Monday Mischief: Last Week in Review

I'm baaaaaaack!

And so are the Bosses!  Hip hip, Hooray!  (Don't worry, I really did like Gran"dog"ma's house!)

We're back into the old routine here, and I thought I'd share a little bit of just what kind of mischief our entire family's been up to the past 7-9 days or so, seeing that I've been off the keyboard for a while.

My Bosses, as you might know, took a trip to visit some family and friends on the East Coast.  I wish I could say that I've been the chief mischief-maker, but I think the Bosses took the cake for last week.  Look at all the fun things they did!

First, they stopped for 2 days in Arlington, VA/Washington, D.C. to visit and sight-see.  They like history, so all the places to visit were stunning.

For the remainder of their time on the East Coast, Bosses were in the Philadelphia area.  They went out there 3 years ago for Thanksgiving, too, so they tried to go places that they haven't seen before.  This time, they went to Eastern State Penitentiary (no pictures, sorry), Ridley Creek State Park, and Longwood Gardens for a beautiful light and holiday display.  They said it was breathtaking and wonderful!

Now, I'm sure you're thinking "enough with those crazy Bosses of yours, what have YOU been up to the past week?!"

My stay at Gran"dog"ma's house was great!  I got so much attention, and got to run around in the backyard a lot, and got lots of snuggles, and even now have my new best friend pinned behind the bed.....CHLOE!  

She has officially worn me out.

Still knocked out.

Because....I'm a Golden Retriever magnet!

My new neighborhood Golden buddy, Bailey!

My other new neighborhood Golden buddy, Bear!

Yep, I'm officially a Golden Retriever magnet!  Apparently my Gran"dog"ma's neighborhood is sprinkled with Golden Retrievers, only to be discovered once I stayed there for a week.  Better yet, Gran"dog"ma's backyard neighbor's Golden, Bear, decided to break out of his yard to trot into mine- for playtime!  What a silly, clever, and mischievous dog! :) But, we had SO much fun, and Bear's parents really don't mind when he wanders over, and neither does Gran"dog"ma.  When the neighbors saw us having all the fun, they brought over their dog, Bailey, ANOTHER Golden!  So, we all wore each other out, creating another "success" in my book.

What sorts of mischief have you been up to this week?  Discuss!

(Oh, and if you haven't entered the giveaway yet, you have a little less than two weeks to get your entries in!) 

Chow!

FitDog Friday: The LAST Last Roughhouse

Hey, Everyone!

Happy Friday!  I'm sooooo happy we're finally to the weekend- TGIF.

It's a big day around here- Kaiser's big "Gotcha Day"!  His family will be here in a few hours to pick him up.  The 2 big humans are coming over earlier than their 2 small mailmen think- they don't think they're getting a puppy until tonight.  Little do they know, our friend will be there by the time they get home from school!  Woo hoo!

I'm not really allowed to play very hard with my little chew toy (whoops, I meant Kaiser)- he just got neutered a few days ago.  But, I can't help myself- we got a little exercise today to make sure he'll be nice and tired for his big adoption day. :)  I have to teach him how to be fit, right?

Enjoy some pictures of our last moments together! :)  Until our next playdate (or so we hope), we love you SO much, Kaiser (or now Geno)!!!

We share so well- I have to teach him how to eat sticks.

Those eyes....so gorgeous.

Boss got me a new collar!

Look at how big my buddy has gotten! Me (53 lbs) vs. Kaiser/Geno (now 15.5 lbs)

Look at Boss' beautiful fall bush!

I will sure miss going on our strolls around the yard together. <3

FitDog Friday: Mental Stimulation

Hiya, Everyone!

Well, Boss has been up to lots of blog hops this week- I hope everyone has been thoroughly enjoying all of them thusfar!  A big thank you to everyone I've met so far this week- you are all so fantastic.  It's great to meet you all!

Today's thoughts are my first FitDog Friday!  Boss got her college degree in Human Performance/Exercise Science/Kinesiology and Health, so this is right up her alley, at least for the humans!

Run, run, run...as FAST as you can!

Boss has learned that raising a puppy is no chore.  Puppies need a LOT of exercise, especially as they grow.  Exercise keeps them physically healthy, happy, and mentally healthy.  After a dog stimulates their mind and body, they are much less likely to get into devious trouble- or at least that has what Boss has found with me so far.  Boss has fostered 1 other puppy, as well as raise me, and will be fostering a 13-week-old puppy in 2 weeks.  What has been similar with all of us?  Staying busy and happy.

My braided rope tug toy.  I love it!

Boss will be honest, she doesn't take me for a walk every single day.  She feels a bit guilty about this.  Sometimes, though, I get exercise in a different way.  We play fetch in the yard, or play a game of "Chase Boss", or we go to the dog park and get the hiking/running/socializing out.  During physical exercise, of course my mind and body are both busy!  It's great!  Some of those days, though, Bosses are tired from work or have commitments where they can't slip physical activity in, Bosses have to get clever.

I need to keep my mind busy, right?

So, what are some of the ideas Bosses have come up with so far to keep me busy (hint: Bosses really prefer I don't stay busy by ripping up the stairs anymore)?  Here are a few:

• Hiding treats around a room.  Well, let's be honest here- Bosses would hide treats around the house, but I am so easily distracted and don't get the whole determination thing yet, so we'd just have old treats hanging around the house.  One room is all we can handle right now.  My personal favorite is ice cubes!
• Treat-dispensing toys.  Bosses have bought me a few different types of treat dispensing things, and they seem to keep me busy.  Balls with holes in the center for smaller treats, a big treat dispenser with goodies, or even a fabric "maze" game with the stuffies taken out from the middle and stuffed with ice cubes.  I looooove ice cubes.
• Honestly, the kitties and I interact and keep each other...busy.  Allie usually stays out of it, since she is a pretty mellow gal, but Thor and I play chase.  He is usually the instigator, getting me all excited and then bolting off.  He gives me mixed signals, because then he growls at me when I actually get to him, but I like it anyway. ;-)
• Chewing toys.  I love to chew everything.  It's not over-exaggerating when I mention that, because I have probably chewed on almost everything.  Bosses like to take me to the local pet store (again, the outing keeps me busy), and I get to pick out something to chew on whenever I am out of food.  I usually pick one of those cow-hoof things, because not only does it take me forever to demolish, it smells SO good.  Boss thinks it smells like a horribly bad piece of bacon (she even likes bacon!), but I think it smells glorious.  Mmm mmm mmm!

