Happy Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving Day was perfect! Hope yours was too.

Star Pupil

Milo here!

You won't believe how great I am at this "training thing"! This was my second week, and I am just the star of my class. Like Really!! At least that is what mom thinks. And the trainer guy said I am pretty smart. Of course, I knew that! I am pretty sure that training is more for mom than for me. The trainer speaks "dog" and mom is learning how to speak "dog" now.

Here I am with mama waiting for the class to begin. I am so well behaved here.

Of course, there was some play time with the other pupils. One thing I am really good at is play. As you can see from this picture, I haven't yet gotten control over my eyes. Meathead would say this wasn't cool behavior.

I am, however, beginning to think it is cool behavior for a Frenchie.

And the pupils come in all shapes and sizes.

This one has pretty fancy accessories. Look at those ears. Beautiful, but too heavy with hair to stand up properly!!

Hmm ... I am not sure if that is a real dog. I am still thinking about it.

But the sweater is pretty cool! I'd need a bigger size.

And I made a new friend today - his name is George! Now he is a real dog!! Another English Bull Dog like my cousin Meathead! My favorite kind of dog - a bully!!

What's not to love about that mug!!

Yes, I am looking forward to my next training lesson.

Halloween is not for dogs

Hello.

Meathead here!

Halloween is not for dogs! Grandma doesn't know that. Here I am humoring her. Purple is not my color.

And here is Grimmy sitting behind the closed storm door while Grandma gives out treats. Grimace is not bored easily, but even he had to just rest his eyes for a moment.

And then there is our neighbor, Penny. Now according to Milo she is a "looker"! We can't see it. It must be a "frenchie" thing. But according to her live-in staff, she won first prize in an Annapolis, Maryland contest dressed as a crab. Check out the outfit!! Now red definately is her color!

Stylish Frenchie

My mama takes such good care of me. See, I have this new sweater. It is a Martha Stewart sweater and I feel very much like everyone is looking at just how sharp I am.

If you look real close, even the buttons have "Martha Stewart" on them.

I am sure everyone is pretty impressed. Well, at least my Grandma is impressed.

She and that camera!!

Milo and the Neighbor Cat

I have pretty much reach my big-boy body, but I am still pretty young and learning about the world.

I was visiting my grandma recently, and I couldn't believe my eyes. The lady next door had one very skinny cat.

I'm a friendly kind of guy so I thought I would check this dude out.

I'll give him credit. He never moved. My grandma has cats and I never can get this close.

I moved in closer to get a wiff.

This is one cool guy. He doesn't even blink. And his smell is kind of ... well ... there is no smell.

I get a bath every week or so 'cause my mama thinks I need it. This guy must get a bath every day!

Poor fella.

Let's see. You usually can't hide your smell on this end.

Must be careful! Cats are unpredictable.

Oh my! No smell, no noth'en.

Very creepy. I can feel the hair on my back standing up. This dude has serious problems.

He could use a decent meal as well. Never saw anything that skinny.

Got to tell my mama about this. She won't believe it.

Dog Gone Tired

Our vacation ends tomorrow. This has been a tiring week! It will be nice to sleep in our own beds.










Grandma never came...I hope she doesn't show up tomorrow and we are gone! If she did show up now, I don't think we'd have the energy to greet her.

Who knew a restful vacation could be so exhausting!

Beach Blanket Bulldog

Well, it seems as though Grandma is stuck in traffic. I will not be deterred; I'll just get some rays while I wait.
I mean...I'm on vacation, I might as well come home with a tan.




Please, no beached whale jokes!

Is it really necessary to take my picture from behind Aunt Kris?

Oh Grandma...hurry up please!!

Greetings from OBX!

Hello all,

We've been having a great time at the beach. It's always nice to get away.

I've given up on the beach. It's awfully sandy and Mama makes me take a bath afterwards...yuck!

I think I'll stick to playing on the deck with my bone.

In the all the excitement of vacation there's something I'm missing, but I just can't put my paw on it.

Oh yeah...it's home.

Still Waiting…

I’m still waiting for you Grandma.
I’m losing my mind here, even the puppy thinks he’s a fish now!

My bag is packed Grandma; I’m ready whenever you are. Grimace assured me you'd be coming for us.

Ooohhh dear... hopefully she’s close.

Beach Bum

I don’t know why Meathead dislikes the beach so much?
























I'm having a great time, wheeeeeeeee!!













Mama, let’s go again!

Bulldogs Swim Like Bricks

Why oh why do we have to go on vacation again? Isn’t once in my lifetime enough?

I miss my bed, I miss my house, and I miss my Grandma. Grandma where are you? Come take me home!

