Fun

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Out of Jail

I’m sure you are wondering what we are up to these days. It’s been a bit of a rocky road here in the New Sea Land. Lucky for us we got an out of jail card sooner than the Aucklanders. The Aucklanders will be let out of their cages in about 11 days. It is expected to be a mass explosion of bipeds dragging their brood. No escaping to the rest of the world though. I guess we all will have to get desensitized, desanitized and whatnot, before we are let loose again into the wide-open world.

In the meantime, we have been practising our runaways to the far unknown. Of course, this is alternated with lots of napping and munching. I can finally say that I have trained the humans one 100%. They now deliver yummies consistently when I look from the fridge to the human and back. Both humans were a bit slow on the uptake and it took a lot of patience on my part but who cares. In the end, all that counts is the rate of returns. My piece of advice for consistency is to keep your eye on the ball, or yummies, in this case. Anyhowls, I do believe we are in good shape for the big escape. Not sure where we are headed but I’m sure the path will become clear in due time.

What else, hmmm, let me think. In August Sky turned the big three and I turned SIX! in September. In October we both got a clean bill of health. Sky is for sure officially fully grown so we both can run very fast. We do worry about the humans; they seem to get slower each day. The problem might be that they only have two legs each. We are still trying to work around that conundrum. Maybe we need a longer leash and put them on rollerblades. What are your recommendations? OK, that’s it for now, gotta go get some naps in.

Be patient my fur-iends,

rewards are on their way,

Benji

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B = 5!

No way; yes way! Can you believe it? I’m all grown up now and am sooo ready to tackle the world. I still play, especially with Sky because he needs it. Bsides, it keeps me young at heart.

My birthday weekend was filled with agility fun. I did purr-etty well if I do say so myself. Da Sky had a bit of the zoomies. I guess he doesn’t know yet that he gets to play more if he goes snail pace with the human. A couple of weeks later Da Sky seemed to have morphed into an eye-on-the-ball Speedy Gonzales at our first ever flygility show. My little brother and I both won ribbons and kibble, so we can honestly say that we are earning our keep.

What else is new? Well, we are still house hunting. It’s not an easy task. For some reason, people seem to like big houses with tiny yards. We like a big yard with a not so big house. After all, we need to practice our agility and flygility moves. Apparently we can’t do it inside. Believe me, Sky has tried.

Keep moving and stay agile

Benji

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S = 2!

Yahooooo, Da Sky is twoooo!!!  This was his first B-day in the New Sea Land and meant that we all went on a Tour De Fun. This weekend our days were filled with beachcombing for treasures, playing with friends, a catch-the-frisbee contest, hide-and-seek, agility, flygility, and of course a delicious Da Sky Cake to top it off.

Another Beach!
Catch-The-Frisbee contest
Sky can sit still too
Find-the-brindle
Here I am!
When can we dig in?!

Yes, you can have the cake and eat it too. Have fun and celebrate efurry milestone!

Benji

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Pooches in Charge

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Listen up: Commander in Chief barking 

I know, I know, I promised to stay apawlitical in this blog but just couldn’t help myself after yet another year seems to go down the drain. Someone, pul-ease plug that hole! When I heard that the government is still shut down, I said to Sky, “bro, they can’t do that man”. All those people without a treat-check, who is going to pay for their yummies? I certainly would not stand for that. It ain’t right.  So I’m thinking that we need some new blood [where is the bloodhound?] to steer our backyard back in the right, no make that a left, direction.

Ms. Zulu was supposed to run for president but since she got angel wings last year that won’t happen in our reality show. So I will have to take the lead. I’m good at running, I even ran Mach 2+. I know it’s hard to believe but you can read all about it on this blog. It’s in black and white so it has to be true. We even have photos, that’s double poof.

B Mach 3b

Mach 2+ record

I’m always about facts anyhowls, contrary to the some-bodies currently in charge. It’s a fact that I love to sniff. It’s a fact that we doggies can analyze different smells way better than the two-legged ones.  It’s a fact that I can smell something fishy from far far away. You can say I’m a real fact tracker. I can sniff out the house – that’s supposed to be crystal clear white- to see if there is something fishy going on there that troubles the waters. If it is, I guarantee you that I will piss on it. And I think I can convince Sky to do the same.

If you vote for me I will guarantee you that I will personally dig some big tunnels under the wall that has been the talk of the backyard. The tunnels might also be helpful to bypass the pesky trade sanctions. I can get some chewers to work on the wall itself too.  I’m sure I can get all my fur-iends to help me with those tasks. Mark my words. Yes, it will be great, it will be Aa-mazing. And no, I won’t bark “I never barked that”.

