Cuteness

Good Dog Charlie

Come Charlie.


Sit Charlie.


Stay Charlie... Charlie... Charlie!


Oh hi, hey, hi!


We're still working on the "Stay" aspect of training. And Zephyr is still working on her hospitality skills. She just keeps looking at me like, "are you kidding me? You didn't clear this one with me..." All in good time...

Cetonia Aurata

You know, I really love coming out to visit the folks the country, but I have an awful time dealing with all these bugs.

Out in the back yard we've got lots of plants and vegetation - and on our porch dad is growing grapes, so we've got this huge leafy green vines all over the place. There are these nasty, nasty green bugs called Rose Chafers - The Bug From Hell (okay not their real nickname, that's just what I call them).

You can never spot them, but they ALWAYS spot you. And then they cling. AND DON'T LET GO. Those mofos chew our grape vines, too, did I mention that? And they're horny as all hell - they're always mating!


Do you see those legs? Those are legs from hell.


Anyway, I was just outside with Mr. Charles to enjoy the beautiful weather and work on some leash training. He was doing really well and responding, and I was about to take us all inside because they were getting too hot, when I felt something crawling on mah bum! Low and behold there was one of those gross green bugs and it latched on to me and even after running inside another one of those god damn buggers was crawling on my back!

GROSS.

In other news, Charlie is starting to really pick up his name! And he's getting into the habit of anticipating when I'm going to ask him to sit.

Such a good boy :-)

Meet Charlie

This is my new (and first) dog: Charlie. Well, not my first dog, but he's actually mine as opposed to my family's. He was rescued off the streets down south and sent to a kill shelter before Golden Huggs, a fabulous non-profit golden lab rescue organization, saved him from the shelter and sent him into foster up north - where I met him and fell head over heels.

He is, without a doubt, one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. He barely makes a peep, but more and more I see him breaking out of his shell. He's actually starting to bark like a real dog, and he's playing more than when I first met him just a couple weeks ago.

He's just starting to get used to "Come!" and "Sit!" and "No!" but he's great on a leash. He's kind of like a little kid with A.D.D. so treats are an absolute MUST.

It breaks my hear to think about what he went through before now - when he eats he lies down and that's a sign of a beaten down dog. It's too sad! But he's slowly gaining more confidence, and he knows he's safe now.

And so my journey begins. I have so much to teach him, and I know he has things to teach me and I can't wait to strengthen our already developing bond.

Stay tuned.