It's because I'm that smart

Wow, I can't believe I haven't been on here in two days! My poor adoring fans, whatever have you done with yourselves? I'm so sorry to leave you alone for so long! I must try to be more diligent in the future.

First I will tell you about Tuesday and our snow day then I will explain this postings title.

Tuesday seemed like it would be a great day. It started out great at least. Mom was up early with me (as usual, something about I can't be trusted to up alone) and this time she didn't insist we go back to bed after breakfast! We were playin' and runnin' in the house. We went outside and played, it was...well...great! Then she got my other leash (the "going out" one) and we got in the car. She left me there twice. She put me in and must have forgotten something because she went back in the house. Then we drove around the block and she parked and left me again to go back in the house. I swear, Mom would lose her head if it wasn't attached! (That's why I always try to stay with her. Be in the same room and lying at her feet when I nap. Otherwise, she might lose ME!) When she came back the second time she had a bag of my poop. Yea, I know what you're thinking, but my Mom, she's...different. But hey, I love her anyway. When we were on our way again it wasn't a long time before we were where we needed to be, the doctors office. As soon as I got out of the car you'd never believe who I saw...STAR!! I was so excited I forgot how mean my sisters can be. She jumped on my head and bit my ears. OH HOW I WISH I HAD BROTHERS INSTEAD OF SISTERS!!! But then, once we got inside things were better. Misty and Journey were both there too!! It was awesome to see them again! We wrestled and played, it was fun. Star, Misty and Journey left to go in the back and it was just me and Mom in the lobby. I got on the scale (with no problem I might add!) and we found out I weighed 18.1 pounds. I ws the winner so far. Mom picked me up and called me Tubs of Love and blamed me for her bad back. I got two shots, that was nothing, and we were on our way again.

We went to the mall and Mom used me as a geunia pig in an experiment she was doing for class. I didn't mind, all kinds of people were coming over to see me and talk to Mom. I got lots of attention. When Mom was done her experiment I got two new babies. A teddy bear and a monkey. And yet again, we were on our way.

This time we went to Mom's old school. The lady at the front desk kept trying to talk Mom into letting her keep me. She SO wanted me! But then again, I am that cute so it's easy to understand. We got to go in an elevator, that was different and I met more ladies who were all over me. I'm good with the ladies....

Once we left there and went home to have lunch we got back in the car and headed for Mom's other school to go to class. Mom and I had a fight before going in and she was still mad at me when we left. I just wanted to go and see what was in the flower beds. I don't see the problem. She says I can't eat everything I see, especially leaves and mulch. I say she needs to lighten up. Mom introduced me to her class and after a while I fell asleep (not like my future was riding on my attention span in Psych 242!). When we left school I thought we'd be going home. Instead Mom took me to her work and Nana took me home. We had to leave Mom there. I think Nana snitched on me though. I was really upset and didn't want to be in the box when Nana left. When Mom came home she lectured me about crying and said that I needed to learn to behave better.

Yesterday was our snow day Mom said. We went running around the yard and I tried to walk on top of the snow and ice. It wasn't easy, but in some places I could do it.

And this brings me to my posting title...

Mom wants me to ring the bells on the door when I have to go out to potty. She's been telling me to do this for days now and started making me do it before she would open the door. Well imagine her suprise when she was on her computer in the other room and I rang the bells and waited for her! She ran out of the office and looked at me and smiled. She asked me if I had to go potty and I told her yes (like I would have rung the bells if I didn't have to?!). She was excited and put on my leash and let m me out. I pottied right away and then we went back in. This earned me some extra playtime with Mom. She didn't go back to her homework but instead played with me until I was too tired to play anymore. Now I ring the bell all the time and every time I do, Mom lets me out. It's a great system, I'm glad she thought of it! Now I don't even have to go find her. I just ring and she comes running!

We also had a bit of training last night. Mom made me sit, a lot, and I tried to show her that I had that nailed. I also know the hand signal for it! We played fetch and I know that when she says drop it, that I have to let it go. I even know which baby is the Lamb and which is the Monkey! And why....?


It's because I'm that smart!

