Farley’s Friday: Gonna Get That Squirrel

Farley here,

Kristina is busy getting ready for her Facebook Launch Party and release of her second novel BLAZE on Sunday, so I have to keep myself occupied.

I don’t have a problem with that as I have a new FFL – Friend For Life – and he’s a squirrel.

Farley watching sqirrel

He’s collecting nuts for the winter, so he’s a little busy too, but he makes times to play with me.

The game:

Squirrel runs down side of tree.

I bark.

Squirrel runs up tree.

I wag my tail.

Squirrel runs down side of tree…

You get the idea.

We do this for hours, until I can’t focus anymore and I just gotta nap.

Farley napping

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Freedom Has A Price

Farley here,

It’s not my fault I love to run in a creek. It’s not my fault the creek bottom is muddy.

Farley Muddy

I rolled and rolled on the grass, but the mud just wouldn’t come off.

So when we arrive home, you know what happens…

Farley in Tub

I don’t like having a bath. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that, many times…Special bubbles just for dogs. Ha!

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Who chews a purse?

Farley here,

I don’t know what I was thinking. Well, I guess I wasn’t thinking. Look what I did today. I chewed Kristina’s purse. And not just any purse. Her mom gave her this purse, and she loves it.

Farley Chews Purse

She walks into the room. She’s surprised. I never chew anything, so at first she doesn’t understand what’s going on. Then I see the light go on, and she knows I’ve been misbehaving.

She takes the purse away from me, gives me a loving pat on my head, and says, “Really, this is your new thing?”

I wag my tail.

She hugs me.

I lick her face.

She takes me for a walk. She sure is tough with discipline 🙂 Now I just feel guilty. Couldn’t she have been even a little mad at me?

She gave me a starring role in her second novel, BLAZE, and to thank her I try to eat her purse. How do I make this up to her?

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: A Dog Gets Cold Too…

Farley here,

Some of you may know I’m a bit of a softy. Comfort is my thing. Except when my brain turns off and I’m playing.

I went for a little dip in a creek this week, along with three other dogs, so what happened wasn’t all my fault.

The creek bottom was full of black mud, and Kristina wasn’t too thrilled with me.

When we got home, she washed me. But really, did she have to use the outside hose? Couldn’t she have run a bath inside the house?

No, she says. I was too dirty. She shampooed me twice. Twice.

I don’t like to be shampooed, so I tricked her and huddled in the living room and shivered and shook. I wasn’t really cold, but I wanted some love. So what does she do? She wraps me in a towel.

Farley with towel

I think she likes it when I look silly. But I do have to give her credit. She used one of her good towels because all mine were covered with mud 😉

Woof woof.

Farley’s Friday: Recovering Dogs

Farley here,

In order to protect the innocent, I won’t use names today.

I’ve a new neighbour. We play with a stick and exhaust ourselves. He’s gentle in his play, fun to chase, and an all round good dog. But then…the sun shines in a certain way, and I notice something odd.

IMG_2412

“Dude,” I bark, “What’s with your back?”

“The scars?” he barks back.

I sniff his skin but can’t smell anything. The scars are old. “Yeah. They look nasty. Do they hurt?”

“Not anymore.” He gives a little whine as if shaking off a bad memory. “A human poured hot oil on me.”

“What!”

“Not one of my happier days.”

My skin prickles, and I get all agitated. I don’t like this story. “How did you get away?” I bark.

“I ran and ran. And then I came upon a dog shelter. They took me in and then…” he stops barking to pant,  “then, the greatest thing happened.”

He gets distracted by a leaf and runs in circles for a bit.

“What? What?” I bark, bringing him back to the story.

He flops beside me. “Two humans walked into the shelter. The woman said, ‘I love that one.’ And she’s pointing right at me. Can you believe it? I’m covered in bandages. I look pathetic, and she chose me. I instantly love her too.”

“Are they your humans now?”

His tails flops, and there is a shine in his eye. “Forever.”

Woof Woof

PS. Kristina’s new book, BLAZE, is available for pre-order. You can get it at:myBook.to/BLAZEbyKristinaStanley

And here’s a little teaser: I have a big, and I mean big (so I like to exaggerate) role in the book. She even used my name. I’m going to be a famous wheaten terrier.

Farley’s Friday: Bear Barking

Farley here,

I’ve finally trained my humans to understand my barks.

A deep growl followed by frantic, high pitched barks means: “There is a bear within 20 feet.” There is a lot of body language involved here too. Mostly, me putting my body between the humans and the bear, so the humans know which way to retreat.

Deep, in the throat, repeated barking means:  “There is a bear in the area but not close.” I’m a herder by genetics, so…I herd them away to safety.

Howling, long barks mean: “There is an aggressive deer nearby.” My experience, a doe with a fawn can be cranky at the best of times. My front paws usually lift off the ground during this communication.

Cheery barks mean: “There is a deer, but a nice one nearby.”

Barking while running in a circle, repeatedly looking at my human, and wagging my tail means: “There is a squirrel, so let me go chase it.”

It’s exhausting teaching humans to understand my language, but since their sense of smell is lousy, they need to be warned if there is a creature in the neighbourhood.

After a strenuous session of teaching Kristina dog speak, we relax with a yoga class.  I’m supposed to be doing the downward dog, but I’m just too tired.

Farley doing Joga

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: Mountain Water

Farley here,

It’s true, it’s early September, but the pond I’m standing in is part of a river that comes from the top of the mountain and it’s freezing.

Someone tell this boy to hurry up and throw the stick. He’s not paying attention to my eyes and my command. I guess he’s just not old enough to speak dog.

Farley and Noah

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Small Town Livin’

Farley here,

You can’t see me, but I ‘m having lunch at the new sandwich deli in town. I’m sitting under a table, my butt is on Kristina’s feet, and I’m watching the day go by. I’m only allowed to eat from my dog dish, so I’m not actually having lunch, but the lovely deli staff brought me a bowl of water.

Check out the couple sitting on the bench. The lady is talking away and the dog is nodding politely.

“Psst,” I bark. “Come have some water.”

“Seriously, dude,” the dog barks back. “My human is telling a story.”

I chuckle, knowing he’d rather play than listen, but I get it and I leave him alone.

Dog on Bench

The thing to note is what a dog friendly place the town is. I’m at the deli and the other dog is on the city bench. Everyone is happy.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: Dog Packs On Market Day

Farley here,

Every Saturday, off we go to the Farmers Market. Usually, my humans stop and chat with people, and I sit politely and wait. There’s a lot of blah, blah, blah. But then I hear,

“Blah, blah blah, Can I pet him?”

And I know I’m in for some lovin’.

But even better than that, last Saturday, I stopped and chatted with my friends. The humans waited while we sniffed and wagged and spoke in our secret language.

Farley Farmer's Market

What’s our secret? I’ll never tell…

Tomorrow is another day at the market.

Woof woof