A Plea for HELP!!

[momoffuzzyfaces]

What great pictures. Bowzie does look less than thrilled at his first dip of the season though!

pssst: only 6 more posts and you hit the big 4000!!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by joycenalex

bowser doesn't look quite as gleeful

... phred, how does the firebus smell
with three wet dogs?

"Less than Gleeful"

We furgotz to tell da Tail of Bowzie's *Attempted Great Escape* ~

Aftur about da second or third *SPLOOP* in da Kiddy Pool
at the shallow end of da dock: all our ropeys got kinda <snarled up>
an Dad wuz "fixin" em ...
Bowz wuz klimbin out an streched hiz ropey up da ramp az FAR az
it would go an noticed nunbuddie wuz <Holdin ON>!
*Zooom*
He'z off onna Fast-Trott - headin fur da DRY Bus!

Nice Boat Captain wuz headin down da ramp,
aftur parkin his truck & trailer, an figgered out
whut wuz happnin... <STOPM> on Bowzie's rope!
Then picked up da ropey an <steered> Bowz back ta Dad. "THANKs, Cap!"

Az fur da <SMELL> inna Bus...
Dad kept <mumblin> it smelled like a Phish Market onna way home!
HE shuld talk! ~ wiff HIS <stinky> Fiur Gear inna back seat!

We did notice dat Bowzie's *RUG* uvva Furr Coat duz take a bit
longer ta "dry out" than Smoke an I do!
Few minnitz of walkin around inna *breeze* an we *FLUFF* rite up ...
Bowzie stays *damp* fur a while!

Hope it <warmz up> agin onna weekend!
.

[gini]

'How could you do this to me? I noticed you din't get inna water Dad!"

[Rachel]

Ha, ha, Bowser, I noticed that too, although I'm thinking that if you'd a sunk like a stone instead of bobbed like a cork, he'd a been in there like a flash, shoes and all.

[zippy-kat]

Isn't swimmin' good for Arthur Itis? I'll just bet that Mr. Bowzie will thank you in the long (very, long ) run. Short term however... well, I think the "fang shot of disgust" in photo number 3 says it all!

(Miz Rachel, I think Mizzer Phred had to give Smokey-pokey a swimmin' lesson or two if I 'member right! )

[Rachel]

Originally posted by zippy-kat

I think the "fang shot of disgust" in photo number 3 says it all!

heehee, I saw that too and thought the same thing.

[Cinder & Smoke]

We shudda know'd sumpin wuz up ~
08:00 - ***BUzzzzzz** goze da 'Larm Klok!!
**SMACK** goze Dadz handpaw onna "snooze button! (Several Tymez!)

Hey Smoke - WE goin sumwhere??
Dunno... WE dint bake no kookiez last nite.
Da Tail kame over da Fiur Radio ...

Beee-Boop - BEEP-BEEP-BEEP! "FIUR GUYZ!
Report to da Hi Skewel fur yur Drivin Test!"

Den it wuz doze Dreaded Wurds >
"You Guyz "get" ta Wait Rite Here ...
I'll be RITE Back!"

Yeah ... ...
Anna Kat'z gonna kook us steakz fur breakfast whilst yur gone!
NUTZ!
More bad newz bout Noon-a-Klok ...

Anudder *Bee-Poop* - BEEP-BEEP-BEEP! "FIUR GUYZ!!
Brush Fire inna Big field!!"
Awwww, NUTZ!!

"Engine 37 Enroute with 3."
HEY - Dat's our DAD yappin onna radio!
Lotta YAPPIN later ... "Controlled Burn - ebberbuddie go home!"
"Engine 37 Clear & Returning" ...
"Engine 37 Back in Quarters."

He otta be rite back now!!
Sun'z *SHININ* - we'll prolly go SWIMMIN! ...
TWO hole HOURZ latur...

WHERE ya been, Dad!???
"Ran to da grocery store an bot gas?"
WE kudda gone along fur dat! ... Are we GOIN now??
An how bout sum LUNCH!??

Aftur a LATE Lunch ... "BUS TRIP - Load Up!!"

Lookz like we'z headed back da West Branch BigLake ...

Whutz dem SPOTZ onna Bus Window!!?
An WHERE'd da SunBall go??
We dint need da *Flipperz* ta wipe da winnow;
but da SunBall went away ... wuz kinda *windy* & *chillie* when
we parked da Bus inna lot.

Wadder wuz kinda *nippie* ... we did a lil *wadin* but wuzint too
innerested in <jumpin in> ...
Bowzie <dipped a toe> an sed "Are ya NUTZ!?"

We settled fur runnin & rompin inna Piknik Area -
NUNbuddie there 'cept us.
Ranger Guy drove by an <Waved> - must notta mynded us runnin
wiffout Dad hangin onna ropey.
We did summore <wadin> inna Lake - kinda GLAD
we dint go <swimmin> -
wuz gettin more chillie even tho da Sun kame back out.

Back atta Ranch purdy late - Daylite Savinz Tyme is kinda NICE!
Tyme fur da BigBed ...

NITERZ!!


..

