here is a question you pet owners need to ask yourselves-Do We as your Pets really miss you when you are not around? I can speak for myself; YES! I really, really miss my mommy and daddy when they are not here. I can handle being alone for maybe an hour or so, but any longer than that, I want them back with me!

Shouldn't my mom and dad be focusing ALL of their energy towards me? I mean, when they go, shouldn't I be going with them? And why can't I go-what harm is it if I just tag along; at least I would be with them 24/7. Don't pet owners get us for companions?

When my mom and dad go and leave me alone, I try my best to really behave. But after a bit I get bored with them not being here, so I get creative. It started out innocent. One day they left their socks in my sight and reach, so I played a trick on them. I took their sock and hid them. I knew where they were, so when they got home, I would just grab those socks and run. I made them chase me around and before we knew it; it became a game of "Catch Me If You Can".

Now, the socks got boring, so I went after their extra pair of shoes. Again the same game was played. All fun-for a while. Heck even they would laugh and allow me to have my fun. Then one day I carried it just a bit too far and I got "hungry", so I decided to eat the inside of my daddy's shoe-well I didn't see anything wrong with that; it was an old pair of shoes. WRONG!! When they got home, I got punished and sent to my kennel. After a few times of that, I got the hing-NO MORE SHOES!!

So now it's time to work on mommy's chair. WRONG!! They didn't even think that was funny, and once again I got punished and sent to my kennel.

What's not fair about this whole ordeal, what use to be fun and games are no longer. It's their fault for allowing me to get away with it in the beginning, now I have to pay for their errors. They should have taught me right from the very beginning. I guess we all learn the hard way.

Well now that I have learned my lesson, I no longer go after shoes or the furniture, but I'm not done yet....Mom leaves an inhaler by the bed for at nighttime-well again I was left alone for a while and once again I got bored, so I found her inhaler-WRONG!! Now I have really done it. Not only was I punished and put in the kennel. Mom and Dad now said I went to far and I can no longer be trusted to be left home alone. oh by the way, I'm okay-I didn't get any of the medicine into my tiny little system.

So they rushed out and bought a bigger kennel for me. Mom doesn't like the closed in ones, so they have agreed on one that is a wire coated kennel. I have room to stretch a little, have a bed and my water in there. Whether it's for a short time or a long period of time, I am put in this kennel, no more freedom for me when they are not around-DARN!

They tell me I am more destructed now that I'm over a year old than what I was when I was only 9 months old. I think it's because it goes back what I said in the beginning. I'm around my mom and dad a whole bunch and when they leave, I really, really miss them. So I try to play with their stuff to I don't feel so alone.

I know they need a little break from me and I know that I can't go some places with them. But that still don't make it easy for me. They really take good care of me, and I enjoy being around them; specially when I can make them laugh!

Don't tell my parents, but I really like my new kennel. I feel safe and secure. Yeah, I miss getting into mischief, but I also know that eventually I'm liable to get a hold of something that really could hurt me, and I think I have put them through enough with some of my other scared tactics.

So to all of you pet lovers. Even though we may do something that is very funny and hilarious, take the time and think about if it's going to hurt us. It's not fair to us when you allow us to get away with one thing, and then the next day you punish us for doing the exact same thing. Don't send us mix signals. I'm sure any dog trainers reading this, would scold my parents...(and it would serve them right!)

Running in the Woods

I want to share with you my adventures in running in the woods.

Part one:

We got to Robinson Point Campground about the middle of March. Man! I don't think I have seen so many trees and wildlife. When I was flown down to Mission TX, I was living inside the city, with lots of vehicles and other dogs (some really nice ones, and some not so nice). Now I'm stuck out in the middle of nowhere; boy am I going to have fun exploring the wooded area around me! I wonder what mishcief I can find and what kind of playmates I will have here.

