Human Sister (Jannessa) guest blogger today.

My human sister did a blog!  (I think she learned how from me) It is on Jay nOTes because she is an Elizabethtown Blue Jay OT (Occupational Therapy) major.  And just in time because I didn't have time to do one for today. .

So read her's. Here is a link to Jannessa's blog post. I am so proud of her! I give her three woofs!

My human sister and her friend Rachel. 

Welcome! Good To See You!

On Sundays my family goes to a place called church. I never get to go. I end up doing time in my cage. I don't know why they don't take me along.

How about we put the cats in here and let me run around the house. 

I hear church is a big place with lots of visitors each week and they have greeters at the entry ways. The greeters job is to be friendly and let people know they are welcome. Well there is nobody better than me at being friendly and making people feel welcome. Just check out this video on how I greet Jannessa every time she gets home from a hard day at college.

See how good I did? I am doing much better than I used to. Notice how I just gently jump up and try to kiss her and lick her on the face. See how I didn't knock her down at all or pee on her shoes? In the summer I used to have to greet her out in the driveway because I would get too excited and the driveway stones would get a little wet, but I don't do that anymore. People don't like that.

So, don't you think they should take me to church with them? I would like to invite you to go and visit my families church LWCC (Click for directions and info. Tell them Cooper sent you) and then let me know how well you were greeted and if you think I would be a good greeter there. If I get enough positive responses maybe my family will take me along next time (and put the cats in the cage!).

I bet nobody jumps up to kiss you and lick your face like I would. That's what really makes people feel welcome. And I hope they don't pee on your shoes.

And if you go to your own church how do you greet people? Let me suggest that next time you go to your church go up to someone and give them a big wet kiss and lick them on the face. Make it a greeting they will never forget. Just don't pee on their shoes. People don't like that.

OBX – THERE AND BACK AGAIN PART 2 (Outer Banks Vacation!)

Dingo here again for PART 2.   Day 2 of Cooper not blogging! 

Catching some zzzzzz's. Dreaming about my sister.

Saturday September 13^th started early!  It was still dark out when bags, cooler and suitcase were being carried out to the car.  I knew something was up when the humans collapsed my crate and it got put in the car.  I must be pretty important, because I needed two bags!  One for my bowls, food, leashes, treats and poop bags.  The other bag was full of toys.

The set up in the car was pretty sweet!  I had the middle of the back seat, customized with what my humans referred to as “The Princess Pillow”.  Since I was still recovering from my visit to the hospital, and had to take Benadryl for 3 days, I wasn’t ready to move real fast.  The pillow really felt nice to lay on for the trip – I did sleep a lot.  I was able to see my humans for the entire trip.

After what my humans referred to as the longest drive ever (not because of me, because of traffic jams), we arrived in Avon, NC.  When we got to the house, my new friends were waiting to meet me.  There was Don, Lauren, Matt, Kristen and Taj.  Taj is a PitBull.  Everyone seemed concerned about me meeting Taj, so they kept us separated.

On Sunday my humans were talking about having lunch with Jeremiah (Cooper’s human brother) and Ellen (Jer’s fiancé) .  I was really excited about meeting them.  Even spent extra time cleaning myself up, if you know what I mean.  When it was time to leave I got locked in my crate!  For some reason the restaurant doesn’t allow dogs.  I wanted to have my picture taken with Cooper’s human brother.  This is the best I could do.  

While my humans were having lunch with Jeremiah & Ellen, my new friends Matt and Kristen broke me out of jail.  I really like Matt and Kristen!!  I got to go for a walk with them and Taj.  We walked on the beach and on the boardwalk by the dunes.  At that point I just knew Taj was going to be my BFF.  She’s really cool, and compared to me, really big.  

Man, was I wrong!  Taj wasn’t my BFF!  She hated me!  I think she was jealous of my youthful beauty.  From that point on we had to be separated in the house by a fence that Matt and Kristen brought along.  I fooled Taj.  Every time she came close to the fence, even when she was growling, I tried to kiss her.  Yes, she got Dingo cooties!!!  Take that Taj!

I got to see a sunrise at the beach.  I also got to go to the beach.  I didn’t like the waves coming at me, but I liked digging in the sand.  COOP, WAKE UP:  I gotta tell you, It’s really cool at the beach.  You can dig and you don’t get yelled at!  Just like with dirt, your nose gets cover with sand.  

