The Lucky Zen Dog

Dog Days Are Here - Remember to keep us cool

2008-07-23T08:49:00.002-04:00

Hot dog days are here - when all we are likely to do is find some cool spot and hang out and sleep. Recall my 'let sleeping dogs lay' post? Well, I am reminding you again, when it is this hot, we simply want to stay cool. When it is this hot, especially like me where I have two coats, I just want to sleep the hot afternoons away. So I am writing to remind you dogs to tell your Humans we too can suffer from heat.

Isn't it just like those Humans to want to drag us out while they do their chores, sitting in a hot car is the one time we rather have stayed at home in the cool air conditioning or sitting in front of a fan. I personally know where every fan is located in my home. I even get an ice cube to chew on when we come inside from my afternoon walk when it is this hot inside.

So me and my human share with you a few tricks and reminders on how to keep us furry lovable pals of yours cool. Make sure you tell your human!

We love to swim - ok well most of us. Just make sure there is fresh water available. And a towel to rub us off with, since we just know how you like to keep your car smelling like a wet dog. - Also make sure the water where we will be swimming is not too rough or deep for us, especially when taking us to someplace new that we haven't been before.
For some of us older dogs, a dog life vest is not a bad idea, in fact it is a good idea.
I know you are trying to lower your energy costs, but please keep the air moving and possibly leave the A/C on at 75 degrees.
This sounds so obvious, but please remember to have extra always fresh water available to us at all times! Heck I gots to share my water bowls with the cat, and we have three placed in various areas of our home, luckily!
If your human and you live in the city, remember to tell them that your paws can get hurt and burned just like your human. So a walk out in the middle of the day, is basically not so fun for us.

So keep cool, let your human know these tricks which I am sure they may know already, but sometimes they forget as humans do.

Share with me how your human gets you to cool off? Do you and your human have a special place where you go off and swim? Tell us, we would love to know!

Oooh its Hot in July and Also Hot in this Hat

2008-07-12T18:23:00.005-04:00

Well I must say I look pretty rediculous in this hat, but at least, it was photoshopped onto my head. I haven't been blogging as of late, since my Human has been extra busy putting up her stuff onto Etsy.com - YOu can find all your shhtuff at this link: http://Divaliscious.etsy.com.

She used this little image of my on her grouprecipes.com page for all her foodies to laugh at me, well you know I am one not to especially like all the fireworks. I definitely know that I am not the only canine with this dislike - why they have to have all those banging noises simply disrupts my naps, you know what I mean? Of course you do!

Things have been pretty calm here at my Human's household, nothing too special going on, she really hasn't even done a Dinner and Jam party for several months - and those I love - all those people and new smells coming into our house. And I simply adore the fact that some of those humans give me food for looking my cute self - ssh, my Human doesn't need to know about this. It is not like I am to fat, in fact I could use the gain a few pounds.

I did have a ball last week, since I haven't gotten my haircut for the summer yet, and I took to the Hudson River for a very long swim. You know, the usual, bring the stick back to the Human, just so they can throw it back - yet another reason to get up to them close when all wet and dripping and shake off the excess water like mad, so that it sprays your Humans... with all their squealing, they really seem to like and enjoy it. They should! It's cooling them off n'est pas?

I believe my Human took some video of it, she will be posting it soon enough. Tonight she is making some interesting fresh herbed grilled chicken, I am looking forward to her leftovers served over my dry kibble - yummers, along with a drizzling of fresh chicken stock. I am in love. Not necessarily with the human, but for that chicken!

Well Let me get back to napping - she is also trying some sort of new kind of Homemade Roverlicious Doggie Biscuits - she won't tell me the flavor just yet, but it does contain cheese. Another fave of mine, the my Human saying the word 'Cheese', always wakes me up from my nap - I can even recognize which sounds she makes in the refrigerator when she is opening up that special compartment which contains the cheeses, I will run from downstairs all the way up, and of course sit politely. In fact, i really do not have a preferred flavor, those I am partial to cheddar and real parmesan reggiano.

Happy St. Patty's Day from Theo - The Lucky Zen Dog

2008-03-16T14:59:00.005-04:00

Well with the luck of the Irish I got, I got to wear a leprechaun's hat today as my Human took a photo of me. Just lovely I say, just lovely.

