Party Animals

The Knowlton party animals get ready to ring in the new year

Wishing you a Slap Happy Doggy New Year!

Bell-ringing has gone to the dogs

Every holiday season, Salvation Army bell ringers set up red kettles on street corners and in malls across the country to raise money for causes that include disaster relief, soup kitchens, drug and alcohol counseling and homeless shelters. In addition to using bell-ringing to attract the attention of passersby, some volunteers sing Christmas carols or play musical instruments to help the cause.

What’s better than a song and a dance to get someone’s attention? Having man’s best friend do the job! Every year, Dog Scouts all over the country participate in bell ringing. That’s exactly what Dog Scout Troop 161 did again this holiday season – for the third consecutive year.

Dog Scout Rowdy demonstrates his bell-ringing skills
(Notice all his badges!)

Mom and Roger helped sweeten the pot while Roger worked on logging hours toward his Dog Scout community service badge. One might ask why Mom took Roger instead of me. Well, as you can see from the following photo, Rog slipped back into a state of depression after remembering that he is no longer the only cute, short, stubby unit in the Knowlton house.

Roger wallows in his sorrow hugging his heating pad to warm his heart

In both 2007 and 2008, Dog Scout Troop 161 raised more than $300 for the Salvation Army. Even with the floundering economy, Troop 161 set a goal to raise even more funds while promoting responsible dog ownership. And, that's exactly what they did. Having set a new Troop record, they brought in more than $500!

Gabe takes a break from ringing
to audition for a part as a Keebler Elf

Centered in Carlisle, PA, Troop 161 is a local troop of Dog Scouts of America, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Dog Scouts of America is to promote responsible dog ownership and enhance the human/canine bond through positive training and relationship building activities. Believe you me, I have to keep a close eye on M&D about adhering to the responsible pet ownership pledge.

Roger's cousins stop by to show their support

Happy Howl-i-days

Wishing you a Happy Howl-i-day Season −
Thelma Lou, Newman and Roger

Winter Wonderland

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Mom, my editor in chief, has been busier than a one-armed paper hanger − especially after the snow fairies dumped more than a foot of snow on us this past weekend. Although we were prepared like good Dog Scouts should be, luckily we didn't lose power like some of my less fortunate friends.

I would like to take this opportunity to share some pictures sent to me from a few of my faithful fans. And, I hope you stay with me until the end where M&D provide some raw film footage of what it's like to live in the hills of Hooterville, Pennsylvania.

Veteran snow pup Cassye Downey advises her young rookie
granddaughter Peanut to assess the situation before venturing out

Veteran Cassye says, "That will be enough lip out of you, CJ!
Take this right hook and then think about it."

Dewi and Tori wonder where all the white stuff came from?

Are those icicles forming on my sister Juniper's lips?

Holy cow! Is that Santa Paws himself?

Brrrr! Punchy tries to stay warm after Blizzard 2009 knocks out heating source to her house

Roger contemplates his dinner options −

Dry tasteless crunchies or young tender flesh?

No! Not an innocent baby walrus pup!

Clarice Thelma attempts to avoid capture from Dr. Hannibal Snowball

And now, the Three Stooges present 

Hopping in a Winter Wonderland!

Just call me angel

I'm having trouble deciding whether Thelma Lou looks more like her mom, Angel, or her sister, Angel. Please help me decide by casting your vote today. 

Katandy's Lil Angel − Thelma Lou

My Choice Absolute Envy − Angel

Thelma's Mom

Savannah's Big Red − Angel

Thelma's Sister

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Thelma look more like her mom or her sister?

Bully City Here We Come

Although not much consolation, it's slightly comforting to know that Roger and I aren't the only pups in the world forced to wear silly costumes. Poor Thelma Lou doesn't have a clue as to the torture and humiliation that awaits her.

True Confessions

So it's been one week since the addition of my little sister Thelma Lou. I must confess that Roger wasn't nearly as pleased with his birthday present as I thought he would be. Fearing that he might be starting to slip into clinical depression, Mom decided it best to nip the problem in the bud and sent him to a specialist who deals solely in sibling rivalry and jealousy issues.

