Baby It's Cold Outside

shopping at Mud Bay

I can't believe it's so cold.  Our little pond is frozen all around the edges and there's ice on the rocks.  I've been able to crush down the ferns by rolling in them and they actually stay down.  Mom has to bring the hummingbird feeder inside at night since it won't thaw during the day and those poor little guys need the sugar water...there aren't any flowers left for them to feed from.  I even got a new coat with puppy dog feet all over it, Mom made it reversible...isn't that special...naturally for a special dog. I wore it today when we went to Mudd Bay to buy a new pooper scooper...after 30 years the old one had just rusted apart.  Last time I went to Mudd Bay, I got lots of treats from the people there but this time I only got one! Did try to do some shopping for myself in the barrels they have that are just chock full of cookies but Mom made me move along.

my new coat

After Mudd Bay we went to Starbuck's.  I never get to go in there because it's a place with food so Mom came out and let me out of the car to do a little bit of obedience work on the sidewalk.  Now this is becoming something new.  Last week she took me to a shopping center and we did some work there and just kind of wandered around.  Once again, I couldn't go all the way to the end because there are eating places.  Don't get that!  Maybe they think I'll try to snatch some kid's food or something.  Not me!  I'm a good girl.  The shopping center had these machines that kids ride; Mom said you put money in the slot and the thing rocks or slides or does some stupid thing.  Kids love them. I DO NOT! They make scary sounds.  Of course Mom had me walk by them a few times.  I'm thinking she's going to take me back there.

helping with leg lifts

Sunday was just the coolest day ever!  We went to a Porti party!  There were only a few people there when we arrived so I got to run around with a dog named Betty while things were being set up.  Then Dad took me outside into this BIG fenced place where there were about 3 others like me and more just kept coming and coming!  I was chasing this one little brown girl named Pearl around and believe it or not she was way faster than me!  There was another brown boy named Maui who belongs to this lady from Dad's sailing group.  I guess this was the first time her friend had seen so many of us together.  They stayed through the meeting and party.  Sarah and Mom were running an obedience ring so Mom thought it'd be a good idea for me to try it.  The things I do best are: a
very fast recall,  good sit (for 1 min with Mom across the ring) and a good down (for 3 min with Mom across the ring).  Gotta work on heeling and keeping up, but there are just so many good smells on the ground.  Remember...I've been tracking! And besides, I have to keep her busy.  What would she do without me around?  Sit on the couch and read.

Monty's new bowl

I am helping her with her exercises for her knees.  When she gets on the bed to do them, I hop up and hold down her upper legs or lie on her stomach.  I think it's a big help because she keeps telling me "good girl".

Monty got this special bowl to eat out of...it's supposed to slow him down because sometimes he almost chokes he eats so fast!  Mom's been timing him...he went from 1min 45.19 seconds to 2min 39.64 seconds.  Guess that's good.  All I know is that I finish before he does now.

If I don't get back to you, have a Merry Christmas!

                                                               Juno

I'm Finally Back

It's taken awhile to get Mom back to the computer.  She was talking about not helping me with writing the blog and just forgetting it.  Can you imagine that???  People count on hearing from me.  She can't just quit!!! You know if you put a bit of a guilt trip on your people, they usually come through for you. 



watching the Hawks at Mike and Jacqui's

Last time I told you how well I was doing at tracking but now it seems I've gone a bit backwards or maybe it's just that I want to do my own thing.  For instance, when our friend, Val,  put in a track  and Mom didn't know where the corners were, I started out great.  Mom said it was the best start she's seen from me...but then, I just kept going straight because there was tall grass straight ahead and I really like tall grass!  Once we got straightened out, I did a pretty good job but as Mom said, "Not good enough."  There were some pretty long legs that I did great on! Then on that really windy Saturday, Sarah put in a short track with a couple of turns.  Considering the wind, I did OK, but "not good enough."

