Charlie's first trip to a beach... Folly Beach, SC

Ahhhh, Charlie's first footsteps on the beach! We took him to Folly Beach which is closest to our house. He had the best time ever. We weren't sure how he'd react to the water, at first he was hesitant and then SPLLLOOOOOOOOOSH, he plunged right in! He especially liked the tidal pools, warmer for one thing and most aren't deep, there was one that was over his head... he wasn't big on that, but it was good, it let him know that all water you can't touch the bottom (i.e. the pool!)...

He was really lovin it at this point! It was a great day! Was cooler at the beach, just below 70. Low tide was 5:30'ish last night, so that was sweet! We got there a little before 5... came home, gave the dog a bath, the bread had just come out of the bread machine, threw some fresh shrimp in a pot of boiling water and tada... DINNER! Too good! Hope you had a great weekend as well!

Helping to water the yard??!! I LOVE IT!

Hi everyone, this is Charlie... the coolest thing happened today... big daddy put out this thing called a SPRINKLER... and whooooaaaa did I ever want a piece of it! I tried with all my might to take it down but it just WOULD NOT GIVE UP... It made me crazy! I ran around the yard like I was nuts trying to gain a little more oomph to come back and try to take it... finally it gave in HA... I love this crazy thing called a sprinkler! And to me, there is nothing better than helping to water the yard... one way or another hee hee...
Have a good weekend everyone... charlie!

Temptation...

Charlie has taught us to pick up after ourselves... so what prompted me to put my slippers right at his reach I'm not really sure... this was temptation to say the very least... The 'leave it' command only lasts so long... It lasts long enough for me to forget what I said 'leave it' to... then I hear a weird noise, where I know he has something he shouldn't... Surprised? Hmmmmm, nope, not at all... ha ha


Charlie had a blast shaking that slipper running all over the house with it... I finally did get it back, it was very wet, but I got it back... Next time will I put my slippers on that little shelf under the table? Absolutely not... Thanks for the lesson Charlie, ha ha...

The beast is growing up!

This picture was taken the day my mom and dad left... Hmmmmm, so little attention now... When Charlie was young I couldn't get two minutes to myself in a full day... now he sleeps, plays, and is wonderful during the day... I would say he's a 'night dog'... I'm up early, 5AM, Charlie gets up with me then goes back to sleep on the ottoman... but come bed time... the beast is wound up tight! I can no longer read with the light on when we go to bed... if I turn the lamp on he stands on me and stares at it until I turn it off, ha ha... I turn it off, wait 2 minutes and he's fast asleep. Too funny!

The beast meets Bobo!

Well, Charlie finally met grandpa (aka Bobo, a name given by his human grandson)... at first he was hesitant, as he is with everyone... but I can tell you this dog has been pouting since they left! It was a great time seeing my mom and dad, and Charlie had a big time with their socks, clothes, pens and about anything else he could get to... He loved Bobo chasing him, and I think he misses the constant attention (WHAT??!! I guess I am not exciting enough!). I think he's still waiting for them to come back, like they went to the store or something... Come back soon you guys! The beast misses you!

No sissy dogs down he'yah!

I swear you can't be a sissy dog and go to a park in Charleston! When I first saw this sign I thought OH NO... I'm not taking my beast in there... shoot, he'll go after an alligator in a second, just wanting to play and then *GULP*... oh, I would miss the beast waaaaay too much. So I talked to other people, they said the alligators don't really come up that far... hmmmm, ok, but I'm keeping my eye out anyway, and I'm prepared to run like a robber in a zig zag pattern and hop that fence WITH the beast and WITH Fred! Yikes! Otherwise, James Island Dog Park... VERY NICE!!

Happy 8 months Charlie!

Happy Birthday Charlie! You're 8 months old! Woo hoo! Hmmmm, should have ordered a cake! hee hee Charlie is definitely growing up! He's much calmer during the day... he still has his moments in the morning after he finally wakes up around 8-8:30, likes to find things and drag them to you... socks, shoes, blankets, pillows, he's not picky... then he calms back down. He is thrilled that Fred is working from home today, maybe I won't talk so much ha ha... I think I'm driving him crazy... Maybe I'll walk him over to Doolittle's and let him pick out a toy! He does love to shop!
Have a good weekend everyone!

The beast plays basketball!

Ok, so the beast plays WITH a basketball... he had the time of his life! While Fred and his dad were powerwashing the teak patio furniture, I had to find a way to keep Charlie busy, I found an old partially deflated basketball in the garage, he loved how he could grab onto it and carry it around. It was a hit! It's a delight to see simple pleasures enjoyed so much... a lesson us humans should take, hee hee...

What? You think I was digging in mud? Why???