After spending day one on the couch with world-renowned K-9 therapist Dr. Burt Medicine Woman, we thought we started to make some headway. Upon peeling back the first layer of the onion, Dr. Burt determined that Roger's biggest issue is sharing − specifically sharing Dad and me with another female in the house. Obviously, he was never exposed as a pup to the big purple dinosaur Barney, who preaches "Sharing is Caring!"

After spending day two on Dr. Burt's couch with learned assistant Joshua T-bone, even more progress was made on getting to the root cause of Roger's problem. It seems that the real underlying problem is his confusion about having been forced to become a Dallas Cowboys fan when he lives in the heart of Pennsylvania, so he decided to take a stand and picked the Pittsburgh Steelers as his team to cheer on. Rumor has is that Roger "the Rock" Rog-lisberger is going to be starting in this week's lineup. Go Steelers!!!

Black Friday

Mom and I typically do our Black Friday shopping online. However, since this is Thelma Lou's first Black Friday, we thought it only fitting that she get to experience the chaos by making a trip to PetSmart. Although our favorite place to shop is Grammy Lee's store, All for the Pet, making the two-hour trip to Severna Park, MD was out of the question on such a busy travel day.

Having spent the most impressionable times of our lives with Grammy Lee, all three of us know that PetSmart is a bad word, but it got us out of the house. I don't know if Roger had his mouth washed out with soap for using the forbidden word in Grammy Lee's presence or not, but clearly he remembers that some words are better left unspoken. One thing's for sure, he was pretty darn proud of himself when he left the store and christened the building by lifting his leg to demonstrate his disapproval.

Introducing Katandy's Lil Angel Thelma Lou

Well, Roger's Birthday Bash planned for Friday night was a bust, because the donor of said bash was "under the weather." We thought it best to postpone the event so that the donor/guest, who's footing the bill, would be able to attend.

After all, a date of birth is just that. Heck, I just celebrated my 2nd birthday (again) yesterday with two of my sisters, Punchy and Juniper. We had a blast! So much so I realized that what we were missing at home was a little sister!

I mean, M&D got me the best present in the world −Roger. So why not return the favor? It wasn't until we visited Grammy Lee that it hit me like a ton of bricks that what Roger needed for his birthday was a little bully sister to help deflect some of the daily, ankle-biting abuse off me.

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce − Miss Thelma Lou Knowlton

Happy Birthday, Roger!

Today my little, older brother Roger turned three years old ― in human years, that makes him a legal beagle. Well, not really a beagle, but he no longer has to worry about getting busted for underage drinking.

No big plans for today except resting up for tomorrow night's celebration. Stay tuned for pictures from the Li'l Punk's party.

Out of the closet

Unfortunately, I once again find myself apologizing for not updating the blog more often. Among other activities, Roger and I have been very busy with Dog Scouts. I won't go into all of our upcoming activities, however, we are going to be bell ringers for the Salvation Army on December 12 at the local Wal-mart in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. We hope you'll drop by to help sweeten the pot. 

With Roger approaching legal drinking age later this month (November 19), I thought that perhaps he might be starting to question his sexuality and decided to come out of the closet. After asking Rog, he told me that the only closet he decided to come out of was a broom closet. As it turns out, he only did so because Dawdy Dawg had given him a "timeout" in the closet for constantly leaving his toys lay around the house, and his only salvation was to "come out" and dust and sweep the entire house before Mom got home from work. 

After getting off the phone with Puppies & Youth Services, Rog seemed rather dejected to learn that there are no labor laws preventing parents from having their children perform work in the household -- even when it involves wearing a silly French maid uniform. Although I'm not sure that he has a little leg to stand on, he's considering asking the Law School's Civil Rights Appellate Clinic to review his case.

I want to bite your neck!

Count Calypso von Darkmoon and Lord Igor von Rigor wishing you a Happy Howl-o-ween from the South Mountain of the Micheaux State Forest in Pennsylvania, a popular subsidiary of Transylvania.

USS Potomac Sets Sail

Although people have celebrated Columbus' voyage since the colonial period, Columbus Day first became a federal holiday in 1934. Throughout the years, teachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of Patriotism which were framed around themes such as support for war, citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress.

