Holiday Cheese

Clank's Report:

We had a really great day today. The Moms climbed up in the attic and got down a whole bunch of boxes and bags and stuff. Ratchet & I ran all over the back yard and played chase and roll the Corgi.

By the time we got back in the house, there was neat tissue paper to play with and all kinds of stuff to sniff in the boxes. Ratchet told me he thought maybe it had something to do with Santy-Paws. I asked him who that was but he just rolled his eyes. Ratchet told me I'd find out when I open my stocking on Christmas morning. Then he snickered.

Then Mommy Annie put this really goofy thing around my neck that Ratchet said made me look like a court jester. It didn't fit too good, so that came off. They tried putting some reindeer antlers on Ratchet, but he kept trying to rub them off his head.

Things really started looking up when the Moms put on our Christmas neckerchiefs (that's what Ratchet calls them). They had us sit on our dog bed in front of the fireplace and took a whole bunch of pictures. Of course, there's no way we would have sat still for that long without....wait for it...CHEESE!

Everytime we sat still and looked nice for the camera, we each got a piece of string cheese. We were all set to sit still for the rest of the afternoon, but Mommy Shar said she got a couple good ones, and that was that.

I'm sorry they stopped giving us cheese, but I do like the picture. The only thing I still wonder about is this Santy-Paws guy. It must be something good, 'cause Ratchet is looking up at that stocking hanging on the mantel and he keeps smiling. Guess I'll just have to wait & see.

No Balls on Thanksgiving

Ratchet’s report:

We had a great Turkey Day last week. There was a nice walk and good smells all day, and then we had a really good dinner. Me and the kid had some turkey and stuffing on top of our kibble. Yummy!

We all gave thanks for the many blessings of the year, including the arrival of my little brother. I hate to say it, but I guess I am grateful for him, too. He really cheered me up after my big brother Jive went to the Rainbow Bridge.

But I gotta admit I’m really thankful that they got rid of that ball of his. We’ve gotten back to all our usual games and romps, except when the Moms get all fractious at us because he’s supposed to keep quiet because he’s still healing. Judging from the speed he races up and down the hallway, I’d sure hate to see what he’d do if he wasn’t convalescing. The kid is going to break the sound barrier any day now.

So, I’m pleased to report that everything’s back to normal now that the aberration of the ball has been taken care of. And this morning, we each got a treat from a dog Advent calendar, which is some sort of cardboard thingy with treats hidden behind little doors. Cool, huh?

Clank was hoping it was going to last all year, but I explained it’s only until Christmas. Then the kid asked me what Christmas is and I really had to laugh. He’s in for a big surprise in a few weeks.

His latest insanity is that he’s sending a picture of his butt to the Toreth blog (that’s his breeder), challenging his siblings to an exchange of fanny pictures. He claims he has a really cute butt, but I think he’s just compensating for not being able to sniff their butts like a proper Welsh gentleman.

Ouch!

Clank’s Report:

I had the most dreadfullest experience yesterday. I went to the hospital and they shaved a bunch of fur off my tummy and my leg and then attached this weird tube thing and I got real tired and fell asleep. Next thing I know, I wake up with the most ginormous band-aid around my middle and my tummy is kinda sore, and my ball is missing! I don’t know what to think of that. Who’d want to steal my ball? It’s not like anybody else could use it or anything.

I had to wait a real long time for Mommy to come get me, and when she got there, I was so ready to go home. She looked real worried about something and she gave me lots of loves, and carried me to the car. I guess she missed me as much as I missed her.

I didn’t get the whole story until we got home and Ratchet explained it to me. It turns out that I didn’t have just the one ball. I had a whole other ball that was growing inside me. And Bianca (my nurse who totally loves Corgis) told Mommy that it was HUGE – the biggest ball they’d ever seen inside a puppy – Labrador size. I guess balls aren’t supposed to grow until they get outside, but this one had another idea.

And then Dr. Kienle told Mommy that it had wandered off into my ‘testines and wrapped around stuff and it was really hard to find and if they hadn’t taken it out it would have been real bad for my digestion (whatever that is). But she found it and now I don’t have a Labrador ball anymore. Ratchet says I can still tell all the guys at Puppy Park that I had the biggest ball in Corgi history. He says I get “bragging rights.” I hope they include cookies with that.

This morning we went back to the hospital and they checked my blood and everything is fine. So they took off my band-aid and I found out I have this really neat scar up my middle. That’s totally cool because I not only have my doggy pirate collar but I have a scar to go with it.