You should have seen how long it took me to get used to the hat, then of course I thought it was all a game afterwards when the cat had her turn...hehehee. She wasn't able to stand as still as I, and since I have a larger brain, um I mean head, the hat suited me better.

The cat will just have to wait until she puts the bunny ears on her for Easter....

That's all I wanted to say - So have a happy St. Patty's Day - and if your curious, here's my Human's recipe for the Best Corned Beef and Cabbage and Corned Beef Hash recipes...

Oh and did I say you need to set a little aside for me to eat over my dry kibble? Yes, thanks in advance.

Warm regards, Theo

Do I Really Need to Wear a Coat - I Have Fur, You Wear the Coat Instead!

2008-02-28T09:57:00.005-05:00

I look absolutely thrilled to wear this thing don't I?!? Actually I was getting tired of waiting for my Human to get ready to play in the snow with me as I was anxious to go out, but then again, when you see the second photo of me, I am super happy to be wearing it in the snow.

Now, I normally have one heck of a fur coat - in fact, I even have an undercoat, and as we have mentioned before, I can shed a Pomeranian if my Human isn't looking at least once a week. (My Human thanks her wood floors for easier cleaning of my secret Pomeranian I have been hiding from her.)

Though the amount of shedding has decreased considerably now that my food allergies are under control, who knew I was so sensitive to dog food? Frankly, I always thought I was good enough to eat what was on the Human food plates anyhow. I guess that's why I sit down when they do eat and give them the 'look' - you know what 'look' I am talking about - the one that says 'you never feed me, and I am starving', use it if you never tried it. It just might get you a little something from one of the Human's even if you are not supposed to be begging. But back to the coats, before I digress anymore. It's getting me hungry just thinking about their pork chops the Humans ate last night.

Since it was snowing, and I absolutely adore the snow, relish in it quite frankly with doggie glee, rolling around in it like it was smelly dirty mud all the while smiling to my heart's content. I have been known to make passing strangers smile as well, with my happiness in rolling around making my dog-snow angels, but on this day, due to my new short haircut, I was super happy to have the extra red coat on. I was getting cold with out it.

Before I had the haircut, my long fur, when I was out in the snow playing, became snow-filled and had little "snowballs" all tangled up frankly all over me, and even inside my paws. Ouch! And while we are at it, here's a link to get your own Human to grab a coat for you: Dog Coat - Red Fleece Reflective Safety Jacket for Dogs - Medium Now I take a medium and am the size of a large collie weighing in at 60 pounds or more, now that I am gaining a little of my lost weight due to my food allergies. But if you are like me, when the weather is extra extra cold, a long walk running in the snow, a coat is where it is at, I tell you!

But speaking of snow, I live in a small city, and fortunately, my Human makes it safe for me to walk on the sides walks, and even goes around the piles of extra 'salt' some of you Human's put out so that you can walk safely. Do remember us animals and frankly the earth while we are at it, by using pet-friendly and earth-respecting salt to help melt the snow off your sidewalks and driveways. It surely helps our paws but good!

So off I am to find something to get in trouble with, maybe I will lay up on the couch and snooze while looking out the window as the city people and their dogs walk by. Until the next time, I say to you, stand tall, shake your tail, smile with tongue hanging out and let everyone know you are 'the DOG'!

My New Fur Coat - Gone Are My Food Allergies and Happy Return to a Healthier Me!

2008-02-25T15:09:00.001-05:00

We all like a little tender loving care. Recently my human took me to the much-over due visit to the groomer's. Now since her monies were low she didn't really have the availability to take me any sooner. But what we found about my fur issues was very surprising. First of all, I didn't think I had any fur issues, frankly I have said time and time again - I thought my Human was the one with the fur issue - or rather the lack of 'fur'. But I digress.

So what was actually my fur issue? Well, my Human would tell me often enough ,that I was shedding a Pomeranian on a weekly basis. And I would be super happy if the actual Pomeranian dog were to actually appear, and it turns out the my Human merely thought this was due to me being part Collie and part Bernese Mountain dog which are known big 'shedders'. But truly the fact was, my shedding had a hidden meaning, also hidden meanings were my scratching and smelly ears, constant licking of paws and dull coat. It turned out I had food allergies and a yeast infection - Yuck...

But I loved my food and would even get an egg or little nipple of what my Human's ate for dinner. But still, what was it in my food was giving me these fur issues? Now it turns out, each canine is as different to their food allergies as any Human can be, so a visit to the vet if recommended. And furthermore, we learned that there was no over night cure for my yeast infection. But most importantly, there was hope. And there were a variety of affordable cures.

