I wear the vest

I am in training. I am not sure what for, but I am sure I am. When we go out on HATs, (Hound Around Town), I put on my vest. Saturday we did a HAT with Stephen and Kathy, but mostly it is Stephen and me.

I did a HAT yesterday and two today. Stephen really goofed when I went potty and now I am starting to pick up sticks again. I know I shouldn't, but they feel so good in my mouth. I do have a question though, why do humans they they are dominant, if they are running around picking up our poopies? Have you ever seen a canine pick up a person poopy? I don't think so. Anyway, I did get a trip to the dog park yesterday and played with Missie.

On the second HAT it rained on us. All the humans were running for cover. Why can't they just shake like a normal canine? Can't they see or smell it coming?

Makenna AKA Mouthy Girl and Pongo

Two of my friends were at the Wailua Homesteads Large Dog Park today. We ran a lot, Mouthy Girl nips when we run.. And I played ball. They love their masters. When one of them left all activity stopped and they stood and watched until he came back. Dogs do that.

I think Kathy might have been unfaithful to me recently. Her clothes smelled like girl dog and when I went for a walk I smelled her on the ground. Hope its not too serious. I would hate to have to get another fur mom.

The long walk and Lala

Yesterday, I was supposed to go to Sunday Strut at Bark Bark BackYard. Stephen drove me there, but then Kathy was not feeling well so he drove me back. While Kathy took a nap, we went on the mother of all Walk Closes. We went past Otsuka's on the bike path, back through Kapaa town and then home to give me some water then we headed South to the river. I stood on the bank and looked at the fish. Then back home.

Today, we went to the Wailua Homesteads dog park. There were no large dogs, but Lala and I did some fence running. When we got home, Stephen and I Walked Close,

Dreams of The Wailua Homesteads Large Dog Park

I have felt a bit better, less on edge, since boot camp at Bark Bark BackYard. Yesterday, I was so pleased at how Kathy is learning to Walk Close me.  We were in perfect harmony, kind of like Jennifer Kolde and her husband ball room dancing.

But today something just is not right. I could almost hear Caesar Milan whispering, "excess energy". When they put me in my crate, which is a lot of the time, I dream of the dog park. Running and jumping and sniffing and catching Ball and sniffing and playing with other dogs.

Sunday Strut

Stephen and Kathy went to church this morning and I spent some time with myself in my crate. Then we got in the truck and headed to Lihue. Hey, I know this place it is the industrial park with Bark Bark BackYard.

This was my first Sunday Strut, so I didn't know what to expect. However there were some cool dogs there Lexi a golden and Mia, who I am guessing is an Australian Shepard, (they didn't let me get close enough to sniff in real life).

First we practiced laying quiet.

We practiced Walk Close, though at Bark Bark, we don't say it, we just do it. Then some crazy stuff. They wanted me to run through a tunnel. No way! Next jump up on a box and sit. No problem. The see saw was a bit whacky, but OK. And hurdles, hey, I am a dog not a horse, but they were actually kind of fun.

Boot camp!

Wow! I just spent a week at Bark Bark BackYard in Boot Camp. It was a good tuneup. And I learned a lot, not just how to exercise on a treadmill. They taught me how to walk Kathy. Stephen was sort of OK, but it was a kind of win ugly experience. But now I can walk either one of them. This is going to be lots of fun.

PeeMail from Raligh of the Novak Pack

Hi Yogi,

My name is Raleigh and my fur mom is a longtime friend of your mom and dad!  Your dad brags all about you; I think you are his pride and joy!

I like to watch TV!  Nature shows, dog movies like Babe, and cartoons get me going.  I don't know what I'm seeing isn't real so I'll scratch the screen, bark, whine, and try to bite what I see.  I got a big laugh when I saw someone teasing a dog with a treat because I tried to snatch it!

Mostly, though I'm spoiled and insist on going to the frozen yogurt store after getting a dog bath in an adjacent store.  It's kinda like getting a treat when you leave the dentist's.  

Well, it's getting to be time go bed - I've got 4 of them.

Love and licks,

Raleigh

Party Animal and First Saturday Kapaa

Thursday, Stephen and Kathy dropped me off for a day at Bark Bark Backyard. Got to meet a few new dogs and people. And, did my first treadmill.

Then we made a quick stop at the Kauai Veterinary Clinic.

Yesterday, no Wailua Homesteads Dog Park? What is up with that? And I can tell something was going on. Stephen and Kathy are moving furniture around, hanging lights, Stephen has his big speaker out on the mid-deck. He just walked in with two huge bags of ice; I love ice, hope he drops some. The canine analyst in my brain is screaming this pattern matches for a party. I got excited, a little too excited. Whoops next thing I know I am in my crate, but it really wasn't that bad, I needed a nap.

