It's Snowing Outside

I had no idea what this white fluffy wet stuff was. All I knew is that something was going on. The weather turned to freezing and where there was grass, flowers and trees before now has this cold, white blanket of what they call snow.

I like licking the snow. It kind of reminds me of what mommy puts in my water bowl. Yet, this white stuff gives me brain freeze.

Mommy insists on dressing me up every time I go outside. At first I hated this because I'm a dog. I don't need a coat, a scarf and boots to go outside. I thought I could handle this winter stuff, but once I step outside and feel the icy sidewalk and the freezing wind, I understand why mommy dresses me the way she does. I'm grateful she does this. If it wasn't for her crazy outfit I would just shake and stay put in one place.

Many of you are laughing at my outfit. I know it makes me look like an old lady, but if you squint and tilt you head to the left I look like the most adorable dog you have ever seen. Don't you agree with me?

X-mas Card Perfect

Ever since that day in November when mommy baked this huge bird – unfortunately it wasn't for me – she has been going crazy about something called Christmas.

I don't remember ever celebrating this but I'm happy about all the things that are happening around the house.

Mommy brought and elf, his name is Ralphie and I love him. He kind of reminds me of one of my toys, but every time I try to get near him (and I don't do this too often), mommy and master tell me to leave him alone. Maybe once my human companions go to bed I'll get to play with Ralphie.

There is also this tree inside the house. At first I thought it was a real tree and I was so happy. With the cold winds outside nothing will make me happier than being able to go do my thing in a warm place. I went over to smell the tree and was so disappointed to find out it was a fake. I guess I won't be going there.

Mommy keeps bringing out boxes full of decorations for the tree. If the tree is not a real one it has to have a purpose and my guess is its purpose is to stand there and get decorated. The tree also has some boxes wrapped in a funny paper. They don't smell like anything I want to eat or play with so I'm just going to leave them alone.

I hear some of the boxes are for me but I've sniffed and sniffed and I don't think I want to open any of those boxes. They just don't smell like something I want.

X-mas card perfect

The other day mommy got all crazy because she hadn't sent some Christmas card. She said she had no time to take a family picture since my master has been working late a lot. Somehow she decided that I would be the only one to appear on the card. Mommy grabbed a bow and a white blanket and set up the photo shoot in the middle of the living room. I didn't mind at all. Every time I did what mommy asked me to do I got a treat.

Well if Christmas will bring me as many treats as I got in this photo shoot I will love Christmas every year!

Trick or Treat

For Halloween mommy was super excited. She dressed me as a skeleton. I didn't keep the outfit on for more that 5 minutes. My back legs were a bit uncomfortable.

Mommy and I were waiting all afternoon for kids to come by, but only the neighbors came by. Now we have this huge bucket of chocolate left at home and I want to eat some. However, someone decided that chocolate is bad for dogs and now I can't have any. I guess my master will eat it as part of his lunch.

I wonder what I'll be next Halloween and if anyone will stop by to ask for candy.

Working From Home

I'm working too.

My days sometimes are lonely. Since mommy and master work from 9 to 5, I spend most of the day roaming around the house. I jump from the couch to mommy's bed, to the window seat and to the guest bedroom. I'm a good dog. Since I'm potty trained my humans don't have to worry about me making a mess. I don't chew on their shoes or underwear, that's what toys are for. The most trouble I can get into is by going under the bed blankets and unmaking the bed for mommy. She doesn't like that.

My humans come to see me every day during lunch time and I get so happy when I see them. Not only do I get to go outside and play with my neighborhood dog friends, but seeing my loved humans helps my day not be so lonely and boring.

Mommy gets to work from home a few days of the week and I love this. I can play with her when she is not too busy. I can ask her for treats and when I stare at her for a few minutes she takes me outside. I do this often, hahaha, but I don't always need to go. Sometimes the weather is nice and I just want to see if there is anyone out there. Some other times I just do it because I'm bored and I want mommy to stop working.

