It's MOMS birthday...still!

Wow, what a great day we've had... you saw from my previous post that today is mom's birthday. We spent a lovely day out and about. Had so much fun I ended up needing a bath. Mom always says you can judge how much fun your dog has had by how many times you have to bathe them! 

Well, mom is right indeed because I've needed about 5 in the last week! Good thing she and dad make bath-time and grooming fun! I know in this picture my body language might "say" differently, but trust me, the treats, like the water, were flowing nicely - which always makes for fun "association" learning... 

Once I was all "fresh as a daisy" we got dressed and headed south

to our friends the Goren's: Bonnie, Isaac, and Miss. Valerie. Mom and Miss. Bonnie have been friends since mom was born! YIKES! That's a really long time... Anyway, they wanted to throw mom a fun party - so we all met up at one of moms favorite stores - Trader Joe's - thats where we get lots of our yummy food...(hmm, I gotta figure out if they deliver)... After we picked up lots of goodies to throw on the grill, we headed to Bonnie's house where we also met up with some other of moms and Bonnie's friends, April and Randy. They have dogs too - I met them at one of my moms parties at the studio. 

The evening was complete with lots of laughter, a great meal  and fun socialization! The Goren's have kitties, but they didn't want to come out and play with me...oh well, gave me more time to "stay on my place" and have hors d'oeuvres. Check out this photo - this is the same behavior mom has me do at home while she is cooking dinner. She tells me "go to your place" which is what I do. It's the best choice for me... either I sit on my place, or I get locked out of the kitchen... hmm, only took one time for me to figure out what the best choice is. 

I did try and sneak in a spot at the dinner table. I think everyone was done with their meal, because they let me sit there. They were laughing too, saying I was cute. Didn't get me very far because I didn't get anything else to eat. But sitting there was fun. I guess I was pretty tired because mom kept saying how I was falling asleep at the table. Well it was a long day! 

We had lots of fun with Bonnie and her family. You can tell by this photo of me on the chair... That's me "digging in my heels". In other words I didn't want to leave! I'm even sticking my tongue out! 

Being at the Goren's is what I definitely call "positive reinforcement"! They have a company called "Adventure's 4 Fun" and I'd have to agree, that visiting with them is a fun adventure! I know mom and dad had a great time too, although they were okay with going home to our own place. They kept talking on the way home about about how much fun it was. 

Mom really appreciates her friends - says they are like family. She also said this was a great birthday! I wonder what we're going to do next year? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

Party ON!

Wow, this birthday party surely went to the dogs! What a great time I had! I love going to parties... especially when they're doggy birthday parties. Check out the photo with me checking out the spread... Okay, not one of my best moments - at least by your human standards - I find it ironic that dad was the one taking the picture. Hmm, I guess he thought it was more fun to take the picture of me up on the chair sniffing the snacks, than asking me to get down... Notice mom was busy doing something else... HA! The perfect time to sneak in and check out the yummy "pup-cakes" Miss. Lisa made for us doggies. 

It was Ferris Wheel's & Carnivals birthday! (yes, Miss. Lisa and Mr. James really gave them these names, they go by Ferris and Carni)... Anyway, they thought it would be fun to have a birthday party celebrating all of our dogginess... and it was a great time to be had - by canines and humans alike. 

There were lot's of other doggies there too, so I got to make lots of new friends! We were all running around, playing, swimming, doing all of our doggy stuff...young, old, big, small - it's so important that us dogs get out and play with other dogs. You humans are great to play with, but we need "dog time" too - it allows us to build our canine play skills, and to learn what is socially acceptable, and what isn't. Us dogs teach each other that... we learn dog-play best from each other - especially what's "legal play" and what isn't. So thanks Miss. Lisa and Mr. James for taking care of our needs...This is the kind of activity mom likes to have at her training studio here in Ventura. But she always enjoys going to other peoples places for fun times too... 

Check out all the great pictures that my mom took.
There are some of Ferris playing and eating his birthday hat! (Dude! That's so funny! I'm gonna try that next time mom sticks a hat on my head.) 

And there's one of Carni and Ferris taking a dip in the pool. Then there's me, Ferris, and Libby (Ferris' cousin) - she was dressed funny. 

Check out this other favorite of mine - I'm making friends with a really nice man who kept wanting to give me some of those pupcakes! See? he was paying attention to what I wanted! Oh, and hey, it was his idea! Not mine! I wasn't "begging" or anything, he just offered.... 

I'm no fool! Plus I didn't want to be rude :-) 

Anyway, if you ever have the chance to take your dog to a party, or better yet, throw your dog a party, it'll probably be the best party ever! We make our own fun, and you humans tend to enjoy watching that... I wonder when mom is going to throw a party? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

I "LOVE" tennis! Just like my dad!

Today was another great day! Why? because dad was playing tennis in Santa Barbara...one of my favorite places to go...My mom the dog coach had to work first - she was teaching one of her great doggy workshops at Ventura College... I believe on teaching us dogs how to walk on leash, greet you humans politely, and come to you when you call us... Well, as soon as she got home, we all headed to SB... Mom thought it would be a good idea to visit some of her friends while dad played tennis... They live near where dad was playing, and she wanted them to meet me, and vice versa... Wow! What nice people they are... plus, they're really good dog trainers too - although they probably don't realize that :-) 

You see, mom taught me this really cool behavior. She also teaches her students and their dogs this too - it's called "go to your place"... Which is the cue for me to go and sit or lie down on a little mat or rug. It gives me something to do, plus I stay out of the way...mom thinks it's annoying, getting under her feet and all. 

So we went to Linda, Jim, and Stevie's house....wow, really cool place. Huge yard for me to run amok in!!! Plus they allowed me to run around inside too - Well, as soon as Miss. Linda started cooking dinner, oh boy did I know what to do...mom taught me well, right??? You betcha, I went right over "to my place" just like at home... and Miss. Linda caught on really quickly - although she rewarded me much better than mom! She gave me all sorts of cheese samplers (she was making something called "macaroni and cheese") Man-oh-man-alive was I one lucky dog or what??? She also kept saying how good I was, and how cute I was.... all that positive reinforcement - let me tell you, mom had to drag me outta there to go home... Oh, and before you start to worry, please don't - Miss. Linda was very careful with me being so close to the stove and whatnot - she was watching out for me, making sure I was safe the whole time... 

Dad had fun too - he and his friend won their match... plus I got some ball chasing in after they were finished... Mom had a successful day with her workshop - plus she and I had fun and the Brinkman's... all in all a great day... I wonder when we're going back to visit? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder...