Yappy New Year

To the end of another doggone good year in the Knowlton household. Don't know how 2011 can be much better, but my resolution is to become the best Dog Scout that I can be. Our motto is "Let us learn new things so that we may become more helpful," so my New Year's resolution is to earn at least three merit badges in 2011. I currently have my sights set on the Community Service Badge, Clean Up America Badge, and the Backpacking Badge.

Newman shows off his newly earned Dog Scout bandanna 

Roger's resolution is to not destroy a stuffed toy within five minutes of receiving it. I'm fairly certain that he doesn't plan to start abiding by that resolution until the clock strikes twelve since he gutted a new Dogzilla bone within minutes of getting it. Thankfully, Thelma Lou and I had about thirty minutes of prime tug-of-war with it before the little Frenchman stepped in and decided to kill it. Visit Tuffzilla vs. Snub-Nosed Beasts to view a particularly graphic kill in the past.

Roger breaches the integrity of his new Dogzilla bone in under five minutes

Thelma Lou's resolution is to take out the leaf blower that she obviously thinks is attacking Dad when he's blowing leaves off the deck. Got a New Year's resolution? Share it with us in the comments section.

Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness in the coming year, from three pooped party pups!

And so ends the Twelve Days of Lucy

Our house guest Lucy Lou, Thelma Lou's older sister, checked out of the Brushtown Area Resort and Spa earlier this evening. Pretty, pampered, and pleasantly plump. She will be missed, but we were all glad to see the wonderful reunion she had with her Mom. And so ends the "Twelve Days of Lucy."

Lucy patiently awaiting the arrival of her Mom who got stuck in traffic

Tomorrow Katandy's Triple Threat will get to open their Christmas presents in the comfort of their own living room — no Bullies barred. Stay tuned for the production of "Boxer vs. Bullies" unplugged.

Deck the Halls

While I just hung out around the house today with Dad, Roger, and our house guest Lucy, Thelma Lou and Mom decked the halls at Manor Care Health Services spreading Christmas cheer to many of the residents. Mom said that the smiles on the residents' faces were the best presents that we gave this year.

Thelma Lou gets a treat from Aunt Mary

When not in the presence of her big brothers, Thelma Lou can be a big scaredy cat -- afraid of her own shadow. Mom was really surprised about how well she behaved in an environment surrounded by unfamiliar objects -- like wheel chairs, walkers, and large laundry bins. I can definitely see a Dog Scout therapy badge in the future.

Thelma Lou sets the record straight about Santa Paws

'Tis the Season for Sharing

Last weekend Mom and I froze our butts off outside the local Walmart Super Center as Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army. Unfortunately for Mom, her big butt found its way back. Bad for her, "butt" good for me because it makes a wonderful pillow when I'm snuggled up to her in bed. She says she hates it, but I know differently.

Newman begs for contributions

All joking aside, we really had a wonderful time with our fellow Dog Scouts "ringing in" what will soon be a New Year and helping those less fortunate than we are. It's a crazy world when Mom debated whether or not it was politically correct to say, "Merry Christmas!" for fear it might offend someone.

As our astute Scout Leader Ms. Ann pointed out, Christmas is a federal holiday in the United States. Quite frankly, not many people cared what was coming out of our humans' mouths. They were much more impressed by Rowdy's bell-ringing and dollar-collecting abilities, as well as my tolerance of wearing a Santa hat.

Rowdy rolls in the dough while I pose for a photo with my cousin Ally

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas! There, I said it and I'm doggone proud of it!

Cookies, calendars ... now on to cards!

Mom and I finished our Christmas cookie baking and bagging this past weekend by topping it off with a new Gingerbread muffin recipe! Daddy Dawg thinks that now Mom has finished baking cookies for all the dogs on the East Coast that maybe now she can bake some human cookies for him. While 1,662 homemade dog cookies seems like a lot from one dog's vantage point, it's really a drop in bucket when it comes combating the hunger in this world – whether K-9 or otherwise.

Baker's Dozen of Homemade K-9 Cookies

Even though Roger and I recently won $1,000 for an entry in a photo contest, I know that we can't save the entire world. Howl-ever, we're making our mark as best we can by donating the proceeds of calendar and cookie sales to Adopt A Boxer Rescue and Dog Scouts of America.

Thanks to all of our faithful fans for supporting our endeavors. Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness in the coming year.

View a copy of the 2011 Calendar compliments of Scribd.

Bake This

While I haven’t baked homemade K-9 cookies for awhile, I seem to have some free time on my paws since Mom had our calendars professionally printed this year. So I am pleased to tell you that we will be selling homemade K-9 Christmas Cookies this year. We baked our first batch of Gingerbread man shaped cheddar cheese cookies today, which had the house smelling delightful and even had M&D drooling. While not from Wisconsin, they are both cheese heads, so I guess I get it naturally. Swiss, Cheddar, Bleu. There isn't a cheese I've met that I don't love.

Cheddar Cheese Gingerbread Man Shaped K-9 Cookies Fresh From the Oven

As always, there will be an assortment of tasty flavors and shapes. The cost is $3 per Baker’s Dozen with the proceeds benefiting Adopt a Boxer Rescue and Dog Scouts of America – which will get me one step closer to earning my Dog Scout Community Service Badge.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holly-day Season.