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

My Birthday - Bear

Yesterday was my birthday.

The house person told me to post something, so I barked really loud, but she said that wasn't posting and would help me.

The busy black cat thing baked me a cake thing.  Said it was a surprise.  There was an orange cat thing in the middle.  It was supposed to jump out and say "Happy Birthday" or something.  I ate it.

Not the orange cat thing.  I'm not allowed to eat the cat things, not even the plump black cat thing that the Man person hangs around with.  This is a shame as they are annoying, but they don't harm the dog sheeps, so they are out of bounds.

I took the night shift as usual.  I guarded the dog sheeps good.  There was a lot of barking and chasing things that tried to get to the dog sheeps.  I was tired.

Cricket told me to take the day off because it was my birthday.  I love Cricket, she taught me how to guard the dog sheeps, and she is afraid of the thunder too.

Hehehehe, she kissed me.  I loves Cricket

So I got to sleep during the day.  I slept in the straw pile near the house... just in case I was needed.  Even though it's my birthday, I need to guard the dog sheeps.

The House Person gave me a fish!

It was a good birthday.  I am five.

- Bear

Happy Birthday Musher Mark! - Bet

Today Musher Mark turns 50, and the Musher asked me to make up a "normal" card for him... this is about as normal as it gets around here.

Happy Birthday Musher Mark!

The Praying Betis - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

As you probably know by now, I am NOT a fan of the beady eyed pokey pokey beaked hummingbird things.

NOT
AT
ALL!

They flutter around and flit around and threaten you with their pokey pokey beaks and threaten to poke your eyes out.

HATE THEM!

The noises they make with their fast moving wings and they dart about... euuuuuw, they just weird me out.

So while I was cruising through the interwebs, I happened upon this little tid bit of information:

Praying Mantiseseses Can Catch and EAT Hummingbirds!

No seriously!!! Here's a video of one!!!

So... that got me to thinking!  These pokey pokey hummingbirds clearly know that the praying mantis is evil bad, you can see one of them giving it the beady stink eye and close inspection.  So what if I disguise myself as a praying mantis... and then they won't flit around me...

I think this could work out very well... if only the Musher would send for the praying mantis costume, and when I asked her for some money out of my allowance, she laughed and said no.

Sigh.

So I went out to guard dog central and asked Bear if he would be so kind as to be my pokey pokey beaked guardian.  He had no idea what I was talking about, but he's a pretty nice guy and agreed to keep me safe on my morning walks.

Ok, keep your eyes peeled for the nasty pokey beaked birds flitting around

Um... Bear... can you not BREATHE on me, I don't know what you had for breakfast, but seriously

That's better... urp

Just keep watching, they're quick little buggers

Was that one of them???

Ok, I'm going to go lay down right there... RIGHT THERE, so keep an eye out while I relax

Ok, I'm relaxing... are you watching out for them?

Hmm, this is kinda nice, and I don't have to wear that hot costume that musses my furs

If only my guardian hadn't waded through some vile stinking thing.

Bear Safety - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

It's time for your helpfully helpful North Wapiti Kennels tip of the day:  Bear Safety!

I'm not talking about that big smooshy guard dog Bear, I'm talking about those oogie, pointy sharp clawed, teethy teeth bears that come out of nowhere and eat you.

There's been some bear things wandering around the property and the neighbors had a run-in with one (everybodies is fine), so knowing that... the Musher wanted to go blueberry picking.

Seriously?

Um... ok, I guess, but we needed to put on our bear protection devices.

Bear bell image courtesy of Frontiersman Website

Yes... bells.  Bear bells to be exact.  I'm not sure what crazy science went into determining the correct bell frequency that causes bears to flee in fear at the sound of a tingling little bell.  I pretty much think it goes more like this:

Anyhoooo, so we get all geared up with our scary bear bells.

The Musher puts hers on her bicycle.

I get one on my FABulous purple collar (and frankly I think the red bell would match my collar and furs better than the yellow bell, but nooooo, I get the yellow bell).

Annoying?  You betcha.  tingle tingle tingle every move I make, stupid bell.  It's very hard to be stealthy when you sound like an ice cream truck... mmmm ice cream.

So, off we go into the wilds of North Wapiti in search of the elusive blueberries.

Nope, no blueberries here.

SHHHHH, be very quiet!  I sense a herd of blueberries up ahead...

tingle tingle tingle

AAAAAH, stupid bell, the blueberries are sure to stampede and escape now!

We finally corralled a herd of wild blueberries, so the Musher plopped her bike down (there are these things called "kickstands"... just sayin) and off she went to pick the tasty nom noms.

