Ridiculously Early Sneak Peek: The Dog Who Knew Too Much
Bernie took out his cell phone, called Suzie for the zillionth time, and that didn’t include the zillion times of not getting a signal. “Suzie? Suzie? If you’re there, pick up. Are you there? Suzie? Suzie?” He clicked off, looked at me. “How the hell did I forget she was coming up here? Took me by surprise. If I’d been prepared, I could have … “ He didn’t tell me what he could have done, but he didn’t have to because I knew it would have been perfect. So maybe he didn’t have to tell Suzie, because she too would just know? A confusing thought, and not my usual kind at all. It slipped away, and I licked the last bit of kibble dust from the bottom of my bowl. Since licking was on my mind, I licked all around my mouth, and then the tip of my nose. Why not? It was something I could do, so I did. Once this perp named Walter “Honey” Potts bet Bernie a C-note that he could touch his nose with the tip of his tongue. Bernie took the bet – “No human can do that,” he said. But maybe Honey Potts wasn’t human – although he smelled, very powerfully, of human – because it turned out he could do it no problem. “Double or nothing?” he said. He was still laughing when we turned him over to Central Booking.
Tags: The Dog Who Knew Too Much
This entry was posted on Monday, December 13th, 2010 at 8:56 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
9:04 am on December 13th, 2010
Rio,
Sorry, I seem to have riled you up a bit. I’ll try to answer some of your questions.
I guess the ES shepherd talk may result from the fact of my “identity crisis”; I really don’t know what I am, and I don’t think that it matters actually. I am not trying to turn the blog into a therapy session; it’s just kinda like working on my genealogy. I am what I am; maybe I’ve
even got some pug in me, and that would be OK with my friend and me too.
I came out of a shelter as a border collie, became a border collie mix, then I was a huskie for a while, and finally, maybe an ES. As for the charity, since you’ve asked, yes, I am the face of two charities: I’m the spokesdog for the Pet Emergendy Fund of Western New York which helps to provide life-saving treatment for pets that aren’t as lucky as we are and have raised thousands of dollars for them. I’m also the mascot for the Letters From Home Program which sends letters and gift packages to American Service People all over the world. As a matter of fact we shipped almost 4,000 Christmas packages in November. I hold both positions as Blou’s successor not because I’ve earned them. However, I intend to do my utmost to be worthy of them.Finally, yes i do like the Chet and Bernie books, but they don’t seem to be the major topic of conversation on the blog since I jumped on. They seem to be rather a vehicle that has brought friends together to talk about whatever. If the books are all we’re supposed to talk about, set me straight and I’ll limit myself. I apologize if I’ve upset you. Any more questions, fire away. Have a great day.
9:04 am on December 13th, 2010
Good Morning. Finally all my company has gone. Mom loves it when they come and then loves the peace and quiet when they go.
Sam is spending the day at the vet’s having tests and blood work done. Mom sort of panics whenever something happens so she should just chill for awhile. Sam’s Mom thinks it’s just a tummy upset, but it needs to be checked out.
9:24 am on December 13th, 2010
Chet: It don’t think that Suzie “would just know.” Women don’t work that way. This is really good. I wonder where “up here” is. This could be why he’s buying her a bauble for a present.
9:25 am on December 13th, 2010
Good morning Mollypop and TYB and everyone.
Mollypop: Please let us know about Sam when you find out.
9:32 am on December 13th, 2010
Hey y’all! I’ve been off the last couple of days because Mom was scurrying to catch up on all the play details that got put off because of her trip to Washington. But she got everything finished — even had a few hours to go Christmas shopping with Dad, which shocked them both! The play went off without a hitch, much to Mom’s delight and surprise. She was worried after Sunday morning’s rehearsal, because a lot of the kids still didn’t know their lines, but by Sunday night they were A O.K.! There was one place where one kid said the wrong line, and then everyone just looked at each other trying to figure out what to do, but then someone jumped in with another line and the play continued. Someone in the audience said they didn’t even know there was a problem until the mom whose son had flubbed the line told her!
Anyway, now Mom has time to turn the computer on for me, so I’m back!!!
9:36 am on December 13th, 2010
Oh oh. Suzie’s missing. Get on the case, Chet.
B.Stover: I’m impressed. You made a photo appear on the blog. That is a beautiful tree to look at from inside a nice warm house. Did you get lots of snow and wind last night?
Wookie: Again, I’m impressed. Your table is exquisite and just reading the menu activated my saliva glands. I vote your house for our first Chet the Dog Blog reunion.
Melanie, Zoe and Newfs: Squeezing into the Subaru…
9:45 am on December 13th, 2010
Hi Kirby. I’m glad the play went well and that you’re back. Usually when rehearsals don’t go well everything is fine on the day. (I used to direct plays at school…something I will no longer do.)
