Phil's new hedgehog..

I purchased a grunting hedgehog for Phil in 2012 when I went down to Orlando for a visit.  He LOVED it.  We still have it and he still plays with it, but the grunter is dead.  All the dogs actually love it, and he's now got a dangly leg and puncture wounds, but that doesn't stop them from having a blast with it.  

Because I like the sound of the grunters, I purchased another hedgehog for him..  This time from amazon so it was about 50% of the price I paid from the boutique store in Winter Park...  

For Phil, this is really a lot of excitement.

Piktchurs!

Going to da dog sittars so Foster Mom could go on vakchuns:

Dis Phil's butt.  It's de only fing Foster Mom could sees in her mirrors.

I blocked his butt, cause I'z bringin da sexy back!

Bof me and de Old Man.

FM openeds da sunwoof.  I lubed all da breezes.

Da Old Man in FM's mirror.

I'z lookin at da Foster Momz wonderin' why she waz clickin' so muches.

I'z too good for piktchurs wif da Foster Momz.

Coming back from da dog sittars:

Me and da Old Man ridin.  We waz pretty happys to see Foster Momz.

I lubs car ridins.

Doggie butts!

Just more proofs da Old Man iz lazy.  I'z stood up almost all de way home!

Dis my favorite fing to do in da car ridin.

Dat Old Man is rewy tall!

We finally seddled down.  Dis didn't last long.

Was somefing dere?

We's rewy glads to be homes.  I lubed it at Miz Monica's house.  Dere was dis doggie dere dat was my size and we plays and plays and plays!  Miz Monica says we barely stopped playins de entire week!  Foster Mom sayz I'z going to be sooo happyz when I see my Forever Mommy and Daddy and brothers and sisters.  She finks dey will plays wif me more dan de Old Man.

We'bs just been chillin since we'bes been back.  Foster Mom gots some fotos of dis too!

Wook at mah big ears!  Dey is de bestest!

Here I iz all passed outs.  Dis was a nice naps.
I don't haz my collar on cause Foster Mom says iz too stinky.
She's going to frow it in da washy-washy machine.

Dis da Old Man.  He wooks bery uncomfertuble but he didn'ts moves none.

Sometimes we gets confused when Foster Mom tells us to go to our crates.
Dis a funny piktucher of me wifs my eys closed.

Look at dis!

De Old Man cans plays!!!

Too much youngin takin over my blog!

My Mom is from the South and she said the title of this post was allowable.  Joey has taken over my blog the past few weeks, I felt like he needed something extra to do to get out some of his energy.  He has A LOT OF ENERGY.  He's always bouncin or slitherin' under me.  He makes me skid on the scary floors sometimes.  He actually wipes out on the slippery floors all the time and he gets right back up and does it again!  Nonsense!

In good news, the temps have been cooler this past week!  It's been awesome.  In addition to our regular dog park afternoons, we got to go on a run last week down the long road.  Mom looked kinda funny dragging me behind her and Joey pulling in front of her.  She's a good sport.  Joey did trip Mom up once or twice, which I've done before.  But the 2nd time, she actually fell!  Guys, Mom has never fallen before.  I had no idea why she was laying on the ground.  I knew it was Joey's fault though.  So she's layin on the ground and I'm lookin' at Joey like, "Great, jerk.  Now we're never gonna get home.  Why'd you have to make Mom made and we're not even home yet!?"  Joey was just lookin' around like nothin' had happened.  Mom got up and she wasn't mad.  She said, "Accidents happen.  Let's go home."  I was down with going home.  2 miles is a long way, even with walk breaks.  We ran to the water hose where Mom washed us down, which Joey didn't like, then we went home for breakfast.

After that, Mom said she was sore and we went to the dog park for a few days, and since the accident, we've only been running along the beach road, where there are no cars for Joey to be afraid of.  She bought this ball throwy thing.  Joey chewed on the handle, which didn't make Mom happy.  Joey REALLY LOVES running after the ball.  I do not.  Mom throws the ball and I run after it once, then turn my nose up.  I have better things to do than run after a ball, like sniff all the pee spots and mark over them.

Mom says this is proof there are monsters under the bed.
It's name might just be Joey.

Joey thinks he's sneaky sleepin' on the couch, but Mom knows.

