Bring on Da Funk

Friends... Romans... Countrymen... I come to you for advice.

My trusty green nylon harness is FUNKY! I suppose that the years of wear along with my recent trips into the Willamette River have caused it to retain a very special funk that mama just cannot remove. Now I know what you're thinking - BRING ON DA FUNK - and that's what I think too, but mama is insistent that the funk must be removed.

She has tried many cleaners, letting it soak, but so far nothing has done the trick. Of course she could go out and buy me a new one (uh, I do think that I'm overdue for a spiffy one) but even if she did that she has realized that having a "backup harn-y" (as it is called in our house) is a really, really good thing to have.

So I turn my fuzzy ear in your direction - help a pup out, would ya? What do you recommend for cleaning a funky nylon harness?

Love,

Bogart

Stormy Weather

Ok, I understand that the showers bring the flowers. Yada yada yada. But when it rains on the weekend - the two days that I get to spend my entire day with mama - well, it's just disappointing all around. No big walkies (but still 3 walkies, I have to insist) but lots of this:

I have to claim the bed before the kitties do. We can share for a little while, but sometimes I have one of those "sleeping kicks" and when that happens I generally disturb a cat. And trust me, you do not want to disturb a small furry tiger with giant claws out of his 23 hours of sleep per day.

Better to just claim a big spot and curl up for awhile while mama catches up on my blog work.

I'm still close enough so that I can dictate things to her, and also close enough to leap into action should she need protecting. But also comfy enough to snooze...

Love,

Bogart

Bogart the Carpenter

Sunny Saturday - time for a walk in the park... literally!

Forest Park is just truly lovely. It's still really wet and mossy, but the sun is shining and I'm ready to roll.

As you already know, I am quite the connoisseur of sticks (and pine cones - but that's another story). And the downed trees here always stimulate my stick urges. Even with my mighty jaws, I cannot pick these up and take them home in order to transform them - like a carpenter does - into something fabulous. Ok, so fabulous in my book translates to "little pieces scattered over a wide area".

So I'll humor mama a bit here and pose heroically on this mighty stump.

Are you absolutely sure we can't take this one home mama? It would make a perfect stump for sitting and watching tv...

A few different poses? While still standing or sitting on top of the stump? Oh all right, if I have to...

Staring off into the distance, ready to leap off the stump at any moment and take down whoever needs to be taken down...

An ever-so -slightly different angle to increase the intensity (and length of tongue)...

How about sitting? Well, all right. Ears up, butt down.

Looking over one shoulder... check.

Looking off into the distance wistfully... check.

Another angle - yes, I like it when you do more of the work mama.

One last one - with my best smile (and only slight bit of exasperation):

Ok, I'm kind of over this now. Can we walk now mama?

NO MORE MODELLING - MUST WALK ON TRAIL NOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!

Coolarama. Back on the trail.

I say we do the big loop today - you might have to carry me home (you did bring extra chow and water, didn't you mama?), but that's fine with me!

Love,

Bogart

The Urban Oasis

I think I've mentioned it before, but near my apartment there is a fantastic place that had been, well, lacking in the last few months. Something so wonderful that I would walk here before or after almost all walkies. An Urban Oasis if you will, a spot to stop and slurp the water, the "paws that refreshes".

It is the William Wegman (he of the fine Wiemaraner photos) Public Dog Bowl. An ever-running bowl of love here in the North Park Blocks.

Over the last few months, I'd noticed that it wasn't so much running as dribbling and have not paid it much mind. Not tasty nor interesting. But a few days ago I witnesed the bowl being serviced and thought that good things were 'a comin...

The bowl is supposed to represent his kitchen floor... and I wholeheartedly approve.

Today the water was tasty and refreshing, and more importantly, running like a champ.

Thanks, WW! And give those fine Wiemaraners a big, sloppy, bearded kiss from me!

Love,

Bogart

Unconditional Love

Everybody needs LOVE.

Humans often talk about unconditional love, and how we dogs and cats are good at that. I consider myself a top-tier provider of love for my mama, but well, I do have conditions.

I like my food homemade, my grooming occasional (but enough so that I maintain my rugged outdoorsman look that's so popular with the ladies), minimal hugging, at least 3 walks per day, and LOTS of kisses.

Luckily all of these things seem to fit in with mama's conditions as well. We are a pretty darned good team.

I don't judge her when she throws on her old sweatpants to walk me at 6AM in the rain, nor do I bust out the yardstick when my dinner is late because she forgot to turn on the stove. I mean, right now I am cuddling on the bed on her pillow and the bed isn't even made... and yet I say nothing. In return I always try to keep her spirits up, make her laugh, and smother her with kisses. A fair trade, I'd say.

Oh, there are pine cones too? OF COURSE THERE ARE...

Love,

Bogart

Deforestation

So apparently I have too much fuzz. With spring now sprung, it's time for a little deforestation. So mama got our her rakes and went to town.

I do enjoy a good groom - mama lets me lay down and snooze while it's going on - and she always remembers to provide copious amounts of butt rubs in between fuzz rippings. So today we focused on my "ruff", the extra layers around my neck.

And yes... that is a fuzz ball bigger than my head.

First layer of spring grooming accomplished, it was time to head out for a walkie. Rain today, not nearly as spring-y as yesterday. And walking through NW Portland, we found probably the least necessary item in all of Portland:

Really, all you have to do is wait a few hours - if it's not raining now then IT WILL. And if not, then just find one of the many ubiquitous puddles all around town and put your beard way in...

Love,

Bogart

Walk Like an Airedale-ian

Potential for sunny spring-like Saturday = full rucksack with food and water for another extended Airedale tour of Portland!

For some, life is about stopping and smelling the roses. I concur, but would add that stopping to chomp the cones is MUCH more appropriate.

Let me demonstrate:

Take a moment to consider things behind you, and catch them in your mighty jaws...

Always be ready for things coming right at you, and catch them in your mighty jaws...

Before some things may pass you by, open your mighty jaws...

Think positively, aim high, and catch them with your mighty jaws...

Improve your focus, and catch them in your mighty jaws...

Stand up tall and proud... and catch them in your mighty jaws...

Don't forget to do your little dance everyday... and catch them in your mighty jaws...

And when you're just about to miss it, make a goofy face that says "I meant to do that", and run after it, pounce on it, and capture it in your mighty jaws.

Another lovely day to run in Laurelhurst Park. Luckily mama brought a big bag of food and treats and a large bottle of water today! We weren't expecting it to be so warm, and we both needed a bunch of pit stops in between stick collection and walking.

Portland is lovely and green right now, with flowers blooming all over the place. Yes mama, I'll pose with the flowers...

While it's a really long walk for us, we both really like coming to Laurelhurst Park. It's just so pretty (even the still-green algae pond).

Geese means goose-poop! Woo hoo! Gotta find a nice big pile of that to roll in... none over here...

None over here either.

Found it! Luckily mama was blinded by the sun and couldn't see me rolling in it. I'm sure she'll discover it later once we're home...

Love,

Bogart