In my specific case, the first thing was to remove any corn and yeast from my diet. Hard to do at first, but we looked through the many labels on the dried doggie kibble and found one that suited us. I know there are peple out there who cook and/or provide raw food to some canines, but that can be time consuming for some let alone quite expensive - but we also know that these canines are usually doing fantastically on their diets. It also turned out that my training doggie bisquits that my Human likes to purchase also had yeast - so out they went - that didn't neccesaryily please me - but as a canine, I am sure you can understand that one!

Hope was available with only a few items we had found around the house after we went on a fruitful search on the internet for cures and helpful solutions. We found a lot of cures, and several we have tried and have found soothing results - and I cannot tell you how much better I feel. We found a lot of useful information at Earthclinic.com and here's a quick link to their alphabatized pet remedies page: Pet Remedies

We also found a lot of useful information regarding food allergies specifically and so click here to learn more about them: Skin Allergy Remedies for Pets.

One of the best was the many uses of apple cider vinegar - oddly enough, my human has been using some of these tricks too - and her coat, skin, hair have also been much improved! Crazy Humans! (See the human section regarding apple cider vineagr - and you will be simply amazed what can be done with ACV)

Here is what we did that help me greatly within only a couple of days.

How To Use The Apple Cider Vinegar:

We used a 50/50 ratio of apple cider vinegar and water and dabbed the concoction on my paws. I felt instant relief - though we did this 2x a day for a week. I can honestly say I do not lick my paws no am I nawing on them anymore.
A little spoonfull was placed into my water, now I share the water with the cat (not my choice - but allowable) and I hear she's looking even prettier every day (not that I care). This has helped my overall health, I am no longer sore after playing extra hard in the snow (it is winter at the moment and been having huge fun in the snow piles (I do think I am part snow dog of some sort - at least in the tail)
Same 50/50 concoction above, we have also dabed a little in the ears after they have been cleaned, and my Human has told me that my ears no longer smell, but frankly, I am super happy that they don't itch anymore, really. I am not shaking my head side to side - and to think we thought I had ear mites!

We have also added a squirt of flax seed oil onto my new corn and yeast-free kibble food, and now after two weeks, I am feeling like the Zen Dog I really am! Thank my lucky buddha and my resourceful Human too!

Love Theo - The Lucky Zen Dog!

Technorati Tags: pet cures with apple cider vinegar

Me and My Human Just Saw This...We Loved It!

2008-02-03T19:40:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year from Theo - The Lucky Zen Dog!

2008-01-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

I may not look too happy here, but it was surely windy this day and bitterly cold as we hung out on the Hudson River for my morning walk and for my Human to take photos of said water way. She didn't last very long since she has no fur...but hey we have discussed why Humans don't have any fur and personally I just don't get it.

I also have the look on my face as to say, take the darn picture already you furless human! But alas, it's the new year and I am happy about that.

I have finally created my Lucky Zen Dog Store which is now up and running - feel free to check it out. I personally use some of the shampoo and other items we selected. Personally I also like the greenies which help me deal with the breath of my human when we are up close.

We will have a lot more items available soon, but we need to check out which products are simply the best for your human to get for you. We wouldn't want it any other way.

And speaking of 'way' my human it seems is going away this weekend. It will be only the second time she has left me - but I have a way cool person taking care of me and it seems my Human and this one take turns feeding the other's animals when they are away. Nice....low cost and being in close proximity of the other house hold helps.

Tips for when your Human is away is simple....remember these golden rules:

No one will tell you to get off the bed nor the couch - whippie!!!!
The dog biscuits left behind for the sitter will all be eaten up - there will be no saving grace here...
Ask for more, they (the sitter) will only think its usual...
Do yourself a favor and be extra cool with the sitter.
Know your human will be back shortly - and kill the cats while they are away... if you are bored....naw... just kidding!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lay - or Just Pretend You Are a Cat

2007-12-12T10:13:00.001-05:00

So I used to think it was ok for us animals to sneak upon and sleep on the sofa. Apparently we can only do this when our Human is not around. For me, I get in a nap whenever I can. That nap can take place anywhere of course, on the sofa as seen in this photo, though I am embarrassed that I have lowered myself to sleep with the cats on occasion.

