Mugs Shot

Hey folks, I'm letting my cousin, Mugsy ( he's my Parental Unit's sister's pooch), take a turn at writing on my blog-ain't I the generous one! But Mugsy here really deserves to be heard after what he's been through-this is a whopper of a rescue story! Given that he's "family" I'm sure he'll be asking for more free air time-you all know how that goes...

Well, after that introduction...I hardly know where to begin. Ehmmmm. O.K. now that I've recovered my composure...it started many years ago, when my first owners dumped me on the side of the road in Washington, near Seattle. With hindsight, they really did me a favor-that place was no fun, let me tell ya. But at first, I waited for the longest time by the road for them to come back-I thought it was some kind of weird game they were playing.
Anyway, when I got too hungry, I went foraging in the nearby woods and happened to find a piece of propped up plywood-perfect for a little inpromptu shelter. Except no one happened to pass by for what seemed like years! In reality, I was told, I was out there for over a month. The problem was, I was so frightened of people by that time that I had to be trapped to be rescued! Yep, you read that right, trapped like a wild animal, ( don't worry, the trap was one of those nets so I wasn't hurt). I lived in a family's barn for awhile, but no one could go near me or I'd bite their hands off! And I was so dang nervous, I was constantly spinning and gnawing on my own legs.
Thank goodness, a wonderful dog rescue lady heard about my plight and gave me a foster home. For 5 months, she worked, and worked, and worked with me until I started trusting humans to touch me again.
I then spent about 2 months training at a place called the "Echo Glen Children's Center" where I worked in their Canine Connection Program- it sure was fun to work with those teenagers who needed some help themselves!

Oh, I'm being told to wrap up this sob story. Well, I never!

O.K. so that's where my Parental Unit comes in (and my forever home, I'm now confident). Way back in 2006, while I was just finishing up my stint at Echo Glen, she saw my picture on the web as ready for home adoption. She always did like Cattle Dogs, and just thought I was a real beauty (ain't I though?). She just happens to be a professional photographer with a side gig in pet photography, and thought I'd make the perfect companion. And boy was she right! She likes to get a ton of exercise, so now she spends about half her day walking me in parks all over Seattle. And I get to go on "photo shoots" with her-last year we drove to Oregon to photograph wild mustangs!
And get this, she did tons of research to find the best dog food-it's 100% organic for me, but she's on a strict food budget, so she has to ration her organic purchases. Hehehe-sometimes I think she's crazy!
And then.....oops...gotta go...more..... Ouch!

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"Nuance" Part 2

Well, once again I'm caught in the middle. I've got lots of soft, furry toys and a few rubber ones, so if you mix rubber and fur, what do you get? Socks with rubber anti-slide stickers on the bottom, that's what! How in the heck am I supposed to know the difference between those rolled up socks lying on the floor and an "allowed" fur/rubber combo toy? Duh!

If you take a good look at the picture below (I'm giving you a peak at my secret hiding place for all the stuff I steal), you'll see a few of my real toys - a furry squirrel with rubber feet right in front of me, a rubber chew stick to my right and the forbidden combo socks directly to my left. But right next to the socks on my left is a mystery toy (it's really no mystery to me). That's a washcloth I plucked from the laundry basket (when Parental Unit had put off doing the laundry and left it sitting in the middle of the hallway.) So what's that washcloth to do with the theory of my alleged confusion between furry and rubber? Nothing.

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We Lost "Daddy"

I passing on this sad news in the hope that you will take a minute to read the moving tributes to the late, great Pit Bull, Daddy, on Cesar Milan's website and perhaps donate whatever you can to the new fund that the Cesar and Illusion Millan Foundation has set up to honor Cesar's right -hand dog for 16 years. The fund is called "Daddy's Emergency Animal Rescue Fund" (DEAR)  and will "provide assistance to dogs who are victims of abuse or violence, manmade disasters, and large-scale natural disasters."
Here's the link to the memorial page: www.cesarsway.com/news/daddy-memoriam  and here's a direct link to the DEAR Fund: www.millanfoundation.org/donate/dear.php

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Don't You Think I'm Qualified?

