Kona's Korner

Spoot growing up before my eyes

2012-02-12T09:27:00.003-06:00

A quick chronicle.

He is about 4 months and taking my spot on the bed. Grrr.

Me and Spoot hanging outside. Taught him to go out the dog door.

Spoot hangin' in the hosta. Taught him that too.

June the dog getting introduced to Spoot. He is almost a year old here. June is pretty tiny huh?

Bring you up to date

2012-02-12T09:22:00.003-06:00

It has been so long! My last post said "goodbye" to my old friend PV. Well...never fear. More four-leggeds added. I will introduce you to Spoot who came into our lives 2 months after PV passed. Spoot was a farm cat, abandoned by his mother. Here are some photos of the little guy.

First day home - he is tiny.

He likes to sleep on the receiver.

Hide and seek from the dogs.

Tiny compared to Caribou

Sad News and Good News

2010-09-01T15:03:00.000-05:00

First my sad news - PV my cat pal crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. She has been in my life since I came to the human house. She was already an adult and tolerated my puppy antics. I thought something was wrong with her the last few weeks. Goodbye my friend! Love you.

Good news? I am 5 years old today! Happy Birthday to me.

A Wordle...

2010-08-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

of words in my blog.

New Nickname

2010-07-19T17:50:00.000-05:00

Humans called me Kona Koffee for the longest. It is now Kona Toffee after my raiding of the toffee bag.
The toffee is described as follows: "Mackintosh Toffee Pieces are individually wrapped to help you share your "candy stash" with friends and family. Chew on this creamy Canadian concoction - it's about as good as it gets. Not too hard & not too soft... Bella Mia considers Mackintosh Toffee to be one of the best toffee products on the market today. It doesn't stick to your teeth and it isn't brittle - it's just right!"

I had all 20 pieces on Friday. Needless to say, I was pretty sick. Finally eating today. Think I lost 3-5 pounds. Rice and hamburger for meals.

The wrappers did turn up! Humans said yea and then "yuck!

What's Up With That?

2010-06-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

Got the log in, now how do I get it out?

Is my nose clean?

Summertime and the living...

2010-06-05T17:15:00.000-05:00

is easy. Dog walk in the morning followed by a dip in the pool. That is the life!

Hamburger Delight

2010-05-15T08:27:00.002-05:00

Grilled burgers are awesome. Especially when I sneak them. Humans did not get any! HA!

Just A Little Peek!

2010-04-27T16:38:00.000-05:00

Rain, Rain...

2010-04-24T10:38:00.002-05:00

go away. I want to go on a walk today.

Humans have a new friend!

2010-04-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

Meet Ali. She came to her forever home just last week. She was rescued from a puppy mill in Kentucky. She was the momma. Humans said she is adorable. Ali's new humans are giving her a gentle, loving place to live.

Welcome to the free world Ali.

Can't wait to meet you.

Missing the human

2010-04-23T19:09:00.000-05:00

Someone is missing from the house. Coming home soon.

A Great April Day!

2010-04-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

It is wonderful to see the sun.

What you lookin' at?

Is this pose ok?

Just let me rest.

Lonely

2010-04-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

My buddy Caribou is away for two days. I am lonely. I just want him to come home.

Vacation for humans!

2010-03-28T12:14:00.001-05:00

Love it. Now they can play with me all the time!!!

Sat Still for a Sketch

2010-03-13T11:13:00.000-06:00

Does this look like me?

Does This Collar Make Me Look Fat?

2010-02-28T13:33:00.000-06:00

Sunny Winter Day...

2010-02-11T14:53:00.000-06:00

with my pal.

Poke, Poke...

2010-02-05T18:23:00.000-06:00

That is how I let the humans know it is time to go out and play or take a walk. Since this is a family blog, I won't tell you where I poke.

They hate it when I poke after drinking water!

HA!

Behind Door #1

2010-01-30T11:48:00.000-06:00

There has to be a ball.

I am Famous!

2010-01-16T12:17:00.001-06:00

Nerf Catching On A Sunny Day!

2010-01-02T09:31:00.000-06:00

This Face...

2009-11-30T16:56:00.000-06:00

how can you ignore?

Give Thanks...

2009-11-23T19:27:00.000-06:00

for...

my pool, Caribou, Indigo, and PV!

Contentment!

2009-11-17T20:30:00.000-06:00

Aaaah! In the dirt, with a ball.

Squishy Face

2009-11-08T08:52:00.000-06:00

Oh, yea - they call me that sometime. I have some extra skin because I am part Shar-Pei. Every time I go to the vet, my favorite vet tech says that to me while grabbing my face and squishing the skin.

What's With the Nicknames?

2009-11-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

My name is Kona. (When I came to this house it was Charlotte-ugh) The humans call me lots of things - Kona Koffee, Kona Nona, Sally, Sally Ann, and Brown Dog. They are crazy. Guess as long as they don't call me late for lunch I am okay.

The other two also have nicknames:

Caribou - Boo, Boo-Boo, Buddy, and Buddy Leigh.