Other places I prefer to sleep would include the blue lounge chair, on top of the stairs of the entrance hall as I watch who walks by, on the bathroom mat while my Human takes a shower and of course the bed.

Now regardless of what the cats think, and I really do not care what they think, ever. But alas, let sleeping dogs lay, because we need to. It's part of our canine DNA.

Now you can tell in this photo, the cat is so amused with me sleeping with her and in fact even more pleased I amusing her as my pillow. But normally, she has a sweet face and usually rubs against me at least once a day to say hello and that "I'm hers" which is odd since I feel that she's mine to play with. There is also another cat in the house and yes we have more photos of us together - be really folks, how many photos of me and cats sleeping together do you need to see? It embarrasses me greatly! And certainly do not tell my other doggie pals what I do behind closed doors!

Now last night was particularly interesting since my Human came to bed having to deal with a bad cold, she got into the bed early. Since I was already there, I had taken up my half of the bed. Not to be outdone, the cat you see in the above photo pinned our Human into the bed by laying down on the Human's other side. I guess the Human didn't really enjoy this being so stuck, so quickly was the cat picked up and placed next to me.

I was rather already oblivious in doggie dream land with me laying on my back, twisted with legs in the air. Think of Al Bundi on the sofa, yup - that's me but with fur - sleeping. Yes I know a little disgusting or should I say revolting but I tell you, laying this way takes up the most bed space and it's bed space that I need and frankly I could care less what the Human has in the way of space for sleeping.

Now I am not saying I have an attitude, and I have only growled once at her for asking me to move, and that was after a long day of being outside running around and I was a bit sore from all the exercise I had gotten that day. All I am frankly saying is Let Sleeping Dogs Lay - or Just Pretend You Are a Cat. Chow ciao for now... Theo

My First Video in Snow...or Whippie - Like I Care - Well, actually I do care...

2007-12-03T10:02:00.000-05:00

I'm just having fun actually while my Human's check out using their video feature on the camera they never tried. Hey thanks for using me as your guinea pig! So they had to throw the stick a bit for me to do anything. It's not like I am getting paid nor or there any Roverlicious Doggie Biscuits involved. So do they expect me to do? Rollover? Yeesh!

This Years First Snow - Loved It!

2007-12-03T09:43:00.000-05:00

O.k. this is the sort of weather this coat of mine is made for! I literally pounced around like the puppy I once was. I was so full of glee, I really couldn't contain myself. My Human laughed too, in fact I think she's putting up a short video of me acting silly. But hey you know how those Humans like to show us off. Thank my Lassie God she's isn't into those dog shows, to think I would have to be washed so often, yikes! My heart goes out to all those poodles and other type of doggies that must endure such wrath. Though I do know some of you dogs actually do love all that personal attention. Its just not for me.

So I happened in fact to have a really good day today. Part of my pack came back home today. My Human's partner was out of the country and now has returned. I am so glad to have more testosterones in the house! It had been me the only male with two cats and one female human, you can only imagine what living like that for two months could have been like. In fact I think it might just be worse than having to take all those baths for dog shows. Hey, some of you guys out there, both Human and canine form so totally understand me.

So hope a few of you dogs out there got to outside and play in the snow. I am just waiting for the next really big storm to really strut myself in the big white stuff. I love chasing after snowballs and trying to create my own snow dog-angels and snow dog-men. We normally use a very large biscuit for their nose...

Yesterday's Nice Walk in the Woods

2007-11-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

I was able to have really good run yesterday, I thanked my Lassie God of course! We went to a nearby park that abuts to a park reserve. Once off my lead, I ran in circles with glee. Yes, a dog can run in circles with glee. Just don't tell anyone we like to do such silly things every once in awhile.

I am sure my Human was making up for feeling bad about the turkey leg she had to throw out a few days prior. And of course, as of this morning, she threw out the foul smelling bag that contained the turkey leg much to my chagrin. I did watch her - well I watched the bag intensely as it left the house, in case there was a hole in it, and quite possibly that the turkey leg would fall out. Nope, not such luck.

But since you read that post already, I go back to me being off the lead. Once deep in the woods, my Human did her best to get me to smile with all her photo taking, she thought I would look especially pretty against the yellow dropped leaves. Frankly, I could care less about trying to smile for her since all I could care about was trying to catch the falling leaves. Being "still" was not in my vocabulary at this moment in time, running around like a mad dog was - and especially!