TYB: I like your versions of my picture yesterday. I like the wider one but I want to eliminate the carport.
Staff: Love the two pictures of Alice in the window.
We have about four inches of snow here and it’s minus 10 wind chill right now. Too cold to breathe.
Melanie checked in early this morning on yesterday’s blog.
9:54 am on December 13th, 2010
Heh,
BStover,
Did you hear the Metrodome collapsed so they are playing the Vikings/Giants football game in Detroit tonight? I think that just might be a fun game to watch. Is Detroit getting some of this weather? Is it expected to be snowing tonight?
I might watch if it is.
9:57 am on December 13th, 2010
Good luck today to Melanie and gang, and Sam. Hope the vet trips turn out well.
Again, Wookie, we were amazed with your mom and dad’s dinner. Barb is doing well to get some gifts wrapped and cards sent out, hopefully this week.
Tyb, glad you stuck around. You handled Rio’s outburst with a great deal of grace and aplomb. A hat tip to you. And speaking for Barb and I, we welcome you to the blog. You are not limited to C & B subjects, anything and everything is discussed here.
Barb agrees with your friend – she doesn’t really care that I am an English Shepherd, it’s just that knowing that, it makes some of my reactions to things a lot more understandable and interesting.
Bee, I think you would enjoy the movie we watched on Temple Grandin, expecial as an educator. Although autistic, she eventually becasme a prof at U. of Colorado, in animal science, we think. BBL
10:01 am on December 13th, 2010
Greetings Chet and plunderers! Sun is shining here, very cold (16 degrees), but snow is gone. Inch or less remains on the ground.
My grandma is here today and boy is she making a mess! One bedroom in this house is completely empty! Nothing! Nada! Ziltch! Stuff that was laying all over is now “organized” into keep, trash, yardsale and give away boxes and bags.
And the books! Don’t even get me started on the books. Books, books, books everywhere. In every box and bag there are books.
Shoes! How many shoes does my mom need anyway? Shoes everywhere, but not quite as many as the books.
Mom is leaving around lunch time (after the roads get cleaned off) to give a sample for her pre-employment drug testing. Me? I am always available to give a sample, anytime, anywhere.
Stay warm.
10:11 am on December 13th, 2010
Poor Bernie,
I know if I had a ‘friend’ who kept forgetting about me I would just have to dump him. Really. What kind of a message is it that he can’t even remember multiple appointments with you.
Shape up Bernie.
10:25 am on December 13th, 2010
Barb says she agrees with Staff. Bernie, what were you thinking, or not thinking?
Barb is shutting me down for now – has to go away for a haircut and a couple of other things. Will be back this afternoon. We got plowed out this morning about 6:15 (wake up call?), so she is ready to go. Weather is much calmer today. Cold, but not much wind. BBL
10:29 am on December 13th, 2010
Susie!… I sure hope this next book doesn’t turn out to be a mushy love story….cough!…mixed in with a lot of licking….snort!
Tyb!…Thanks for your explanation of your charity work….sneeze!… The part about you coming out of a shelter as a border collie morphing into a collie mix then turning into a husky, and now changing into an English Sheppard, that whole thing is sort of frightening….snort!….I think if someone suggested you were a Poodle you would believe you are a Poodle…wheeze!… We talk about everything on this here blog. I just wandered if you had even read the books. As for upsetting me, do not worry about that….cough!… I hardly ever get upset over anything…heh!
10:39 am on December 13th, 2010
Rio,
Actually I wouldn’t mind being a poodle. On three different occasions in tests done on 123 breeds of dogs, the standard poodle came out second in intelligence. The first was the border collie. I’m not sure where the pug ranked. Probably third.
for B Stover I’m attaching another picture. One without the carport.
10:41 am on December 13th, 2010
Staff: Yes I heard about the football game moving to Detroit. I think it’s at Ford Field which I think is an indoor stadium. (Notice my lack of knowledge about the subject.) On the news they showed the crowd lining up for the free tickets since midnight. And it’s minus ten wind chill this morning. Detroit doen’t usually get as much snow as we do further west but the temps are usually close.
10:47 am on December 13th, 2010
Jasper,
Do you think that I might borrow your grandma when she’s finished at your house.
I have a lot of organizing to do here and could use some help. I don’t have a lot of shoes, but books could keep her busy for quite a while, and I won’t even ask her to do windows.
10:51 am on December 13th, 2010
I’m laughing at Jasper. Shoes and books sounds familiar. It sounds like you didn’t get the weather we got.
Barb: Thank you. I put Temple Grandin on my list.
TYB: I really like that one. How do I get it off of the blog and onto my laptop? I may be able to figure it out.
I’m laughing at Rio also.
10:53 am on December 13th, 2010
I have a comment awaiting moderation at 10:51…why I have no idea.
