“Hey Handsome, how about you and me paint this “cat” town a little canine before we blow out of here?”
“Cupcake, you crack the whip, I’ll make trip.”

First stop is the tree farm for a little off-leash time.  Juno  gives me ‘the paw’ one last time when I call her to come.

“You know what happens to the photographer who falsely cries ‘cheese,’ right Mom?”

“Princess, do you think we’ll get a spot on Dancin’ with the Stars?” 
“Stud, your paw choreography is workin’, but the tongue needs to hang a little more to the right.”

For a quick break, they make a stop at their favorite market and proposition the passerby. Summit market is very close to our home and whenever we go out for hikes, these two are always begging me to stop there. It’s not hard to see why.

“Hey Mister, we’re starving and could use a little meat.”
“No, we have no idea who that lady taking pictures is. Never seen her before in our lives.”

“Big Boy, stop looking so intense. You’re killing my helpless, in-desperate-need-of-juicy-deli-BBQ act. How are we gonna score any tri-tip with a face like that?”

Next we stop for a final visit to Dogtor Hilary, who gives them their final exam and a round of acupuncture needles for Juno.

 ”Look Dr. Hilary, until you hand over a couple of treats, I’m not going to cooperate.”

“Hey Princess, if you need me, call, I’ll be right over here, protecting you from afar.”
 ”Thanks Big Boy. Um, I feel so much safer. Not.” 

“Stop being such a tease Dogtor Hilary. Hand over that treat this minute.”

 ”Ooo, Dogtor Hilary, shouldn’t you buy me dinner first?”

“Well, ok, I’m a cheap date. I’ll take a treat instead.”

Next we head over to the Infamous “Cat’s Hill,” a 23% hill grade.

Every year, a famous bicycle race, the Cat’s Hill Criterium, is held on this course. In a 45-90 minute race, racers will climb that 23% grade 10-30 times.  In addition to the grueling climb, the course has plenty of technical elements from tight 90 degree turns to pavement cracks, bumps and lifting cement slabs that add to the adrenaline.  I raced it once. I like watching the race better.

“Hey cupcake? Why do you think they call this Cat’s Hill? I don’t see no stinkin’ cats!”
“Why don’t you tune in those ears to the local Wi-Fi and wiki-pawdia it, Big Boy?”

Next Loki and Juno stop by to pick up the mail. One good thing about having a ridiculously evil and stupid post-master who won’t deliver our mail, is that we are able to pay non-postal people, like the nice lady in this photo below, money to deliver our parcels to Europe. And US postal workers wonder why they don’t make enough money.

 ”Hey Lady, do you have a package that will hold a 67-pound product from Formosa? We’ll need bubble wrap for those ridiculously large ears.”
“Ha-ha Princess! Very funny.”

Later, they run into this black little fella who looks like a contestant for Dex’s Black Lab contest.

 ”Hey Big Cheese, that black labradog looks suspicious. I don’t like the looks of him.”
“Princess, I think he’s stoned!”

 ”Never mind him, Big Boy. I think I just discovered where we can get some fresh cat-iar.

  ”Hey Mom, why don’t you inquire within to see if they need some live models for Bow Wozer?”
“Ya, that black labradude over there isn’t much of a super model, is he?”

Loki and Juno sure have had some good times in a town named for cats. Many of the shop owners and shoppers have enjoyed meeting them and they always enjoy the attention.  But that doesn’t mean they haven’t had a few indiscretions. After all, one is a Cujo-cracker and the other is a Siberian. Trouble is in their DNA.

“Hey Mom, remember, What happens in Los Gatos, stays in Los Gatos!”

 See ya later LG! The cats can come out now.

“Hey Princess, what should we do? Cruise the boardwalk or surf the beach for some action?”
“Tough decision. The boardwalk is filled with deliciousness. The beach is filled with … Wait, is this a trick question?”

A month ago, Mr. Wild Dingo and I took them to the boardwalk and had lunch.

“So this is what you do when you leave us at home?”

Both were very well behaved at the restaurant, until…

“Hm. The Juno Mind Trick is not working. Perhaps I should resort to my other husky powers.”

Back at the Beach: I seriously wonder how Juno puts up with Cujo, err, I mean, Loki. I mean, when you have this (below) coming at you full speed 23 hours a day, it’s gotta get tiresome, huh?