[Cincy'sMom]

Sorry your swim didn't work out!! At least you had fun rompin in the park!!

I thought about pulling the pool out on Saturday, but Ralph said it wasn't warm enough yet

[Rachel]

Sorry you all missed the best part of the day for your outing. I guess the Kat didn't come through with cooking the steak for breakfast either.... But ripping and running in the park without being Y-d up....that had to be a blast. And just be glad Dad didn't make a dive for the Big Bed when he came home after all that morning activity.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Aw, sorry you didn't get a swim but a toe dippin and wadin sound pretty good too. The snooze sounds the best though!

Can kat cook? He would probably eat it all!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Sorrie we'z been a bit *remiss* in UppyDatin onna Bowzer Tailz -
been a lil *bizzie* round da Ranch of late!

So How'z He Doing - REALLY??

He's doin JEST **FINE**!!
Eben da KAT thinkz he's "OK"!!

Matter a fakt - iffn da Kat had any say inna matter -
Bowzie wuld get ta "stay" an ole Cinnerz an SmokeMutt
wuld get *da BOOT* fur bein such Painz inna Kat'z @$$!

We HAVE had our share uv Trialz & Tribulations wiffa lil Guy;
but nuffin da kant be FurGiven aftur
a big <GRINN> anna few <WAVEZ> uvva Fliffie Tail!

Egg-zampulz inklude ...

Few weeks ago - anudder Huntin Trip ~
We all walked down ta get da mail ...
All three uv us <SAT> (well, Bowz <STOOD>) whilst Dad krossed da road
ta do da fetch outta da box.
Onna way back to da Howze, we all "de-toured" ober by da pond an
Dad got closer to da howz than we wuz... He called "Here, Guyz!".

Ebberbuddie <STARTED> ta "come" - till Bowz started <lookin> at Dad
an den ober atta WOODZ across da road...

Old Habbitz must be hard ta break ...
Da Urge ta HUNT gotz da best of ole Bowz ...
He headed fur da Road anna Woodz - Dad <Hollered> - Bowz stopped an
sorta came back ... Dad walked towardz him - <callin> ...
Bowzie <flipped & flopped> tween "come" an "go" ...

"Go Huntin" won out - Zippity-*ZOOM* an da ole Boy wuz across
da road an lookin fur "game" inna woodz!

Me (Cinnerz) an Dad started out onna footz - walkin an callin tween da
road anna woodz ... nuffin!

Dad sed "NUTZ!" (well he sed a few NAW-Tee wurdz, too) an we headed
back ta get da Bus fur a mo-bile search.
On Da Road Agin!
Onlee gotz a kupple howzes down an stopped ta <holler> -
Dad looked inna Lookin-Back glass an SEEZ da Bowz run across da
road aftur da Bus! Da lil Turkie wuz already back on OUR sidda da road!

Dad hopped out an opened da back door .. "C-mon, Bowz - HOPP IN!"
Course he hadda *pee* onna telly-pole an danze around a bit;
but he DID hopp rite in!
We took a lil *spin* around da block ta keep Bowzie thinkin da Bus
izza *Phunn Place* ta be ...
Dad wuz trying ta say "Happie - Gud Boy'z" tween <klenched toofiez>!

Dad ses he learned anudder Lessin - ta <WATCH> da SunBall!
It wuz jest gettin towardz "dusk" - dat must be da Bow'z most
Favorite Tyme ta GO Huntin!
Durrin DAY-lite, Bowz duz his outiez free azza Burd wiff us -
an <stayz> inna yard;
"dusk" an "dark" - he'z onna leash or da tether!
-------

An we had a kuppla "Ax-kadentz" inna howze!
Dunno when da furst wun happened - Bowsz usually stickz purdy KLOZE
ta Dad (he's a reel Velcro Dawg) - mitta been durrin da nite.
We woke up a week or two ago an wuz headed fur da frunt door fur an
outie when Bowzie trotted inna live/dine room an jest <hiked> a leg an
didda *PEE* onna rug sukker parked onna toss-rug!

OMG! Da <HOLLERIN> dat went on!
Bowzie got a <Fast Klip> to da tether an <BOOTED> out da door!
We heard Dad *fussin* an *HOLLERIN* fur a Long Tyme.
Durin Kleen-Up he found da FURST "Wet Spot" rite asside da
"fresh wun" - MORE *HOLLERIN*!!

Hazzint been anudder "wet spot" fur a long tyme;
but Dad <klipz> Bowz to ta BigBed foot (when he 'memburz ta do it)
in order ta reduce da "temp-tashinz" for Bowz ta wander at nite.
An Bowzie iz "en-kouraged" to "Stay OUTTA da waddur bowl!" aftur 9 PM!
------------------------

Dad keepz thinkin da Bowzer Boy has FINALLY learned to <SIT>!
(It'z *whishfull thinkin*, we think!)

Since he bekame a TREET-FREEK, Dad "in-sistz" he <SIT> to get a treet!
<SIT!>, Bowz! (Treet bein held rite in fronta hiz noze)

<BLANK STARE> frumma Bowz, Tail <wavin> like a flag inna wind.