That same day Mom and Sarah were showing this guy, Brandon, how to lay a track.  We need folks to do that when we have our tracking test in January.  Mom hopes we will be able to enter but things have to pick up before we try to certify.

my new friend, Duke

Luther Burbank dog park

Today we went to Luther Burbank park so Dad could give me a couple of short tracks.  Heard them say they would be getting longer after today and Dad is not going to help Mom with the corners so much!  Let's see what happens.  After we did the 2 tracks we walked out to the end of the park and Mom kept hiding a "liver glove" around the concrete foundation of the old dairy barn.  It wasn't much of a challenge because I've got a good nose.  She did the same thing with hiding things in the back yard filled with turkey meatballs she had heated up.  Those were a piece of cake so to speak.  After the hide and find game we went into the dog park.  It's on the lake and I've been there before.  Today there weren't so many dogs there and I met this boxer named Duke.  He and I went out wading; Mom thinks that if he had gone swimming I would have too.  She'll never know will she.  Lake Washington isn't nearly as cold as Puget Sound so maybe I will someday.  Gotta keep them guessing ya' know.

This tracking is going pretty well since I get treats all the time.  Remember when I hardly ate anything?  Now I eat just about everything and, as you probably know (Mom does), it catches up with you.  Starting to hear that word "diet."

                                      Later,
                                          Juno 
 
 

Home Again

Sprague, Washington

the hydroplane


 

That was quite some trip...lots of time in the car, it seemed but then we stopped in a lot of interesting places. At least they smelled interesting!  Mom said that she posted some of our trip on Facebook so I hope I don't repeat too much.  We were in 3 states I haven't been to: Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.  You know I've been to Oregon 'cause that's my birth state.  (Happy Birthday to Nadine, my breeder.)We stopped at a place in Washington called Indian John Rest Stop just for "old times sake" according to Dad.  I guess they always stopped there when going to Granny's house.  The next stop was Sprague, Washington and there was this truck pulling what looked like a hydroplane; we had been passing each other back and forth for a while. There it was, "resting" just like us.



Dillon, Montana

the wedding quilt

The weather got pretty cold when we started down the Continental Divide; we were at an elevation we weren't used to.  It was snowing for our trip down Highway 15 and sometimes Dad called it a blizzard, whatever that is. I was pretty snug in my crate, besides we have a Subaru so we were good! Then we had something to be grateful for...there, across the highway was a jackknifed semi with a really  long line of cars behind it...we were going the other way.  We finally got to Dillon, Montana and Dad started worrying about the rest of our trip...I got to go out in the snow and mess around, almost didn't have time to pee I was so busy... did get snow all over me from sniffing around in the bushes.  The next morning our car was not only filthy but covered with ice and snow.  Dad talked to a "local" who told us, contrary to what Uncle Pete said, NOT to head over Teton Pass.  We followed the local's direction and had a completely uneventful trip to Jackson and then to Teton Village. I didn't get to go to the actual wedding but Mom and Dad said it was beautiful and that Rodeo and Dutch did  nice work as ring bearers.  They are Brad and Megan's border collies.  Nice guys...Dutch likes to run with me.  I did meet Maggie Mae who belongs to Uncle Pete's daughter, Jen.  Maggie is rather a wild child, of course she's only a year old so that's an excuse. I was perfectly well behaved and polite when we met...she, on the other hand, was pretty excited.  That's probably to be expected, after all, I am a Portuguese Water Dog.

tracking at Teton, WY

We had trouble with this blog when we got home so this is a bit disjointed.  I'm changing the subject entirely!!!  I really made Mom happy this week.  Good of me isn't it.  She decided we would have Dad do the tracks instead of her...duh...she is getting the message that I don't track her because she's right there!  Monday we went to Luther Burbank Park and Dad did one pretty long track, he even went over a couple of paths which doesn't bother me much.  Then, today we went to Marymoor.  Remember that lady kicked us out but Mom talked to the lady in the office and we are "good to go".  Dad put in this really short track with no treats except at the glove...I was dead on!  Then he put in a track that was really long, one leg was about 100yds.  That part seemed to be the easiest; one place I did loose the track but got back on.  Dad said I was doing better than Mom!  She says there is hope!  We need to have Mom's friend Sarah give us a track pretty soon so she can tell if we're ready or not to get certified.  Mom's going to ask our friend Val to lay a track when we go over to the beach week after next  'cause she does a really good job.  See...she has finally figured out I don't track her because she is already there at the end of the line.