“Hey Princess, it’s git down time!”
“Only if you want to wear your face on backwards, Dork-Boy.”

Loki meets a small Shepherd mix he seems to like.

“Dude I told you, NOT on the first date!”

Juno wants in on the action with the new shepherd.

“Come here Toots. Let’s you and me have a little chat.”

“How about I take a rain check on that?”

“Hey Mom, check pit my new pal. He’s a real hepcat, dingdong daddy. His name is Ridge!”
“Um, come again?”
(It means you’re cool Mr. Ridge.)

I love this shot of the little white dog. That little fella wouldn’t leave Loki alone. He barked at Loki endlessly and Loki graciously ignored him.

 ”See ya Mom! I’m going to go play with the big kids!”

Loki pretty much ignored the fella, until …

“So little fella, you wanna piece of me now?”
“Err, I was just kiddin’ Mr. Loki J.”
(Loki was politely playful to the little obnoxious dude. Loki digs his own cracker kind.)

There’s something about the beach that brings out Loki’s yogi. Here he is yet again, in side crow pose.

“Om, baby.”

This little min-pin, Junie, was Loki’s BFF instantly. Loki adores little dogs. While he and this little fella played chase, the min-pin reversed his direction straight under Loki’s back paws while Loki was in mid air. Loki saw it and in mid air, contorted his body in such a way, he miraculously missed landing on and squashing the little guy.

“I like this little fella. There’s something very familiar about him. I just can’t put my paw on it.”

I love the composition of this photo. The colors work magically. Too bad Juno’s expression is not better matched to Loki’s. I didn’t get many because it was the end of the day and these two were done with working. Sheesh. Like they should have a say in that or something.

“I’m sure gonna miss the Santa Cruz babes and cruisin’ the beach boardwalk.”
“I have no idea how they will Keep Santa Cruz Weird, without a cracker like you.”

“Hey Daddy-O, how much you think this job pays?”
“Princess, there isn’t a big enough, juicy enough bone in the world to make me do this job.”

“Hey Princess, check out that chick behind me staring at us. We must be celebrities, no?”

Apparently, because they were posing in front of the lighthouse without moving, they were a bit of a hit with the passerby. Some even commented, “I can’t even get my kid to sit that quietly! How do you do it?”  I pointed to the pocket-sized skillet in my knapsack. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, right?

“Hey Big Cheese, let’s 86 this ghost town while Mom’s over there fussin’ with the camera. She’ll never know.”
“Did you say ‘cheese’ Principessa? Where is it?”

Then this fella and his pup came for a visit.

“Daddy-O, look at this dude doggin’ us. He ain’t got no right I tell ya.”
“I kinda like him Princess. He looks like fun!”

His name was “Max” and he promptly went up to Loki and barked in his face trying to tease Loki out of his comfortable spot. Loki dug down deep into his reserve superpowers to help him stayed glued to the ground. Max eventually walked away.  

“Well I don’t care if you like him or not Big Boy. Barking in our noses while we are stuck here and not able to respond is just rude I tell ya. Now look at him, struting around off-leash like he can do whatever he wants. Hmph!”

Then Max came by again. Loki’s superpowers were drained and Max was sporting  a down-stay kryptonite too strong to resist:

“Hey Max, you look a little like me, except with floppy ears!”

Awwwe… Pups! GET A ROOM!

“Let’s rummble!”
“Bring it on!”

“Oh my dawg Princess! There’s a labradoink out there in the big scary waters trying to kill a scary beast!”
“We must save him!”

The boxer goes in first.

“I will help you my friend!”

The husky and GSFD do what they do best–stay dry!

“Princess, lets supervise from the shoreline.”
“Good thinkin’ big boy. They will need some dry helping paws once they reach shore.”

Chaos begins when the brave labradoink reaches shore.

“Oh my dawg! It’s ALIVE!”
“Don’t worry Labradoink! We’re here to save you!”

The only girl in the group, the husky, makes a play for the brave boxer and labrador.

“Dudes, don’t get so bent out of shape.  Only thing that needs saving is this stick, after I’m done with it.”
“Yoo hoo boys! Would you like to warm up and dry off next to my jodhpurs?”
“Maybe after we’re done with this stick.”