I taught him how to be a toy hoarder.
Mission = success.

Joey's bed in Mom's bedroom.

... but I stole his crate!

Joey stole my bed...

Mom let me have the rest of the yogurt.
Joey and I both got to clean out the peanut butter jar too!

Videos from the dog park:

Oh noes!

Dis is Joey again, Old Man Phil is currently squeaking it up with a new toy.

Guys.. I killed da rabbit.  Life goal is COMPLETE!!!!  ...kinda.

Da Mother Bunny was supposed to be indestructible..  It hadn't met dis Ibizan hound before!  Hahah!  I showed dem who was indestructible!

Phil, hope you ain't mad, bro.

I was pretty worried Foster Mom was gonna yell, but she just saids, "Iz a toy, iz ok."  Den she was like da magics and started squeaking a brand new toy!!!!!  Da Old Man is currently showing me how it works, but I really wants to play wif izt myself.  I keep poking Foster Mom wif my nose so shes tells him to share, but she justs sayz to waits my turns.

Can Foster Mom sew de Mother Bunny backs up?  Or should shes just give up on de Mother Bunny?

I really liked frowing de bunny around.  I fink it was my favorites toys ever.

PS.  I don't finks de Mother Bunny is as tasty as real bunny would be.

Move out of da way Old Man!!

HI HI HI HI HI HI!!!!!  I'm Joey!  Phil was gonna write dis blog but I bumpted him out of da way and he stared at me and den went to takes a nap.  Like a gramps.  He says he's retired.  I fink that means he sleeps a lots.  But he only sleeps on de floor.  I'm more sneakys.  I sleeps on de couches.  Especially when Phil's Mom izn't looking.  Sometimes she finds me, den I haz to get off.  But I always sneaks back on later.

OOOHHH Ohhhh, I'm justs sooo excited to be here!  I haz a new forever home wif a Forever Mommy and Daddy and brothers and sisters but right now I's stayin' with Phil and his Mom, dey are my foster family.  She's crazy.  More crazies dan me.  But I bounces so much betters.  She has dis rope thingy she plays with me with.  I grab one end and she holds de other.  I growl and growl and growl at her, but she don'ts let go.  Till she gets tired.  Hoomans are as lazy as Old Man Phil.  Den, she throws a stick for me at de dog park.  Dat stick is bery tasty.  I lubs it.  I frow it in de air and catch it and run wif it.

Phil's Mom haz been feeding me soo muches!  I'm really skinny though, so I needs lots of foods.  I get extra kibbles and surprise noms in the days.  I lubs peanut butters.  I might also be a counter surfer.  I eats da bread that Phil's Mom left out yesterday.  She put da peanut butters on it and I couldn't resists.  It waz for me anyways, I knews it.  I's just helpin her, she didn't even haz to bring it to mah crate.  Alldough, I did go to mah crate when she did da yellin at me for counter surfin.  She's scary sometimes.

Phil's Mom iz learning to trust me more and more.  She's not locked me up in mah crate when she leaves, a few times!  She don'ts leabs me out for too long dough.  She suspects dat I'm de doggy that poopied in da floor de other day, so she is still suspicous.  But, last night, de big doggies got into de new bag ob food Phil's Mom had just boughted.  She waz really mad.  She says I waz lucky because I was in mah crate and I couldn'ts be bad wif dems.  I waz glad she wasn'ts mad at me.  Dey got seriously yelled at.  Den, she didn't talk to dems no more after she feds us.  When she lefts, she saids, Everbodys better be goods!

Overall dough, she's not so bad.  Old Man Phil isn't so bad either.  He yells at me sometimes when I do da bouncys too close to him.  Dere was one day that he ran wif me at de dog park.  I lubs runnin at da dog park.  Den another day, dis little doggy named Gami came at the dog park and we was playin.  She waz hiding under da picnic table dat her Daddy and Phil's Mommy were sitting on.  She waz a silly girl, she says to me dat she waz a weenie dog and dey is espshully silly.  I waz really bigger dan her, so she waz a widdle skared.  She waz bery fun to plays wif dough.  Maybe I's can plays wif her again sometime?

I's really habin funs with Phil's Mom and Old Man Phil, but I's also really reddy for mah forevers home!!

