Boy it's another scorcher today! Mom and Dad took me to meet Ozzie's family who are vacationing all over the States and came to Philly today. I was sad that I never got to meet Ozzie, apparently he gets too carsick to travel. I sat on Ozzie's mom's lap through lunch, while she alternated between eating her Caesar salad and plucking out my hair:



I also had a fun day yesterday. I met my friends in the park and ran around teasing the big dogs and humping the little ones to show what a big guy I am!



And last night, I met mom's cousins in Havertown for my first proper Shabbat dinner. It was also a celebration for dad's 40th birthday. I was very well behaved except for a short digging stint in their garden - there is something delicious about the grass on the Mainline! And after everyone popped the champagne to celebrate Dad's birthday, I had a grand ol' time chewing the cork...

I am now off to dad's parents house to swim! Yippee!

AGC

A Wiry Gal in Austin

I think I'm in love again...her name is Tipper and she owns Margaret. They live in Austin, Texas. Tipper is 10-months old, and just look at those sexy, long legs! I think I'm attracted to older bitches!



PS. Speaking of wiry bitches -- last night at the park I met a cousin of mine - another bitch with the unfortunate name of Douglass! Turns out she came from the same breeder that I did, and her mom and my mom are sisters! She is a sweet gal - but very quiet and mellow - I will try to get her excitable next time I see her!

AGC

Saved by Elvis

Is it just me, or is this story pretty funny?

"A bartender, tour-boat engineer and an Elvis impersonator helped rescue a dog named Tucker, who was paddling alone in the middle of Lake Champlain near Juniper Island on Tuesday evening. "

I can just see the dog swimming for his life, when he spots Elvis reaching out to him to come aboard. He probably thought he'd died and gone to doggy heaven!

The story ends very happily:
"The dog's owner was spotted circling the lake in a speedboat with a similar dog aboard. The crew flagged her down and instructed her to meet them at the dock. In the meantime, passengers were sharing the buffet with the dog. "

Bet the buffet made the death-defying swim worthwhile! Those all you can eat cruise buffets? Sure beats kibble and boiled chicken!

AGC

Those Smart German Shephards!

This could only happen in New Jersey:

"A US woman who ended up with three police cars outside her home claims she was teaching her dog to dial 911. Sylvia D’Antonio, 46, of Lake Parsippany, New Jersey, was charged with disorderly conduct for making three late night 911 calls. But she insists the calls were made by Slayer, her German shephard. A police dispatcher was alarmed because when the calls were picked up “the only communication was someone breathing”. The calls were traced and three squad cars raced to D’Antonio’s home where they found there was no emergency. D’Antonio claimed she told Slayer how to dial 911 in an emergency and the dog got the number right. “She knocks it off the hook and then she steps on it,” she said. "

I can't even figure out where to pee (last night I peed on the sofa, much to the consternation of my Dad) let alone how to use the friggin' phone. All power to Slayer, and for all we know, it could have been an emergency in his mind. Maybe his water bowl was empty.

Still on the topic of law enforcement, join me in wishing Hans, a K9 Police Officer, a jolly good retirement. In his career, he apprehended over 100 criminals and saved his human partners life on more than one occasion. His retirement gift? No, not a watch but "a jumbo-size box of dog biscuits." Let's hope his dentures can handle it.

AGC

Of Friends and Foes

So I wanted to share this cute picture of my wiry Israeli friend Mack (right) and his sister Luca (a Canaan dog) owned by Don who lives in Jerusalem. You can see they love eachother! Wish I wasn't an only-dog, but I don't see that changing anytime soon. I am exhausting enough for mom and dad.

Mom used to live in Israel too, but never saw a wire terrier there the entire 6 years she lived in Jerusalem. In fact, turns out she lived around the corner from Don for much of that time! I would like to visit Mack and Luca one day, as I am Jewish by adoption and would like to see the Old City and run on the Tel Aviv beach!



I learnt a valuable lesson yesterday. A cat is not, I repeat, NOT a dog, or anything like a dog. As mom was walking me to the park, we came across Blanche-the-snooty-cat. When she saw me, she got pretty submissive and lay down. Not having had much experience with felines, I playfully pounced on her, and boy did she get pissed, she lashed out and hissed. It hurt. I ran for my life. Now I know why I'm supposed to hate cats!

AGC

Doggone Days of Summer

Life is a stroll in the Park. Ah, 'tis the life of a wee pup!



AGC

Attack of the Clones?

