Sizer at the Wailua Homesteads Dog Park - Neva oh noooo

Today is New Years Eve. What is New Years? I understand us canines are about to get seven of them. What's seven? Stephen and Kathy wanted me to run, run, run, in case the fireworks were loud. I met Sizer, he is not really a ball dog, but he knows how to play the play bow and run game. His mom is Francine Henry.

The fireworks were quiet down at the beach, but really loud up in Wailua. Neva got scared and ran away from Skip's house. But it all turned out OK. Somebody found her and she ended up at the Kauai Humane Society. It took her a few days to shake it off, but she is back to herself again.

kilauea Dog Park

The Kilauea dog park is private. It has lots of great toys. That is me leaping.

I love my kibble bank

Stephen got me a new toy. A kibble bank. It looks like a yellow pig and has a little door on the bottom. It is pretty thick plastic; I could chew it, heck one day I will chew it, but it is kind of nice to have a treat dispenser. First I have to open the door. Then I have to roll the pig over again and again until all the kibbles fall out. It is kind of fun, but I have to wonder; why not just give me the kibbles?

PeeMail from the Herriot pack - Merry Christmas

I was reading my PeeMail on my iBone and got this note:

Hey Yogi, the humans all woke up this morning and charged after all the shapes they have been hiding under that tree they brought in the house. 

I haven't been able to get near the tree, let alone mark it or hide a bone under it. 

I wish you were here to see them tear through them. They made a big mess on the floor during a frenzy of laughing and screaming. 

How come when we make a mess they don't cheer like that?

My pack loves me and they vote

Today we met Donna and her whippet at the Wailua Dog Park, (dude is fast). She told Stephen about the inception of the dog park and its ongoing challenges. She stressed the need for more people to get involved.

I gave Stephen my "intent" look and he made a donation for the dog poop bags on the spot. Nice to know that look works for more than just ice cubes.

Donna said all the packs are meeting in January to be better organized and there will be a fund raiser. She has a bumper sticker on her car that says, "I have a dog and I vote". What is a vote? Is it a kind of chew toy? She has been working with Lenny Rapozo from the County Parks and Recreation.

She asked Stephen if he would get bumper stickers that say I have a dog and I vote. He said he would. On the way back from the park, Stephen told Kathy about it and Kathy said she has a Vista Print account, so we all went over to Stephen's study and designed one. They ordered 100.

Coconuts are the best chew toys!

I love chewing on whole coconuts. The best part is when you tear off enough of the fiber, there is a hard shell with coconut water and meat inside. I get several every week, but it is an outside chew toy only.

Koa is my dog park friend - Runtie sweater

I like Koa. He is usually there at the Wailua Dog Park if we go after Stephen is finished working. The dog park is actually two parks, one for small dogs, one for dogs over 30 lbs with a fence between them. Koa will sit on his side of the fence till a little dog comes up and then we run up and down the fence line. I like to run right next to Koa. It feels good to run in a pack.

Just checked my PeeMail on my iBone. Got a note from Runtie. He has his Christmas sweater? Why don't I have a Christmas sweater? Looks like it would be hot here on Kauai, maybe I don't want one. What is Christmas?

I love Kauai

I love Kauai. Yes it rains here and I do not like rain like any other Spokanian, but it is a warm rain. Yeah, like a "dry heat". Last night was a bit much though. I sleep on the Makai side lanai and just got pelted again and again. Kathy finally came and got me and I slept inside. Mo' better.

Am still adjusting to the sounds and smells, it is different, very different. Not very interested in the ocean yet, but like those little crabs and digging in the sand. Digging is great!

I Love the other family in our duplex, they are dog people, it is on a street named KeAloha, I heard that word in a song Stephen was playing. Love the dog park. I had a few reservations since the primary large dog breed on island is Pitt Bull; they are everywhere and some are nice, some are scary. However, I am holding my own. Next week I will be eleven months old. I am learning not to just go up to dogs I don't know and jump on them like I did as a nine month old. There is a protocol to follow.

