Guest Blog Thursday - but not.... Other stuff instead

Sorry folks! Normally Thursday is Guest Blog day - but I'm a bit behind. Those girls in the last two interviews really tired me out! But I have an interview lined up for next week with a really cool GUY! So be sure to check it out.

In the meantime - I think I mentioned in the last post that I was expecting to get a new collar - well it arrived.



But the best part is it arrived with food too! YUM!



Momma said I should also take this opportunity to mention a few dogs in need. Sadly there are dogs out there that don't get this yummy food or have people to care enough about them to put a collar on them and that's just not right. So here are some ways to help if you can.

On September 13, 2009 - The St. Charles Humane Society will have an event at Frontier Park called Trails for Tails - here are the details
http://stcharleshumanesociety.org/html/trails_for_tails.html
(Peaches, Chewee & Oreo might want to consider entering the best dressed contest)

On September 27th are the Canine Games at Purina Farms. Gus & I went last year with Miss Trina & Phillip & it was lots of fun! There are all kinds of games dogs can play! You can find out more info here
http://www.stlsamoyed.com/caninegames.php
(Rebel - you might like to look at this as it's hosted by the local Samoyed club).

Of course near and dear to Momma & Daddy's & mine & Gus' hearts are the Aussie rescue sites.
www.aussierescue.org/ - ARPH- this is where Gus came from.

and locally
www.aussierescuestlouis.com/

Also there's one other shelter that isn't local but Momma follows her on Twitter and this woman does lots & lots to help dogs and is amazing at all that she achieves (as are all those that foster and work in rescue). Here's her website
www.aplacetobark.com/
and you'll see in the upper left corner "Help A Place to Bark win $10k" - click there then follow the link to a contest and vote for A Place to Bark as well as other shelters listed above or ones that are near & dear to your hearts.

Oh - one more thing that I think is pretty funny - here's a pic of me watching a youtube video of Phillip & Heidi playing with Squirrel on a Stick! Life is fun!

hhhhmmm....

Hey everybody! It's been a while since I've posted so I thought maybe I should write something - it's just that not a whole lot has been happenin'. At least for me & Gus. Momma & Daddy seem to be pretty busy. We go on our walks every morning and have our breakfast & dinner and have even had several afternoon walks lately. Oh - and we've had popcorn a few nights (not enough though).
Been hanging out with Daddy on the sofa when he plays his video games & I hung out on the patio with Momma all day on Saturday while she read a book - it sure was nice.
I suspect I'll be getting a new collar soon as I chewed mine up last week - just for something to do. It was bothering me so I chewed it off.
That's about it. Life is fun!

Guest Blog Thursday - Chewee & Oreo

Well, apparently there was a bit of an uproar over my interview with Peaches last week and since I don't ever want to offend anyone I'm interviewing Peacheses friends Chewee & Oreo this week. Their Momma also provided some photos.
Same as always - Questions in black, answers in blue & my responses in red.
ENJOY!

First - your full names and breed (as the humans call us)?
Chewee O'Brien and Oreo O'Brien Shi Tzu's

Chewee

Oreo

You two have some interesting names - how'd they come about?
Chewee is because even though I am little I could chew through gates as a puppy, and Oreo was to be named Cookie until Brendan's best friend told us she looked like an Oreo Cookie........Aunt Debbie still calls me Cookie (Cookie is a good name - I like cookies)

Age(s)?

Chewee will be 14 October 10th !! Oreo was 1 on March 24th (wow - Chewee you HAVE been around awhile - should I speak UP? Oreo - your birthday is my Momma & Daddy's anniversary day - I'll always remember!)

Nicknames?

Chewee- Chew Chew, Chew Boogie Oreo - Pretty perfect princess, Pretty Puppy, OR O (Brady calls me that)

(Chewee - Does it bother you that Oreo is called "pretty" ?)


What is your most favorite toy?

