Protector Extraordinaire

Yup - another day here in snowy NJ.   All this white stuff is getting pretty tiresome.

I had to have an early dinner tonight because the foster parents were having some friends over for dinner.  Well, they might be THEIR friends, but I'd surely never met them before, and suddenly, there they were, in the driveway, with their car, in the dark!  Fortunately, I was outside for my after dinner walk when I heard them drive in.  Who drives around at night in the snow and the dark - BAD people, probably!  And my foster mom was right there with me, clearly in danger.

Just like the car, nobody better mess with my people in my yard.  I tore up that driveway like a Sherman tank, woofing for all I was worth, and scared them nearly to death - I'm quite a formidable creature when I'm in a high dudgeon!  I did feel a little silly though, after I met them and realized that they're really nice dog people and they knew all about me - they even knew my name before we were introduced - imagine that!  I must be famous or something!

I'm hitting the bed early tonight - I had a really busy day exercising my leg to make it strong, checking out all the new footprints in the snow, searching for rabbit poop (naturally) and doing all the other things that I ordinarily do in the course of a day.  I'm pretty tired - and that run up the driveway really was "up" the driveway - we live on a hill.   I think I've earned a good night's rest, don't you?

I plan to dream about all the ways I'm going to take are of my new parents when I finally go to my real home later this week.   It's a big responsibility being a brindle boy Bullmastiff - I have a reputation at stake, you know!

He Who Has the Most Toys - WINS

Well then, I guess you all should call me Vic (short for Victorious - NOT for Michael Vick!) because I have the most toys.  I have them carefully arranged in three different piles, one pile having sections A and B.  One pile is on my crate and ex-pen area, one is on the floor, and the other is on the couch.  The floor pile contains those on the rug in front of the couch, as well as those carefully hidden under the couch behind the blanket. 

And nobody is ever to touch them.  I have my own plan and arrangement, and I hate it when things are misplaced or moved.  It's very difficult finding exactly the right spot for the right toy at the right time, and I agonize over the placement of each and every one - woe to anybody (like the FM) who accidentally moves one.  I get myself into a real snit and immediately get up to put it back where it belongs.  The only time she's supposed to help is if one falls off the couch while I'm playing with it - then she's allowed to pick it up for me. 

Apart from that one little thing, I think I've been fairly successful at training her.  She knows now that I have to have a treat to go out the door, and another to come back in (even when I'm really desperate to go in, I wait patiently for her to remember that I never cross a threshold without a reward).   She also knows that I get one whenever I pee or poop outside, and I'm working on reminding her to give me a treat every time I stop and look up at her too.  She's been a little slow to catch on to that, but hey, she's old, so I'll give her a break. 

And people wonder why I'm exhausted at night!

SEVEN DAYS!!!

We were all so sick of slipping and sliding and dodging snowflakes that nobody could help me post last night.  I think they lied - when I woke up after my surgery, they'd moved me to Alaska.  This can't possibly be New Jersey.

Yesterday I passed a milestone - seven whole days without an accident in the house.  I'm not sure why the foster parents are so excited about that, but they are, so I guess I'm happy too.  

Seven is a good number for another reason - as of yesterday afternoon, it's only SEVEN more days until I go to my new home.   Every night when I go to bed, I check off another day.....it's getting closer and closer.  I can hardly stand the excitement.  I've already met my new parents and been to their house - I'm going to have the greatest life. I hope they have a good stock of plastic water bottles there - I love them when they're stuffed into my two "bottle buddy" toys.

I sure hope they have bunnies there.  It's getting harder and harder to find bunny poop with all this snow but I'm very resourceful, and don't let the 3 leg thing fool you - I can DIG if there something under the snow that I really want. 

Hey Bocce - maybe we can get jobs digging for truffles when we're a little bit older.   What do you think?  I bet it would be fun, and we've already got lots of experience at sniffing out buried treasure in the garden.  Yesterday, I ripped out a plant in my frenzy to uncover a delicacy. 

More later everybody - have to take a nap now so I'm ready to race around next time I get to go out.   

Cujo and The Cougar

Where to begin?  I had the MOST exciting day today.  My white Ninja belt was getting a little tattered and the foster mom didn't want to take it off herself, so we went to one of my favorite places, Blairstown Animal Hospital, where I got to see all of my friends and had the adhesive taken off.  The whole process took about 11 seconds, but I was in the back for quite a while because I had to visit with everyone. I got weighed, too, and I'm growing like a weed.  A big weed!  I'm pretty close to 60 pounds now - a lean, mean, brindle machine. 

