The Canine Interlopers

Doesn't look like much, does it?

It's only the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE, the thing that I have to deal with every single pee trip outside...

What is it you ask? It's the CANINE INTERLOPERS.

They live next door, and hide and lay in wait for me to exit the building. If you're lucky you can see their furry black and white heads - or more likely just their ears - sticking up over the concrete wall. They wait for me to walk out the gate.

Then they strike! Barking and running around in circles like maniacs! Driving themselves into a serious doggie tizzy. Once I walk away calmly (like I always do - never let 'em see you sweat) they're quiet again until the next dog (or human, or stray cat, or piece of paper) goes by.

I really really hope that if I'm ever like that someone smacks me. I'm sure mom has already considered this.

Love,

Bogart

See all of the magnificent photos that accompany this tirade on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Bogart and the Easter Bunny

Mom took me to the Grove outdoor mall today with an evil grin on her face. I knew that she was up to something. She was in tooooooo good of a mood.

We walked around for awhile and then stopped in at Three Dog Bakery for a quick treat (I'm a big fan of their little pup cakes - just the right amount of frosting!). Then mom had lunch at Corner Bakery and I just sat next to her, taking in all of the accolades and admiration of the populace.

Then we walked toward the center of the mall area - and she took me up onto a little bridge near some screaming children. Now, I haven't known mom all that long, but I know that screaming children is absolutely NOT her favorite thing in the world. There must be a reason for all of this.

And then I saw him.

In a coat of furry white, a snazzy vest and tie combo, and the biggest ears I've ever seen... sat The Easter Bunny. Mom asked if it would be ok to take my picture (uh wait.... it's for me, mom???) with the bunny and the photographer said SURE! So mom got all excited and got me posed and looking all pretty sitting at the feet of the Easter Bunny. Look here Bogart! Snap! Snap!

That was all it took. Then she had this picture in her hand that she was giggling inanely at. She had to show it to the small group that had gathered to watch me pose (any attention makes me so happy) and everyone "ooh-d" and "aah-d" at the photo. At least it was a LOT easier than when I had my picture taken with the evil Petco Santa last year....

We can highly recommend having your pets picture taken at The Grove in LA with the Easter Bunny - it was a great experience - easy for me, easy for mom, easy for the Bunny.

Of course I still have no idea of what Easter or the Bunny are about...

Love,

Bogart

See all of me and more on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

I'm Riding in My Car...

Turn on the radio…

Lift my nose up high…

Smell the smells as they go.

Ah…Life is GOOD.

Love,

Bogart

Workin' for a Livin'

Today mom had a “job interview”. I wasn’t sure what this meant, so I tried to ask her… but her car broke down yesterday so we had to visit the mechanic before she could go. So I had to wait to ask.

Walter at Budget Auto Repair is one of our favorite people. He’s German and a REAL mechanic. He always fixes mom and dads cars so that they run really well (until they break down that is - but apparently this is always mom’s fault anyway).

Well we got there and I got to see my girl Ferocious - loyal readers will remember her from posts awhile back, the last time that moms car broke down, when I introduced her as my latest squeeze. Well she’s still as foxy as ever, so we played while the humans talked about spark plugs.

I overheard mom talking about her interview and a light went on in my head. Maybe it was time - since I’m such a big boy now - for me to go on a job interview. I thought for a moment about what I was good at, what I could do to contribute to the household. I asked Ferocious about her “job” - as autoshop guard dog - and had an “A-ha!” moment. I could do that…

So Ferocious started to show me the ropes. She first had me walk the perimeter to stake out any evil-doers. Then hiding around the cars was the next lesson. Where to pee so that everyone knows you’re on duty is very important, so we worked on that for awhile.

I think I may have it mom - I’ll be bringing home the bacon soon (mmm, b-a-c-o-n…)…

Love,

Bogart

See all my photos on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Calling Cards

I’ve recently become enamored of on old-time quaint little custom of the humans - Calling Cards. Just a little something to announce that you’ve been there, a little something to remind people of your presence.