Why did Bosses have to get so innovative?  Ha.  Let me tell you why! (Boss laughs just remembering the Cabin Fever we had last winter!!!)

Playing fetch when it was a balmy 20F out last winter.

Last year, I was a tiny little puppy during what was considered a horrible, never-ending winter up here in Minne"snow"ta.  Holy cow, it was brutal.  Temperatures were at -40F, and that barely counted the windchill.  Sometimes, we had windchill/temp readings up to -60F.  Needless to say, we ALL were cooped up.  Bosses and myself.  Boss had to come up with ways to keep me busy during those long, frigid days.  So this is where all the mental stimulation comes into fruition.  At least we're prepared in case it happens again!

I LOVE my floating bumper toy- I can't break it!!!

When it is too cold to play outside, Bosses and some volunteers/friends from RAGOM get together and plan playgroups for us as well.  I got invited to my foster sister's birthday party at an indoor doggy play area last winter.  It was sooooo much fun!  Here's a snapshot of my momma and I getting a picture together- I love when I get to see her!  The weekends are usually for wearing myself out with play and physical activity, and the weekdays are my chance to get my brain working and stay sharp.

Carrying sticks to my "nest" is also a personal hobby.

This weekend, I plan on completely wearing myself out- it's football weekend again, and that means more tailgating and play time with friends!  I cannot WAIT!

What are some ways you keep yourselves fit, mentally active and healthy?  Any fun plans for the weekend? Give me some ideas!

Chow!

Freedom Friday: Camping Edition

Sayonara, Blogging World!

I am going on vacation for the weekend to Southern Minnesota for my first ever fall camping trip!  Oh boy.  This is going to be so much fun!  So, I've left my "roost" to the squirrel kitties: Thor and Allie.  Not sure if I trust these two to do my job.  They're either sleeping or causing trouble.  They're a cute duo, though.

My siblings Thor (on left) and Allie (on right)

Allie puts up with me...aren't we cute together?

While I'm gone, I plan to:

• Sleep in a tent. Bosses let me try sleeping in their backpacking tent.  Once.  They let me sleep in the car after that (as long as the weather permits safe car-sleeping).  There was a thunderstorm in the middle of the night during our first camping trip this summer, and I tried to jump out of the tent...through the mosquito netting.  I may or may not have put a small hole in the tent.  Big Boss wasn't too thrilled, but he fixed it.  Whew.  So...they're borrowing a 4-person tent from GrandBoss, hoping that I will want to comply with the tent this weekend.  Thank goodness they always make the car extra comfy for me just in case!
• Sit next to the bonfire and NOT singe my tail fur! Minnesota has not been known to be very warm in the fall months, but this weekend seems like it will be rather temperate.  Highs in the low 70's, lows for overnights around 55-60, but also involves a lot of rain/thunderstorms.  I guess I can't complain...that's one way to immerse myself with water!  It's just like a huge sprinkler, right?  I LOVE sprinklers.  Anywho, I have proved myself able to be around a firepit at my past few bonfires, and Bosses trust me.  I like to stay warm that way, and plus, all the Bosses are there, and therefore, all the petting hands are there as well.  I will definitely stay there for that.
• Try to find some water to fully immerse myself into.  From the name of the state park we are going to, it doesn't sound like there is much water.  Like...you know....sometimes they pick campsites with "Cascade Falls" or "Lighthouse" or "Gooseberry Falls" or "Moose Lake".....ALL HAVE TO DO WITH WATER.  What are these bosses thinking?!  A Mystery Cave?! A Forestville?!  Where's the water, Bosses?  I really need to know.
• Eat some good camping grub. Bosses like to pack me lots of "camping snacks", just to make sure I'm a good puppy.  Like, when I don't bark at the people walking past our campsite, I get something yummy!  It's a good deal!  I like acting good when I get tasty treats!
• Play with my fur friends! My buddies Willie and Jax will be there.  Willie is a Golden/mix (maybe a Whippet mix?), and Jax is a Sheltie.  We're all around a year old give or take a few months, so we're pretty ridiculous together.  Bosses always say they like when we play together because after we do that, we all sleep together.  They're still waiting for when we all snuggle in a pile together- why would we do that when they have their cameras out and waiting?  What's the fun in that?  I also hear that 2 more Shelties will be there- Brock and Kane.  I always like new buddies, so I hope they like me, too!
• Get ridiculous amounts of attention from as many Bosses as possible.  With 8 other bosses around, that means there will be 16 hands available for petting!  JACKPOT.  I will win them over.  And they will submit to my adorable powers and pet me.  It's not a request...it's a demand.

Going on a stroll at Canal Park in Duluth, MN.

What are you looking forward to this weekend? I'd love to hear all your adventures!  Although, depending on cell phone service, I might have to give you a can with a very, very, long string attached so you can tell me that way.  Right?

Playing in the river up in Northern Minnesota.

Chow!

(Sidenote: Congratulations to my doggy cousin, Mitch, on being selected to be the Dog of the Day today on dogoftheday.com!  I knew you could do it!)