Gotta love a rainy day... the rain part is fine it's the mud that gets tiresome... The beasty one loves to play in the mud, dig up rocks, worms and who knows what else... When he comes to the door, if you just open it and he's muddy he'll come rushing in, mud flying, having a big time... you have to catch him, it's quite a skill, ha ha... then it's time in the sink to rinse the body the face, ugh... I was just thinking to myself yesterday, I need to start doing more weight exercises... well, helllllooooooooooo this pretty much covers it, he's a 16# beastyball that I lift so many times a day, hey... next... iron-woman competition, hee hee!!!

Hey everyone, meet Rue, Charlie's BFF!

Remember a few posts back when I mentioned Rue, Charlie's friend from Kinderpuppy class? Well Polly has sent me some wonderful pictures of Rue... however, at this time Kodak is preventing me from saving any of them EXCEPT the first one... so above is a sweet picture of Rue (she looks used to getting her picture taken, ha ha)... there were so many great pictures (THANKS POLLY!)Rue is a sweetie!

THE ANTLER

I know! I know! It looks like a tooth gone bad... a wicked fang that just kept growing... but rest assured... it's only an antler, the hot new thing for dogs to chew on... at $2.55/ounce I was really hoping he was going to love it! He's had it around for a while, and chews on it periodically. Nothing beats a bully or a flossie but he loves his antler nonetheless! It's going to be a beautiful day, so I think we'll head out to sit the pool later today! hee hee...

Well, it really happened, THE BEAST GRADUATED!

Well last night Charlie received his diploma from Susan Marett (Purely Positive Dog Training) and he received and EXCELLENCE AWARD! (OK, so everyone received an excellence award, but everyone deserved it). The night was bittersweet, he played with his friends Rue and Higgins, and after the class said GOODBYE... hopefully he will have another opportunity to play with those two in the future. They got along well! Everyone in the class did a great job. Charlie has come such a long way since he first came to that class timid and shy, afraid to walk up to Susan. He ended by not only running up to Rue and Higgins, but also to their owners, Polly and Elizabeth! Towards the end of the night he ran up to Susan, he's just becoming a different dog! It's great! Sure, there are things that we will work on, and maybe work on forever (i.e. LEAVE IT, DROP IT, COME) but the more we do it the better he will become! We'll definetly take another class in the future, maybe not at 7:30 (makes getting up at 4:45 pretty hard)... but an earlier class for sure!
Highlights of the evening included receiving a stuffed toy, that he was so thrilled with he couldn't get his mind off of... as well as me spilling the container of treats all over the floor (ugh)... I forgot my camera (OMG)and didn't realize until we were almost there, so pictures were taken last night when we got home. Hey, Polly, Elizabeth, if you happen to be reading this, please send me a picture of your dog one day, so I can include them in this blog! (can send to bstroud1@gmail.com)
So GOOD JOB Charlie and THANK YOU to Susan, and KEEP IN TOUCH to Elizabeth (Higgins),Polly (Rue) & Susan!

Charlie graduates tonight! Woohoooooooo Charlie!

Charlie graduates from Kinderpuppy classes this evening! Way to go Charlie! There are a few things that we'll continue to work on, but he's learned alot, he's been a willing participant and he's much more interactive with other dogs/people. He's come such a long way! I'll have to get a picture tonight... yep, that's me the crazy dog owner taking pictures at kinderpuppy graduation, ha ha... oh well... it's a big deal for him!

Dog Park: on the way, while we're there and on the way home

One of charlie's favorite things in the world to do... go to the dogpark... we've only been to the one on east bay st downtown... nice water view one way, rainbow row the other way, and close to waterfront park... it gets a little dusty, but overall, a really nice place. when we arrived... NO DOGS... ruh roh... there were several big dogs in the ball park next door to the dog park, but hmmmm, there are ways to get out, and i think it's safe to say that charlie will never go over to the other side! all of a sudden dog after dog after dog, he played hard and was a gentleman. he's not afraid of the big dogs, he puts them in his place. he's cautious but plays really hard. he loves it when people are standing outside the park watching, he runs by them all to see what comments he can receive... it's too funny to watch. he had his head hanging out the window on the way there and on the way home... we thought he would be worn out, all this hard play was in addition to the four miles we had already walked, but nope, still full of energy, omg...

Charlie's birthday gift!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE! Charlie turns 7 months old today! To celebrate this milestone birthday (hee hee) we bought him a nice gate to the sunroom. One that he shouldn't be able to climb over (yet to be determined)! It's nice, stands 41" tall and has a gate for walking through... It seems to have pretty big gaps on each side, but when we tested it last night (I spied on Charlie through the bedroom window that looks onto the sunroom), he attempted to fit through, couldn't... walked away, came back and just sat and waited... so this evening we'll give it a test, maybe walk to EarthFare and back and see if he's still contained (oh pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)...