The Adventures of Verbier

Verbi, toy poodle puppy extraordinaire (27001 bytes)

Hi everyone! My name is Verbier Napoleon Goddard and this is my diary. To read last month's adventures, click here. If you want to talk to me, my Mom, or Dad, just email us at [email protected]. While you are here, check out my recommendations for dog training books, cool puppy toys, and dog related web sites.

I'm getting to be a regular at Camp Kennelwood. Last friday, Mom said "Verbi, you're going to camp." The next thing I knew....there I was....camping at Kennelwood. What fun! I had a GREAT report card from my counselor. She said I was "sweet and well-behaved." Mom said "that's a first." Anyway, while I was at camp, Mom and Dad went to Kansas City for a jazz festival. They thought the festival was awesome, but it was probably a good thing that I didn't go because Mom said it was unbearably hot the first day and the second day was completely wet with rain. They got to see Kenny Garrett and Maynard Ferguson. Pretty cool heh? I only wish they could have brought home some barbeque for me.

This weekend is supposed to be camp-free, but just as fun. Mom says the three of us are going to have an adventure this weekend - I just have to promise to be good. Hopefully, we will have pictures next week from our big adventure!

You'll never guess what I did this past weekend. Mom and Dad decided to send me to Camp Kennelwood for the weekend while they took a quick trip to San Diego to see Mom's grandma. I love camp. I got to play with other poochies, swim, eat ice cream (specially made for kids like me), and do loads of fun stuff. My camp counselor said I was very good and I got an excellent report card. Mom was pleased. I came home yesterday exhausted. Mom let me nap all afternoon while she caught up on work. Mom says if I am extra good, maybe I'll get to go back to camp soon :-) Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Two days of web postings in a row. That's a record for me! Hey, I've got a ton of stuff to update you on. As you know, Dad's Mamaw came to visit us this past week. She came to class with me on Saturday and said that I was NOT the worst one there. She was most impressed with me...she couldn't believe that a squirmy-worm like me could heel, sit, and stay (of course, Mom was not too please with my "stay" during class...what can I say? I'm little and I was tired by the end of class...plus, I had eaten all the Charlee Bear treats my tummy could hold). Anyway, here are some of the pictures Mom just got developed.

That dark picture on the right is a photo of the Pope passing by in his big limo. (Yes, it has taken Mom FOREVER to get this roll developed). The blue arrow is pointing to the Pope. If you squint your eyes just right, you might be able to make him out (he's the guy in the white, the guy with the read cap is the archbishop). Mom and Dad really got a pretty good look at the Pope when he came to visit.

Mom and Dad see the Pope in St. Louis on his way to the airport (13548 bytes)

Me, as a baby toy poodle and my Dad (13167 bytes)

Here's a photo of me and my Pops. (I told you this roll of film Mom just got developed was ANCIENT!) I'm a real shrimp in this picture. Dad's head is bigger than all of me put together. Mom and Dad can't believe how much I have grown in just 7 months. They never thought I would grow to be as big as I am now. Mamaw says Mom must be popping extra vitamins in my breakfast or something 'cause I've grown so much and have so much energy.

And here's a picture of me today. How handsome am I? I've got quite a spiffy hairdo. You can tell I've really grown up quite a bit from the picture above. The picture above was taken on my first night home. I'm probably 5 times that size now. Mom says if I grew any more that I would not longer be a toy poodle, they would classify me as a miniature poodle. I'm a pretty amazing poodle...if I do say so myself. Well, gotta run. This web posting stuff is exhausting work and I need a nap.

Verbi the amazing black toy poodle (17628 bytes)

What a week! My Dad's mamaw has been visiting us. I love her! She plays tug with me and Ellie, my stuffed elephant. Mamaw says I have more energy than 6 people combined! That's Mamaw in the photo on the left. Yep, that's the Gateway Arch coming right out of the top of her head. Mom's a great photographer you know (remember the top of the Popemobile picture?). It's not easy to get things coming out of people's heads as consistently as Mom is able to do in her photos. Dad says Mom has a great talent for photo composition.

Mom and I are in the photo on the right. As usual, I show up as a black smudge. Mom and Mamaw have toured the town this past week....visiting the New Cathedral, Arch, Botanical Gardens, Zoo, and Art Museum. Mom, Dad, and Mamaw even went to the Fox Theatre to see Victor/Victoria one evening. They obviously miss me tremendously when they tour the town in the mornings because every afternoon Mom and Mamaw come home. Mamaw and I get to nap in the afternoons. Well, gotta run. I'll write more later when I get some more time this week.