Chewee - The football I picked out for my 1st birthday at Pets Mart.....yes I still have it, I roll on it now OREO - my bear, that is tiny and just for me, but I have a whole basket of toys that I scatter all over the house.
(Oreo - I like to scatter toys around the house, too. That way there is always one handy when needed! Except my Momma walks around pickin' them up - does your Momma do that? & Chewee it sounds like your toy is extra special - Gus has one of those, too)

What is you most favorite treat/food/snack?

CHEESE

(cheese is pretty good - I do like me some cheese)

Regarding humans and your people what do you find to be

the most interesting thing about them? That when I bark and look up with my big brown eyes, they do whatever I want. (hmmm - you seem to have an interesting ability with humans -me & gus don't like it when they look us in the eyes - maybe if were littler like you it would be different)

What amuses you most about them?

That when I bark with my big brown eyes, they do whatever I want. (Will you teach me your secret?)

You girls have three human brothers. What do you like best about them ?

They love us! (good human love is nice)

Little Humans are quite different than the grown up ones - do the little ones do funny stuff? or are they more fun than the big ones?

Oreo likes when Patrick lays on the couch every morning and rubs her belly, Brady likes to do silly things like put hats on her, but I snip at Brady sometimes. Chewee doesn’t play much anymore but always goes to Brendan’s room to bark and wake him up.

(I can't blame you for snipping if they're putting hats on you - that's just not right. A pup has her pride)

Do you girls have to wear bows in your hair like Peaches? If so what do you think about that? (It's something I'm not quite grasping)

Peaches got her hair tips from us !!! She had hair envy for a really long time. Chewee does shorter hair now, she will be 98 soon, and Oreo just got her pony trimmed down due to playing in the river too much.....(more hair issues that I just don't understand)

You two are quite little - what's that like? Does your shortness (no offense)
pose any problems? what about positives because of your lack of height? Do humans ever step on you because of your littleness?
The only problem is that in Chewee's old age she cannot jump on the bed anymore, but that’s ok because someone will always lift her up, she used to be able to though. Oreo has never been able to jump on the bed, too tiny. Our family loves to snuggle us and we don’t shed…….big plus. (I don't have a problem with the shedding but sometimes my Momma asks me if I want it back - she can be a bit crazy like that. I can jump on the bed - but I'm not supposed to - only if invited. Must be nice to be picked up and placed places - I'm too big for that. I'm starting to wonder if shorter is better? hmm - but then again - I wouldn't want a stranger to pick me up - I'd have to bite them - which would get me in trouble so I should stay the size I am)

What are your most favorite things to do? (you can list more than one -I have LOTS of favorites!)

Sleep, play with all of our toys and go to the river house. And EAT CHEESE !! Oreo loves to sit at the breakfast bar and catch what drops. (all those are really good favorites)

What kinds of things do you and your Momma/brothers/family members do together?

Mostly Chewee likes to stay home in the AC now days, Oreo likes to go on walks and she goes to a lot of baseball and soccer games. She doesn’t care too much for basketball season because she has to stay home. And we both like to go to the river !! (You've mentioned the river a couple times - I've only been in one once - but Daddy says that was creek. You two must be brave to go into the river & it must be so much fun!)

Chewee, you’ve been around a while - any lessons learned you'd like to share?

Love your family, and eat lots of cheese…….the vet says no table scraps but I am almost 14 and look at me !! Oh, but never get in the trash and get chicken bones…..did that a couple years ago, not good. (Good advice, except that vet part - I don't agree. I'll have to remember that about the chicken bones - problem is - chicken smells so good)

Who are your favorite cartoon characters?

We are in to wrestlers at the moment my brothers like them so we do too, Oreo occasionally chews off an arm or too and doesn’t make her brothers very happy. (I don't know what wrestlers are - but if they're chewable they must be fun!)

Thanks Chewee & Oreo for the interview. Chewee, Daddy says your Momma said you had to have a surgery - I hope you don't have to wear one of those cone thingy's those aren't much fun. We all hope you're recovering quickly and feeling good.

You two are some interesting girls even though I don't understand about the bows. I think I may need to interview a guy next week 'cus these girls are confusing! But you are fun! Life is fun!

