Cinnamon the Social Butterfly

Am I a Social Butterfly?

Today, at the dog park I was called "a social butterfly." Must be that I am a Black and Tan butterfly right? But, no... I was told that I am overly social and that's what it means. (overly?)

Isn't it expected that I greet all the dogs and humans that I encounter along the trail? I thought that was MY JOB! And I had no idea it meant I was some sort of butterfly.

Most dogs, especially hounds, are natural greeters. We have to check out all the dogs in the park and most of their owners too (sometimes they have treats). I usually sniff the other dog, check them out, say hello and keep on walking down the path looking for even newer dogs.

My favorite thing to do is wait in front of the gate to see who is coming into the park next. Will it be that cute little Shih Tzu or one of my houndy friends? The only ones I am not happy to see are the Great Danes or Dobermans. They are just too scary, even for this "Social Butterfly."

Naah, I thought about it when I laid down for my afternoon nap.  I'm not a social butterfly. I'm just plain social. Cinnamon is a friendly dog. I don't go to the dog park to run. I go to sniff, meet and greet! 

Here I am. All dressed up to go to a party!

I'd like to be a real "Social Butterfly" and all that it means. Now if I were invited to a party, I'd love that. I would be the center of attention. I could play hostess too and greet everyone that came through the door. And, of course, I'd look forward to all the food at the party!

So invite me. I might even wear my bestest jewelry!


Signed,
Cinnamon, the party girl?

Cinnamon - Banished from the dinner party!

Here I am outside while she sets the table for the dinner party.

I've calmed down a bit now. I got to go to the dog park and blow off some steam this morning.

But last night I was really upset. I had to stay home all day because of the rain and because my owner was grating carrots (I don't like carrots), slicing cucumbers, peeling potatoes and setting the table for a German themed dinner party.

I smelled the schnitzel, checked out the strudel and tried to figure out how to score some butter off the table but I didn't get any of it. I was excited. I knew people were coming to visit. And, next to dogs, I just love people!

So around 5:30 the doorbell rang. It was people. And they were bearing gifts... Marionberry jam and German wine. I was waiting for my gift but got so excited I ran in circles and couldn't calm myself. There were four people to play with me and I was beside myself with joy. I was leaping, bouncing and running through the house.

That's when I found out that my behavior had just earned me a ticket to "Siberia." I was told to calm down. Everyone was more interested in talking, opening wine and eating imported cheese and crackers than playing with ME. Imagine!

So I got tricked into going upstairs to "my room" and, listen to this, she shut the door. SHUT THE DOOR SO I COULDN'T BE AT THE GERMAN DINNER PARTY! I was shocked. I howled. I barked. I fumed. And if I had my smart phone I would have blogged about it then, or called the Humane Society. I was ticked! I was upset. I was BANISHED FROM THE DINNER PARTY.

Now I should know by now that I am a second class citizen. I don't go into restaurants to eat, I wait in the car when she goes shopping and I recently couldn't even get out of the car at the Nature Preserve. Sometimes I feel like part of the family but last night it was clear that I was a second class citizen.

Here's the German dinner I couldn't enjoy.

Downstairs they enjoyed fine wine and a delicious dinner. They laughed (and believe, me... I could hear them) and talked about going to Europe on a trip and about their walking experiences. They had a great time WITHOUT me. So I just sulked and went to sleep.

They left around 9 and my owner came to check on me. I was asleep. But she was feeling really guilty (I loved it) so took me for a little walk, fed me some schnitzel leftovers and petted me. The house smelled like a German restaurant and I had slept through the end of the dinner party.

But I am all calmed down today. I think I'll go take a nap.

Auf Wiedersehen, Cinnamon
Citizen, Second Class

Cinnamon's Exciting Day

Here I am playing.

Yesterday I was too lazy, lying in the sun and resting up from my exciting day, to tell you houndies all about it. But I can't resist sharing my EXCITING day yesterday.

First, we went to the dog park. It was a little later than usual and there were tons of dogs there. Since I greet each and every dog, I was busy right at the start. There were packs of them and they were all in good moods, thank goodness.

Finally, after greeting the pack near the gate, I decided it was time to trot down the perimeter path and see who was over on the other side of the park. I saw some regulars... the long-haired dog with the Frisbee and the old beagle who can't keep his mouth shut.

But the fun began as I rounded the corner to the log that serves as a bench. A lady had come with her teeny dog all dressed up in a pink and black dress. That dog didn't even know she had a dress on. She took off like lightning chasing all the dogs, big and small. I have never seen such a bundle of energy in my life! It made me tired just looking at her! As she whizzed by me, I caught a glimpse of the design on the back of her dress. It was a skull and cross bones. Maybe that explains it. Maybe this was a wild pirate dog... or a biker dog?