That suits me just fine. So I’ve started leaving them everywhere… to let all of the other doggies know that I’ve been there, the kinds of food I’ve been eating lately, how goes the progress of my male genitalia, and how the puppy intestines are working. Yes siree, I think I’m doing a public service leaving these everywhere.

So far no feedback from the other doggies… I’ll just have to keep my nose at the ready…

Love,
Bogart

See all of my photos at my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Humpety Hump Hump

OK, I can explain…

Yes, this is a male dog. Yes, we’ve just met in the park. Yes I appear to be HUMPING HIS HEAD.

It’s SPRING… time for a young man’s thoughts to turn to… ok, maybe not exactly gay doggie sex but something along those lines. I tell you, I just have these urges that I can’t explain. I try to ask older male dogs what they do when this sort of thing takes over and they all tell me the same thing:

FIND A BITCH

I’m working on that… in the meantime, look out dogs of Los Angeles, Bogart is letting his freak flag fly!!!

Love,

Bogart

See all the pictures on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

A Chinese Whatchamacallit

Dog lovers, I ask you: Is this a dog?

For the record I did ask her owner, and yes she is a dog. Some kind of Chinese dog. With no hair on her body and poofs on her head, feet & tail.

She looked cold. She looked goofy. She looked SCARED SHITLESS of the big dogs in the dog park today. I felt kind of superior with my fuzzy puppy pelt.

But she definitely got my attention!!!

Love,

Bogart

See more photos on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Hipster Hangout - Fred 62

Mom and dad are such hipster-wannabees. They say they don't, and that they aren't, but they just are. They always drag me to these hangouts, mostly restaurants, where all the hipsters are.

Today we stopped at Fred 62 in Los Feliz so that dad could have a burger and mom could have a grilled cheese. Humans are soooo fascinating in their eating habits (not). I did get lots of smiling and people stopping to admire me, so it wasn't a total loss, but it was awfully hot outside (it is always 80 degrees in March in LA?) and the sun was making me a little uncomfortable.

They were nice enough to bring me a bowl of water which was much appreciated, but once the admiring stopped I was ready to go.

So basically look for any hipster lunch hangout places around town, and you'll see me!!!!

Love,

Bogart

See more photos & my Message Board here:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Meet Bella & Aiden

I want you to meet two of my friends, and some of the coolest dogs in the dog park...

This is Bella. She's a Bernese Mountain Dog. She's incredibly beautiful, and runs around even more than me! It's hard to see in mom's crappy photos, but she has one brown eye and one blue eye...

I kind of have a crush on her but have to act all cool about it. No butt sniffing... yet.

This is Aiden, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Boy, can he run!!! I've tried to catch up with him a few times when a ball gets thrown but nooooooooo.....

Love,

Bogart

Van Pelt Place

Ok.... how appropriate is this???

The street that we park on every morning to go to the dog park is named...

VAN PELT PLACE

Mom's always talking about my puppy pelt and how much she loves it... I just know that when we park there I can get out and go play with all of my buddies!!!

Love,

Bogart

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

Ah, I have soooo much to learn.

Tonight mom and dad were watching a DVD of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Mom was laughing so hard she was crying, and even dad was laughing really hard. I sauntered over to see what they were laughing at.

And I listened. To a dog tell it like it is. This could mean trouble for the humans in the near future...

Love,

Bogart

The Ruff Ruff Bakery

After the dog park this morning, I was dog tired.

Mom and dad had to go to the Hollywood Farmers Market, so I offered to stay home and guard the cats. Of course they could have begged me more heartily to come along, but since I'd just be sitting in the car anyway maybe it was for the best (no dogs allowed at the market).

When they returned mom told me a great story. She had met a really nice lady named Annie who makes doggie treats! Now just so everyone in the world knows - if anyone wants to send me treats or toys to try out anytime I AM YOUR MAN - I'm always game to try something new and yummy.

