Woof woof woof, bark woof woof. Bark bark bark, bark woof woof?
Woof woof woof, bark woof woof. Bark bark bark, bark woof woof!
Translated from Dog:
Here I stand, high on a hill,
against the warm and beaming sun.
Do Mommy and Daddy have the will,
to run up here and join in the fun?
It’s fun, it’s fun, to run up a hill,
galloping at full speed all the way.
Don’t flake on me guys, don’t be a pill,
If you don’t come, then here I will stay!
You know how babies carry around their favorite security blanket everywhere they go? That’s how Mocha treats his ball.
Everywhere he goes, the ball is in his mouth. Assuming we don’t put the ball away, of course.
If we’re about to take him out, he’ll run to the door with the ball in his mouth (then drop it before he goes outside). If we’re about to feed him, he’ll run over with the ball in his mouth. If we’re going to bed, he’ll climb into his bed with the ball in his mouth.
‘Cuz that’s his security blanket, this ball.
Like this post? Leave a comment
We’ve been taking Mocha on off-leash hikes lately for family exercise. He absolutely loves them. He loves them so much that he’ll run run run at top speed all over the place.
Unfortunately one day, he got so excited that he ran ran ran – right over a cliff and into this ditch.
We panicked and ran over as quickly as we could, calling out his name frantically. The worst possible scenarios came into our heads. Seconds later, he emerged, unscathed and still smiling like a happy clown. He looked at us as if to say, “What? Chill out guys, I’m okay.” Then he took off and ran ran ran up a hill.
We’re so glad he’s okay. I wish I had a picture or video of him sailing through the air and into the ditch. All we could see was him leap over a mound of grass, then disappear. It was terrifying. So damn terrifying that we just had to laugh.
That’s our little boy. Indestructible (at least, in his own mind) and full of energy.
Like this post? Leave a comment
Mocha’s loving these hikes. And I gotta give him props, despite being off-leash and running all over the place, he always comes running when called with a great big smile on his face.
There’s nothing like a happy dog running to you, lemme tell ya.
Like this post? Leave a comment
Mocha loves playing fetch. Unfortunately, he only likes the first half of fetch – the “I’ll go get the ball” part.
The “And I’ll bring it back” part? Not so much.
Like this post? Leave a comment
Woof woof woof. Woof woof woof. Yip yip! Woof woof woof.
Woof woof woof. Woof woof woof. Yip yip!
Translated from Dog:
I got to run around lots today. So much that it was crazy. And dizzy! I think I need to lie down now.
No, wait, no I don’t. I can still run. Weee!
Like this post? Leave a comment
Bark bark bark! Bark bark bark! Woof woof bark woof woof woof. Woof woof woof. Yip yip! Woof woof woof.
Translated from Dog:
Oh boy, I made a new buddy today! And with a pit bull! I haven’t had much luck with pit bulls, but this guy was really friendly and playful, just like me. He loved running around as much as I did. What fun! I love making new friends.
Like this post? Leave a comment
This is Mocha after a nice three-mile run first thing in the morning. It’s part of my new training regime for Mocha. Exercise, discipline & affection.
Ever since leaving Mocha in a kennel, he’s been a changed pup. He’s more skittish, more nervous, and a lot more barky.
During the day, he’s usually pretty good. Playful, goofy, and pretty chill. But at night, he’ll bark at people walking outside, even if it’s neighbors that he once happily sniffed & licked.
Suddenly, he started barking at every person we encountered on his bathroom breaks. Even the nice neighbor and their kids. That was the last straw.
According to Cesar Milan of The Dog Whisperer, one way to restore order and banish the bark is to assert your dominance. Become the pack leader.
I thought I was doing that already, but perhaps not. Or perhaps the time in the kennel knocked me out of that position.
So starting today, I’m getting Cesar on his ass. It’s going to be all about exercise, discipline, affection, and calm & assertive pack leadership, dammit!
I have no idea what got into Mocha tonight. While we were walking him, we came up upon a large clearing. On a whim, we decided to take him off his leash to see what he’d do. At the dog beach, he’s off-leash and usually pretty good about staying close to us. So we wanted to see what he’d do in our neighborhood.
As soon as we unleashed him, here’s what happened:
He stared at us tentatively. Took a few steps away. Then suddenly tore across the lawn like he was chasing a delicious, supersonic fly.
He ran in a wide circle. Then he stopped. Looked back at us. Tongue hanging out, hint of a smile.
And suddenly, he took off again. Like someone tried to ignite his farts and his butt hairs erupted in flames. Like a squirrel darting across the street. Like a wild animal, unfettered and free.
A few more times around us in wide circles he raced. Then he finally stopped. Out of breath. And wandered back to our side.
WTF was that all about?
Like this post? Leave a comment
A romp at the dog park and a three-mile run didn’t do it. A two-hour uphill hike didn’t do it. So we decided to take drastic measures.
We decided to take Mocha on a Mocha Marathon. Run three miles to the dog park, then the usual fetch, followed by a three-mile run back home. And lots of water in between, of course. That oughta tire him out once and for all!
To be totally honest, the runs and hikes do tire Mocha out. As soon as he gets home, he collapses to the floor and sleeps for a good hour or three. But then he’s up and active again, as if he’s been sleeping for days. I blame it on his damned Jack Russell Terrier half.
We could also be a victim of our own doing. Perhaps we’ve been exercising Mocha so well that he’s a mass of fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle now. Damn.
So how did Mocha do from his Mocha Marathon today?
He slept pretty much the rest of the evening. Not a peep from him. I had to poke him to make sure he was still alive. Success!
Except… next time, we’ll probably have to do eight miles to tire him out. Greaaat…
Like this post? Leave a comment
Mocha is a playful 1-year old 25 lb mutt we rescued from a local animal shelter. He loves to run, play, and eat. Don't you?
Mike is was the proud owner of this adorable little guy. We miss him terribly every day.