Boys being boys, they each make a play for the latest new toy. Loki being Loki can’t decide if he wants to play with the labradoink or bully him and he tries to get in on the group stick play.  Thankfully the labradoink is more mature than to play such petty games and ignores all of Loki’s advances.

“Go ahead, blast yourself whacky at the stick Boxer Boy.”
“Thanks choco-lab man! Nom, nom, nom.”
“Hey does that stick need bitin’? Cuz I’m really good at bitin’. Not so good at swimmin’. But really good at the bitin’ thing.”

The husky grows bored and soon realizes that you just can’t compete with boys and their toys.

“Boys that stick is a dead as a five cent rawhide.”

Reading these episodes is a bit like watching the season finale of Baywatch, huh?

…Stay tuned tomorrow for the final episode tomorrow.

“Seriously Big Boy. This is no time to get your Daily Om on!”

Ahhh… so that’s what he was doing:

Is it me, or do I have one of the most ridiculously posing dogs on the Internet? I never get the same shot of him. Either he’s got a whole lot of easy-to-capture cracker goin’ on or I’m a gifted photographer.

I’m pretty sure I’m not that gifted. 

I’ve been wanting to go to a dog friendly beach for a while now to see how they’d like the ocean. But I’ve been chicken, knowing that Loki is, um, well, you know.  A few weeks ago, Mr. Wild Dingo and I took them to Lighthouse beach in Santa Cruz and let them off leash. They had a blast. So I took them back again.

“Daddy-O, whatchya scardy-cat of a little salt water? Come boogie board with me!”
“No way princess! I don’t want to ruin my goth mani-pedi!”

Lighthouse Beach is a very tiny beach that allows dogs off-leash. I’ve been reluctant to take them because I’ve heard it was crowded. Even in the middle of a work day (sorry all you nine-to-fivers), there were a handful of dogs there.

Check out the people in the background.  Loki pretty much garners this kind attention anywhere he goes. I have no idea why.

“WTF is THAT?”
“Look at the JAWS on that thing.”
“Hail Mary… Full of Grace… Say your prayers fellas.”

Honestly, I have NO idea why people gawk.

“Princess, look at this little fella askin’ for an invitation to smack down!”

“Catch me if you can, ruffians!”
“Princess, are we gonna take that kind of smack-talk?”
“Shut your yapper Big Boy! The game is on!”

“Come here little fella! Don’t start somethin’ you can’t finish!”

Juno has been hanging around Loki far too long. Look at the cracker face on her below.

“I wanna smack that little fella down so bad, I can taste it!”

“We got him cornered Princess!”

“Darn it, saved by the water! Princess! Step AWAAAY from the water! You’ll melt! Remember you’re made of sugar!”

“Nonsense! I am husky! I am super-strong! Nothing can stop me!  Ooooo….that water sure tickles! teee-heee…”

Will the confectionary-filled Husky take a chance and dive into the ocean?

What about the cracked-out German Shepherd Formosan Dog? Will his manicure be ruined forever from the harsh, open elements of salt water?

Who else will these two encounter? Friends or Foe?

…Stay tuned this week for another episode of Beach Bums!

Yet, some of Wild Dingo staff seem to be weathering the chaos without too much trouble. Would you agree? 

“What’s all the noise about? Can’t you see I’m working on my tan?”

“Big Boy, you sure are color blind. Can’t you see you’re already tan?”

“Princess, then maybe I should put some sun screen on those alabaster gams of yours. I wouldn’t want you to get burned.”
“Yawn. I wasn’t born yesterday. You’ll have to come up with a better line than that.”

“Hey waitress! We’d like two coconut Pawgeritas and some mixed nuts. Make it snappy.”

“Um Princess, do waitresses normally laugh like that when you order a drink?”

“Only when they aren’t expecting a tip.”

“Hey Principessa, whatchya doin’ up there?”
“Sitting atop my throne, contemplating how nice it is to be Queen.”

“It looks a little unstable Your Majesty, let me run a thorough security check to see if it passes inspection.”
“If you must.”

“Wow, it sure is dark in here but it appears empty. ”
“Just like your head, big boy.”

“Don’t get any ideas, stud. You’re still my minion.”
“I’m just checking the throne for safety Your Majesty.”