We try to go to the park every day, may skip today though, bunch of rain bands have come through. Stephen has a pair of shoes dedicated to the park, but so much mud. We play with the chuckit tennis ball launcher and I retrieve balls over and over. I like grounders the best, maybe I can be a shortstop when I grow up.

Stephen and Kathy have a dinner party every Friday so I get to meet lots of wonderful people. On the 18th they are going to have a big party and Dexter is going to come over.

Geronimo, freedom, and Peemail from Chip

OK, it is official. I like Kauai even though it rains here. Most days we go to the Wailua dog park. So far, Koa, a 2 year old pitt bull, is my best friend. We run and run and run. Koa's pack was afraid to put him in the park since I am a rottweiler, but Kathy talked to them. They help run the Puka Dog store in Koloa. What is a Puka Dog?

Stephen has started calling me Geronimo. I didn't want to leave the dog park, but they put me in my crate in the truck and drove off. I crashed through the door of the crate and jumped out of the truck while it was driving. I couldn't get back in the park though. I still had my lead on and some lady corralled me. Stephen and Kathy came back five minutes later. Now they tie the crate shut, but maybe if I can open the door, I can bite through the rope.

Today, I escaped out the front door without my lead. Oh, precious freedom! I ignored Stephen's recall, but when Shireen called me I could not resist and came back, I like her.

I was catching up on my PeeMail with my iBone. Here is a note about Chip from the Herriot pack.
= = =
Chip and I are being good inside while the boarder collies are being bad outside!  Chip is a shrimp even though he's 8 years older than me. But he is still the boss cause he was pack dog 1 and I was 7. Mist and Runtie made 9! They are "Cra-zy" and pick on me all the time.

The beach!

This Hawaii stuff is not half bad. We went to the beach after Stephen finished teaching. He has three more classes and I will be glad when he is done. Do you know how hard it is to stay quiet for three hours when you are ten months old?

I played with a coconut chew toy. They are great! Stephen was singing that I'm a beach boy and I've got my toy, or something like that song.

And then later, the moon came up. Yogi is a good boy.

Dobi at the dog park

Saturday when we went to the dog park there were all these little kids. I saw a blue ribbon on the ground and ate it, maybe it was a birthday party. Did you know it is now legal to sing happy birthday? Anyway, I met Dobi and we stayed away from the kids. They are dangerous, they sit on you and poke your eyes and pat the top of your head. I am not afraid of them, but given my druthers, I ignore little kids.

Since they stayed at one end of the park, we went to the other side and I met Dobie. He is a 3 yr old Doberman Pincher. We romped for a while off lead, I like him.

Nice day at the park, met Gunther

No rain, nice day, we went to the dog park. I got to meet Gunther and we romped. He can really howl! Stephen just started singing the Late Night Driving Song from the Regal Beagle Band, red lights and green lights.

PeeMail from Runtie

Hey Yogi, it's us, Mist and Runtie winding down after a long day. Here is the formula, Two collies + Two kong balls = Happy dogs!

Snow?

I hate rain, it is so wet. But today it snowed a little bit. It was fun to play with, much better than rain. Then Stephen and Kathy went off to church and left me in my crate. When they back, it was blue sky and we went to the dog park. I got to play with Kasi again. She is also from Eastern Washington so she doesn't rain either.  Stephen has been cooking. They are bringing the soup for small group. I got to taste a lot of things because I stayed on my mat outside of the kitchen.

Thank you for your service veterans, Sonny, Lake Tapps Luxury Pet Sitting

Today is veterans day. Kathy  Stephen is going to wear his leather flight jacket chew toy to walk me around in Sumner a bit later. He wants me to practice not jumping up when I meet people. I know it is wrong to jump, but I get so excited, I just have to leap and bound.

I hate the rain. Today was a nice day. We went to the dog park and I got to be off lead some of the time. I met a ten year old golden named Sonny. He is cool, but not so much into puppy love.

Then I met Suzi Little from Lake Tapps Luxury Pet Sitting. She seems nice, I couldn't get a picture of her cool car, Stephen was using the iBone.

Titus and his Pack Mom

I got to meet Titus yesterday. He just arrived at his forever home. I had to stay on lead because he is little.

