Fighting Fire With Fire

So I hate to keep talking about those dang gloves that Sue's been wearing when I'm on the leash outside and don't want to come in, but I just don't seem to be getting the message. I thought she WANTED me to bite her and growl at her like I did my brothers back home.

So TODAY I saw Sue leafing through the SIX books she has on raising puppies. She was lying on the couch in the family room (where I"m now allowed, by the way!) and I heard her say, "That's it!! That's it!!!"

Then she ran into the kitchen and got something out of the pantry, poured it into a funny bottle and added some water. The whole time she was muttering like someone who was out of their mind.

When she put it back in the pantry I saw the word "VINEGAR" on the bottle. "Hmmm. I thought. What is "VINEGAR????"
Well, the next time she took me out on the leash I grabbed the leash in my mouth and started biting her legs again. She kept saying "NO!" like she always does, but I always thought she was yelling "GO!!" so I'd keep on doing it.

Purrrrrty soon though, when I opened my mouth to snap she squirted this "VINEGAR" stuff into my mouth. Yuuuuuuukkkkkk! I wasn't sure what it was at first so I kept snapping, but then "pffffffffft" she squirted it again. Then I stopped. She had to do it about three more times before I finally realized that I do NOT want vinegar water sprayed in my mouth!!

After that we walked peacefully into the house. Right away I saw Sue run into her office and I knew she would be writing something on her blog, but of course she knows that I will try the old biting trick a few more times before I finally give in.

Guess she's glad she has all those books. One of them is even called "Raising the Perfect Puppy." (Now THAT guy is crazy!!)

Love,
Elvis

Going to the Vet...

Hi everybody!

This was a HUGE week for me because...












I am HUUUUUUGE!! I have doubled my weight in only a month and I now weigh 25 pounds!!










I still think I'm cute, though, don't you?















This is me and John in the back seat on our way to the Vet.












This is me panic stricken at the Vet.















Dr. Ceperich is very nice, and she kept saying I was an AMAZING DOG!!! (I did not tell her about the "gloves," though, but then Sue did.)
Dr. C said that with male dogs you can't give them an "inch." I think "inch" must be a kind of toy that is not good for me, because then Sue said, "Ooooooh, I won't give him an INCH, that's for SURE!!"





Guess I'm safe from that "inch" thing. At least for now :-)




Love,
Elvis

Imperfect Pack Leader....imperfect dog.

So today Sue realized she had made a HUGE mistake with me. But, hey, this is the first time she ever was a REAL pack leader, but between you and me, she really blew it.

Remember Raccoon?? And how Sue would swing him around on that fishing rod thing and I would chase him?? Well, when I would catch him I got into the habit of running away and wouldn't want to let go of him so we ended up in a tug of war...more times than not.

Today Sue realized that I had become pretty aggressive about wanting to dominate Raccoon and I let her know that I did NOT want to give him up.

Anyway, she and I had a HUGE fight. I was snapping at her legs and hands and she was purrrrrty mad. Finally she went inside, read one of the dog books and came out wearing leather gloves saying she was going to "settle this nipping thing once and for all." I think she did. But, boy, I REALLY made her mad. She kept saying, "In case you think YOU'RE the pack leader; YOU'RE NOT!!!" (actually it was purrrty funny, but I did not DARE laugh at her!!)

Well, I never did think I was the pack leader; I was just doing what dogs do!
The worst part of it was that when I was eating dinner she snuck Raccoon into the garbage can. (she thinks I don't know that.) I heard her mumble, "Boy, I made a HUGE mistake with that little game!!" So you won't see Raccoon in any more pictures.

I hope she doesn't make too many more mistakes. She keeps reading the dog books, and I keep trying to be what I am: a PUPPY, for crying out loud!!
Guess that's all for today. We made up and I got over the glove thing. Whew!
love,
Elvis.

Ice Cream Bar

Abby, Andrew and Sam sent me an ice cream bar in the mail!!! It was the first package I ever got.
Sue said, "I'm surprised it didn't melt!"
I was surprised too, although I didn't know what "melt" was.













We went out to the pool and she said "You can enjoy this while you're swimming!!"
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking!!! I was thinking about enjoying it while I was swimming!!! I am amazed at how we think so much alike.

So I sniffed it and then...






I ate it!!! Well, actually I couldn't eat it, even though it had sprinkles on it. But it did squeak.

I want to thank Andrew and Abby and Sam for their present, because Sue never had a shower for me. But I got over it.


Love,
Elvis

Not Your Garden Variety Gardner

This is Jared. His mom, Cheryl, is one of Sue's best friends. He's in college but he and his brother have been helping in our yard since Jared was in 9th grade. Not sure what "9th grade" means, but I just met him.
Today he and his mom and Sue started to plant ONE THOUSAND myrtle plants in our new beds!
When Jared took off his shirt I discovered he had something in common with the ladies at my beauty shop...