<SIT>!, Bowz! (Continued Blank Stare, Tail <wavin>)

Now da "Approved by Dawggie Skewel" method of "encouragin" a <SIT>
iz ta reach down an under da rear end an <push forward> onna KNEE jointz -
which <foldz up> da rear legz - Dawg "hazta <SIT>!"

Well, iffin ya 'member, da Bowz izza bit "short inna legz" -
which means fur Dad ta be able to "reach under" he hazta get DOWN
onna floor ta have enuff arm ta almost touch da floor az he <sweeps>
unner Bowzie's rear end an tries t <find> da knee jointz!

Dad found a New Way - "Dad Approved"!
Since Bowz has a BUNCHA FURR - which sorta "standz up" stedda
layin down flat - it makes a Great "HANDLE" back there onna RUMP ~

So NOW da <SIT> Drill goez sumpin like diss ...

Step 1:
"<SIT!>, Bowz" - alluz followed by da <Blank Stare>,
<wavin> Tail, an All Four firmly planted inna purfikt <STAND>!

Step 2:
Dad attachez left hand-paw to a paw-full of Bowzie Rear-End FLUFF,
and gently <pullz> Back & Down ...

Step 3:
<*PLOP*> an Bowzie folds up into a PURR-fikt <SIT> ebery tyme!
(Fluffie Tail eben pickz up a lil speed!)

Step 4:
"GOOD <SIT>, Bowz!!" (Treet presented an <Gobbled>!)

Step 5:
Firm Grip <released> on Rear-End Fluff ...

Step 6:
(mid gobble) - the Rear-End <springs> back up to a <STAND> pozition!

Step 7:
Dad =

Da SKORE??
In 4 months, an about a THOUZAND <SIT> Drills -
aktual <SIT>z wiffout "assistance" = THREE
"Assisted <SIT>z" = 997!

An dont tell Dad - but doze THREE "successful <SIT>z" are "suspect" ...

Bowzie izint a big "Jumper" - not verry oftin duz he <jump> up or
eben <reach up> wiffa frunt pawz - "4 onna Floor" iz fine wiff him!
BUTT ~
Ebery Wunst inna while he getz all wound up an triez ta immytate
us Big Dawgz doin our <SIT> - <BEG> - <Shake> an <KISS> drill
dat WE hafta do da get a Louzie Bisquit ...

He sorta duz a lil <jump> ta get da Frunt End UP fur da <BEG> part;
anna Back End kinda KO-lapsez inta a sorta <SIT> ~
then he sorta <stays> there, thinkin he Dun da Trick!

Well ... Dear ole Dad jest goze *BALLISTIK wiff JOY*!!
"He DUN it!! ~ He <SAT>!! ~ GUD <SIT>, Bowz!! ~ Have anudder treet!"

GUD GRIEF!
Ya'd think he Wun da Lottery!

Stay Tuned ~
We'z purdy sure there'll be More Bowser Tailz ta come!

..

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Good to see another Bowzie tail! I was going through withdrawl!!!

I bet he learns to sit someday! Just you wait!

Bowzie, no more hunting trips, ok? The weeds in the woods will be getting tall and wif your short legs, you might not be able to see where you are going.

[Dixieland Dancer]

I've missed Bowzie tails too! Phred, there is an easier way to teach the sit command without pushing on the dogs rump. Try this...

Induce the sit by holding a tidbit between your index and middle finger in front of Bowsers nose. Slowly move it above and behind his head (just above his head - not too high), luring him into a sit position. Click (if you use clicker training) or praise and immediately reinforce him with the tidbit when he sits.

Repeat this several times until he sits smoothly and quickly when lured into position. Then, start giving the sit command just prior to inducing the sit. I always shape the behavior before putting a verbal command to it. It's less confusing to the dog.

Keep those Bowzie stories coming!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Dixieland Dancer

Induce the sit by holding a tidbit ... in front of Bowser's nose.

Slowly move it above and behind his head
(just above his head - not too high),
luring him into a sit position.

... praise and immediately reinforce him with the tidbit
when he sits.

Repeat this several times until he sits smoothly and quickly
when lured into position.

I read that book, too, Candy!

But so did Bowser!
HIS Edition must have had an extra Chapter -
"How to NOT *fall* fur da Treet Trick!"

He can turn himself into a PRETZEL *watchin* the treat pass over his head!

"Not Too High" ~ I can RUB it tween his eyes and ears -
and he NEVER *stumbles* a bit!
Smooth as Silk - he'll look UP till his head won't GO any more UP -
then a quick TURN to keep the ole Treet IN Sight ...

But <SIT> ??

Maybe I could try tying a rope around his back knees -
a lil <tug> onna ropey from the front ....

Aw heck; who needs Anudder Dawg that can <SIT>?

I already GOT Two that can do THAT Trick!

/s/ Phred

[zippy-kat]

When he was REALLY little (probably a month after they got him), I tried to teach him to "say his prayers" (from a sit put his front feet on the porch steps, and duck his head between his front paws). Out of 1000 tries, how many times did he do it unassisted? ONCE!

I feel your pain!