While down in TX, I did get away a few times, and I wouldn't let my daddy get me, but when mommy called, I would just jump into her arms, for I knew she would protect me. Now that I'm getting older and have a new adventure, well, we will just have to wait and see...

the first time I got away, I just ran around the outside of our camper, just seeing how far I really could run, but I didn't wonder far and I always came right to my mommy (and occassionally daddy). Then one day while out for our usual evening walk, Mommy thought that since I wasn't wondering too far from home, she would let me loose and see if I would stick around.

Well naturally I was in a curious mood that night, and instead of heading for our home, I went straight for the woods! I kept on going, and going, the farther I went, the more woods there was, and such different smells. Oh, I just didn't know which way I should go!

I finally heard the frantic note in my mommy's voice, so I thought that I should come back to her. I don't want her to think that I don't love her. But I sure would love to come back here again and check out this area some more.

Any chance after that I could either sneak out, or get away, I ran for the woods! There was so much to check out, that I didn't want just stick around our home anymore.

Once again, right after my parents got home, and they were carrying groceries and mommy didn't close the door, so I took the oppurtunity and snuck out!

It started to rain, and as I went in the woods the one way, Mommy would try to follow me, but then I would come out a different way. We did this for about half an hour, and then I started to get a little wet (and tired), so when mommy shook my treat container, I came a runnin'.

What I don't get, is I was out just having fun, not doing anything wrong, and I got put in my kennel for a bit that day! Parents-they sure are spoil sports and don't know how to have fun!

Oh, that's not the end of my running into the woods, but the best part has to wait for now. Mommy thinks it's time for some one on one with me (which I really love), I guess we might go for a walk or maybe learn some new tricks, or learn how to behave (Yuck, I hate that part). Until next time....Have a Ruff day!!!

Part Two:

Things sure are starting to change around here! Leaves are falling and I LOVE to play in them and chase them when the wind blows. But I don't dare to run away too far from my mommy or daddy anymore. On that note, let me finish telling you about my run-away event. The one that scared not only my parents but me as well.

My Aunt Susie and Uncle Ron have been touring Colorado and Utah, and instead of heading back home to Minnesota, they decided to come all the way here to visit me (okay, and my parents, too). On their last day stay, they wanted to go on our hiking trail, and then play in the lake in the afternoon.

That morning, was just a bit chilly, so mommy put on my little blue dress, and because I was going along for the hike, they didn't want me to pull them all the way, so mommy put on my gentle lead, and of course I had on the leash. I guess to keep me in line....

It was around 9:00am and we started down the road towards the hiking trail. All of sudden I realized that Mommy didn't have a hold of me any longer, and I was free to run in the woods! All the wonderful smells and my curiosity just got the best of me.

Mommy and daddy, and Uncle Ron, and Aunt Susie, well they were all yelling at me to come back, but I found something to track and I just couldn't let it go until I found out what it was! The farther I went, the farther I was going into the woods.

Mommy wasn't too worried at first, because she knew once I checked out what I was tracking, I would be home...well one hour turned into two, three....and so one.

I knew that everyone was out looking for me, for I could hear them. But I couldn't let them know where I was. I just hoped they would soon find me. Every now and then I could hear the desperation in my mommy's voice, but again, I just couldn't let her know where I was.

the three hours turned into four, five, and before long I was now missing in action for more than ten hours. Didn't they know that I couldn't answer them and that I was caught. Why haven't they found me by now. At one point my was so close to me, I could hear her cry, but she couldn't hear me crying as well.

By suppertime, I was really getting hungry, and I could hear other people hollowing my name, but I just couldn't let anyone know where I was. Well, I sure was hungry, thirsty and SCARED! I started to let out small little wimpers, in hopes someone would hear me; but no one came for me.

Darkness fell, and now I'm REALLY SCARED!! Oh, I just don't know how much longer I can stay out here without the comfort of my mommy and daddy. Once again, I could hear my daddy yelling for me and again, I try my best to make any kind of noise that I could. I eventually could let out a quick yip; but it sure was hard because of that stupid gentle lead around my face.

