Chou Chou's New Year's Resolutions

("Today, I will share with you my New Year's resolutions -- not too many!")

Take Time to Read:
("Oui! I am reading Larry Kay's Life's A Bark!")

Rainy Days With Chou Chou Briard

Chou Chou loves to go running with her Lucky Buddy dog walker. She is wearing her raincoat so she doesn't come home too soggy! When I go out with her for potty time in the rain, she wants to come right back in the house. But for a wet run around the park, she's ready!

Into the Woods With Chou Chou Briard

Thanksgiving weekend, we took a ride to a redwood forest in Marin, California.  Only one problem....

What's New, Chou Chou?

What's new, Chou Chou? She's traveling around in her new taxi, earning titles as a therapy dog, and  running in the rain:

Puppy at a Construction Site

The city is putting in a new water main. It will run down my street and connect to my home. Lots of equipment and noise. ("I am not afraid! I am a brave puppy!")

See what she sees and listen to what she hears......

Chou Chou Briard & Another Dead Body?

Chou Chou! What's going on? Murder and mayhem seem to be following you. First the body in the pond near our house, and now this.

Chou Chou Briard and the Dead Body

This is the curious case of a pup, her dog walker, a park, and a  pond with a dead body.

What do we know?

Pup Failed Potty?

Chou Chou Briard is beginning agility lessons. She doesn't know the rules yet. 

Before she enters the agility field, she has to go potty. If dogs peed in the agility area, other dogs would want to sniff, not work. 

This is what happened last week:

Dog Humor from Chou Chou Briard

Just for fun, Chou Chou brings you some of her favorite Internet humor. 

There's more!

Tahoe National Forest With Chou Chou Briard

Time for another summer road trip with friends! This time  our destination was the forest. 

It was a hot day in Sacramento. Every day has been a hot day. Too hot for a puppy to run and play, but we thought it would be cooler if we headed up Highway 50 towards Lake Tahoe. It wasn't.

Dixon, CA: A Self-Esteem Dog Show

Chou Chou's handler was going to the Dixon, CA dog show and invited Chou to be part of it. So I entered her. Dixon is close to my home, so I could go for a few hours, go home, then go back the next day.

When people enter their dogs in shows, they don't know until later how many dogs of their breed are entered. 

Tap Dancing For Treats

After she runs on the underwater treadmill each week, at the UC Davis Vet Hospital, Chou Chou heads for the pharmacy counter. 

An Unexpected Award

Chou Chou went to the library today for her therapy dog shift. The cutest little girl read to her. 

At night, I received an unexpected note by email: Chou Chou was being honored with an award!

Should Chou Chou Briard Join Tindog?"

There's a new app, based on the Tinder dating app, called Tindog. Upload a photo of your dog (and maybe one of yourself) and see who matches with you... uh... your dog.

Maybe Chou Chou should try this? What would she write for her profile?

The Ventura Dog Show Continues

  

The last day of the show, I asked one of the briard friends if he would mind using my phone to take videos of Chou Chou in the ring. He was willing. So I gave him my phone and went back behind my tree. 

The Ventura Dog Show, First Day

First day of the dog show. You might wonder why I am posting a picture of a tree trunk. This was my view of Chou Chou in the ring. I had to hide.

Road Trip With a Dog in a New Car

What do people do on the Fourth of July? We go to Ventura to see our briard friends at the dog show! There are more than 2100 dogs entered. Last time, my Mini Cooper had trouble getting over the mountain. So 3 days ago, I bought a new car, a 2012 Prius C. I don't know  how to operate all of it yet -- the manual is 560 pages! But, off we went.

Getting Ready for the Dog Show!

("I bet you think I sit around all day on an antique velvet French couch, don't you?") 

("No, I don't!")

Therapy Dog Chou Chou -- What Kids Say at the Library

Overheard at the therapy dog library visit, Read to a Dog, with Chou Chou:

Chou Chou Briard at the High School

As a therapy dog, Chou Chou has gone to libraries for children's "read to a dog" programs, to nursing homes, to the university, and to 5th grade after-school  programs teaching about dog safety.

