Farley’s Friday

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Wears A Collar

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 8 Comments

Farley here,

I have a little cut on my leg. How I got it, I don’t know. Kristina cleans my wound and rubs on something she calls antibiotic cream. Not so bad really, but then I see her sneak back into the my medical kit, yes I have my own medical kit on Mattina, and I know what’s coming.

I run along the port side of Mattina and jump on the tramp.

“No, no, no,” I bark.

Kristina is coming with the dreaded cone of shame. She reaches the tramp . . .

But I’m faster. I run along the starboard side, jump into the cockpit, scamper into the main salon and launch myself onto the port bed. Now, I’m not allowed up there, so I know I’ve made mistake. I’ve cornered myself.

“Stop,” I bark. “I won’t lick my cut. I promise.”

But nope, Kristina grabs my front paws and drags me off the bed.

“Pretty please,” I whine in my nicest voice. “Don’t make me wear that.”

Well, you can see how that worked out for me.

Here I sit, looking silly.

Farley with cone

Don’t tell Kristina, but this thing is actually pretty comfortable when I’m lying down. I have my own personal pillow that goes everywhere with me.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: One Tired Wheaten Terrier

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Kristina is crazy. She made me run 12 km. I told her I wanted to nap in the shade, but she ignored me.

Now look at me.

Farley 12 k run

I need a long, long nap to recover. Luckily, I got to the best seat in the cockpit first. I have my own towel to cover the seats, like I’m sandy or something, but once I’m settled, it’s pretty nice.

Kristina’s napping too, so I don’t feel guilty at all. And if I have to run with her, the least she can do is let me sleep later.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaton Gets In Trouble

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Farley here,

If you’ve been reading, you know I’m a good dog. But don’t all dogs have issues once in a while?

I don’t beg. I don’t jump on people. I don’t bark often, okay I bark when I see a dolphin or a turtle. I also bark when Kristina goes swimming. So it’s a water thing with me.

Anyway, I’ve lost focus already because I don’t want to tell you I misbehaved. Kristina told me I had to since I only write good things about myself.

I was innocently digging in the mud when I spotted something bright yellow. Now, you say to yourself, at this point, I should have taken stock and chosen a different path forward.

Farley and Bag 1

Good thought, but not what happened. The next thing I know, I’m biting and tossing Kristina’s water proof camera bag. Not good, I know. I couldn’t seem to stop myself. Even with Kristina telling me to stop, I just couldn’t do it.

Farley and Bag 2

The best thing about my human is even when she’s not happy with me, she’s smiling at me. The worst I get is, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Not so talented with discipline, is she.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: Dogs and Sticks

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 11 Comments

Farley here,

You might remember, I live in Bahamas on a sailboat, and my human sadly explained to me that when I ruined a toy, she couldn’t buy more. Well, I fooled her.

Check out my FFL (Friend for Life), Tanga. She’s a fast little Australian Doodle.Very Cute. I kinda have a crush on her.  Her human, Ann, found us a new toy. We didn’t even have to go to a store. She pulled it right off a tree and threw it for us.

Tanga and Farley

Tanga is faster and gets to the stick first. I follow with the bump and twist and rip it from her jaws. I know, not nice, but hey, I’m a dog and can’t help myself.

Sometimes I can out manoeuvre her and get to the stick first, but usually I have to fight for it. She’s tougher than she looks.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Dog’s BFF or FFL?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Now I’d say I’m not a dog that’s good with words. I do better with hand signals, but I want a new term for BFF.

How can a dog have only one BFF? I have so many friends.

For instance, here’s my pal Tico. He loves to go snorkelling with his human, Dan. He’s a little too adventurous for me. I like to watch from shore.

Dan and Tico

“Don’t you know there are sharks in there?” I bark.

Tico swims farther out.

“What if Dan spears a fish and a shark arrives?” I bark.

Tico must have his ears turned off, because he’s not listening to me.

“TICO,” I howl my loudest.

Farley barking from shore

You can imagine me, barking from shore, my front paws lifting off the ground, water splashing around me. I glance at Kristina, but she just laughs. All she does is laugh when I think I’m being serious and she thinks I look silly.

