I'm not a baby anymore...

I'm growing so fast! I weigh 42 pounds and am growing like a weed! At least I was 42 pounds three days ago... I got to go to the big dog side at my obedience class.

I can't believe it has been a month since I wrote in my blog! This Dog's Life stuff is pretty busy. There is playing to get done, naps to take and my people to cuddle. I have to walk Mommy and Daddy everyday, if I can get them up. This is a picture from about two weeks ago, I got to go to downtown Chicago with my family. This is my Mommy and Daddy and me.

It is getting really cold outside, I love it! And this white stuff that falls from the sky is so fun! Mommy and Daddy tell me I will love my first real snowfall. We are going to Colorado to ski so I will get to see snow no matter what. I hope, I hope, I hope it snows here before that!

I lost all my baby teeth and guess what??? The Tooth Furry didn't even come to visit once! I was hoping to wake up with a new bone or something! It isn't fair.

Something called Christmas is coming soon. We are going to put up a tree! A tree in the house! How weird is that! Maybe I can bring in some other stuff. I'll have to look around outside.

I better get busy, Mommy is going to need my help getting that tree up. Maybe I better take a nap first............

Puppy kisses,
Dakota

I Went to Doggie School

And boy was I ascared in the beginning. There were a gazillion dogs there. The big ones were really big and the little ones just barked a lot. It was the ascariest place I ever went.

Mommy and me sat down at our chair and Mommy petted me a lot and I saw that there weren't a gazillion dogs... just about 20. The big dogs wern't that big but the little dogs were noisy. I was on the side with the little dogs because I'm a puppy. When I'm a big boy I will get to go on the big dog side.

Mommy said I did really good. Daddy took me for a long walk to go trick or treating, so I was tired when we got to school. Some of the other puppies were crazy and jumping around... actually there were crazy dogs everywhere. I think I was the goodest puppy there. Of course I was. I'm the bestest! : )

And then this morning Mommy and Daddy got up really early and took me for a walk. My homework is "Heel" and "Sit-Stay" so we worked on heel. Then when we got home we did a little sit-stay. I did good this morning. Last night I didn't want to stay when Mommy walked around me.

I'm going to be such a good boy when I graduate! Mommy wants to get me into the advanced obedience and then I will be about 1 year old and we can go to Therapy Dog School! I have a lot to learn before I can be a Therapy Dog. I can't chew on all the stuff that they have in hospitals. I can't play and jump around either. i'm going to have to learn to listen to Mommy really good. Then I can go help sick people feel better.

I love Fall. I love to chase all the leaves the fall from the trees. It's like God is playing catch with me.

Have a happy day!

Puppy kisses,
Dakota

Why do humans stress so much?

I just don't get it. Humans get so stressed out, why can't they just run around, play and nap like me? It just is so funny to watch them... they could learn a lot from us dogs.

I went camping again last weekend. My troop went and had a bunch of little people camp with us. Mommy said they were Webelos... what on earth is a Webelo???? They all looked like kids to me. Kids who liked to run and play just like me. Mommy said that they were our guests and were thinking of joining our troop. Yippee.
I keep making friends with the scouts in the troop. Some of them have parents that do not like dogs... Can you imagine that!!??!! What a silly thing. That should be ILLEGAL! But their kids are smart and they just love me. I get to cuddle and play with them and give them lots of puppy lovin'. I wish every human family had someone like me to love them.

Next week I get to go to puppy training. Mommy went and got me training treats today. I want to go so I can eat all my treats. Mommy says that if we work hard and do our homework I will learn my manners. If I learn not to jump up to say "Hi" I can meet more people. I don't know why everybody doesn't like a happy puppy jump up to lick them but that is just another one of those wierd human things.

Mommy took me to a really cool place to get a bath after we camped out. Shhhh... don't tell Daddy. They have a bath the helps get rid of all my hair that is ready to shed... whatever that means. I look so good and I am so soft. There was a really scary dryer there. It was so blowy that it almost blew me away. I was really ascared.
That's all the new news for now.

Puppy kisses,
Dakota

Boy oh Boy

Time has gone so fast. I am getting so big and doing a lot more stuff. I had pictures taken last weekend to show how big I am. Mommy says I'm getting into more trouble because I can reach more stuff. I like to play with everything and so if my humans don't want me to play with it... well they should move it.

Mommy is so happy that I can sleep all night and not have to go potty. We had potty times twice a night and Mommy says it was wearing her out. Well, duh! She should nap all the time like I do. When I'm tired I sleep.

I got to sleep with Mommy one night when Daddy was gone but I decided I like my crate better. Mommy would wake up and pet me and bother me and wasn't thinking that a growing puppy needs his sleep. Just like she does.