Last Tuesday's New York Times Business Section (I'm a little behind) had an article about the marketing of cleaning products - specifically Procter & Gamble's Swiffer brand, and how they're gearing their advertising toward pet owners. So much so, that they've enlisted the help of none other than The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, who soon will be seen demonstrating the proper way to use these products "to clean floors without agitating pets." Here's the full article for your reading pleasure:               www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/business/media/16adco.html?scp=4&sq=Andrew%20Adam%20Newman&st=Search
Now Parental Unit thinks this is a partnership made in heaven - her favorite cleaning products and her favorite dog guy. But savvy business dog that I am, I'm thinking of a different partnership - couldn't you just see me next to one of those Swiffers in a print ad or, better yet, a T.V. commercial? And it would meet those silly "truth in advertising" standards because I shed like crazy (or so says my clean-freak Parental Unit.)
So I'm not wasting another minute. I'm calling my agent right now!
Hey, whatdaya mean I don't have an agent?

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Paesano! Come Back!

I noticed that my blog had a "hit' today from Rome, Italy!  Whoever you are, come back, my friend, come back! My Parental Unit is half Italian (her name originally was DiMartino until her grandfather "Americanized" it to DeMartin), and she would be so proud if I could have an official "Follower" from Italy.  And of course, I'm named after that fabulous Italian game, Bocci Ball.
She's had the good fortune to visit "the homeland" twice, and would love to return, and return, and return.
So if you would return...maybe say something in Italian, become a Follower...she would be in heaven.

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White-Out!

Wow! We're having a heck of a storm here in Ohio-the snow is just pilin' up! And I was out in the thick of it all-but just in my backyard. The day is drawing to a close, and it looks like Parental Unit is going to blow off our walk-I can just hear her rationalizing to herself that just one day out of 365 won't hurt me or my self-esteem - that's what parents worry about, isn't it-somehow ruining their kids' self-esteem? I'll never admit it to her, but she's right - I'm going to curl up on the couch here in a minute, but before I do, I want you to see the arrangements around here.
Take a gander at me freezing my butt off outside and you-know-who, curled up in her comfy bed by the heater...

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Business Cards For The Masses

Masses of dogs, that is. I thought I was the only dog on the planet who was savvy enough to have his own business card, but I wasn't thinking of those smart-as-a-whip New York pooches.
An article in Thursday's Times, titled, "They Bark, They Rule" talked about a book party ( and happily a benefit for the Humane Society of New York)  to celebrate the publication of "It's A Dog's World: The Savvy Guide to Four Legged Living,"by a gal named Wendy Dianmond. They had a "Yappy Hour" in the basement of some fancy hotel for both the dogs and their human companions.
And guess what? The dogs were passing out their own business cards! But it didn't sound like those dogs actually had their own businesses, or even their own blog, like I do. Here's what the article said: "As it happened, many of the dogs had business cards. Ginger, a teacup Pomeranian, had one that proclaimed her director of pet relations at the Muse [that's the name of the fancy hotel that hosted the "Yappy Hour], and Eli's noted that he was 'The Celebrity Chihuahua'."
Read the article yourself and see what you think: www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/garden/11seen.html
Has the business world gone to the dogs?

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Mid-Life Obesity

 You've probably all heard by now about the First Lady Michelle Obama's new "initiative" to tackle childhood obesity. She's doing all kinds of "public service announcements", working with schools and parents, and what-not to help kids all over the country learn how to eat right and loose some of that excess weight. But what I'm worried about at my house is Parental Unit  -what a sow! She seems to be packin' on pounds every time I look at her. I think she's working too hard-always sitting in front of the computer typing away...and eating the whole time! She does exercise, but she just eats too much-I heard her tell her friend that even her size "large" sweat pants feel tight! Oops...I'm being told to wrap this up.
So I think I'm finally going to learn how to cook to help her out. In the picture below, I'm browsing a favorite cookbook of  Parental Unit, Everyday Italian by that gorgeous (and slender) babe, Giada DeLaurentis. Nothin' too low-cal in here. Any ideas for healthy recipes that don't take opposable thumbs to make?
Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean "stop telling the world what size sweat pants you wear"? Aaach! I'm being dragged.....help!

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The Power of Serendipity...and Rescue

Parental Unit and I were on our evening walk, and we stopped into the laundromat like we do every week to pick up a free paper that tells about all the hip, fun things going on in Columbus (not that we ever go out and do those hip, fun things, mind you.) Well anyway, there was a young couple in there doing their laundry, and of course, I ran right up to the gal in my usual over-the-top happy state, (and here comes the serendipity part), she just happened to be a dog lover with a particular hankering for terriers! When I heard that, I managed to slip her my business card, and she and Parental Unit got to talking.
It seems that she's a recent transplant to Columbus from the great state of Texas, and both of her terriers are rescues, one a Westie and the other a Cairn terrier. And if you can believe this, the Westie was on death row at the shelter before she swooped in to save the little fella. She immediately offered to share a photo of her 2 "rescue babies", as she called them, for my blog-what a coup! And what a gal!
Here's the picture-these little guys are almost as good lookin' as I am. Their names are Khloie and Fletcher.

