Zoe is here! For two weeks. Mom is taking care of her while her
parents are in Boston to dog-sit two human puppies who are called niece and
nephew. They have other names, too. Mom is also taking care of Josie, the
calico cat with an amazing belly on her. She spends time alone with Josie
every day and won't let Zoe or me into the cat room. I just know they are
having treats and belly rubs in there. I just know it!
Yesterday on our morning walk, Zoe and I found a dead opossum in the middle
of the road. I wasn't much interested - I mean, dead animals? please - but
Zoe really wanted to play with it. Mom told Zoe it was dead, but Zoe said it
didn't look flat to her. Mom tried to explain that there is flat dead and
there is puffy dead, and this possum was puffy dead. Zoe wasn't buying it,
but what do you expect from a city dog? We have to make allowances here.
Zoe is teaching me to play Siberian-style. This means running and jumping
and punching and playing Spithead and being VERY loud at the same time. I am
trying to be LOUD, but it's hard to remember to make noise when Zoe vaults
all the way over me. This morning we were Spitheading in the kitchen and
spilled the entire water bowl all at once with a great splash and a
pinging-zinging sound. Mom says the metal bowls make that sound when they
get bounced. Zoe wanted to do it again, but Mom said, Not today, and broke
out the towels. Mom is looking for a chamois (extra large size) for the
floor since we drool a lot, too. She says it will also come in handy in the
rainy season after our walks.
Two days ago Zoe taught me how to jump on the bed in the guest room. I like
to hang out in this room because it has a picture window and I can see the
street and bark. Well, Mom caught us and got really mad. Zoe said Mom
wasn't really mad, she just wanted to make a point. I thought we were going
to die. Zoe said Not to worry, and gave Mom her Who Me? look. I still
thought we were going to die. We didn't die. I am not quite sure what
happened, but we didn't die. I am NOT, however, going to jump on that bed
again. Ever.
Today, Zoe taught me how to jump on the couches, and this morning Mom let us
know that was not allowed either. Then she foiled us. Literally. She put
aluminum foil on the couches and it's really YUCKY to jump on the couch with
the foil. Zoe is working on this, and I can't wait to see what she'll come
up with. She is so cool!
Three days ago Mom was at work and Zoe and I were lying around in the outside
kennel. I was asleep. Zoe said, Hey, let's see how much fun it is to take
things apart. She proceeded to chew up the Canine Cooler we like to lie on
to stay cool. Water ran out of it and Zoe chewed up the foam and scattered
it around. She kept saying, This is fun, this is fun. Then she threw up.
Didn't look like fun to me. I thought Zoe was going to die when Mom got
home, but Mom didn't say anything except, Oh dear. Zoe's poop looked a
little funny the next day, too. Mom said she would keep a close eye on her
for the next few days, but Mom's eyes look open to me. Sometimes Mom
confuses me.
I can hardly wait to see what Zoe will teach me today. I am teaching Zoe to
bark, and Mom is teaching her to shake hands. I am teaching by example. Mom
is using the clicker. Zoe is not as smart as me, though, and she is VERY
easily distracted. But she is shaking hands ... and barking.
Sailor the bouncee and Zoe whose feet are made of springs
