New Collar - Twig

Hey!

I continue to learn all sorts of new things here in my new home.

I'm getting along great with the guard dogs, they're fun to hang around and very patient.

I tried to show Bear some of my new Ninja skills that Bet taught me.  I could have sworn he was laughing at me.  I don't think I'll ever get as good as Bet.

For instance, the other day she taught me how to deflect a ferocious attack.  She told Bear to attack her... ferociously.

Honestly... I think I would have piddled myself if I saw that coming right for me!  I thought poor Bet was done for sure, but then...

Yep, she totally diffused the situation by asking Bear how many ounces in a cup.  It stopped him completely in his tracks!  I've never seen anything like it!  Cricket knew, but she just chuckled and wouldn't give him the answer.

Of course she told me that you should only use the question deflection tactic when all other avenues of escape were blocked... sometimes ferocious creatures actually know their measurement conversions, but it's a handy tool to have in your Ninja arsenal.

As you can see, Bear has been completely immobilized by the question, letting Bet escape easily.

I need to practice my diffusion questions, and also work on trying not to run, because sometime running makes things worse... but I do like to run.

One of the (as Bet calls it) "Biggie Big" things happening around here is that I'm outgrowing my collar.

I like my collar, I think it's very pretty, but it's sorta girlie, and I wanted something more FIERCE!  Bet was very happy to help me collar shop.  Apparently she has magazines, and bookmarked Websites and and color swatches for all of her ensemble shopping.

I can't get one of the really cool official herding collars, like hers, just yet because I'm still growing.  Those types of collars are very special and only for real herding dogs.  I haven't herded a single thing here yet, unless you count the cats.

Unbeknownst to me, KD actually called a meeting of CATS (Cats Against Twig Society) and was trying to have me removed from the house because I "bother" her too much.

Kick her out!

Frankly she's too fat and needs a little exercise anyway.  According to the Musher they really have no say in the regular household rules, although they seem to think they own the place.

Where was I... oh yes, the collar.

Bet looked up the meaning of colors for me and found that yellow is very fierce... but she told me that I can't wear a yellow collar and gave me a sad look.  Apparently that color is retired, and only worn by the beloved Kara, who was very fierce herself.

Bet also found that orange is also very very fierce, and since that's the color of a particularly annoying cat, I knew that was a good color... just to make KD mad.

I had to undergo a test to make sure that orange would go with my furs.

I think it's a go.  We told the Musher, so I hope my new collar gets here soon so I can be FIERCE!

- Twig

The Exciting Conclusion - Bet

In our last episode, I confirmed that the Musher had been cheating on me.

The clues were all there.

1.) Sneaking out without me
2.) Coming back smelling of another dog
3.) Strange dog furs and drool on her clothes

Sigh.

So I finally confronted her.  I did it very diplomatically.

YOU'RE CHEATING ON ME!!!!

Ok, so maybe it wasn't so diplomatic.

She confessed!  She totally admitted that she had been cheating on me for quite some time!!!

She admitted that she was sneaking off to Lisa's house to visit with Becca.   I KNOW Becca!  I thought we were friends!!!!

Then she admitted that Becca started a family.

This is Becca. and her new family.

And she admitted that out of the whole pile of puppies, there was one girl.

A fierce little girl that captured her heart...

A little girl who had the baa baa sheepie thing in her bloodlines

A little girl who needed somebodies to teach her to herdy herd the sheepie things, and the Pretty Curly Tails.

And teach her some manners

A little girl that would enjoy FABulous ensembles, and sharing stories on the clouch, and being the 2nd bestest buddy to a certain Roving Border Collie Reporter, Pretty Curly Tails nanny, sheepie herder,

She got me a puppy!

Hello my new bestie friend!

This is Twig, my Coolie bestie friend

I can't wait until she can come home.  I'm sorting through my ensembles to see if I have anything that will fit her.

I am so blessed to have a Musher who listens and loves me. Musher Mark and his amazing buildy skills to tailor things just for me.  So many Pretty Curly Tail friends.  Personal body guards.  Those cats.  Shrimp with pasta.  My clouches.  I'm the luckiest Coolie there ever was.

World Turtle Day - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

We just love to celebrate worldly things and stuffs and today it's World Turtle Day!!!

According to the Wikipedias, World Turtle Day started in 2000

The purpose of World Turtle Day®, started in 2000 by a tortoise rescue group, is to bring awareness about turtles and tortoises.  Apparently you celebrate by wearing a green summer dress... um... ok. You can also go save some turtles or dress up as a turtle... um... alrighty then.