A few days ago, we went with our fellow therapy dogs to a high school to de-stress the teenagers before their exams.

Lucky to Have Hip Dysplasia?

Chou Chou is back to her weekly physical therapy visits at U.C. Davis Veterinary Hospital. She is doing underwater treadmill and laser therapy. 

Integrative Medicine has expanded its patient load, but the space is small, so dog owners are no longer allowed to watch the dogs do their therapy. I have to sit in the waiting room now. And I talk to other dog owners.

May is Therapy Dog Month

So many activities this week! 

On Tuesday, Chou Chou had a therapy dog shift at the library, with 3 other dogs and lots of children.

Attachments Between Dogs and Their People

Two new research studies have found similarities between how infants form bonds with their parents and how dogs bond to their owners.

Hanging Out at the Sacramento Dog Show

Chou Chou has been in dog shows and won some beautiful ribbons, but I wouldn't call her a show dog. We don't enter very often. 

The Sacramento Kennel Club Dog Show is held just a few miles from my home. Chou Chou has been shown there. But it's more fun to hang out with the handlers, breeders, owners and dogs without the stress of competition. Oh, and the shopping at dog shows is great!

Happy 4th Birthday, Chou Chou Briard!

April 7, 2015. Chou Chou Briard is 4 years old! ("But I'm still a playful puppy!")

To celebrate, she had a birthday party in the library, during her Read To The Dogs therapy shift. 

Chou Chou's Seder

My friend invited me (and 7 others) to a Passover Seder -- a symbolic meal to retell the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Seders can last for hours; I asked if he would mind if I left early, to take care of my dog. He responded, "Why don't you bring her."

Chou Chou Tries a Motorcycle?

My Mini Cooper needed a new headlight, so we went to automotive repair. 

Chou Chou checked out the counter for dog treats ("Oui! Often counters have tasty treats for me!"). I had already moved the bowl of chocolates out of her reach.

March Is Pet Poison Prevention Month

Doesn't it seem like every month there's a special National Awareness something? This time, it's pet poison prevention. So let's talk about that. ("It's important!")  

So A Briard Walks Into A Bank

The manager at my credit union likes dogs and invited Chou Chou Briard to visit anytime. I had several checks to deposit, so yesterday I took my pup for her first visit to a bank.

How would this go? I didn't know.

8 Things Dogs Don't Like

Chou Chou Briard is smart and gentle. She's earned 2 AKC titles and medals: CGC Canine Good Citizen, and ThD Therapy Dog.

Certified therapy dogs are evaluated to be sure they will accept children who may not know how to handle a dog. 

Here are 8 behaviors that dogs generally don't like; this is something parents can teach their children.

Chou Chou Briard: I Lost My Tooth!

("So here I am -- pretty in pink, with my Hello Kitty bow! It's my favorite!")

("It's National Pet Dental Health Month, and I just had my dental checkup. I got an A+ for perfectly white, clean teeth!") 

("But bad news, too! I had a broken tooth! And it had to come out. It's okay. My tongue hides the empty space!")

After the Breakup

("My BFF Toffee doesn't want to play with me! I don't understand! So sad!")

("I've had other suitors: today a tan labrador retriever at the vet's office sniffed me and then peed on the floor to get my attention! It didn't impress! I just want Toffee back!"

Chou Chou Therapy Dog at the Library

Today was a library day. Chou Chou participated in one of her "Read to a Dog" therapy dog visits. Children who  lack confidence in their reading skills  practice by reading to nonjudgmental dogs.

But first, yesterday, Chou Chou had to get ready with a bath, then  brushing, and drying with a dog hair dryer.

It's National Pet Dental Health Month

Chou Chou likes having her teeth brushed, which is very good because they are brushed almost daily. 

Just one problem....

Chou Chou Tries to Herd Chickens

Chou Chou went to play in the neighborhood schoolyard with her BFF, Toffee. After school hours, the school allows the dogs to be off-leash. Today, she found a surprise.