Better get this posted so Mom can eat dinner.
                             LATER,
                                           JUNO
 

Finally!

getting a drink from the pond

Mom's been home a whole week now, so things are pretty much back to normal.  I even got to go tracking this morning!  That was a frustrating event because we went to Marymoor Park where we have gone lots of times and just as I was starting, this park person came in a white truck and told us we couldn't be where we were.  I think the fact that there was a man throwing a ball for a Golden and a German Shepard close by called her attention to the area.  She told us all that it was not a dog area and we needed to leave.  Mom said we just had to pick up the stuff on our track but she was a little ...you know, upset, since it's hard to find places to practice tracking.  Instead of leaving entirely, we went to the park office and talked to these nice women, the one in charge is Anne, and they thought maybe the person who shooed us off didn't see the line on my harness.  Anyway, we now have permission to use most areas so we stopped and put in a very short track which was kind of a test since it's where the geese like to be...good girl Juno didn't even bother with it much less roll in it.

On the way home we stopped at Starbucks. Monty always gets to go with Dad so Mom thought I should be able to go also...only fair says I. Some very dear friends, Carol and George, were there so I got to visit and Mom kept giving George treats to feed me which, of course, made him pretty special.  I was a very good girl.  Mom saw this little girl looking at me so asked if she wanted to pet me ...that is pretty special because I just LOVE little girls.  She petted me for a long time and Mom let her give me a treat...I am very gentle, not like Monty the piranha.  Finally we came home and I got that bath I've been looking forward to...went right out and climbed in the tub.  Now for the hair cut.




eating pears

Think I've told you about the pear tree in our back yard...well the pears are getting ripe and falling from the tree.  Guess who loves pears?  ME!  Mom finally picked them up after I had eaten a couple.  She also fenced off that area of the yard because
Monty goes back there and chews on wood.  Don't ask me why.  She THINKS she fenced it off but I can charge right through in this one little place.

Ramona

When Mom was in Oregon, she met one of my sisters; her name is Ramona and she kind of looks like me.  Ramona's mom said that she is sensitive to certain sounds like coughing and sneezing...just like me! Maybe I'll get to meet her one day.

We are starting to get ready for a road trip to Wyoming for a wedding and I get to go.  Monty will stay at the beach with a babysitter.  She thinks maybe we can do some tracking someplace along the way.  Looks like there's a push on to enter the test in January.  No more fooling around!

                       Later,
            Juno (the good PWD) 

Oh, Oh

moving out

I've been having this little problem but it's starting to go away, thank goodness.  Been itching like crazy and even pulling some hair out. Mom was getting pretty worried.  It all started after we went to this new place with pretty tall grass to track.  I loved it, but that's when the itching began...Mom gave me a bath, good brushing, and a close clipping.  It didn't stop!  This was all happening at the beach so we had to come home and see Dr. Deb...it was FLEAS!  Monty didn't even have them and my folks couldn't find them or their "dirt" because it's hard to do on an all black Porti.  Dr. Deb put down some white paper and combed me while I was standing on it.  Isn't she smart!  Taught Mom something, too.  Now we are both (Monty and me, not Mom and me) on stuff  to take care of them and I'm feeling a

the find

whole lot better.  Mom is too because she had visions of allergies and all sorts of stuff...  she's like that you know.  We're both sleeping better too.

Then there's Monty who has been having digestion issues which resulted in pretty nasty stuff, if you know what I mean.  Mom says, "Is nothing sacred?"  I say, "We talk about my issues so Monty is fair game."  Anyway, he was taken off all his supplements, which didn't help, and then put on this vet prescribed kibble for sensitive stomachs.  Pretty blah!  Not nearly as good as what I get, poor boy.  I don't think he cares, you know he eats anything and just wolfs this stuff down.  So far he's improving.  Dad says  97% but we won't make a declaration for a couple of weeks then maybe he will get his fish oil back...that really helped him not shed so much and THAT is gooood.

We planted a whole bunch of stuff at our new house and everything is doing quite well but the

for Halloween

problem is we are at the beach most of the time and our zucchini gets too big to really enjoy.  Monty got some of the beans that are too fat and now Mom's afraid that he's going to start picking them himself.  I have been checking the strawberries and there have been a few more of the wild ones ready to eat so.....I ate them!  Look at these big orange things.  Mom says they are for Halloween, but I don't remember what that is.

This weekend is our Porti show and Mom isn't taking me!  I really don't think it's fair but she said she's working and taking care of judges so I would just have to sit in a crate.  If I stay home, Dad will probably take me for a nice walk and after the weekend is over we are going back to the beach for awhile.  Then she's leaving me home to take care of the boys for a WHOLE WEEK to go to the Porti National.  That will be quite a responsibility but I'm up for it.