I am nominating Sky as my running mate. He still has a lot to learn but at his rate, he will soon outrun the major golfers playing in the house that’s not so purely clean. And for those who don’t like imported stuff, they won’t have to be afraid of us. I personally guarantee that Sky and I are both registered as 100% All-American. Take my bark for it.

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Leave it to me; I’m no couch potato

If you vote for Sky and me in November 2020 we promise:

  • Less barking, more digging
  • No barking up the wrong tree
  • Yummies for e-furry body
  • Lots of tunnels
  • More sniffing
  • Plenty of chewing on a bone
  • Sky high jumping
  • Border Collie stamina & higher intelligence

Benji & running mate Sky

WOOOFFF!

 

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A New Seed

Well, apparently new seeds were growing last year.  I would like to introduce my new little brother Luke Skywalker de Louisiana a.k.a. SKY. I gave him the Codename 0012.img_9999b

Ain’t he something else?! His shelter name was Luke, we added Skywalker. SKY was moved from an overcrowded Louisiana shelter that was not suited for puppies to North Florida. Hence his last name. He is roughly 5 months old and our vet said that he was probably a mix between a Border Collie and Springer Spaniel.  SKY has aspirations to become a Jedi Master. When my former agility trainer saw his photo she said, “The Force is strong in this one”. So maybe he’s on his way.

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To be honest, I am hoping he can join me on my super-secret missions sometime in the future. With a name like SKY, he should be able to fly, don’t you think? That should come in handy on our Mission Impossibles.

SKY started his tactical training last Friday at headquarters. He has to wait at least a couple of months before he can start any offsite agility training but for now, he can start with the basics at headquarters. It’s a lot of chewing on a bone and sometimes there is a bone of contention but I’ve shown that it can be done. Anyhowls, in the meantime, SKY can prepare for his S.T.A.R. exam. More on all this prep work at a later time. For now, this puppy needs some rest.

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Signing off,

Dg. B, a.k.a. 0011
Commander in Chief
Headquarters

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Practice, Practice, Practice

One of my fans asked me what I’ve been up to lately.  Well, besides going to therapy events I’ve been practicing my agility jumps a lot since practice makes pur-fect. One of these days we’re hoping to be ready for a formal agility event. I’m now up to 23 inches. I’m supposed to jump 24. That’s only one more inch to go!

Ms. Zulu supervises
Jumps require my full attention
Jumping through holes
Jumping 23 inches
The seesaw

Ms. Zulu would like to practice too but the humans are afraid that she hurts herself. Unfortunately, her response time is not what it was. She seems to be happy to supervise so maybe it’s all for the best. Tonight we plan to join our CCI buddies on an outing. Let’s hope the weatherman is wrong again and the outing won’t be canceled due to rain.

Have a fun-tastic week,

Benji and team

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More Fun!

Hi, you-all! Hope you’re enjoying your Saturday. I had another fun run today. I went flying with Mach 2+ over and through 18! obstacles. This included the BANG device. I think I got the BANG beast tamed now without ending up in an alternate universe. The tough part was that all of this had to happen with an empty tummy that couldn’t be refilled until I was off the agility field!

I’m flying!
You have to wait on the table for 5-4-3-2-1
The BANG obstacle

Photo credit: Zeil16

The first run was over with before I knew it, with 30 seconds to spare. That run was too easy peasy. On the second run, I decided to be smarter. I mean if I can’t have yummies while running I might as well take detours and greet people (tip: you never know what they might have in their pockets). I’ve also heard that you need to warm up before strenuous exercise so I gave myself enough playtime on the field before going all Mach 2+ and showing off my awesome jumps.

Benji

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Happy Howlidays

Guess what we got for Christmas; a DIY seesaw that works! When I saw it installed in the backyard, I had to try it. I approached the beast like you would any unfamiliar animal: with caution and one paw at a time. Once I knew I could trust the thing, I climbed on its back to the top of the world. I can tell you, the view is amazing. Experience has taught me that its great to try new things. It expands your mind and you always end up with lots of delicious yummies in your tummy. I think that’s how I solved the riddle of alternate realities. I discovered that when you climb the seesaw beast fast enough, you come down with a Big Bang. They say that without a Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago, you and I wouldn’t be woofing to each other now. It’s now my theory that all new Big Bangs create new realities. Next time when I climb the seesaw mountain I need to set my mind on creating a new reality with an endless supply of yummies. That’s definitely food for thought.