Finally Tico gets a little too close to Dan, hits the flipper with his nose, startles himself and turns back to the beach.

He’s safe and I can relax.

Now back to my new term. FFL. Friend For Life. That means I can have more than one. Best does imply one, and who can have only one friend?

I’m adding Tico to my FFL list.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: What? My Boat is For Sale

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Farley,

So I’m part of the pack right? Then how come I don’t get a vote when it comes to major life changes? See me looking like the captain. I think I look like I’m in charge and this is my boat.

Farley On Deck

But . . . I hear Kristina and Matt talking, and I bark, “Wait, I don’t want to leave the Bahamas.”

Kristina smiles at me the way she does when I’m not going to get my way. “Don’t worry, you get to stay with us.”

“Stay with you,” I bark. “I want you to stay with me in the Bahamas.”

“Whatever we end up doing, you’ll still be the centre of the universe,” Kristina says.

Now that’s more like it. I just want to know I’m the top priority in their lives. I don’t really care where we live as long as I get to run free everyday, I get fed yummy food, I get groomed, I get to play with other dogs, and I get to sleep on a cold, hard surface. Other than that, bring on the changes.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Dog Toys Can’t Be Replaced?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Did you know when you’re sailing the Exuma Islands there aren’t stores to buy dog toys?

Well, I found out the hard way.

I’m playing with my favourite toy, minding my own business having a good chew – and lots of squeaking by the toy, so I think it’s having fun too.

Farley Chewing Toy

Then, oh oh. The seam rips. All the stuffing comes out. I don’t know how that part happened. I seem to have blacked out. The toy is ruined.

I show Kristina and wag my tail to tell her it was an accident.

She smiles and says, ” Well that’s the last of the toys.”

“What? Last of the toys. Can’t you buy me a new one?” I bark.

She shakes her head sadly. “There are no stores here.”

I had the realization that we’re not in Canada anymore. The question is, should I chew Kristina’s flip flop instead?

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Tethered to a Sailboat

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here.

You may think I look like I’m trying to hide, but what I’m trying to do is give my humans a message.

Usually if I look my cutest they give me what I want.

We’re underway and it’s windy. Twenty-five knots on the nose windy. Out comes my tether, and I know it’s about to get worse.

So here I am, not hiding, but looking cute.

Farley Tethered

Now, as I lay here with my head tucked under the step, my humans discuss the situation.

First, they decide to put a reef in the main. That helps a bit, and the boat settles down.

Then my ears perk up. I hear something good.

“We could turn around,” Kristina suggests.

“Hmmm,” Mathew responds.

Not the answer I’m looking for.

“You could spend the afternoon windsurfing,” Kristina says.

Now the grin on Mathew’s face tells me he likes the idea.

Kristina sweetens the deal. “I’ll make you lunch while you get your gear ready.”

And just like that, my humans tack, turn the sailboat north, and head to a lovely, lovely calm anchorage.

See, being cute does get a dog what he wants.

I hope all you dogs and cats out there had a good Christmas.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Terrier and Kite Boarding

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Farley here.

My life is so exciting, and sometimes that excitement seems to happen on the trampoline of my Lagoon 380 Catamaran.

I hear the roar of a kite coming close and I bolt from a deep sleep on the floor of the port cabin to fully alert in seconds. I know that noise.

This usually means a large, bird-like thing is chasing on of my humans.

I reach the tramp, looking left and right for the danger. It’s hard to hear through all this wind. My stomach is churning, my heart is racing.

And then, I can’t help myself. A bark explodes from my throat.

“Go faster,” I bark at Bruce. He’s the guy in trouble.

He zooms by our bow.

Farley and Kiting

“Look out. It’s coming!” I bark.

The silly man waves as he rips by.

Then, in a sudden move, Bruce turns around. Unlucky for him the flying creature turned with him.

“It’s still there,” I bark, sure in the knowledge Bruce can hear me and will speed up.

They keep going unit they are  out of sight. There’s nothing for me to do but to go back to my napping.

You’ll be happy to know I saw Bruce at dinner later, and he’s fine. I guess he outran the monster.

Woof Woof.