                              Later,   
                                     Juno

Look What I Got

my new couch

 

This is just pretty cool!  Mom's been spending money lately...of course, what else should she do with it?  She does it really well but whatever she does, I'm sure it's for me.  We have this really cool new couch which I think came from a cow.  The second time I tried to jump on it I slid right off!  Now there's a small quilt so it doesn't happen again. 

We had been at the beach for a long time and came home to do some stuff.  Dad found this cute little stuffed hippo on the beach so Mom brought it up on the deck to dry.  Then she pounded the sand out, washed it and gave it to us.  Monty hasn't even chewed it's ears off.  Sure hope some little kid isn't crying because he lost his toy, we'll take good care of it.  Every night at the beach we have something called the cocktail hour and Mom and Dad have something to drink and some of these little cracker chips that Dad loves.  He usually throws some for Monty and me...we're all family, you know.  After THEY are finished the bag gets put up on top of the refrigerator but I usually want more so I sit in front of the refer and sing.  Hasn't worked yet but sometime it just might.

We had a party for Dad's brothers and sister the other day and that was fun because we got to come out of our deck pen and visit...well, beg too.  Dad's youngest brother is one of Mom's friends on FB and likes to read my blogs.  Paul said if I go more that 3 weeks without writing he gets worried about me.  Isn't that nice?  He has a new wife who is really special because she likes dogs and always spends
time talking to Monty and me.

singing for treats


One bad thing that happened this last time was the creosote I got in my paw.  Mom couldn't figure out what was making the spots on the carpet until I jumped into her lap.  Oh, oh!  Up on the table and out came the scissors.  Then my paw got rubbed with margarine and wiped with a rag.  The last part was paw in soapy water and a rinse.  You need to know I was a REALLY GOOD GIRL.  Course, Mom had liver sitting on the railing and I got a little bit every once in awhile.   It wasn't like the time Monty and I ran away from Dad when he let us go on the beach...actually, Monty was running away from me.  We went up behind the neighbor's house where there is major drainage from the hill and A LOT OF MUD.  Much easier to see what kind of trouble we got in since Monty is so blond but just then was black up to his stomach.  I didn't look dirty at all!  It was bath time for both of us.

Yesterday we went to a Water Trial in Enumclaw and I made some new friends.  I met an uncle named Apollo.  Didn't enter since I don't swim yet.  Maybe some day.


         That's it for now,
                                            Juno

 

I'm Still Here

fetching

Look what I did to make my mom and dad happy!  We were at the beach and Mom tossed this special toy in the water so...what does a water dog do?  She retrieves it without swimming.  Maybe next time I will be a little more adventurous and actually swim.  Don't want them to introduce me as the Portuguese Walking Dog.  It's been too hot to track so they're working on other stuff with me.  We just got back from the beach after a couple of days and will return on Monday.  Had to go over to get the place ready for Sarah and her family and meet the guy who will take care of the Mont when we


retrieving
 

go on a trip in October.  This guy, Gary, came to the house and met Monty and me.  Dad really liked him so that's where the blond boy will stay when we go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for Megan and Brad's wedding.  It should be fun and I'll get to see Megan's fur boys, Rodeo and Dutch, again.  Wonder if they will be in the wedding...I bet they will.  You might wonder why I get to go...wonder no more...I travel well so that's that!

bunny #3

bunny #1

Can't forget to wish you all a happy Fourth of July.  We came home to avoid all the sounds of WWIII that go on over there...some people call it the sound of freedom but Monty and I don't particularly care for it, matter of fact we hate it.  Mom and Dad hope the new neighborhood is quieter, guess we'll see.  Dad finally saw the bunnies in our yard last night.  Two of them were here so I'm a little worried about bunny number 3, he was the one that has ears with big notches in them.  They seem to like hiding in the thick plants in the front yard...of course I don't chase them!  Mom told me it was a don't.  They don't seem to bother our little garden of vegetables but then there are no carrots in it.

Dad just brought me in the house and told Mom that I was filthy dirty!  Said he tried to brush the debris out of my coat but I wouldn't stand still...debris????  That's just the stuff from nature one collects when she's out having fun in the bushes. Stand still??? Monty's the one who stands still, doesn't he know that?  I have a special table where I get beautified...Mom says that's next on the agenda.

It looks like Sarah's girls are having a good time at the beach.  They were at the slug races, rode ponies, watched the parade and had ice cream cones.  I hope people didn't bring their dogs out...even though it's cooled off, it can be pretty crowded. 

