One Bite - 5/2/10

Hi. GG, the Las Vegas Cockapoo, here. I just wanted to tell you about my food system. You see, I'm not big on eating on command ... unless it involves potato chips or chicken. So, when Mom puts my dog food in my bowl, I rarely eat it right away.

When I was growing up, Mom used to put my dish on the counter in the late afternoon if I had not eaten all of it. I think she didn't like me going outside through my doggy door in the middle of the night. I'm not afraid of the dark but I think she is, or something. She shouldn't be ... I would protect her ... I know I would.

Anyway, as I was saying, she used to take away my food ... oh yeah, I said that. Anyway, so I started a redistribution plan. I developed this system whereas I took pieces of my food out of my bowl and put them in various places throughout the house. Usually, I lay them here and there on the floor or in my bed or even in the bathroom ... just in case I find them and realize I'm hungry. Then I eat them ... sometimes days later. This way, a midnight snack is not out of the question.

Well, as you can see in the picture above, I can be quite a creative canine. I laid this bite of food on the top of the back of the sofa. You see, this is creative because I'm not even allowed on the sofa when Mom or Dad isn't on the sofa. So, I had to think of this at night when they were asleep. That way, they never knew I had gotten up on the sofa to put it there. Then a few nights later, I remembered where it was and I got up there and ate it. I just crack me up!

GG's Easter Vacation

With the wind under my ears, we were off! Aw, Dad, com'on. You don't need a soda! Let's get this show on the road! ... As long as we aren't going to the vet ... or the groomer's ... or anywhere else that requires a separation policy. Hey, so far, so good. I've never seen this road before. What's up? Probably, it's not the vet. I'm good. As long as these boxes don't come crashing down on me when Dad puts on the brakes, I'm good. Are those potato chips for me? Pardon me, sir. Might I have a potato chip? Please, please, please. Okay... I'll just lay down. But, I'm not taking my eyes off these boxes.

Hmm! That sign. I think Mom said Calee- fournya state line. Wow! That's pretty far to go for a walk. We couldn't be going to the vet. Or, the groomer. I'm really sleepy but I'm not taking my eyes off these boxes. No way. Hey, we're slowing down. A turn! Where are we? No, it's not the vet. Or, the groomer. Mom, why are you asking me to "get busy" in this dirt? Grass, Mom, I need grass!



I remember this pen! It's been a long time but I remember it. I used to climb up the sides of it. Now, I just stay inside it just to humor Mom and Dad. I could probably leap out of here with one push of the old paws. Thanks, Mom. My ball! You brought it! This is fun! I think the ball should go under all of these blankets. The dirt is an added pleasure. Dirt and blankets everywhere! Oops, the ball is in the water. How did that happen? Fun, fun, fun!

What? ... I was just playing with my ball, Mom. You gave it to me to play with, didn't you? I love my ball. How about some food? Thanks. I'll put one little piece of food here on the bed. Three here in the towel. Two here in the blanket. Oh, and a couple here in the corner of the pen. Now. I'll hunt for them and eat them.

All fun things come to an end some time. I went for a walk with Dad and when I came back there was this new blanket under my pen and it didn't scratch up very easy. So much for playing "hide the ball in the blankets." All I have to do now is chase the shade. Man! It sure is hot in the sun. That shady spot is getting smaller and smaller. Mom keeps moving my pen. That food sure smells good. I wonder what else we will do.

These are a few pictures of things I saw on my walk with Dad. There were so many things to see at my eye level. Flowers and bugs and stuff.

A cactus flower and bee.







A yellow flower and little butterfly.







Twin other yellow flowers.







A strange bird.







A strange two-headed bug.







A pretty white flower.







And, a little purple ball.








Then, we went for a drive. I was so glad to get back in the car. It was hot in my pen.

Mom and Dad kept stopping to go out and look at things. Dad would always come back to the car first and he would start the car. When he started the car, cold air would begin blowing.

I have no idea what they were looking for. Maybe they lost something.

Finally, we stopped at someone's house. There were no dogs there. Come to think of it, there weren't enough walls for a dog to be there.

We went back to the place where my pen was. Mom and Dad ate more good-smelling food. Then we all got into the car. "This was a highlight," I thought. We all went to sleep. Then, I woke up and my whole body was shaking and I wasn't even scratching! Mom beckoned me to her arms and I was so glad she was awake. I shook and shook and shook. I could tell that Mom was doing her best to comfort me but it wasn't until Dad woke up and allowed me to climb in between them that I got much relief. Boy, oh, boy, it was cold!

Finally, it was morning! Phew! What a night! We packed up the car after Dad took another nice long dip in the hot springs and went home. I slept in my own bed the rest of the day. The End.

Adult Content

Sometimes I just forget myself!

The other day, Dad was laying on the couch and I was on the floor. He reached down to find something to rub ... I really like that ... and, well, I wanted my tummy rubbed.

Mom wondered what happened to the other half of her dog. (Photo blurred due to x-rated content.)