My new friend, Lauren, took me for walks.  She let me chew on my leash while I was walking.  My humans told her that I wasn’t supposed to do that.  Lauren said that she is like the Grandmother that lets the kids do what they want, and my humans can deal with it when we get home.  I really like Lauren!! 

One morning when my male human took me outside, we saw a ghost crab.  It wasn’t near the hole it lived it, so I tried to herd it.  They are hard to herd because they move sideways and they also try to pinch your nose if you get too close.

One of my favorite things was playing with my new friend Don.  I would sit on a foot rest and Don would hold my rope in the air.  I would jump as high as I could and grab it.  We would do this for a long time.  Over and over and over again.  I think Don is probably glad that I didn’t have to go home with him.  We both got tired playing.  I really like Don!!

All good things must come to an end.  We packed up and headed back home a week after we got there.  Vacations are a lot of fun!  So are all of my new friends!

OBX – THERE AND BACK AGAIN PART 1 (It almost didn’t happen!)

Dingo here again, (Cooper & Hank’s little sister) guest blogging so Coop can have two days off. 

Slacker!

Thanks Dingo, remember publishing deadline is 4 AM. Hold my calls. 

Not long after I arrived at my new home, my humans were talking about going on vacation and taking me along.  Unless you are a service dog, most dogs are always on vacation, so I didn’t see what the big deal was.

Flash back to five week ago (0.675 dog years), September 12^th.  This was the day before we were going to leave.  I had an appointment to see the vet again.  I don’t mind going because they are VERY generous with the Pupperoni.  I heard talk about another Rabies shot and something about flea and tick medicine.  Didn’t care -- Just wanted the Pupperoni.  SCORED!  Went home and slept for a few hours.  They must put something in their treats, because that usually happens when I get a shot.  Later in the afternoon the humans put some oily stuff on my back.  This must have been the flea and tick stuff.  Felt funny, but no big deal……until a few hours later.  Sick!  Humans weren’t too concerned until I was on the floor twitching.  Got to visit the Emergency Hospital!

We arrived at the Emergency Hospital, and a woman asked my humans what was going on with their baby.  My male human cleared it up right away that I was a dog, not a baby.  The woman took me away from my humans and put me in a room where a doctor took a look at me.  I have no pictures of this, and have been sworn to secrecy as to what goes on in these rooms.  

A nice woman (not the one that called me a baby) brought me into a room with my humans.  Seems it was a reaction to the flea & tick stuff.  She had a piece of paper with her, something she called an estimate.  The estimate was for the visit, two shots and some dog food.  I know my humans have a sense of humor – you should see the cats I have to live with!  Anyway…They looked at the piece of paper, and with a grin on their face, both said, “we didn’t pay that much for the dog!”.  The look on the woman’s face was funny, but I knew they were going to pay and take me back home with them.  My humans handed the woman a piece of plastic with lots of numbers on it.  I then got 2 shots and no Pupperoni!  BUMMER!

We headed back home.  Still didn’t feel too good, but had to rest up because I heard them say the vacation wasn’t cancelled.

NOTE FROM MY FEMALE HUMAN:  To avoid any future reactions from flea and tick medicine, a guy I work with gave me some Natural Defense.  This is a flea and tick medicine made entirely from essential oils – no chemicals!  Looking at the ingredients, Dingo is really going to smell good!

Tomorrow:  OBX – There and back again Part 2  (Outer Banks Vacation!)

Take A Hike!

Jannessa and my owner guy took me for a hike Sunday. We went to Apollo Park. We hiked the lower trail along Wilson Run all the way to the river and back. We got to the river but we were too far north to see Safe Harbor Dam. My mom and owner guy took the upper trail about a week before they got me and said from there you can see the dam. It is the only way to see it from the York County side. You have to hike in. Maybe we will hike in from the south side next time so I can see the dam.

One of the best hikes ever. 

Don't miss out on this park. It is great. It is a shame so many people miss out on the great trails around here. The lower trail along Wilson Run is the one we took. It is a little more challenging than the upper trail. It is good mom wasn't along. We had to cross over the creek six different times and we had to climb moss covered slippery rocks. And there were narrow spots just wide enough to pass along cliffs while you had to hang on to trees. It was great fun. 

A short break. Checking GPS to see how far to the river.

It was a long hike so I had lots of time to play hide and seek with Jannessa. 

Hiding from Jannessa off the trail. Ready to pounce but she saw me. 

We made it all the way to the river and back.

See you on the trail!

We took the Mason Dixon Trail, northern section on the map above. Click here to see the entire brochure. Why not enjoy one of these beautiful fall days and take a hike!