Dogs

Farley’s Friday: Puppy Love

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 5 Comments

Farley here,

The doorbell rings. I blast out my doggie bed, slide across the newly stained hardwood floor and hustle down the stairs.

I push my human, Matt, out of the way. It’s very Important I get to the door first. There could be danger on the other side. There could be a friend. You just never know. I choose friend and wag and wiggle as best I can.

I can’t open the door by myself. I bark at Matt, wiggle some more. Doesn’t he get the urgency. “Come on, buddy,” I bark.

I then I hear it. A voice I’ll never forget. It’s Joe. I’m sure it’s Joe. I haven’t seen him since I was one. That’s five years.

I jump up, trying to get Matt to hurry. He laughs and opens the door. I explode through.

We bound, we rough-house, we run around in circles. The humans stand back and watch.

My muscles are sore, I’m panting hard. I think It’s time for a break. I invite Joe in to share my bed. We used to snuggle together all the time, but something has changed.

This is us 5 years ago.

Joe and Farley then

This is us now.

Farley And Joe Age 6 an 8

I think the bed got smaller, but I still love Joe.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: A Shoulder Injury

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, but I hurt my shoulder this week, and I used  gestures to let Kristina know I had a boo boo. The only problem with my gestures is I made her sad instead of making myself feel better. Sometimes I wish I could talk.

Kristina loves to interpret my gestures, and she always errs on the soft side. Sometimes I’ll be bad, and she’ll read something positive into it. I chewed Matt’s sock this week, and Kristina said it was because I was hurt and wasn’t getting enough exercise. How cute.

What she doesn’t  know is Matt waits until she’s not around,  his eyes twinkle – that’s his gesture for we’re about to be mischievous but don’t tell Kristina – and he runs to the sock drawer. Yup you heard me. There’s a magic place called the sock drawer. Matt rolls his sock into a ball and throws it at me, repeatedly. He thinks it’s  funny when I play with his sock. I chewed the sock because ripping material with my teeth is satisfying. My behaviour has nothing to do with lack of exercise, but just in case you’re worried, I know not to chew Kristina’s socks.

So back to my injury. I was playing with my friend Beans, and I don’t know what happened. One minute all was fine. We were rolling around in the mud at the base of the ski lift station, and the next minute, sharp pain drove through my shoulder.

At first I pretended nothing happened, but half way home, I had to admit to the pain and I started to limp.

Kristina and Matt slowed down for me. We were almost to the house when I remembered a gesture that gets her every time. I sat and raised my paw. This is my universal signal for something is wrong with me.

My softie of a human turned around, came back for me and then . . . She picked me up and carried me home. I weigh 42 pounds and am a bit awkward to carry, but she didn’t care. I could feel her heart pumping against me. She was worried. I didn’t mean to make her worry, I just wanted a ride home.

When we got home, I curled up on her lap and cuddled her. Her heart rate lowered, and she began to relax. I was trying to tell her I was okay and she shouldn’t worry. But she’s a human. Worry seems to come naturally to them.

Farley sad

Later, just to make sure she’s okay, I’ll sleep in bed with her.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Meets Snow

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 3 Comments

Farley here,

The snow’s a-comin! British Columbia is turning into a Wheaten Terrier paradise.

 

BC Snow

Running in the snow is awesome. I never overheat and I can eat the stuff if I get thirsty.

Farley and Snow

Snowballs stick to my fur is not so awesome. What’s a dog to do?

Farley Snowball

 

 

I mean literally what’s a dog to do?

Anyone have any idea how to get this stuff off my nose?  I’d really like some advice, and please don’t say stop rubbing my nose in the snow. I’m having too  much fun, and there is now way I can control the urge. I keep telling Kristina is an instinct. She’ll believe anything I woof at her, but it’s really about playing.

 

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Loves Leaves and Cold Weather

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 12 Comments

Farley here,

I’m a dog who has lived on a boat in the Bahamas since I was 9 month old. All of a sudden, my humans decide enough of the sea life, it’s off to the mountains we go. British Columbia to be exact.

At first, I thought they were crazy. But now, I’m rethinking this situation.

Did you know leaves fall off trees in the fall? No one told me that.

Did you know a dog has more energy in cold temperatures? I didn’t either.

Did you know sticks are free in the forest? I’m kinda figuring this one out on my own.

Farley in Leaves

Rolling in leaves while chewing on a stick is the best. I miss boat life, but wilderness living is cool too.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: Drink from a Creek and Get Happy

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 7 Comments

Farley here,

Have you have tasted fresh water, right out of a creek? It’s awesome. I’m on my hike, making sure my human get some exercise, and look what I find. The water is cold and rushing across my feet. I think the supply is endless. Sometimes life is confusing. I have no idea where the water is coming from. At home, Kristina fills my bowl, so who is filling this creek? I think about this great life question and realize I don’t care. Just bring it on.