“Wow, can you believe we’re going to leave this plush forest for the land of milk and chocolate?”

“I know. It’s not like we can even eat those things. But I sure can’t wait to get my paws on that cow Pop was flirting with over there, behind our tails.”

“Oh Princess, that cow looked awfully big and scary. I don’t think I’d like to get too close to her.”

“Is it too late to exchange him for a real security dog with some chutzpah?”

Here are a few random photos to hold me and Mr. Wild Dingo over through the weekend.

Tree farm walk. In the background there’s a view of a very expensive estate. I think it is actually on the same road as our home but you can’t see it from the road. I’ve walked close to it before and can catch glimpses of the green grass that Loki and Juno are dying to get their paws on. I’ve heard the person has a stable of 40 cars. Mountain gossip. You gotta love it!

“Hey Handsome, why don’t you and me make a break and bee-line for that lovely estate of grass back there.”
“Princess, I just do what mom tells me. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. It must be in my DNA.”

Here’s a view I never get tired of. Two pals, side by side:

And close up the jodhpurs sway in the wind and Loki’s apple bottom steadily stays by her side.

“Come-on Loki, show me your adventerous side. Let’s blow this popsicle stand and find some real action.”
“Princess, this here piece of grass smells adventerous enough to me!”

Rules are rules at Wild Dingo: no crossing doorways or gateways unless otherwise told. Loki never disobeys this rule. Juno? She’s very good at forgetting it. But its my own fault. I can’t help but laugh instead of correct her when I see her innocently step out and gaze her head side to side with her open mouth smile as if she’s done nothing wrong. Tresspass first, ask forgiveness later. That’s her training mantra.

“I’m waiting Mom. And I’m watching Princess for you too. Just in case.”
“Retardo, did you take your anti-delusion medicine today? Like you’re the boss of me. Um, not.”

“Don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m beautiful.”

“I see you Big Boy!”

Resting up for the weekend. I’d love to say Loki does this pose out of love, but truthfully, he’ll do anything to be comfortable. But Juno tolerates it because she actually loves him.

“Possession is nine-tenths of the law, one tail of a husky.”
“Keep dreamin’ Big Boy.”

Have a great weekend everyone!

Mr. Wild Dingo poses for the first shot off the top of our property near our well. Pretty soon, we’ll have to have it cleared for the summer for fire hazard and to keep the area open for future crops. The evil duo looks for deer on the trail above us.

Forgive his sweats Internet, the guy has been traveling 3 countries in 3 weeks. I’m lucky he’s out with us.

“Oh this is a nice shot,” I tell Mr. Wild Dingo, who looks at it disapprovingly. “Don’t worry, I can cut you out of it,” I reassure him. Oopsie. My photoshop tool slipped and accidentally left him in the shot.

We let the evil duo off leash for a bit and played recall games. Juno made a huge liar out of me and recalled to Mr. Wild Dingo 100% better than she ever recalls to me at the tree farm. Damn sibe.

So Mr. Wild Dingo ups the ante and tries both dogs. First the set up.
“Pop, do you mean I have to sit too,” asks Loki.
Juno has to think about it to make sure he means it, but she sits.

“Principessa, if you’re tongue grows any longer, you may be able to catch some flies.”
“Cork it stud-muffin. I’ve been runnin’ circles around your bad-ass.”

Mr. Wild Dingo recalls. And the Tree Farm Derby begins!  “Last one there is a rotten egg!”

Too close to call!

Both are winners in the Christmas Tree Farm Derby.

Gratuitious “green” shot for KB. Don’t worry KB. There’s a reason they call California the “Golden State.” It doesn’t stay green for long!
“Princess, get back here right now or Pop is gonna get really mad!”
“Ha-ha Retardo! I can do no wrong in Pop’s eyes!”

Here’s a shot I never get tired of. My GS/FMD always checking back in with me, on his own. Good boy Loki!
“Hey Mom, you want me to go drag her back here by the neck? Can I? Please? Can I?”

A wolf at the tree farm! Quick! Someone call the authorities. Oh wait, it’s wearing 2 collars. Who would put collars on a wild animal like this wolf?

