Day 306

I think these trains might be carrying dog bones, just for me.  Do you think Santa will travel by train to our house?  I hope so!

Day 305

This holiday weekend, instead of battling the Black Friday crowds, we kicked off the Christmas holiday season by visiting the NY Botanical Garden Train Show.  Eli has gone to the show every year, and he wanted me and Mario to see it.  

Yes, that's the Brooklyn Bridge overhead!  Some day, I want to walk across the bridge.  That would be really fun, especially since there are no stairs.

 

 I love trains!

Day 304

Happy Thanksgiving!  As I lie here in my new doggie bed, I contemplate all for which I am thankful, besides my new bed and my toys.  Here's my top 10 list:

10:  My dog parents, for having me.  

9:  Guiding Eyes, for breeding my parents so they could have me.

8:  Julia, for "starting" me.

7: Nicole, for being the best teacher ever.

6: Muffin for being my best ex-friend.

5: Hemi for being the coolest cat on the planet.

4: Peter for letting me ride in his very nice hot rod of a car.

3: Mom, for being my mom!

2: Eli for being my best playmate.

1: You already guessed my #1.  Mario, of course!

I am a very lucky and loved dog.  There is so much more for which I am thankful, but these are my top 10.  I hope you all have top ten lists too, that are really awesome like mine!

Day 303

I love Eli!

Day 302

Here's a photo of Sunday's puppy class.  First, Mario signed us in.  Then, I got to see all of my friends.  On the left is Frisbee, Karat, and me.  On the right, is Thimble (black), Gelato, and Georgie (black too).  Mom thinks all the yellow labs sort of look the same.  I must admit that if all you people did not smell so differently, it would be hard for me to tell you apart!

Day 301

Today is a happy day.  What day isn't?  You know how much Mom and Mario HATE when I sleep on the couch, and you know how IRRESISTIBLE I find the comfy, heavenly couch.  Well, I must give Mom some credit.  In order to get me OFF the couch, she bought me a dog bed.  I LOVE MY NEW DOG BED.  The couch is no longer a temptation!!  What couch?

Day 300

I helped Mom take the car to the mechanic yesterday, just for a regular check-up.  We drove to the shop, walked home, and then later did the opposite.  I like visiting the auto shop.  It's really cool seeing all the cars elevating with people peeking underneath.

Day 299

I am a teenage girl, and so it is age appropriate for me to go through many boyfriends.  Mr. Squeakless and I are so OVER.  Mom needs to take me to Target to pick out a new boyfriend. I will miss Mr. Squeakless, but I really need to be with someone who is stronger and can keep up with me.

Day 298

Mario did not take a photo of me next to the famous New York Public Library lions, but Mom photographed me next to this lion in front of a house in my neighborhood.  Cute, isn't he?

Day 297

In my house, my people (everyone except Mario) cannot control themselves around Trader Joe's thick cut salt and pepper potato chips.  I am sure the chips are really good, but I officially do not eat people food, so I cannot judge (of course, I help out by periodically cleaning all crumbs off the kitchen floor, but that is just good citizenship.  After all, dogs can't vacuum).  Well, I know exactly how my people feel.  Self control is tough, even for we exquisitely bred dogs.  For example, I know that I do not belong on this couch, but I simply cannot resist.  The pillows beckon, "Rhythm, come curl your soft body on top of us.  We love the sweet smell of your dog breath."  And, before I know it, I am in a deep dog slumber, doggie Heaven.  Until, of course, Mario or Mom catch me, and shout my name in that disapproving tone of voice.

Day 296

Hey, has anyone seen Hemi?  I was kind of hoping she would come nap with me. 

Day 295

Mario took me on my first trip into New York City via train.  I come into NYC often for puppy class, but we always drive.  Here I am, riding the train.  It was really fun!

And here I am in front of the NY Public Library at 42nd Street.  Mom is sad that Mario did not photograph me next to the lions, Patience and Fortitude, that guard the library. Mario is from Germany, though, so he did not know that they are famous cats.  He said that next time we can get my photo next to them.  I think I prefer real cats to the marble ones, though.  They do not smell the same.

