Thursday, January 26, 2012

Look At The Size of Those PAWS!

So today Mommy drove me and Gimme Ma'am to visit with some of the people she works with. They all thought I was quite handsome (hmmmm, they said "cute" but I know they meant handsome!) but one thing really stuck in my head. After admiring my awesome good looks they almost always said "Look at the size of those paws!". Now, I'm not self conscious of the size of my feet but boy if I was!! I think I would be afraid to walk out the door!! Look, my feet are my feet and I am hoping to grow into them. But I'm only four months old. What do you expect? Tiny Poodle paws? How could I walk? I expect that when I'm full grown I'll be around 170 pounds (that's just guesstimating). I have to have big paws to carry all that weight! I'm also a Saint Bernard! We were bred to find lost hikers in the Swiss Alps. My large feet help me walk on top of the snow (like snow shoes). So leave my feet alone!

And while I'm at it, here are some other questions that seem to constantly come up:
1) What does he eat? Food, like you do!
2) How much does he eat?  I would eat until I popped so Mommy and Daddy be sure to feed me twice a day and only enough so that I'm not hungry but I don't get fat.
3) Does he drool? Yes, I do. A properly built Saint will drool. If you find a "drool-less" Saint they are not correct!
4) Where does he sleep? Anywhere I want to! But usually in the kitchen during the day and a crate at night.


Gimme Ma'am had to put up with a whole bunch of other questions and comments. Things like:
1) He's HUGE! Well, he's a she and actually quite average sized for a Great Dane female.
2) Where's her saddle? Seriously, you think that's funny or Mommy & Daddy haven't heard that before?? <sigh>. Even I've heard it before already. Laugh Laugh! There is no saddle. It would break her back.
3) Do you call her Marmaduke? No, that would be silly.
4) Does she bite? Mommy would not have her out here if she did!

Mommy and Daddy are very active in Breed Education. We big, hairy, drooly dogs cannot live with just anyone. So Mommy makes sure that we are all well-socialized and we go as many places as we can! We stop so people can pet us and ask questions. We participate in many Meet The Breeds events. Yes, Mommy gets tired of the same silly questions sometimes. She is working on some new answers for you :-)  But we will continue to be out there so that we let people know that that cute puppy is going to be 140-180 pounds and may not be what you are looking for! Dogs are not impulse buys! Please do your research and buy from a responsible breeder. Then someday, maybe, you'll have a too-cute-for-words puppy like me!!

Alf

Friday, January 20, 2012

That T-Word Again

Hello friends! It's been another long week. Whew! Mommy and I did not go to any training on Saturday and I was actually very bummed out. I like going and playing with my friends. The training part... well, let's just say I'm still thinking about it!

However, Mommy did take Gimme someplace on Saturday and Sunday and she came home very happy Sunday afternoon! Then on Monday, she took Fox with her instead. And she came back home even happier!! Now, I like to see Mommy really happy so I had to ask Fox & Gimme what was going on. So they told me when we went to bed. What?! You didn't know we dogs talk to each other? Oh, sure we do! All the time! That doesn't mean I listen to what they have to tell me (if I did, I'd be potty trained by now. Laugh Laugh!)!

Anyway, Gimme told me that she went with Mommy and hung out at an Obedience/Rally trial for those two days. She said all that training that we do results in titles that we earn that we can put as part of our names. Gimme very proudly told me that she is now known as AKC GrCH/UKC GCH & UR01/IABCA CH Daystar Voyager Gimme Heaven RN CGC CHIC#76689. But thankfully, I can still call her Ma'am! I don't have to learn all that name (because that's a mouthful)!  Fox then said that he was also with Mommy at the same trials on Monday! Can you believe it? Fox is 7-years-old and still expected to do obedience!! But he kind of smirked at me and said "Yeah, but who spent time on Monday all day with Mom huh? Wasn't you little boy.....!!". Oh, wow. I think I get it. Anyway, Fox said he is now known as AKC/UKC/IABCA CH Glaciers Voyager Fox RN BN CGC CHIC#60062. I just call him Sir; Yes Sir!  Trekkie chimed in too. Trekkie??! My first love? She does obedience too?? Yep, she said her full name is UR02 Sleepyhollows Starstruck Voyage RN CD CGC. She actually prefers Trekkie to Ma'am so that's what I call her.