Hike 1

 

Everyone should drink from a creek every day. It’s the secret to life happiness 🙂

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Goes Hiking

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

I’ve been in British Columbia for over a month, and let me tell you, this province is doggie paradise. I’ve covered over 90 kilometres of trails through the forests, up hills, down hills, through streams, and yes, sometimes on the golf course. Although I’m not allowed on the fairways or greens, whatever that means. I have to stay on the cart path or on the rough. I’ve gotta watch some golf today and figure out what my new commands are. Can’t be looking unintelligent to my humans.

How did I manage to get my humans to take me on two hikes a day – everyday? I should have been an actor. Who could resist this face?

Walk please

When I’m out running free and get tired I take a break and search the wilderness for deer. I think of myself as the protector of humans. I’m on the rough here, I but who can be sure? I notice a pit full of sand. Who put that there? And why does someone rake it every morning? My humans get very excited if I roll in it and dig for golf balls.

I didn’t find any deer today, but I know they’re out there. I am a diligent dog.

Farley checking for deer

So when I get home, I don’t go off duty. I see no reason the deer have amble close to our house. Most of the day, I relax on deck, but then one of the forest creatures gets too close, I let them have it. Well, I bark like crazy until it clears my space and my humans are safe.  You can’t see the deer in the photo, but she’s crossing the driveway just below me.

Farley on deck

Once she’s out of sight,  I’m exhausted. It’s time to watch golf and learn some new words. Oh, and for Kristina to make me dinner. She loves to pamper me 🙂

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Toys for Wheaten Terriers

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 12 Comments

Farley here,

This place is PAWsome!

I run and run and run. I find toys everywhere.

Kristina tries to take this log from me, thinking she can use it in the fireplace, but the I don’t let her. The fireplace makes the house hot and I don’t like the heat, so my mission is to hide anything my humans might like to burn.

Farley and LOg

I carry the log for several kilometres, and I have to admit, my jaw is getting a little tired. Eventually I have to give, and I lie down on my neighbours lawn. By the way, they were very nice and put in soft grass for me. Florida grass is too rough and hurts my paws. This grass is soft, and I love to hang out and let the blades tickle my belly.

As I chew my stick-log I see Kristina angling toward me. I have two choices, I can let her have the stick-log, or I can run away. Guess what I chose.

I have fun jumping to the left, then to the right as she tries to grab my toy.  She laughs, and I think she’s having fun too. In the end, because she’s so nice to me, I let her have my toy. She puts it in the fireplace to burn later.

What she doesn’t know is tomorrow, I’ll find another one and we can play the chase-me game again.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten with Other Dogs

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Farley here,

Winter is coming. I know it’s only September, but there’s snow on the ground. So what’s a dog to do. I’ve dreaming about my best  friend Joe. We used to play when I was a pup. We’d roll around in the snow, chew on each other’s ears, chase each other. Joe even let me hang on to his ear, and he’d carry me.

Farley and Joe 2008 11 09

What am I missing now? Joe doesn’t live here anymore. He lives in Italy. What a crazy dog. So I’m interviewing for new friends.

This is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. We’re weren’t formally introduced, but we did have fun playing. He’s bigger than me, but so was Joe.

Farley and Greater Swiss Dog

Running in the snow keeps me cool, but balls of snow get caught in my fur and between my pads. Kristina is talking about making wear booties to solve this problem. Please tell her not to make me look uncool. The other dogs might laugh at me if I look silly . . . oh, who am I kidding. I look silly most of the time, so my friends better get used to it.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: A Working Wheaten

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 9 Comments

Farley here,

If you’ve been reading, my life as a dog has changed recently. I’m a mountain dog. I used to be a boat dog. Mountains dogs are touch, rugged creatures who protect their humans from all kinds of dangers. Yup, that’s me. Tough guy. The only drawback . . . I get put to work.

September has arrived along with cold temperatures. I love the cold. On the boat, I was usually too hot. Now I hang out outside and enjoy the cool temps.

But just so you don’t get the wrong impression, I’m a working dog.

My human, Matt, collects wood – this is hard work involving axes and saws and other tools I’ve never seen before.

Then he chops the wood. I think he uses a splitter.

Chopping Wood

My job is also hard work. I get  the kindling ready.

Farley with Kindling

The next steps boggles my mind. Look what they do with the wood.

End result

These humans are crazy. It’s fab being cold and what do they do? They heat up the house, so I head outside and enjoy my deck.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday:

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Farley Here,

Hiking in the forests of the Purcell Mountain Range is pretty exciting. I’m doing my best to be a good off leash dog, but sometimes I get carried away and chase a squirrel. Kristina is all worried about me chasing a bear or a deer or a coyote. As if I would ever do that. We all know I’m not very brave.

I love cold water, and here I get to drink right out of a mountain stream. I’m not allowed near the big river. Apparently the current is too strong for me.

Farley in stream

But Chica, a yellow lab who used to live with my humans, got to go in the big river. I guess she was stronger than me.

Chica and stick

She would also bring sticks back to my humans when they threw one for her. Me, not so much. I like to watch the sticks float away.

I think I’m going to love living in the mountains.

Woof Woof