Litters are a Must

Here again and on Labor day. I'm outside enjoying the cool breeze. ON THE LEASH. Bark! So my kids are out of my reach to play with. Being as how I'm so observant I have been watching. I have been watching them play in the gravel, color in the shade, swing, ride bikes and chatter. I have also watched the little girl across the road wander around her house and watch my kids also. I have watched her face. I have watched her look so lonely and go into the house. This makes me wonder.

Why doesn't everyone have litters? Like my owner. She has a small litter but they aren't lonely or ever in need of entertainment or friendship. I ,being in a litter of seven, think that seven is the magic number for litters. Though I think this litter of three is working well enough.

Since leaving my litter I have realized that I am somewhat lonely, a little bit greedy and very spoiled. I appreciate some things more now but there are also things that I probably appreciate less.

The Mores

• Someone is always there when you need them
• Someone to share the blame when you eat a shoe
• Someone to ruff house with 
• Someone to share your humor with (at least one of my siblings would laugh at my jokes)

The Lesses

• My alone times
• My quiet times
• things that I do myself

Life is an adventure when you have someone to share it with. Alone it's a serious, insensitive and trying time.

God made it so we could have both. It's just learning how to cope with both can be a challenge. You know how I cope? I chew on things, furniture, towels, toys, grass, myself or I spend that time sleeping (gives me more awake time when I'm not alone).

Kids!! They are coming this way! Woof!!
The good thing about being alone... Lick... The excitement of being with them again.

Ella

Lesson

Yesterday was the day to teach my owner a lesson. Make time for me is that lesson. I made a mess so when she got home she took me out and left me out there while they did all kinds of fun things. Ok I don't actually know what they were doing but I know that the kids were in there with her. So fun had to be in there too. She came out and brought me into the house and gave me another bath.This time I wasn't surprised. Stuff was all over me I couldn't hardly handle my own smell. The she let me run a total of two second in the house. I jump on one of her nephews that had just arrived and there I was in the kennel again. Well I'd had enough so I decided I wouldn't wait and pooed again.

Not the brightest thing I've done but it might have gotten the message across. Though I was sent outside for even longer. Humm... She didn't look like she'd learned anything either. She just looked madder than before by several degrees. So there I was sitting outside while she had six kids in there. I was bummed. What is a dog to do so I barked at the neighbor dog that was in my yard.She that was saying how horrible my boys were. I asked her how would she know. She said all male humans were the same. My boys could teach her a few things but I dropped it because I was tied up and she wasn't.

When the owner came and got me she was saying mean things and put me you know where again. I knew that I'd went too far and I was thankful for being in the air conditioning again so I didn't argue.

This morning I barked to be let out. After I started barking I could hear little feet and all the kids were laughing and talking. I think that they are what finally woke her up. I was sure that this would be the mark of another bad day and more kennel time. I was right for the morning. But then the nephews left and she took me and her kids out. I enjoy a ride in the van. It has all kinds of smells and new things to discover under the seats. When we stopped we were at a place that smelled familiar. Couldn't place the smells until I was inside then I knew. They'd taken me to the veterinarian. Being an optimistic dog I didn't worry I was friendly to everyone and entertained the kids while we waited. Then it was time to get on the table and for a change my owner held me when they gave me the pinch. It didn't hurt as much this time. Then that was that and I was on the floor again and they put me on this gray thing and announced that I was 13 pounds. I hope that means something good like more food or treats for me. My owner looked thoughtful as she took me and the kids out of that room and took us up to the desk.

After that we made a couple more stops. During those stops I watched the eldest while the youngest went into the stores with the owner. This was new so I sat and watched out the window. She wasn't gone long and we were off again. Another stop took us to a large grassy area and the kids were all kinds of excited. My tail was twitching as she let us all out. The kids went running and I wanted to go with but the owner had the leash. She can be smart when she wants too and soon I was running along with the kids. They didn't take very long before they were wanting to leave me behind for these play structures but that was fine with me I'd found a nice stick that even had crunchy leaves still on it. The kids played on spiny things that I felt the need to warn not hurt them. It didn't answer and it did end up making the youngest sick. So I know it wasn't listening. I'll have to bark louder next time. After that we went home where I stayed outside until the sky was exploding. It's true! The sky was exploding and wetting on me again. I'm not afraid to admit that I was scared and cherished my owner for bringing me in the house. The sky exploded a lot more times and the house went dark when it did. The kids all comforted me and we laid in a pile of blankets on the floor while the owner colored with the kids. I would get hugs or surrounded by them and the owner would tell them to give me a break. I don't know why. I'm ok with them all being close. Yes, my tail was getting crushed a couple of times and they do wake me up but they are my family and it's ok.

They did leave again for a little while but weren't gone long. When they got back she let me stay in the house and not in the kennel. She even let me stay out after all the kids were in bed and let me get some lov'ns from her before putting me in the kennel for the night.

All and all it was a good day. Maybe this is a sign that I taught her a lesson or maybe it's the rare day that I don't have to be in the kennel and she will never be fully taught. I'm optimistic that she can learn and things will get better.

Teaching new tricks
Ella

Siblings

My twin is living down the block. Ok I haven't seen him but I can hear him whining for food. I only say he's my twin because he looks the most like me of all my siblings. And there are seven of us. I was told that there were two golds, one other like me, Piper, one that's black with bits of gold and one all black. We didn't all have names when I left so I can tell them by sound and scent so I can't really make it any easier for you to tell us apart sorry.

I hate to tell you this but there is an ugly rumor going around about us. I don't want you to believe a word of it. Worms you ask? Well that was true but no longer for me. No this rumor is that we are all hard to handle and that we drive out owners crazy. Well it's not true. Our owners were crazy from the beginning.

Now that I've cleared up that. I have had an awful day. I've been in the kennel and barely had any time to run. They wouldn't even let me chew on that marble I found, then when I got into a plate of dip (spicy! I loved it!) I got into all kinds of trouble and so did the kids. Whine. I also made a mess in my kennel.  I thought it was a good idea... it wasn't. She gave me a bath. Ruff. It didn't seem so bad this time. I've decided that shaking it off is lots of fun and you should see the reactions I get and the shouts of surprise. Oh it's worth three treats for those kinds of reactions.

Kids are in bed. My owner going extra crazy tonight has sent me back into my kennel. Oh well time to get rested for tomorrow. I heard we might be having some company. And I have all morning to think of things that I'll amuse them with.

With a tail swinging with enthusiasm
Ella