Howling and playing

Hi all:
I have been alone in this house with Chris for quite some time now. Mom
left, and she left us here. A couple of days ago, the cousin came, the
one that comes quite often. I like her.
Today she came again, and I was very noisy, howling and barking for
Chris to open the door. When the cousin was finally let in, she first
hugged Chris and I circled and wagglled and wiggled around them. Chris
told me to sit, and only then she permitted the cousin to greet me.
Heehee, the cousin always kneels down to say hi to me, and I am usually
successful giving her a big tongue slap right in her face. Chris says
it's the cousin's fault, but cousin doesn't seem to mind.
The two spent all their tme in the kitchen and in the bedroom, nobody
came out to pet me, how cruel!
But the cousin took me for a little walk into the stable and out a
little more to do my small business. But then they were all among
themselves, having a lot of food and all that taling going on.
When they finally came out, the cousin gave me a good few cuddles, and
then she put on her coat to leave.
I grabbed Chris' hat to go out too, but Chris put it back and played run
through her legs and around them from the outside instead. And then I
grabbed her hat again, but she put it back again.
But to make up for the missed going out, she told me to get my squeaky
ball and we played fetch a lot. That was such fun!
And then I was allright, I went back to sleep. I think Chris just wants
to call Shadow, and then we'll be going out, yippee!
Besides, we also have some new snow - how wonderful!
Cheers, Hapoo.

My new trick

Hi all:
Chris finally tickled me out of my winter lethargy. After I had stopped
dragging my feet so badly on our walks, she has brought out the clicker
more often.
We did this game of me walking through her legs from the front to the
back, and then coming to her front again around either her right or left
leg, to finally sit down in front, facing her. I like doing her right
side, but I don't like the left all that much. However, the treat that
walks ahead of my nose does the trick. And when I sit at the correct
spot, I'll get it, preceeded by a click, of course.

I have also started getting the syringe treatment again, where she puts
something in a bit of water, waits and stirs until it's all just water,
puts it into the syringe and then into my mouth. I really don't mind. In
fact, I even come when I hear her stirring the stuff.

This morning I really felt good. Chris sat me down near where her hat
and my leash and signal jackets are. I wanted to pick up the rope, but
she said it's too muddy for the rope. So she showed me to pick up her
hat. I did that, click and treat.
Signal jacket - click and treat.
Collar and leash - click and treat.

Then, as she got dressed, she gave me the command to take something she
held in front of me. It was her left glove. I held it for just one
second. She pulled out her hand and slipped it right back in - click and
treat.
That was such fun, and both of us were so so enthusiastic.

By lunch I was doing the right glove, though I prefer the left one. And
the last right glove I did, she said I had just the right grip, not too
soft, not too hard. Cool, eh?
I thought I'd share this one, it's funfunfun - cheers, Hapoo the smart.

Yesterday's trouble

Hi all:
I thought we had it well, both Chris and I, until yesterday.
You know, I have been making it clear that I didn't want to walk longer
than necessary on my hapoo walks. That has worked well until yesterday.
Whenever I had finished with my business, I indicated that I wanted to
go back, and we did.
Not so yesterday. Yesterday Chris dragged and dragged me along - I mean
I dragged my feet and clearly showed her that I was *not* fond of her
walking idea. Then we crossed the street, and I twisted my leash around
a sign post. Chris had to help me unwrap that stupid thing. But instead
of doing it all by herself, I had to figure it out myself for the most
part <rrr> no fun, no fun!

I kept dragging my feet some more, until Chris had enough. She stopped,
flicked the leash forward and told me to go. I did, but then I stopped
and dragged my feet some more. I didn't want, okay, get it?

No, Chris didn't get it. She sat me down, squatted beside me and gave me
hell for wanting to go back so insistently. Now I'm asking you who is
insistent! Another rather hard leash flick followed, and Chris started
jogging beside and behind me, hopping me up all the time. And when she
was exhausted, she still kept walking, making sure I was in front of
her.

I have to give it to her, when I ran well without feet dragging, she
stopped, played the touch her hand game and made the clicker click and
had a treat ready for me - but man, when I don't want to walk!!

Are dogs not allowed to talk back or what? Today we walked the same
route, and she only had to talk to me once before I gave up.
Anybody with some better news? Cheers, Hapoo.

My adventurous weekend

Hi all:
The hustle and bustle started Thursday, when we went shopping. There was
quite some snow, and the roads were slippery. First we went into the
supermarket - quite unadventurous, for not a single thing is bought for
me. But then we walked a little, and then we ended up in the second
Hapoo store that's near us. And there Chris bought me another cushion
for my Hapoo house. Gotta be comfy in there, don't you think? After all,
she has three blankets alone on the couch, and I bet I would find many
more in the bedroom!
Anyway, I did get my new Hapoo house cushion. It's smaller than the
first, but doesn't matter. In that store there was another dog I tried
getting to, but Chris just wouldn't let me. Then after we were done
shopping, she took off my harness and let me greet that other dog. She
says that's called a Belgian Shepherd, and mom loved him!

On Friday we went out late again. If we take the car late, it means that
we are picking up somebody from the train station. Quite correct my
assumption - we went into the train station and up to a train track.
That part is cruel, because I want to show Chris all the train doors and
board the train myself.
But then came the friend of Chris', the one without the dog I mean.
We went home, and then the drama started. The two of them never stopped
talking and chatting. But they never forgot about me. The friend is the
one who always accompanies us on the Hapoo walk. Chris loves that, so
she doesn't always have to go on her own.
But for some reason, the friend no longer pets me. I remember her
petting me for a long time, but now she no longer does that. But Chris
and mom still do, which surely makes up for it.
Sunday the friend left, we took her to her train. And that meant another
part of cruelty. We walked into the train, found a nice seat, and I very
nicely lay beside the seat, only to be told to get up, turn and find a
door. O woo-oof, that's just not fair!
And then Chris did some more stuff before she disappeared in the
bedroom. She came back outside, walked me, cleaned a little and then
went back to bed.
That was way too early for me, so I rattled on my crate door. Sure
enough, Chris came outside. She didn't open my door, but told me to be
quiet. At least she left all the doors open, so I could hear her in her
bed. That's enough comfort for me.

Monday was a quiet day, but yesterday we went out again, this time to
the big supermarket mall, where we walked into a shoe shop. Chris put me
down at the beginning of the aisle, and then sat down on a chair. When
she came to pick me up, I stood up, ready for her. She didn't think that
was funny. She put me down again, went back, sat on the chair and walked
towards me again. Okay, I'm not that stupid! I lay still this time, and
sure enough I got a click and a treat <yummy>
We went into another store, where I guided Chris around following mom,
just like the pro I am. Only in the big supermarket I didn't see a stand
with things, so I knocked off a package of something, which Chris had to
pick up.
Then we went on the meadow near Shadow's favourite store, where I did my
business and jumped, ran, barked at mpom and played run with her and
Chris. That was sure a lot of fun. Then I discovered a puddle full of
delicious melted snow water, and sure had a huge drink of that, before
we went back home.
See, a Hapoo's life is quite busy - and I love being out and working!
Cheers, Hapoo.