Life is a Beach

Still having a wonderful time in the Outer Banks. The weather has been perfect and the water has warmed up considerably making swimming a lot of fun. Thelma Lou is a little water bug. Mom thinks that one of the first Dog Scout badges that Thelma is going to work on earning upon our return to Pennsylvania is going to be the Puppy Paddler one. Dog only knows that Roger and I will probably never earn that one.

Sunbathing Beach Bully

Bully-Boxer Daisy Chain 

Practicing our Stay

And our Come!

Notice the wascally beach weasel who joined the pack. Although indigenous to the Corolla area, the beach weasel is rarely if ever seen during daylight hours. Other wildlife we've seen this week include deer, wild horses, fox, and dolphins.

Just chillin'



Pretty in Pink

Beach Bums

We are having a wonderful time in the Outer Banks with friends and family. The weather has been great. The water is freezing, but it's still fun to romp in the surf. If I still had my family jewels, they'd be as shriveled as prunes. Poor Thelma Lou was shivering like a dog shitting razor blades after an extended romp retrieving the infamous Tuff Coat II glove stuffed with a tennis ball -- by far the most favorite toy on the beach. We're thinking about patenting it.

It's cool having both Dad and Uncle Mike in the pack.When visiting Grammy Lee, Mom has mistaken other brindle boxers for me. This week she's having trouble telling the difference between Dad and Uncle Mike.

Which twin is hotter?

We are all dog-tired as exhibited by the following photos.

 Roger catches up on his beauty sleep

Not that Roger thinks he needs it, but he decided to catch up on an hour of beauty sleep while the rest of the pack is grilling Porterhouse steaks.

Thelma Lou chills on the cool tile floor while the steaks are being grilled

Don't worry ocean, I'll be back to tackle you again tomorrow

This week is "Dog Bite Prevention Week"

In case you are not aware, May 15-21, 2011 is designated as Dog Bite Prevention Week. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, with 800,000 of them requiring medical attention. As a Dog Scout, I constantly promote the proper greeting of myself to my human counterparts, especially children.

Children are most at risk because they often approach dogs without hesitation or engage in rough play or fur-grabbing, resulting in injury. Thelma Lou, who wouldn't bite a flea (and better not have any on her dog because we use Advantix II), has been Troop 161's poster pup for several children's events — demonstrating to children how to properly approach a dog.

Neighborhood watchdog prepared to take a bite out of crime

Actually, it is important to recognize that any dog can bite — even Thelma Lou with her pronounced under bite can still take a bite out of crime or anyone else for that matter, especially if she is injured or feels threatened.

According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS, "The truth is that the majority of bites are actually due to fear, and they occur because humans fail to recognize the signs of fear in dogs." Proper training and socialization of dogs as well as training humans how to recognize dog body language and approach dogs in a non-threatening manner is crucial to avoid dog bites.

Dr. Yin has compiled the following public service announcement video on "Recognizing Fearful Behavior in Dogs." We give the video "four paws up!" or "twelve paws up" collectively.

Also available on Dr. Yin's website, she offers tips to recognize fearful dog behaviors and how to approach dogs, which includes a free downloadable poster. Thank you Dr. Yin for this valuable information.

Now I know my ABC's

After having attended the Royal Wedding last month as a guest of the Queen, one would think that I would have had enough pomp and circumstance in my life for quite some time. Au contraire. I jumped right back in the saddle and headed to Kentucky — not for the Derby but for the 2011 American Boxer Club National Specialty Show — commonly referred to as ABC where all the elite boxers compete, including Katandy's Fast Forward "Frankie," who took Best of Opposite Sex handled by Dan Buchwald.

M.B.I.S.S. GCh. Katandy's Fast Forward "Frankie"

There's no requirement that you have to be a Boxer to attend the National ABC show, but Roger and Thelma Lou stayed at home to keep Dad in line. You know the old saying, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Honestly, I had my doubts about Roger keeping anyone, including himself, in line. Obviously, as the only female in the house Thelma Lou called all the shots because Dad pressure washed and stained the entire deck, hand scrubbed and waxed the floors, and planted all of Mom's favorite flowers while we were gone. He certainly was one busy little beaver, and we all benefit from the fruits of his labor.

Although I missed playing with Roger and Thelma Lou, I must admit that it was really cool to have Mom all to myself on Mother's Day. First, I surprised her with breakfast in bed — a bowl of Kellogg's Cinnamon Pecan Special K. What do you expect? We're shacked up in a hotel room and I had to work with what I had. Then I presented her with a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

Mother's Day bouquet for the best Mom in the world!

We topped off the day with a rigorous 3-mile hike in the beautiful Eden Park of Cincinnati, which overlooks the Ohio River, bringing my current total to 7.5 miles of the 12 miles that I committed to hike for our Hike-a-Thon to raise money for Dog Scouts of America while promoting responsible dog ownership.

Enjoying the view of the Ohio River

Our community hike took place last Saturday, May 14 at Fieldwood Dog Training Center in Carlisle. With the exception of a few pit stops, Roger led the pack for almost the entire 3-mile course. If you would like to support Team Katandy's Triple Threat but haven't yet done so, fear not. There's still plenty of time — you have until the end of May. You can either visit our FirstGiving webpage or remit your cash or check donation directly to Mom. 