Observed the second Monday in October, Columbus Day also gives federal and state employees yet another paid holiday. Although more than three months have passed since the July 1 deadline and Governor Rendell and the Legislature still cannot come to terms on a budget, I wouldn't be surprised to see a bill being passed that declares Talk like a Pirate Day as a paid holiday for employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the words of the wise Otto von Bismarck, "Laws are like sausages — it is best not to see them being made. 

While not all historians can agree where Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World, there is irrefutable documented evidence that Klaus von Newbert and his first mate Herr Roger were blown off course en route to Brushtown, PA and landed in Frederick, MD during their first expedition.

Going in Circles

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Buccaneer Beulah

Ahoy mateys, did you know that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day? Roger and I threw together this list of classic pirate pickup lines for our fellow buccaneers trying to get some booty. 

• Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
• You’re drinking a Salty Dog. How’d you like to try the real thing?
• Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
• How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
• Let's get together and haul some keel.
• That’s some treasure chest you’ve got there!
• Pardon me, but would ya mind if I fired me cannon through your porthole?
• Wanna shiver me timbers?

Crap-top

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Roger and I both have been very busy beavers as of late. We have several Dog Scout and Potomac Boxer Club activities coming up within the next several weeks, including making a guest appearance at the American Boxer Club 2009 Mid-Atlantic Regional being held in Frederick, MD from October 5-9. On October 8, Roger, my wannabe boxer brother, and I will be spokesdogs for PBC, promoting the importance of responsible breeding and pet ownership. We hope to see you there.

With my upcoming busy social schedule, I planned to use some of my vacation to catch up on blogging to keep my readers entertained. If there's one noun in the English language that I don't want to be known as, it's a slacker. Unfortunately, the screen on Mom's laptop died and it's now referred to as her crap-top.

Although I might have felt a tinge of guilt for not making a post in more than two weeks, I could have dealt with it. Roger, on the other paw, was having a fit because he couldn't update his Facebook status.

NEWS FLASH -- Boo freakin' hoo, Roger! Nobody really cares that you are sitting on the couch in a beach house on the OBX watching the U.S. Open because it's pouring outside.

In any event to appease the spoiled little brat, M&D traveled 150 miles and spent more than two hours in the truck to buy a cable to hook Mom's crap-top up to the 42" flat screen TV so that Roger had access to the Internet, which also gave me access to blog and allowed me to keep my faithful fans entertained.

Party Animals

Roger and I had a modest birthday celebration last evening which was topped off with the peanut butter carrot cake that Mom baked for us. As the following video illustrates, Roger gave the new recipe four paws up. I, howl-ever, prefer Mom's homemade pumpkin recipe.

Unlike my sister Punchy, who celebrated by enjoying a frosty banana peanut butter treat, with her pal Oliver, Roger and I did not have any icy delights to go with our cake. Every evening for the past two weeks, we've heard that blasted Good Humor ice cream truck come rolling through the neighborhood ringing his ding-a-ling to let us know he's around the corner, but not once have we been allowed to take a taste of true Americana.

Punchy and Oliver enjoy a banana peanut butter treat

No, the only ice cream that we've seen in the house for the past two weeks has been Ben and Jerry's new Crème Brûlée. The creamy custard coupled with a crunchy caramelized sugar swirl has Dad's taste buds dancing with delight. The thought of not being able to find it when we return home is frightening.

Happy Birthday to Me

I can't believe that I am two years old today. Where does the time go? I can tell you that our two weeks on the OBX is certainly flying by – even with the crappy weather. I don't know what all Mom has planned to celebrate this momentous event, but I definitely know that a bone-shaped Peanut Butter Carrot Cake is in my future. And, I saw her return with a Mylar balloon that says, "Go nutty on your birthday!"

After my trip to the vet back in June, I don't have any nuts left so I'm thinking that maybe my girlfriend Peanut might be going to make an appearance. She was in Raleigh, NC last weekend showing off her cute little patootie. That sure would be a wonderful suprise, but I'm not getting my hopes up. In the meantime, I'll just play with the best gift M&D ever got me – Roger! After all, it's my birthday and I'll bark if I want to.

	Cracker - Happy Birthday to Me
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

It's my birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday to Jessy, Junie, Marla, Punchy and me! I don't know about you girls, but I plan to have my Peanut Butter Carrot Cake and eat it, too!

