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!!!

What's ben happenin at mah foster house..

So foster Mom has been hogging da computer all weeks!  Somefing about Aus-trail-ya.  So much funs happened dis past week.  I shows you.  Did I tells you I lubs de dog park?  Cause I lubs de dog park.

Foster Mom said she'd ben wading on Sunshine to come to da dog parks so we could play.  Sunshine haz a lots of energy.. like mes.  When Sunshine came in da dog park, Old Man Phil, me, and Sunshine waz all runnin around.  Let me repeats.  Old Man Phil was RUNNIN.  Guys..  He's really fast.  I'z just a puppy and he was beatin me.  Dey say he is a grehound dough, dey is supposed to be super fastest... Old Man Phil was a racin dog, but as much as he sleeps, I'z not surprised he haz all da energies stored up.  Everbodys was surprised with Phil was runnin wif us, cause he neber does dat.

Dis is da room where Foster Mom set up mah crate.  Old Man Phil lubs mah crate.  Well, he can haz it, I just sleepz on da couch.

I'z not movin'.  Dis is too comfys.

Foster Mom came home for lunch and I was patiently waiting on her to shares her lunch noms.

Dis is Old Man Phil's raised feeder.  He really iz bigger dan me.

De weekend before dis one, Foster Mom had Phil and me and dis other dog named Moe.  He was really big.  He only stayed wif us for da weekend dough.  He was very lazy, like da Old-Man-Phil.  All dese sleepin dogs.  Dey don't know how much fun bouncin' is!  

Old Man Moe

Moe was in my playin way!

All free of da boys.

Foster Mom fought dat leabin me out for a short period of time could be ok...
..I pooped in da floor.  She was just glads de runny poops weren't on de carpets.

Dis is me bein silly with da fake bone.  Dere's so many fun toys here!

Den on Saturday, Foster Mom left me at her house alone!  Her and Old Man Phil went to somefing called a Meet & Greet.  Iz about Greyhounds, so I didn't pay much 'tentions.  She made me put dese fotos on here...

Dis is Old Man Phil riding with da back seat layed down.
He telled me he liked dis much better dan his hammock.

Dis is Dexter at da M&G.

Dis is Old Man Phil.

Dis is Dexter again!

Dis is Lulu.  She wasn't really dat happy.  She was just panting, a lots.
So I'm told.  She looks really happys.

Dis is AJ.  

It wasn't all bad bein left at home alones.  When Foster Mom came back, she had a bag full of da goodies (she brought Old Man Phil back wifs her too)!  Some toys for me.. FINE. and Old Man Phil.  Some treats dat are delicious.  Dis stick da frows da ball, which I fink is also good for da chewin on (aldough Foster Mom wasn't too happy with my chewin art on de brand new frowy fingy).  And da Old Man got a new black leash to match his collar set.

Despite how grouchy da Old Man is, he definitely has Foster Mom trained!!

Ok one more videos den I'm going to go play wif da new crunchy toy.  Iz so fun!

Making Mom love me.. LOTS

Mom came home from work early today because her internets have been actin weird.  These strange men show up, AND she let them in the apartment!  I'm not her guard dog, so I didn't really mind too much, except that these men weren't interested in petting me, so I wasn't interested in them!  I laid down on my bed in the living room so I could keep an eye on them.  They left after a few minutes, they said they had fixed the issue.  Mom seemed satisfied, so I helped escort them out.

Mom was very proud of me for being so good.  After they left, we laid down for a nap.  I love naps!  When we woke up, Mom started messing around the apartment and she acted like she was getting ready to leave.  She even got my last kong out of the crate, refilled it with peanut butter, put it in the freezer, and pulled the already frozen one out of the freezer for me.  And then.. she hesistated.  I was soooo close to getting my peanut butter kong!  Instead, she decided we were going to go somewhere!  Surprise!

Mom brought a huge bag of treats with her.  I'm not really sure why.  She only gave me 2 the whole trip, but either way, I was excited.  Mom showed me the treat, but I still was very scared about getting in the car.  She put my front paws on the back seat and then lifted me up the rest of the way.  UGH I hate it!  Either way, I got my treat and Mom cracked the windows so I could sniff outside while we drove to the place we were going.

I think Mom was rewarding me for being good while those strange men were at the apartment cause she took me to the public dog park!  They have an area for big dogs AND little dogs.  There were a lot of small dogs in the big dog lot.  Or maybe I'm just really big?  There were a few teeny-tiny dogs in the big dog lot though..  I think they were in the wrong place, but everyone was having fun, so it was ok, I guess.

I had a blast, even though I didn't really socialize with the other pups.  I really am a loner.  Mom was worried for a while that I was going to be lonely as an only-dog, but I think I've put her worries at ease.  I don't really socialize when I'm with other dogs.  I don't feel the need to play with them either.  So I spent most of my time at the dog park, walking around the perimeter of the fence, marking every spot that I possibly could.  I also marked all the trees and benches and I even tried to mark the water buckets, but Mom stopped me.

There were so many dogs, and I wasn't interested in any of them!

My only issue at the dog park was that I kept having the poopies.  I went normal business, then I went poopie, but then I kept having the runs.  Mom wasn't really sure what was going on, and I think she's worried about me.  She is thinking that hopefully, I was just nervous about being around so many new dogs.

Mom could tell I was getting tired cause I had stopped prancing around the fence and I was just moseying along.  I had walked around with some of the other doggies, but we just sniffed each other.  I really am not a player.  I'm a stand there and be petted dog.  Seriously.  When we left, Mom tempted me with a treat again to get in the backseat.  She put my front legs on the back seat and then I surprised her.  I jumped in on my own!!!  For the first time ever!

Mom is super proud of me right now.  She kept saying, "Good Phil!!!  Good boy!!"  I'm sure the people at the dog park thought she was crazy.  (Psst, she is!)  Mom then brought me home and fed me dinner.  She said I made her really proud today for being such a good boy!

I'm really just trying to be good because the other morning I tried to eat Mom's banana (and I did a pretty good job at munching on about 1/4 of it) and I got in the bathroom trash and was eating the dryer lint... all in the same hour.  Mom was definitely not pleased.

I showed her who the good dog is though!!