After that excitement I trotted down the path and ran into two dogs with an owner carrying a big sack. Hmmm. All of a sudden he reached into his sack and threw me two dog biscuits. Wow! Treats on the trail! This park was getting really interesting.

I enjoyed my treats and then found a patch of grass with a really good smell. I rolled in it. My owner said something about an impending bath but I didn't care. I was having a great time.

Then I found a young dog to play with and got dog slobber all over my back. Bath time here I come!

We rounded the corner again and I spied a lady with a messenger bag full of some plastic sacks. (And these were NOT poop sacks!). I walked up to her and gave her the eye. She was talking to some other owners. I stood there and stood there and she didn't give me anything. Finally my owner walked up to her too. Turns out she is a dog food wholesaler and, yes, she did have samples in her messenger bag. BIG bags of samples. And, we were given one to take home.

WOW what a great day at the dog park!

Big Grey Bratty Squirrel

When we got home, we looked over the dog food samples. They looked like good food. All of a sudden I jumped up and saw..... a big grey squirrel on our fence. It was twitching its tail and looking at US! Of course I bayed and bayed at it... so much I was taken inside.

Then the squirrel went back into the woods and climbed a tree.

That was sooooo exciting!!!

Home Alone Again Rant

Here I am getting ready to call the Humane Society

Psst. It's me, Cinnamon. I'm being left home alone again. Twice in one day!

First, she left me to go walking with her friends. She said they walked too fast for me and if I went, I couldn't get any sniffing in. So I went back to bed. It was cloudy out anyway.

When she got home I thought we'd be going somewhere fun. But no, we aren't going anywhere today! I am so bored.

And now I just found out she's going out to dinner this evening to some trendy place in the Hawthorne District of Portland. I'll bet they allow dogs. It appears I am not invited (sarcasm intended).

Another boring time alone at home. Grrrr. I am considering calling the Humane Society. Isn't this animal neglect?

Wanna go for a walk?

Here's the book cover.

A book about walking with Cocker Spaniels came across my desk today. Of course I sniffed it and ended up reading about  Becky Corwin's dogs who love going on something called a "volkswalk."

I knew a little about volkswalks because my owner has IVV books where she records sanctioned walks. So far, SHE hasn't taken me on a volkswalk and I don't have my own record books. So all I can do is read about dogs who get to go on the walks.

Each of their cocker spaniels has their own Canine Event Books for volkswalking. Several of their cockers, the books says, have at least six books filled with event stamps, totaling more than 200 walks. Now that sounds pretty exhausting to me... but I read on.

Becky wrote about walks in Florida, Nevada and beyond. It looked like she had a lot of fun even if the spaniels got into some trouble along the way (which she describes in great detail). It sounds like a book my owner would write!

"Tails Along the Trails: Walking Adventures with Dogs," by Becky Corwin-Adams is a fun read for people who walk with their dogs, do volkswalks, or, like me, just dream about them!

Cinnamon at the Tulip Fest: Kinda dog friendly

Here I am posing for my picture in the tulip fields.

Today I went to the Wooden Shoe Bulb Farm in Woodburn, Oregon for their annual Tulip Fest. It was a sunny day so I enjoyed the hour ride through the countryside.

We got there and parked. I had hoped they had a dog park where I could run free sniffing the tulips and playing with the other dogs. But noooo. They insisted dogs be on leashes. That was OK because people couldn't pick the tulips or tromp on them either. So they let me in because I had my harness and leash on. It kinda cramped my style but it beats staying home with nothing to write about.

The festival takes place through May 5th so you can still go too! The fields are dirt with some grass paths so I don't think I'd want to be there in the rain. I checked the weather forecast and found out it would be sunny today. The tulips are brilliant colors. Anyone going to the festival without their camera had better get with the program!

Here I am sniffing around the tulip plants. This variety was named Jimmy

We walked all around the fields taking pictures. I even had my picture taken. Some kids petted me. I liked that. There weren't a lot of dogs there. I did chat with a puppy (you must know by now I like puppies) and saw a nice pittie, also on a short leash.

I liked the tulip fields but wished I could romp free.

After we spent hours in the fields we checked out the children's play area (still no dog area) and sniffed the wurst stand. We didn't get any but I would have liked a wurst and a beer. Oh, I forgot, this isn't Germany!

By then I was getting hot because it was a nice sunny day. So we packed up the camera gear, I jumped in the back of the car, and we headed home.

Yes, the Tulip Fest is "dog friendly," but don't get TOO friendly with the tulips or the people or you will be escorted to your car. Short leashes are the norm there.

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

Dakota Dog Park: Drama, Fun and Sunshine!

Here's that puppy. I am totally jealous

My adopted dog park in Vancouver, Washington is the Dakota Dog Park located in the east part of the city. It is totally fenced,  with two parking lots and two entrances. Usually I just lope around the perimeter trail but today there was so much to write about.