We walked up and down small hills while she took photographs of the woods and of course I caught site and the smell of white tailed deer. There was no stopping me. Now, I know I can't catch them, though I do like trying. I was at least 500 yards away from my Human when she called me, and I ran back to her since we were in new territory and paths I had not explored before.

And you know us dogs how much we like it when we are going to new places we haven't been before. It's like a kid in a candy store, we got to check out everything, sniff every twig that stands out and stop at our leisure to check out things like "are these any dogs I know?", and the "got to leave my scent here too" syndrome that we have. I know of such a dog, Rocky. God bless his soul now as he is in dog heaven, but he would have gone mad with his constant need to leave his mark on every single tree. Imagine with all the trees in these woods, he simply would have gone mad.

I am certainly glad I got this nice run, in fact I was terribly tired once we returned home. I pretty much slept on my chair the entire afternoon. But hey us dogs need our very own chair, it's also nice of us to allow you Humans to have some room in your beds when we sleep there as well.

Today it is raining, and as I put my head towards the open window, I will make sure to ask my Human to take me out once again before her lunch time when it begins to downpour. I'm of course sniffing for anything new in the air as I have my head out of this window. I can tell now that the chicken place has just started cooking their food for lunch and that the squirrels haven't come out to check out the dropped acorns on the rooftop that's just outside our 2nd story window. Oh well, back to laying down on the floor, cleaning my paws. I am so obsessed about having clean paws. You wouldn't know it by looking at my snarled coat which I hear is about to get cleaned and have its winter coat trimmed. But shh, don't remind her to make that appointment.

My Human Came Home Looking Like A Turkey - or She Forgot to Bring Me Leftovers

2007-11-25T08:54:00.000-05:00

So I start this posting with one point, remind your Human that they brought food home for you - or else you may lose out! Like I did - here's my Thanksgiving story:

So, here I am looking so cute, totally telling her to bring me home some of that gravy and turkey when she returns. In vain, I'm giving her that cute smile she simply adores that I do - for the hopeful tidbits I will receive - and nothing was in her pockets when my Human came back home! The nerve of my Human!

She starts to walk through the door and it dawns on me then. She is so full of food, she has started walking around like a turkey. Yes, a turkey. Mind you, she's just loving the taking of this dictation from me at the moment, but its true, she was waddling, but I did notice a bag she brought back and that she left on the bench downstairs. She waddled upstairs while us animals stayed downstairs and went straight for the bag.

Both me and the cats checked it out. We always have to check out a new bag. Sometimes there are toys inside for us, sometimes treats, or other surprises that are for us and besides us dogs (and yes the cats too) we are a noisy bodied bunch of animals and need to know what's in the bag and every bag you Humans bring home.

I also don't get that either. You Humans bring in bags full of good smelling stuff, then a week later take out the fowl smelling stuff (no pun intended) in more bags. What gives?!? Besides taking care of us, I think you Humans just live to bring bags in and take bags out. It's simply odd behavior, I say.

So while she waddled throughout the house, I kept going back to the bag. One of the cats caught the smell too. We all knew there was something there besides the now cleaned pie pans, but what we couldn't tell. I told the cat to try and get into it (let her do all the hard work with that tinfoil you Human's love using) - its hard on our teeth though - word to the wise -just leave the food out, we will eat it anyhow, and you know it too.

By morning, the youngest of the two cats (who my Human affectionately calls sweat pea - though I call her a sweet pea in my arse if you ask me), had been able to tear away some of the tin foil and voila! There was a complete turkey leg just laying in that bag my Human had completely forgotten about. Now I'm in a quandary, despite me being totally psyched for that nicely roasted turkey leg, I'm in a quandary and how!

Do I let the cat finish tearing away the tinfoil, then take it from her? - It's so easy to do this with one of those fake growls I can give- they don't even know I'm just kidding. The sheer size of me can get them, and frankly, I love teasing them when my Human is not around - What the Human don't know won't hurt her. Or, do I just simply take the bone, this large great smelling turkey leg without my human knowing and not care about a possible scolding I may receive? If I do this quickly, she won't yell at me, since she would not have caught me "in the act", and of course, with our so called "dog memory" we won't remember the bad thing we did (though we do, ssh, don't say a thing!) I am telling you I was having a major quandary!