I very nearly choked on my kibble this morning while reading the newspaper. What on earth are these humans up to? The answer: nothing better to do than clone my species!

"South Korean scientists have successfully cloned the world's first dog. Man's best friend now joins a long list of animals that have been "duplicated." But what makes this achievement so remarkable is that dogs -- unlike sheep, goats, mice, pigs, or even cats -- have such a complicated reproductive biology that cloning them was thought to be nearly impossible. Now that canines have been conquered, will humans be next?"

The cloned Afghan hound, given the stupid name of Snuppy (stands for Seoul National University Puppy) was born to a labrador. Eeew, that gives me the creeps. Even creepier, the scientists aren't sure whether Snuppy has the make up of a 3-year old dog, the age of his father! I really don't think humans should be allowed to mess with nature!

Speaking of pregnancies, I wanted to share a pic of my wiry pal Copper and his mom Brenda P who is 6 month preggies. Copper's fave pillow is his mom's belly! Awww.



AGC

I wanna go to Alcatraz!

As I was munching my breakfast this morn, I came upon a great story about a 4-year old dog who beat most of the human swimmers in the Alcatraz Invitational! Jake came in 72nd!

"Organizers from the South End Rowing Club which puts on the annual event say it was the first known crossing of the water by a dog. The crowd cheered as Jake made his way onto solid ground, shook off water and dodged a woman who tried to put a medal around his neck.
The 4-year-old pooch and his owner, Jeff Pokonosky, live In San Diego. Pokonsky said he and Jake swim 4 miles a week and bodysurf together. And Jake always eats scrambled eggs before a big swim. "

Now that is the life! I can't ever see my dad swimming 4 miles a day - ha, he'd probably drown!

I just dig the water. Last night Mom was taking a shower, and I thought, what the hell, looks like fun, so I just walked right in and joined her! She was rather surprised, but she let me stay and then towel dried me. Dad also tried to hand strip me yesterday - he did a pretty good job for an amateur. Hand stripping wiry coats like mine is not a piece of cake!

Woohoo, Rose the petsitter is coming over today...I look forward to her visits, sure breaks the monotony of being confined in the frigging laundry room all day!

AGC

Disgusting!

I was rather incorrigible yesterday. I pooped and peed all over the house - and in front of Mom's friend from work, Lynne. I am also pretty hyper and have discovered what fun it is to mount mom's leg. Mom and Dad got tired of my exuberance and put me in my laundry prison. God I hate that puppy gate! One day I will be big enough to jump over it, heh heh!

I read a horrid story out of Texas today. Texas - it would happen there!
"Some city officials in Jourdanton, Texas, are outraged that a public works supervisor ordered employees to drown six stray dogs at the city sewer plant, rather than having the animals properly euthanized. For punishment, the supervisor was ordered to attend classes with animal control officers. "

Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime! Classes? Bloody ridiculous. The bastard should have weights attached to his groin and flung in the nearest river. Let's see how he likes it!

AGC

Watching the world go by

Today I learnt to jump up on top of the sofa and look out at the passing parade in front of our window. I saw Blanche the stuck up cat, and barked and barked at her. She looked up briefly with a "ooh I'm so scared of you little pipsqueak" expression on her face.

Mom just gave me a bath (again) cos she caught me in mid poop in the living room, picked me up (the indignity of it!) and took me outside. But in so doing, the poop got smeared on my bum and her arm. Ha, that will teach her!

I was looking forward to seeing "Must Love Dogs" with that cool John Cusack, but it got shit reviews...anyway, who am I kidding, we are banned from cinemas anyway - I'll have to rent it on video in a couple of months!

AGC

Ow, my butt aches!

Had my first vet visit today. The stupid receptionist had the gall to look at me and ask my dad: "what mixed breed is Axel?" Well Dad didn't like that comment! He valiantly defended my impressive pedigree, while mom looked on amused. Even after explaining my ancestory, the silly woman said, "ok, so he's a Jack Russel?" I mean how much insult can I be expected to take? First a mutt, and then a JR?

I'm feeling kind of woozy tonite - mom and dad tell me it's from the two shots I got by my butt. That was no fun, and nor do I enjoy getting my nails clipped. Plus the cats in the waiting room creeped me out!

