Back in action, just like before.

How much swimming can a dog fit into her life? Don't get me wrong. I love it, especially if you involve a couple of balls. It has been hot here for the longest time. Too hot to stay outside very long. So all my activity is crammed into the evening when the moon is up.

I am 3 years old now and I understand a lot more than I did before. Homie says that I have changed and I believe I heard her mutter 'thank goodness' under her breath. Can't have been that bad, can it?

The other day a neighbor said, "Athena has filled out nicely". Before she was gone I ran to the mirror and took a good look, and you know what? She was right. I have changed. I have filled out and by the look of things in all the right places. I must ask Homie to buy me a new collar, this one is, well..... so childish. I need something more grown-up and feminine.

Dog Park

I looked at Homie and didn't quite believe what she was saying. "Go to a dog park 3 hours away, when I have the biggest and best dog park just behind the house?!" was all I could think.

Of course, when we got there it was fun although some of the dogs didn't have the best manners but Homie says neither do I sometimes. My friends Maddie and Snorkel were there too so we made quite a little party.

Do you know the expression, "Talk to the tail", Homie knows all about it.

Puddles after the rains.

The rain left enormous puddles behind my house. Not that I mind of course, because I love splashing through water.

Doggie blues.

I spent a couple of weeks in the kennel while Homie went traveling. We missed each other a lot. I was mindlessly barking along with the others at the kennel when suddenly I heard her voice saying: waar ben je? (code language). I was silent in an instant and just stared dumbfounded. Who would have thought that she would ever return?
I then jumped so high to get out of the kennel, Homie could actually see my head above the 6 ft fence. I could look over but not jump over. Homie was worred because she thought I might hurt myself.

I had been so miserable, and Homie could see that, but after a cuddle and a long run, I was back to my old self. It was better than a marinated raw-hide chew to curl up next to Homie again.

Now I will get to travel with Homie. We are going on a business trip soon. When she looks at me Homie shakes her head and says: 'I am crazy' (she also speaks non-code language quite well). I guess she means 'crazy in love' because that what it looks like to me.

Last night I was a little worried I might have messed up and have to stay home. I had taken the sheets and comforter off the bed and piled them in a heap in the corner of the room. Oh Homie didn't like that at all. She wagged her finger and said I was bad, bad, bad. Tell ya I was really concerned. Uh oh, I shouldn't have done that, I thought but I always think of the right thing to do a little too late.

Life with dewclaws.

I have an ouwie. I am sure that you will want to know. I was romping around the usual way in my heap of interesting objects that I keep on the deck and before I knew it I felt a pang of pain and saw my nail hanging in some strawberry netting. It hurt (not the nail but my ouwie) but I didn't make a big issue out of it at all.

My nail was interesting and I could see Homie looking at me curiously, the way she does when I do something she doesn't understand. Then she heard me crack it between my teeth and she jumped up. She just didn't understand what it was that I had in my mouth and of course, I kept my mouth shut really tightly because I wasn't going to share this yummy treat with Homie.

Then later she saw me licking my dewclaw and I could see a light bulb go on above her head.

You see, the breeder removed my front dewclaws but not those on my back legs and the groomer always leaves them a little long. Sorta cool looking seeing Homie won't let me have a tattoo or pierce my ears.

Naturally we now have a little machine that Homie has let me lick and sniff for a couple of days. It whirrs, which is a little scary. Yesterday Homie filed down my nails with it. I think this is going to be a weekly procedure so good job I like the attention I get and it doesn't hurt me at all.

My dewclaw is growing again but still looks like a funny little stump. Knowing Homie I think I can put long nails as part of my look out of my head from now on.

Kiss a frog.

Since I haven't heard from Max, Homie said that maybe I should kiss a frog. This morning, waddaya know, there was a frog swimming laps in the pool. Cool as a cucumber. I can hardly imagine that Homie was serious when she said I should kiss something that small, besides he was icky looking. She is telling me fairy tales again. At first I thought well maybe I should just gobble him up. He looked as tasty as a lizard which is nothing like something as good as chicken, but I like to play with my food and lizards give you a fun hard time, but, boy, frogs give you the hardest time. They just swim under water, back and forth, with their long legs and there is no way for me to catch one because I like to keep my ears dry.

I wonder what would happen if I kissed a frog? Homie just leaves me hanging without an answer. Now I am going to have to find out for myself. I am going to practice kissing from now on. Everyone I meet, I will jump up and give them a couple of kisses on the lips.
Up till now no one has seemed to like it. They all turn their face away and make a fuss. NO jumping, NO licking, so NO kisses either, I guess.

No wonder I am confused at times.

Update: The next day I saw my frog in the pool again again and delicately between two teeth, I saved him from drowning. He hopped around for a while and I kissed him. Without any warning he suddenly expired, I think out of pure excitement. Buried him under the bush and am still confused.