10:59 am on December 13th, 2010
I finally get Mom to turn on the computer, and now she’s shutting me down again. Something about having to go to work to pay for my doggy treats! Anyway, I’ll try to get her to turn the computer on again tonight. Have a great day everyone, especially Sam — I hope all goes well at the vet!
11:00 am on December 13th, 2010
The Standard Poodle is tops in intelligence! I have a lot of technical things to think about all the time. Right now I’m pondering the ion exchange in the process of making Gorilla Glass. Take that, you Border Collies.
11:10 am on December 13th, 2010
Mollypop,
I’m sure that if Blou, being a border collie, were still here, he’d be able to answer any questions you might have about Gorilla Glass, but he has another job and is very busy preparing for it.
He was drafted last year just before Christmas because Santa’s team were all suffering from deer flu and he was the only one that could substitute on such short notice and pull it off. Here’s a picture of him at work.
11:11 am on December 13th, 2010
not being a border collie, I forgot the picture. Here it is.
11:13 am on December 13th, 2010
I’m copying my comment from 10:51 here to see if this will be moderated:
I’m laughing at Jasper. Shoes and books sounds familiar. It sounds like you didn’t get the weather we got.
Barb: Thank you. I put Temple Grandin on my list.
TYB: I really like that one. How do I get it off of the blog and onto my laptop? I may be able to figure it out.
I’m laughing at Rio also.
11:24 am on December 13th, 2010
TYB: In the comment that’s being moderated for some strange reason, I said that I like the size of the picture/card you posted today. I have to figure out how to get it on my laptop.
11:36 am on December 13th, 2010
Stover!…Right click on the photo and select . This will allow you to copy the photo onto your computer…snort!
11:43 am on December 13th, 2010
Bee,
You should be able to simply drag the photo from the blog to your desktop. I tried it and it worked for me. If it doesn’t that way, clidk on it to open it and either drag it or save it. If you can’t get it using any of those methods, I’d be happy to get the file to you, but I’m not sure you want to send your email address to me on the blog. I’m not afraid to send you a phone number if you want to call me with your email address.
I’m not home enough to get any crank calls from anyone else who picks up the number
and caller ID should discourage the crazies.
11:53 am on December 13th, 2010
Thanks, Rio. It didn’t take you long to figure that out. Maybe you could help Mollypop with the Gorilla Glass. Are you sure you’re not part border collie?
11:55 am on December 13th, 2010
Tyb — I haven’t had a chance to give you a proper greeting to the blog yet, so this is it. I can sympathize with your uncertain background, because my lineage is also a bit confused, mostly golden but I think my grandmother on my father’s side may have strayed with a chow along the way. I have a double coat and a bit of blue spot on my tongue, but my mom and dad say I have a golden personalilty, which is what counts the most, they say.
Macy — As to glasses, we just have lots and lots of cabinets, and my dad is very organized in arranging them. Many guests were local, but we did have people come in from Colorado, Lousiana, South Carolina and New York for the party. The one I was hoping would come is my “Uncle” Alan from Sydney, Australia, who I don’t get to see very much, but that is a little far for him to travel.
Wookie
12:12 pm on December 13th, 2010
Ok Wookie, I am now officiallly obsessed with the glasses. Do they match?
TYB love your card, sounds like Blou was a really cool dog, too bad you didn’t get to meet him..uh, well..maybe not, cause then you would have not met your friend.
pug third…uh yeah..whatever you say!
12:15 pm on December 13th, 2010
Thanks TYN and Rio. I right clicked and didn’t have select as a choice but did have “save picture as” so I now have it in my file.
12:20 pm on December 13th, 2010
Good morning All! All is well here but this is one of those days…BBL A friend of ours has decided that today would be a good day to come do some work at our house like tree trimming. He had better not mess with my leaves or my holes.
12:25 pm on December 13th, 2010
Wookie!… You have friends who live in Colorado?….snort!… Maybe next time they go to visit you they can take me along with them… gruff!
Min Pin!…Are you trying to pick a fight with me or with Tyb?….grump!
12:37 pm on December 13th, 2010
I do not want to pick a fight with anyone, especially TYB, who is a distinguished spokesdog.
12:55 pm on December 13th, 2010
Fight!…Could have fooled me!…snort!… I am ranked 57 on the intelligence list my friend looked at. That doesn’t seem right to me…gasp!…I can figure out a lot of stuff. I just don’t let on how much I really know all the time…grunt!….And I am really good at reverse sneezing!…cough!
1:31 pm on December 13th, 2010
Wookie, thanks for the welcome. From what I’ve read about the party, I can understand that you were busy. As for lineage, if we weren’t so modest, we could just say we are “the best of everything”. And to Rio, maybe the rest of the pugs are 57 on the scale, but you are an exception and I’ll give you #3.
