Doodlebug Dogs' Blog

Sparrow’s Log:

Emma forgot to put the camera in her pocket so our apologies for lack of visuals today… We had Myles, Jojo, Weisz, Sawyer and Ciel along for the adventure today. Was nice to see Sawyer – he only comes sometimes and we miss him when we don’t see him for awhile! It was oddly warm at the park today. But panting was welcomed as opposed to shivering. Weisz and Ciel did their car wrestle thing until we picked up Sawyer. He’s got such a big presence, and though he’s a complete lover, those that don’t know him sometimes get a bit intimidated. He LOVED Ciel and she wished he’d not make Husky eyes at her and just let her play with her Weiszy. But they developed a working relationship throughout our time and were chasing the same ball and sharing Weisz by the end of it. I really think Weisz has learned all his wrestle moves from Sawyer. Though Weisz still doesn’t have the body mass to really be Sawyer’s equal, the little guy sure puts his heart into and gives Sawyer big old kisses in the end. No matter how many times he’s been rolled to the ground. Everybody got a little weird at the lake today – too much standing about and not enough staying focused so we didn’t stay long. Jojo got wet doing some ball and rock fetching and left with his mouth full of his own special rock collection. He picked all the same rocks up and down like 3 times as we walked away from the water before he gave up and left his treasures by the wayside. I was thinking of giving him a rock Zen garden for Christmas. Then he could rearrange all to his heart’s desire and sooth his anxieties in the process. Myles kept up pretty good today. He didn’t seem stiff and was eager to tell all the park his stories with his amazing orator’s voice. When he’s with the Doodlebug pack he’s kinda like me in that all his attention is on keeping an eye on us. He seems to think tearing himself away to greet our other best bud Emily from Fuzzy Buddys is too much of a luxury. Everybody REALLY enjoyed the turkey slices Emma brought today and said they’d be extra good if she’d bring some again tomorrow!

Sparrow’s Log:

Today we had a little pack but it was a PERFECT little pack, just me, Lulu, Weisz and Ciel. The puppies were in 7th heaven. Those three are best buds and to be able to just be with one another with no other distractions was amazing for them. There was some major 3-way wrestling in the car on the way to and from the park. In the park they ran, played tug, wrestled and were generally nuts. I spend a good deal of time refereeing Ciel and Weisz ’cause something about the way those 2 wrestle makes me just wanna get in on it. Emma found this big blue rope knot over the weekend and brought it to the park and they LOVED it. There was enough room for like 5 dogs to play tug at once! Weisz started up a great game of chase around the fallen log at the beach. He had those girls barrel racing around it as fast as they could. He’s super good at tight turns and likes to test others skills. Lulu and Ciel started to try to get one step ahead by jumping up ON the log and onto Weisz’s head. It was pretty cute to watch. They had a little audience!

Sparrow’s Log:

Thursday was Puppy Day! There were 9 of us canine Doodlebugs and SIX were puppies!! Lulu, Weisz, Derby, Layla, Molly and Ciel. Chaos. But beautiful happy chaos. Us poor old wise ones had to work double time to keep everybody in line. Puppies really are meant for other puppies. We just don’t have that same kind of energy after age 2. There was much wrestling, tug, chasing and little bit of throwing weight around and proving various things that were forgotten the next instance. Me, Sasha and Jojo just kept our cool, did our thing and helped Emma when we could.

Sparrow’s Log:

Sparrow’s Log:

Today was National Barking Day. I declared it. And all our Doodlebugs listen to my decrees with utmost attention and took it to heart and did their best to follow through.  Layla howled like a hound dog. Weisz yipped like a bird. Derby yap-barked like a banshee. Jojo used his voice for making official comments to the press. Myles did his best Beagle/Basset howl-bay-bark when ever anybody did anything but walk. I just barked my head off in general. Sasha and Molly were the only two silent parties. Sasha sings amazing songs in the car but focuses on trampolining in the park. Molly just listens to the chaos and rolls her eyes and tries to distract her friends by wrestling them to the ground. Actually, the whole way back from the lake my barking had a purpose. Just to set the record straight. Emma lost my orange ball and I was very frustrated and she let me play with the giant cuz but that just makes me even barkier so she took it away. Truth be told, I lost my ball but it’s always Emma’s fault. I never remember losing my ball so it’s ALWAYS Emma’s fault in the end… Sasha has a  same problem – she’ll be all trampolining in Emma’s face to get her to throw a tennis ball but then if it gets thrown too far and too something she won’t fetch it OR she does fetch it and brings it back and drops it where Emma was 2 minutes ago which means Emma doesn’t see it and then the trampolining begins again but they’ve lost the ball. Emma tries to keep one stashed away to use for Sasha at the lake even if all the others get misplaced along the way. Weisz took a fancy to a little smushy blue ball at the lake and hid under the bench to chew it in private. Much to his chagrin, just like a dragon guarding a treasure lair, his distancing himself only made all the other pups more interested in what he was up to. Layla teased him into giving it to her at one point and then she began to hoard it. Not quite sure what made that ball so special. There was some rock climbing, some splashing and swimming and lots of swimming and tag and wrestling as usual. Weisz and Derby kept going neck and neck for fetch. Both of them have just discovered they can run like the wind and chasing balls is fun.

Sparrow’s Log:

First of all, it’s my Grandma’s birthday today. We dedicated all our fun and frolicking to her in celebration. ‘Cause even though she’s all the way over on the East coast, I love her very much and I know she must miss me horribly. I mean, I know I have my quirks and am not always the easiest pup to handle in all situations, but I REALLY love My People. And they love me back for the most part.

There was LOTS of puppy tug in the park today between Layla, Lulu and Weisz. They’re all real good puppy buddies and didn’t take them long to figure out that all 3 of them could get in on tug together. People stopped and oohed and ahhed like Emma had taught them a circus trick and she just smiled and said they were smart dogs and all she’d done was encourage them to use their own brains and work together. The bit of red rope was the hit for while then at the lake we found a lost kong tug toy under the fence. THAT became the VERY SPECIAL new toy which they tugged upon all the way back. Lulu especially took it upon herself to be guardian of the new toy which was an excellent job for her. Her attention span for guardianship is not always that long but Emma’s trying to lengthen it by reminding her often and asking her where they toy is. Lulu takes it all very seriously, like she is begin apprenticed in some queenly task. Good! She also did super well at keeping her barking under wraps – think the constant “work” to be done with toy guardianship and calculating how to make her move into whatever Layla and Weisz were doing did the trick. Weisz met a look-alike named Ajax and we hope to see him again. Ajax is already 2 or 3 but they have the exact same body language, mannerisms, are the same type of mix and both come from east of the mountains. Ajax’s mom was so happy to see Weisz because she’d always wondered what her guy looked like as a puppy and Emma was so happy to see Ajax because she’s been wondering what a grown-up Weiszy was gonna look like. She tried to get a picture of them together but it didn’t really work. Hopefully they’ll meet again! Layla was the wrestle queen today – if she wasn’t busy with Lulu or Weisz she’d find another puppy to tackle. She especially likes other hunting dogs. There’s a young bird dog about her age with which there is always much rejoicing and hoop la when they run into each other. There was another puppy, a Lab/Setter mix, that was Weisz’s age that Layla met for the first time today and ADORED. They walked along wrestling each other for a good half an hour. Layla taught the pup how to play tug and the pup added her own little keep away twist which made it all very exciting. Layla even got Sasha to play tug with her for an instant too. That was AMAZING! usually Sasha says “Uh uh, no way, absolutely not, this is my personal space, that is yours, let’s keep them separate.” The pups forget from time to time as they are so used to playing tug with one another and will go up and grab the other end of whatever is hanging out of her mouth. Sasha quickly quells their attempts and they shrug like “you’re loss.” But today, Sasha had the special stick they’ve all be picking up all week and Layla grabbed the other end and Sasha didn’t let go or tell her off. For like a whole 30 seconds! That’s a record. I think Sashi secretly enjoyed it too…

Sparrow’s Log:

Weisz really stole the stage today. The girls just COULD NOT get enough of him. He’d be trotting along merrily, taking in the world per his style, and they’d just pounce on him. And demand he wrestle with them right then and there! And being an easy going gentleman dude he had to oblige. Molly is completely smitten with him, completely. She won’t let him out of her sight and prefers it if they are touching at all times. He’s almost as tall as she is now but has about 1/3 of the body mass so he’s got to be quick on his toes! Derby desperately tried to get in on it because SHE loves Molly but her growly-style play advance just isn’t Molly’s cup a tea. However, Derby’s really starting to get that (with lots of help and redirection from Emma) and by the end of today she was engaging in puppy play WITHOUT being a growly face. Emma was so proud of her! Definitely a break through day. Derby actually engaged Molly, Weisz and 2 other pups in a game of chase without making a sound! Jojo had a lot to say at the lake today and Emma thought it was his usual “I’m ready – throw my ball!” but when she did that and nothing in his demeanor changed she realized he was saying “Remember how cold I got when I did all that swimming yesterday? I LOVE swimming but I just CAN’T get that cold again. I’m just gonna stand here with my toes in and tell EVERYBODY my story! If you throw the ball I won’t fetch it, I won’t I won’t I won’t!” Soon as Emma said she understood he relaxed a bit and consoled himself that he’d feel warmer another day. Molly did a bit of swimming but was really more interested in tracking Weisz. Weisz will wade out up to his knees but has shown no desire to go further. And, judging by his reaction to Emma hosing him down today, may NEVER be a nutty water dog. He’s managed to avoid hosing up to now because he magically doesn’t usually get that dirty but today he spent a good half an hour wrestling INSIDE of a big, muddy hole. There’s this hole that fits his whole body laying down perfectly that he always checks in on at the end of of our park time. Today he was doing repairs and further excavation. (He always lays down in it to work…) But then his pretty white Boxer puppy friend found him and joined him in the hole. And wouldn’t let him up for air from wrestling! Sasha did a bunch of fetching and had some more real long swims. We were walking along with our friends Kevin and Bob whom she loves and whom use their chuck-its to throw the ball for her which makes her very happy. Yesterday Bob was throwing lost balls over the fence and Sasha looked like she’d died and gone to heaven, tracking his every move, trying to catch each ball that came over. Today Kevin spent some time digging out a frizbee from under the fence and Sasha got super excited the game was starting again. She watched his every move and gave him lots of moral support in his excavating efforts. Everyone had very nice car manners today which was lovely. There was the usual ruckus upon approaching the park but other than that it was rather peaceful. Molly did not want to get out and asked Emma why she always had to get out first and Emma said it’s because she lives closest to the park and if there was some other way around it she’d do it but there just isn’t. Molly sighed and got out then asked if she could get right back in

Sparrow’s Log:

When Emma took me out to pee first thing this morning there was a raging rain storm going on and I wanted no part in doing anything but my business. Excepting it to continue in some shape or form all day, when it came time for us to pick up our Doodlebugs we bundled up to the hilt. Determined to be warm if only partially dry. But as we walked to the car there was blue in the sky! It was great fun to gallop through the muddy park with sun on our backs. I think it may even have gotten up to 55 degrees or something. Jeez, that’s practically summer, Seattle style. Emma found an old soccer ball someone had left behind and gave it to Lulu to keep special track of. Lulu’s kinda like me in that she needs a job to do AND her size means nothing to her. The bigger the job the better. She did pretty well for the first 15 minutes, dragging the ball along. It was soft enough for her to get a grip and all the other pups thought she was oh so cool for carrying it. And it did the trick as Emma was hoping it would – no more barking! Even when we left the ball by the wayside she was grounded and centered enough to not wack out woofing at the strangers passing by. Jojo did pretty well with keeping his barking to a minimum too. He’s really settled into the pack in the last 2 weeks and his relaxation has tamed his vocal-ness. He’ll report on a situation or, at the lake, tell Emma he’s ready to have his ball thrown but that’s about it. Yay puppies! We’re all learning how to communicate together! I bark like a banshee at the water. It’s the only way to do it in my mind. Sasha had some awesome long swims today and, despite herself, is really enjoying her puppy companions. She even stole the piece of wood Layla and Lulu were sharing and began to prance around like she’d won the lottery and everybody better notice. Layla made friends with a very handsome young Golden Retriever and had a good wrestle in passing. She and Lulu found this long branch on our way back from the lake and had a great time showing it off and playing tug. Jojo fetched until he got too cold then Emma made him fetch on land. Not as cool. Derby did a lot of chasing balls today – and fetched them back 50% pf the time which is improvement That girl just loves a good sprint! The whole picking up the ball thing doesn’t make much sense to her. She did better with her rough house playing too and was more receptive and responsive to Emma interceding. Oh! And she’s sitting on cue like a princess. Go Derby! Lulu met June’s dog, Soda Pop, and decided she was the coolest thing since the long branch. Layla made a bunch of other friends, too, actually. She’s amazing and getting everyone she passes to love her and play along with her, dogs and people both!