Avast, Matey. Now I think I need a hat.

He Got Ball

Ratchet here to report on a very disturbing development. I’ve been pretty patient about the Wart. I’m a very understanding guy, despite what my Mom might say.

I put up with his annoying habit of waking me from a sound sleep barking about wanting to play chase. I let him nip me on the leg and the chest and the butt until I can’t stand it anymore, and then I chase him down and chew on his ear for awhile, which he seems to like. I’m even willing to overlook his newly acquired habit of latching onto my tail with his teeth so I drag him around the house like a furry caboose.

But I am telling you that I have hit my limit with this latest offense. A few weeks ago I noticed that something smelled different in the house and not in a good way. I traced it back to the Wart, who suddenly was sporting a new appendage. Yep, I know you other dogs know what I’m talking about. While I wasn’t looking he went ahead and sprouted a ball!

Now I do give him a couple points because he’s only got the one, but still. This is just too much for a nice fella like me to bear. How come he gets to have a ball when I haven’t seen mine since I was just a puppy? It is totally unfair.

I told Mom exactly what I thought in no uncertain terms. First she told me to quit barking at the top of my lungs and then she said not to worry about it, it was only temporary. But I’ve been watching this thing and it just keeps getting bigger. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t have two – he’s just going to grow one GIANT BALL. I tell you, it makes a guy nervous just thinking about it.

Well, anyway, Mom told me tonight that Clank is going to see Dr. Kienle tomorrow and when he gets home he won’t have a ball anymore. I sure hope so. I’m a wreck and I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this. Just yesterday he barked at me and his voice dropped at least an octave. I’m worried he’ll start growing and turn into a Rottweiler or something. I’m praying he comes home a nice ball-free Corgi tomorrow afternoon. Whew.

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.

Making Friends

Ratchet’s Report:
I never thought I’d say this, but it’s been a good couple of days. Despite the fact that Clank is kind of a pest (he follows me around all the time looking at me with this dopey look on his face), we’ve been doing some cool stuff.

I was kind of worried that my Moms were going to toss me in the trash now that they’ve got this brand new guy, since he’s so cute and all. But my Mommy Annie is so great; she took me on a really long walk, just her & me yesterday morning. And my Mommy Shar let me sit with her on the couch and gave me lots of attention, even when Clank was around. I felt much better after that.

Of course, Mommy Shar stopped petting me every time I growled at Clank, so I figured out pretty fast that I should knock that off. Sigh.

Then all three of us (me, Jive and Clank) took a walk with the Moms, and I gotta tell you, that Clank is hilarious. What a goof! Jive and I were just doing our usual thing, trotting along, and this little nutjob would come running up alongside us at about 100 mph with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and a really silly grin on his face. I had a hard time looking stern at him. After all, a guy has to maintain a certain level of decorum on a walk. You don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of all the other dogs in the yards & houses along the way.

The coolest thing I’ve discovered about having a puppy along is that people go out of their way to come up and pet you. It’s like he’s an affection magnet. We got loves from the lady who lives on the corner, and our neighbor Mike called his wife, Carolyn, out to see the little dude. Naturally, Jive and I took full credit for the new arrival, and everyone thought we were great guys.

The only beef I have is that the little furball has weaseled his way into the bedroom at night, while Jive and I are stuck in the living room and kitchen. I did my best pouty face and Mommy Annie has been falling all over herself to make me feel better. I’m trying to work my way onto the bed tonight. Keeping my digits crossed.


Clank’s Comments:
Things have been really good here up until this afternoon.

I think I’m getting the hang of my potty training. I’ve been watching my big brother Jive, and he even came outside with me and Mommy in the middle of the night and reminded me to do all my business before I go back inside. He’s so smart! Today Mommy Shar said she was so proud that I went outside all by myself to piddle after breakfast.

I think Ratchet is coming around. We’ve bumped noses a few times, and he lets me follow him around so I can learn the rules. Sometimes he gets crabby with me and shows me “the fang,” but I take it in stride. I’m such a nice guy, he’s just gotta love me.

Yesterday I had a big adventure when we went to Natural Pet Northwest. It’s a really neat store and everything there is really good for dogs and cats, and the people are so nice they gave me a bunch of free treats. It doesn’t get any better than free food. They said I could come back any time.