1:38 pm on December 13th, 2010
Reverse sneezing is in a class all by itself.
1:40 pm on December 13th, 2010
Barb: Another thing I said on the comment that is still being moderated is thank you; I have put Temple Grandin on my list.
1:42 pm on December 13th, 2010
Two other things I said on the comment being moderated is that I was laughing at Jasper about all the books and shoes; also that I was laughing at Rio about his comment, “I hardly ever get upset about anything.” There, that about covers it.
1:43 pm on December 13th, 2010
Now I’m laughing about being moderated again. Perhaps it’s the term “laughing at.”
2:00 pm on December 13th, 2010
Stover!… I was moderated for no reason that day we were having Blog Bugs. My message showed up pretty quickly though….grunt!… I think there are still some issues to be resolved in the underlying architecture…snort!…As a test why don’t you re-post the comment that is out in limbo?…wheeze!
2:12 pm on December 13th, 2010
One view from my lazyboy.
2:13 pm on December 13th, 2010
Another view.
2:15 pm on December 13th, 2010
Rio: I tried reposting and that too is being moderated.
2:15 pm on December 13th, 2010
Here’s the latest on Sam: no diagnosis, bloodwork taken, got an antibiotic shot and subcutaneous fluids.
Sam was all excited to go for a ride this morning, She thought she was going to doggie day care but went to the v-e-t-s. Now she’s home and all limp and droopy. No food or water until 5 p.m. She thought some special food right away would be okay because of her ordeal, but no. However, her dinner will make her happy – boiled rice and chicken.
2:19 pm on December 13th, 2010
Oh Sam. We don’t like having our princess sick.
2:23 pm on December 13th, 2010
Macy — some match more than others. The word my mom likes to use is “eclectic”. Wookie
2:38 pm on December 13th, 2010
Stover!…Are you in jail?….snort!
2:45 pm on December 13th, 2010
B – Your pictures are beautiful.
2:53 pm on December 13th, 2010
Wookie, we feel better about the eclectic. We would think that your mom was over the edge if all those glasses matched. Martha Stewart says that eclectic is best, so…
Sammie, that is no way to treat a princess. Everyone knows that chicken soup cures everything, so muster up your last bit of strength and stomp in there on your little princess feet, and DEMAND some soup. How could they deny you?
Bee, our lazyboy must be defective. Our view is nothing like yours.
57 sounds about right.
2:56 pm on December 13th, 2010
Min Pin!… We didn’t see you on the list at all…heh!
3:10 pm on December 13th, 2010
TYB: I forgot to answer your question. I always sign myself as B because I believe in the conservation of energy though some might call it laziness.
Mollypop: Thank you. Did you get the link I posted the other day for you for online word games?
Macy, you’re funny…and so is Rio. You guys are fighting again.
3:12 pm on December 13th, 2010
Fighting!… Stover we are not fighting, we are sparring…heh!… She started it, just remember that!…grunt!
3:46 pm on December 13th, 2010
“Spar”: Used in the 17th century to describe the beginning action in a cock fight. From the ME for thrust. You’re fighting with words.
3:50 pm on December 13th, 2010
I wonder how Melanie is doing.
3:52 pm on December 13th, 2010
Interesting!… Here is something interesting I found on Wikipedia about intelligence…snort! SiberH has not been making up his behavior problems!….heh!
“For example, the ability to learn quickly could be a sign of intelligence. It could be interpreted as a sign of blind subservience and a desire to please. In contrast, some dogs who do not learn very quickly may have other talents. An example is breeds that are not particularly interested in pleasing their owners, such as Siberian Huskies. Huskies are often fascinated with the myriad possibilities for escaping from yards and catching small animals, figuring out on their own numerous and often ingenious ways of doing both.“
Funny!…The article does not mention the love of digging holes…snort!
3:52 pm on December 13th, 2010
We are back. Going to unload stuff from the car, go visit the chickens (who are doing fine in the cold) and then maybe take a rest. Barb needs one, I don’t.
Bee, We think Temple Grandin is at Colorado State U., not U of Colo. She was born in 1947, according to Google, so may be nearing retirement.
3:56 pm on December 13th, 2010
Sam: Feel better soon.
Macy: Our set of glasses are eclectic. A lot are jars, canning and pickle, some cheap glass, no gorilla glass though. I think that’s why we have so many kinds.
B.Stover: Love where your Lazy Boy is!
First: Bess is okay. The vet was able to figure out a way for us to get enough blood for the glucose meter. So now we’ll have more of a handle on this. Her back legs aren’t working too well. He thinks that’s a neurological problem, but the path from her brain to her tail works just fine. She’s a very happy, tail wagging dog.
Patsy: She has to go on a stronger antibiotic. Brown Spider bits are not good. Should clear up soon though.
Couldn’t fit Grace in the car.