Now I can hear my mommy again, and I try once again to let them know where I'm at. Now I hear nothing-where have they gone? Didn't they hear me? Don't they know that I'm so caught up on some branches and I can barely move? Don't they know I'm cold, lonely, hungry, thirsty, and AFRAID!?!? Oh, I hope they don't give up on me just yet!!

Well around 9:30 that night, I can now hear both of my parents and my Aunt & Uncle! I see flashlights moving all around me. Maybe if I put what energy I have left and try my best to yip-they might find me!

Wait daddy! Don't go that way-you will fall into the lake-I'm back this way!! YES!! He hears me, He sees me!!! Now he and my uncle have to figure out how to get into all this low brush and get me out of this mess.

Next thing I see is my daddy crawling on his hands and knees. I'm so glad to see him! Come here and let me lick you to death!!

I'M FREE!!!

I'm just soooo excited to be in my daddy's arm, and I just can't wait to see my mommy (who I can hear her crying). I don't know why, but daddy wouldn't let me loose so that I could run to my mommy. But he finally reaches her and I'm safe once again in her arms!!!

Oh what an adventure that day was! I NEVER want to go through that again. We got back to the camper (our home) and I ate and drank and play and yes, I finally realized that my Uncle Ron wasn't a bad guy after all. Mommy turns me upside down, and all around to see if I had any scraps or marks. I came out of it with out even a scratch on me!!

As for the gentle lead; well all I know is mommy never put that on me again; and I'm glad. However, mommy and daddy has bought me something else. It's what you humans would call a "Shock Collar"....

Part Three:

Has the shock collar worked? Well duh, yeah, if I try to go for a little jaunt-I get "zapped" (ouch! Don't they know that hurts!?!?)

Have I run away since then? Yeah, I wasn't wearing that stupid shock collar, and I just wanted to see how far I really could go-without getting lost. I only went for a 15 minute hike into the woods. Man, was mommy mad at me! When I came back, instead of being glad, I got put in my kennel for better than an hour! I guess I won't try that again!!

I know that when they put that shock collar on, they really aren't out to hurt me, but just to protect me. I am learning how to stay much closer and they are now trusting me more and more.  I only wear it when I'm outside and on a leash. 

I started out with a 50 foot leash trailing behind me and now I'm being worked with only about a 6 foot leash. I have learned my boundary around our site and know I cannot leave without permission-even if a squirrel or deer run accross my path (oh, how tempting, though!).

Mommy has taught me how to "sit-stay" and I think she wants to teach me to lay down and stay-but I must prove a little difficult-otherwise what fun would it be for me?

I really enjoy my walks and sometimes I am let loose (with my leash trailing for now behind me) to roam just a little-but not too far, otherwise I'm reminded (by sound) that I have gone too far for their liking.

I hope you have enjoyed my story on my run-away adventures. Feel free to drop me a comment or a line.

Until the next time...

If you have been keeping up on my story, you know by now that I just love to run free and wild and whenever I could I use to run away. I eventually would come back home, except for the one time when I got tangled up and couldn't come home.

That is when my mom and dad broke down and bought that shock collar and started to use it on me. Well months later I will now tell you if it's paid off or not....

Mom has spent many, many hours working with me. When she first bought the shock collar and put it on me, I just couldn't figured out what the heck that big thing around my neck was for-until she had to use it. Yikes! That smarted!! After one or two of those tiny volts going through me, I learned very quickly that I had better do what she wanted me to or else....

She first started out with this long rope and calling me to come. Then she went to a short lead and then dropping the lead. I learned very quickly to come on command. Oh, once in a while I would get my nosy noise to smellin' and I wouldn't come back, but she only had to use the sound to quickly remind me what would be next if I didn't listen.

I quickly learned what was my boundary and not to leave that area. But when we moved from our summer spot to our winter spot down in Texas, I had to learn new boundaries.

