If there is one think I know I have done well, it is that I have trained one of my dads to know when I need, or more correctly, want a treat.
When my dads are eating their meal at the kitchen table and they have finished without giving me taste of their meal, I gently lay my head on my dad’s lap (this is the dad I have trained the best) and look up at him.
With a little whining, in a very few minutes, he gets up, goes to the treats area, and gives me my well-deserved treat. Mission accomplished.
Last month one of my dads, Kevin, left me for a whole month while he went to Malaysia to visit his family. This is the longest time either of my two dads has left me. Usually, when both of my dads are home, Kevin, goes to bed at 9:30, as he has to get up early for work. This is a great time for me, so I gladly go to bed with him. I usually start to whine at about 9:15 to signal that I’m ready for bed.
My dad, Steve, doesn’t go to bed until much later, as he is retired and can stay up and watch TV. I wasn’t having any of these late-night bedtimes. At about 9 o’clock I would sit in front of him and stare. If that didn’t work, I would then start to whine. And if that didn’t work I started to bark and howl. Finally, Dad got up and headed toward the stairs. Naturally, having to be first I raced upstairs and jumped on the bed. But he fooled me. He went back down to watch TV. Can you imagine that? He wanted me to go to bed alone! No way was I going to bed alone! So I came back down to get him. After a few more of my antics, he relented and went to bed with me. It was almost 10 0’clock! I went right to sleep.
My dad, not used to going to bed so early, of course, got up early, but not me. I stayed right in bed until he went downstairs. My dad kept complaining to me that he didn’t like going to bed when it wasn’t dark yet, but I paid no attention.
Finally, my dad, Kevin, came back home. I was so happy. I could once again go to bed at a decent hour. But when he gets up early for work. I stay in bed with my dad, Steve, until he gets up later. I guess you could say I’m a creature of habit.
One of my dads is away for a few days at a conference and it’s just me and my other dad at home. My dad, Kevin, who is away, always goes to bed earlier than my dad Steve, so I am not used to staying up so late. Today I went for a walk, had many treats, and spent time in the backyard, barking at anything and everything.
I had my dinner, brushed my teeth, been out to pee several times, and begged for treats, but not always successful. So now I am ready for bed. But my dad says. “it’s only 8 0’clock!” Isn’t it terrible that he’s making me stay up so late?
Since my dad, Kevin, is Malaysian Chinese we all celebrate the Chinese New Year in our house. My dad prepares the traditional Hotpot meal which consists of a lot of different kinds of food, including meat and fish balls, mushrooms, cod, sliced beef, tofu, and all kinds of vegetables. Each person at the table chooses from all the ingredients and cooks his own, in the big pot which contains the broth. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to do that. But I did help in preparing the meal. My job was to make sure none of the food fell to the floor!
Here is a picture of the table at our celebration. I know you can’t see me, but I’m there. I’m under the table, in case something falls off the table. Don’t worry though. I enjoyed my own dog friendly meal after the hotpot.
Chinese New Year Hotpot
I’m sorry for being a little late posting these pictures, but the Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 2 weeks and we are still celebrating. So Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit to all of my friends!
This was my first Christmas celebration without my sister, Lucky. Even though she wasn’t physically with us, we could feel her presence. Her stocking was hung on the mantle, along with mine and my dads’.
I got all kinds of presents, including a down jacket and winter shoes for those cold winter walks. I had so much fun opening my gifts after my dads opened theirs. I’ve already sampled my treats and chewed on my squeaky toys. My dad, Kevin, even took me for a walk in the after-blizzard freezing temperatures.
I’m so happy to have a warm, loving home where I am treated like a king. I only wish all those poor homeless dogs and cats in shelters and living on the streets could have a home like mine.
I want to wish all my animal friends, and humans a warm and Merry Christmas. And a special loving Christmas to my sister, Lucky, up there over the rainbow!
I know everyone communicates with others by a variety of means. Some use spoken language and some use sign language. I use my own personal look for whatever I want or need. This is my “I gotta pee” look. If my dad doesn’t get up and let me out, which is rarely, I then start to whine and then bark. But this look almost always works immediately.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. My dads got up this morning to help prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, but I decided to stay in bed for a while. After all, I’m not much help cooking, but I am more than happy to help with the eating. I’m having my own turkey dog food for my Turkey Day dinner.
I hope all of my human friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving and the furry members of their families have a special treat to celebrate this day of sharing, and giving thanks for all we have.
It’s been another long day and it’s raining and boy am I tired! My dad took me for a walk, I begged for treats, had my dinner, and brushed my teeth. Now I have to take a nap before I go to bed. I have to go to bed every night at 9:30 or I get whiney and pushy. It’s tough being a dog, especially a spoiled dog!
Sometimes, when I want a treat, which is most of the time, I just stare at my dad, until he gives me one. I usually don’t bark if I want something I just stare. My dad has to ask me what I want. When he says. “do you want to pee?” I bark and he lets me out to pee. If he says, “do you want a treat?” I go over to where my treats are kept. If he says, “do you want to go to bed?” I run upstairs and hop on the bed. I have my dads vey well trained.
At times I really miss my little sister, Lucky, but now I’m the top dog around our house. I must admit that Lucky was quite bossy and got on my nerves a lot. She hoarded all of our toys and tried to steal my snacks and she also wanted too much attention. Our dads couldn’t take us for a walk many times because Lucky barked at everyone and everything and was not at all behaved.
Now things are different. I’m much more relaxed. I can have all the toys to myself, but I don’t touch Lucky’s favorite toy, out of respect for her. I can eat my meals in peace and I don’t have any competition for snacks. I also don’t have any competition for attention. I get it all!
I also go for a walk every day, which I love so much that I want to go several times during the day. I go right to my leash and harness whenever I want to go for a walk. When I am walking with my dad I mind my own business and don’t bark at all. Whenever I meet another dog I don’t growl or bark, but simply do my sniffing to get to know them. I even wait until I get home to pee!
I get to visit the neighbors (for even more attention) with my dads and simply lay at their feet until they are ready to go home. However, when it gets near my bedtime, 9:30, I start getting antsy and want to go home.
Life is different and life is good. I’ll keep you all up to date on how I’m doing. Keep reading my blog, please.
Cattle Dog Kids 