About nine, Stephen came to get me. Some of the people had already left, I could smell hints of them, but they're not here. But Millie and George, Cynthia, Kina and Bonnie were there. I greeted them, but my real interest was the bits of food that had been dropped. Judging from the food drop pattern, I would say there were three little girls here earlier.

Today, we all got up early. They took me to the Dog Park before noon. We came back and Walked Close as a pack. Then I took a nap.

After evening kibbles, Stephen brought my lead, we were planning to go to First Night in Kapaa. However, when we got to Kina and Bonnie's house there was a pit bull off lead. Stephen and I crossed the street, but when the pit saw us he came over. Stephen let me go slack on the lead and we smelled each other. He was friendly, no growling. After a while Stephen felt it was time to Walk Close again, but the pit kept coming over. So we stopped for another sniff. The pit came along when we started walking. With the pit all around me it was hard to concentrate on Walk Close and I started to spin up. Then three tourists came by and the lady wanted to meet me, but Stephen and I thought that might not be a good idea. The pit finally moved on and then in the distance we heard a boy with a really high pitched voice screaming Boson, Boson, (could the pit be a mariner?). Stephen asked the boy if he was looking for a dog with a brown and white face and the boy said yes. Stephen pointed out the pit's location. Then the pit ran up to two dogs by their truck and they barked and growled. Then the pit took up with the small brown dog that runs Lihi park. Finally a local guy corralled the pit and gave him to the boy.

I asked Stephen if it would OK to got to First Night some other time. We headed home. I worked on Self Calm and I think I did pretty well, but I was still spun, however, Stephen didn't need to pop my training collar and that is a plus.

Routine

Sunday we went to the dog park right after Stephen and Kathy got back from church. Then when we got home, they left again with several bags. They came back just before sunset smelling like salt water. Wonder what they were doing. Then Stephen and I Walked Close. I did it right and got a whole lamb chew treat.

Monday, we went to the dog park and I was alone most of the time. Then Pongo and Makenna, (us dogs call her Mouthy Girl), showed up. They were really antsy, so we didn't play this time. The Wailua Homesteads Small Dog Park was empty so they went there. We did some fence running. After I rested, Stephen took me to Walk Close. I ran into some challenges, on Moanakai a dog ran out of his house. We considered playing, but he seemed to just want to mark his bushes. I managed to calm back down. A little while later we ran into John N. When Stephen asked me to Sit to Greet, I lost it. I bounced around and tried to bite my lead. Then snap. Stephen popped my lead and that causes my training collar to pinch me. I found a dried toad to put in my mouth, putting things in my mouth helps me calm down.

Today we went to the dog park and I was the only dog. Stephen threw me the ball, but my heart wasn't really into it, I like an audience. Stephen sat on a bench and read a catalog and I walked around sniffing and marking the fence. Then Luke came, he is four and a half, and pretty big. He didn't really want to play so I let him watch me play some Ball. I tell Stephen I am done by not bringing the Ball back. He put my lead on my collar and we went home. We just got back from Walk Close. I found a piece of coconut to put in my mouth and didn't pull on the leash once, it was a quiet peaceful walk.

I suppose it all sounds like a dull routine, but I am comfortable with it. There is one thing that is different. Instead of the truck, a new car was here for three days, I got to ride in the back and feel AC. Then the truck came back and that is nice too.

A perfect weekend until I blew it

We got up Saturday morning, had kibbles for breakfest and then headed to the North Shore Dog Park for Paws on Parade. First I checked in at the membership tent, I am a member.

The event had many dogs, people and booths.

I visited the judges tent, though I was  not competing.

They even had a booth for CPR and first aid for dogs. Stephen is signing up for the class on May 14. What's CPR?

Then we went home because it was raining. I even heard Stephen's trunk switch to 4 Wheel drive, (I am always in 4 Paw drive). So they decided to stop at the Wailua Homesteads Large Dog Park to let me run. I saw Tom and his Brittany.

And also Kai, she is a dog whisperer and her Dobie, Shakira.

It was a perfect weekend till Sunday afternoon. Stephen and Kathy left me alone to go to church. Then they took me to the dog park and left me alone again. When they came back they smelled of Hanalei, they went there without me. But Stephen got the gear to take me on a Walk Close, but I had a puppy surge. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. And so the sunset with 30 minutes of social isolation.