Cold Again

It is so cold this morning that I knew My Person was not going anywhere. Mimi and I playedin the backyard. Don't tell the Special Vet because Mimi is still on restrictions. She will be off tomorrow.
Mimi is in the Volunteers in Northampton Schools annual "not your average dog show" competition on Saturday. She is going to be in the "Fluffiest" category. I hope she comes in the top 3. I won 3rd in most photogenic 3 years ago. Jessie won First and got her picture in the newspaper with Our Girl for Prettiest Eyes 2 years ago, plus she won second in "fastest Tail Wager 3 years ago. If you see what I am saying, Mimi is the only won without a ribbon! Good luck Sis!
I have to tell you that I had to chase my feline sister Janis this morning. She had the nerve to head butt one of my marrow bones. I had eaten all the marrow but it was still my bone. Silly cat, bones are for dogs.
Merlin the Homebody

Not A Two Way Street

Finally I got to the park this morning. I was afraid that it was to be a really short walk because it was COLD. The park did not seem so bad this morning and My Person and I had a long walk together.

We were not in the park long at all before something happened that seems to happen a lot since My Person got trained by the Camp Counselor/Peep Trainer. I got mad at hr. So here is the story. We were walking up the little incline right as you get into the park from the parking lot. Coming toward us was Boomer (Black Lab) with his person. Both of us were on lead. Boomer is a bouncy boy which is one of the things we have determined makes me anxious. In fact the last time we saw Boomer I charged him and made the scary noises. The nest day I had the nose nabber muzzle thingy. So, My Person apologizes for my Merlin the anxious behavior. Boomer is looking at me snickering and giggling that I got in trouble. Than, I hear his person saying "Merlin, I'm sorry you got a muzzle." "No harm no foul" " No problem at all." Still My Person keeps pointing out that for several months I have had this "problem" etc. I was like HELLO! He said I am a good boy. Are you listening My Person? Stop apologizing and take off this muzzle! He said it is OK. She just kept talking to the guy about my short comings right in front of Boomer. Finally, I decided to do what she does and in dog speak I said "Focus My Person!" Nothing. I try again "Focus" She kept right on like she did not even hear me. Of course, I had no cheese whiz to offer her but she could give herself some if she behaved well. Sometimes I wonder why this stuff does not work in both directions.

(Hill by the Bench with ski tracks)

After that we saw a dog that I did not know and we ran together at the top of the hill by the bench. That was fun. Awhile later we saw Mel (hound mix) but she was off running in the woods but when she came out she did not jump at me and I did not lunge at her. I heard Mel's person call us the "Muzzle Twins." Well, isn't that cute!

(Merlin after trying to rub off the nose nabber)

I saw Harry, Ricky (yellow labs), Denali (mix) and Tad (mini Yorkie) and we all said hello. As we left the park we saw Clementine (Black lab, old girl) and I just laid down while my person yapped to Clem's person. Soon Luna (Labradoodle) came charging but I was on lead and I did not even pull. Hey, I had a chilled walk today! Good for me. Hey, Mimi's staple removal is moved to Friday. Bummer for you Mimi!

Merlin the Silenced

Loney Dogs Club

I have not been to the park in days and tomorrow is not looking too good either. This time it is not even my fault! My person has that wobbly leg thing going on and I can not drive! So, tomorrow she is going to go do something to make her legs work better and I might get to go for a walk.
There have been some exciting things happening right here at Merlin's house. Our neighbors behind us are getting BIG, BIG trees cut down. The other day when I was napping they dropped a big section of the tree and our whole house shook. Both Mimi and I jumped up and started barking but at what? We looked around and ran to all the windows and there was nothing or no one to complain about. M Person kept telling me to relax but I was not buying it! Once I figured out that it was just the tree I sort of relaxed and dealt with it but I was ready willing and able to protect and serve.
We had a backyard full of saw dust but none of that matters now because we have more snow. I am having fun running in the snow and playing with Mimi and my person does throw my toys for me. I am really wanting to be back at the park on Wednesday, muzzle and all. Mimi gets her staples out Wednesday too so I think she can join us on Thursday!
Soon my family and walk time will be back to normal.
Merlin the Discombobulated

My Name is not Mud

So, here I am getting ready to go to the park. The picture is a little blurry but you can see that I have a great seat for traveling.

Yesterday we went to the park and I saw Rosie the chocolate lab. I thought she was a puppy but she is 3 years old. I was off lead and we said hello to each other with the usual sniff and nudge. It was a great feeling to be friends with a dog and not go into my Merlin the dominant routine. I ran and played and loved every minute of it. We walked the big loop and that is a good sign. Do you want to know another good sign? There are parts of the trails that are muddy. Isn't that great? No snow or ice, just mud!(muddy trail)

That means that it is that time of year when we can start thinking about Spring. If all goes well, Mimi will be back in the park next week so she can stop sniffing me when I get home. Thant would be good for me.

Yesterday the big hill was icy but my person had little trouble with her spikes on and did just fine with the climb. Today however she committed to the hill and realized half way that it was much more slippery today than yesterday. Merlin to the rescue. I ran right over to her and between me and her walking stick she got up to the top with out and falling or serious injure. Hooray for Merlin who got cheese as a prize.