By morning, us animals were practically drooling - o.k. I was the only one drooling - somehow the cats kept up their composure (how, I do not know, but they do and did). The smell of that turkey leg had grown practically to smelling something like a complete large turkey dinner- much like the size of my own Human had become when she walked through the door the previous night. (Yeah, she just loved writing that one down too just now - me comparing her size to a huge turkey) With that, and the smell of that turkey leg being so great by morning, she realized what she had done.

She had forgotten completely that she actually did bring home to us that turkey leg. Now she was the one in a quandary now. I thanked my Lassie God, of course, since I just might be able to finally and legally receive what I just deserve, a piece of Thanksgiving! And what she did next, I simply and couldn't really forgive her for a few minutes. She took the turkey leg and threw it out. Yes, dumped it into the garbage can that we conveniently have no access to. I guess, as she told me, that unrefrigerated food can spoil and she was worried that the turkey leg had spoiled.

Forget that! Just spoil us now with the spoiled turkey leg, we'll get sick later, we won't care if she has to clean up after us later - that's one of her jobs anyhow. But will be happy now, in fact very happy and pleased. Even the cats were still interested. And you know those cats how picky they can be towards food. If they felt it was still good to eat, well, heck, it was still good enough for me! But alas, I had Thanksgiving without any turkey nor gravy. It was just my doggie kibble and me.

I guess I will have to wait till the next holiday. Or find the next chicken bone on the sidewalks that incredibly I locate all the time when we take walks in the city. I am so happy and grateful that we live by a nearby chicken place, much to my Human's chagrin and my knowledge that chicken bones are bad for me, my nose is very keen. Hehee, well I give thanks for two things this holiday, my strong teeth and the chicken place we live near!

Today's Fun Walk Before Thanksgiving- or You Wished you had a Human Like Me

2007-11-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

Ooh Doggie Dog, was that walk in the rain really great! My Human took me to a nearby park - though at first I had no clue where we were going on this rainy and what my Human called "a cold bone-chilling raining day". I didn't care, my head was out the window of a moving car, watching squirrels run up trees and across roads as we drove to our destination.

Once there, OMG. there were two large fawns with their winter coats on. They were right in front of the now parked car. O.K., so I started to bark excitedly at them - what's a dog like me to do? The Human of mine was in no mood to let me chase them. Gosh darn it. But as soon as they were out of my harms way, my Human took me off my lead and off I was a running around in circles, it had been awhile since we were at this particular park.

You got to know something...when it comes to not having a run like this everyday, you just get bent up inside. And well, was I ever bent! In fact, I had to do something for exercise before this holiday feast those Humans call Thanksgiving.

Frankly, I do not know why they just don't call it, "Feed your Dog under the table when no one sees Day" Since that's what truly happens to a lot of us. We know how to work you Humans so well, you folks are so easy, and if you only knew this, we would be up, well you know: someone else's creek, that's for sure!

O.K., back to the walk today; So's off I went running way ahead of my Human while she was taking photos, one of her favorite pastimes. It's hilarious, in fact, when she tries to get me to smile. I just sit there and smirk inside, while she makes these funny noises and movements, assuming this will make me look her way while she flashes away. No dice. No biscuit, no smile, that's my motto! And I'm sticking to it. So when she does get me to smile, its by mistake, with her dumb luck and I forget the whole biscuit thing, since she seems to be telling me we are about to go out. It totally makes me forget my motto thing! And yes for a dog, this is a truly wonderful part of your day.

We went across this bridge in the park and I dove and went in the water, maybe four or five times though I really wasn't counting. Us dogs really don't need to count unless we have to count the geese we are up against, but that's another thing she was not about to let me run and get them to fly up in the air. I just love watching them though, and those noises they make sound just like those great squeaky toys I have at home.

My human knows how much I like chasing those sticks in the water, so off she went to ask me to fetch a stick for her to throw to me. I usually do not do this sort of thing, but since I was so excited she was allowing me to get into the cold water, I was all in a "go and get a silly stick mode". I got one, brought it to her, though at first I do like chewing it up a bit making sure it's going to float. There have been times, she gives me a stick, throws it into the water, only to have it sink into the water. Nice try stupid Human. Not all wood floats.