Me & My Ball

This is me asking for my ball. I do this every morning if Mom is home. For some reason she makes me wait and wait. Then, suddenly, she gets up and says something like, "Okay. It's tenaclok. Wanyer BALL?" Now, "BALL," I understand. The rest, who knows.

Anyway, first I take my ball to my hallway rug and love on it a little. Then, I bring it into the living room where my bed is and play hide the ball in the bed, then try to find it. Great fun! Sometimes my bed ends up in the middle of the living room after an especially rambuncious play session.

Then, I start throwing my ball down the stairs. Let me explain. The stairs are in two parts and are made of bare wood. So, I drop it down the first set of stairs and watch it bounce loudly on each step. I love that! Then, I run after it and throw it down the second set of steps. Now. This is when I feel my Mom cringe. I have no idea why. When the ball hits the bottom floor, it makes an especially satisfying hollow noise. I try to communicate with MiniLou, my Chihuahua girlfriend in the loft below us that it is time to get up. I just don't understand why my Mom doesn't understand this.

So, anyway, sometimes, just for variety, I throw the ball kind of to the side on the lower set of steps. I forget that this is bad. The ball ends up behind that monstrosity that I think Mom calls the pano. I can't get it out from behind the pano. So, I scratch a little against the steps and wait. Sometimes I have to wait quite a while until Mom realizes that things got a little quiet. Finally, Mom comes down and moves the pano and I go in for the ball. I'm very careful when I do this to make sure I don't drop it again inside the pano.

Another dangerous situation that I get myself into on the lower level is that my ball escapes me under the small bed. I know I can go under the bed but you have to understand ... there are wires under there! Yes, wires. I have had a very bad experience involving a wire and my tongue when I was a puppy. I don't like wires. So, once again, I wait for Mom to figure out that something is wrong. (She figures it out eventually.) She comes downstairs and moves one of the wires and gives me moral support while I dog crawl under the bed and grab the ball. It's kind of like an obstacle course. I try not to touch any of the other wires while dog crawling and holding a huge tennis ball in my mouth. When I get out with the ball, Mom tells me that I'm a very brave girl.

GG's Message

Hi! Yes, I know it has been a while since we talked. First of all, my life was kind of turned upside down last year. I think it was that "conami" thing. I have new digs and I really kind of like them. I have new friends and new smells. When I look out the window, I see something besides the backyard. Sometimes I see people and sometimes I see my friends. And, I really love to lay out on the balcony where I am above it all.

I've gotten used to not having a doggie door. It's okay. I know how to tell Mom that it's time to take me out. Sometimes I have to stand on my head but she gets the message.

My Mom and Dad have been very busy for about six months with moving and working and stuff. But I think I feel that things are beginning to settle down. Soon, my Mom will post some pictures of the cacti collection. Not a lot has been happening on that front but they have grown over the winter a little. She lost several of the cacti due to the move but since there is limited space here, it is just as well. We are all looking forward to the day when my Mom can put the cacti out on the balcony. Winter lodging for the little sticky creatures is tight.

I also have a few new games that I play here at the chicken loft. I'll have to tell you about them in the future.

Just wanted you to know that I'm still here and I would like to keep writing when I have a chance. GG

GG's New Loft

Some people have asked how GG likes her new home. Perhaps a picture will tell a thousand words. GG is very comfortable and loves being with Daddy wherever he is. She likes the courtyard where she takes a walk about 30 times a day and she loves playing hide and seek with her balls and chasing them and her toys down the steps. She sleeps very well and has adjusted to life without a doggie door very well. She taught herself how to tell us when she needs to go out and it almost sounds like she's trying to speak. It sounds kind of like a guttural growl and bark and mumble. But she definitely gets her point across. The problem is that she also loves to go out and see her friends of which she now has many. I wish she could differentiate her requests to go out so that I would know the reason for the walk.

GG & The Bear

Hi everyone. Las Vegas Cockapoo here! Things are happening! For some reason, my Mom and Dad are removing stuff from my house and then they appear at this other place ... something called the "chicken loft." (Okay, it's a long story.) Anyway, when they say we are going to the chicken loft, they put my bed in the floor of the passenger seat because the back end is full of stuff and I get in. I'm very happy there as I am right next to my Mom and she reaches down once in a while to give me a rub ... not to mention the cool air from the AC blowing on me for the 35 minute ride. We get there and I get to pee first. I really like my pee place. There are a lot of great new smells.

Anyway, as sooon as we go inside, I have my ball and orange man right there. I don't have to ask for them ... they are just right there. COOL! I'm finding a couple of great places to put the ball and try to get it. The only one that Mom didn't like was over the balcony outside. I don't get to take the ball out there anymore. But, I do love to drop the ball down the steps. COOL! COOL! COOL!

I have noticed that the things that disappear at our house are showing up at the chicken loft. Hmmmm.

Back to the picture above. While my Mom was packing things up, her bear which was a gift from a dear friend of hers, ended up on the floor. I sniffed and prodded that bear for several days while trying very hard to behave myself and not tear its insides out. Finally, my Mom gave the bear to me as a photo op. That lasted about 8 hours before I began to tear its insides out. Mom took it from me right away. Gee! I was just getting to the good stuff ... ing.