We did go camping and I loved it. I love sleeping in a tent. I was ascared at first because I didn't know the light I saw was on Mommy's head and she was behind it. Then I felt better and slept sort of beside her on the ground. I like the tent brecause it was cool... like my vent. We are going again on the weekend after this one. There are going to be a lot of people. I'm going to have a lot of fun! WooHoo!

I am getting new teeth. Daddy rubs my gums and it feels so good. I love when he helps me like that. We got the teeth to poke out. The funny thing is my ears flop when I'm teething. I look like I did when I was a baby. Mommy thinks it is adordable. My ears have gotten really floppy since the pictures were taken. The left ear is all the way down. I don't know why my new teeth make that happen but they do.

I go to get my rabies shot this weekend. That means I get to sign up to go to the off leash parks and run and run. We will probably go next week while Daddy is travelling. We might take my really long leash to make sure I don't run too far.

My favorite thing to do is have Mommy or Daddy chase me around the house. I love to see if they can catch me. I'm so fast but they are getting smart and know where they can block me so I can't get through. The thing is they get tired faster then I do. We laugh and laugh and I smile really big.

Lots of Puppy Kisses,
Dakota

Everybody Loved Me!

I went to my very first Boy Scout thing! It was an Open House and all kind of little Cub Scouts came to visit the big Boy Scout Troops. I am the Troop Dog in Training so I go to go help my Troop. I mainly stayed in my crate and I was really happy watching everything. A lot of people came to visit me. Mommy said I was really good. She sat with me and got to talk to the little boys who came to see me. She said that was a good thing because it is usually the grown ups who talk. She really likes talking to the kids. When I left a lot of people said "Good Bye Dakota!" when I walked out.

I went to my doctor yesterday and I am a healthy boy! I weigh 17.7 lbs! I am getting to be such a BIG Boy! Mommy says I'm heavy and she won't be able to pick me up much longer... but I can always cuddle and get hugs. My doctor also said it is okay for me to go camping next weekend! I'm so excited. I like all my troop a lot!

My Daddy had to go away until next Friday and I won't see him until Saturday at camping. He gets to go to some place called Germany to work. I will miss my Daddy! Mommy says I might get to sleep with her one night while Daddy is gone. But don't tell Daddy... it will be a secret.

What a great day!

Puppy Kisses,
Dakota

DOG Gone Busy

Wow, I've been so Dog gone busy. I get to go out with Mommy and Daddy just about every time they leave. We take my brothers and sister to lessons and then we go on walks. I love my walks cuz lots of people stop to tell me I'm so cute. They pet me and tell me they want a puppy just like me. I'd love to give them Reflection.....

One day Daddy and me took Mommy geo-caching. She likes to go out but she doesn't like to look for them like me and Daddy. I get right in there and try to help Daddy the bestest I could. We all found out a new favorite for me... I love running in really big grass. I like digging in it too. Then we went to a Collie Rescue at the park. Mommy wanted to "socialize" me. I think that means she wants people to see me and tell me I'm cute. I met some big dogs too but some of them just make me ascared. Daddy says when I grow up I will be a big dog too.

Mommy says I get to go camping with her soon. She says it will be me and her for one night until my Daddy can come. I really, really love my Daddy! I will get to meet a bunch of boys too.

Oh no, my brothers and sister are laughing outside! I love to play outside with them! I gotta go, I gotta go..... Mommy!!!!!! Let me out, let me out.... Oh yeah! I gotta ring my bells! Yippee, here she comes!

Gotta gooooooooooooo.........

Dakota

Oh boy! I had another bath today. I got some poopy on my bloomers and Mommy had to wash it off. I'm a good boy during my bath. But I really don't like the blow dryer. Daddy came to help Mommy blow dry me and I guess it really wasn't so bad. After I got a treat and my brother came out and played running with me. I beat him to the toy five times! I'm the fastest, I am, I am!

This is me when I had my first bath. Mommy and Daddy said that today was they last time I can have a bath in the sink. Today I was almost too big.

I have found my mostest favorite place to sleep! There is this thing with holes in it and cool air comes out of it. It feels so good! I have my bestest naps there!

Last night me and my Daddy played with Reflection and I found out Reflection has a Daddy just like my Daddy! I was watching Reflection and his Daddy was crawling up behind him... I looked behind me and guess what!!??!! My own Daddy was behind me too! Then Daddy barked and me and Reflection both ran away.

The last two nights I got to go to sleep on Mommy and Daddy's bed. I got to cuddle with them while they talked and Mommy looked at this thing called a book. It looked boring to me, there were no pictures of ME in it. I fell asleep and then they put me in my crate. I woke up and I didn't mind being there. I didn't cry or anything. I'm such a good boy!