(View after you get up the big hill into the top fields)

Yesterday I almost got my snout smasher ripped off. I was so happy but my good 'ole hawk eye, Person saw what I was up to. She took off my muzzle and I was free. This was fine until from behind me came Mel (hound mix) and up ahead came Lola (black lab) and the both charged right toward me. This is my highest level of anxiety. My person got my muzzle back on just in time. I did make scary noises and chased both Mel and Lola. Lola laid down and gave up right away but Mel always stands her ground with me. I got the "focus" call and got put on lead. Mel and Lola and their peeps went one way and we went the other. Straight away I saw Kaya (I have been spelling it Kya but I was wrong. Pronounced KI~ya) Anyway, I was on lead and we very nicely said hello to each other which was good. She told me she was ferrell for about 6 months so she understands getting anxious and showing a little muscle now and then. Plus, Kaya's person talked about what a "good boy" I am. I like those 2 a lot.

So, both yesterday and today we saw a dog named Tarro (choc lab) She is young and very high energy which gives me that big time anxiety thing. Yesterday I was on lead and my person hung onto me really tight! Today, this person with her threw a tennis ball right in front of me and because I was on lead I could not even get into the game. No Fair!!! My Person even told them that in People Speak. Thanks My Person, I helped you on the hill and you pointed out hair ball behavior. We are 4 paws and 2 feet ahead of the game.

Merlin in the top fields)(Merlin muzzle free, temporarily)

While leaving today I saw Manny (black lab). We were near the parking lot so my person did not even let me say hello. I got into the car and my person talked to Clementine and Delhi's peeps in the parking lot. I waited sort of patiently even though I wanted to bark loud right in her ear!

It is a complete pawsability that I will sleep all day today!

Merlin the Freshly Walked and Pooped

Why is it Still so Cold

Good morning you wonderful pups and peeps. I have been a little cold even with my gorgeous coat on and dare I mention, my glorious tail. I feel like I have been telling you too much about my faults and not my assets. While I admit that I have been... well feisty. What does feisty mean really? Some see it as aggressive and touchy. I think I am just high-spirited, strong-willed, or confident beyond what I ought to be but I am still the same fabulous Merlin. People still say how handsome I am and the beauty of my tail has never been called into question. I think for my barkday I will ask for something that accents my tail in a way that will remind peeps and pups of its superior grandeur.

I need to mention Mimi to all of you. She is walking really well and when my person and I go to the park she gets really mad that she can not go. It will not be as long as last time. She should be back in a week or 2. I am much calmer when I go alone. It is a lot of pressure being charge of everything all the time.

I have had good walks lately but my person has had annoying people appointments so I have not been able to stay at the park long. She has promised that tomorrow we will go to the park and take out time and enjoy ourselves. I am going to have to bring out my puppy behaviors that made her crazy. You know like stealing things off of the bookcase and making her chase me around the sofa. I hope I do not have to resort to that but I might. Have a wooferful day.

Merlin is Just Checking In

I Want to Play

It was a beautiful day a the park today. The sun was out and it was easier to walk under foot.

Hooray for me and for all of you. I was a really good boy in the car today. I got off lead early and I ran away from my person. I ran over to a lab on lead. It might have been Boomer but I had my nose nabber on so it was OK. As we walked today we saw a woman with a dog we did not know so my person put me on lead. The dog was older and the person got nervous that I was going to be a jerk. My person talked to that person and we all just went our own way. I got off lead again and I saw Rosie (choc lab). She had her usual ball in her mouth. My person let me stay off lead. Even though Rosie is a young dog she does not make me get those scary I better be dominate sort of thing. My Person and Rosie's Person chatted about my snout snapper and my dominate pushy ways. She is a nice person and was really understanding ab out me behaving badly sometimes. Right after that we saw Nikita. I really wanted to play with her. She is a very fun loving little dog. I just love her. She is little and jumps in my face but I just want to play and play with her. She is the funnest little one. I can still play with my muzzle on but it is not as much fun. I hope next time I get to take my nose naber off and play with Nikita.

(Nikita the fun jumpy,little BDFF)

I saw Ridge (yellow lab) with a friend named Marley (yellow lab). I did OK but I ran after Ridgey because he kept jumping up on my person and being silly. With my muzzle on I did not seem nearly as scary. It still earned me a trip onto the lead. On the way out we saw another Chocolate Lab who was running all over the woods. There was a little Rat Terrier that was on lead too and looking for a way off. They seemed like fun dogs and I wanted to be the old Merlin so I could have fun.

When my person and I were leaving we saw Mel (hound mix) and Bella (Golden) getting out of their cars. They were on either side of my people mobile. My person put me in sit, stay. I stayed right there and did not pull or complain at all.

Mel has a muzzle too. She has it for the delectable poop treats. I knew as soon as I started wearing this thing it would be what every dog would want. I may have showed that I am not perfect but I am still a good example of some things to other dogs. I still got it.

Merlin the Trend Setter

Holy Break In Bat Dog

This is just an FYI session of Merlin's blog. We walked around the neighborhood today but the morning howl still reached my keen canine ears. Yesterday, I am not sure what time, a few people mobiles had their windows smashed in the parking lot of the Dog Park. See, I am always nervous around that area and now you know why!!! I am not sure of any further details but keep your really important dog toys hidden while your walking at the park.
I am sorry for the people and pups who had to return from a glorious walk to find that cat burglars had infringed on your private property.
Perhaps I could get a job patrolling the parking lot to make sure this does not happen again. Be careful out there everyone. Lets keep our Dog Park a happy and safe place for all!
Merlin the Security Guard