So mom and Annie were talking - mostly about us, their dogs of course - and Annie was nice enough to give mom a bag of treats for me!!! Woo-hoo!!! Mom was telling me the story of how Rusty the Cocker Spaniel inspired Annie to create these treats... yeah yeah yeah mom, I know, that's sweet and all, but GIVE ME THAT BAG.

I could smell those treats the second that dad brought them into the house, and had my nose deep in dads plastic bag trying to figure out what was in there!!!

I sampled the Lovin Liver & Bacon treats:

I have to say that these Ruff Ruff treats are DELICIOUS!!! Usually when I first try a new treat I approach kind of tentatively, giving it a good sniff before I dare to bite. Who knows what healthy thing those humans might be trying to slip me? Huh? What's that mom? These ARE healthy? Nooooooo........ can't be. They taste TOO GOOD.

THANKS ANNIE!!!!!

Buy your own yummy Ruff Ruff treats from the Ruff Ruff Bakery here:

http://www.ruffruffbakery.com

Love,

Bogart

The Many Moods of Miso

I know I've told you before about Miso - she's in charge at the dog park. She keeps even the biggest dogs in line, all while maintaining a lovely line of drool (she manages to make even that look good!).

Miso is a girl of many moods - well, how many girls aren't? - she was displaying many of them this morning at the dog park...
Of course no visit to the dog park on the weekend would be complete with spending time with my Airedale buddies!!!!

Then we were playing a game of Airedale blackmail: We've all managed to lock dad out of the dog park because he was giving some bones to our friend Roscoe's dad and we wanted some!!!

It was a very full house this morning!

This is Valletta - she's a Doberman. She's so funny, as soon as humans come into the dog park she trots over and then leans against them! Mom and dad just can't help it - you have to pet her!!!

And then there is Dave, another doggie who loooooooooves affection...

Love,

Bogart
See all of my cute photos (27 today!) on my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day... I admit I have no idea of what this means, but I've seen a lot of people wearing green things (which reminds me of my favorite thing - grass - so I approve).

Of course that means that mom has to do something silly (she seems to catch onto every silly thing with every holiday so far...) so she brought some green leis to the dog park, figuring that she'd take a few pictures while torturing me and forcing me to wear them - and maybe some of my friends too.

What was cool, tho, is that there was almost no one at the dog park today... except for an Irish Setter named Charlie!!! She's really beautiful, so the humans thought that getting together an Irish dog and a British dog, making them wear green leis and try to stand still - might be funny.

And in other news...

I think I've found a new love... she's about twice my size but that doesn't deter me. I'm not even the slightest bit intimidated by the tall girls... I didn't catch her name, but I definitely caught her scent.

To our next meeting, my (latest) love...

Love,

Bogart

To see all the pictures of me today, check out my new blog!
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

The Wildly Adorable Selene Luna

Ohmygosh!!

Today I got to meet THE coolest chick - Selene Luna!

She's a friend of my mom's, and so incredibly adorable! She's FAMOUS, she's a performer and an actress, and today we went over to her house so that I could meet her. Mom had told me that she was great, but once I got inside her house I got soooooo excited that I could barely contain myself. I was barking and jumping, doing all the things I shouldn't do when I see someone famous.

I'll try to remember not to do that for next time Selene!!!!

Love,

Bogart

My 7 Month Birthday - Part Deux

So what's a birthday celebration without CAKE?

Mom and dad took me to the Three Dog Bakery for a special treat. I got to run through The Grove outdoor mall and bark at all of the little handbag dogs - fun fun fun!

YUM!!!!!!

Thanks mom and dad - I guess 7 months old is more special than I thought.