My first day alone with Mom...and my first time without her

Mom and I took Nokie back to school today. He got in trouble as soon as we got there and she yelled at him. I don't know what his problem was. As soon as Mom opened the door he jumped and ran from the car! I didn't get it, I was like "Dude, where's the fire?" Mom said he must really be happy to be back at school where he can be left alone and sleep all night, whatever that means. Sometimes she don't make no sense. I don't get the lot of them. Silly tall talk, that's all it is. After we left Nokie's (and mine one day!) school Mom took me out on the town! It was great, just the two of us. We went to a shop and Mom carried me the whole time. She said I couldn't get down because I'd eat stuff off the floor and get sick. But what was really weird was that she gave the guy in the shop our car! I couldn't believe it! There I was, sitting all cozy with Lamb in the back of the car then she picks me up, puts Lamb in a bag and some dude took our car. It was crazy! Then some other guy with an even bigger car came and took us to Mom's work. We sat on this really comfy couch thing and Mom was typing on her laptop. I tried to see what she was doing but she told me no and off. She said she had to do her homework and for me to lay down. I tried to get up again, you know, so I could help her out (I AM really smart after all) but she just yelled at me again. So I took Lamb and we went and laid at the other end of the bench and took a nap. When we finally got back to the shop and got our car back Mom let some lady come and take me. She was showing me to everyone behind the window and I couldn't see Mom anymore. It was cool though, I'm a big boy, I could handle it. I was lovin' the ladies and that isn't something that you need your Mom for.

When we got back home Mom did more homework for a while and I decided to take a nap. One must conserve energy after all. There's no need to be wasteful. When I woke up she told me we were going to play a game. Every time she said a word and I did something I got a treat. Tell me something, honestly....IS THAT NOT THE BEST GAME EVER OR WHAT???!!! Mom says "Sit", I sit and I get a treat. How awesome is that! Mom called my name and I got a treat. Seriously, I mean seriously, life DOES NOT get better than that. Getting a treat for knowing your name?! Even babies know their own name! It was nuts! Personally I think Mom many have been off her rocker a bit. I know that she thinks she's preparing me for school and all but really, there's not going to be anything like that in school! Nothing that simple at least. Look at Nokie. He's going to school and he doesn't get a treat every time Mom says his name.