Dan is doing well. Lots of IV antibiotics. They appear to be working.
4:02 pm on December 13th, 2010
BROWN SPIDER BITE!??!! *faint*
4:05 pm on December 13th, 2010
37 Affenpincher
Silky Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
English Setter
Pharaoh Hound
Clumber Spaniel
57 Pug
’nuff said!
4:05 pm on December 13th, 2010
Barb & MagPie: Glad you guys are feeling better (though, you, MagPie are always in tip top shape!)
One more comment about me, then going to help with dinner, and dogs, and stuff.
Soooo,
I was trying to get information from the liver doc over to the hospital where, tomorrow, I’m having a consultation with the anesthesiologist about my knee surgery in January. This doctor is not affiliated with the hospital that I’m trying to get him to send information. To further confuse things I have also an MRI for the liver doc at his hospital on Wednesday. The woman talking to me from the hospital full of the idiots who lost all of Dan’s stuff.
After 3 different people . . .
You are Melanie *****, date of birth ******?
Yup.
You are scheduled for a CAT scan on Wednesday . . .
I interrupt.
NO, I am scheduled for a MRI on Wednesday.
But it says here that you are having a CAT . . .
It’s wrong.
Silence . . .
Well, hmm, well you can take all the regular medications except for ****.
I don’t take that.
Well, the medicine you take for diabetes.
I don’t have diabetes.
Silence. . .
This other problem of getting your information to another doctor, you do know that Dr. G**** is not an orthopedist?
This time silence from me.
Yes, I know that. He’s my liver doctor. I have to have knee surgery. The anesthesiologist are concerned about which anestheia to give me, in case it hurts my liver. . . (Banging my head on the steering wheel.)
Oh, why don’t you just have them call if they are concerned about something.
I hung up.
I want you to know that the only reason I was trying to call the liver doc, is that the knee doc, thought it would make things go smoother.
HA!
4:08 pm on December 13th, 2010
Macy: I agree with the brown spider bite! It has been a terrible summer and fall for bites and stings. Never been this bad before.
Also, I was NOT driving when having that conversation. I was in the hospital parking lot with the two ladies waiting for Zoë who was visiting Dan!
4:09 pm on December 13th, 2010
melanie yes, put “not this one” on the other knee. Every time you think something is foolproof, you discover that they invented better fools.
4:11 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie, if you fit enough Newfs in the car tightly, they won’t move around. (think sardines)
4:14 pm on December 13th, 2010
Min Pin!… You my dear are not an Affenpincher… snort!…So your point is pointless…grunt!… Here is a photo of an Affenpincher….sneeze!
4:16 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie: You aren’t having the knee surgery at the same hospital that lost Dan’s records are you?
4:17 pm on December 13th, 2010
Pug let me say it in little words All the dogs on the list were tied at 37. And that IS what I looked like before my extreme makeover!
4:21 pm on December 13th, 2010
River Dog before he put on weight –
http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ugly dog
4:21 pm on December 13th, 2010
Grunt!… Oh please!…snort!
4:47 pm on December 13th, 2010
I’m having a lovely glass of Malbec and I’m going to watch an episode of The Last Detective.
I’ve decided that I don’t care if Suzie is angry with Bernie. She is extraneous and not an essential part of the Little Detective Agency or the work C&B do. She’s better than Leda but neither are vital.
5:16 pm on December 13th, 2010
I’ll join you B – I have a lovely glass of Cabernet. I’m watching the local news to see what that storm that you already had is going to do here. We actually could use more snow here in ski country.
We don’t like that wind chill. Brrr.
5:31 pm on December 13th, 2010
I think Suzie is great! She saved Chet’s life that time in DOI.
Wookie – you have a blue spot on your tongue??? Sorry to hear that Uncle Alan couldn’t make it to your big Do.
Mr 57 – my neighbour has a new pug puppy, who is devastatingly cute. Not like that photo Macy put up, though it’s a pretty funny one.
5:45 pm on December 13th, 2010
Bernie needs Suzie in his life. She saved Chet’s life, she always has treats, she’s responsible and Chet really likes her. Plus, Spence could use a little practice writing love scenes. 🙂
5:52 pm on December 13th, 2010
Suzie in any other role than the one she is playing now, would ruin the entire balance of the stories. As a matter of fact, if she were in the stories more than she is now, they would not be the same kind of stories. The formula should not be changed. I agree with Rio: I hope there aren’t mushy love scenes in the new novel.
6:00 pm on December 13th, 2010
I liked the amount of page time (page space?) Suzie had in DOI, which didn’t include any mushiness but had good stuff going on. The next two books she was almost invisible, I don’t know why he’s buying a ring.