I just read a heartwarming doggie do-gooder story online. Joshua, an autistic boy with two golden retrievers who help calm him, almost had to give them up when his family moved across country and the airlines wouldn't take the dogs due to the heat in the cargo area. So unhappily, Joshua's mom put the dogs up for adoption via an autism website. But lo and behold, "A woman from Du Bois in Clearfield County told them, Your dogs are coming with you.
And so this morning, Trikzy and Daisy will begin the first leg of a three-part trip involving volunteers from two states who will eventually take the pair to their new home in what they call a doggie relay. " These nice folks are taking turns driving the dogs to Phoenix. Ahhh, what a great story! Makes my tail wag...

Good night,

AGC

Who Smashed Dad's Car?

Mom and Dad are very upset today. It seems some horrid human smashed into Dad's brand new SUV while it was parked overnight a few meters from our house. The whole right side is smashed in - what a mess. Now the car is gone for a week and Dad has to rent one so he can continue to work. They just paid a shitload to get me, and now they have to pay a $500 deductible eventhough this was none of their fault! I hope they don't think about giving me back for a refund to pay for this, EEK!




Tomorrow I believe I have to go to the vet for shots. Mom has to take some of my poop along for the doctor - how completely embarracing!!

Hey, I think I might be in love - her name is Moira and she's from Mississippi! Ain't she cute?

Yesterday I was so naughty - I pooped behind dad's computer, all over the cables when mom was doing work on her computer. Poor mom, she was so relaxed cos I'd just made a big poop outside...even I was surprised when the urge struck me again. Mom did not look happy as she spent about 10 minutes cleaning wires and muttering, 'devil dog' under her breath.

AGC

Kitty Kid

So I was reading the Jewish Exponent today - Mom gets it at work and brings it home for me to pee on - and I like to read the births, deaths and marriage notices while I do my biz. Anyway, so I'm looking in the births section, and I read this:

BADER
Mykali Bader announces the arrival of her little sister, Montara Catt Lylli (Matana Co-ach Lamdana).
Montara was adopted Jan. 20 in the Anhui Province of the People's Republic of China.

Montara is named in loving memory of the family cat, Melanie; women's-rights pioneer Carrie Catt; and her great-grandmother Lillian Stein.

Well, had I not already been pissing, I would have pissed myself silly. Imagine being named after a CAT! A dog I could maybe understand, but a cat! The parents better start saving up for therapy - a Chinese kid adopted by a Jewish fam and named after a cat. Oy.

Meanwhile, Bill Clinton got a generous offer for his daughter. "A Kenyan says he offered Bill Clinton 40 goats and 20 cows for his daughter's hand in marriage five years ago -- and is still waiting for an answer."

To my mind, that's a pretty good deal - maybe the Kenyan should throw in a few wire terriers - that would seal the deal for sure.

AGC

Get me outta this frigging fur coat!

Greetings all.

The name is Axel G Chocholoza - leave it to the parents to come up with some bizarro name. People assume I'm named after that idiot Axel Rose or the bigger idiot, Axel Foley from Beverly Hills Cop. Wrong! I am named in honor of my maternal grandfather Abe who manufactures axels, and loves my breed. "G" is in honor of my wiry predecessor who grew up with mom in South Africa. Her name was Georgie. They were going to call me George, but I believe there is some other moron by that name who they don't like. Chocholoza I believe means "sweet little thing" in the black SA native language of Tswana. I quite dig that. I especially dig hearing Americans trying to pronounce it. Not the most articulate bunch, are they? Sorry Dad, I know you're American...

Anyway, so I was getting sort of bored being cooped up in the kitchen while mom and dad are at work, so unbeknownst to them, I jumped over my puppy gate, and made my way to the office where I taught myself to blog. Being the son of a webmaster and an engineer, I am quite the techno savvy canine, if I say so myself. Plugging away at the keyboard sure beats chewing those ridiculous doggie toys they come up with - dental rope and rawhide. I mean seriously, would you like to chew that shit?

It is frigging hot today in Philadelphia - 105 F, and I'm stuck in a fur coat! I sometimes wish I looked like one of those freaky Chinese Crested dogs, I'd be willing to sacrifice my good looks to be cool. Mom shlepped me for a walk this afternoon in the blazing heat - we live right near Fairmount Park which is pretty cool, but today I would have preferred to stay in the air conditioned house. Last night I played a prank on my parents and purposefully pissed in the air con vent. Boy, were they steamed!

Ah to be swimming right now. Last Saturday I had my first swim at my paternal grandparent's house - it was a blast!



Anyway, gotta dash, the petsitter Rose is due to arrive - mom hired her out of guilt for leaving me alone during the day. Haha, she should only know what fun I have when she is out. Between surfing the web, watching TV and finding new places to pee, life is swell!

Axel