Tashi's Web Photo and Storybook

February 5 -- While Stan and I were out for our lunchtime walk today we had a really nice experience that I want to tell you about. Stan and I usually take a brisk walk together around lunchtime or a little after for at least a mile. Today we went a little further like a mile and a half or maybe a bit more. While we were walking we crossed paths with a lady for about 6 or 8 steps before she went one way and we went another. As our paths crossed, she read my vest. Then before she went a different direction she said and signed with ASL to Stan, "What a nice dog!" Stan said and signed "Thank you" back to her and we each went our ways. Stan says that's one of the things that makes me special to him. People seem to him to be so much more friendly and accomodating now that I'm around compared to before I was here.

February 14 -- First of all happy Valentines day to Cindy and Jenny and all my brothers and sisters out there. Stan has found out what some of them are doing. One of my sisters is a CCI breeder, one has had a career change and is living as a pet. My sister, Thyme, who was with us in team training last October should be someone's hearing dog by now.

So far today I'm not having a great valentines day. Stan says it's bath day. That's OK, I don't mind taking a bath that doesn't bother me at all. But every bath day Stan takes my bed and puts it in this machine that fills with water and makes noises. Then after the first machine is done making noises, he puts it in another machine that makes more noises. My bed is always nice and clean when these machines are done with them, but I keep thinking there has got to be a better way to clean my bed. What if one of these machines does something terrible to my bed?? Or worse yet what if the machine doesn't give it back to Stan?? I mean this is my BED we're talking about here!!!! The same bed that has to go to every room in the house where Stan and I spend time, and the one that gets put in my kennel at night for me to sleep on. I get so worried about it when it's inside those machines and they're making noises. Stan seems to think it's no big deal. But it's my bed!!! Did I mention I just get so worried about it? I just look up at Stan and want him to tell me that it's going to be OK.

PHEW!!!!! My bed is fine. Now that it's all nice, clean, and warm, I can curl up on it and sleep after my bath. Of course baths make me feel so good, I had to play fetch with my squeaky toy and Stan for a while first.

February 18 -- Today I was sleeping in Stan's office at work, and I was dreaming about chasing things. During my dream, Stan heard me kind of bark, kind of yelp. He said my body was twitching with each yelp/bark. That's the first time Stan has seen me dream like that. Oh well, even us dogs have dreams. Some of the people Stan works with are still amazed at how calm and well behaved I am. They also like my fur. I think I'm getting quite a reputation for soft clean fur, fresh breath, and being very calm and obedient.

February 21 -- Another bath today. Stan says it's because I've been getting so dirty when we go play in the yard. We also went to a work day at church today. Stan says we have only had about 13% of the normal amount of snowfall this year. So that explains why I haven't had a chance to tell you about all the fun I've had playing in the snow. I've missed out!! There hasn't been any of the big snowfalls, only wind and dust which mean more baths. The snow that we did mange to get in November and December is long gone. Since it's been so dry the top layers of dirt in the yard are almost like powdery dust. When I chase the ball and skid to a stop as I catch it, I throw up this huge mushroom cloud of dust. Of course, all that dust settles in my fur and sticks to it because of the natural oils that it contains. After a few days with all that dust stuck in my undercoat fur mixed with the oils I start to smell like a really dirty dog. Stan does his best to keep it brushed out, but there is only so much brushing can do. Today before Stan gave me a bath, parts of me looked like a chocolate lab instead of black. My face was all brown and so were my legs and part of my tail. Since today was the day that I really got the most dirty and I hadn't laid on my bed, Stan didn't have to wash it again.