Papa and MoMo call this a vacation, I call this puppy purgatory! When I think of the beach, I think of potentially drowning in the pool (everyone knows I don't swim), heat exhaustion, burrs in my feet, stomach aches and vomiting - why would you have a large body of water and not be able to drink it!

They say cats have 9 lives; maybe I should start purring. Grandma saaaave me!

*****************************************

"Don't worry Meathead. I’m positive Grandma will be waiting for us at the beach house. Grandma, here we come!"

OBX, Here We Come!

Hi all it’s Grimace here,

Well it’s that time of year again; when we make the long trek to the Outer banks, NC with Papa, MoMo and Aunt Kris. One difference this year is the addition of Milo, this is his first trip.

“Yep, my very first trip! I'm kind of nervous and excited...”

“Hey, use your own post to speak...jeez!”

Anyways, if the car wasn’t crammed before, it’s a sardine can now! I mean… I’m a dog, not a fish!

I personally love vacation. I get to spend the whole week with Papa and MoMo, ALL DAY! No crate for me, no sir. I’m not sure why I need that stupid thing anyways.

Some dogs, such as Meathead, don’t like vacation. He’s such a bore sometimes. New smells, extra cookies, being with “my people” all day – who wouldn’t love that!

Sometimes Papa does leave me to go fishing, but I have my Aunt Kris around to keep me company. Here’s a picture of us on the way to the beach!

The only thing missing on vacation is Grandma :(. I don’t know why she isn’t here, it’s not like her to leave me alone. I bet she’ll be at the beach house when we get there!

Grimace

Too many things to remember

Exhausting! Just so much to learn before I am all grow'd up! I think I will take a nap first before I blog a response.

Training the Puppy - Lesson #3 Know Your Place In the Pack

Since Meaty has been feeling under the weather this week, I will go over lesson #3 with you: Know your place in the pack.

I am sure your dog-mom, Mia, taught you what a pack was. You are part of our pack now and we need to make sure you know your place.

Grandma says Meaty is the "king". He likes that title alot. I think it has kind of gone to his head a bit. Oh well, he is first, #1, the leader (but only because I wasn't here at the start. I have great leadership qualities, you know.)

Grandma says that I am "prince". Auntie sometimes calls me the "jester". I like "prince" better. And I am #2. I think I am really more like #1.5!! And if only I had started in the pack to begin with rather than wasting 3 years somewhere else, I know things would be different, but no matter. Meaty is our lead-guy. And I am a close 1.5!

You probably haven't learned to count yet, but that makes you #3 (#1, #1.5, #3 - yes, that sounds right!). We haven't decided on a descriptive title for you yet. I hear grandma calling you "squirt" now and then. I bet this is because sometimes you squirt on her rug! Let's just make one thing clear ... I am the king of squirting on rugs and walls and cars and children who are sitting still outside ... so find another skill, cause I am king of that one!

Yours Truly,

Grimace

King of Squirting

Mama’s Souvenir

“I wonder if I can grow fangs when my baby teeth fall out.”
Calvin & Hobbes

My mama says it’s pretty rare to get a baby tooth as a keepsake. I don’t know about that, I have a belly full of teeth!

So I’ve heard there’s some chick in a fairy outfit who’s supposed to come visit me? Sounds kinda creepy, but if I get a present that’s pretty cool. I hope she has cookies!

Meathead said I should ask for a 60in. LED HDTV with surround sound. Ummmm, I not sure what that means.

Oh well…I’ll leave my tooth under ducky for safe keeping.

Milo :)

Training the Puppy - Lesson #2 Adore your person

Meathead and I think you already have lesson #2 under your belt, uhh ... under your navel, no wait - under your chest - dang! You know what I mean - you got this part down already, but it is worth mentioning because this is the one I am really good at.

Adoring your person is pretty darn important. Besides the fact they pay for everything and they do everything for you ... they love you! And you, my little man, are exceeding lucky because you don't have just one person who loves you, you have a whole family of people who think you are grand.

Meathead has his papa, I have my grandma (ok, I share her, but no one adores her like me) and you have your mama!

Lesson #2 - Adore your mother - we can see that she adores you!

See ya later!

Grimace

PS - ok, ok, technically papa pays for everything for me, but I adore grandma! Its an unusual relationship but it works for us.

Training the puppy - Lesson #1 Be Cool

Grimace and I agree - a dry crate is the first step in keeping your mom happy. There are other qualities you need to work on as well.

Self control for example. Bulging eyes - at any time, are really un-cool. That is especially true when Grandma is snapping picture after picture. Avoid any photographic evidence of un-cool behavior (and that can be a challenge because lately she has that stupid camera with her all the time. How many pictures of dogs does one woman need?)

Remember - lesson #1 - Be cool!

Sincerely,

Meathead