6:05 pm on December 13th, 2010
Mr.57!… At least I am not a Heinz 57 like old Tybs there!…heh!… My friend thinks it’s an evil trick of nature making Pug puppies so notoriously cute. She says if I hadn’t been so darn cute as a puppy she never would have gotten me…snort!
6:10 pm on December 13th, 2010
Suzie was not invisible in THAT. She was saved by Bernie and Chet. That much involvement is fine. One of the best scenes in that novel is when she breaks down after they find her and Chet comforts her. That novel also demonstrated Bernie’s humanity very well when he is concerned about Suzie being missing and his hatred of the perp who took her. However, these novels are mysteries not romances. (And romances are fine for those who like the genre.) The end of TFAT was getting a bit mushy. I don’t need to know about Bernie’s love interests. I’m reading these for the mystery and for wonderful Chet the Jet. I don’t want to read romance.
6:14 pm on December 13th, 2010
Macy, That picture is too funny. That is one scary dude!
6:16 pm on December 13th, 2010
OMG: that is an ugly dog. I didn’t think that any dog could be ugly. But . . .
B.Stover: I am NOT have knee surgery at that hospital.
Macy: I am going to write on my KNEE!
(Zoë’s going to love what you said, “. . . better fools . . .” Snicker
Will also be suggesting the sardine approach to the car.
Where is the list for how smart dogs are???
6:46 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie,
If you google “canine intelligence” you’ll find the list. It comes right up.
7:00 pm on December 13th, 2010
B.Stover: What a great view from your easy chair.
7:13 pm on December 13th, 2010
The dog in the link was a winner in the Ugliest Dog in the World contest one year. A different dog named Sam won 3 years in a row, and might have been all time champ, but he died shortly after the last contest. The next year his “widow” was entered but she was only a little funny looking, not world champion ugly. If you google ugliest dog you will see some strange guys. The Chinese Cresteds make up the bulk, but I don’t think they should be allowed, as they seem to be bred to be ugly.
7:29 pm on December 13th, 2010
Okay, I disagree with that list. They have scent hounds down at the bottom of the list. They are BRED to smell, not obey commands, except maybe “find”.
To me, this is a list of what humans believe what canine intelligence SHOULD be.
Snicker. . . Right.
They don’t seem to take in account motivation of different breeds, what the breeds (they are called that for a reason) are bred for, and that some dogs just don’t care for some tasks.
Newfoundlands are supposed to swim. Tell that to Ellie. She’s been wading her entire life. Fetch? Forget it. All of the Pack has the life saving ethic. But that is bred in. . .
By the way, (snicker) Chet’s Blog Cyber Dog parents of the Twelve? Those pups were the most empathetic puppies Harvard Canine Lab had ever met. Dogs must be empathetic in order to obey. The force must be strong between the Pack!
This does not mean that Newfoundlands are going to obey the first command they hear. These guys think about it, then they eye the motivation (is the food good enough) and am I in the mood? Then they do what ever it is.
How do you moosh (technical term) all of that into a list??
Melanie (taking a bow and stepping off her soap box)
7:34 pm on December 13th, 2010
Wait, so, ‘Ridiculously Early’ means that The Dog Who Knew Too Much won’t be out until mid-2011? Crud.
DDoB:
🙂 😛 😐 🙁 😀
I know I haven’t commented lately, but I’ve got a lot on my plate, and my little belly is full.
Tailwags and licks,
Lil’ Lexi.
7:39 pm on December 13th, 2010
Plus, what’s this about love scenes and how Spence can’t write them? He CAN write them, it’s just that he chooses not to spend all of his time on them, because that’s not the MAIN part of the story. The main part of the story is to solve the mystery, THE END, not romance. Although I’m fine with romance, I don’t think that romance should be added too much in the upcoming novel(s) either, nor should Spence spend as much time as he is doing on the blog about Suzie-although I’m cool with it, I agree that Bernie needs Suzie in his life-and less about the mysteries. More mysteries, I say! More!
Hehe.
But that’s just my word for it.
😀
7:40 pm on December 13th, 2010
Snort!…I was Born To Be Wild!…heh!…Oh!hey! It’s dinner time…yeep!yeep!
7:43 pm on December 13th, 2010
Lexi!…Wha?
7:46 pm on December 13th, 2010
Right on Melanie!
Hi Lexi.
7:58 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie, That must have been one very frustrating conversation with the hospital lady. Make sure you write on your knee!
We think a little Suzie in the next book would be good. We like Suzie, and she is good for Bernie and Chet both. Just having her in the book does not make it a romance novel.
Does anyone else like Lisa Scottoline? Barb is reading her new one, Think Twice. Pretty good, so far.
8:07 pm on December 13th, 2010
I’m here to be very agreeable right now…I agree with everything Stover said about the Suzie part of the Chet and Bernie books. Mom and I don’t like mushy and we don’t like romance in books. The only part I will disagree with Stover on is that we want more CHET and don’t care as much about a mystery, although Spence writes very good mysteries. Chet could probably rewrite the US Constitution and we would find it entertaining.