I guess I really don't have much news but thought I'd better let my friends know I was still writing.

                                                                        Juno


 

Almost Summer

It's sure been nice around here lately.  We've been spending a lot of time in the backyard and learning not to bark at the neighbor dogs...actually, Monty has been learning that because I don't need to  More time in the backyard means more snooping around time though and guess what I found.  Remember those plastic and rubber frogs I dug out of the rocks around the pond?  Well...Mom hid them, or so she thought, in a bucket under a bench.  Not a very good idea because my nose is pretty good and I found them!  She couldn't figure out what I was playing with so came out to see...now they are really gone.  Can't find them anywhere.  I did find a clump of grass that that landscape guy put in which caught my fancy...pulled it up and was having a wonderful time tossing and chasing it...well, not exactly chasing since it didn't run away.  Was fun while it lasted.

after the trim
 

Mom is trying to make me look like Janet did when she groomed me.  It seems to be taking a few days.  She was using the clippers on my rear end and all of a sudden I heard "oops".  Now my rear cheeks don't match. Maybe she should just try a lion cut...Dad would have a fit and I'm not sure Mom could do it right so I'd probably be embarrassed. When I am up on the grooming table I can see everything going on in the street so it's rather fun.  I do watch for the little bunnies so they don't get in Mom's garden. One time a rabbit ran right across the driveway and into the flowers, I tried to go after it but was called back...because I'm so good, I came!

the bath

We've been getting Dad ready to take Tantivy to Canada where he will do the first leg of the Van Isle Race...that's sailing in case you weren't aware.   Two years ago he did the whole thing and we tracked them on the computer because the boats have some kind of gizmo on them.  Anyway Monty and I will have to take care of Mom and protect her while he's gone and I'm going to have to track her this week instead of Dad.  We went to Kelsey Creek Park today just to see how I'd do...well, don't wonder because I did great!  Dad put a sock at the start that smelled pretty good and livery so I guess they need to wash socks and use the same one for the end find.  We did a 200yd track but the cover wasn't much.  Showed them I knew what I was doing even if I did have to roll in goose stuff a couple of times...wonder what happens in a test if Mom says "Don't!" when I do that.

Not too much news lately.

                                                  Juno





 

Sometimes I Just Don't Know

Annie and me
The story wasn't very interesting.
It was in Greek.

We went tracking today at Luther Burbank Park and I was supposed to do a track that had aged so Mom made a lunch and we were sitting at the picnic table with Dad enjoying the sunshine when a doodle dog went by with her owner.  Her owner had one of those chuck it things and they went down the hill from us while we, well Mom and Dad, held their breath.  Mom says our friend, Rebecca, will appreciate this.  The lady let her dog off leash and she, the dog, was running all over chasing birds.  Looked like she had the zoomies since the lady didn't even "chuck" the ball.  That doodle's circle got bigger and bigger, back and forth across my track.  At least it didn't get big enough to find my liver stuffed sock!  Dog must have had a lousy nose.  Pretty soon along comes a lab off leash!  There is a dog area at this park and it's very nice, more about that later.  At least the lab got doodle back for its owner.  Dad went down and started pulling our flags, but when he got to the end, he made it the beginning of a short straight track just so I could do some work.  This is the part that's getting pretty funny...as I get closer to the end, I speed up and Mom has to trot and let out all of the 40ft. line.  If you know my mom, you'd laugh too. 

After that little track, we walked down to the dog park I mentioned which also has a swimming area.  If you know anything about me, you know that I don't swim yet.  Mom and Dad think that I might be more amenable to going in the water if there are other dogs there.  Well, I did go in but just wading.  I waded along the shore and went outside the official doggy fence.  Mom couldn't see me so, of course, got worried.  I had gone ashore and taken the path right back inside the dog park.  I say, "Good girl, Juno."  There was this big, and I mean BIG guy there who noticed that when Mom told me "front" and I came running to sit for her, I'd get a treat and....it was liver!  Every time she  called me, he was right there and very politely sat when she told him.  "Good boy, Big Guy."  I think we are going back to that park but probably earlier in the day if we do a track before all the irresponsible people come.