The seesaw beast
Ready set go
Teaching Ms. Zulu the jump
Ms. Zulu hops the jump

We are wishing everyone from here to all the way around the world, happiness and full tummies fur-ever and ever. Hugs and a gazillion doggie kisses from the ZAB team.

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Happy Howlidays

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The Gang

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LB and LZ soaking up sunshine under a palm tree

It has been a whirlwind since LZ and LB showed up on our doorstep. It took them six weeks to travel from Vigo their birthplace in Spain to us. They left Vigo on November 8 and arrived in Madrid the next day where they had to stay for a while. We didn’t receive any updates until they showed up again in New York on December 10! Both Belén and we at headquarters were all worried when we didn’t hear from the little ones for four long weeks. We are still trying to get the gist of it but may never completely know what happened. At some point, there was even talk about LZ and LB being kidnapped. Luckily that was not the case. Customs did hold on to them a bit longer than what was needed but we can’t blame them because the little guy and girl are just too cute for their own good. The travel from New York to Florida took them another 11 days. They took this opportunity to sightsee. It was a bit chilly up north so it was a good thing that Belén had packed warm blankets in the suitcases. Now the little ones are soaking up the sun rays in Florida. LB and LZ have had their eyes on Benji’s agility equipment since the first second they stepped paw in the house. We had to tell them that that has to wait until everyone is well rested and full of new energy.

Checking out the agility equipment
A favorite lookout
There is lots to woof about

Our motto: play, rest, play into eternity

The ZAB team

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Home For Christmas!

IMG_5542b.JPGLook who made it to our doorstep! We are so happy Little Ms. Zulu and Little Benji (LZ and LB) made it home just in time before Christmas! After traveling for almost six weeks from Spain, the little ones are a bit tired but unharmed and full of joy. Thank you Belén Soto for making it happen and ensuring that the pooches were safe throughout their travels.  As you can imagine we are quite busy catching up on their travel stories so this is all for now. We will soon bring you more news and photos of the whole gang. Let the fun begin!

The ZAB team 

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Fun Stuff

Yesterday M and I went to our first agility competition. It was loads of fun. Our agility trainer had organized it to raise money for VOCAL (Voices of Chance Animal League). Its mission is to improve the lives of dogs without a voice. They provide free fencing, shelter, and medical resources for dogs that are forced to live their lives at the end of a chain. We came totally prepared, ahum, and showed up with one small bag with all my necessities: yummies and water. This was in contrast to others who seemed to have hauled their entire house to the event. Maybe they like to lift weights. Fancy crates, chairs, and even tents showed up on the sidelines.

Checking out the competition
Soaking up those precious sunrays before the game
Me and my fur-iends
Puleasssee let me win the dog toy
The agility course in the background

During my run, I had to conquer 20 obstacles. Since M had never watched or participated in an agility event, I took charge as soon as she unhooked my leash. I started with a Mach 2+ victory lap. I got a lotta of applause for that one. Why save the best for last, right?  Still, time was ticking and we had only 90 seconds to complete the whole thing.  Not a problem for me but M is always lagging behind, so I knew I had to come up with something good. Instead of jumping over obstacles in numerical order, I just skipped the first obstacle, the tire. The second obstacle was the weave. To save even more time I pretzeled around only 4 of the 6 poles. Onwards to number three: a jump. From there I went straight to number eight, the A-frame. I ran that thing twice; it’s too much fun to only run once.  At some point, after more jumps and the boardwalk, and of course thanks to my pawbulous ingenuity, we made it to number 20. I didn’t have time for another victory run, so my instinct to do that first was a good one.

There was a raffle at the end of the event. I saw some great dog toys displayed that I would have liked to get my paws on. Unfortunately, I didn’t win them. Maybe next time.  All in all, it was a grand day. I made a lotta new fur-iends and friends and got hugs from many people. I can’t wait to go again.

Always listen to your gut,

Benji

P.S. Tomorrow we are expecting a furry important package by super express delivery. Stay tuned.  

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MP-14

Yes, I did it; I turned another Mission Impossible into a Mission Possible! Last Saturday, I read with the kids at the library and decided that it was a lotta fun. They stroked my ears, those are definitely my sweet spots, my back, and even my belly while they read to me. I had two incognito sessions at the library before I officially opened my office. Next time I will ask my photographer/ driver/ butler/ whatever-I-need-person to take a photo of my office. It has cute monkeys on the wall, even though we are not supposed to monkey around.

Here is a photo of my new outfit for the R.E.A.D. program.  I use it together with my favorite blanket that states: “In a perfect world every dog has a home”. Ain’t that the truth.