But the night kinda went downhill after that. Mom and I went outside to potty and play some. When we came in, she made a phone call and talked for a while. That was boring so I went to sleep. What sucked was that when I woke up I was in the box, and Mom wasn't home. Not like Mom wasn't in the room with me. Mom wasn't in any of the rooms! She had left me alone, completely! My Aunt Ari came in a little later and she let me go potty and we played for a while. But in the end she put me back in the box too. Then Nana came over and she took me to potty (the humans are big on this potty thing, I mean really, do they get this excited when they go?) and she played with me then put me back in the box. I was scared, I'll admit it. But I was ok too. I made sure that Mom got nothing but good reports. (hehe nothing like a little puppy lovin' to persuade people to do as you say!) When Mom came home it was so great! We went outside and played in the house. She was running all over the place acting crazy, it was fun. Then we sat on the couch and watched Mom's shows. But now it's time for bed. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I have a doctors appointment and Mom has to go to school. Catch you all on the flip side!!

~~~>Stay tuned! I'll fill everyone in on our day at school tomorrow night!

Inquiries

This morning after breakfast it was brought to my attention that there were some unanswered questions about me and my family. Now that I am a public icon I think it's best that I address these concerns and put the matters to rest.

My foster brother, Nokie, he's a service dog too. But he's not like me, he's already in his advanced training. He's going to help people with bad ears. He's real good at it too! ....At least I think he is...I'm not sure. When Mom's glowing numbers beep he steps on her and pushes her then runs to the numbers. But I didn't get to see him do it this morning. I slept in the box last night. Mom says he does all kind of things. He tells her when the timer goes off and when people knock on the door and stuff.

Susquehanna Service Dogs, the company I'm going to work for when I grow up, they have lots of dogs like us. My real Mom, Scarlet, she works at a school with kids. You can read more about her and us here. There's even an article about us here.

Some people were also wondering how my Mom is going to be able to deal with the two of us together. Well I found out some sad news today. When I was playing with Nokie this morning I was being a little mean (he deserves it though sometimes!) and Mom yelled at me and told me to play nice because tomorrow I wasn't going to have anyone to play with at all. She said Nokie only lives with us on the weekends and that he has to go to school during the week. I'm glad he was here with me for my first days but just think, when he goes to school, all the toys are mine!
If anyone has anymore questions, please feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me at ssdhawk@gmail.com and I'll get back to you with an answer!

A New Day (and a rough night)

It's my first full day with my new mom Angi. I've almost gotten to pee in the house twice, but she's quick! I don't know why she wants me to go outside, she doesn't! It's cold out there, and I don't even have any shoes on! My foster brother Roanoke (Nokie to family) is pretty cool, even if he does have a bit of a short temper. We played a lot and Nana (my Angi's Mom) came over and played with us too. Nokie doesn't mind when I chew on his things, Mom does though. I got yelled at a lot this morning. Lectured too. But it's ok I guess, I don't mind. As far as I'm concerned, so far so good.



Last night though was a bit of a different story....
Mom and Nokie wanted to go to sleep. Fine by me, I was already there! But when they went to bed, she put me in this dark plastic box. NOT COOL!! And believe you me, I let my feelings be known! It's bad enough that I had to trade 6 siblings for 1 cranky foster brother (who gets even crankier when you try to force him to play, but that's another story) but now this! Well, as it turns out, Mom is afraid of something called "the cops" and she let me out. Thank God! She made me go outside, again with the not cool, but brought me back in and let me up to where her and Nokie were. No wonder they tried to force me in to that box, it was great up there!! Who would want to share such space, such softness, such cozy warmth?! Soon enough I was sound asleep again, only to roll over an hour later and realize I was back in the box! Knowing now what I was missing out on, I began my protest again. This time with much more enthusiasm. I wanted out of there and back up to where Nokie and Mom were. After a while she gave in. I got to spend the night in bed with them. A word to the wise: Mom and Nokie are both very cranky in the mornings, especially when they haven't slept much. And sometimes, Nokie can be down right mean! I was trying to cuddle with him, like he was cuddling with Mom and he wouldn't have it! I mean really! Mom's got lots of legs for him to rest his head on, why can't I rest there too? Ok, so I was maybe trying to rest in the same spot as him, but so? Isn't sharing with your brothers a good thing? Mom yelled at him, told him to leave me alone. He got mad and went to the other side. (Please note that he did not leave the bed, as he clearly wanted me to do. If he's not giving it up, neither am I!)

When Nana came over this afternoon Mom was so happy!! She even asked Nana to stay longer so that she could get a bath. I don't understand the bath thing. Bath's suck big time! They're right up there with broccoli and spinach. But Nana just laughed at her. Nana said that Mom was going to have to learn to deal on her own, whatever that means. The only thing I didn't like about Nana's visit was that she put me in the box again. Nana wouldn't let me make a peep! Every time I even opened my mouth she shushed me! Then she took Mom and Nokie into the bedroom and I couldn't see them anymore. That made me WAY sad and I cried. Mom said something about the cops again and Nana laughed. She laughs a lot. After I stopped crying (frankly I didn't think they were coming back) Nana came and let me out. I was so happy I almost peed (Nana's pretty quick too)! After Nana left we all went to relax. Nokie and Mom were on the couch. Mom let me come up too when I asked and told Nokie to let me lay with him. No big deal if he didn't, I'm over him. I laid in the pillows, they're more comfy than him anyway! Well then Mom woke us all up and put me in the box and went with Nokie to take a bath. You know, no matter how much I cry, he doesn't even care! I was crying and crying and did Nokie come save me? NO! Some brother he is... When Mom came back she was all wet and told me what a good boy I was. I'm guessing that where ever she went to take a bath she couldn't hear me. She let me out and then we all went in to the office to play. That was fun! Nokie couldn't beat me in tug o' war if he was Underdog! I so smoked him! But then I fell asleep again. I do that a lot, I should have Mom take me to the doctors or something...but I digress. Mom put me back in the box and this time it was ok I guess. I was too sleepy to really care and I could still see her and Nokie walking around in the kitchen. I never cried once and when I woke up Mom had the door open and she said she was so proud of me!! Rightly so of course, I am a wonderful dog after all. And it's my 2 month birthday!!!