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup of wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 cup of peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 cup of shredded carrots
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1 egg

Directions

• Mix flour and baking soda together.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Pour into greased cake pan (preferably bone-shaped), but an 8 inch round will work.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Puree cottage cheese in blender for icing.
• Decorate with peanut butter and carrots.
• Enjoy

Chateau Gulliard

The Chateau Gulliard (AD 2009)

Located off the coast of the Atlantic on the Outer Barks in Corolla, NC, the Chateau Gulliard was one of the finest of all modern-day castles. Built by Sir Calypso Moon Newman and his faithful sidekick Monsieur Roger of Pig-dom, Chateau Gulliard was captured a few hours later by an army led by Sandy the Conqueror. Chateau Gulliard was later dismantled by King Tide of Great Height.

Sandy the Conqueror

When Bat Pigs Bite

Today was, by far, the best day on the beach. As many of our neighbors bid a fond farewell to the OBX, we were grateful to be staying another week. When Mom took us for our morning walk around the lake and we were blinded by the giant orb in the sky that many call the sun, we knew that it was going to be a grand day on the beach. No dark gray clouds looming overhead. No pesky biting flies. Just one bothersome biting, bat pig.

If you can't hang with the big dogs ...

Even though the weather could be nicer, Roger and I are having a great time vacationing on the Outer Barks, NC. We've been enjoying watching the U.S. Open from Flushing Meadows, NY, hanging out by the pool, and eating like royalty.

Obviously, Roger is cheering for fellow Star Wars character, Darth (Roger) Federer, in hopes that he will clinch his 6th straight U.S. Open championship. I, on the other paw, am rooting for fellow American Andy Roddick. We stayed up into the wee hours of the morning on Monday night watching Andy steamroll Bjorn Phau 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Thank Dog, M&D didn't have to get up to go to work.

Assuring me that he could hang until the end of the match no matter how long it lasted, Roger begged me to give him control of the remote. As the photos illustrate, Rog obviously doesn't have the stamina to hang with the big dogs.

What can I say? If you can't hang with the big dogs, get off the couch and go to bed with Mom.

Puppy Paddlin' 101

"Let us learn knew things, so that we may become more helpful."

~ Dog Scout Motto

It's the Dog Days of Summer and Roger and I have been extremely busy little beavers. On Sunday, August 9, we attended our first Dog Scouts of America (DSA) meeting. We are proud, new members of Dog Scout Troop 161, the local DSA affiliate headed by Dog Scout Leader Ann Withun.

Dog Scouts of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about responsible dog ownership and the important role of the human/canine bond. It's also all about having a great time bonding with your dog and using positive training to learn new things together.

Roger and I are extremely excited about our new venture. After my career on the show circuit came to a screeching halt, I felt that I could probably squeeze another activity into my busy social life, especially when it involves promoting responsible pet ownership.

Our first activity was Puppy Paddlin'. Seeing how neither one of us can swim, it was a much-needed lesson. And while neither Roger nor I will be trying out for the Olympics alongside Michael Phelps, Puppy Paddlin' provided the participants with a valuable lesson in getting used to the water and trusting our owners. Best of all, Dad learned to overcome his "sink or swim" mentality.

Before sharing some photos of my fellow dog scouts, I thought I'd show this video of how to NOT introduce your dog to swimming. Enjoy!

Photos from Puppy Paddlin'

Beach Bound

Roger and I leave for the OBX tomorrow morning. So, the next correspondence that you receive from me will be from the sunny beaches of Corolla, NC. I hope to catch up on some much overdue blogging.

Happy Animal-versary

Today marks the one-year animial-versary of Roger becoming a member of the Knowlton family. Although Dad and I don't always see eye-to-eye, one thing that we both agree on is that Rog is a keeper.

Why in the world anyone would have given Roger back to Grammy Lee is beyond me, but by Dog, I'm sure glad they did. I could have never dreamed of having such a wonderful little, older brother.

We celebrated with a very tasty Turducken dinner by Merrick, which Mom very cleverly tied into a history lesson about Roger's aristocratic roots and French Louisiana cuisine. The combination of turkey, duck, and chicken in this delicious bayou classic, allows all dogs to get in touch with their southern senses. As the Merrick family says, "geaux for it!"