We had to get me a collar for walks. My nifty blue harness doesn’t work so well when Mommy is trying to teach me how to walk on a leash – I can’t figure out what she wants. So, she got me a red collar that goes with my flex-lead and it’s got doggy pirates on it, with real eye-patches and everything. I feel so cool when I am wearing it.

We took two whole walks yesterday and today. I never knew about walking on a leash, but I think I’m getting the hang of it now that I have my new collar. Must be the pirates. I walk with Mommy Shar while Mommy Annie and the other guys go ahead, then I race up next to Ratchet and Jive really fast. I usually find something interesting to look at or sniff, so they get ahead of me, and I do it all over again. Mommy Shar says it’s my “robics” or something like that. I just think it’s fun.

I met some nice people and found lots of trees and bushes to piddle on, and best of all, I saw a real fire hydrant. What an upscale neighborhood! I also barked at all the dogs in all the yards.

I don’t know what I did, but for some reason, the Moms decided to torture me by taping my ears this afternoon. And every time I scratch at the tape, they put my foot on the floor and say, “No!” Mommy Annie told me I have a lazy ear and it needs to be taped so my “cart-ledge” can get stronger. Where is this cart and why is it on a ledge, anyway?

A New Home

Today was the start of my big adventure. My name is Clank and I’m a whole eleven weeks old today. So, I got to move to a new forever home. I’m really going to miss my family at Toreth, but I had lots of hugs with everyone and said goodbye to my brothers and sisters, so they know I love them.

I met my new Moms and my two big brothers and I rode in a really huge truck and got a neat new harness-thing and a stuffed sheep and my very own dinner bowl and a crate with a really soft fleece bed in it and it was fun!

My brother Ratchet is a Corgi like me, so I don’t feel quite so bad about leaving my Mommy Kayla and my littermates. At least we talk the same language. Boy, he is really grumpy! I keep talking to him and he keeps grumbling at me. He really got cranky when I tried to play with his rolly-ball, but I figured I should get some of those treats that fall out of it on the floor. That’s okay. I’ll just keep talking Corgi to him and pretty soon he’ll come around.

The other guy is a ginormous old yellow Lab named Jive. He’s been pretty nice to me, though he did bark at me when I got up in his face. I’ve been trying to sniff his butt, but it’s way over my head and he wags his tail all the time – I’m afraid I’ll get a concussion. He did let me sit on his bed with him, though. He’s a really good sport.

My new Moms are really cool, especially Mommy Shar. She gives me lots of pets and goes with me everywhere. I even learned to sit and sit up already. That’s really cool ‘cause you get treats when you do stuff you learn.

The other really great thing about my new home is that there are more stuffed toys here than at PetsMart. So far, I’ve played with a monkey and a duck in a little roadster and some other ones, too. The best one was a blue and yellow octopus with lots of legs I can pull on. I liked it so much I had to run all over the room as fast as I could with it. I tried playing with Mommy’s shoelaces, but she gave me the stink-eye, so I got my duck instead.

I’ve been having so much fun, I had to take two naps! Man, this is the life.

A Really Big Day

My name is Ratchet. I’m a Cardigan Welsh Corgi and I live in a nice house with my Moms and my big old brother, Jive. He’s a Lab, but he’s ancient, so he doesn’t play with me. He mostly sleeps all day.

Today was amazing. My Moms and I took a really long drive. I saw lots of interesting things out the window and after about a hundred years, we finally arrived at this really cool place called Toreth.

They have sheep and a whole herd of Corgis like me. They also have a really neat bulldog named Gus. He and I bumped noses and he was a very nice guy.



The puppies were pretty cool, except I think some of them must have gotten into fights and broken their ears, because they were all wrapped up with masking tape. Sure glad I didn’t meet the guy who won the fight!

I got to meet a lovely lady named Léo Washburn and her daughters. I put the old smooth moves on them and we were all friends in no time. We even had cuddles on the couch. I love dog people!



Then for some completely unexplained reason, my Mommy Shar took one of the Corgi puppies and put him in the truck and we drove away with him. I had to bark at every single car we saw on the way home, just so he’d know I’m in charge.


They tell me this guy is my little brother, Clank. I guess he is sort of cute, but I’m hanging close to my Mommy Annie and letting this interloper know that he’s not going to get away with anything on my watch (I grumble at him). Mommy Shar says I better be nice, ‘cause I’m supposed to be the big boy and have good manners. That is sooo unfair.