Verbi the amazing toy poodle and Mom (35087 bytes)

It has really gotten HOT in St. Louis. I only like to go outside in the mornings now. Mom takes me outside to keep her company while she waters her plants and snips herbs for dinner in the afternoon. I wish she wouldn't. It's too hot. Me, I prefer air conditioning. Mom says I'm spoiled. Dad says it shows I'm smart.

Speaking of being smart, Mom and I are still hard at work. There is quite a bit of homework in beginner's class. We are working on "heel" right now. For the last couple of weeks, I thought when Mom said "heel" she meant for me to jump up and down beside her while she walked. I'm getting the idea that jumping up and down is not exactly what she wants.

Well, it's time for me to get to work. We don't want to be the worst in class ;-)

What a day. I THOUGHT she was taking me to puppy day camp. WRONGO. Mom sent me directly to the groomer's first thing this morning. Yeehk! I got another bad report card from the groomers. I growled at her when she messed with my feet and then she muzzled me. Geez. Mom was not pleased with my rotten behavior at all....no day camp for me today.

Another hard week with my nose to the grindstone. Mom was most proud of me in my beginner's class last weekend. I was able to sit and stay during class despite all of the distractions. Dad was quite impressed. I'm no longer the worst dog in beginner's class...Mom says I'm now second worst (depending on who shows up for class). We've been working extra hard this week because Mom and Dad have friends who are going to visit us this weekend and I have to show them how extra good I can be.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad met my buddy, Jacque, who lives down the street. Jacque is a black standard poodle. He's huge....at least 10 times the size of me I think. After their visit, Mom and Dad decided I was the perfect size.

Oh. I'm finally going to get my haircut tomorrow. (That is always an ordeal!) Hopefully, there will be pictures to post after this weekend.

I've had a most successful week...at least that's what Mom said. I've lost every single one of my baby teeth and now, I have bright shiny white big boy teeth. They are snazzy. Dad really likes when I smile so he can see my shiny white teeth and Mom's got a pretty nifty collection of my baby teeth.

We sure have worked hard this week. Mom said I am not going to be the most rotten in class and so just about every day this week, we have worked on "sit" and "stay". Mom was extra-proud of me today because I was so good with my "stay" (of course, I don't think it hurt that Mom got something called a slip collar and has bought new liver treats called "Charlee Bear" that I LOVE). The true test is going to be tomorrow in school.

It certainly has not been easy being me lately. I've been going back to school and it's no picnic. Mom says I'm the youngest one in the class, but I'm still the most rotten. I can't help it. There is too much stuff going on in this class...all the poochies in the class are much bigger than me AND my classroom has a wall of mirrors (and I LOVE to look at myself in the mirror). The newest thing Mom wants me to learn is "Stay". That's a yucky thing to do and we have been working on it for a while now. I can't stand it. How can I "Stay" when Mom is off doing something interesting or there are other poochies to play with? Actually, just about anything is more interesting than "Stay." Speaking of interesting things, I got to watch movies this weekend. Mom and Dad rented "You've Got Mail" this weekend and there was a poochie on tv...I barked and barked and barked but he wouldn't come out to play with me. Mom says tv poochies can't come out to play like our next door neighbor Chloe...tv poochies are "just for looks." I really like watching tv. Next weekend, Mom says we can rent 101 Dalmations...just for ME!

You know why I haven't put up any new pictures lately? Mom says I need a haircut really bad, but she just doesn't have the time to take me. So, no photos until after my haircut....lest you think I smell, I did get a bath this morning. What an ordeal!

Whew! What a weekend I had. Mom and Dad took me to back to school again...as if puppy school wasn't enough. I've got a new teacher at beginner's school. Dad says I'm going to learn how to "stay." Mom says she's not too optimistic about my prospects...whatever that means. I made a new friend at school....his name is Max. Max's mom says he's a mutt from the pound. I like Max.

Lately, I've gotten to spend quite a bit of time outside. The weather has been really nice. During the week, when Mom works on her herbs outside, I get to go outside and help. Mom and Dad take me to Forest Park with them when they have picnics on sunday after church. I get to run around, roll in the grass, and people come over to visit with me. Dad says I'm spoiled because Mom brings bottled water just for me on our picnics. But I know that I can't possibly be spoiled because I'll share my water with Dad if he wants it.

I can't believe how time flies by. I'm going to be 6 months old on May 9. Hooray for me. Mom and Dad have kept me busy lately and I've got a bunch of pictures to show for it. Most of these photos were taken at a kite festival in Forest Park a couple of saturdays ago. The festival was a blast. There were hundreds of kites up in the air and a bunch of people brought their puppies to the park. I wish they would have a festival every week.