Now, Mommy put this funny thing on the back door. She calls them my Potty Bells. Every time the door opens they make a noise and everytime I play with them I get to go outside. Well... I think they are a lot of fun to play with. I like to play tug of war with them. Mommy says no, I can't play tug of war with them. That isn't fair, it really isn't. i'm going to ask Baywee who her lawyer is. I think I need a lawyer too. If they are MY Potty Bells I should be able to do what I want to with them. They aren't Mommy's they are mine. Mine, mine, mine.

Tonight me and my whole family are going for a walk in a forest! I don't know what a forest is but it sounds like fun! Mommy says I better take a nap because I have been playing a lot today and she says I will have more fun in the forest if I take a nap.

Lots of Puppy kisses!

Dakota

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

That's what little puppies are made of. I'm a big boy! I get to go outside on a big leash! I can run and play and chase and just sit and explore on my own! I love to run away and see who will chase me. I love to chase my humans!

When I was exploring yesterday I discovered sticks! They are so cool and I can get a new one every day. I like to carry one in my mouth. Mommy always takes it away and she went and found me a toy stick. I don't like it as much as my sticks but I can bring it in the house to play with.

Daddy says I'm getting stubborn. HaHa! I think he is the stubborn one. It's a good thing I'm smarter then him. He just walks in a line and I like to walk all over the place. He just won't learn to follow me so I have to walk beside him.

I have my Mommy wrapped around my little puppy toe. All I hafta do is put on my bestest puppy face and tilt my puppy head and she just tells me how sweet I am and how cute and what a good boy I am. Humans are so funny... they get all mushy and gushy. I love when they get mushy and gushy.

Yesterday was my one week anniversary from when I came to my forever home. I really love it here. I'm so spoiled. Everything is mine and I don't hafta share with any other puppies.

Reflection still follows me everywhere. I don't know how he gets into stores and stuff. He must be the smartest puppy ever! He loves to play hide and seek. He's the funniest puppy I ever knowed. I'm so glad he's mine. Mommy says he will always be mine and follow where ever I go.

Time for my nap! I been playing for two hours and I'm tired.

Lots of puppy kisses,
Dakota

Going to the vet

I am so tired. I went to the vet today but I slept through the whole thing. I got up at 6:00am and played and played and played then it was nap time and I had to go to the doctor. I was so tired I just took my nap anyway. Mommy and Daddy learned how to brush my teeth today. I really liked the toothpaste so I didn't mind having it put on my teeth. Then I got to lick up what was on their hands... yummy! The part I didn't like was getting shots. One really hurt and I cried, then I went back to sleep.

I got a bath today and I look so fluffy! I sat good in the sink and let Mommy wash me all up handsome. Now she tried to point this thing at me that makes a lot of noise and air. I wasn't going to have any of that. I was ascared. So my sister dried me lots with a towel and brushed me. Mommy is going to ask Mommy "C" how to help me not be ascared.

Oh, Oh, Oh, today for the firstest time I pawed the door so I could poop outside. Everyone was so happy and I got a special treat! Then I came in and pooped on the floor... what could I do? I still had to go. Oh well...

I still want to play with Reflection but he keeps running away. I even heard him bark last night. Or was that Daddy? I went to look at him but he's a scaredy dog and keeps running away. Silly Reflection.

:::::Yawn::::: nap time again. Oh I love my life! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dakota

Hello!

Hello! I am Dakota and this is about my Dog's Life. I came to live with my new family on Monday, September 3, 2007. Until then I lived with Mommy "C" and Daddy "T", my Mom Diva and all my brothers and sisters. My new Mommy and Daddy came to get me and bring me to my new home with them. ... my forever home!

We were in this big thing that went really fast. Mommy said it was a car. And we were in it for a really long time. Mommy and Daddy thought that I would like my crate to ride in but I just cried. I was ascared. So they stopped after miles and miles to get me out. Mommy says it was only about three miles. Then Mommy held me all the way to my new home. I liked that and didn't cry anymore. I tried to sleep but there were too many new things to look at.

When we got home I had three more little people to meet. Mommy says they are my new brothers and sister. I was a little scared of them at first but they are a lot of fun and I like to play with them. We like to play fetch a lot. I run and get my toy and then they take it away and throw it again. I don't know if I like that. Is it really fair that I do all the chasing?? I don't think so. But it is a lot of fun so I don't think I care.

I sleep a lot. I am a growing boy and I play hard and sleep hard. That is what being a puppy is all about isn't it?

I think Mommy and Daddy have more puppies just like me. They are always at the refridgerator, the dishwasher and the back sliding door. They always show up when I go there, when I jump they jump and when I run away they run away. Mommy and Daddy laugh and say something about "his reflection"... that must be the puppies name and I guess he belongs to me. So I have my very own puppy named Reflection.

I think it is nap time. My little eyes are closing.

Dakota