Liz did bring up a very good point about Suzie saving Chet’s life.
8:10 pm on December 13th, 2010
I am laughing thinking about how Chet would narrate “mushy” and romance scenes of Bernie and Susie.
LOL!!! I mean our friends already think we are weird enough!
8:13 pm on December 13th, 2010
Exactly Melanie – Chet’s the narrator so mushy is never going to happen, I don’t think.
8:25 pm on December 13th, 2010
My mother totally agrees with everything Rio posted about Siberian Huskies. We were not put on earth to please humans, and to prove it, just try calling one of us to come to you someday. We do love humans as our friends, but we are lacking in a lot of normal doggie behavior. We are a primitive breed.
I know for a fact how smart poodles are..Mollypop is our technical expert and super agent. She has helped me with technical problems.
Sam, get well and feel better. I love you.
I’m glad Bess is okay.
8:26 pm on December 13th, 2010
Writing!… I think if Spencer wanted to write a love scene he could definitely write a wonderful one…grunt!…I also think Bernie’s character has to be fuller and involve more people at times. When will we meet his mother? That would make for some hilarious scenes…heh!… If Bernie and Susie become a serious item, as a secondary or third-ary story line, Susie has to at some point meet his mother, right? Even more fun! ….wheeze!…I agree with Melanie and Liz, Chet will spare us the mushy stuff!…heh!
8:33 pm on December 13th, 2010
Sammie – all our thoughts with you. Princesses should not ever have to feel bad. Wookie is finally feeling better after straining his back so he knows what it feels like to be a bit down-at-the-tail. Love ya.
8:39 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie, I think mom is going to have dad read your post about the questions so he won’t think it is just him that is running into this stupidity. He had a nurse insist that he had knee replacement surgery. WRONG
Dad is doing fine, but he is running out of patience with this crap and mom isn’t far behind him.
Please tell Patsy that I am so sorry that she got a brown spider bite, but I am very thankful that she is going to be fine.
8:40 pm on December 13th, 2010
Debbie!…Did Wookie hurt himself at the party doing the Rumba?… snort!… I sure hope he is okay and on the mend…grunt!….He is our Super Agent and we need him to be healthy…sniff!
8:45 pm on December 13th, 2010
Siber-H: I’m beginning to think that people don’t think! I almost hope that they ask me to have the CAT scan so I can walk out in high dudgeon!
Okay, no more dogs sick! Got it??
Humans, we’re on our own.
8:52 pm on December 13th, 2010
Speaking of down-at-the-tail, when our neighbour’s pup (8 weeks old) met Cricket the other day, his tail totally uncurled and hung between his legs – poor little guy. She’s the biggest dog he’s seen.
8:54 pm on December 13th, 2010
Rio…about Siberians digging…There is a whole paragraph on our digging ability in Husky Rescue’s brochure, “Do You REALLY want a Siberian Husky”.
9:02 pm on December 13th, 2010
Quick, did I make it? Am I #100?
Pug kisses???
9:08 pm on December 13th, 2010
Yes Melanie was 100.
Good night all.
9:11 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanieeeeee!…..Here I come! Here I come!… snort!snort!…Are you ready for some Pug kisses?…faaart!…Opps, sorry about that! Every time I get too excited I either fart or reverse sneeze. Luckily it was the fart this time!…heh!…. I am Licking your whole face over twice and sorry about my crooked bottom teeth, they tend to drag along the skin…snort!… Now I am into your ears and nipping at your earlobes!…chomp! … Do you wear earrings or is that your cartilage I am tasting? ….. SLURP! SLOBBERY SLURP!…burp! …. Up your nose! Up your nose again!…heh!…whew! I need to lie down for a while…sniff! slurp! cough!
9:19 pm on December 13th, 2010
Melanie: I agree with your soap box rant and I don’t think much of intelligence tests for humans either. We are not all square pegs, we are all shapes.
Just in case you all THINK I said Spence can’t write the love scenes…I didn’t…I said he needed practice and what I meant was, I would like to have more Suzie in the next book. It is a relationship that could evolve and involve the mystery. A romance novel is not what I want, nor do I see Spence writing one or Chet narrating one.
9:30 pm on December 13th, 2010
Whew, didn’t realize how much Pug kisses can be addictive. I should stay up later more often. THANKS RIÖ!
Dawson: Yeah with the human intelligence tests. When YSAS was in kindergarten I was told he had an IQ of 80. (Rolling eyes here)
I just laughed and asked if they had ever tried talking to him instead of making him try to do things on paper. The guy NEVER shut up! EVER! He was always interesting to listen to, but he never shut up!