It's my job to make sure the coast remains clear of anything that could eat us while she's busy harvesting the blueberries, so I stay very vigilant.

WHAT WAS THAT?  DID YOU HEAR THAT??  WAS THAT A BEAR????

It's very tiring being vigilant... exhausting actually, and using a silly bell to keep the bears away is very stressful... so I made a quick call for back up.

Thanks for getting here so quickly you two, I think I heard a bear over there... no over THERE.... where are you going?

DID YOU HEAR THAT????  Guys???  um GUYS???

That's not funny!!!

Now that my back-up had arrived and posted themselves tactically around the most important member (me) I felt a bit better and could relax a bit.

Of course I couldn't help freaking out the Musher once in a while.

MUSHER!  IT'S A BEAR!!

Heheheeee.  She mentioned something about renaming him, or something, but I thought it was funny.

It's nice having the guard dogs around during such scary adventures.

Especially when we found this!!!!

Yep, that's bear poo, not to be confused with

Bear's poo.  Because it was not Bear's poo.

Nor was it

Pooh Bear (imagine from Crafterchick site)

It was real poo from a real bear, and frankly after finding that, I was glad it was time to go home where it's safe.

Well... sorta safe.

- Bet

North Wapiti Knowledge Nugget - Bet

Well Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

We've been ultra-mega busy here at North Wapiti Kennels lately and there have been questions about the new dog and stuffs and things, so here's an update and a nugget of knowledge (there will be a quiz, so pay attention).

So, we all got together for the big Canada Day celebration picnic.  Good friends, good food, and everyone showed up.

Yogi arrived and was immediately upset that I took the comfy chair... he also wasn't sporting any fashionable ensembles because I told him it wasn't a fashionable ensemble type of party so he pretty much pouted the entire time.

Bait showed up when he found out there were boxes.  He insisted we all call him Lord Cuddly Boots... yeah, that didn't happen, so he pouted most of the day.

KD was busy watching the Tour De France bike riding thingamabob.

She keeps trying to trip up the riders because she thinks its funny when they fall... I have no idea what's become of her lately.

She decided to join the party later in the day and then complained when we were out of bacon.

Cricket found some time from her guard duties to make an appearance.

She guarded the plates.

I had my comfy chair, had some snacks, and I may have had a beer... or two...

I must have been a bit dehydrated because it went right to my head and after eating I needed a nap.

The Musher called me a lightweight and attempted to dip my paw in some warm water, but I wasn't that "exhausted".

So, that was all very exciting.

During the hot summer months, there's not a whole lot of training to do, and now that the Molly Toddles are bigger, my Nanny duty is pretty much over.  They're in their own pen now, the biggest thing that will happen (when they are ready) is that they'll get introduced to the main dog yard, so that leaves my days for very important things (and stuffs).

Now while it may seem like I'm napping, I'm actually doing my Yoga moves to keep limber and stretchy.

I also have to keep an eye out on KD, who tends to get into things she shouldn't be getting into... like easily accessible foodables.

MUSHER!!!!  KD is attacking your nuts and apple slices!!!!

I hate you.

After everything I've done for you, that's how you talk to me?

Leave the plate alone!!!!  MUSHER!!!!!

Shut up, I'm trying to capture the trees

It's a design on the plate... seriously, what is wrong with you?

See... it's exhausting.

Anyhoooo, a bunch of you have asked about Bear... he's still in training and learning stuffs and things.

You've also asked what breed he is.  He's a Sarplaninac... which is pronounced Sarp... Sarplana.... big goofy dog.

We've kinda bonded since we have a lot in common:
I flunked out of baa baa sheepy thing school.
He flunked out of guarding baa baa sheepy things.

um... ok, so that's about it actually, but we're both not too crazy about the baa baa sheepy things.

He doesn't like thunder, so when it stormed he would hightail it to shelter and leave the baa baa sheepy things to fend for themselves (and frankly I don't see a problem with that).  Cricket doesn't like thunder, so the only problem we have now is both he and Cricket trying to squeeze through the cat door whenever it storms.

Other than that, I'm training him to realize that he's the "outdoor" help.

While I'm the privileged "indoor" supervisor that requires vigilant guarding against stompy things, and things with beady eyes and poky poky beak things.

And these are his "sheepy things"

Except Cindy Lou Who is making it a bit harder teaching him what his responsibilities are.

I'm a model... you know that right?  So I expect my cappuccino first thing in the morning, not too hot, not too cold, and have my model booking appointments in my calendar, and I also want my kibble with a little soup, not just during training season, but ALL the time... you can handle that, right? 

It'll take some time to get him up to speed.

No Bear!  Cappuccino has more froth than latte... duck, she's gonna throw it!!!