I have to wear a jacket again

Howdy all -

I am still ba-rooing around the house. Mom and Dad are letting me stay out of my crate during part of the day - I haven't figured out how to get into trouble, so I usually take a nap. Mom stayed home with me for a while, but then she got that verbal offer, which she said became a bone-nified offer. I don't recall seeing any extra bones around the house for me. Which, I guess, must be why she goes away during that day, probably to go where the bones are. I wish she would take me with her. When she does, I go to Central Bark where my friends are.

We have been staying in the house more lately. When we go out, it usually is cooler than what a typical Basenji prefers, so I have to wear my jacket. I almost forgot about my favorite sport while laying out in the sun in the backyard - laying in the sun in the living room! The leaves are off the trees so you know what that means - warm sun spot city! Also, those darn squirrels can't hide from me anymore.

We went for a walk tonight. It sure was dark. I couldn't see bunnies or squirrels, but I could hear them. Everywhere. Taunting me. Dad won't let me catch them. I did take the opportunity to catch up on pee-mail, take care of other business, and spend time with my favorite pack.

Mom took me to the dog park a couple of times. It was wonderful - I had a blast - right up until Mom made me take a bath! I finally got myself where I felt comfortable, and she rinsed it all away from me. I can't help it if someone keeps putting all that mud in my way. I say "Full speed ahead!!! I don't brake for mudholes! Follow me!!!" (no one does)

Good night - I have to go and nap. Talk to you later!

Barooooooo!

Copper
(Hi Mr. C - welcome to my blog!)

Wow - where did my summer go?!?

Barooooo!!!!

I had such a fun summer! I went to the dog park a lot, and Central Bark (LOOK AT MY REPORT CARD!!! I was a most excellent Basenji!) I was so busy I didn't have time to write until now.

Dad has been really busy at work, doing some kind of project. I mostly got to see him - well, actually not see him because I was usually sleeping - in the evening or at bedtime. He is home more lately, but we haven't been doing our morning walks (whew - it sure is dark out when he leaves).

Mom had something really cool happen - she stopped going to work and stayed home with me! We went to the dog park alot, and I still got to go to Central Bark one day a week. I wasn't happy all the time, though. She spent much of the day on the computer typing, and talking on the phone. She was all excited yesterday - she got something called a 'verbal offer' - it sounds yummy! I hope she shares it with me.

Joey was around the house more, too. But, he is back in school again and makes more noise than ever. I don't mind the thing that hums, but the honker is a little hard on my nerves. I still like to watch him, just not listen.

I need to go now and get a head start on my sleeping. Good night.

Copper

That was incredible!!!

Mom and Dad and Joey went to someplace called (I think) South Dog-kota. They saw buffalo, prairie dogs, and something called a "Jackalope" which is a huge bunny with antlers!

I got to stay by Rhya and Tanner - turns out they aren't even puppies, but more like Joey. I now have two more BnFFF's (Best non-Furry Friends Forever). They took me for walks FOUR TIMES A DAY!!! Their Dad let me watch a Ba-rooooers game with him, and the best part was that I slept through the whole thing! They knew so much about me - that I like to play with water from a hose, I like to help dry off wet legs, and most importantly, peanut butter is my most favorite treat! They had a WHOLE BARREL of it for me!

I thought I saw a pussy cat, but it must have been a ghost - there was no sign of it the whole week I got to stay there. I think I saw a paw with very sharp claws sticking out from under a door, and I swear I heard someone whispering "Come here puppy dog and put your nose in my paw." Spooky.

Rhya drew a lovely picture of me for Mom and Dad. I just have to share this with you! I still wonder how she knew who ate all that peanut butter!

I am happy to be home now. All my adoring squirrels and bunnies missed me, and I need to go chase them.

Barooooo!

Copper

I get to go for an overnight visit!!!

Did you hear the good news? Mom and Dad and Joey said I get to go on an overnighter! I don’t know much about it yet, but I pretty sure there are a couple of puppies named Rhya and Tanner there – they are going to play with me, from what Dad was saying. This is good news!!! Baroooo!

I hope they know some of the important stuff about me – it took my regular Doggy Daycare weeks to find this out:

I eat two half-cups of my favorite dog food twice a day. I really am not a breakfast dog, so I usually eat my first bowl when Mom gets home from work, and my second one when the critters eat their supper. Ok, I admit I am a sloppy eater, but I do want to be with everyone else during supper.

Dad makes my pink kong in the morning by putting a handful of my favorite food in along with three T-Training treats. He has to put a bone-shaped treat in each end to keep the stuff inside. As a special treat, he puts the rest of the peanut butter on the knife on the bone-shaped treats. The other thing Dad does is put peanut butter inside my red kong along with a kong stuffing. He puts this in the refrigerator and Mom gives this to me when she comes home to let me out for lunch. The knife is used for the pink kong, and I always get to lick it clean. Mom sometimes gives me a piece of ham when I listen and go back into my crate after my lunchtime walk.

