These People are Dull

 Yeah, it's been a while, but it's the same old thing, day in, day out, night in, night out. No excitement going on, nothing, boring old people.

I'm trying to get them to try new things, get some excitement up in here.

Get this... I dare you, just pull it. I don't care if you're getting dressed for work.

Why look, there appears to be a tug rope here... would be a shame if someone grabbed it

I like the lick mat, but the new bed? Nope, not using it when I have a perfectly good Sleep Number bed and a couch. Waste of money.

Look, my new toys are old, I have to do something with my spare time

I just had my Sunday Pancake time with Toast, very tasty, and now I want to go out and play, but Bleeder is all "it's raining, I shall melt". Ok, I'll go out and find something to do that involves one of my massive dig dug holes, and mud. You just stay inside all nice and dry watching Curse of Oak Island episodes... I'll show you some Dig Dug Island action and dig up my own Templar thing. Then I will come in and shake on everything, so go ahead and change those sheets.

Off To The Vet We Go

 I knew something was up when Bleeder and Toast casually took showers and got dressed in the morning, even though it was a weekend morning. They thought they could just fool me and act like nothing was up, but I know when things are up and something was definitely up. I especially knew something was up when Bleeder took my poo and didn't throw it in the bin... she carried it inside, then took it out to the car.

Sure enough, I got my fancy new harness on, and instead of my fancy ride, I got into the not fancy ride and was not happy with my limited access to the front seat. I want to be in the front seats. I'd prefer to drive as well, but for some odd reason they won't let me in the front seats, and they won't let me drive. This is unfair.

To show them how unfair it is, I managed to get all tangled up in my harness and leash and forced Bleeder to climb into the back once we got to the vet clinic and untangle me.

Apparently, according to Bleeder, I am the dog that nobody likes at the vet clinic. I need to greet everyone and everything, including everyone and everything that doesn't necessarily want to be greeted. Oh sure, the staff love me, I even try to go behind the desk and help them with their paperwork, but the one place I don't want to go is on the scale... or in the room.

Once I was weighed, there was a bit of a wait, so Bleeder took me outside to walk around and get "some steam off" in the little wooded area on the side of the clinic. So many interesting sniffs there.

Our turn came and I was summarily pushed into a room where there was more of a wait, and I don't like waiting, so I kept trying to summon my doctor, or at the very least order a nice cold water, because being sociable makes me very thirsty.

Finally a nice guy came in and took my history, and then took me to the back to be poked, prodded, and stole my cultivated sharp nails, then took me back to the room to wait some more. I did not get my order of water and appetizers. Do NOT recommend that waiter.

My doctor finally arrived and it was all talk talk talk, blah blah blah, and then shining lights in my ears, eyes, throat, touchy touchy, pokey pokey, then stabbed me with a needle. Apparently I have to come back in two weeks because my humans don't like giving me my full immunizations all at once.

My doctor tried to bribe me into liking her after all that poking, prodding, light shining, but I took the treat and spit it out back at her. Toast tried and I took the treat, held it for 3 seconds and ptooeed it back at him, clearly showing that I was NOT amused. I have no idea what happened to my loaded potato skins and water order.

While Toast paid for my visit, Bleeder took me back out to walk in the grassy area. Although the waiting room had thinned out, I still try to steal all of the tasty treats they have at dog level, and one time nearly tipped over the giant bin of things, so I wait outside, which is fine with me.

When it was time to go home, they adjusted my leash length to keep me from climbing into the front seat, but by that time I was tired from my visit and just poked my head into the front.

While waiting on a light, some person in a big SUV tried to sneak behind my ride between another car behind us and ran straight into another car. That was exciting, and thankfully didn't hit us when it's parts flew off. Both cars drove off to trade information, so we just drove home, not our circus.

After that, I slept pretty much all day. So much excitement and so many steps. Later on we played soccer ball in the yard and then went to bed. Actually, I had to grab Fashion Fluffy and shove it into Toast's leg to get him to understand that it was time for bed, hurry up and go to bed!

I slept all night, it was a good day, and a good night

Ch Ch Ch Changes

 Can't a pup have a bit of routine? 