We got there about nine in the morning and I gleefully ran into the park. My owner spotted an adorable puppy and stayed at the gate awhile talking. So I took off on the grass to sniff and look around. I was a bit jealous. I think my owner found the puppy cuter than me. So I just ignored her and played hard to get.

Here's the pack of people and dogs I had to greet.

Soon, we were walking around the perimeter trail together. I sniffed and met all the dogs and owners. There was a whole pack of assorted dogs, including a Bassett Hound who were regulars at the park and were walking along. I checked them out and then headed down the path.

All of a sudden I spied a big, fluffy white puppy who was on a leash. The puppy had a muzzle strap for training. I thought that was mean. After all, this dog park is for PLAY, not TRAINING!

Here I am playing with the big white fluffy puppy

So I ran right up to the puppy on the leash and started playing. The puppy loved it! Soon his owner had to take his leash off so we could romp and play. I got tired after a while and headed out to find the wooded glen I love so much. The puppy got put back on the leash. Drat!

I spent a lot of time in the woods, checking out the smells and looking inside the big hollow log to see if there might be a coon or a squirrel in there. Unfortunately there is never anything inside. Maybe some day....

Here I am looking for things inside the log

On the second trip around the trail the drama started. A lady whose husky dog likes to run all over the place, doing as he pleases, was being called. She was frantic. Her dog was headed over to see that pack of assorted dogs I mentioned. He slammed into one of the owners and ran around playing with the dogs. He wouldn't listen to his owner. He was one of those "macho" dogs.

Well, the pack of humans and dogs didn't like that. The lady finally reached them and one of the owners started yelling at her about how mean her dog was. Here we were on the other side of the park and we could hear him yelling and yelling. Wow! So much for a peaceful dog park.

I guess they resolved it because they all kept walking around. No one left. (I thought the lady with the Husky should have put him on the leash). So the drama was finally over.

I just love the woods at the Dog Park.

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

We walked through the woods again and I found a couple of dogs to play with. Since there were already three of them out there romping, I decided to watch them and wait my turn. See how polite I am?

The sun was out, more dogs came to the park and life was good for me at Dakota Dog Park!

Going to the Big Vet's Office: A Hound's Perspective

This is the best part about going to the Vet

Last week I was introduced to a new veterinarian's office. This one was huge in comparison with the nice little vet's office I used to go to in Santa Fe. Dr. Hinko's Animal Clinic is on Cerrillos Road in an adobe building not far from Petco, my favorite store. Most of the time I liked going there. When I had my appointment there was rarely another animal in the waiting room (but I could smell them). I always wagged my tail at the staff and the receptionist let me have cookies.

I say most of the time because I liked going there. They petted me, weighed me, looked at my ears and stuff. They gave me shots and it didn't hurt. The only time I didn't like it was when they clipped my nails. But they did it really fast and I have to admit it was more annoying than painful.

On my last visit they gave me a flea and tick medication. That's why I thought I was going to "The Land of the Fleas and Ticks." But it turns out, there are only fleas here (and worms).

I said good-bye and wondered where I would go to see the doctor in "The Couve."

Turns out, I needed to ask about Heart Worm Medicine. I took it in Santa Fe and I was out. So my owner took advantage of a walk in policy at Companion Pet Clinic not far from my house. We went into the reception area and the place was just crawling with dogs... puppies, big dogs and little dogs that were held in their owners arms. We filled out papers and were told we would be seeing a veterinarian for an exam and to answer my questions about what horrible creatures dogs had to worry about living in western Washington.

We waited quite awhile but I had fun trying to play with the animals. The little pit bull puppy named "Thor," was the most fun! 

Finally they called me. I had to go stand on the scales. Luckily I hadn't gained any weight on the trip up here. That In & Out Burger was full of fat. And then I have to admit I snacked on a few French fries too. My owner took advantage of having me in the car on the trip and we went through a few drive-ups for burgers because, she said, it was easier for her. I was afraid that I had gained weight, but I didn't!

The Vet Tech took some of my history and then stuck a thermometer you know where. Yuck! Then the Vet came in. He examined me. He poked and prodded and I stood there and put up with it. This wasn't all that much fun. I was thinking about whether or not they had cookies at the front desk.

Then he talked with us about what creepy crawly things might hurt me in Washington State. Mostly it was those worms that get in your stomach and FLEAS! No, not FLEAS! He said Heart Worms were not much of a problem. But he had the answer. There is a medicine I could take once a month that would prevent me from being harmed by fleas, worms and parasites and heart worms (just in case). So that's what we are doing.

Unfortunately I had to have a blood test before I could start the medicine. So they took me back where they draw blood and stuck me. Ouch! But it was over quick.

I was glad to get out of there and head for the front desk. While my owner paid, I got my reward. TWO cookies! I think I am going to like this vet clinic after all. :)