I don’t like to poop in my yard. That’s what walks are made for. Everyone knows when Dad takes me for my morning and evening walk because he carries bags just for me. He calls them ‘Dog Treats’ but I don’t know why – I never have gotten one of them. He just throws them away and hollers at me if I try to take them out of the garbage.

I do like having my chest and tummy rubbed while I am standing next to my critters. I don’t like being on my back while getting attention.

If my ears are down and my tail is curled, I am happy. If I do all this and say ‘Barooo’, I am extremely happy!!! Sometimes I even wag my tail!

I know a couple of commands – Sit, Stay, Wait (Dad uses this when I pull too hard on my leash or try to get out the door), Down, Baroo (I guess this means Speak) and Crate Treat. When Dad says this one, he points at my crate and I go in. Not always happily, mind you.

I get to sleep on Mom & Dad’s bed at home. I wonder…

I listen pretty well for a Basenji, but sometimes my inner hunter takes over if I see something furry and interesting. Dad says that’s why I can’t go off-leash and it is very important to loop my leash over your wrist when we go for walks. I am surprisingly strong for my size and have pulled away a couple of times. Basenjis are supposed to be escape artists.

My favorite spot when I am tired is between someone’s legs or on someone’s lap. I like to go to bed by 9 pm some nights.

The only thing I will wake up for is cheese. I also will sit, go down, play bang, and roll over for cheese. Dad won’t overdo it, but I say, hey – go ahead, make my day!

I am tired - it is already after my bedtime. I will write more if I think of anything else to say.

Baroooooo!!!

Copper

It's just not fair!!!

I heard Dad talking about a fun thing that he did, but he never even thought of taking me along with him! He went to something called a "Bah-rooers Game" last night. I stayed home. That just isn't fair!

The only Bah-rooers I know of are other Basenjis. If there is ever anything right up my alley, it is Basenji games. The other Basenjis must be very happy with whatever one does at a Bah-rooers game, especially if it causes all that yodeling!

I don't know what a Bah-rooers game is, but from what I could gather it involves chasing balls around, running in circles, and catching flies (another thing that I enjoy). Dad took a couple of pictures, but I don't know - none of them show any Basenjis. They probably needed a nap after all that chasing around. This one only has humans in it:

The most incredible thing happened during the game - GIANT SNAUSAGES RACED AROUND! I would have done every trick I could think of to get one of those Snausages! I don't recall ever seeing a sausage run around, but I bet I could catch a couple of them if I tried. I bet I could catch a rabbit if I tried. I wonder if they could let a rabbit loose during a Bah-rooers game. I would beat any other Basenji within a mile catching up with it, I bet!

This is the picture Dad took of the Snausages. Come to think of it, those Snausages look pretty big. Maybe I will stick with my Milkbones:Oops - sounds like Dad is coming in - until next time, Bah-ROOOOoooooo!

Copper

I am a Mud Hound!

I finally know what kind of dog I am - I am a Mud Hound! I must be because I have learned this by simply paying attention:

• When I stayed up late one night and chewed on Dad's belt, he said "When I catch you, your name is gonna be Mud!" I think he was kidding, because he still calls me Copper.
  
• Someone keeps putting glorious mudholes at the Dog Park, and Mom and Dad and Joey keep taking me there.
  
• The big dogs want me to chase them through the mud - that must mean proof positive that I am a Mud Hound!

As you may have figured out, I have my shots, I have my license, and I have my ticket to the dog park! Someday, maybe this year, the weather will be warm enough to go more often than we have been able to go this spring. *Sigh* (Oops - I mean bah...rooooo.)

Anyhow, the couple of times I have been there have been an absolute joy! I got to run off my cabin fever the first time, and the next couple of times were run and play, run and play. I had seven dogs chasing after me at one time. That actually got a little scary at the end, so I ran over by Mom.

Here I am with a couple of new friends I made on this visit. We had so much fun running around that fence. The first time I went through the water I found the lowest spot. I was in over my head! I am more careful after that and stay closer to the edges.

Mom and Dad seem happier now that they are used to being at the dog park. I think they finally found something to keep themselves busy - they hardly interrrupt me. I keep my eyes on them, though, and if they wander off I run by to check on them and make sure they are ok.

After running through those wonderful mud puddles, I think the best way to dry off is to play a good game of "stick." Then, tired and happy, it is time to go home. Dad puts a blanket on the back seat, and we all get in the car and go home.