After we left Luther Burbank, we went to another park someone had told us about.  I think it's the home of the cottonwood trees!  We walked across the grass and Mom's sandals were covered with white cotton and so were my feet.  I don't have white feet!  We waded in the water for a little bit but won't go back until fall because they don't allow dogs from June 1-Sept 15.

my spa

Guess what I got!  Well, Monty and I got it...a Buster Bath and a warm, water mixing faucet in the garage.  I had a bath in it already and so did the Mont.  I wonder if he will do it again...he's rather smart because he knew when Mom was ready to do his face and started backing out. It might be a little chilly in the winter but then she will probably have the garage insulated for us.  This is another thing I wonder about...what was wrong with the bathtub?  Mom said it's really for her and not us 'cause her body isn't young anymore...remember that bit about Mom having to trot to keep up.  Dad says she'll have to practice...trotting that is.

Off to the beach this week. 

                                                              Juno
 

Thank Goodness

my friend the owl

Thank goodness Rally class is over!  I did learn a lot but that was because Mom was working with me at home on our street.  That place we went was not to my liking!  It was big and echoy; Mom says that's not a word but that's what it was.  She said I'd been there before but that was with a whole bunch of PWDs.  One night part of the fence around the working area fell down and scared the ...out of me, well not really but you know what I mean.  Whenever we went through the course I lagged behind Mom and didn't really pay much attention...even when she had cooked liver for me. Just trying to send her the message that I do not like this place or time...That's another thing, we started class at 7:30pm!  Doesn't she know that's going to bed time?  Well it's over and we'll see what she comes up with next!

You know this new house of ours?  Mom and Dad have been having all sorts of stuff done.  The biggest part was when they moved the fence back and had new landscaping put in.  I'll see if I can put the video on this blog.  The new plants are really quite nice and sturdy as well.  At first Mom and Dad were worrried that we might destroy the new grass and beds but we are pretty careful when we tear around.  I run mostly next to the fence and leap over the smaller stuff.  Monty LOVES the grass and is rolling in it all the time.  Of course I have to yap and jump him when he does but that seems to get me in trouble and I have to go in the house. Monty gets in trouble when he barks at the neighbor dogs.  Dad keeps saying "Our dogs don't bark."  Ya' think he's serious? 

Monty's ducky

Things are starting to grow up around the pond and there's a yellow ducky in it now.  Speaking of ducks...our friend, Granny Sandy, has a new PWD puppy named Ducky...what a name.  Anyway this duck floats from the top part of the pond and gets stuck on the flat rock that the water flows over unless somebody pushes it off.  Monty gets pretty concerned about the duck even when it goes into the lower part of the pond.  He does a lot of talking to it and I thought he was going to retrieve it once but that's a bit beyond his abilities...maybe he'll fall in one of these days.

Tracking continues to be my sport of choice, it gets Mom and Dad out together with me.  Last Monday we went to this field that used to be part of the Bellevue airport and now has Microsoft and Boeing offices all around it.  Some people use it as an off leash park but it isn't really.  Dad put in a

nice long track with a couple of corners.  I didn't start out too well because there was a lot to smell but then started working when a lady walked across our track with an off leash dog, at least the dog stayed with her.  Then this guy comes along with another dog who he let off leash.  Mom thought we were going to be OK but the second dog decided to come say hello.  She told Dad maybe we better abandon the track and the guy with the dog came over and started chatting about his dog.  Mom told him we were working but it didn't make an impression!  He finally took his dog off and guess what!  I found my track and went on to the end.  AM I GOOD OR WHAT!!!  Yesterday, I did another one at Marymoor.  Mom says we're getting there. Maybe we'll get to track with Val and Sid next week.

Here's hoping the sun comes back!

       Best to all,
                 Juno 

Happy Easter

Monty and me with my new haircut
 

So much to tell you about.  I have finished my tracking classes and now Mom and I are on our own!  The last class was another beautiful day in Bow, don't think we had any bad weather just some cold and a bit of wind but no rain. However...my track on Saturday was in the WET field!  Why did I get that one?  My paws were really muddy and I had to stand with one lifted out of the muck so I could think about the track. Mom said I would have a spaw treatment when we got home...more about that later.  All of us in the class got these diplomas from Pattie...they were neat but Mom let me eat mine before she took a picture.  It was string cheese with a piece of black yarn tied around it.  Pretty clever!



recapturing the frogs
 

I think I told you about the pond getting cleaned but I didn't tell you about them not putting all the frogs back in the rocks so I could find them again...kind of like Easter eggs.  Mom had put the frogs on the outside table thinking I couldn't get them...humm...never underestimate a Porti!  We were on the patio enjoying the sun and they were having a little liquid refreshment so I got up on my hind legs to get my frogs...yes, they are mine just like everything else.  Dad pushed me down so I went to the other side of the table and tried again but couldn't quite reach with my mouth...so...what are those front paws for?  You got it, I can kind of pull them towards me.  Busted!  Dad moved them completely out of reach!  No fair!  He probably ought to put them away someplace.




