Telling the truth.

Hi, my name is Phil, I like to falsely lull my Mommy into believing that I am a good dog.

Mom is making me write this so I learn to tell the truth all the time.

This morning at 0630 on the only day this week that Mom hasn't actually had to get up early, I started whining, usually we sleep in till at least 0730-08.  I couldn't help it, I had to go out.  I don't usually tell Mom unless I have to go, so Mom understood and we got dressed in our coats and went outside in the 32°F so I could go business.

Mom was surprised at my urgency, but I drank a lot of water yesterday after our 2 mile jog, so she thought that maybe my last out for business last night wasn't enough.  Then, we went on to the woods (where I go #2) and instead of her having to talk me into going poopies, I made her jog to the place I'd been saving.  I was serious business, you guys.  Mom noticed that my poo was a little wonky, but sometimes that happens (like when I get in the garbage and eat butternut and acorn squash rinds... also yesterday, but in the morning!).  Mom thought it was just leftover squash poopies, haha.  Then on our way back, I started making that "I'm going to barf" sound and movement.  Mom was, again, concerned.  I lead Mom to the grass and started eating some.  Mom let me pretend to be a cow for about a minute, then she decided she was cold and we came back home.

As is our protocol, when we came in, Mom took off our coats and she sent me to my house.  YAY breakfast time!  I'm really good about going to my house when it's eating time.  I know that if I don't get in Mom's way, she will release me sooner.  Sometimes though, she tests me to see how long I'll last before I try to sneak to my bowl.  I'm not very sneaky though and she always catches me and makes me wait even longer!  Ugh!

Mom finally released me and since she went in the spare bedroom, I did too!  Then she told me that my bowl was in it's normal place.  Mom was confused why I'd go to the spare room first, but she had figured out that I'm being weird this morning, so she shrugged it off.

She had went into the spare room to grab my dog food bag because I was out of food in my food container.

Well, what Mom didn't know was that since she sometimes has trouble opening the bag, I helped her open it yesterday!  Wasn't that awesome of me?  She picked it up and the little hole that I'd made so I could have a snack so she could pour out my food ripped open and food spilled out on the floor.  You're welcome, Mom!

Mom yelled, "PHIL!" and I knew she was proud of me.  She came out to glare at me give me a look of appreciation.  I kept eating my breakfast.  When I tried to go see Mom after I'd finished to tell her thanks for feeding me (usually with a very gentlemanly belch), she wouldn't let me come in the room since there was dog food everywhere that she was trying to clean up.  At that point, I realized she was a wee bit mad at me. When I tried to go in the room she yelled, "OUT!" at me.  I went to my house because I'm safe there from Mad Mommy.

When Mom finally finished cleaning up the mess and refilling my food container, she came out and told me that when I have too much extra snacks, that's what makes my belly hurt and my poopies wonky.  She also understood why I'd ran into the spare room for breakfast instead of to my bowl.

My name is Phil and I lull my Mom into believing that I'm a good dog.

PS.  I know it's been over a month since I've posted, but Mom has been hogging the computer!  I have lots of stuff to tell you about though!  My friend, Kody, came to visit AND Mom and I went on vacation!!!

Weekend Adventures

This weekend wasn't super special but there were lots of fun times to be had!

First off, we went over to Mike and Crystal's for game night on Friday where I got to hang out with April and Gami and all the big humans.

Then, we came home after Mike gave me ice creams, he thinks this makes me love him more than Mom... he could be right.  Mom went to bed late and woke me up a little after 3am!  She's crazy.  Mom got ready for something and took me outside for business and fed me 1/2 my breakfast.  Crazy and weird.  Then Mom left!  She said she was going to pick up new retired greyhounds.  I think there were some kinks in her plans though, cause Hotel de Phil (the back of Mom's car where I ride) smelled more like Mom than strange dogs.  Word on the street was that the doggies were late and Mom had to leave before the doggies arrived.  :(  The doggies still got to come to GHC and try to find their forever families though!

When Mom came home, it was still morning, so she took me out for a short walk and to go business and fed me the other half of my breakfast.  We hung out for a little while and then Mom surprised me with my delicious noms bone...  Then, after I got tired of chewing, I took a nap while Mom talked to Dad and took her nap.  Then, she left again!  This time she was in her work clothes though.  She came home to feed me lunch around normal dinner time and we went to the dog park for business time and I impressed her by fetching a tennis ball three times!  She's easily impressed, what can I say, I trained her well...  Mom went back to work and she got home late.





Then on Sunday morning Mom left in the morning and came back.  We hung out for a little bit and I did more chewing on my delicious bone and then we took naps.  Then we went on a ride (my new favorite thing, btw) with Crystal and Mike and Gami!  We went to St. Mary's River State Park for a hike/walk.  This was where the most interesting part of my weekend took place... and Mom's loudest moment of the weekend.....