Flower Power

In an earlier post, I promised you pictures of Dad's glorious gardens, which are rapidly expanding and encroaching upon my backyard. Quite frankly, I'm not real thrilled about losing prime real estate to a bunch of begonias and banana plants, but Roger, on the other paw, loves the cover that the prospering plants provide him. I must admit that the munchin's low center of gravity works to his advantage while manipulating the many obstacles, including benches, bird baths, and boulders. However, with my lightning-like speed, I own the little cement head when we're out in the open terrain.

We hope you enjoy the virtual tour of our gardens. If you're in the area, feel free to stop in for a personal tour. But of course, if spontaneity isn't your style, drop me a note at newmanontheblock@gmail.com to schedule a tour.

Say C-H-E-E-Z-E!

Newmanator Returns

I'm sure that some of you are wondering how I'm doing after my life-altering surgery on June 25. I must admit that I should have listened to Dad who told me that being neutered wouldn't be the end of the world -- just the end of my show career and capability to reproduce.

Dad was right when he said, "Trust me son. I'm speaking from experience. Once the sacky joe heals and the itching from the stitches subsides, you'll feel like a "new man!"

Well after two weeks of restricted activity, I am happy to say that Coach Daddy Dawg is ready to put me back in the ring -- boxing ring that is, not show.

Let me tell you, after having been walked on a leash for two weeks and denied any kind of roughhousing with Roger, except an occasional bite on his bat ears, I am ready to rumble in the jungle. Stay tuned for upcoming film footage of Rog and me starring in The Jungle Book.

The best post-op news happened today when Mom received a phone call from Dr. Weeks telling her that the pathology report from the lump removed from my leg was indeed a benign tumor called a histiocytoma, which are fairly common in young boxers.

Thanks for all your well wishes, kind thoughts, and prayers for my speedy recovery.

Poison Alert!

Sago Palm or Cycad

Please allow me to share an alert with you that has been brought to my attention. It involves a houseplant that can cause serious poisoning in pets and children. The plant is called a Sago Palm or Cycad.

In Southern states, it is used in landscaping. As a matter of fact, my sister, who lives in Savannah, GA, has a huge one in her front yard, and less than two weeks ago, it was used as a backdrop for graduation pictures taken of Cierra, a 2009 graduate of Johnson High School.

Although it can only survive in the North as a houseplant, its popularity is on the rise and many home improvement stores have them on their shelves. Two days before receiving this alert, Mom almost purchased one at Lowe's. Thankfully, she didn't waste her money. Even though the lush Beulah Ruth Memorial Garden has provided a safehaven for many unwanted and needy plants, neither M nor D would allow a species capable of harming Rog or me to reside within the confines of the ever-expanding gardens.

All of the Sago Palm, including the seeds and root ball are toxic. Signs of illness first appear about 12 hours after ingestion and include gastrointestinal sign such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The toxins in the plant lead to severe liver failure with progressive weakness, jaundice, bruising, bleeding, and other signs of liver failure that eventually lead to death.

If you have one of these plants in your home, be sure to keep it away from pets and children preferably by disposing of it safely in a covered trash can or re-home it with someone who does not have pets or young children.

Should you ever suspect ingestion of a potentially poisonous substance, it is important to act quickly and contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) immediately for help.

According to the data compiled and reported by the ASPCA Poison Control Center, the five most potentially dangerous plants to companion animals are:

1. Lilies
2. Azaleas
3. Oleander
4. Sago Palm
5. Caster Bean

Unfortunately, plants are not easily marked with Mr. Yuk stickers like bottles of toxic chemicals. In case you've never been introduced to Mr. Yuk, now's the perfect time for a note on his origin and purpose.

Mr. Yuk™ was created in 1971 by the Pittsburgh Poison Center. Since then, Mr. Yuk has been used to educate children and adults about poison prevention and to promote poison center awareness. Additionally, Mr. Yuk has helped raise awareness that poison centers are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to assist in the management of poisoning emergencies. In addition to his yucky face, every Mr. Yuk sticker displays the toll-free phone number for the national poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222).