Well, sort of.  This is where the violins start to play in the background and hearts fly around my head.  I think I'm in LOVE!  I had a sister (Maggie) when I was with my other foster mom, SK, but today I met an older woman!!!!  She is the most dazzling of all creatures, a slinky grey pittie, and she had a pink bracelet on and......A CONE!  I think she must be at least two years old - she's so mature and confident.  And a COUGAR!  Can you imagine?  Me, and an older woman.  I could hardly contain my enthusiasm.  We agreed to meet again next week at the clinic.  I'm going to try and muscle up some more before then, so I look really mature.  I whispered that I'm nine months old.  It was only a little lie, and I don't think the FM heard me.

So, that was the Cougar part.  Now for the Cujo episode.....here I am, Cujo in a Cone.

Look how fierce I am.  One step closer, and they would have been toast.  Toast, I say!  You can't see it because I'm wearing my cone (drat), but every hair on my spine was spiking skyward.  Even my Mohawk was higher than usual.  I was ready - bring it on!  I woofed and grrrrrr-ed, and even thought about showing a tooth or two, but then I decided that was probably overkill.  Nobody better touch my car.   Not MY car.   Or my foster mom.  Keep walking, buddy.  Move along.  I am ready to pounce - I could go right over that little hatchback thing and be on you like a Vampire.

So, OK, once I was out of the car I was all wiggly and friendly.  So what?  That was only because then I had a chance to meet you and check you out and confirm that you weren't about to steal my car or kidnap my FM.   And if you had any evil intentions, I was right there to intervene.  Good thing I have such self restraint and always exercise good judgment.

Actually, it was quite vital to my survival that I prove myself invaluable to the FM.  Otherwise, I think she might have strangled me, or made me ride home on the roof.  She opted not to use a crate because it's hard to get me in and out with my cone on.  I'm always so perfectly behaved at home that it didn't seem to be an issue (gulp).    Except that we had to stop three times on the way to the vet.  First I grabbed a plastic bag with some sort of clamp things in it and threw them around and chewed on the handles.  Then I shredded one of those sun screen things.  And ripped up a windshield guard.  Then there was the leash.  And the towels I pulled out of the holder.  And, oh yeah, the paper towels that, um, somehow turned into confetti all by themselves after they miraculously fell off the cardboard roll.  I don't know how all of that happened.  I was just hanging out there innocently in the back, with my toys and two bones.   I think there must have been a ghost or something back there.  Or maybe the devil.  Yeah - I think it was the devil, because he had a tail.  And horns!  Or was that a Mohawk?  Hmmmmm.

Here I am, on the way home - I was perfect.  Probably because I was exhausted.

 

One more thing - day SIX - no accidents!!!!!!!!  How cool am I?

Day Five and Counting

I hope I don't jinx myself - FIVE WHOLE DAYS and not a single accident in the house.  Not even a close call!  I'm so proud of myself - I think I finally have a handle on this house-training thing.

We don't have any new pictures from today.  Just snow, snow and more snow.  This morning, my foster mom had to pick me up and carry me out through the snow to a spot on the patio under the deck where I could actually stand.  There was a snow drift by my door that was above her waist, and the snow all around was over my head!  It was pretty cool.  Well, I guess it was more cool to be the one carried and not the one doing the carrying.   I'm a pretty big guy, after all - good thing she's strong even though she's old!

My foster parents got some sad news today for one of their own dogs  I'm really glad that I'm here to keep them busy and happy.  I do m best to entertain them by running all around and shaking my toys, and carrying things around.  They love it when I switch all my toys around, moving them from the couch to my crate, and relocating the ones in the crate to somewhere else in the room.  I'm very busy, and it keeps them occupied because they have to watch me so that I don't hurt myself or overdo.  Whatever that is. 

I'm super good, and never chew on anything that isn't appropriate - I love my toys and my bones and spends lots of time with them.  I did pick up a slipper this morning, but I just put it on my couch as a decoration - I didn't gnaw on it or anything. 

Just a few more days, and my stitches will come out, and I'll get to move to my forever home.  I'm so excited - I can't wait to have real parents who'll love me.  I know I'll love them back!  I'm so excited, and working hard to learn how to be a perfect boy before they come to pick me up.  My foster mom says I really don't have to try so hard - she thinks I'm already perfect. 

Everybody STOP doing the snow dance - we have enough.  More than enough.  YUCK.