Love,

Bogart

PS - To see all of the even-more adorable pictures of me, go to my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

My 7 Month Birthday

Today I am 7 months old. I know, normally this wouldn’t be cause for that much celebration, it’s not even a major monthly birthday…

But mom isn’t your average mom. Somehow she got it into her head that we were going to celebrate. No problem here - I’m happy to be celebrated any and every day…

We started out at the dog park, slightly later than usual (which irked me to no end) because they’ve got a new maintenance person who will actually be doing the weekly dogpark maintenance! Lots of fun with other doggies today:

I always have a particularly good time playing with Franklin, the Weimar-Doodle!

Love,
Bogart

PS - to see the pictures of me frolicking, go to my other blog:
http://www.toaireisdivine.com

Au Naturel or The Puppy Pelt or The Dale Fro

It has been brought to my attention that my hair is getting a bit... LONG.

I'm quite wiry, I have the kind of fur that can get quite scratchy when I get really good and dirty (which is as often as I canine-ly can). When I'm freshly washed, however, it's really quite soft and furry. Wavy rather than curly. I do get brushed on regular occasions - regularly enough that the brush already bears the bruises of my chewing on it when dad isn't looking. And a few bite marks from where I made contact during several brushing sessions.

I haven't had a single haircut ever. I keep hearing about them, tho. It's not something that I'm looking forward to, even though I see how cute other puppies look with a nice clipping. Mom and dad seem to be looking into such things much more lately than they did before - mom is determined that I go somewhere "nice", which just leads me to believe that this clipping thing is something overwhelmingly unpleasant, so much so that mom feels the need to overcompensate with the treats and loving in advance...

I prefer to think of myself as a free spirit, going au naturel, letting the puppy pelt grow, letting my dale fro fly....

So we'll see how long I can divert the humans' attention from this grooming thing. Bathing is enough for a natural beauty such as myself...

Power to the Puppy!!!

Love,

Bogart

Stick Theory

This is my current stick collection.

I am quite the connoisseur - not just any old stick will do. That’s what mom and dad think, that I just pick up any stick and drag it back to the house. Daily. Sometimes twice a day. But noooooo…..

It’s all to support my scientific (by Airedale standards, anyway) theory and to give you all a valuable tip about where to invest your hard-earned money: STICKS!

Sticks are - by far - the most useful thing EVER. They are of course incredibly fun, and provide hours of amusement for any dog. The benefit to the teeth with careful chewing (watch out for splinters!) is there. The feeling of accomplishment when a large stick has been reduced to toothpicks cannot be understated.

And then there are those humans… I’ve noticed that even humans love sticks! They clean floors with them, eat with them, walk with them, even build houses out of them! I found these last week at the Pasadena Flea Market, just waiting for some human to come along and use them…

So, in closing, I must encourage you all to INVEST IN STICKS!!!

Love,

Bogart

Today mom dragged me all over town. In the car. In traffic. When I had to peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..........

But we stopped for a little while in Silverlake - at Sunset Junction. It's a hipster-filled shopping area, just a few blocks of Sunset Blvd. Not a lot of hipsters out today tho - it's cold (ok, 60ish degrees) and slightly rainy. Hipsters don't like to get their elegantly-quirkily-coiffed hair wet apparently.

So I just sniffed around, we sat for a quick tea at the Casbah Cafe (no dogs allowed inside, the savages...) then I got to pee and I was happy.

Love,

Bogart

The Boy Can't Help It

It's so tough to be so beautiful...

Even when I'm just sitting or laying down, completely uninvolved in what is going on around me, I'm just gorgeous. What can I say, this boy just can't help it!

After the flea market today, mom and dad took me to Corner Bakery. No pickle today tho, I think I taught them a lesson about that. Mom just shot a few pictures, not even looking into the camera, and without even trying I look like this:

Love,

Bogart

Ask Dante

This is Dante.

He's a very very cool dog that I get to play with at my dog park.

Dante is sick, but he has a really nice dad who takes good care of him, and brings him to the dog park to play with all of us. He's a very elegant gentleman, and everytime I see him I think that I should ask him about the meaning of life... he seems like the kind of dog that would know the answers to the big questions.

Love,

Bogart