One time, though, Dad said "Pee-yew!" Mom said "Pee-yew!" Joey said "That's Copper!" I was so proud of myself - I brought home some of the dog park with me! Mom made me give it back (and now you can see why I am a Mud Hound!


I will be sure to refresh my Mud Hound status when I go back to the park. There is no way those mud holes can ever dry up this year!


After a long, hard day at the dog park or at Doggy Daycare, there is nothing better than putting your head on someones laptop and getting in a little snooze and some petting! This is the life!


Until next time, Ba-rooo!!!!

Copper

I feel like (a) Britney (Spaniel)

I think I am being followed by pupparazzi! My picture showed up in the March 2008 issue of Fetch Magazine, on page 25. Someone took my picture at doggy daycare and sent it in to Fetch. Basenjis are the featured breed of the month, and I got to show off my pretty pink jacket (the one I wore at Halloween). If you would like to read the article (sorry, no pictures) go to http://www.fetchmag.com/ or stop at any pet store in SE Wisconsin to get a copy.

Dad said something about taking early morning walks now that the weather might be warming up. I sure hope he doesn't wake me up when he goes out on these. I am so happy to curl up on Mom & Dad's bed and wait for the furnace to start up. Yup, I have it made!

I can't believe that I have lived here for a whole year! Mom and Dad and Joey brought me home on March 10, 2007 (is that October in dog months?) I think they were going to do something special, but must have forgotten. Dad said not going bankrupt on vet bills was special enough, but I like my doctor! He has a neat big screen TV, whatever that is. I wonder if it smells good.

Well, I am tired from my day at doggy daycare. I am going to go and take a 16 hour nap.

Bye.

Copper

I am back in the dog game!

Barooooo and howdy to all!

I am happy to report that my cone is gone and Mom is letting me jump up and down off the bed and couch as I see fit! I even go to Central Bark again and get to play with all my friends. I didn't see cousin Riley there - I am pretty sure that Dad said Riley is now going to Doggy Daycare. I will have to sniff around for him.

I have a new bottom in my crate. Mom got a new one after I chewed up two others during my boring days inside. This one is pretty hard - I haven't been able to get a hole started. I will figure out something. It is really hard like my chain, or the tags on my collar.

I pitch in wherever I can. If my toys are in the box, I get them out so we can have fun. I found a box of cans in the bathroom and I opened this up for Mom and Dad and Joey. I also found time to fluff up the toilet paper. I am soooo proud of myself - I heard Dad say that I am a big help!

Dad went to a city called Indianapolis for a whole week. He missed the big snowstorm. Mom and Joey stayed home with me one day and that was fun. Dad said he had fun in that city, but it got kind of boring at the end because he really wanted to get home but his flights kept getting canceled. I missed him and was very happy to have him home.

I spent a whole weekend at Central Bark. Mom and Dad and Joey went to someplace called "The Dells" and left me with my friends at Doggy Daycare. They were very nice to me, but I was more happy than I ever have been when Mom and Dad and Joey came to pick me up!!! I sang for them more than I have ever sung before!

Sounds like Mom needs me now - I will write again soon!

Copper

The cone is back?!?

What the hey - I went to the vet and fell asleep there (again) - and the cone was back when I woke up! And my leg hurt a lot!!! I remember Mom and Dad talking about my knee locking up - I wonder if this has anything to do with it? Since then, they haven't taken me for walks, and no trips to the dog park or doggy daycare. We went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for Christmas, but all I did there was sit on someone's lap and sleep. It was kind of wonderful in that regard.

I want to play chase, but Mom and Dad and Joey won't do that - it is making me a little sad. Mom said I have to wait at least another five weeks. I will get those itchy stitches out on January 7th.



I had some fun for my second Christmas (I was born on December 23rd, 2006 - Dad said something about combining presents, which I don't think would be fair at all!) I did get some nice gifts - a new jacket and some new chew toys.

I made a painting for Dad (with some help from Joey).
He is going to take it to work so he can think about me during the day when I am at home in my crate, or at daycare. Dad certainly was surprised by this gift - he didn't even have a clue that I was giving him anything this thoughtful and nice! Joey had fun doing this too - he must have because I got to chase the Kleenex that he was holding when we made the painting.



I love the snow - I wish it wouldn't be so cold, though. That cone comes in real handy when I need to bury my pee or poop. Dad took a picture of me exploring - I don't think it is the best he has ever done since it is so blurry. I hope that Mom will let me play in the snow some more, soon. I can hear things moving around underneath, and I have found two dead mice so far. Mom just says "yuck" and won't let me pick up my prizes.

Well, I need to see what Joey is up to - he might have a treat for me.

Have a Happy New Year!

Copper