                                                                                                                                                                         

haircut
 

Remember I mentioned the spaw treatment...that means a bath which I don't mind.  I was also going to go to our friend Janet's house so she could help Mom learn more about grooming me.  The water in our tub was pretty dirty after that track I ran...then Monty and I had a great time
outside in the sunshine on Monday.  That led to ANOTHER bath Tuesday morning so we could go to Janet's in the afternoon.  "You should see me now..."  I think that's part of a song.  I had my first really good trim and must say I look pretty good.  That Janet is super and I was a good girl about all the fussing and stuff.  Dad says he can't call me a furball anymore...Janet says I'm a plush furball.  My coat does shine!  Probably a good thing my weight is up to 42# or I'd be a skinny minnie.

Monty's monkey

Well, tomorrow is Monty's birthday!  The old boy is going to be 7 and Mom says that's starting his senior years.  I'll see that he gets lots of exercise so he will stay healthy.  We got him 2 new stuffed toys from the Goodwill and, of course, the snake got its head chewed open immediately...wasn't worth fixing so it went in the trash.  The other one is a monkey that kinda looks like his amputee bear but in better shape.  We play tug with the monkey and it seems to be holding up even when we give it the death shakes.

Tomorrow Dad and Monty are going to the beach and Mom and I will go on Friday morning.  We have to make a trip down to GIG Harbor on the way because Mom wants to see Annie's puppies before they go to their new homes.  Well, they are really Savvy's puppies but you know what I mean.

Hope all you humans get chocolate Easter bunnies...keep them away from us canines.


                                                        Happy Easter,
                                         Juno


 

This Tracking Business

checking on the cook

The last time they took me tracking, I wasn't very good.  You can hardly blame me 'cause listen to this.  Mom drove down to the park by us and put out a track, Dad walked me down.  There is hardly any reason to follow the scent on the track when the person whose scent it is is on the other end of the line.  Now tell me I'm right.  What do they take me for??  Then, just this morning Mom got up really early so I figured we were going to class...oh NO, NO, NO...she had tracking clothes on and everything but DID NOT TAKE THE TRACKING DOG!  I know she had explained that she was going to a test to lay track for another dog and that she would go back on Sunday for the test.  I sang and sang to her but it didn't work.  What's a girl to do?  She said that Sarah, Ace and Ray were going with her on Sunday because Sarah needs to get out and can't drive yet because of her shoulder surgery.  That's real nice of her BUT, what about me?

soaking wet

the back corner

This new house is changing.  Mom and Dad had the three big laurels in the back yard taken out and the stumps ground...well...that opened up a world of opportunities!  There's lots of little sticks to chew on and then there are a few chunks of wood that I can tear around with and toss up in the air.  Probably best is to get the blond boy out there and roll him in the dirt!  Now they're going to move the fence back because we own 10ft beyond where it is now. It's probably a good thing there's more room to run because if I want more food, and I do, I've got to do a bit more running, if you get my drift. Even Mom is calling me chunky.  Soaking wet I don't look like a skinny minnie anymore.

checking for frogs

This week is going to be busy.  Besides the fence moving and more laurels being taken out,  the deck is going to get fixed.  There's a big hole where the hot tub used to be.  Kinda fun to jump down there and snoop around.  Then some guy is coming to drain, clean the pond, and tell Mom and Dad how to take care of it,  I will be a big help on that project because, ya' know, I'm a water dog.


Later,  Juno

Things Have Been Happening

found a frog


 

Life has certainly been interesting lately...and cold!  It is finally warming up but that just means it's raining!  Being a water dog it really isn't a problem.  Ya know that pond in or new backyard?  Well I've been walking around the rocks and occasionally getting a drink but guess what I found...FROGS.  Don't get too excited because they're just plastic ones.  Some are big and some are smaller...Mom takes them away because I chew off their heads.  There's this duck in the water too but I can't get it out yet...that requires going in the water. 