“Hey Princess, Pop so likes me much better than you!”
“No way Retardo. I have him wrapped around my paw and my tail. All I have to do is run away from him and he comes to me! How about that?” 
I wonder where she learned that from? I think Juno is picking more up in school than we do sometimes.

On the way home. I call this “Not NitWit Bridge” and Mr. Wild Dingo calls it “Mini NitWit Bridge.” Whatever. If you jump off it, you may stub your toe.

Down the steep trail. You can see a little tube sticking up to the right. That’s some underground electrical wires to pump our well that is at the top of the property which is behind Mr. Wild Dingo in this shot. When we first got these two, it was impossible to walk them up or down steep areas, as they’d pull and make us fall.  But by now Loki has learned to walk behind us on the way down steep slopes. Probably because I fall so much. And Juno has learned to walk slowly next to us. Those are my good dogs!

Mr. Wild Dingo is brave and lets both dogs lead on NitWit Bridge. I know way better and let Juno lead, and Loki follows behind me, single file. Otherwise, they get too playful and try to push eachother off!

Here comes the kisses.

Ya, it sucks to live in the forest sometimes. I’m not so good with the camera. The lighting makes it look like some sort of 70′s shot.

Back at home before the back yard.
“Hurry up mom. My mouth is a desert here!”
“Princess are my ears up straight?”
Loki can be such a girl sometimes.

“WTF? Holy crap, Pop we’re like on a mountain of ants here!”

“That’s ok. I can take a nail through my foot, tap joints without sedation and a GS/FMD bite to the neck. I think I can handle a couple of ants.”
“Cupcake, you’re a bigger man than me!”
Word.

We just found out Mr. Wild Dingo flies out again on Monday for 4 more days. Sigh. We just got him back. Oh well, as we found out in Juno’s case, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

“Come on slackers! I don’t have all day! There are squirrels to chase and things to smell!”

“Mom, haven’t you learned about huskies off leash yet? Sheesh. Sometimes I think you only bring me along to use me for my herding skills.”

Or not…  As the Internet can see below, Loki is hardly herding Juno. Instead they hear and smell potential friends in the trail above. Before you know it, both dogs go investigate and my “herding” dog forgets who he is.

“Principessa! Do you smell what I smell?”
“Yes sir, big boy! Let’s do it!”

And here are the happy boys that they found:

“Oh boy these are my peeps! GSDs! They kind of look like me, but bigger!” (And furrier.)

“Listen tan boy, I told you I’m NOT that way! I only go for girls. Usually chi-wow-wows.”

“That’s right tan boy, go to your momma for some kisses. I don’t kiss the boys!”

“Hey, dude! It’s like we’re long lost cousins. Or something.”

Ever the charmer he is, Loki presents his stinkin’ end for a scratch. “Ya, that’s right, a little to the left there sweetie pie.” 

“Just cuz your boy came back, doesn’t mean you have to stop cupcake!”

And where was the sibe in all of this? She came, flirted briefly with the boys and then did what huskies do best:

find trouble!

“Ya, that’s right. I’m the man.”

Hey Juno, you ready to show him who’s really the boss around here?

“Sure. Make me an offer I can’t refuse.”

“Geez, I can’t wait for Pop to get home. Now I have to go take one for the team.”

Internet, for the record, Loki is 4 times stronger than Juno, and though he’s a bit of a bully, he dials it way down for her and always self-handicaps. That’s my boy. He knows what’s good for him!

(Editor’s note: using the word “penis” and the song “Beat it” in the same post was completely unconscious. Or not.)

“Err, Mom? Can you please take me to Dogtor Hilary and have this growth removed?”

For anyone who thinks that all I do is make my dogs work all day, check out the video below of what working dogs do AFTER work! There’s olympic zoomies in the end.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Now I know why that rediculously tall guy in the back holding onto the beam asked me if I dusted up there. For the record, I do. Luckily he doesn’t hang on to my chandeliers or his fingers would be gray!

Oh the deadly Hurricanes. We had 2, 3-gallon tanks filled and they were emptied at the end of the party. Hurricanes go down easy but hit pretty hard!

The parlor was the dressing room staging area. Everyone was having a good time until:

These two crashed the party. A very generous guest brought them a very generously sized bone.
“Hey mom, what’s the big idea with leaving us outside when the party is in here?”