Pool fun!

So yesterday I was telling you how hot it was - 'cus it was HOT! And I wondered, when Daddy got home, if he'd pool out the pool. Do you remember that ? Well he DID and it was lots of fun! I got to bob for treats over and over again 'cus Momma said she was trying to get a good pic "in focus" whatever that means. Daddy made sure and set the pool in the shade 'cus he knows I'm not up for much sun. Gus wouldn't come in - not even for treats. Although he did stick his nose in a bit to get a Cool Treat. Yep - We got one of those too! It was Awesome!

Here's me in the pool. Yeah - it's little but it's all I need!


This is as close as Gus gets to the water. Except the one time he did grab the Cool Treat. I tell him it's really comfy but he won't come in. Don't know why.

Here's me bobbin' for treats. So much fun & yummy too!

This is me after I lift my head from gettin' the treats. Momma says it was a good thing we were outside 'cus water got everywhere!


Here I am all nice & cool. You can see Gus panting in the background but not me! I was nice & comfy!

Momma thinks it's silly that I'm not smiling much in the pics - but I told her it's serious business being hot and then going after the treats in the water and I told her I did have fun. Life is Fun!

HOT Again!

I'm not really sure what happened. It was hot but then it was tolerable for quite a while - now it's hot again! This hotness is one of the very few things that I do not find fun in life. Not one bit! Altho-o-u-gh - it is kinda fun when Daddy get's my pool out and I dip my paws in it for a few minutes, maybe dunk after a treat or toy or something - that's fun! Ice cubes are always good and so are those Mr. Barksmith's Cool Treats Smoothies, they're pretty yummy - we only get those when it's hot. Hopefully someday we'll get to try those Frosty Paws that Rebel is always talking about - a pup can dream.
Maybe when Daddy gets home I'll talk him into the pool thing and a Cool Treats, yea life is Fun!

Guest Blog Thursday - Peaches!

Hi everyone - it's Guest Blog Thursday and today we're interviewing Peaches! She's a fluffy little thing and quite sassy! Peacheses Mom sent along some pics too. As usual the questions are in black, Peacheses answers are in blue and my comments are in red! Enjoy!

First - your full name and breed (as the humans call us)? Peaches Strini & I'm a Shih Tzu (I promise it's not a dirty word) (you're so cute - I think I have a new crush!)

Age? In 5 days I will be 10 months old. (you sure are young - is that why you're so little? Happy Birthday - I hope you get lots of presents)

Nicknames? Peachy Peach, The Peach, Pumpkin Bread (my mommy likes food)

What is your most favorite toy? My Minnie Mouse from Disney. I carry her around everywhere and lick her. She's beautiful. (is that a stuffy? stuffies are the best - don't ya just love tearing out the insides?!)

What is you most favorite treat/food/snack? I am not really into treats - I know shocker - right? But I do like Iams Puppy Treats - people food is gross. (ok - maybe I spoke a little too early about that crush - not into treats ?!? and did you say "people food is gross"??? I am totally confused - have you ever tried it? maybe your Momma doesn't prepare it right - 'cus people food is amazingly delicious!)

Regarding humans and your people what do you find to be the most interesting thing about them? I like their hands and they way they pet me. I go to all of them because I'm sure they all want to pet me as soon as they see my lovely coat flowing in the wind. ( Yes, petting is good - but not over the head - I don't like that. You must be brave to go up to all the humans - the stranger ones make me nervous)

What amuses you most about them? Hmmm that's a tough one. I think it's how I can control them by rolling over and showing them my belly. (is that what Gus is dong?!?!? makes much more sense now - you're pretty smart - just like Gus)

You're quite little - what's that like? Does your shortness (no offense)
pose any problems? what about positives because of your lack of height? I am short, but also light - so people love to pick me up and cuddle me and it's a plus to be able to fit into small spaces and run from mom and she can't get that low to find me. (that's pretty good one - I'm too big to hide)

What is your most favorite thing to do? (you can list more than one - I have LOTS of favorites!) I like to play with Minnie. I love to go for walks, especially when Mommy takes me past all on the shops on the way home and the people come out to pet me. I love to lay on the tile floor because it's cold on my belly. But what I love most is sitting right on mommy's lap when she's watching TV. (laying on the tile floor is the BEST - I love to do that too! - I think my crush may be starting to come back)

I have seen lots of pictures of you with bows in your fur. What do you think of that? I think I'm hot - duh! (but don't you lay on the tile floor to NOT be hot? girls are so confusing!)