Portie Portal
 

getting Monty off the bed

Ya know Monty has issues about a lot of things and one of them is jumping off the bed.  He loves to get up there with me but then he wines and cries because he's afraid to jump off.  I think it's because the floor is kind of slippery.  I do talk and sing to him trying to get him off.  Now we have a bigger issue with the bed, at first I couldn't figure it out because Mom and Dad were moving beds around and one even left the house with a stranger.  Then there was this thing they called a bed frame in the big bedroom but there was no bed on it...very confusing and puzzling.  I had to keep going in to check on it, but still no bed.  Finally these men came with the mattress and boy is it BIG, I think the whole family can sleep in it.  The new bed is kind of high but, having springs in my back legs sure helps...guess who has trouble getting off.  There's this cool place in the dining room where, if I get on my hind legs, I can supervise the cooking but not get in the way.  I call it the Portie Portal.

Started Tracking Class on January 19th.  Mom and I got up really early and drove up to Bow...it took about an hour and a half.  The weather was cold and foggy.  There are about 5 other dogs in the class but no other PWDs.  All of us dogs did really well...at least our teacher said so.  I would have done better if Mom hadn't been standing on my last article...took her awhile to figure out what she was doing. She had taken her camera with us but when she went to take pictures, it said that the battery was exhausted.  That's pretty funny!  Then last Saturday we had our second class...I tracked right through water...dead on!  Wooowe!  Today we went back to our old house and Dad gave me 3 tracks, two with corners.  He ran out of flags for the last one so Mom didn't know where we were supposed to go.  I DID!!!  Even ran the last little bit because I knew we were close.

a water hog rug

You know with this new house we keep getting new stuff.  I told you about the beds, but today a package arrived with a "water hog rug" in it.  Guess who that's for!  Mom got tired of all the towels and blankets so she hopes this works.  I think I told you that sometimes we go in through the garage and use that paw cleaner which really does clean the paws.  I'll let you know how it works.

The other thing we did today was stop at the Vet's so I could get weighed...Dad is calling me "Chunky". Well...39.9# guess that's pretty close to 40#.

A New Year

Add caption

Mom said If I wanted to do a blog the next couple of weeks that I'd better do it now or she couldn't help.  You remember that we just moved to a new house...well, the old one has to be sold and I guess it's going on the market soon.  That means they have some major work to do.  Mom said it's called cleaning and I said it's called leaving us home by ourselves.  Hope someone buys it fast!

my stocking
Monty already did his

Christmas was quiet around here but I think I ate too many treats.  We got stockings full of stuff.  I got a new pink piggy with a squeaky in it and a bone to chew.  Monty got a bone too but lost it in about an hour  because he chews so hard he it splinters.  Being the gentle dog that I am my bone did not get damaged but I had to put it away so the Mont wouldn't get it. 

I just knew this was going to happen!  Mom started helping me with this blog and then she stopped so she could go work on the old house which seems to wear her out.  It is almost ready though and will probably go on the market this weekend.  Monty and I don't get to go back and say our farewells because Mom and Dad think we will mess it up!  Ya think???  Anyway, I'll be glad when it's gone because then they can spend more time on us, as it should be.  New problems with the blog!  I couldn't get pictures loaded like I use to and Mom gets pretty frustrated when things don't go right with the computer. We've had several issues lately.  Thank goodness we have a Patrick...but Mom figured it out all by herself after several days of thinking.  I'm so proud of her.                                               

on Sarah's couch

We went to visit my friends Ace, Ray and Sarah because Mom had to take something to their house.  That Ray, he's just a lot of fun to play with and we got to mess around outside and Sarah kept taking stuff out of their toy basket. The best part was getting up on the couch with Sarah and Ace, Sarah didn't know that I can just scoot into small places.

paw plunger

This new house has great dirt in the planting beds and a natural course for zooming so, of necessity, I need to use it.  Good exercise, you know.  Well, also good for dirty feet, don't ya know.  Monty gets dirty feet when he does his "macho dog" scratching after he does "you know what" but you can see his dirt because he's so blond.  Mom got me this new thing called a Paw Plunger...she thinks it's great, but the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned. When she thinks I'm muddy I go up on the grooming table in the garage and my feet go into this scrubber thing . You should see the dirty water she dumps out! Well, it makes her happy and that's important.


                                                          Stay dry and healthy,
                                              Juno