Hi! (by Ojo)

Hi hi hi! Ojo here! Just popping to say hi! Because I haven't said hi recently. So I am saying hi! Hi!

(Also, yes, I am wearing a bear bell. Because there are BEARS around here! But so many amazing smells and places to explore too!)

Me (by Ojo)

Hi hi hi! Ojo here!

This is ME.
In the fall sunshine.
With a cold breeze.
Under the oak trees.
Among the tall grasses.
That hide the tasty bunny poops.

I think I am the most beautiful thing in the picture, don't you? Even better than the bunny poops tucked into the grass!

Ojo is damaged

Ojo has damaged herself. She has done something to her leg which makes her hop on three feet and then lie down. She is sad because this means no big fun walk today. I am sticking very close. I will take care of you, Ojo!

It's my Gotcha Day! (by Ojo)

Hi hi hi! Ojo here!

Today is my Gotcha Day! I have been with my people for THREE YEARS!

This is the picture that the shelter and the rescue group showed of me, before I was Gotcha'd:

This is what Shelter said about me: "Willemina (yes, that is what they called me, don't laugh!) is very sweet, playful, good w other dogs, happy & bouncy."

My people saw my picture with my soft, gentle face, and they saw that write-up, and they decided to meet me!

First I lived with a family. Then I lived on the streets. Then I lived in Shelter where they called me Willemina. Then I lived in Foster-Home-in-Alabama. Then I had to go on an airplane which was very scary. Then I lived in Foster-Home-in-BC where they called me Willie. Then finally my people took me home! They called me Ojo. That is much better.

I was very smart, but my smartness was for things like stealing food off the counter and hiding valuables in the yard. So my people took me to class where I learned to use my smartness in different ways that were less annoying to them! (And still fun for me! Training is awesome!)

I love my family! I am so happy they chose to Gotcah me!

Where I came from (by Ojo)

Hi hi hi! Ojo here!

Way out there, across the water, and keep going for a long, long way, is where I came from.

I have now been here for longer than I was ever there.

Sometimes I smell something that reminds me of that place, long, long ago. Sometimes I think about the first family that I had, and I wonder what they are doing. If they ever wonder what happened to me. If they hope I'm okay.

First family, I do not know why you did not want me any more, or why I spent all that time living on the streets and then in the shelter, but I forgive you.

First family, if we had not parted ways I would never have met my forever family, and I would not be living in this amazing place. On an island, surrounded by water, covered in mountains and forests. With Cobi and my people, who have loved me and played with me and fed me amazing meals for almost three years now.

First family, I hope you are doing well, and I hope you are happy. Because I am very happy, and I would not change a thing. (Except for maybe adding a second breakfast to the day. That would be good.)

I catch a snowball! (by Ojo)

Hi hi hi! Ojo here!

Watch how athletic I am when I catch snowballs!

(Okay, so my person says that she worries when I twist like this. So I am not allowed to do it very often. But still, aren't I amazing???)

We are not friends. (Okay, that's a lie.)

I do not know why Ojo thinks we are friends.

It's not like we spend time together.
It's not like we lie in the sun and sniff the breeze together.
It's not like we play together.
It's not like we explore and walk and run together.
It's not like we nap together and dream together.
It's not like we think deep thoughts together.

In fact, I would not be caught within fifty feet of Ojo.

What?

We are lying in the sun together? We are sniffing the breeze together? We are thinking deep thoughts together?

Oh. You busted me. Okay. Yes. I admit it.
Sigh.

I like Ojo. In fact, I love Ojo. Very much.

Even when she tells silly jokes in ear!

How to drink properly

Dear Dog Friends,

I believe that when taking a drink from a watering hole, stream, or puddle, it is important to drink carefully. First of all, if you must put your paws in the water, put your front paws in only. This prevents your back paws from getting wet, and also means that you will not disturb the water. Instead it will stay clean and fresh for drinking.

Unfortunately, this is how Ojo drinks from a watering hole, stream, or puddle.

It is very rude, don't you think?

She makes a mess of the water! It gets muddy and yucky for drinking!

And friends, I hate to tell you this, but sometimes she even pees in the water! Can you believe it!

She is not dainty or careful at all!

Good morning, sunshine!

Good morning, everyone! It is sunny!