Love,
Tiny Tim

Channeling the Inner Ninja

Well, I hope everybody noticed that yesterday I had a WHITE BELT!  I am pretty sure that it's the very highest Ninja belt that a person could have.  Higher even than a black belt in karate.  At least I think so - I'm sure that I saw that somewhere on TV or the internet.  Good thing I'm so powerful......you have to be to live here in the Arctic!

Or maybe it's just a Snow Belt (ha, ha!).  It was supposed to snow a little bit this morning and then be nice the rest of the day until tonight.  It snowed a lot this morning and then flurried all day and at 6:00 we had a blizzard with snow blowing around everywhere.  I'm so glad I'm a big guy now because I might have blown away otherwise.  As it was, I had to help the foster mom straggle along through the snow.  I let her have the paths she cleared so that she didn't hurt herself and I zipped along through the deep snow.  During the day anyway.  Tonight the snow was almost over my head, so I let her carry me and we hid under the deck on the patio where there wasn't so much snow and I could find a suitable spot.   I hope by morning it's all gone.  I used to really enjoy snow but now I'm getting really, really sick of it.  I think I'm ready for spring.

I'm so sick of being confined.  I hate my hat.  I hate my life.  I want to run around and play.  Tonight, I did just that, while the FM watched in horror.   I grabbed two of my toys at once and ran all around the downstairs living room and office area and laundry room.  She couldn't catch me - I was zooming.   I think she was really happy that I was feeling so great, but a little bit scared that I might hurt myself.  I guess she forgot that I'm really a Ninja and am invincible.  

FM here - No, Timmy, I didn't forget that you're invincible, but I'm not and I am at risk of having a heart attack every time you tear off like a madman, so PLEASE stop doing it for a few more days at least - you'll have a whole lifetime to play when you go to your new home.

The FM took some pictures of me earlier today, but it was kind of dreary outside, and I'm so black and the snow is so white that it's hard to see me.  Plus of course, it's hard to catch me standing still - I love to race around, but I promised that if she took off the leash for a minute so we didn't get all tangled that I'd stick close and she could take a photo or two.   It did give me an opportunity to search carefully for (yum) bunny poop! 

Always Something New

Never a dull moment here in Far Hills.  Now I have am extra cover on my new bed, PLUS my sheet!  I love nestling in there and surrounding myself with soft blankets, and never touching the bottom of the crate because my new bed is in there!   It's the best.  The Foster Mom said if I play my cards right, I might get another bed soon to have in my ex-pen so that I have two soft places to hang out when I'm by myself.  Right now, I still have some pads in there, just in case of an emergency.  But, the new and improved TT  (that would be ME) hasn't had a single accident since coming back here (3+ days - a record!).  I'm getting so grown up.

The Foster Mom also had to take off my mesh shorts today because they were getting a little stinky and kept getting tangled up around my private parts (I'm very manly, you know).  She's pretty old and tough, but not even she had the heart to take off all the tape that held them on.  She got about 2/3 of it off, but it really, really hurt, and I cried, so she stopped.  The good news is that I got lots of extra treats to take my mind off it, and she also got a really good look at my incision and said it's beautiful.  Like it could be anything else?  Geez......

Finally, I got a text from my pen pal Bocce (he's a brindle boy who got a new family through rescue too, and he was just a baby, even smaller than me, when he needed help).   He wanted to tell me that he discovered rabbit poop - food of the gods!  I already knew about it, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings by saying so because I'm younger and already have such a sophisticated palate.  Or maybe we just have more rabbits here.  Either way - it was a good reminder, and I had a quick snack before I went to bed.  I thought the FM was going to kill me, but I'm so fast now that she couldn't stop me. 

More tomorrow - Can anybody say "More Snow"?

A BIG day for Me!

I was too excited last night to post, because my foster mom said she had a surprise for me if I was a good boy for one more night.  Well, I was! 

This morning I got the BEST present - a big boy bed for my crate!  I've been such a good kid in terms of my housebreaking that I've graduated from washable blankets and stuff to a real bed for my crate!  My foster mom bought it especially for me yesterday, and it's just the right size for my crate.  She had to look around for one that wasn't too thick because she didn't want me to hurt myself when I go to bed by jumping too high to get in there.  It's a really cool foam mattress with dents on the top (she called it an awfulpedic or something like that!) and a fuzzy cover.  Then, on top, I have my fleece sheet because I like to dig around and snuggle in (but only at night - never during the day - I keep my bed nice and neat during daylight hours). 