Once I chose the perfect stick, off I was jumping back into the water several times swimming out not too far, but having a blast at the same time while retrieving the stick and giving it back to her. Though one of my favorite things to do at this juncture, is to shake all the muddy water onto my Human. Note to all Dogs out there, do this the next time, it will get your Human to scream in delight with the sounds like, "Oh! Ooh - that's cold!" and the "OMG - no Theo!" is one of my favorite sayings I hear her yelp.

They will certainly grab the stick and throw it again for you and quickly, really, just to get your wet body fur away from them - and you did want to go back to the water didn't ya? I thought so, so remember, shake when near the Human so that you get the most water on them. Preferably do this when they are in their casual clothes. Do not attempt this trick on Thanksgiving Day when these Humans are all dressed up. That could spoil your chances of that gravy over your dry food.

So, I thanked my Human for taking me out in having a really good run, I am all pooped out, if you know what I mean - she had to find a second plastic bag from the garbage, hehee to pick up after me, but what's a Human for anyway? To pick up after you, take you for walks, to feed you and of course to show completely and unadulterated love for you. I'll admit one thing, I love my Human so much, I'll deal with her cats later. Heehee. I rest my case. Have a great gobble gobble of gravy.

A Theo's Thanksgiving

2007-11-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

Well my human found this silly cartoon she thought other Humans would find funny....In fact you may want to check out the link she provided to one of her other blogs: Divaliscious. I think she provided some other funnies and how to's in making the best gravy in the world along with lump-free mashed potatoes.

Hey look I got to go out for a second - I am crying for her to take me out, I cannot dictate and more since my colon is dictating something else to me at the moment. And of course its raining! My Human's favorite time to take me out for a walk. Heheheee and oh yeah, don't forget a couple of those plastic baggies to pick up what I leave behind. Be back shortly....Theo

How I Was Named - or If My Human Only Knew I Was Really a Liberal

2007-11-14T09:03:00.000-05:00

So we started the last posting without even knowing how I got my name. I did hear them talk a bit over and over - in fact I think it took a full 5 hours to finally come up with a name for me. Mind you, if the Humans had just asked me I would have told them King Dog was my name - and the fact actually is, is that it still is my name, even if I only call and refer to myself as King Dog, though I am basically called and known as Theo - short for Theodore Roosevelt the president. That doesn't actually mean I come when I am called, you think me a poodle? Not!

I have heard my Human tell this story several times to people as she was introducing my sexy and furry self to; the reason for calling me Theodore Roosevelt was that she would only allow Republicans who do not vote in her house. Well, I am not sure what Republicans do, in fact I don't think my Human does either. But since I am one sexy and furry four legged creature, I am Republican by default, even if its only for whom I was named after. But I tell you, I really am a liberal - in fact quite liberal. If Human's even try to stop us from sniffing other dogs butts, I will really get on that bandwagon and do my best to vote. But I don't really tell my Human that. If she only knew, she'd probably rename me one of those Hippy names.

In fact speaking of Hippy names, I have this dog pal of mine who I met when I was very young. He's named after some band called the Grateful Dead. My pal's name is Smoke Stack Lightning. In fact his cat pals that live in the house are also named after song titles, like Scarlet Begonia, and China Doll. Why Humans do this I am not sure. I believe they think its cute. Maybe they just name us animals with these names, so they won't forget our names. Yeesh.

Though I do have one story that Human's should really remember. And this one any dog could be proud of. This one family that my Human knew back in her past, named their baby Max, after their beloved dog Max who had past on. Now this kid ended up being a total genius. And I mean genius - one friend had tried giving the kid a book on quantum physics, and the mother told the friend, "Oh, he has that book already, and finished it last month" - The kid was four at the time. Yeah, four years old - but he still wasn't as smart as the dog - but we all knew that didn't we?

Sometimes my Human says my complete name is Theodore P.I.T.A. Roosevelt - she says that the P.I.T.A. is an acronym, whatever that is, for "pain in the ass". Me? Little old lovable furry and sexy me? The next time I hear this, I will show her what a big pain in the arse I actually can be! Hehehehe.

How it all started - or How I landed up with such a good Human

2007-11-13T09:07:00.001-05:00

I am almost three now, but don't actually know the actual date of my birthday. My human made up one for me - see how nice she is? I do try though asking her not to make me wear that silly birthday hat though - that's just not too dog cool, you know? And lastly, I wouldn't want any other dog pals of mine to see me in that silly little hat. Yeesh!