Sparrow’s Log:

Sparrow’s Log:

A sunshine day and all the Doodlebugs were crazy as usual. There were 8 of us in all

(L to R) Weisz, Lulu, Layla, Molly, Derby, Jojo

today (9 including Emma) and 5 of the dogs were puppies. Totally NUTS!!! But fun fun fun. They are really all such good sweet puppies. I mean everyone definitely has their quirks and areas of learning but they listen to Emma amazingly, come no matter what’s going on and only go into wild beast land with their wrestling every once and awhile. Actually, those young bloods listen better than the older set, myself included. Ahem. Don’t tell them I said so. Derby is obsessed with Molly and Molly’s kind of ok with that but when given another option of best friend, like Layla, she heads in that direction which makes Derby oh so jealous and upset which leads to vocally expressed Derby discontent which riles everybody up which then inevitably leads to a group time-out.  But it’s all good. I just hold my ground and my little orange ball and referee them all like mad. Poor Derby. I think she’s getting that barking in someone’s face is not the best way to start a game but it’s gonna take a bit more time. Guess I’m not really one to talk – that’s mostly all I do when another dog tries to play with me – I just bark at them. It’s so satisfying to use my big voice when my body’s so little. Just can’t help myself. Lulu and Weisz were reunited today after a couple weeks which made them ECSTATIC. They continued their tradition of car wrestling much to Sasha and Jojo’s chagrin and finally Emma had to separate them because they were getting in the way of everybody else’s pleasant car ride. Lulu got bumped to the front but they still tried to play THROUGH the gate separating back from front. Weisz kept trying to get his mouth through to nibble Lulu but could only manage one half of his jaw at a time. She just kept wiggling against the bars like she couldn’t stand the separation. I think we may be talking a little more than puppy love here, folks. They also played this funny game at the lake where Lulu found a cave under the roots of the fallen tree and tucked herself in it which Weisz and Layla thought extraordinary and proceeded to make guard that cave for all she was worth. She was like an angry elf fending off invaders! Weisz also snuck off with the big red squeaky ball at one point and when Emma began looking for it she saw he had tucked it neatly into this little hollow under the rocks, as far back as possible. Like a dragon burying treasure. Smart guy! Jojo was SO SO SO happy to be at the lake. We haven’t been going every day because the construction is still happening and everybody has to leash up to get there and sometimes Emma just can’t face all those leashes and all that excited pulling. She was feeling brave today and Jojo was so thankful. He was the fetching king! In and out of the water he went, not letting Emma skip a beat, until he turned into a shiver pup and she told him he had to keep his feet on dry land for a bit. We all went in actually. Somehow the air felt warm enough that the water seemed inviting. Molly’s quite the water fetcher too. And Sasha held her own, weaving in and amongst the pups, actually getting the ball from time to time. Derby’s still not interested in going above her knees really but when Sasha snuck around the fence toward the sound garden (Sasha likes to take little out-of-bounds shore adventures and Emma trusts her to use her best judgment and come back and so doesn’t make much of a big deal out of it.) Derby was right on her heels. Never would have occurred to her on her own but hey, if Sasha’s doing it it must be cool, right? There’s better smells over there because nothing’s been sullied by other canines. We started to head out and Weisz looked over his shoulder at Emma then over in the direction of the adventurous Labradors and told Emma he’d be there in a sec. She rolled her eyes and got the rest of us to the gate where we called the 3 delinquents and a running they came. Perfect pups.