TATOOS!!!! I knew right away what they were!!!













Jared thought he would "ham it up" for the pictures, just like I do.
I like this guy. Somehow I don't think I'll be dragging him around my swimming pool, though.


Love,
Elvis

The Old Swimmin' Hole

This is Raccoon. He's my "outdoor" friend. Usually Sue ties him on a fishing rod and swings him around while I chase him, but sometimes he's allowed in the pool; like today.
He is soaking wet, but happy. Can you tell???









And after I do the lifeguard thing and rescue him, I drag him all over the porch :-)















Raccoon swims with me.













In my swimming pool having a BLAST!!!!! (can't you tell by the look on my face?)



















WHOO HOO!! It's SUMMER!!!!!

Love,
Elvis

After the Ordeal

Here I am with Skunk and Coyote, my NEW new friend.
Iwas glad to get home. And, hey, I look purrrry dang good, don't you think???










So I get to my crate and I find this FILTHY towel where I sleep!! "How did THIS get here??" I wondered. "And who made it so DIRTY???" (please see previous blog.)
So I had to drag it out to Sue and ask her to PUHLEEEZE wash it.
What does she think this is, a Reality Show or something???

The Beauty Shop

So today Sue and John took me to the Beauty Shop. I was NOT happy, of course, but actually I did quite well. Teresa, the owner loooooooved me to death and I could not figure out what that blue thing was on her ankle, and leg, and arm and well...Sue said they were tatoos. OOOOOOH! TATOOS!!
And then her husband came out wearing a shirt that Sue told me NOT to read out loud, which is fine because I can't read anyway. IT was a blast!!




Me and Brandy. She gave me a bath then blew dry my fur. (Actually I thought she was going to blow me right off the table!! That thing makes leaf blowers look like a two year old blowing out birthday candles!!)










This cheesy old dog was in one of the cages and he made them dry his fur while he was in the kennel. Even though he didn't have any teeth to speak of, they said they "felt better" if they didn't have to blow him dry. Hmmmmm. He seemed harmless to me, but then I didn't get very close.

John and Sue took pictures. And John showed Sue how his I touch worked. Then we went to Dairy Queen where they ate cheeseburgers, fries and BLIZZARDS while I ate nothing.

Did they feel guilty??? Nooooooooo! But at least I had Squirrel in the crate with me. It was a rainy day and on the way home I heard Sue say to John, "Really. Is there ANYTHING better than a Blizzard on a rainy day???" And then John said, "Well, I think we should say GOD and a Blizzard on a rainy day." And Sue said, "You're right."

Now I am taking a loooooooong nap and dreaming of Coyote.

love,
Elvis

Day's End

Geez Louize. Can't a dog get some REST without you-know-who following him around with her camera all the time?? Have we unleashed a MONSTER???? Seriously.

Well, I know she's doing all this for Peter and Meg who are globetrotting for three months, and for her friend, Lois, who lives in Nairobi, (whom I will meet in August) but sometimes I feel like I"m being stalked by paparazzi (and I"m not even famous, like Heidi and Spencer!!)

So, I'm tired, OK?? I was digging in DIRT all day, for cryin' out loud. And since I stink, I thought I should take a nap with Skunk. We're buddies now.

Night night.

~Elvis

Dirtball...

Soooo, today my dog nanny, John, forgot about me and came three hours late. ("How could ANYONE forget about me?" I kept asking myself as I waited for John.) So, anyway, I spent most of my day in my crate while Sue was at work.
And GUESS what I did when I was finally cut loose?????







Yep, I found some DIRT that Ben had just turned up for our new MULCH BEDS!!!!!!












Sue felt sorry for me so she just let me go at it.
(I know; many of you are thinking, "Is this the Sue Rooke WE KNOW?????") well, the answer is, "YES!!" she has changed quite a bit! You ought to see how muddy her shirt and face were when she held me on the porch chair afterwards!!!

Love,
Elvis

Elvis' New Friend.

A new friend came to our house today: SKUNK!! He also squeaks in his head and his tail and Elvis thought he was "the cat's meow..." at first.











Hmmmm....smells purrrrty good. HEY! wait a SECOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this some kind of a JOKE???????????????

Elvis initiates Skunk to the kitchen.

Elvis finally decides Squirrel smells better, so he abandons Skunk in a heap on the floor...

A Day in the Life...

This is my favorite place to escape; under the desk in the kitchen where no one can get me. Well, not easily...










Taking a break from Squirrel.













I pretty much has the kitchen to myself as Sue has gates everywhere. This is me under the desk where I "spend time" with my buddy, Squirrel.












This is me with Sue at the end of her day after work. At least I am not having affairs, getting drunk at frat parties, hating my parents or getting fired.
Nice for her to come home to!









Lots of hot weather lately so I cool off in a "Kingly" fashion by eating ice cubes on the back porch.