Kasy and Jim Grasley's class

We were out walking at the dog park between the rains. I was off lead. And I ran away, it wasn't my fault, she was such a gorgeous young thing. I think I heard Stephen call my name. We ran and scampered, sniffed and licked. But then Kathy put me back on lead. I had failed to recall. Bummer.

The good news is that it is Saturday, that means we get to go to class and I can see all my friends.

A Fine Friday Afternoon

I don't like the rain and it is been raining a lot, but today we had some blue sky and sunshine and I convinced Stephen and Kathy to go to Banker's Spit. It is now listed as a dog park so I got to go off lead. I ran and pranced and waded in Lake Tapps.

Then we went to downtown Sumner and walked around and I practiced walking on loose lead. As we passed Persnickety's Awesomeness Emporium I smelled it. An antler. I have learned if I look at something intently enough Stephen usually gets what I want. They are dog friendly, but it looked like a lot of their stuff might break so Stephen went in and got me an antler.

Then we had a lot of fun walking around, Stephen, Kathy, antler and me.

I jumped into the FJ Cruiser all by myself for the first time. Stephen threw a dog biscuit and I went for it. Kathy congratulated me.

On the way home we stopped at the dog park one more time. Well, I think I will stop here I am a bit tuckered out.

Class was a bit crazy, maybe because it was Halloween?

Saturday, to be truthful, was a bit boring. Stephen spent the day outside with the pressure washer. The highlight of the day was my Intermediate dog class. I liked it. We did "Go to your mat", which we do all the time anyway, but hey, the treats were good. Then we all sat in a circle and Jim talked to us.

What was different than normal, was the barking and growling. But I did get to play with Brutus some. Missed a chance to play with Red, he was on the other side of the room.

Zeus, Roxanne, and Yogi

Wow! There are images on the flat screen. I had always wondered why Stephen and Kathy would stare at that rectangle at night. But last night, the screen barked. I turned around and I could see a dog, his name is Zeus.

I think I like movies. The scene with the chimpanzee is awesome. The guy playing the mean owner must be an animal trainer or that chimp would have sent him flying.

Sumner Parks and Rec Class

School! I have school on Tuesday and also on Saturday, (today). I don't think I should have to go to school on Saturday. Anyway, today we worked on walking without a lead and then they would tell me to come and then half way there, they would tell me to halt. They did it again and again. Guess they can't make up their minds. Anyway, they have great treats.

PeeMail from Nash

Hey Yogi,

I heard about the manure, what a score. I went to visit the Herriot pack yesterday. It was a nice day. I agree with you, rain for for Western Washington dogs. Mist, Rudy, and Runtie had some good puppy play time. We all enjoyed picking on Rudy.

A lovely autumn day

The colors are starting to turn here in the rainy part of Washington, but the sun came out today. Stephen and Kathy wanted to take pictures of the fall colors. They took the FJ so I rode in the back to see where we had been. When we stopped, Stephen opened the door. Oh the smell! The incredible smell. They sprinkled manure around all the plants decorating the parking lot, (and making great portals to check my PeeMail). I looked straight back, then to the right then to the left while Stephen unhooked my seat belt. And then I did it, for the first time I jumped out of the back of the truck. I jumped as far as I could into the manure. I got four full bites in before Stephen realized what happened.

Then we walked up to my outdoor table at Ristorante Al Lago. Kathy looked up and asked, "What is that smell?" Stephen and I just smiled.

PeeMail from Runtie of the Herriotts Pack

Yogi,

Since you are older and more experienced, we have a question for you.  Our Pack Mom’s (Rebecca and Christine) are going to Nashville!  They have been training with us – why can’t we go too?

Runtie/Mist

Subject: Eggs for St Jude's Children's Research Hospital

Last year Rebecca decided to run in the wounded warrior 8k in Norfolk. She raised $3300.00 in donations (including $800 from her 4h goat), she was the highest individual fund raiser, and came in first place in her age group. 

This year she has set her sights on St Jude's half marathon in Nashville.

As part of her fund raising she will take donations for farm fresh eggs from her chickens. 100% of your donation goes to St Jude's as we are covering her expenses.