My new outfit
On my favorite blanket
I love to share
With my Big Sis

Benji

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R.E.A.D.

IMG_5030b.jpgLately, I have been reading a lot. Why, you ask? Well, I am enrolled in the R.E.A.D. program. The program helps young readers improve their literacy skills.  Today we had a practice run at a library to show me the ropes and my office. Although now I come to think of it I didn’t see any ropes, just rows, and rows of books. And people sitting at long tables. They were reading quietly until I showed up, then all heads turned my way and people started to talk about my brindle stripes and such. I guess I was a bit of a distraction. Maybe that’s why I will have my own office. Gotta go, I haven’t finished my book yet and I want to know how it ends.

Benji 

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Ship Ahoy!

What a day today. We had our first trip on our new Follower. Ms. Zulu and I sniffed out the whole thing.  No, we didn’t find any hidden treasures.  And yes, that was a bit of a disappointment. Luckily our treat bag was brought onboard.

Let’s go!
How’s port?
Yep, this works
So comfy!
I think we can get used to this
Can I have some privacy please?
Any day on the water is a good day!

We tested everything inside and out and can honestly say that the Follower is a keeper. Ms. Zulu found the trampoline quite comfortable for lounging. I have to try that next time. The rigging is solid and the sailing is smooth. This means that I should be able to keep my feet dry so what is there not to like!

Have a great week,

Benji 

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MOM!

Man O Man (MOM), look what I and my CCI buddies found during a training session the other day. Maybe all skeletons should be left in the closet instead of barking about them but who can resist such a thing?

Wishing you a wagging weekend without any skeletons,

Benji

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MP-13

Today we turned another Mission Impossible into a Mission Possible. It was the 13th visit so what could go wrong, eh? We went back to the adult care center. This time I was the only Dogtor so I was a busy bee and I don’t even have wings. Everyone was pleased to see us again. We chatted our heads off with the folks for about half an hour when I heard rumbling noises. It was faint at first, well not to me but those with shorter ears seem to be less sensitive to sound; it definitely got louder over time. I looked at M and we both figured that it was time to go home before it would catch up with us. It was good that we did. As soon as I jumped in the car it started raining cats and dogs. Lucky for us, we did not get a visit from that fellow Harvey that caused havoc way west of us. He is a bad, bad, guy from what I’ve heard. Lots of people and animals got themselves into a pickle. Some even died because of Harvey;  so sad. Our thoughts are with everybody in that area. If you would like to help with the animal disaster relief efforts visit https://www.houstonpetset.org/hurricane-harvey-relief-fund/

Oh man
Look at that
Lots of sunshine to sniff
No problems here

As we drove away from the adult care center, the sky got brighter the closer we got to headquarters. Maybe the noisy pickles got scared by Ms. Zulu’s Border Collie stare. I don’t blame them, she can be pretty intimidating at times. Maybe barking helps too. I wouldn’t mind taking the lead on that sometime. OK, gotta run. I have a playdate with my CCI friend. After the playdate we will go shopping and meet more CCI friends in the city!

Let the sunshine in,

WOOFFF!

Benji

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Yahooo!!!

Today is National Dog Day in the U.S. So, get out your best stuff and honor all pets! Or volunteer at a local shelter… or…. if you have space for another fur-iend you can adopt one like me or my sister! What we did on National Dog Day? M volunteered at the local library and enrolled us in the R.E.A.D. program. I told M that I’m not able to read yet. She said that didn’t matter as long as I know how to listen attentively. Come to think of it, I haven’t been to a library either. Let’s hope it doesn’t have any weird doors that take you to a whole nother dimension. I wonder how many treats I will get out of this gig. What Ms. Zulu and I did today? We ran around in circles and had fun doing it!

Enjoy,

Benji

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The Visit

Finally, we are getting to the visit of the prison puppy.  I wasn’t always invited to the outings but I did get to play and hang out with him. A seven-month-old pup can be exhausting and I got tired already after only two days of fun. The pup was here for a week so you can imagine that I had to sleep and sleep after he was gone. I can tell you, those pups can play! I wonder if I played that much when I was a youngin. Hmm, someone nods yes; I just can’t imagine it.

At the firestation
Playtime!

So what did the puppy do when he was at our place? Well, he got to go shopping, he went to a fire station where he met real firefighters, and sniffed out firetrucks and ambulances. I showed him some of my favorite places near the water. Of course, I told him to always keep his feet dry. No dog should ever get wet.

Keep your head cool and your feet dry,

Benji