I was so excited to check out my new bed that I ran into my crate this morning when I was only half way through my breakfast.  In case you can't tell, I'm VERY proud of myself......

Everybody's Knickers in a Twist

Oh boy, what a day I had.  I somehow managed to get my nifty mesh shorts all tangled this morning.  There I was, with my Private Parts(!) all snaggled and twisted and wound up in the mesh.  My foster mom didn't know how I could possibly have done that since I wear my dreaded E-collar every second that she's not supervising me, but clearly she's forgotten that I am a Ninja and I can do anything!  It was pretty embarrassing, though, having the FM groping around down there.  I didn't think about that part when I was twirling myself into a knot.   Luckily, she got me all organized again, and she put some new padding over my incision so that there was an extra barrier between it and my teeth.  So, back to gnawing on bones and not my clothing or flesh.  How boring.  Oh well.

So later in the day, while I stayed inside where it's nice and warm and played with my foster dad, the mom went outside and dutifully shoveled some additional paths for me and trimmed away all the spiky parts of the bush I like to poop behind (a guy has to have his privacy, you know).  Now honestly - did she REALLY think that I needed paths?  Once again, she forgets that I am a Ninja Warrior.  I guess it worked out OK though since she walks down the paths and I zoom around in the deeper snow. 

Tonight we got to watch the playoffs, and that was lots of fun.  The FM doesn't usually care who wins, but tonight was a good game (well, the second half was anyway) and she was hoping that the Jets would win because she thinks Roethlisberger is a BIG jerk.  It was pretty funny, watching her get all worked up.  I stayed cool as a cucumber and gnawed on several different bones while we sat on the couch together and watched.  I'm figuring that this time next year,  I might be out there on a playoff team - I could practice a lot between now and then.  I'm looking forward to the Super Bowl parties.....all that food and beer sounds perfect to me!

It's really, really cold out there tonight and it will be even colder (and windier) tomorrow.  I sure am glad that I don't live in a garage anymore! 

The New and Improved Tiny Tim!

So, I'm off on the first part of my new life!  Wednesday, I came back to NJ and went to visit my friends at the Blairstown Animal Hospital again - I LOVE it there.  Everybody is always so happy to see me, and my friend Jenny tucks me in at night with my blankie and favorite toys when I have to stay over.  It's kind of like going to sleepaway camp.  The big news is that my brindle fur is now luxurious and sparkly because Mommy SK took such good care of me, and I gained ELEVEN pounds while I was back in Philly, waiting for the next installment of my saga.  I was supposed to have a BIG operation on Thursday, but it got delayed until yesterday.  My foster mom was all worried that I wouldn't be ready to come home today, but (of course) I was up and ready and raring to go!

(Foster Mom here - the little guy went into surgery as Tiny Tim and came out as a Ninja Warrior!  He's unstoppable!)

For those of you who have been worried about me - fear not!  Now that I'm free of that encumbrance, I am footloose and fancy free (or foot free and fancy loose maybe).  I'm supposed to be on bed rest (yuck) for the next two weeks, with frequent little walks during the day to strengthen my left leg.  Other than that - NO wildness, no leaping about, no diving into snowbanks, leaping on or off furniture, skidding across floors or any other fun stuff.  There are these stupid, grippy type rugs all over the tile floor so I don't slip, and I have to wear a cone on my head.  I can't stand it. 

  (Me again - Timmy, if you'd STOP tearing around like a maniac, and you'd stop trying to rip off your "shorts", maybe you could have a little more time without your E-collar.)

 So, lest anybody think that I, the Ninja, am allowing this torture to go unanswered.......let me set the record straight.  I've been home for 6 1/2 hours now, and I've had a blast.  The foster mom has given up entirely on trying to put my red coat on.  Hah!  You think she's fast enough to get those surcingles on me now?  Not now that I can move at the speed of light!  No way - it's like trying to dress an alligator or a race horse or something.  I have a new red coat now - a bigger one that goes over my head and has big velcro things that she can (sometimes) stick together pretty fast.  I let her do it because that way we get outside faster.   I used to sort of shuffle along but now I can run like the wind, and leap like a gazelle.  And I can PULL!  I am so strong and balanced now without that dumb leg dangling that I pulled the foster mom right into the snow.  She didn't think I'd be able to walk in the snow, but I showed her that I can run in it if I want to.   And I can zip over the little rock wall that used to trip me up, and then I can get my head almost stuck in a drain pipe and then I can slip out of my leash so that she has to throw herself over me in the snow to catch me - all the while being careful not to touch my right side.  It's the MOST fun to get her all worked up and hysterical. 