Wow. So training actually results in making Mommy happy and lots of titles. Hmmmmm, I thought, maybe I should rethink this whole training thing.

And then Monday night we went to training again, only this time we took Daddy so he could watch too. But wait. What's this??!! Son of a MilkBone!! Mommy is watching and Daddy is training with me! Holy smokes and put the box away! I didn't know Daddy did training too! OK, well, he's not as smooth as Mommy so I guess he needs some work too. Together, I know we'll do great! I want some of those titles too!!

For my non-dog show savvy friends, here is a rundown of those titles:
GrCH or GCH - These titles are earned by being beautiful. You know all those dog shows on TV? Those are dogs that have earned their Championships (CH) or the next level Grand Champion (GrCH or GCH). Mommy apparently likes to show in AKC events (American Kennel Club, the biggest and most well-known dog registry in America), UKC events (United Kennel Club, the oldest dog registry in America although not as well-known), and IABCA events (International All Breed Canine Association where you get written critiques!).
UR01 & UR02 - These are UKC Rally titles. Level 01 & Level 02.
RN - An AKC Rally title. This is the Novice (or first) level.
BN - Beginner Novice title (AKC). This one is kind of a step above Rally but it's not quite traditional obedience.
CD - Companion Dog (AKC). This is traditional obedience with off lead work and everything!
CGC - Canine Good Citizen (AKC). This one is a great title for all kinds of dogs to get! You don't even have to be purebred!! There are 10 tests you have to pass to prove you are a good dog. Many cities give discounts on licenses for this one!
CHIC - Canine Health Information Center. This one is not really a title. What is means is that the dogs have been tested per the guidelines of the breed National Club. Saint Bernards don't participate in the CHIC program which is why Trekkie doesn't have one. She has been health tested though!

There are a lot more things that humans can do with their doggy buddies including tracking and agility and OH! Just all kinds of stuff!! More information regarding Obedience, Rally, AKC, UKC, etc... will be coming in future blogs. I'm getting tired now.

But OH BOY! I want to get started! It all sounds like fun!! Later, internet friends!!

Alf

Friday, January 13, 2012

MOM! Enough training already!!

Oh boy! What is it with Mommy? Not only did she take me to training last week, we went to training again on Monday! And this time, it was really hard because there was no play time! I had to work and TRAIN! That's just not right now is it??

On Monday, we went to "conformation" training (Mommy had to help me spell that). That is where I learn to stand and look pretty so that judges can touch me and declare me the bestest! I also have to learn to move around the ring at the correct pace. I've been trying to do that but it's no fun sometimes. So I only do it for about 4 steps and then I quit. So there :-P

It's been exhausting with all of this lately. One night for beauty training, one day for obedience training <snicker>, and one day for daycare. Well, two days this week. We've had people in the house helping putting up the new walls downstairs so Mommy thought I would should go to daycare again to get out of their way. What the heck? It's people Mommy! I loooooooooovvvee people (and they, of course, love me!)! But <sigh>. It turned out to be OK since I had lots of fun at daycare!!

But what I want to know is: What is all this training good for? So far, I have been stubbornly refusing to learn anything. Why? I want to know WHY? I have a loving family with loving big brothers and sisters. They don't seem to care if I learn anything. But some days, all I hear is NO NO! Take tonight. I get chicken for dinner every night and yet Daddy was shocked when he put his plate of chicken wings on the couch and I ate one! Laugh Laugh. Oh yes, I did! And it was good!! But all I heard was NO ALF! BAD DOG! <sigh>. Well, I guess he shouldn't have put that plate there, should he have?? Laugh Laugh!!

