Vicious Buddies

Ratchet’s Report:

Remember in the last post that I mentioned that the kid is teething? Oh boy, has he got it bad! He chews on anything that gets within mouth range, including me, and those baby teeth are pointy. But I take my job as big brother very seriously, so I persevere in spite of the fact that I am turning into a puppy pin cushion.



We are currently working on “fierce dog” skills, which involves a lot of wrestling and plenty of mouth-fencing. Now for you humans out there, mouth-fencing is an important aspect of the early training of a good guard Corgi. There are four basic parts to mouth-fencing training that every good instructor knows: 1) the play bow, so the other guy knows it’s all in good fun; 2) the roll-over to lure the opponent into thinking you’re giving in; 3) flashing of the teeth (open mouth as wide as possible), accompanied by ferocious growling; and 4) the “death bite” delivered to the neck, leg or body.

You have to be careful with that last one, so you don’t hurt the other guy. And, of course, when the other guy’s had enough, he squeaks “uncle,” and everybody play bows and returns to a neutral corner.

The kid is really crazy about training and wants to do it all day. I love it, but after three or four hours, I just want a break. So, I get up on the couch and tell him to go annoy Mommy Shar or clean up the back yard.

It’s tough being a good doggy daddy, but rewarding. I recommend it to any other dogs out there who are on the fence about getting a puppy. Great exercise and you can blame all your bad behavior on the kid. Good times.

Clank’s Report:

My big brother is the coolest! He’s teaching me mouth-fencing and chase and tug-o-war and all kinds of good stuff. I so look up to him. I follow him everywhere and kiss his chin so he knows how much I adore him.

It’s funny, but sometimes he just growls at me, gets up on the couch and goes to sleep. What’s with that, anyway?

I suppose sometimes a guy just has to crash. After a long day, I do, too.

Down on the Farm

Ratchet’s Report:

Last Saturday we had some serious fun. We all got in the big truck and went for a ride to visit Uncle Spencer and Auntie Linda at their fabulous farm. It’s got roses and fruit trees and its very own pond and lots and lots of room for a dog to stretch his legs and run. I heard the Moms say it’s five whole acres. We also got to see their Boston Terrier, Stormy.

While the people were visiting, I looked around the house and it seemed to me that it needed something to give it that warm, lived in feeling. So I cocked my leg and blessed the wall and a suitcase. Dog, you’d think I ate someone’s cat the way everyone reacted! Mom put me on a leash and I had to sit under the table and listen to a lot of boring people conversation.

Stormy and Clank were living it up, playing all over the house and I was just stuck under the table. I had to step in when things got a little out of hand between them and break it up, but it was just a friendly game of “eat your head.”

Stomy’s the official farm dog and he showed Clank around the place. I’ve been there before, so I decided to hang around with the family so they wouldn’t feel abandoned.

Clank and Stormy have a lot in common, since they’re both obsessed with sticks. The thing is that Stormy’s idea of a stick is a tree limb about eight feet long. So, he got the kid to pick up one end of a tree branch and he grabbed the other and they carried it around together. I could hardly believe it.

Of course, I got lots of hugs and scritches from Uncle Spencer and Auntie Linda, and I gave so many kisses & cuddles to Auntie Linda she said I was like a therapy dog. I really like Auntie Linda.

Then the kid showed up with Stormy and we had some fun playing tag. Dog, can that Boston run! Clank’s tongue was practically dragging on the ground from chasing him. What a great time.

Clank’s Report:

I had the greatest experience last weekend. I met Uncle Spencer & Auntie Linda and their dog Stormy. He is like the most amazing stick guy in the world, and he runs like the wind.

He’s really a great host, too. He showed me all around his yard, and then we ran back and forth like silly nuts for awhile until I had to go get some water or I’d pass out. Whew!

The very best part was when he taught me how to carry a REALLY BIG STICK. I mean this was so big it must have been a whole tree. No lie, it was HUGE. I hope I get to see him again real soon and talk some more about sticks. He promised he show me how to carry big rocks next time I visit. I can hardly wait.

A Visit to the Vet

Clank’s Report:

I got shot on Saturday. …Kidding, boy did I have you going, huh?

I had to go see my doctor at Banfield Pet Hospital & get my final puppy vaccinations. I’ve decided I don’t like shots almost as much as I don’t like getting my temperature taken. What’s with sticking something up my butt? Don’t people know that’s where stuff is supposed to come out, not go in?

The cool thing was that Ratchet came along this time so he could meet Dr. Kienle. She’s my doctor and she’s the greatest. She totally loves Corgis and has a Pembroke girl of her own. Ratchet says he’ll overlook the Pembroke thing since she’s so nice and is thinking of getting a Cardigan after meeting us.

She gave me a cookie for being a good boy and Ratchet got one ‘cause he made his ears perk up for her. That part was fun, so I guess going to the vet isn’t all bad.

Toy-o-rama

Ratchet’s Report:

Anybody who knows Corgis knows that we are world-class organizational professionals. I am the top organizational dog at the Happy Puppy Park, despite what those Pembrokes might say about it. Like anyone without a tail could organize anything!

And if you live around humans, you understand why. Yeesh, they are sooo disorganized. Fortunately for our Moms, they have me. We are really making some inroads around our house now that I have my apprentice, Clank.

I’ve been training him up, and he’s doing some great work in the back yard. So far, he’s found lots of sticks, leaves, pine cones, pieces of siding left over when my Mommy Annie & Uncle Spencer built Mommy Shar’s art studio, a few darts from an old dart board, a piece of ancient electrical cord, and a number of rocks.

He keeps bringing the garden shoes and gloves in, but I’ve told him those are supposed to stay outside. I try to give the kid some slack because he’s young and distractable.

We decided to re-organize the toy box last week with a little help from our Moms. First, we hauled all the toys out to the living room and spread them around the floor. Then we looked them over carefully and made two piles: keepers and “too yucky to have in the house.”

The Moms seemed to think an awful lot of our toys fell in the latter category, so Clank and I had to fetch them back out of the box and put them on our keeper pile. That took awhile, since the Moms didn’t agree with us, but we finally got the job done and we’re pretty happy with the results.

Clank’s Report:

I’ve been studying up on organization with my big brother. It’s lots of fun and I think I’m getting pretty good at it. He says I’m a “natural,” except when my teeth hurt and I can’t think of anything but chewing on stuff.

My favorite lesson was going through our toys and picking the ones we like best. What a blast! The Moms helped by taking some of our favorites and putting them in one pile so we could go get them and put them back in our pile. Then they’d put them in the other pile again and we’d do it all over.

Ratchet says I can be his ‘prentice when I get a little older and go to doggy daycare. I can hardly wait! I don’t know what a ‘prentice is, but I bet it’s really cool.