And here I am in Grand Central.  It was a little overwhelming for me at first, all those people rushing about in chaos, but I got used to it.  Mario says that we may travel back into NYC by train later this week.  I need to practice riding the train, and repeat exposures are really valuable for me.  That way, I can build my confidence over time, with familiarity.  

Day 294

If I do choose to become a guide dog one day, then I need to learn to ride on trains, planes, cars, boats - all forms of transport.  None of this scares me.  Only stairs are my downfall.

Day 293

Although I am "just a dog", I have learned that friendship is very important, and so I try my best to make friends where ever I go.  I think I excel at friend making.

Day 292

What you cannot see is that Muffin, aka Moo-fin, is a few steps below me, meowing, asking me to come visit.  I just cannot muster the courage to make that first step. 

Day 291

Mom and Peter walked me to Starbucks today.  It's a 3 mile walk, round trip.  I make lots of people friends at Starbucks.  Everyone really likes me. 

What's with coffee and people?  Why do people like coffee so much when peanut butter bones are far superior?  I really like people, but I do not understand them.

 

Day 290

Mom and I practiced stairs today.  We walked up a huge flight of steps that leads to this church cloister.  I figure you really do not need to see another photo of me next to steps!  I go right up these steps, yet I refuse to ascend others.  It's the mystery of me.

Day 289

I am a dog of action.  I run like the wind!

Day 288

If pictures speak, then this one must be saying, "Aren't I gorgeous?"

"Deep thoughts."

"Hey, Mario, can I get up now?"

Day 287

Finally, the dentist gave up on me.  My braces are off because I broke them AGAIN.  I like to chew on my plastic crate at night, and I guess my braces just could not handle it.  I still have the sheaths over my lower canines, though, so I have another dentist appointment in two weeks.  Oh well.  Poor me.

Day 286

Yet no matter how much I practice, I am still afraid of these darn steps at the train station.  My people love me, tell me it's okay, and never force me to do anything that I am not comfortable doing, but what's with me?  Why are these steps so scary when others are not?

Day 285

Practice again.  Every day, stairs and more stairs.

Day 284

Practice.

Day 283

Do you remember how my otherwise loving family violates my civil rights - the double standards whereby the cats get to sleep on the couch but not the dog (me)?  Well, now I just remove the comfy couch pillows and make my own bed on the floor.  Mom has not caught me yet, but Mario did.  I think  it's rather clever of me to come up with this win-win solution, but - um - Mom won't let me sleep on the couch cushions either.  I love her, but she's mean.

                

Day 282

Hemi tries to encourage me to climb the stairs.  This is as far as I'll go!

Day 281

Here I am, practicing "Go Place".  Mario picks up the rug and says "Rhythm, this is your 'place'".  Then, he returns the rug to the floor, points to it, and says "Go Place."  I then go to the rug and lie down.  It may seem pointless, but when I become a guide dog, this behavior will help my blind person when he or she wants me close by, but not underfoot.  I get to lick the floor, too, which is really fun.

Day 280

I love fall.  I get very excited watching the leaves fall from the trees.  My people laugh at me and say "Rhythm, it's just a leaf!", but to me, it's an aircraft floating to earth.  Exciting, don't you agree?  And the squirrels are frantically about, eating acorns and making that squirrel chirp noise.  And the birds are flying around.  I have a special fondness for sparrows that hop close to me when we are sitting at the outdoor Starbucks cafe.  I love fall, but I am not too brave when it comes to walking on big leaf piles.  That's just too weird.

Day 279

Hey, Mario, can you toss one of the cats in here?  Either will do.  I need a toy.

Day 278

Hemi always curls up on the couch.  It looks really comfy.  Now that we are BFFs, I want to nap with her.  Mom saw me on the couch and kicked me off!  Why is it that my people AND the cats BOTH get to sit on the couch, but I am relegated to the floor?  I am a VID - a Very Important Dog - and I should NOT be a second class citizen in my own house!

Day 277

Lap dog.