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I'm In Charge Of Distribution!

Hey everyone, The Dog Whisperer ( I'm allowed to call him Cesar) has asked me to occassionally post some useful information for dog owners on my blog, straight from the big guy, himself.
So here's some tips for your new adult dog or puppy - enjoy!

Top 7 Tips for Your New Dog or Puppy
from "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan!

This holiday season, many people adopted new canine family members. In order to prevent problems down the road, it's important that you establish leadership with your new dog or puppy right from the start.

Create a schedule that includes a daily walk in the morning. This is critical for your dog's health, both physical and mental. If you have a puppy, talk to your veterinarian about the risk of long-term bone development problems, parvovirus, and other health issues before implementing an exercise routine.

Set aside time every day to provide mental exercise by maintaining rules, boundaries, and limitations. When these needs are met, the affection you give to your dog will be channeled as a reward.

Always walk out the door ahead of your dog when leaving the house. This will show your dog who is in the leadership role.

On walks, make sure that your dog is not in front of you, pulling you down the street. Instead, keep your dog to your side or behind you. This will also demonstrate to your dog that you are the alpha figure.

Give your dog something to do before you share food, water, toys, or affection. This way the dog earns his treat. For example, have her perform the Sit or Down command.

At bedtime, if your puppy tries to leave her bed, begins to whine, or tries to use chewing as a way to cope with the anxiety of being alone, give her gentle but firm corrections. The puppy's mother set very strict rules for behavior, so she should need very little correction in order to get the point.

Create a budget for unexpected circumstances, like medical bills and training classes. A healthy, well-trained dog makes a wonderful pet.

This February, join Cesar in celebrating Puppy Love! Help the non-profit Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation spread the love for pups in rescues and shelters to commemorate their third year anniversary. 

For more tips on how to prevent problem behaviors before they start, or to buy Cesar's newest DVD Raising the Perfect Puppy or check out his book How to Raise the Perfect Dog Through Puppyhood and Beyond, visit CesarsWay.com.

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"Debarked"

Once again, a story about dogs makes the front page of  The New York Times, but this time it's not so funny. It discusses the pros and cons of choosing to pay a veterinarian to cut the vocal chords of your sweet pooch, which reduces their bark to nothing more than "a raspy squeak."( Can you see what side I'm comin' down on?)
The article continues with this charming bit of information: "Although there is no reliable estimate as to how many dogs have had their vocal chords cut, veterinarians and other animal experts say that dogs with no bark can readily be found - but not necessarily heard - in private homes, on the show-dog circuit, and even on the turf of drug dealers, who are said to prefer their attack dogs silent. The surgery usually leaves the animal with something between a wheeze and a squeak."
Read the full article here: www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/nyregion/03debark.html?hp
Uh, folks, with a little patience and some of your time (O.K., lots of patience and time), we dogs can be trained not to bark at every little thing, think service dogs, rescue, police work, agility, even stupid dog tricks, for crying out loud!
And, by the way, do you think those humans with barkless dogs would feel differently when that "raspy squeak" failed to wake them up from their peaceful slumber in case of a fire or intruder?
Well, now you know how I feel, but I'd love it if you all would weigh in on this issue...

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Hail Cesar!

I know that Parental Unit goes a bit overboard when she talks about The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan - she just gushes all over the place. But this time she really has reason to rave-Bocci's Beefs is now listed on Cesar Millan's website, Cesar's Way, as what they call a "Cesar Friendly Blog"! It's one of only 8 blogs in the whole universe of blogs ( I think) that Cesar thanks for their support-why we've practically been invited over to the Millan's for dinner ( I think Parental Unit is primping now....) And I can just smell his happy, balanced pack that I'm soon to meet at his dog psychology center in sunny Los Angeles.
I have to admit, I'm a bit star-struck too...wait a minute, what do you mean we're not actually going to L.A?  We don't get to meet him, or Ilusion, or his kids, or my personal hero, Daddy...? Then what's the deal with wakin' me up? I'm going back to bed...
Anyway, if you want to see our name in lights, check it out at: www.cesarsway.com/node/705

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