The Whipper-Snapper vs The Gentleman

You can best tell the difference between a Gentleman and a young Whipper-Snapper via playtime.

Let me give you examples of each:

Whipper-Snapper playtime:

Gentleman playtime:

Mom, I'm keeping my bunny safe from that crazy dog.

Please also note that the significant difference between these 2 things is that one requires Mom to use her flashy thing for what she calls "video" instead of blinding Joey for a second like she usually does with me.  Mom says that he's very hard to clicky-flashy-blind because he's always moving!!

I'm tolerating him well.  I keep giving Mom "the look" but I don't think she's getting it.

So far Joey has gotten 2 extra snacks that I didn't get!  I was a little upset, but Mom says Joey is soo skinny that he's got to get bigger like me.  At least for our "after school snack" Mom gave me some carrots while Joey ate his snack.

Mom says that tonight Moe is also coming to stay with us for the weekend.  Guys, thats TWO extra dogs I have to share with?!?!?!  Mom says that Mizz Erin is Moe's Mom and she says he's a lot like me.  He'd much rather be napping than bouncing prancing around with toys.  He's also a big Greyhound like me.  So much excitement in my house!

Lets just see how much Mom likes it when she's taking us out for a walk and we all are squirrel huntin' at the same time!

Adding to the Toy Inventory

My Mom is pretty great.  I might have mentioned this.  But here is evidence why:

These are my two newest toys in action.  The red thing is actually a Mother Bunny and the blue thing is a Tribble.  They are supposed to be indestructible.  I'm a little sad the bunny doesn't squeak, but the Tribble does!

Mom's been telling me all week that she has to go away for a few weeks, so I think this is her trying to win my love.  I'll be staying with the Keller Family while Mom is gone.  I'm excited, but don't tell Mom, I want her to think I'm sad that she's leaving..

I picnic like a Greyhound.

This weekend was the GEGR annual picnic!  Mom has been planning on going to this since she found out about it, and I knew something was up, I just know things.  Then again, Mom did finally clean, so maybe that was the biggest clue...

First off, Fright night we had company.  Diane brought her two pups, Snowy and CJ to stay the night.  We started the sleepover early!  

After everyone was fed and went taken out for business, we put on our best retired faces.

The next morning was like normal, kinda.  I woke Mom up at normal time, but she wasn't having that.  But with some incessant whining prodding, she was motivated.  Really, I just wanted to see what Snowy and CJ were up to, cause I heard them and knew they were already awake.

They left after getting breakfast and Mom and I went back to bed, which is our usual ritual on Saturday morning.  Finally, when Mom got up again, she started getting ready and packing our stuff.  I asked her if I was going and she reassured me that today was all about me and my peeps.

When we got there, there was so much excitement to be had!  I saw Miss Scarlet and Temporary Mom and Brother from when Mom went to Scotland.  I think they missed me!  I also saw Mr. George, who I've seen recently.  I tried to make sure I said hey to everyone at the picnic.

Mom took some pictures to share with you.

A gaggle of Greyhounds..  pretending to not be retired.

We were allowed to run free in color coded groups.  Certain colors were allowed to roam around (muzzle required, and NO ONE liked that!) at certain times.  Mom got caught in the middle of a running pack and I just pretended not to know her.  Silly Mom should know better than to stand in front of a speeding Greyhound (no bus pun intended).

They were running really fast.  I didn't run with the group though.  I was off attending to more important matters...
Like marking every tree/bush/tall grass spot possible.

The pools were set out for the hounds to cool off in.  Several pups were just laying in the pools.  I was just thirsty!

Chillin' my paws. 

Scarlet and I hung out for a while when I wasn't marking what was mine running around saying hey to everyone.  Temporary Brother gave me lots of pettins.  I had a super fun time just roaming around, even though I didn't like my muzzle being on.  I tried to tell Mom that a muzzle isn't part of retirement by rubbing my nose on her leg, but she said suck it up.

Every time Mom found me, I was at Lisa's door.  Lisa's house was the first place I ever received TLC, so I really, really wanted inside.  

Excuse me, I'm being good.  I already looked in the window, I know you're home.  Just let me in please!!!
PS.  It's hot out here and I'm retired.  Duh.