But that doesn't change the fact that I want to know Why all the training? Enough already! I am the bestest, most handsomest, and everyone knows it. Why train? And that obedience stuff <snicker>.... Mommy has an uphill battle getting me to learn anything for that!

I'm off to sleep Internet friends. Have to dream up new ways to mess with Mommy's obedience training!

Alf

Saturday, January 7, 2012

A New Year

It may be a New Year (and what was so wrong with the old one anyway?) but I am still the same old Alf doing the same old things. PLAYING!! Laugh Laugh! I delayed this week's blog by a couple of days because I heard rumors that Mommy was going to take me to training this week but not until Saturday. And boy, did she! But first, let me tell you about my new favoritist word: DAYCARE!

Yeah for Doggie Daycare! Mommy dropped me off there Wednesday morning. Because it was just after the holidays there weren't a lot of dogs there; but more than what is at home. And they all found me as soon as I went through the gate and sniffed me. I had to just stand still because there were so many of them! I couldn't move at all! I know time moves differently for us dogs than for humans, but it seems hours passed before I could move! And then I just kind of circled around to see where Mommy was; because dogs were still sniffing me! I mean, I know I am the most handsome of all dogs with the bestest personality but really? C'mon! Let's play! Mommy watched just long enough to make sure I would be OK and then she left. And when she did I went to go PLAY! Because, handsome and young as I am I can still do that! Laugh Laugh!

In the morning, my buddy the Cocker Spaniel Derrick was there. We played all morning long! Then we had nap time. After nap time, Derrick was already gone home. So instead, I played with a French Bulldog. I didn't catch his name... hopefully he will be there next week and I'll be sure to ask him! He kept laying on my head and chewing on my checks and face. When I got tired of it I just stood up and he rolled off me. It was very fun and we did it all afternoon long! The owner of the Daycare is named Carol. She also thinks I'm special. I heard her tell that to Mommy. She said it kind of funny, but I know it's because I'm perfect in every way with an awesome personality to boot! Now that I think about it, it might have been Mommy that called me "special". Although I like the name Alf and don't want it changed to Ed.

By the time I got home, I was SOOOO tired. I slept for hours. I slept by the water bowl so I wouldn't have to move far to get something to drink. And then I went back to sleep. It is so exhausting being a puppy!

The next day, Daddy stayed home from work and a couple of other people came over and they worked on the basement remodeling project. Everybody loved me and petted me. But of course!!

And then Saturday finally rolled around!! The day the rumors said Mommy was taking me to training. What the rumors didn't say was that it involved PLAY! YIPPEEE!! While the humans are lectured at by the trainer, we puppies got to play! I am in a class with 2 almost-5-month-old Akitas named Jazz and Sasha. They are bigger than me right now but not for long! But the best time I had was playing with Rocky. Rocky is another Saint Bernard and he is just 10 days older than I am! He has a long coat but he was clearly another me. Well, not me me of course. Because no other dog can be that handsome. But you know what I mean. And rounding out the class is Trinity who is a Basenji mix. Rocky and I wore ourselves out playing! So much so, that when Derrick came out to play for a bit (where did he come from? He's not in the class!!) I lay down on him and squashed him. Uh-oh. Maybe I'm getting too big for Derrick. I hope not! After play time, we had to work on some exercises. Not like jumping jacks, but exercises like sit and down and stuff. That was easy-breezy for Mommy. I was too tired to fight her! Laugh Laugh! Hmmm, I might even learn something from this class. Naw, classes are for PLAYING!!

Afterwards, another class came in with older dogs and it was smaller. The first dog there was Sparta who is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Sparta loves to play too!! Then another couple of dogs joined and I decided I was done. I was too tired to play anymore. Hard to believe, isn't it? But I looked at Mommy and she said "Yup, time to go home". Sparta came over to try and convince me to play some more but I didn't even wake up. I think I am going to like these Saturday playtimes... errrrrrrr... I mean "training classes".

Wishing my internet friends a wonderful 2012 just like I'm having!!

Alf