If you would like to make an order please contact me, (Yogi) by commenting on this post or send email to Tracy.Herriotts AT jhuapl.edu. If you pay by check, please make it out to St Jude's. 

Thank you! 

PeeMail from Biscuit, the Chinook Winery Dog

Dear Yogi,

I wanted in introduce myself. I met Kathy and Stephen last month. Kathy petted me for a long time and Stephen played fetch. I like fetch, my favorite fetch toy is my purple pig. I also enjoy meeting people at the winery, sleeping and chewing.

School again?

I just turned 8 months old and Stephen and Kathy say I am in a growth spurt. I am sleepy all the time. Since I was a young pup we began every day with quiet time in the morning, Stephen lets me cuddle with him for a few minutes and sometimes at night as well. He even stopped packing for his trip to JBLM to spend a few minutes with me and listen to a song on my iBone about the things you don't say to your wife. What is JBLM?

But, you would think they would let me sleep on a cloudy Saturday. But, no, they want me to go to school. Didn't I just graduate from clickers and tricks last week? School again. Oh well, it will be fun to see Flurry and Blizzard, Goldie and Cookie, Oscar, Bailey, Jack, Kloe, Ziva, Redd, Rose and Emma again, many of the are bigger than me, but they don't seem to mind my size. And I do like my teacher, Jim Grasley. So, I will get up.

PeeMail from Runtie, Soccer Season is Starting

Hi Yogi,

Rebecca is working with me on my soccer skills. I heard Tracy laugh and say "keep working Rebecca, she almost has it". How is the catch the frisbee thing working for you Yogi?

Hmmm, maybe I can try that.

PeeMail from Jack, (Service Dog)

Hey Yogi, I had my first flight as a service dog today and did well. Keep up the good work, it is a long road, but it is worth it. As a service dog, you can go places most canines cannot.

Social Butterfly

I know I am supposed to become a service dog; but I am a puppy. I feel I must jump up on people. Stephen laughs, he remembers another precocious puppy named HD, that he invited for a web cast and it didn't work out. Years later HD said he regretted it, but he didn't even have his drivers license yet. That's odd, I have had my license for months? Must be a human thing.

Anyway, Stephen and Kathy are trying to socialize me. They bring my mat and tell me to go to my mat, And when people come, they try to keep me from jumping up. Don't they know how much fun, heck, it isn't even just fun, puppies are born to jump. Tonight we tried to go to the Auburn Art Walk, but they moved it and there was no parking an Stephen is limited in his walking right now.

Instead we went to Zola's. They are puppy friendly on the outside tables. Kathy had the Quinoa salad, Stephen had a Turkey sandwich, I had Kibbles.

Next we went to Urban Timber, Kathy had a glass of hard cider, Stephen went shopping at WinCo to make something healthy for Men's Prayer Breakfast, (poor Stephen, he just doesn't get it, all the men have to eat healthy the other 29 days of the month). Some kids came over and I practiced being social. Right now the big focus is on licking instead of touching with teeth. Shucks, all that work on a gentle mouth down the drain.

The graduate - Clickers and tricks 101

Summer is over and that means it is time to go back to school. I have been to Puppy I, II, Canine I at Petco and had to drop Canine Good Citizen, I like to jump up too much. I have also been to Sumner Parks and Rec Beginning dog training. But my favorite class ever was Petco Tricks. At first the clicker was annoying, but then I realized it means treats, lots and lots of treats. I learned a few tricks and Stephen and Kathy learned how to teach tricks, (did I mention it involves lots of treats). Anyway, graduation was tonight. My teacher Martina sent us home to work on kisses, and backup.

Farrelli's in Sumner

Stephen and Kathy had been out all day and were hungry. I was hungry too of course, but wanted to do some people watching, so we decided to eat out. We asked Farrelli's about their outdoor tables and they said actually the tables were Sumner's, but if we wanted to order out, we could certainly eat there.

Kathy ordered a gluten free veggie pizza, Stephen ordered a medium "James Favorite" with non-dairy cheese, I had kibbles. Ferrelli's was very helpful, they brought the drinks club soda for Kathy, ice tea for Stephen and water for me.  Lots of people walked by, some petted me, some steered clear. I tried the old upside down, paws up, routine for a little five year old girl in a pink dress. She petted me and told Kathy she liked me. I liked her too.