(Ojo just wants to play. That is why she looks so serious. Otherwise she never looks this serious. Ever. Except about food. But not me. I am HAPPY! It is SUNNY!)

ME (by Ojo)

Ojo's tongue

Okay, I must admit it. Ojo has Longest Tongue Ever. I am very impressed. (And a little envious. But shhh, don't tell her.)

Ojo

I know I make grumpy, grumbly noises about Ojo sometimes. Or often times. She is young, and she is pushy, and she runs too fast. All the time.

But she is my pack mate. My company. My friend. And don't ever tell her this, but sometimes (just sometimes) I think she is magnificent. Look at her leap from the water to catch the flying stick!

Shhh, don't tell her... But I do love her.

Black & White Sunday 02/23/14

Ojo making mischief

Excuse me, people! Look over here! Ojo is doing a mischief!

Do you see what she has stolen? Do you see what she is chewing upon? Do you see the mess is she is making?

Look over here! Look at this! She is a Bad Dog! Look at this major mischief!

Excuse me... Why are you not listening...

Sigh.

...

Pssst, Ojo. What have you got there? That looks like fun. Would you share with me? Maybe I could play at making mischief too??

The Dog Who Fetches

Oh no! Ojo! What are you doing??!?

You are not fetching, are you?? Oh no...

Why must you do that? Don't you know that the people need their exercise? They must go retrieve Ball. Not us! Not the Dogs!

Oh Ojo.

There she goes. Fetching again. Sigh.

Black & White Sunday

I got snow for Christmas!

Ojo asked for a couch for Christmas. She did not get it. (Although she did get to sleep on the bed with our littlest person.)

The key to doing well at Christmas is to ask for things that you know Santa can deliver. A couch would never fit down the chimney. In fact, we don't even have a chimney. But Santa did deliver something special. Something very important. Something we both asked for...

SNOW!!!

Snow is one of my favourite things in the whole wide world!! And Santa brought it for us, just because we asked!! (You see, it pays to be a Good Dog!)

I was so happy with  my snow that I even let Ojo play with me. We had lots of fun running and chasing and leaping!

And then, after all the playing, it was time for a long winter's nap...

Lost breakfasts and dinners, and my friend the Snow!

This weekend Ojo met my friend Snow!

I have been telling her just how amazing it is, but she did not believe me. Well, she believes me now!!

We did have a bit of a problem though. Ojo was sick. Sick enough that her Dinner came up out of her mouth (but she got to eat it again, lucky Dog!). And then her Breakfast too.

Finally Ojo was feeling better, but then I started to feel bad. My Dinner left my body and I didn't get it back. The next morning the people gave us chicken and rice to help our bellies. But I have some very sad news, friends. I lost my chicken and rice. I only had it in my belly for five minutes, then it went back out. And when I went back to eat it later, it was GONE!

This was tragic!

But, finally, we were both feeling better. We went for many Walks. We sniffed many things. We chased birds and chipmunks. And then we sat and watched the white world while the sun went to sleep.

Here is Ojo and my friend Snow. She was pleased to make its acquaintance. Do you have Snow too?

Happy Beach Day!

In case you couldn't tell from our Wordless Wednesday post, yesterday was BEACH DAY!! Hurray!!

Nature was making warm-sunny-fall-day, with not much wind. It was perfect for running and sniffing and playing!

Have I mentioned that I love the Beach?

Ojo was very well behaved. This is very much a relief, because it means I get Beach Day again soon. I think it's just because most of the birds have gone south while Nature makes fall and winter, so there are fewer things for her to chase. But perhaps she is learning to be calm.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Ojo loves the Beach too. It makes her silly. I hope she remembers to be a Good Dog on the Beach so we can come back often.

Agh! Ojo! Must you??

Happy Beach Day everyone!

Don't take this the wrong way

The people are stingy.

There is only one comfy-soft donut bed in the kitchen. There are two Dogs. Clearly this is a problem, especially on cold, foggy fall mornings when both Dogs should obviously have their own comfy-soft donut beds.

So do not take this the wrong way. This does not mean that I like her. It simply means that I am the sort of benevolent, generous Dog who was kind enough to allow the young Ojo to share my bed. Along with the stuffed chicken. I am a Good Dog. That is all.

And... wait! Hang on! Is that her face on my bum??