday my human was out for a while and when she came back she gave me a rawhide treat. I took it outside and buried it. She looked surprised that it was gone so fast and she asked where I put it so I showed her. And when she told me to dig it up and bring it back inside, I did that too. I was scared she was going to take it away but she didn't AND she says I'm always going to have treats and toys and stuff and no one will take them away from me so I don't ever need to hide them again.

Can that really be true? Is my human mom telling me the truth that there can really always be toys and treats and love?

I mean, she yelled at me this morning when I took a sofa pillow outside but...but she still gave me treats when I was good on our walk. And she lets me up on her nice soft bed. So... so... maybe.... this really is my forever home? And maybe I really am always going to have treats and toys and love?

Halloween

2008-10-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

My human is talking about something called Halloween. I don't quite know what that's all about but she put me in here with this fireplace screen to keep me from helping. I don't know why. If kids are going to come to the door shouldn't I jump up and greet them and lick their faces and maybe get a piece of candy or two myself? Why won't she let me help?

New Rope Toy

2008-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Look! I have a new rope toy. My human isn't happy about how fast I go through them but she says it's better than me chewing on pillows and blankets and sheets and other stuff.....

Costumes

2008-10-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Humans are very strange. My human decided to try to put me in something she called a costume. She wanted to take pictures for a contest on Addie's blog. Well! I made it very clear THAT wasn't going to happen! Then she tied this ridiculous scarf around my neck.

I took off the scarf as soon as she finished taking this picture. I don't need anything silly like clothes to make me look beautiful!

Drapes and Blankeys

2008-10-19T11:16:00.001-07:00

I found out how to pull down the drapes! I don't know why my human wasn't happy that I found a way to look out. So I comforted myself by playing with my blankey. Sometimes I put all my toys on my blankey and sometimes I take it with me when I want to lie down in another part of the room.

Books, Awards and Windows

2008-10-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

My friend Suka gave me this really great award. I'm wagging my tail 'cuz it's so cool. I'm so glad I've found so many new friends on the internet!

My human has lots of books. So I thought maybe I could figure out why they were so important to her. But she got really upset when I snuffled around in the box she had on the floor. If they weren't for me, why did she put them there?

I am kind of grouchy because one of my windows disappeared. I wasn't trying to break the blinds. I didn't chew them or anything. But...this hole kept getting bigger. And now there's something in front of the window and I can't look out the way I did before. My human calls them drapes.

The Very Long Week

2008-10-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

My human says it's been a long week. I had to take that medicine again and my human is muttering something about me going nuts. But I just had lots of energy—honest!

But my human is grouchy just 'cuz I try to chew through my leash when I see other dogs when we're out on our walks. I don't know why she doesn't want me barking at them and trying to run to them. Once I got so excited I flipped upside down even in my harness!

I did chew a hole in my tennis ball but I've been really good about putting my toys on my blankey every time I find them somewhere else.

Anyway, my human has been doing lots of work on the computer. I keep trying to climb in her lap and remind her to play but she hasn't been listening very well. At least she's finally putting up my post. I've been trying to tell her to do it for days!

Pet Blessing Day

2008-10-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

My human took me to a pet blessing this morning. Right before we left for the pet blessing I was out in the back yard and I FOUND MUD!!! I came in to show my human and she made the funniest sound when I jumped up on her and then on the bed and ran all around the living room. I think the carpet looks prettier with my paw prints everywhere but she didn't seem very happy about it. And she wouldn't come play with me in the mud either.

I wore my new red harness to the pet blessing. I don't like my harness very much but my human says I tug too much without it plus now she can hook me to a seat belt and I can't try to climb in the front seat while she drives any more.

There were lots of other dogs at the pet blessing and I barked at every one of them! We stopped at the store on the way home to get me more food and I barked at every dog there, too! I don't understand why my human wouldn't let me off the leash to play with them. We could have had lots of fun running around the store together.

It was a really good day and I don't understand why my human used words I've never heard before or keeps rubbing her forehead and saying she could use a good shot of something called whiskey right now.

New Game and New Toy

2008-10-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

I found a new game! I get on the couch and drop my toy over the back and then I jump down after it! It's lots of fun and it makes my human laugh.

Oh and my human got me a new rope toy. It's for dogs over 85 lbs. I weigh about half that but I kind of totally destroyed the one for my weight so she's hoping this one works better. Here's a picture of the shreds of the old one with the new one.

Tumbles and An Award!

2008-09-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

My human is kind of grouchy. Just 'cuz I chased some birds and rabbits. Well, okay because I pulled so hard she fell down and dropped the leash. She gots bruises and scraped her hand and knee. But I came back! And I TRIED to lick it all better! And what was I supposed to do? THEY WERE BIRDS AND RABBITS!!!

But my tail is wagging 'cuz I got another award from Addie! I'm nominating Rusty and Lorenza and Opy for this one.

Outdoors

2008-09-24T14:12:00.001-07:00

I really like being outdoors. I tried to get there through this door but I couldn't fit. I could put my paws and my head through but then I got stuck. I don't know why my human has a door that's too small for me.