That bone must have been intoxicating because my bad-ass GS/FMD suddenly became giddy.
“Does this boa make my ears look big?”

 Some guests actually couldn’t keep their hands off his ears. It was a bit freaky. 

Even in his boa he looks like he kick some ass.

I wasn’t watching Juno very closely, but the next thing I knew, she was sporting a whole bunch of beads.
“No, I did not flash my jodhpurs to get these beads!”

“Lady, go earn your own beads and keep your paws off mine!”

Ahhh! So this is how she earned her beads. She participated in the famous Wild Dingo Siberian Sandwich ™!  Mr. Wild Dingo and I like our meat well-marbled and find a Siberian Sandwich to be quite tastey.   We think it should go on the Mardi Gras menu right next to moon pies and cajun shrimp. Her misery is the secret sauce and makes it so much more delicious!

Especially since this is what I came home to on Friday afternoon:

For the record, the shreds in front of the shoe with all the Siberian fur entangled in them is all that was found next to the shoes. The rest of the shoes are in the Siberian’s tummy, causing great tummy pains for Mr. Wild Dingo and I all weekend long! That Sibe always seems to find an extra special way to crash my parties.

Happy Fat Tuesday Everyone!

“Hi Mom. Whatchya want?”
“Hey Daddy-O. Looks like Mom’s fixin’ to ask us to do some work.”

“Princess, hard work never killed anybody.”
“True, but why take the risk?”

“Besides, it’s cold outside. Why don’t we just ignore the ‘ole lady and make ourselves cozy?”
“Surgar-nose, you’re making me blush!”

“Come on tip-top daddy! Let’s have our own little party right here.” 
“Lady,  you’re more fun than a hot transfusion. I think we could swing, if I knew the music.” 

“Big Boy, if this doesn’t turn  you on, you ain’t go no switches.”
“Principessa, as long as I have you there is just one other thing I’ll always need:  tremendous self control.”

First we played with Juno, because she’s not good at waiting her turn. Don’t tell her Physical Torturer. This is not sanctioned exercise for doggies with hip dysplasia!

“Hi Mom. Whatchya got there?”
“Boooowhahahahaha!”

And now for an educational diagram for the players and tools involved in torturing your dog.

The torturer,conductor, throws the prey item and playfully pulls it along inviting the doggie to chase it. At the last minute, the torturer, conductor, snatches the prey item up in the air just out of the doggies reach.

The torturerconductor lets the doggie live another day by letting the doggie win so the  torturerconductor can enjoy many more days of doggie-crazy-making.

When Juno’s been tortured enough by the squirrel on meth, we invite Loki, who’s been watching us and giving us the “I’m so tortured” look for not letting him play.

As you can see, Loki tortures himself enough by just looking at the little bugger on the string.
“OH MY DAWG I MUST HAVE IT OR THE WORLD WILL END! LET ME HAVE IT!”

And the games begin.

“Holy crap, I didn’t know that thing can fly!”

“I guess bucking my apple bottom won’t work.”

“This little bugger is getting on my nerves!”

“DENIED!”

“That’s right. I’m bad.”

“Who’s your daddy now cracker squirrel?”

Unfortunately for cracker doggies like Loki, it can turn into a game of tug.

Be prepared with a tasty morsel to make him give back the toy so you can continue to torture for as long as desired.
“Hmmm…tastey chicken liver or dead squirrel? Is this a trick question?”

Loki was and still is a reactive, alert dog. When I started training almost two years ago with Loki, we trained occasionally in a dog park, with a long line. Needless to say, Loki was freaked. Numerous dogs would run amok while I and Christi-Ann (our trainer) would make him do stuff like heel, long down-stays, recalls with downs half way and the biggie: down out of sight for 3 minutes. There were days when Alpha leader (“Uncle Lance” K9 Clinic owner) showed up to train us. Together we learned all about how far we could push Loki before it was time to call it a day. There were days I went home crying. I cried because deep down, I knew Loki was and is an incredibly smart dog and when he’s calm and confident, he’s obedient, funny, smart, alert and a great partner. Yet he acted so much like a cracker-insane freaked out dog in public. Doing a dog park exercise like this a year ago with Loki used to send me  home, bug-eyed and in need of a stiff drink.