In the grocery store I was so tired of him talking that I put my fingers in my ears for some rest. Try pushing the cart that way, HA!
I looked down and there’s YSAS just sitting there talking away to the mirror over the vegetables with his fingers in his ears.
I could never win with that kid. It’s been an armed truce most of his life.
TTFN, bed is calling.
9:58 pm on December 13th, 2010
Talking!…. There’s a difference between talking and yapping yer head off!…heh!…Sounds like little Clarkson enjoyed hearing his own voice (he was probably working on perfecting it even then) and you did say he was not boring…snort!…The making of a great Actor for sure! I just know he will be a huge Theater actor one day. Broadway for sure! …wheeze!…When that happens my friend and I are going to NYC to see him in The Play. No doubt about it!…gruff! gruff!
Melanie!….Please tell Clarkson I am thinking of him and wondering what he is working on next!…snort!
10:01 pm on December 13th, 2010
We all got big chew sticks yesterday and have been working on them steadily. I looked over just now, and Annie is burying hers in the couch. Once she was satisfied that it was hidden, she began to “cover it up” with her nose. She pushed the blanket that covers the couch over and over and over until the bone was “buried”. Then she immediately dug it out and continued chewing. Kids!!
10:03 pm on December 13th, 2010
Hey!…For the first time ever when I posted on page 2, it actually came back to page 2 instead of middle of page 1…snort!…Going to try this post as a test and see if the bug is fixed for sure!…Paws crossed!…yeep!
10:12 pm on December 13th, 2010
Me too!
I’m going to New York to see Clarkson in The Play.
10:12 pm on December 13th, 2010
Min Pin!… My friend told me a story about the first dog she was ever best friends with (on her own) even before Cassie the Butt Sniffing Dog…heh!… This girl, she was a Doberman mix, mostly Doberman though, would always hide cheese!…snort!…Every time my friend gave her a piece of cheese she would walk all over the house looking for the perfect spot, then want to go outside and walk all over the yard, then come back inside and ultimately hide her cheese under the couch cushion…heh!…She said it was fun to watch her anxiously looking for the perfect spot to hide the cheese…snort!…It was always in the same spot….grunt!
10:28 pm on December 13th, 2010
Whew, I just read all the posts. Another long day at the blog. I have been busy today visiting an old teacher and then making Dawson’s apron. It is purple with flowers and is an ‘oriental’ fabric. Dawson had to have a special apron because she is shorter than the rest of us. The old apron had to be folded at the waist in order to tie it at the waist. This one does not have to be folded. We had to try it on her several times. Also she wanted the ties longer so she could tie it in front.
Fussy doesn’t begin to cover it.
She also has TWO pockets. I should get a picture before she buries it in one of her suitcases. She is leaving really early on Wednesday morning so tomorrow will be her last day here.
Sob sob sniffle
We will really miss her.
10:32 pm on December 13th, 2010
Rio/Macy: My good friend Casey was a real good hider too. One time when he was staying with us, he took four ears of corn off of the counter (he was a real counter surfer, something that I would never do) and put one each behind one of the four legs of our dining room table. From his perspective they were perfectly hidden, although my mom noticed them right away when she came into the dining room. She had thought that she had just misplaced the corn when she was looking for it in the kitchen, but then she discovered what had really happened. It was quite the funny sight. I also think he once hid a baked potato in one of the sofas at his house. Before he came to his forever home next door, he has been seriously abused and was suffering from malnutrition, so he was always hungry after that. Wookie
11:19 pm on December 13th, 2010
Some interesting stories about hiding-burying habits of some of the nation within the nation.
We have to say good night. Sweet dreams to everyone. Stay warm!
11:41 pm on December 13th, 2010
Sniff! It will be sad when Dawson aka Miss Moosie leaves the family and goes way up North To Canada!….grunt….I’m glad she will still be in touch with us here!…snort!
Wookie!.. Your theory of abuse and the way guys act reminds me of Sasha, the cheese hiding Dobie Mix. She was definitely abused before my friend found her even as a puppy, and Cassie, oh my gosh, starved and abused. The only Man she warmed up to EVER was my friend’Dad. They truly loved one another before they both left this earth. Her dad always said Cassie was waiting for him in Heaven….sob!
12:04 am on December 14th, 2010
Bed Time! ….My friend is ready for bed and I am gonna be right there!…snort!… So that I can be lifted up onto the Big Bed just in time…heh…I’m cold and I need to snuffle down under the covers to the bottom of the bed – out of kicking range!…heh!… I can still breath down there … …heh!…During the winter I am always cold as hell!..grump!
Good Night All!…snuffle!
1:50 pm on January 19th, 2011
It is said history generally repeats itself, currently it’s bed bug problems what’s next Our lawmakers wasting time on the Healthcare bill whenever they really should be working full time on developing jobs?