Don't get me wrong, I let her work a lot. I know she is busy and I know she loves her job. When I know she can't take me outside I lay next to her hoping that in between her typing and thinking she will lay her hand on my back and pet me. Working from home and next to mommy is the great. I just wish she could work from home every day or not work at all.

Graduation Day

For the past eight weeks I've been going to obedience class. I'm a smart dog. I've learn how to come when called, stay, lay down, stand, wrap around my master, drop an object when told to and leave it alone when asked. I tend to walk a bit ahead of my master, but maybe my master should just learn how to walk faster.

In the class I've made some friends. Mia, the German Shepherd, is my favorite. I get a little jealous when I see her playing with other dogs, but after today (graduation day) I wont have to share her with anyone else

Cooper, the Golden Retriever, is annoying. The trainer favors him and she thinks he is super smart. If you ask me, I think he is just a clown. He never listens to his master and I think he could have a hearing problem. Cooper is always jumping and barking around the classroom. He chases balls, bites on the leash and wants to wrestle with everyone. Maybe they'll ask him to repeat the class.

Miles, the Weimaraner, loves to whine. I don't know what is wrong with him, but his loud, pitchy whines, send me over the edge. He makes me nervous. Every time he  whines I get anxious and want to leave the class. Mommy thinks he is cute, but I just wish he would stop whining.

I was nervous for my final exam. Mommy wanted me to do well but all I want to do is get the class over with and not be around so many big dogs. After taking the exam, I placed fifth in the class (see my picture) and I saw that mommy wasn't too happy about this. My master kept telling her to be happy. I made the honor roll! Hopefully the sticker they gave her for my great achievement will make her happy.

The best part of the exam was watching Cooper placed second to last. hehehe. That made my night

Hello, My name is...

Obi One Kenobi, that's my name. My mommy and master just call Obi. My original name was Eddy Munster Jr., but once my mommy rescued me they decided to change my name. I'm so glad they did because I don't look like an Eddy. Maybe at times I can be a Munster (a.k.a monster) but for the most part I'm super well-behaved. I know my name has something to do with these Star Wars movies, but honestly, I've never seen any of them.

I was rescued around the time I turned 1 year old. I don't remember much from my previous family, but they tell me the family had two kids. I bet those kids are a handful. My original owners gave me up because of the kids and because they were too busy to train and deal with me. They also said I bit one of the kids, but all I can say is that if I did – and I'm not saying I did – it was well deserved.

For the most part if you leave me alone I won't bug you. I might come and sniff you, you know.  I just want to make sure you are friendly. When you ring the doorbell I always want to welcome you. I might jump and bark/howl a little, but that's just how I say hi. If you ignore me I'll sniff around you and then I'll go away.

My master says I have some issues, but as a family we're working on them. I get scared when I walk near loud cars and trucks. I don't like sharing my toys and don't you dare take my chewing sticks without asking me to drop them. I don't like walking when it is raining and when there is too much snow I need snow boots. I play very well one-on-one, but when I go on group, doggy-play-dates, bigger dogs scare and I snap. I get overwhelmed easily.

My trainer says I have fear aggression, and that I'm mostly all barks and no bites. I used to bite his shoe whenever he pretended to kick me, but who wouldn't? You need to defend yourself somehow, you know. He says that I must have been abused as a puppy and that is why I have these issues. He does recognize that with the training I have improved a lot; I don't bite his shoe anymore.

Mommy and master love me a lot, especially when I'm good. When I do something bad like pulling on the leash, snapping at people, barking excessively at innocent kids or strangers my mommy gets sad and my master just gets frustrated. But I'm working on my behavior.

You just have to be patient with me. Please get to know me. I do look cute and cuddly but you have to understand that I'm not like some other dogs that can be pushed around and all they do is wag their tails and lick your face. I'm different. I like my space and would appreciate if you respect it.