We always like to participate in these types of things, so I went out to the dog yard to pass out some green dresses and to make sure no turtles were being used as soccer balls (hey, it happens sometimes), I found this.

Bet:  Turtle, what are you doing?
Turtle: Don't you know??  It's World ME day!
Bet: Um, yes, it's World Turtle day, but they mean those things that walk around with shells on
Turtle: You mean eggs?  Eggs don't walk around.
Bet: Um, no... I mean Turtles
Turtle: That's ME!
Bet: No, the Chelonians
Turtle: Don't be silly, why would there be a world day for a group of soluble substance that are produced within a tissue and that inhibit mitosis of cells of that tissue and whose action is reversible?
Bet: That's Chalones, Chelonians are turtles
Turtle: See!  That's me
Bet: Nice crown
Turtle: Thanks!  It'll look stunning with my green dress.

Sigh

- Bet

That'll Do Musher - Bet

In case folks haven't figured it out, I LOVE that wacky Musher of mine.  Yup, I have a lot of human souls that I love and own big pieces of my heart - but that silly, waffle-making, bad ensemble, silly tennis shoed, slightly neurotic, scarf-loving human is in a league all of her very own.

For those of you that don't know, the Musher's passion is racing Pretty Curly Tails, and they are EXTREMELY accomplished in the pulling of Musher sleds and racing.  Crunchie is practically a legend.  The Musher comes from great genes, my Grandmom makes the bestest pancakes, and warms my butter and syrup for me.  The Musher just didn't fit into the city life or show her potential for filing and collating, and that is how she ended up here in the wilds of North Wapiti.

I've written OODLES over the years about that, and her job at the kennel, so I won't go over it all again here.

In her travels with me over the last 6 years, we've come into contact with baa baa sheepie things numerous times and I've made it VERY clear that I needed to concentrate my mad skills on herding the Pretty Curly Tails, training the puppies, making sure the cloud, clouches, and couch were worn in properly, and not something that I could add to my very busy schedule.

All that changed last month though.  We just happened to be in contact with baa baa sheepie things again and I thought "Ya know, the Poutines of Anarchy are getting bigger, and it's getting nice out, which means long runs with the Musher on her stupid bicycle, and sitting by the ponds, lake, water thingie, so why not do some herdy herding to keep my muscles toned?"

As I do have the Musher wrapped around my little paw toe, she took me across the valley to Lisa's house once a week for some lessons.  I'm a bit rusty since my training at Alta Pete Stockdogs and Ms. Jenny's comprehensive training program.  This weekend Lisa was putting on a seminar, so off we went to Landing Trail Stock Dogs.

I got tired of the amateurs running around, willy nilly, not even keeping the baa baa sheepie things in line, and making all sorts of mistakes, so I may have gotten a bit emotional with the yelling and backseat driving instructions, so the Musher had to put me in the van... harumpff.

When it was my turn, for the amount of training I've had, I did a GREAT job. It felt good to get back in the baa baa sheepie ring again.  Of course I was wearing my FASHIONABLE collar that makes my furs pop.  They are the bestest collars and all the rage with other herdy herders (thanks to me).  If I'm going to do anything, I'm going to do it stylish, right Ms. Jenny?

Part of herdy herding baa baa sheepie things is "lie down".  This is not my favorite part of the herdy herding process.  It's like the Musher has no idea how much baa baa sheepie things poop.  That stuff is all over the place, and who wants to lay in that?  I'd rather just stand, thank you very much.

We also worked on doing Figure 8's with pylon things and stuffs and that's pretty hard.

Whoopsies, my bad

At the end of our session, she patted her leg, said "That'll do Bet" and she looked down at me with that tired satisfaction that I see so often in the Pretty Curly Tail eyes, things are RIGHT in my world!

Oh, and she made me waffles for breakfast this morning.  Did I mention that she just can't say "no" to me?  hehehehehehe

- Bet

Fridays with Di - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies, and welcome to my Friday interview series!

I know it's been a bit rough these past interviews.  It seems that my guests haven't been exactly... um... cooperative.

Today's guest is a very specially special guest because she has been our constant companion while the Musher has been off gallavanting... I mean judgety judging in Alaska for the Iditarod.

Without our special friend we would have been left to fend for ourselves and although I'm pretty sure that between myself supervising and Cricket, Bear, Tic, Bait, and KD (ok, maybe not KD) we could have taken care of all the Pretty Curly Tails ourselves, but thankfully we didn't have to.

So it is with great pleasure and honor, I introduce to you:

Di!