It's now the first of Feb and I'm going outside with my mom and dad, no leash, no lead, and no shock collar! I also now go for walks, mom carries the leash along, but I'm not hooked to it and again-no shock collar! Aren't you all proud of me!?!? Oh, now you want to know how my spirit is and if I still have my spunk that a min pin should have? I'm still full of mischief and I have lots of spunk, I've just learned that when I'm called I better listen or else....

We do live within a city limit and in an RV Park, so I can't stay loose on my walk for a very long time. And if my mom or dad sees a car coming, they make me sit and wait until it goes by. They both still act a little nervous with me; thinking that I might see a cat or rabbit or something that will make me want to bolt. But I know that I better not, and I sit waiting for the "release" command (which never does come-darn.),

I think now I have lots more respect for my mom and dad and I know now that they love me very much and don't want to see me get hurt. I love going for walks with them. I now walk right by my mom side and we can speed walk and I won't trip her anymore. I love to run free in my yard. I can lay where I want, sniff a new area (so long it's in my boundary) and I can run and play more freely. I just can't wait to get back up north where I have yet a huge yard to roam in. I wonder how far they will allow me to go? I guess we will have to wait and see...

Until next time....Happy Paws to ya!!

PART FOUR:

As I sit here at Robinson Point Campground (just outside of Mountain Home, AR), typing my journal, I can't help but think about how my life has really changed, and I'm still a puppy with many years ahead of me. Anyways, let's get back to before we arrived to Robinson Point.

It's now mid March and I really like the weather down here in the valley, warm sunny days. But now it's getting time for something to happen.  Mommy and daddy keep hugging their friends, and mommy would get a little tearful from time to time.  I wasn't sure what was happening.  Then one day our home became smaller and smaller, the truck was now somehow hooked to our new home.

Before I knew it, I'm sitting in the middle between my mommy & daddy, riding down the road, with our house following us!  What the heck was this all about?!?!  We would occasionally make stops to walk a little and do any other business. 

We finally stopped at a place that my parents called Wright Patman Lake and we still haven't left the state of Texas.  The ground is way different and the air smells different as well.  The campground is busy and there are miniature people that want to run up and pet me, but I'm really not sure about these little people.  While outside I have found a new toy to play with and I have discovered it I move my feet back and forth, the dirt moves!  Hey this is really fun, I could stay here all day and be entertained.

But Mommy says that I'm a dirty pup and I need a bath now!  They yell at me to stop digging, but I just look at them as if I didn't do anything wrong; well I didn't, did I?

 Once again, our home becomes smaller and the truck is pulling it behind us. 

The more we kept driving, the chillier it started to get!  Don't they know that I hate cold weather!?  I loved the warm sun down in Texas and I want to go back to my best friend, I already miss her! Now comes the rain and I'm forced to go potty outside and get wet!  I hate the rain as much as I hate the cold!!  The rain seemed to have never stopped.  Why couldn't I just to inside my home; where it was warmer and drier. 

Well I think we are finally to our destination, but I'm stuck most of the day sitting in the truck.  It seems that my parents have a serous problem and I'm really not sure what's going on.  The rain finally had stopped, but man is it chilly, anyways I finally figured out what has happen.  I guess our truck and home got stuck in mud, because of all the rain and they can't get it unstuck.  It takes all day long and with help from someone else, our home is once again in a spot and all set up. 

We check out our new place and I have decided that this maybe not be so bad, lots of wooded area to go and explore!  There are also other types of animals around, I want to go and check them out!  Never fear, I'm sure I will "escape" and go exploring on my own! 

Well next time I will tell you about my adventures here at Robinson Point and my escapes, including my recent one that actually had me scared (and my mommy and daddy too).

PART THREE

Boy is I ever tired; I have had such a busy week!  My Aunt Susie and Uncle Ron and their cat, Smokey (which don't like me very well) came here for a visit!!  Like I said, my Auntie is not so bad, but I'm still just not sure about my uncle.  My mommy and daddy want me to be nice to him, I just don't know.  When I was much smaller, he played a game on me, that startled me and I just haven't forgiven him just yet for that&.he really isn't a bad guy and I know he likes me (and I do like him, but shhhh; don't tell him that).

