Thor chose a name for his dog that is well suited to nicknames. I find myself calling him Hooberry, and any combination of pastry that might accommodate such a fruit. Hooberry Muffin, Hooberry Pie, Hooberry Pancake, Hooberry Boo–no, that isn’t a pastry, but it should be. This delights Thor, as he wants everyone to love his dog as much as he does, and he appreciates the endearments.
We’ve been to 3 weeks of puppy training now. The first week, Hoo was the worst in his class. Why? The barking. He bark bark barks at the other puppies. We’re working on that with the help of a spray bottle, and he’s getting the idea that it is rude to shout at your peers. He isn’t a dumb dog–I was worried about that. He’s a smart, strong-willed dog. “What’s in it for me?” He asks, “And don’t tell me belly rubs. I’m going to get those anyway.”
We’ve been taught 5 commands (sit, lie down, get it, leave it, watch me) so far, and practiced loose leash walking. I’ve had Hoo on the leash since we brought him home, so he does well on that. As of today, he can do all the commands without a treat reward, and I’ve almost completely curbed his jumping. I was extra proud that he achieved Leave It when confronted with some cheese Thor had dropped near the trash. He’s a really good dog. Now, I just have to teach him not to clamp down on my forearm with those puppy needles.
What is is about is how much Thor loves him. It’s an every day thing for him to sigh and say how Hoo is the best thing to ever happen to him. That is fabulous.
Also fabulous is this blog my friend Kim pointed out. Ultimate Fabulousness is a blog by Karen Stout. She is candid and lovely, and her blog is a great read. Check her out! I have subscribed to her feed.
Bacon is fabulous, and I learned a new way to cook it. You take your bacon and lay it out in a cookie sheet (I used my Pampered Chef stoneware pan), the put it in your cold oven, and set the oven to 400. As it preheats, the bacon starts to cook. By the time it hits 400, your bacon is rare. I cook it another 6 minutes after it hits 400, then turn the bacon and and cook another 6-8 minutes, depending on how crispy I want it. NO MESS. No grease popping, no grease burns. And, if your pan is big enough, you can cook a whole pound at once. I pre-cook my bacon for breakfasts throughout the week this way.
One final flourish: Ooh la Frou Frou. I love this illustrated blog by Sandy M. Her drawings are what the landscape looks like in my brain. If you haven’t already visited her pretty world, take a look. You’ll be glad you did.
The Outside Lane 