I Think I Need a Lawyer

Well everydog, at risk of tarnishing my good reputation, I am confessing that today I did something bad. Mom was not too pleased with me when she got home today. Here is the evidence:

Exhibit A: Chewed up wooden cat figurine Grandma brought Mom from Costa Rica

Mom tried to reassemble it as best she could so she could show you what it's used to look like (pre-dog mauling). Unfortunately, she couldn't figure out where many of the fragments fit, since I'd done such a thorough job of dismembering it.

Exhibit B: Scratches on the old record cabinet Mom got from my Great-Grandma.

Exhibit C: Note the many, many toys (including the lightbulb in the middle, which was filled with treats) that Mom left me to play with and keep me busy and happy.

Mom also had my radio on for me, as usual, to keep me company while she was gone (always set to NPR - makes a dog think).

I have never, ever destroyed anything before. Ever. I am not a chewer. I NEVER try and chew on anything that isn't mine, and I rarely do much chewing on my own toys for that matter (ignore the fact that my Lambie has no ears in the above picture). Now, I will admit that I have created some scratches on some wooden furniture before. But that's it. That has been the extent of my destruction.

My Plea: Not Guilty, by reason of mental defect (and ridiculous cuteness). I have diagnosed myself with Specific Phobia, Natural Environment Type. Specifically, Ceraunophobia. In lay terms, I am afraid of...

THUNDER!!!! *shudder*

(Mom says that the Diagnostic and Statisitical Manual is not intended for diagnosis of canine anxiety and that one should not self-diagnose, but whatever.)

Mom and Dad got me a year ago this month, and I never showed any fear at all about thunder up until a couple of months ago. We had a really, really nasty storm come through while Mom and Dad were out. I mean, it was bad. There was bad flooding in some areas and Mom and the cats and I ended up hiding out in the bathroom later that night due to a tornado warning (Dad was at work). Mom came home earlier that day and found her laptop pushed off the desk onto the chair, papers strewn everywhere, miscellaneous desk items either fallen or falling off the desk, and scratches on the desk top. It seems that I just freaked out. Ever since then I get scared when there's thunder. And we have had a lot of it this spring and summer! Mom and Dad ignore my pleas for comfort and help when I'm scared. They say it's because they want me to be a big boy and learn that I don't have to be scared, but I just can't help it! I guess I'm traumatized from that one awful storm!

Okay jury, time to deliberate. Bad Dog or poor, traumatized (yet adorable) dog with a genuine diagnosis that excuses me from responsibility?

Here is a sad, pathetic picture of me to sway you, *ahem*, I mean, uh... for no reason whatsoever.

(P.S. Mom doesn't think I actually ingested any of the wood. Mom called the vet to ask what she should do in case I did, and she and Dad are keeping their eyes on me to make sure I'm okay.)

Photo of the Month!

Whoohoo! The Brat Pack nominated me for photo of the month over at Dogs With Blogs (it's for the bottom picture in my last post). If you haven't already voted, head on over and vote for your favorite pic! (you have to be a registered member to vote)

My mom has never been able to get a picture of me with my stacked tennis balls before. I always drop them before she can grab her camera! She's seen pictures of other doggies with multiple toys or balls in their mouths, but always horizontal, never vertically stacked on one another. The first time I did that Dad was worried they'd get stuck 'cause my jaw seems stretched to its limit!

Thanks for the nomination Brat Pack! I'm very honored and excited!

Two are Better Than One

Graduation and Ice Cream

So, I don't know what's up with my mom, but she is really getting lazy about keeping my blog updated. I don't know what she means by "other responsibilities" and "school." Seriously woman, straighten your priorities.

Anyway...

Last weekend I graduated from my final obedience course at Petsmart. I did a fabulous job, if I do say so myself. Here's a picture of me with my "diploma". See my graduation cap? I took it off as soon as they took the photo. It was cramping my style. That and it kept leaning over near my right eye, which was annoying.

I have my Canine Good Citizen test on the 24th. Wish me luck! Mom says she's most nervous about me staying in heel position when meeting another dog or a person. I'm a very sociable kind of guy (hello, I'm a Golden!), and I sometimes have difficulty staying put without going over to say hello. Other times I do it just perfectly (as on my graduation day). I like to keep Mom on her toes. Can't be too predictable you know!

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Since I have been such an excellent student in obedience class, and because I am so incredibly cute, Mom and Dad decided I could celebrate graduation with ice cream!! I'd never had ice cream before. Maggie and Mitch get to go for ice cream sometimes, and now I know why they like it so much! Mom and Dad got me a child's size cone with vanilla custard. I don't know why I had to have a child's cone. I could've eaten a BIIIIG one! It was so yummy.

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My first taste. Mmmm. Creamy and cold!

This stuff is great! (Sorry the pictures are so dark. I know it's kind of hard to see my adorable face.)

I made my way through the ice cream pretty quickly.

Can I eat this part too?

Lemme get a bigger bite.

Last little morsel.


Delicious!! Mom says I won't get to have ice cream very often, but she is going to make me some of Nanook's famous doggie ice cream. Perfect for this super hot weather!

Country Dog

(Warning: Photo intense. Not dial-up friendly.)

I had another adventure last weekend. No kayaking this time. We went to my great-grandma's farm in East Texas. It's the very first time I've gone. It was sooooo much fun! My great-grandparents used to have a couple of herds of Angus cattle, but now she just rents out the pastures.

Look at all that open space! I couldn't wait to get out there.

Mom and Dad don't know how much exposure I had to farm life in my previous home (and I'm not telling), so they weren't sure how I'd react to seeing cows and having all that open land to run on. But, they knew I'd be mellow about it, because I really am a very easy going kind of guy. The first time I went out into the pasture I was on my long leash. We did see some cows that time, but silly Mom forgot to bring the camera with her!. Geez. Humans. I took a looksee at the cows but overall wasn't terribly impressed...just kept on walking.

The other times we went out in the pasture the cows were in the back part of the acreage, so we didn't see them. Mom and Dad let me go off leash. I have never had so much fun in my life!! My first time I went out with Mom and my grandma. As soon as Mom unclipped my leash I took off. I was FRREEEEEE!!!! I did my best impression of a Greyhound and ran at full speed. Then I did my impression of a galloping horse as I zoomed past Mom and Grandma (Mom said that's what I sounded like when I sped past). It was sheer doggie heaven. Here are some pictures of me in action.

I am heading straight for Mom in this one. Look out, here I come!

Can you see the look of bliss on my face? Here is a close-up version so you can really appreciate my joy.

Can you see me way out there?

Let's go this way!

Taking a little pause to decide where to run next.

You know what else I did? You city dogs are going to be so jealous. I rolled in cow patties!!!! It was awesome. Mom didn't take any pictures of that. I don't know why you wouldn't want to capture that.

We walked back to where there is a little creek on our first off leash walk, but Mom didn't have her camera for that so no pics (bad Mom). I walked right into the middle of the creek and layed down. It was cool and peaceful under the trees.

This muddy puddle was almost as refreshing.

I'm sure you can guess what happened to me later that day. Here's a hint. It involved water, but it wasn't in a creek or a puddle.

Do you see that greenish area above my eye?

That's cow poop. They made me wash it off along with some other lovely patches of eau de bovine and mud. Isn't that terrible?

Notice the sadness in my eyes. *Sigh*

At least I got to sit on the swing with Grandpa afterwards.

And I got to sleep on the bed at the hotel with Mom and Dad. Here's a picture of me chillin' with Dad.

I can't wait to go back to the farm!