I also see from your pictures that you are quite fluffy and pretty, like me. Do people like to stare at you and your prettyness? And how do you feel when they do that? I welcome it - because first they stare and then they feel the need to have to touch me and the next thing you know I'm getting attention and petting all around. (I see you like to be petted and admired by pretty much anybody - are there no limitations? strangers are scary)

What kind of things do you and your Momma do together? Well like I said, we go on walks, and sit on the deck - I usually enjoy the breeze while she reads and well let's face it - I'm a lap dog - so I love being in her lap (I know some of these questions seem the same but sometimes a favorite isn't what you get to do all the time - sometimes you have to do non fun things - like baths. Momma says I'm too big to sit on her lap - but sometimes I do it anyway - 'cus I like it too)

Dad says that you are probably carried around in a special Coach purse. Are you? I am not - but I do have a special harness for the car so that I don't go through the windshield. What does Coach mean? If you have to ask, then I can't help you. (Huh??)

Who is your favorite cartoon character? I'll have to go with Smurfette - because she's got pretty hair like me.

Thanks, Peaches for answering all my questions! Even though you're a bit confusing I bet you're lots of fun! Life is fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GUS!

It's Gus' Birthday! Yeah! It's Gus' Birthday and we're gonna have some fu-u-nnn!

Well, we don't actually know the date of Gus' birthday - but Momma & Daddy celebrate it today 'cus this is the day that Gus joined the family. In case you don't know the story, here it is. Momma & Daddy lost their first Aussie, Hogan, unexpectedly (he was 10). They wanted to get another dog and they decided to get a rescue. Although they checked out Aussie Rescue of St. Louis (www.aussierescuestlouis.com), they also looked at ARPH (Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline - www.aussierescue.org) and there was Gus! Big white eyes and Happy Gus Gus face! He was discovered wandering around Ft. Riley, Kansas with no info. He was at a shelter with only 48 hours left when ARPH found him (no one will tell me what this means but I guess it's a bad thing). His Foster Mom, Michelle (she's pretty cool - she has three Aussie's of her own and still does fostering - what a big heart!), said she looks for Aussie's online, like Petfinder.com, and she saw Gus listed there and couldn't resist those eyes - so she saved him (thanks, again). She & Gus were all the way in Kansas but she said she'd meet Momma & Daddy in Kansas City and so off they went to KC. When Gus & Daddy met, they bonded immediately. Gus actually jumped right into the car and laid down next to Daddy as if that was where he belonged and now it is. The end!

Well - it's not really the end 'cus the story continues when they got me! Oh - Momma says that's a story for another day. The actual hero of the story is Michelle and all those Foster Mom's & Dad's out there. They do such a lot of work and have such big hearts - where would all the dogs like Gus be without them? I think they all deserve a big high-five from us pups and I'll even share my treats with them!

OK - I'm gonna go help Gus celebrate - this should be so much fun! Life is FUN! OH! Here are some pics of Gus - he sure is a handsome fella!

This is before I joined the family and Gus didn't have to share his toys yet. He sure looks happy!

Still before I joined the family. This is out at Purina Farms at the Canine Games (I got to go last year & hopefully we'll go again this year). It's a fund raising event for the local Samoyed Club & Samoyed Rescue group and it's lots of fun!

Gus being silly in the white stuff - we were playing. (oh how I miss the white stuff-look back at my "Ode to White Stuff" post)

Gus likes to have his belly rubbed - A LOT! He does this ALL the time!