Di is from one of those continents where everything is poisonous and will kill you just by looking at you.  It's a wonder she's survived thus far, and I'm pretty sure she's happy to be here at North Wapiti playing with the Poutines of Anarchy, and cooking me waffles.

Bet: Hi Di, and thank you for taking care of us all while the Musher was gone!  What was the bestest thing about being here?

Di:  Hi Bet, and I'm very pleased to be on the guest clouch to answer all of your questions today.  I would say that the best part of being here was being surrounded by such beautiful countryside, great Pretty Curly Tails, and most amazing and fashionably stylish Border Collie in the whole world.

Bet:  Aw, thanks, I do work hard at making sure my ensembles are... um... Di, what are you doing?

Di: Well, isn't part of the interview process getting on the couch and rolling around?  I could have sworn that's what the Poutines told me happened.

Bet:  Well, um... yeah, sorta I guess, they all did get on the couch and everythings and stuffs... ok, so where were we... oh yeah, we were talking about my FABulous ensembles, and... um...

Di: Hey look, there's a toaster and some pans.  I can make you some waffles if you like, or I can whip up some nice shrimp and pasta for you!

Bet:  um... ok, yeah, that would be nice, but I'm supposed to be interviewing you right now.  Why don't we just get back on the clouch so I can...

Di:  Honestly, Bet, the clouch is a bit small for me, and not very comfortable...

Bet:  Wha???  The clouch is perfectly FINE, let's get back on the clouch.

Di: Um... no

Bet: COME ON!

Bet:  OW!! OW!!!! Stop nibbling on my feety feet!!!  Wait, where are you going???

Bet:  sigh... it was going so well.

I know!  Let me go out to the garage.  That's where we keep our spare Di.

Bet:  Hi spare Di, how are you today?

Bet:  Harumpf, you don't have to be snarky about everything.

From the bottom of our furry hearts, everybodies here at North Wapiti Kennels (and the minions) want to thank Di for being here, taking care of everybodies, providing updates for the Minions, and giving the Musher the peace of mind that allowed her travel to judgety judge the Iditarod.  We really appreciate everything you did, and will miss you horribly... especially KD who is still pouting and moping because you went home.

Thank you so much!

- Bet

Fridays with Gem - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

It's time for the formerly Wednesdays with .... and now it's Fridays with... and today's specially special guest is none other than...



GEM!!!!

Gem: Hi everyone, hello!  I'm so pleased to be here!  I couldn't wait until it was my turn to come in here for the interview, all of my brothers and sisters said they had such a good time with the interview and then it was my turn and I was like all happy and everything because it's fun and I love having fun are you having fun, I'm having fun, this is fun!!!!

Bet:  Um... well alrighty then, how about we go sit on the clouch and have our interview then, ok?

Gem: OOOH the clouch, I've heard so much about the clouches and you have two clouches and I'm sorry that whole deal with Opie didn't work out, I'm pretty sure he had no idea the Musher put a tracker on the purchases and whooo boy that was fun when the police guy came and yelled at the human person and OOOOOH I can jump over this chair, wanna see me jump over this chair, I can do it, I'm really good at jumping, let me jump over the chair ok, is that ok???

Bet: um...

Gem: I'm good, I got it, it was a bit higher than I thought but it's all good, the floor was a bit slippery, I wasn't expecting the floor to be so slippery otherwise I would have just jumped right over this arm thingie, but I got it, no really I'm fine.

Bet: um...

Gem: SEE!  I'm on the chair, I made it on the chair, the chair is pretty comfy actually, have you jumped in this chair, you're pretty springy, you could jump onto the chair, I bet you can make it, try to make it, can you make it???

Bet:  Um, no that's ok, how about we just go to the clouch and have our interview...

Gem: OOOOH there's a pretty candle on this table, that's one of the Pretty Curly Tails isn't it, I bet that's one of the Curly Tails from the kennel, I can't want to get into the big dog section it's so fun over there, they play all sorts of games and stuffs and they can also go for runs and pull the sled and run and run and run, I like to run, but I also like to jump I'm a good jumper...

Bet:  Um... we need to move over to the clouch for the interview now...

Gem: Ok, let's move to the clouches, the clouches are comfy, you know what, you know what, you know what, I bet I can jump over onto the clouches from here, I'm an excellent jumper, wanna see me jump, I can jump, I bet I can jump over there, oooh, I said "I bet" and that's your name Auntie Bet isn't that funny, ok, I'm gonna jump now!