In our back yard there is a really interesting plant. I don't know why my human doesn't like me eating it.

Windows and Awards and Such

2008-09-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! My human has been hogging the computer. She says she's working. Finally I get my turn. While she's been busy I discovered something wonderful! EVERY blinds in the house have a window behind them! Every single one!

I did NOT chew this one. It just kind of fell apart when I nudged it with my snout. But how else am I supposed to look out and see the dog next door?

And the other windows, well, I'm just so happy to know they are there!

The other thing I'm excited about is that Addie gave me an award! She is sooooo cool and likes to chew things—just like me. Here is the award.

The rules are that winners can put the logo on their blog. You're supposed to link back to whoever gave you the award and then nominate 7 more blogs! Put the links on your blog and leave messages on those blogs that they've been nominated.

I don't know a lot of doggies yet who have blogs and they are all sooooo cool! I looked to see who hasn't got the award yet and I found some friends who could use one. I nominate:

Moshi & Kibo
Lulu & Lolly
Opy
Scuba, Keiko, Toby & Norman

Oops, here comes my human. She says she needs the computer to work. I really don't understand why she doesn't just play all day! We could have so much fun if she did.

Feeling Much Better

2008-09-17T11:45:00.001-07:00

I'm feeling much better and my human can take me on walks again. She still won't let me eat dead birds or dead squirrels though and I don't know why. You would think she would be glad I can find my own food! But she just goes ewwww when I crunch on bugs in the back yard and stops me with the leash when I try to eat what I find on our walks.

But it's fun to go on walks and even more fun now that it's not so hot. My human is willing to go farther before she says we have to go back home. I keep telling her we should take my toys outside to play but for some reason she doesn't want me to do that with the soft ones like the rope toy I chewed in two.

Storms of All Kinds

2008-09-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

We didn't get the storm my human thought we would get. But she got upset yesterday anyway and made me go to the vet. I don't like going there even though most of the time they are very nice. They gave me nasty medicine and when I spit it out they gave me even more! And then they gave some to my human to give me at home. I have to take it again in a few weeks--and I don't like it.

Then, today, my human started a cleaning up storm. She took my rag toys and my blanket and put them in the washing machine and she washed a bunch of other stuff, too. AND she made me take a bath! A bath!

I don't feel so great and my human isn't too happy right now. The vet said maybe it was from when I was in the shelter and is changing the medicine I take every month. I hope it doesn't taste as bad as the medicine I had to take yesterday and today and tomorrow!

New Leash

2008-09-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Finally! My human got a retractable leash for me. That's what she calls it anyway. I call it freedom. I get to run up and down the gully and ahead and back on the sidewalk. It's much better than before. Now she doesn't constantly tug on my leash. I make sure that I go back beside her a lot so she doesn't get too lonely and we both have a much better time. By the time we get home I'm usually happy to rest.

Of course, she still doesn't get that I'm meant to chase birds so I've still got to work with her on that. But all in all, she's learning faster than I thought she would.

Being Left Alone

2008-09-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

I really, really don't like being left alone. My human got upset when she got home and saw this. But all I wanted to do was look out the window and see where she was going!

Another Dog

2008-09-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

I like my human's daughter. She comes and plays with me sometimes. And it makes my human happy when she does. But she brought another human and another dog! First I thought it would be fun. But the other dog didn't want me nipping her and growled.

It was fun to run around in the yard but not fun when the other dog was going to play with one of my toys. I've never had my own toys before. What if she didn't give it back? Fortunately, my human seemed to understand and put my blanket and my toys in another room and closed the door.

Still, I got kind of worried. What if my human liked the other dog better than me? It's scary when you know that humans sometimes stop loving you and you have to go to a cage and don't know if another human will ever take you home.

But the other dog left with the humans and I had my human all alone again. That was good. And I got to have my toys all for me. I want to play again with other dogs. I just want to be sure my human isn't going to stop loving me—or give away my toys.

Still Training My Human

2008-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I've managed to teach my human that I can't be penned up. All it took was having her come back 3 times from being out and finding the gate open. The first two times I just opened it on one side and slipped through.

But that wasn't getting her attention so the third time I took it down completely so that she found it this way and finally got the message.

I wish she had taken a picture of me opening the patio door, too. I looked very clever standing on my hind legs and using my paws and snout to push the handle so the door would slide open. I think she was too surprised to think of it.

Personally, I don't understand why she has doors at all. I wouldn't! But I suppose that's one of those human quirks we canines just have to put up with.

Training Humans

2008-08-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

It's not easy training one's human. I showed mine how to bounce a ball off the tip of one's nose and she still can't seem to learn it! And I'm going to have to teach her how to tell time so she knows when we are supposed to get up in the morning. It's been a couple of weeks since she brought me home and I still have to wake her up every day and she tries to pretend she's asleep even when I know she isn't.

Still, she did bring me home from the shelter. And she tries very hard to please me. She did learn very quickly which treats I like best. So all in all, I'm satisfied. She seems bright enough to learn. I'm just going to have to work very hard to teach her.