But let's get back to the beginning of my adventure with my new parents.  The training of going for walks, and potting outside is going okay.  I loved my walks and my daddy would even go for a short run with me.  I got to meet a lot of new people; which I just don't know about yet. I also got to meet other puppies like me and I found that they were pretty cool to play with. 

I became fast best friends with a pup named Susie (no, not my Auntie), she was small like me, and a year older.  I guess she is what they call a York-A-Pooh (what ever that means&.) I would love to go to their place (which was much bigger than our home) and we would run and run and run.  Then we would romp around with each other.  We were told that we sounded like a small herd of elephants when we would play.  Sometimes Susie wouldn't eat all of her dinner, and they would forget to put it out of my reach, so naturally I had to eat if before it would spoil!

I got to where I really liked Susie's Mommy, Billie.  She is so sweet to me and she even lets me jump and play on their golf cart.  Susie's daddy, Perky isn't too bad either.  He wore hearing aids and I like to lick on them because they would make a different noise.

It got to the point that whenever we would go for walks, I wanted to stop and tell my new found friends Hi and play a little, but mommy and daddy said that we couldn't always stop.  I started to throw a little temper tantrum and whimper, but it didn't work.  Mommy would just pick me up and tell me no. Humans-they sure can be spoil sports&

Okay I'm back.  I know it took me a few days to get back, but hey I'm a puppy with lots of things to do, like play, eat, sleep, eat, train, play, and eat&and so on.  Now let's see, where did I leave off?  Oh yeah, I just got done telling you about my adventure on the airplane and coming to my new mommy & daddy.

As I was telling you, my new home sure wasn't what a new puppy would expect. I guess humans would call my new home a 5^th wheel; basically home on wheels (this could turn interesting) I wasn't inside my new home for 5 minutes when once again my daddy tries to choke me to death a second time!!  He was putting this red thing around my neck and I didn't want any part of it!

I sure try my best to "escape", but he was so much bigger than me.  And the whole time, my mommy was laughing and awing-what strange people they are!!

Well, as you know, I lost the battle with the red thing, as I learn now that's it's just a collar and it won't hurt me on bit.  But now, my mommy puts this rope thing at the end of my collar and takes me back outside.  I didn't know what the heck they were expecting out of me.  I'm just a scared little puppy.  First they want me in, then they want me out-can't they ever make up their minds? 

 Before I knew it, I got to meet yet some more people.  The lady wasn't so bad, and she is now my Auntie and I really like her.  But when it comes to my Uncle, well, I just don't know what to think of him; it's going to take me time to get to know him.

Now it's just back to my mommy and daddy and I guess they wanted me to just stay in one area of this small house.  They put up this little fence, so that I couldn't go very far.  Well, I showed them that nothing was going to keep me in one spot!!

I mastered that fence that very night and checked out the rest of my new home!   I don't need to tell you who won that battle.

Here comes our first night sleeping.  I'm put in this kennel; but this one is different than the one I traveled in.  It's much smaller and hardly any room to do much in.  They put the kennel (and me) next to their bed.  I started to whimper, because I was so scared.  The next thing I knew, daddy told mommy to scoot over and I got to join them in the bed, with the kennel.  Well, I just gave my daddy my saddest looking face and it must have worked, because to this day, I still sleep in the middle with both my parents-with no kennel!

I have to learn what they expect out of me and they have to learn what I expect out of them.  They won the battle with the collar and leash, and I eventually learned that I'm to go outdoors to do my potty business.  And they have learned that I just love toys with squeakers, bones, anything good to chew on.  And I expect them to hold me in their laps whenever I want to, play with me  and I also remind them when it's my feeding time-just in case they should forget.  I try to always remind them a 30 minutes before each meal.   But they usually win that one, and make me wait.

Mommy spends lots of quality time with me in teaching me all sorts of new tricks and I just love to act comical; it puts a smile on their face&.