Bet: Ummmmm

Gem: OOOH, that chair is slippery too, it's very slippery in here, I didn't expect it to be so slippery, but the clouch is nice, it smells like a lot of things, like cats, and there's my brothers and sisters, and has someone been eating waffles on here, I smell maple syrup, and a hint of shrimp, has there been shrimp lately, have you tried the tasty Eagle Pack Brand dog food yet, it's really tasty, and Eagle Pack Brand is the official sponsor of all of us!!!

Bet: Um, why yes, that's what I eat all the time and thank you for pointing that out...

Gem: LOOKY there's toys, look at the toys, I remember playing with these toys when I was just a tiny puppy in the pool, I really liked the pool it was fun being in the pool, is the octopus in here, I liked the octopus, we use to play tug the octopus in the pool before we went outside and then we don't have a lot of toys but there's plenty of fun things to play with out there so we don't need toys...

Bet:  Ok, can we start with the...

Gem: Oh look, there's the couch, I like the couch, I like jumping on the couch, I can jump on the couch even though it's really high, wanna see me jump on the couch, because I can jump on the couch...

Gem: See, the couch isn't that high, I can totally jump on the couch, it has a blanket on it, why does the couch have a blanket on it, that's kinda silly to put a blanket on the couch, it's not a bed it's a couch...

Bet: Um.....

Gem: Woooo it's pretty slippery, the floor is very slippery, but I'm sure I can make it on the couch, watch out I'm jumping on the couch, here I go running for the couch.

Bet: ok, be careful... sigh

Gem: See, I made it on the couch, I can jump really good, did you know I can jump really good, because I can jump really good, and you made it up here too, so you can jump really good too, we both can jump really good

Bet:  um... yeah

Gem: Oh look, it's Bait, I like Bait, he's a big kitty, I like big kitties, but he doesn't come to see us a lot any more for some reason, I think I'll go say hi to Bait

Bet: Um, you probably should leave him alone...

Gem: Oh look!  It's Tic!  Hi Tic, Hey Tic, Tic Tic Tic!!!  Come in and say Hi Tic!  What's up Tic, whatcha doing Tic, come on in, come on, come on in, Hey Tic!

Bet: Um, I don't think he wants to come in right now, I'm sure he's doing something important.

Gem: What's he doing?  What's so important, he can come in, he can take a break from stuffs and come in and say Hi, why doesn't he come in, he can come in, we can jump on things!

Bet: I think he's got an appointment or something.

Gem: TIC!  HEY TIC!!!  TIC COME ON IN, COME ON TIC, RIGHT HERE COME ON IN TIC!!

Tic: Why do you keep doing this?

Bet: I honestly don't know, but thank you for coming in so she'd shut up.

Tic: Sure, any time... but you owe me next time there's shrimp.

Bet: fine, whatever.

Bet:  Ok, come on, we need to get on the clouch and do the interview

Gem: Ok, that's cool, can I jump on the clouch, I can jump on the clouch wanna see me jump on the clouch?

Bet: No, you don't have to jump on the clouch, just walk over and sit down.

Gem: but that's not fun, it's more fun to jump on the clouch, I can jump on the clouch, just watch me jump...

Bet: NO!

Gem: But I can just jump on the clouch, it'll be faster, just let me up so I can jump on the clouch and then we can do the interview, my brothers and sisters said the interview was fun and I've had fun so far so I'm sure the interview will be fun

Bet: Ok, look, you don't have to jump on the clouch because we're almost on the clouch now!  So we can start the interview!

Gem: You know what... I'm a bit tired now, can I take a nap first Auntie Bet?

Bet: sure... fine... sounds good to me.

- Bet

My Horrible Incident - Bet

Howdy ho everybodies, I'm not having a good day today... sigh.

First of all, the Musher had to get new wheels.  It's a van.  Initially I wasn't really into the whole "van" thing, but then I thought, hey!  There is so much potential for a van, like a wall to wall dog bed!

I can ride in comfort and style while my personal chauffeur drives me around!  I started searching the interwebs for cool van dog beds, and was planning my ensembles for Alaska because I was going to do some of the Willow club scene while the Musher was off in the middle of nowhere doing the Iditarod judge thing.

Then the Musher showed me this.

What....
THE....

Um....

Musher, there appears to be a big fat bike in the back of the van... where am I going to put my huge dog bed and my suitcase of ensembles?

The Musher then said:  You aren't going to Alaska, Bet.

I'm not speaking to her.

I'm having a hard time with this, because I was really looking forward to doing some hob nobbing, socializing, and some dancing at the hipster places in Alaska.

I took to my clouch for a nap because I was so stressed out.

Then this happened...

I fell out of my clouch.

It has NOT been a good weekend

- Bet