We came up a hill and there were 2 women and 1 man with a more small than medium sized furry black dog (FBD).  Gami went up to FBD and they sniffed and Gami started barking at FBD.  FBD growled at Gami then I walked over to FBD and sniffed.  FBD then stood up on its back legs and growled at me.  Before Mom could even try to pull me away, I decided that FBD was going to be a tasty treat.  I grabbed FBD by the neck and wouldn't let go.  Mom is yelling and Gami backed away like she didn't know who I was and the strange man is trying to pry FBD from my mouth while the other 2 women are holding FBD.  While the man is trying to get the FBD from my mouth, Mom smelled something and realized that the FBD pooped, some of which landed on the strange man's foot.  Finally, the strange man got the FBD from my mouth and handed it to one of the women.

While Mom is trying to hold me back, I wiggled lose and out of my collar and went back over to the strangers trying to find the FBD.  The strange man grabbed me and Mom put my collar back on me.  Mom and I backed away and one of the women said, "She blinked finally.  I think she's still in shock."  The other woman had been feeling around the FBD's neck for any punctures/blood but she didn't find any.  The man explained, "This happened before with a lab when she was a puppy."  Mom is continually asking if the FBD is ok while holding my collar and trying to cover my eyes.  Mom gave the people her phone number so they could call if they found any kind of wounds later.

Thundar thighs!!!!!!

Mom pretending to sit on me like I'm her personal bench...

Pictures together!

Dis is fun!

Is dere more tasty fuzzies for me?  I kid, I kid... kinda.

Hai Mom!!!

After the scuffle, we continued on our walk.  I went on like nothing had happened.  Mom and Mike and Crystal kept talking about it for the rest of the walk.  They were all very surprised that I had decided that FBD was for eating.  Dad told Mom, "Next time, you'll remember his muzzle."  Mom told him, "I didn't even think of it because usually he's got no issues.  We've walked by pure Maltese dogs before and he doesn't even care.  We can even walk by squirrels without him turning his head even.  Today was completely out of the blue, but apparently Phil is a huge fan of fuzzies."  Showed you, Mom!

The lady called this evening during dinner and informed Mom that FBD was fine.  She also asked if I was caught up on all my shots and Mom was quickly able to tell her yes.

Mom says that our ride to NC in a week and a half is going to be a little bit cramped for me, but on the way back to MD with Dad in the car, it's going to be even more cramped.  Today in the car, Mom had one of the back seats up for Mike to sit in, which kinda threw me off my game since there was less space for me, but on the way home, when I finally got tired of standing, I laid down in the very back and was fine, which made Mom feel better about crowding Hotel de Phil.

Whew, being retired is hard!

My halloween costume.

You know your mom really loves you when she won't let you go to the store with her BUT she comes back with not only a 30 lb bag of dog food that she carried in by herself (because she's awesome), but also some bully sticks... which she then lets you devour one in a 1 hour time span despite the fact that they smelled sour and gross...

True love, y'all, true.  love.

On to the pics..  Noms can't be partaken of without photographic evidence!

PS.  I think I'm going to go as "Snaggle Tooth" for halloween since I've been inspired by this rawhide.

Look at my new TOOF!
HAha, just kidding, it's a piece of rawhide stuck to my front teeth.
Mom thought it was funny..  It brings out her redneck when she thinks random "teeth" are funny.

I will gnaw and slobber on dis nom till dere is no more nommmmmms.

Yes, Moms, what do you wants?
Do not you dares take dis away from mes.

Snaggle tooth and soggy rawhide = Greyhound winning.
"I've got my eye on you, woman." -Phil

PS.  You like my new collar?  I lubs it.  :)

PPS.  Mom did take my rawhide away from me after she put her clicky-flashy-blindy machine away.  She kept squealing saying, "EWWWW, it's sooo slimy!!  AND IT STINKS!!!"  I had obviously perfected the rawhide gnawing.  THEN SHE THREW AWAY MY NOMS!  She says it was because I wasn't going to be able to break it apart no mores, but I was determined to dissolve that fing in mah spits drools.

Just some pictures!

Pictures of the week!

Where's Phil?!?!

Look at my snazzy new Halloween collar!
Get your own!

Mom put my coat on me for our run.
I didn't really need it since we were jogging.
I showed Mom this by accidentally tripping her when we were almost home.
Oops, my bad.

Pax River Appreciation Day

Happening this week:

I think I've finally decided I like car rides.  Maybe this is because Mom has given me a HUGE bed in the back of Yurtle (her car).  She lays the seats down and put a super plush comforter down.  When we go for a ride, she rolls down the windows so I can stick my nose out and smell all the smells!

I even still like the car ridin after our vet visit on Thursday.

Look at my rash!  Mom really loves me cause paid lots for the pills to make me better!

The vet says it's a staph infection, but Mom got all the supplies to make me better.  It's been itchy so Mom catches me scratchin' and makes me stop sometimes.

Den, on Saturday, it was Pax Appreciation Day.  We went to Solomon's Island to the Maritime Museum where I got to see some of my cousins!  I also got so many carrots and some actual treats and pettins!  I love all these things and the weather was absolutely delightful, so it was a spectacular day!

Chellie and Sammie

My almost neighbor, Norman.

ME!

Sammy was nappin.

L to R: Stormy, Hot (Shot), Chellie, and Norman

L to R: Me, Chewie, Ripley, Norman

Norman gettin pettin's from his Mom.