Sure, my meal times are spot on the clock morning, noon, and night.

My bedtime fluctuates, but is generally at a specific time and I get nightly bedtime treats and then the rough skritches. I love my bedtime routine.

BUT the general coming and going of the humans is willy nilly. The only way I know someone is leaving the house is whether or not they put on pants after they shower. Bleeder typically does this several times a week (and we won't speak of her horrible fashion sense), while Toast is hit or miss on comings and goings. The only way I know the shower doesn't mean leaving is if they put on the sleepy pants afterwards.

I'm very diligent about watching for these signs. I sit in the bedroom doorway and pout until the desired sleepy pants are put on.

Recently they even swapped my food. Granted, I was NOT crazy about the whole Salmon food stuffs. Never have been, never will. I don't like chicken either... actually chicken doesn't like me, which is why they swapped me to a "sensitive stomach" variety. I would think that my habit of eating just about anything should have proven that my stomach is not sensitive, more like particular in taste. I don't like fish. They tried to give me a shrimp as a treat. That is disgusting. Why would anyone eat that slimey fishy smelling thing.

Anyhoooo, I've been enjoying my beef and bison foodables and so has my stomach. Each time I poo, it's like I've left a special gift for Bleeder who praises my effort, and goes on and on about the size, weight, and perfect form coming out of my poo hole. She should really find another hobby.

She also thinks I'm much more frisky on the new food, and I do feel better while practicing to be a goal keeper for the Premier league.

I GOT IT!

Enough about my poo, I'm sure you are all waiting on the exciting announcement about my harness, that I promised to tell you all about.

I'm a bit... exuberant on my walks. I want to sniff everything all at once and there's no time to dilly, nor dally, I gotta keep moving. This means dragging Bleeder along with me, and frankly, my past harnesses were a bit restrictive in the neck area.

I have the gag reflex of something that has a really strong gag reflex, so every time I'd go for a walk, I would pull so hard, I'd end of gacking, choking, and puking. That's not fun, but did I learn to walk nicer? Heck no, I'd pull harder next time and gack and puke.

They tried quite a few harnesses and always the same result, so Bleeder reached out to some professionals.

• Mags and Ragnar from Army of Four 
• Gus from Blawg & Disorder (and my deepest condolences on the passing of Milton)
• Rudy and Jack of Breckenridge Skijoring
• Other fine friends

All of them recommended the CTC Dog Gear harness.

The neck opening is wider, which puts the weight of pulling on the shoulder area, and not on the neck area, where it should be.

Owner Natalie actually makes gear for dogs that do actual work, and even supports the puppers who run races and do fun things, like pull their humans on carts or bicycles (I'd love to do that, but Bleeder and Toast are too frail).

Back to the harness... Bleeder ordered, Natalie responded immediately, advised her that based on Bleeder's wonky measurements (which Natalie made her do over because Bleeder is inept) that I would need a LARGE... because I'm leggy and statuesque, not because I'm fat.

Zippy quick, Natalie mailed out my harness (in teal... blue... it's a blue color) and it fit perfectly. It's very comfy too. So comfy that during our recent wind storm, I had to wear it in case (not sure what the case was, but the humans insisted) and I slept in it.

Sure, I still pull like a demon, but I don't gack and puke as much now. That only happens when Toast is not opening up the back door to my ride fast enough, or I see something I really REALLY want to get to immediately.

Bleeder and Toast really like the side mounted hooks too, because they can attach a leash there on either side or in the back, or both for added control and security.

I do not have any "action" shots of walking or riding in the X because (of course) Toast and Bleeder are rubbish about taking pictures on walks. Something about I move too fast, or Bleeder is being dragged on the ground (that would be a good picture honestly) or they are too busy watching out for idiot drivers racing down our road (that is a stop sign at that intersection you crazy whippersnapper kids get off my lawn, let me pull my pants up).

I'll try to get them to take pictures on our next walk, I promise.

Go and get yourself a CTC harness right now. Comfortable, stylish, functional (so far) escape proof, three connectors, easy on, easy off. Buy one. Your pup will thank you!

-Casey-