So here's the story of my life so far. It started hard though, but hey who hasn't had a hard life from the very start. My life is no different. I don't recall too much except being in the back of a pick up on my very first car ride and being dumped onto the counter of a local ASPCA. Once there I never even touched the ground. I was so cute (so I'm told) - (And if they only knew that I know that already they wouldn't tell me - but hey - who doesn't like being told they are cute?)

These vet techs would hold me in their warm arms kissing me and such - it was rather getting a little boring, I pretty much slept the whole time. But this short stint at the local shelter would only last 24 hours. My Human who I was about to meet would come by the next day in the afternoon and promptly took me home.

Once there, I was pretty much made dog of the house. This new Human of mine did have two old cats, but they took to me right away. O.K., so they left me alone for awhile. Listen, I was so small with such a big head and paws, I could barely lift my head and would stumble over my legs that I couldn't wait to grow in to. In fact my eyes were still gray and wouldn't turn they warm chocolate dark brown they are now for at least another couple of weeks. I must have been only 4 or 5 weeks old at this point, I'm not too sure.

Yeah, yeah, I know - I was really small, but I had little sharp teeth to gnaw at my new Human with. Hehehee. And if she only knew how good she tasted, she would have let me do my thing on her! Who cared if I was hurting her?!? Her soft skin had this soft touch that would give a bit with every little nipple and gnaw of mine. I would soon learn this too was not an appropriate trait that my Human would adore - but at least it would get me some frozen bagels that would ease my teething pain. A little gooey, but hey when your teeth hurt, you got to do something. Besides, after sone time, I could know longer find any available t.v. remote, shoe, or cat to gnaw my little teeth on. Oh well. I guess my only choice I had then were the silly frozen bagels.

I would also having a hard time with this peeing stuff. I mean how does one potty train a dog like me? With kid gloves that's for sure! And I told my Human under no certain terms was I to have anything to do with a crate! What am I? A house cat?

I got to go on visits to people's houses though and meet other dogs very soon after I met my new Human owner. I did overhear my Human saying something like she wanted me socialized. Sounded like she was one of those Humans that had the unfortunate experience of having one of those uncool dogs that simply didn't get along with any one dog or person. So frankly, I am glad I got to meet other dogs. I learned a lot from them - like how to beg, what "being food aggressive" was and the like. Some of these traits I would also learn that my Human wouldn't tolerate. But that's the trade off for getting a biscuit. As a Zen Dog, you learn quick what it takes to get a biscuit.

And that's how I got to be living with this dream I now call having a Zen Dog's life and how it all started. I tell you I'm one lucky dog! Chow ciao, till the next chapter: my early years...

Yours truly, Theo.

My Life as One Lucky Dog - An Introduction to me - Theo

2007-11-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

So this story starts off like most. Yes, I am a dog. In fact I am one lucky dog. I have a nice Human that answers every whim of mine I mutter. In fact, I have trained her quite well. I was amazed at just how quickly she learned too! She gives me biscuits for no apparent reason - especially when I just sit there looking cute as I actually am. I have trained her so well, that I now have gotten her taking dictation from me on a almost daily basis so that I can too get on this bandwagon of web blogs. Whatever I ask for I get. So yes, I am one lucky dog!

I live the life that only other dogs would be jealous of. I don't care about those poodles, who have to get bathed every week. Ha! I say to that. As a dog, I know no dog who actually loves when it's bath time. Listen, I have done the interviews, dogs just don't like taking baths, but let us get into a muddy bog, river, pond, lake, pool - we will have one heck of a hey day like a pig whose all up in it's $hit...but that's another chapter.

So this blog is about my life as I have had thus far. And besides my daily doing's it's about how I look at my Human's life and why I so find that so funny! - I mean why don't they have fur? I ponder on that one all the time. They look so funny without it, and then they shave - what the heck is that for? When they start growing a little amount of fur, they get rid of it. Huh. But alas, I digress from my point of what this blog's about.

I am sure I am not the first dog to have their own blog, but I know I will be one of the funniest online with their own blog. What else do I do all day, but get my Human to do stupid Human tricks for me. Hey - I watch the David Letterman Show.

So let me now ask my Human to take me out for a walk in the rain. She just loves that when its pouring out...hehehehe. What she doesn't even know, is that I could have actually waited till the 12:00pm walk time, I just need to get out of this apartment again this morning and get some fresh air to check and smell if my dog pals have been around a few trees and hydrants.