Lola Belle

L to R: Ripley, Ripley's Mom (who is also Lola's Mom), Norman, Lola

Norman gettin pettins from our biggest fans!

Lola winning the crowds!

Ripley was enjoying all the attentions!

Front to back: Ripley, me, Lola, Sammie
Yes, Ripley is missing a whole leg.  He doesn't needs it though!  He's super fast even without it!

Sammie and Chellie

Me and Normans relaxin.

Hot is 10 years old!  Doesn't his grey face look very regal?

Norman is a leaner.  He was using Chellie as a pillow.

Hot and Lola

Chellie and Mom.  Chellie was spooked, so Mom was trying to give her squeezes and pettins and reassurances...
Like she does me when I slip on the devil floor!

Chellie with some fans!

Mom lubs me the mostest.  She tolds me.

Norman with some more fans!

Norman:  Little boy, I'm older than you.  Now scratch under my chin!

Hot was tired!

Norman using the xpen as his pillow.

 

Then something caught his attention.

Zippy and Zany (Mom can't remember which one is which!)

Mom forgot these guys's name too.  :(

This little girl really liked me.  I love pettins so it was ok.
Also, check out my new halloween collar!  It's so scary!

I've been jumping in the car without Mom's help this week.  It's new for me, so it's still a party every time.  Dad says it's because I know I get treats when I get into the car, Mom says she doesn't care, she just appreciates not having to be worried about hurting me while trying to lift me into Yurtle.  I think Miz Monica did most of the teachin to me since she has such a big trucks.  Mom is pleased at my new trick.  I like to keep Mom on her toes.  She said something about teaching me the "bow" command, but we'll see.

What's that smell?

My favorite thing to do is play "what's that smell" with Mom.

This photo demonstrates the best position to take when playing this game.
1.  This makes you look innocent.  No one will even think it's you if you're sleepin.
2.  You're aiming the right way when you lay with your butt towards your person.

This game is also what Mom calls "The Gas Leak."

Sometimes, this game gets rather flatulent and makes me look at my butt suspiciously.  But, I know, for certain, that this "Gas Leak" or "the smell" don't come from me.

I'm a gentleman.  Don't you forget it.

Moe and Kody visited me!

This past weekend, Kody and Moe took a vacation from their Mommy came to visit!  We really had a lot of fun.

To get the party started, after work on Friday Mom took all 3 of us for a jog.  Kody and Moe are lucky and have a backyard, so they aren't subjected to running like I am.  They were tired before we even hit the halfway point!  They gotta do more exercising!  Mom slowed down for them and we were walking while she was jogging because we are way faster than Mom we have to let her feel like she is going really fast.

Kody after our run.  He got some water from his bowl and just sprawled out on the slippery, devil floor!

He was even coolin' his tongue on the floor!

Mom had her breakfast after our run.  Moe helped her clean her plate!

Due to some feeding logistics their first night with us, Mom fed me in my crate just to be safe.  It was like breakfast dinner in bed.  I was able to just roll right over and take a nap afterwards.  Good Mom!

Kody thought all of my toys were awesome!
Then we napped.

Moe and Kody takin' naps.

Kody snuggled with Mom every night while she was on her clicky-clacky-machine.

This is the bagel that Kody tried to help Mom eat Saturday morning.
Mom was NOT pleased.  I tried to tell him she doesn't share her noms.

All the boys chillin.

Kody and Moe 

Moe's artwork.
Mom said, "Thanks, Moe."

"You're welcome, Phil's Mom!" - Moe

Mom said we were goin out!

Moe and Kody after our outing.

Kody doesn't love peanut butter, which I'm sure makes him not a real greyhound!
But, he did love all my old bones Mom had lying around.

Den, on Saturday, Mom gave us each our own beef knuckle.  These are the same delichious noms that Mom gave us when Joey was still here.  She's actually given me one or two since it's been just me again since she knows I really love des noms.

Each good boy gets his own noms.

The Kody stare down.

Lady, I'm tryin to enjoy delichious noms here.  Please take da flashy-fing away!

"Dis mah best side!" - Kody

On Saturday evening, Moe and I got to go to a cookout where this was this big slobbery dog named Moe.  Dey said he was an English Mastiff, which is really close to Moe's sister, Gussie.  After the cookout we came home and enjoyed some quality family time at home.

On Sunday, Moe and Kody's Mom came to pick them up.  

The biggest thing I learned this weekend was that bones are for CHEWING!  I didn't know this!  I had been lickin' all my bones to death.  I was kinda chewin, but not really.  Dey showed me how to really get into it.  That big bone you see in the pictures with me is half gone now!  ANNNDDD, Mom says my breath is significantly better.  She's not been doing her crazy dance when I've yawned in her face the past few days.  Dis also means that I don't have to get my teefs sprayed every night with that nasty teef spray (Petz Life).

Also, I was good all weekend.  Mom made sure of this by putting me in mah crate when she left.  She would also put Kody in his x-pen since he was deemed "the crazy dog" by his Mommy.  Moe is a good doggy, so he got to roam around, but really he just napped on my bed a lot.

YAY for visiting puppies!!!