After my Temporary Family left, Mom decided to go exploring with me.  She took me to the real water area.  Mom and Dad both have taken me to the beach, but I wasn't a super huge fan...  but it didn't really seem like they were either.  But this girl was nice enough to hold my leash while I was in the water, and since she looked like she was enjoying it, I figured it was safe for me as well.

It is pretty hot out here and this water is nice.

OOOOOOO, that was cold on my happy place!

Nevermind, it's niiiiicccceeeee in here.

Look how far out I am, Mom!!!  Look!  Look!!

This was the deepest I went.  The water felt really nice and I couldn't figure out the zoom-zoomers that were driving by.
The girls were really enjoying the waves after they passed though!

After I got out of the water, my tongue slipped out of my mouth.  Mom caught it for blackmail.

Mom actually won a door prize at the picnic.. but she also bought some stuff!

Top Left: Red Mother Bunny.  "Red for NC State," said Mom.
Top Right:  Yellow knitted scarf and hat Mom picked out as her door prize.  She also got a box of treats which didn't make it in the photo.
Bottom, L to R: My new collar (it has a matching tag collar.. I'm like a real retired greyhound now!), my new Tribble (which I luuuuuuvvvvv because it squeaks), and Mom's new GEGR t-shirt.

Overall, we had a super time.  I think once we get to know more people, since we are just GEGR babies, the picnic will be more fun cause we'll be like one of the groupies!  Now, Mom also knows what to expect for next year.  Eventually, she'll become a pro and bring her own tent and maybe she'll even spoil me enough to buy me my own xpen.  She says probably not anytime soon, but I'm working on her....  I mean she did get me that big bed a few weeks ago AND she bought me a Mother Bunny today.. and a Tribble...  She's a pretty great Mommy, even without an xpen for me.

Going to the dog park..

Dear Dog Park Mommies and Daddies,

For the sake of my Mom's sanity (and potentially your doggie's well-being)..  if your dog isn't well-behaved, please keep it away from her.  She had to come home this afternoon and take a shower and change clothes because one of the neighborhood dogs who was also in the dog park with us.  She kept jumping on Mommy.  Mom had dirty paw prints all over her, and while that was a sign of love from the other doggy, Mom didn't appreciate it one bit!  From my experience, Mom prefers gentle kisses.. even if you have bad breath.  I tried to tell the other doggy that, but she wasn't listening to me.

Mom was NOT very happy.  Mom said to me (I think she was talkin to me, since no one else was around) on the walk home, "If I have to control your dog because you can't, you don't need to have a dog."
So please other Dog Park Mommies and Daddies, know how to control your dog before you go into the park with others.  It's one thing to try to play with the other doggies, but to jump on the humans?  NOT COOL!  Especially MY human!

PS.  Down doesn't mean NO.  My Mommy tells me NO often.  She's not afraid to yell it either.  I know when she yells NO, she means serious business.  I stop what I'm doing immediately and look at her.  Sometimes, when she just says no normal, I don't hear her until she repeats what she wants me to do a few times.  It's a game I like to play with her to see how many times she'll repeat a command.  So far, I'm up to... well I can't really count, but its a LOT!

It usually goes like this:  Phil, go to your house.  (I look at her like what did you say?)  No, Phil, go to your house.  (I start towards my house, but I get about halfway there then back up to the rug).  Phil, NO, go to your house!  (I put my front paws on the slippy floor).  Go to your house Phil, you can do it.  (Finally, I slowly make it to my house.  I have to put on a good show for Mom so she knows how much the floors "scare" me).  Good boy, Phil!  Ok, now stay.

I'm really good at stay because usually if I stay in my house and out of Mom's way while she's fixing me dinner, she makes it quicker AND doesn't spill it.

She's a pretty good Mom, so please Please PLEASEEEEEEE... have good doggy manners around her.  She's spoiled by my good manners... So its really my fault.  But she can't help how much she loves me.. Have you looked at me?  You can't help but to love me too.  Promise.

This is what being good looks like.  It's not a bad idea to practice this.

Mom gave me a new toy!!!

YYYAAYYY!!!!

Anyone wanna take bets on how long it takes me to destroy it???

After about 5 minutes with my new toy it was nap time.