Winnie

It has been so long since I have posted and I have nothing but bad news. I ran into my old pal Scooter today and she told me her sister Winnie passed to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.
Scooter and her peeps are of course very sad. I will miss Winnie very much. She was one of my favorite black labs. She was the one that told all the younger labs to allow me that "honorary lab" day I had last summer down at the river.
Dog Speed Winnie! "till we will meet again my best dog friend forever. You will be missed.
Merlin the Sad

Whats up with the peeeps?

So. I know it has been a while. My bonus person finally helped me today.

The peeps send me to my doggie trainer for a few days. Boy it was doggone great. Puppies and woods and running and playing. I am not sure where my peeps went but they talked about a lot of buildings, one big park, a huge lady holding a torch and seeing something called "Wicked". Not sure what that is but my girl and bonus person have been singing songs every since!

The day after they come home my person goes to the building where there are a lot of people vets and she still has not come home. No walks. No dog park. What is a Merlin to do? My bonus person and the girl leave in the morning, come home at night. They have been feeding me and letting me pee and poop. Oh yeah, they have been great with the snuggles. I have been worried about my person. Everytime my bonus person and my girl come home I wait... and wait... still no person. It makes me a little sad. How can I show off my beautiful tail this spring if I don't get to the dog park!!!

My bonus person did bring me (and only me) to a thing called the "dyke" today. Boy, was Mimi MAD!!!! Also, shhhhh, hee hee hee, she forgot the nose masher and I didn't say a thing!!! My bonus person had a tennis ball and I got to run after it up and down the hills. I saw one beagle. He was on lead so we couldn't run. I forgot to ask his name!! I had NO bad manners. The perfect puppy!!!

Time for my morning nap. My bonus person told me not to expect to see my person for a few more days. Hurry home person... I know you are the dog park Mom but I MISS you too!!!

Merlin the bewildered

Long Time No Post

Hello my dog park pals. sorry I have not posted in so long. My person was having trouble walking so I got stuck at home. We have been to the park a few times but not everyday. My person is moving better and that is good news for me and Mimi.
the few times we have been to the park I was a complete gentledog. You would not have even known I get grumpy and cranky!
I have been to Grinning Dog too. I am going again on Saturday until Sunday. sleep over with the Aussies' ! Woo hoo!
I will be writing this blog for one full year on the 31st of this month. I have been thinking it might be a good time for me to stop and move on with my behavioral training and snuggleness.
I might take the years blog and turn it into a diary for a year in the life of Merlin sort of thing. I am bouncing a bunch of ideas around in this dog brain
Merlin the Thinker

Mushy, Muddy, Slushy, Wet, Hooray

(Exploring the woods again)

(Mimi's award)

Feeling a little smug after her big win yesterday, Mimi and I joined together for her first big trip to the park after her final surgery and staple removal. She is all back to herself and ran like the wind. It was so good to be with her running. We chased a big fat squirrel together. It was so fun. That squirrel must have had a really good stash of food over the winter. They are usually really skinny when the Spring comes. Spring it is a coming. The first thing I heard when we got to the park was a really loud Wood Pecker. that little guy had his beak on a good piece of tree and was going crazy nuts oh, tap, tap , tap. that is a really good sign. We saw lots of birds today. I do not know their names but I do know they are blue and red and orange. Don't forget that I am not color blind like my canine buddies.

(Merlin in the woods)

Anyway, we saw Winston (black lab) on our way down Chipmunk Ally. We were going really slow because it was so icy! Mimi and I were OK of course but my person does not have the 4 leg thing going on. Plus they cover up their nails with shoes so how ya gonna get a good grab on the ice. It is always so confusing to me.

Winston was chasing a ball thrown with the "chucker". I went running too and so did Mimi. I could not get a hold of the ball because of the nose nabber but hey, I was a contender.

Off we went and down by where you first get to the water it was all mud. That was full of smells and wonderful growing stinky stuff. Right away though it got icy again. Mimi and I did some exploring in the woods. Ahh, just like old times. She is already sound asleep after her big return to the park.

We saw the 2 Aussie dogs that I really like. I ran with them for a few minutes. They said that yesterday was even more slippery than today. YIKES. As we got to the beach Mimi and I actually went down to the shore line and drank from the cool river. I can not wait to just jump right in.

My person made a strategic decision to turn us around instead of heading up the big hill. We went back and went up the big hill by the bench. That was almost without ice at all. Mimi and I ran together on the hill and played like crazy. Just dog gone fun. running, rolling, sliding, sniffing. It is great being a dog.

The final path that is My Person's favorite, was really slippery. We all managed to move forward and get through with out any falls. Off we went into the car and now I am home and ready for a nap. Things are getting back to normal here at my dog house. By the way, Jessie is still hanging in there and being adored. the other day she jumped right over the top of Mimi while she was sleeping. I think she forgets how old she is sometimes.

I smell like mud and I am happy.

Merlin the Satisfied

Mimi is Fluffiest

My sister Mimi won first place in the youth entry for Fluffiest dog at the VINS~March Forth with your dog dog show. Guess what the name of the Dog was that one for the adult entry. MERLIN. He was a big fluffy collie! Oh yeah, we got this category sown up! Now, all three of us have won ribbons in this show! What FUN!

What A Morning

Well, let me just start by saying this.... Spike, Harry, Ricky, Tad, Mikko, River, Olive, Mel, Kaya, Nikita, Clementine, Delhi. Those are all the dogs I saw and behaved well around this morning. I might just get back to being my old self yet. I did have to run one dog off because she was hyper and kept running into My Person's legs which is bad for everyone but it is my job to protect those legs. I mean without them, where do my paws get to go?

The River is running free and I am happy to see that. It is still too high, fast and cold to jump into but it is looking promising. The little creeks are unfrozen and flowing and I took full advantage of a little icy cold snow run off drinks. It was fabulous. I was not put on lead at all this morning (except by the parking lot, of course). I am still wearing the snout smasher but I think My Person definitely noticed how well behaved I was. Hooray!! This could be good for me.

free running creekMerlin right after creek drink

Plus I need to tell you I was facing some of my biggest anxiety producing challenges today. Mikko (Rhodesian Ridgeback) came bounding at me with a big lets play charge. Now, lately that has sent me into a Merlin zany frenzy but today I sort of enjoyed it. I played with him a little after the customary butt sniff. I don't even know that guy. No weird Merlin at all. Olive (Rat Terrier) is a small feisty girl. I do know her but have not seen her in awhile. Even her littleness and spunky attitude did not freak me out. Good going Merlin.

I got cheese treats galore and did not hear Merlin! No! at all. My person was clearly pleased with me. In fact she dropped her glove in the way back seat with me and I did not even eat it. Now, that should have earned me a place in the good boy hall of fame.

It was so warm today we did the big lop and by the time we were leaving the parking lot was full of people mobiles. There are good signs of Spring in the air and I am willing to welcome that doggone it!

Merlin the Hall of Famer

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