May 31, 2007. I’d like to wish a Very Happy Birthday to my buddy Tom. I even sent him a card; well at least Renee mailed it for me. It had a picture of a sheep on the front, because of course, I am a sheep dog. My message in the card was this. “Speaking out as a member of the flock, in translation for Toby G, who wishes to express to you his utmost appreciation & love, (lick lick bark bark). Happy…ba, ba ba…bone…bicycle…ba ba…ball…ba ba ba BIRTHDAY! I am the luckiest sheepdog in the world! You exuberant, loyal 
Toby the Wonder Dog.”
Tom is 52 today and has been retired from the Police Department for 18 months now. But of course for the last 6 months I have kept him very, very busy. I can’t believe that I am 15 months old now and have been with Tom for six months. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Yesterday it was glorious sunshine and hot. We went for a 40 minute run on the park but, went earlier than normal to try and beat the heat. I did my part as well by running into the shade every time I brought the ball back to Tom. I did very well yesterday obeying commands and there was only once that Tom had to use the squeaker.
Actually he didn’t really “have” to use it. He just tested it when my focus was completely on going to visit another dog. He squeaked and I returned, just like magic. This thing is amazing for changing my focus and helping me to comply with my training.
Later on in the afternoon, Tom got out the hose to work on washing his boat some more. I was having no part of that though. I let Tom know very quickly that he was to spray me with the hose, not that silly boat. Finally Tom complied and soaked me down. Wow, did I love that. I looked like a skinny, drowned rat, but I sure was cooled off.
Tom threw a surprise into the works though when he pulled out the doggie shampoo and lathered me up. Hey, I wasn’t expecting a bath. Then again, the good part was I got sprayed with the hose some more to rinse off. Tom then dried me with a towel after I had several good shakes. Then I flopped down and let him comb me for over an hour.
Today was hot again, so we went to the park early. This time we got in a forty five minute run before the heat really set in. I misbehaved a little bit though. I saw a bicycle riding by on the really busy main street down the hill. I took off running along the fence with my total focus on that bike. I heard the squeaking, but was able to shake off its alluring effects. I was going for it.
I came to the gate in the baseball dugout and started through. I was going to get that bike, even if he had a 1 block head start. At that time though I heard the frantic squeaking and
Tom screaming “Toby…NO!!!”. At that point I came to my senses and turned around. I knew I was in trouble and Tom told me so and then put me back on the leash. Oops, I did it again. After a time out though, we got to finish the run.
Later Tom took me shopping and he bought something he called his secret weapon to break me of my obsession with chasing bicycles. I’m not sure what it is. I heard Tom talking to Richard our neighbour and he mentioned something about an air horn. We shall see what it does.
Toby the Wonder Dog.” Tom is 52 today and has been retired from the Police Department for 18 months now. But of course for the last 6 months I have kept him very, very busy. I can’t believe that I am 15 months old now and have been with Tom for six months. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Yesterday it was glorious sunshine and hot. We went for a 40 minute run on the park but, went earlier than normal to try and beat the heat. I did my part as well by running into the shade every time I brought the ball back to Tom. I did very well yesterday obeying commands and there was only once that Tom had to use the squeaker.
Actually he didn’t really “have” to use it. He just tested it when my focus was completely on going to visit another dog. He squeaked and I returned, just like magic. This thing is amazing for changing my focus and helping me to comply with my training.
Later on in the afternoon, Tom got out the hose to work on washing his boat some more. I was having no part of that though. I let Tom know very quickly that he was to spray me with the hose, not that silly boat. Finally Tom complied and soaked me down. Wow, did I love that. I looked like a skinny, drowned rat, but I sure was cooled off.
Tom threw a surprise into the works though when he pulled out the doggie shampoo and lathered me up. Hey, I wasn’t expecting a bath. Then again, the good part was I got sprayed with the hose some more to rinse off. Tom then dried me with a towel after I had several good shakes. Then I flopped down and let him comb me for over an hour.
Today was hot again, so we went to the park early. This time we got in a forty five minute run before the heat really set in. I misbehaved a little bit though. I saw a bicycle riding by on the really busy main street down the hill. I took off running along the fence with my total focus on that bike. I heard the squeaking, but was able to shake off its alluring effects. I was going for it.
I came to the gate in the baseball dugout and started through. I was going to get that bike, even if he had a 1 block head start. At that time though I heard the frantic squeaking and
Tom screaming “Toby…NO!!!”. At that point I came to my senses and turned around. I knew I was in trouble and Tom told me so and then put me back on the leash. Oops, I did it again. After a time out though, we got to finish the run. Later Tom took me shopping and he bought something he called his secret weapon to break me of my obsession with chasing bicycles. I’m not sure what it is. I heard Tom talking to Richard our neighbour and he mentioned something about an air horn. We shall see what it does.
2 comments:
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOMMY!!!!
Tom says thank you very much
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