But, I had my dinner, I trashed a couple of bones, and I've been outside a couple of times since then, and I pooped (in my special spot, as always, even though it involved a long trudge through the snow - a guy has his principles, you know), and I think I'm about worn out.  I had a little snuggle on the couch with her (just to make her happy and remind her that, deep down, I'm still Tiny Tim) and now I'm going to bed.   I'll post again tomorrow just to keep everybody up to date.  And the Foster Mom said we're going to announce some big secret or something soon, too, so that everybody can share in my happiness.

 

Lucy Dog....lucky dog!

So......the following photos are copy righted and I will only sign autographs for a fee!  I'm about to show all of the tricks that I learned while watching "RUNWAY"!  My package also contained my coat!  My Coat! MY COAT!  My TFM is the best - above the rest!  I mean, seriously, does a little guy have to be naked in the snow!  Thank goodness I'm whole again....and, if I might say,......."the lookin' pup in the hood"

I'm gonna just rest for a minute with my new toy......opening that box was exhausting!  Seriously.....it was a big box! 

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 Back off people.....the toy is mine.....it was sent to me!

S

o am I the luckiest guy in the world?  Yep!  My TFM (temporary foster mom) but I'd rather call her my God Mother!  Well....she sent me my own special box!  Some guy knocked on the door...which I made sure he knew that I was boss!  I mean....my foster mom had to hold me back....I was about ready to pounce....like those darn cats that stalk me!

I was permitted to open the box! It took me a minute or two... but look what a fabulous job I did.  My foster mom made sure that I did not actually tear apart the contents within the box....just the box!

Last post of the day plus...it's nap time.

Off to bed for all of us.  I just can't believe that we have to take a nap while mom is off from work!  We should be able to play all day!  HELP......anyone.....I'm not tired......I don't want to take a nap.......please.......I want to play!

 Just playing around.....see.....we are NOT tired.  None of us want to take a nap!

ok fine.....I will try and rest my eyes while I'm sitting in my sister's chair.  Geez......I'm just going to scrunch myself inside this chair and close my eyes.....BUT I AM NOT GOING TO SLEEP!

So Maggie needed a hug before she'd settle down and go to sleep....so I thought I'd help mom out and give Maggie a hug.  I'm am so NICE....right?!? 

 I'm only pretending.......no real "Zzzzzz's" I'm just laying with Maggie - trying to get her to rest her eyes.  She is so silly....she actually fell asleep!   Heavens!

What's a pup to do on a cold, snowy day?

Seriously......what is a pup to do on a cold, snowy day?  My mom's on the couch (doc said she had strep - so she couldn't go to work today) and I was bored.  Why was there a roll of paper towels within my reach?  (Well, just between you and me.....I have a tendancy to pee whenever and where ever I feel the urge - even if I've just been outside.)  So I just grabbed it when she was preoccupied and started to shred.....oh my heck.....I was loving it!  Until she looked up and said......"Timmy"!

Just hanging out in the house ..... SNOW day in Philly!

ok.....so my mom was struggling outside shoveling all the snow...so I decided to give her a hand...or should I say paw!  No pictures were taken - guess she couldn't shovel, get me out of trouble or out of a snow pile and take pictures.  Oh well....  I thought I'd share the "bundle the puppy up" pictures.  I really didn't need to be bundled up but it made her so happy.  I try my best to help my mom out...all in a day's work - right?

Yes, it is true....I am AMAZING! check me out on the stairs

Yes.....I am amazing.....please stand by.....and whatever you do.....do not call my mom!  I am beginning to attempt to go up the stairs.  At my house we have something called pie steps....similar to a spiral stair case but inset into a corner in the house.  Ok.......breathe in ..... breathe out......here I go. 

Alright....look dude....leave me alone.  I'm on a mission.  Why the heck is he always in my business....geez.  He just double dared me that I couldn't make it to the top.  HA!  I'll show him. 

Eat my dust big, fat dog!....and stop smelling my bottom....goodness....your manners are horrible!

I'm on my way UP.....`

ok....the corner steps are a bit tricky......give me a minute........

HA.....I showed him....he has to give me his "going out" treat for a week!  Besides...he needs to lose a few pounds anyway!  So for all the non believers.....................I did it.  Made it all the way to the top.  So who cares if I can't get myself back down the steps.  I just tell the big, fat dog that mom likes to carry me down...because I'm her favorite!