Basketball season is starting

My Hero

I am just starting to watch the TV. Not like Stephen does, he sits at right angles to the TV typing on his computer while movies stream and stream. Not like Kathy does, she is like she is trying to teach me to be, totally focused, never taking her eyes off the movie, (unless I start sniffing around, can you believe they are trying to teach me to ring a bell when I need to go potty?). No I watch TV for a few seconds to a minute and then ignore it.

And to be honest, I am not a total fanpup of Fu Fighters, they aren't bad, but they aren't in the most played category of my iHowl player. Anyway, I looked up on the screen and Dave Grohl was on crutches, singing sitting down. Hmmm, Stephen isn't walking right now. When we go out, he takes his knee stroller and in the house he moves around on his rolling chair. I watched intently to see if I could get a clue. While I am often a fan of the unplugged style of music, I like the rendition of My Hero on their Music Video better. I also like the cover by Paramore at Camp Arif Jan Kuwait.

Stephen and Kathy have left the entertainment room for the living room. Good thing, that is the biggest mat in the whole house.

Kathy went to Big Lots

I love it when Kathy goes to Big Lots, they have really cool, yes, yes, chew toys and for less. That is a good thing, now that I am a seven month old, they do not last very long. Stephen and Kathy give them each a name and I am able to find them by name. This one is Lion.

Riding in the FJ

Usually when we go out, we take the truck and I ride in the bed in my crate. But today we took the FJ. I ride in the back in my restraint harness. Kathy had to run some errands, so Stephen let me sit up front with him. For some reason, he calls the seat a husbands bench?

Stephen, that is not a bench. Ah Yogi, but in your great grandfather's day, they had benches for men to sit on and canines to wait under while the ladies perused and purchased. It is not so common anymore. So we will sit here in the vehicle.

While we were waiting and cuddling, Stephen put on some music. The set is at the bottom of this blog post, Stephen's LinkedIn friend, James Di Rienzo, recommended the arrangements.

While we were listening to the music, Stephen let me borrow his iBone. I got a message from Malibu from the Herriot pack. His pack mom, Rebecca, won something at the fair. Her two pigs weighed in at 281 and 282 pounds. Luckily they were built and colored like twins too! Boy, don't you wish you could be there, I bet there are some awesome smells.

Here's some music for your playlist...

Ukulele Instrumental
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8piYz7FC_z8
Chet Atkins performs "Hawaiian Wedding Song"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE8RbumKkjo&index=29&list=RDaPW3yYEqM1w
Stephen Bennett & Joscho Stephan - Wonderful World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVJs_W7RKLQ&list=RDaPW3yYEqM1w&index=27
Arlo Guthrie: Waimanalo Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lzt262r5IA
Live at the Kapena House - Waimanalo Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnFVuQgtqNE
Born And Raised Acoustic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv6zrIreTUQ
Byrds of Paradise Ep.12A (He Hawaii Kakou I Ka Pu'wai 6,23,94) ft.JLH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T0vS11rFSI

PeeMail from Malibu (Herriot pack)

Hi yogi. My pack mom, Rebecca, is at the fair all week with the other creatures she takes care of. Thought you'd enjoy seeing all her other friends. 

She calls them; pigs, Pygmy and boat goats, Jacob sheep, broiler and layer chickens.

She tells us how much she misses us every morning and night!

Take care. Malibu

The new normal

Stephen is on medicine to try to save his smelly toe. We have to give it to him every six hours, 6, 12, 6, 12 which means we do not get as much sleep as we would like so we take naps. I wold love to write more, but yawn .....

James De Rienzo suggested Stephen should play Chet Atkins performs "Hawaiian Wedding Song"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE8RbumKkjo&index=29&list=RDaPW3yYEqM1w

PeeMail from Malibu, Mist, and Runtie

Dear Yogi, we sleep a lot. Runtie sleeps belly up like dad. Take care and oh, that animal in your previous post is a cat, be careful, they are very sharp. M.