 Thelma Lou displays her new Outward Hound Pack

Roger the Rock declares himself "Leader of the Pack"

Note: Backpacks are not required. Roger and Thelma just got theirs and think that they look exceptionally cool wearing them. You know how kids are with new duds.

News Flash: Triple Threat is Top of the Royal Wedding Invitation List

K-9s Dressed to the Nines to attend Royal Wedding

It's old news that the names of U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy did not find a place in the official guest list of nearly 1,900 for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The reason given by a spokesdog for the British Royal Family is that only the crowned heads of state are invited.

Among the invites are soccer star David Beckham and wife Victoria, musician Sir Elton John, and director Guy Ritchie. The screen stars on the coveted invitation list include soul singer Joss Stone and Rowan Atkinson, the man who portrays Mr. Bean. While the inclusion of these invitees may have surprised some, a bigger surprise yet was the exclusion of Katandy's Triple Threat!

Although not on the official list released to the media, Katandy's Triple Threat will indeed be in attendance as guests of Queen Elizabeth herself. Until now, the announcement of the Triple Threat's appearance at Barkingham Palace has been kept under wraps because of the astronomical crowd that the trio will undoubtedly draw.

"We really wanted to keep the appearance of the Triple Threat a secret until the actual day of the event for fear that the Royal Military might not be able to safely guard the palace," said the Queen. "However, a leak to the Puparazzi resulted in a photo of the Triple Threat on the front lawn of the Palace ending up on the front page of The Times."

Green Dewclaw Advice Sought

With my upcoming trip to the American Boxer Club National Specialty in Kentucky, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to squeeze in the trip abroad to attend the wedding. However, as word of the luscious gardens that I maintain at the Brushtown Aboretum has spread across the Atlantic, Mark Lane, Gardens Manager at Barkingham, personally requested my presence to insure that the condition of the gardens are fit for a future king.

"I am extremely grateful that Newman has agreed to arrive at the Palace a few days early to make sure that the gardens are set for the wedding," said Lane. "It really helps ease my mind. Having Newman here to consult with is like having the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders!"

While only a few lucky ones will get a ringside view of the wedding, I am delighted that Monsieur Roger, Lady Thelma Lou, and I will be among them. Although I must admit, I am more excited about attending my first ever ABC National Show the following week.

"Although the media has speculated on the style and designer of Kate's gown, thankfully that information has not been divulged because it symbolizes her personality, her style, and the kind of queen she may one day become," the Queen said.

For Kate's sake, I hope that information can continue to be kept a secret until the big day. However, Lady Lou did receive a phone call last evening from E! requesting an interview about her take on the subject. Could the designer of Thelma Lou's black velvet dress be one and the same? Time will tell when that information is unveiled.

Hoppy Easter!

"Hoppy Easter!"

An Easter Poem ~ by Newman

Here's hoping you have a "Hoppy Easter!"

After you eat your delicious ham dinner,

Don't just sit around on your keister.

Get up and walk around the block, or

Otherwise you'll never get any thinner.

Not a Hoppy Bunny!

An Easter Poem ~ Thelma Lou

To heck with the walk around the block.
I will not be embarrassed wearing these socks.

An Easter Poem ~ by Roger 

Bite me! 

I hate poetry!

A hiking we will go ... A hiking we will go!

Along with fellow members of Dog Scout Troop 161, Roger, Thelma Lou, Mom and I are hiking to raise money for Dog Scouts of America (DSA) in the first annual Hike-a-Thon.

A group hike by our troop is scheduled for May 14th at Fieldwood Dog Training Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. While we hope to participate this hike, it may not be possible since we will just be returning from the American Boxer Club national show in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

Our overall goal for the Hike-a-Thon will be to hike a total of 10 miles during the month of May. Since Roger and Thelma have such short legs, I feel it's only fair to divide the miles up between us. Roger and Thelma have committed to do 2 miles each with Mom, and I plan to hike the entire 10.

Our goal is to raise $200 as a group. For every $50 we raise over our goal, Mom and I will commit to walking an additional mile. While hiking 10 miles during an entire month may not seem like that great of a commitment, keep in mind that Mom does have a full-time job and hasn't exercised in months -- so this is my way of getting her to get her butt in gear. We are planning to start conditioning tomorrow. You can view our progress by visiting my fundraising page, and while you're there, you might even consider contributing a few bucks to a good cause.

If we reach our goal, which I am confident that we will, we'll each be entitled to a DSA Hike-a-Thon patch.

DSA programs promote responsible dog ownership that include programs to help dog owners enjoy a great relationship with a well-mannered dog while benefiting from each other's company. DSA members strive to solve any problems that come their way with positive and effective training, thus helping to reduce the number of unwanted dogs in shelters by keeping them in happy, lifelong homes.

Since 2007, Troop 161 has raised over $10,000 for charities that help people and dogs, including the Salvation Army, local police K9s, and service dogs. Our troop members actively participate in educational and therapy programs for kids and adults.

Please take a few minutes to visit my fundraising page and check out our progress. Donating through FirstGiving's website is simple, fast, and totally secure. Although donating through FirstGiving it is the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts, we will happily accept cash donations as well, all of which will be recognized on my fundraising page.

As always, many thanks for your support.

Newman