I’m not a big fan of dog parks for a variety of reasons, but I like to expose my dogs to everything so we go to them once in a (rare) while. Today when we do these exercises, it’s a game and it’s fun and the pressure on Loki is so much less. He’s much more confident. And because of this, he can move on to do other jobs like Search or Tracking and I can be confident when he’s doing his job, his obedience will be there. 

Check out the photos below and tell me if you think Loki looks stressed or upset because I’m “making” him down-stay while other dogs harass him.

“Hey man, nice big white dog you have there!”

“Ya, I know I smell good. It’s called ‘Prellshampoo.’ You can pick it up at Walgreens.”

“Oh look, there’s another dude coming to say hello. Cool. I’ll just stay here and let the party come to me!”

“Oh hum. I won’t even let Juno Belle Jodhpurs make me look bad.”

“Ha ha, Retardo! You have to stay down while I get to play! You must have been naughty.”
“Cupcake, keep it coming. I’ll dish out your comeuppance when mom releases me.”

“Oh look at this little fella coming to say hello. He seems nice enough.”

“Um, err, little fella, don’t you think it’s a little early in our relationship to go there?”

“Hey little fella! Where ya goin’? Can we still be friends now that our shortly-lived intimate relationship is over?”

Ok, so I’m not that mean. It’s give and take. Loki is actually a very social dog and loves other dogs. So I release him to play.

Everyone check out the border collie who just came in!

“I smell a whiner! A weeeerrrmerwhiner!”

“Waiting for it…”

“And up jumped the devils!”  These two were smitten with each other.

 Look it’s Dennis’ cousin!

“What the hell is this thing? It smells canine, but I think it’s a descendant of Chewbaca, the wookie.”

“WHO is THIS charming lovely lady? Check out her pantyloons!”

Meet Isis. Thirty-five pounds of gorgeous Siberian floof. I once said I’d never have another Sibe, but every time I meet one, I fall in love with them. Isis is newly rescued, and so very good and surprisingly obedient too!

“I got your back sweetheart.” says, Loki, looking out for his new girlfriend.

 Of course she should not be confused with JBJ. Isis has more floof to her back side. Khyra, on a MFT scale, what would you rate Isis’ pantyloons?

Loki and Juno make friends with this pretty Doberman. Later on the doberman attacked Loki. Loki did me so proud. Instead of fighting he tucked his tail and ran. I was about 500 feet away watching it. Within the 3 seconds that it took me to discover it was aggression on the Dobbie’s part, I recalled Loki and he ran to me instantly and stuck to me like glue. Loki’s been proving to  me lately that he’ll defer to me to settle confrontations. Which is exactly what I want him to do.

 Loki, you’re the man.

Loki was the consummate gentleman. Surprised? I am. But I had him on leash. I expected Juno to be shy and sort of playfully greet my guests and run away. So I left her off leash. Instead, she got all alpha on poor Sierra. Huh? Where’d she learn these moves? Darn Loki! On the leash Juno went. We all went for a pleasant walk up to the tree farm where Christine’s car was broke down. On the way, Sierra had her first experience with Nitwit Bridge and survived! When the tow truck came, we went back home and all had a cold drink. Juno was even pleasant enough to share the water bowl with Sierra.

Sierra’s a sweet gal. Very well-mannered for a puppy…yes a puppy! But that’s because Christine has a skillet too and she’s not shy about using it! Boooowhahahaha!

Juno: “German Shepherd? I don’t see no German Shepherd!”
Loki: “Oh I see one, but I’m so not moving from this spot. No way, no how do I want a piece of what Mom would hand out.”

To warm up, Juno does a little yoga. “Sun Salutation A, reach the paws up and over the head.”

Side body stretch into Bikram’s half moon pose.

“Wax on. Wax off.”

Juno’s workout is interrupted when Loki blows in on the scene.  ”Hey cupcake, you wanna piece of this action?”

“Brother,  you’d better tune me in and get my signal right. ‘Cuz your biters don’t give me the chills.”

Buns-of-Steel Showdown
Jello Jodphurs no more! Juno’s digs deep into her thighs to hold off her foe.

“Better not blow your jets bro.”

Pooped after their workout.
“Admit it big boy. You’re as dead as a five cent beer.”
“Sister, that’s a bundle of first-class baloney straight off the ice.”