Indigo - Indie, Indie 500, Indie Bindie, Indigo Bindigo, Spotty Dotty, and Sweetie Petie.

Just pick one I say!

We Got a New Dog!

2009-10-24T14:53:00.001-05:00

His name is Spike. He is not much fun. Can't even get in the doggie door.

Caught!

2009-10-16T17:42:00.000-05:00

We really didn't do it!

Dog Door In!

2009-10-11T17:42:00.002-05:00

Percino Romano Cheese...

2009-10-11T13:50:00.000-05:00

is sharp and tangy. Humans left it on the dining room table. Managed to get it. Pretty hard so had to gnaw on it, so did not get too much eaten. They came back in 5 minutes because they remembered they forgot it.

Took it on the bed, got it out of the paper bag, and feasted away!

They think because I am four that I won't do this stuff.

Taz - Our Neighbor Dog

2009-10-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

Taz was staring at one of the humans doing dishes today. Pretty funny. A big two year old with lots of energy, yet willing to stare out the window at the human next door. I think he wanted to go outside.

Our New Friend - Juniper

2009-10-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

Juniper gets to come over and hang out when her human brings her. It was a little weird at first, but now we all run around, get along, and play well together. We like it!

Got Kitchen!

2009-10-06T20:40:00.000-05:00

Finally! Cupboards in, countertops, water hooked up. Minor stuff left, patching and stuff. I sure am glad. I hate the nail gun and air compressors. Humans let me hang out in the car in the garage. That was the furthest away I could get.

Indigo Got Stitches!

2009-09-18T12:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we were goofing around. She caught someone's tooth. Some blood. Heck, I had to wear one of those T-shirts for the same reason. She could use a different color.

Logs and Mini-Rat

2009-09-15T23:02:00.000-05:00

Found a way to get a log intended for the fire into the house without humans noticing. Did some chewing in the living room and then thought why not bring it on the bed? Guess that was not such a good idea.

Cornered a mini-rat the other day. All three of us were going after this super-sized mouse. Had to do some chewing - did not want to eat it though. Great game of chase we all had. Human came out and screamed. What is that all about? We were just gumming it. Thrown over the fence into the alley to await a predator who wants a snack.

Ahhhhh, Sunday Mornings

2009-08-30T09:12:00.004-05:00

Now this is the way to spend a cool morning. Curled up in chair.

Sure is Hot!

2009-08-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

I have this pool thing down. This is the life when it is 90 and humid.

Coming Home!

2009-08-06T20:36:00.002-05:00

The other human comes home tomorrow night! Excited! Dog walks, hanging in the back yard, laying in the pool, and relaxing with the humans is around the corner!

We all stink pretty bad and getting shampooed tomorrow so we will smell pretty.

Gas!

2009-08-04T20:04:00.002-05:00

Caribou is such a smelly boy. I cannot believe it. He was gassing all day. Stinky, stinky, stinky! I am so excited for another day. Maybe he will work it all out tonight!

What is the whole gas deal anyway. Me? Well, okay when I jump up to the couch often times I do a little toot. Well, a big toot.

How do humans not even deal with the gas issue? They seem embarassed. Me? not so much.

Love the Pool

2009-08-03T21:34:00.002-05:00

I love the pool. We go for a walk and then when we get home the pool gets filled. Ahhhh, what a delight. I get to lay in the pool and rest my head on the edge.

I am still managing to get into the garbage in spite of human efforts to keep me out. All I have to do is step on the thing that opens the top and put my nose in. How do they not get it?

Caribou thought it would be cool to drink from the toilet today. What a dork. Not even close to Evian. Human not happy! Seat is now down.

One comes Home...

2009-08-01T14:51:00.002-05:00

...the other leaves. Last week both gone until Thursday night. Aaaaah, one home Thursday night and then a really late Friday night plane for the other. I got to go on a walk and meet some new neighbors today. Weather was great! Time for an afternoon nap!

My favorite time is having both humans home.

The Dog Days of Summer 2009

2009-07-25T19:14:00.006-05:00

Me in the hosta and relaxing in the pool. Think I would look good in a bikini?

Caribou dipping his nose in the pool. He is cooling off.

Indigo hiding by the fountain. She thinks I won't see her in the game of chase.

Recovery!

2009-07-22T06:29:00.002-05:00

I am feeling much better. I get to go on walks now. Taking it slow and remembering all of the good grass eating spots. Not behaving too well on the walks right now. Humans are pretty tolerant as they think it has been so long. Hah! Just being naughty.

Up to my old tricks in the garbage. Step on the pedal, the top opens, and TADA! As they say on the commercials, Mmmm Mmmmm good!

They Just Don't Get It!

2009-07-14T19:37:00.002-05:00

Will they ever learn? I have been in a one human household for the last week and a half. Bummer, I like the one who is in New Orleans. A softy. The one at home? Forgetful. Human went to the store, bought cat treats and left them on the cupboard.

Used the "I am lame" excuse. Was outside for a bit and then pretended to go lay in my kennel like I did early in the injury stage. Instead, found the cat treats.

Gas-i-lishious! I could not believe that came out of me. Toot, toot. P-U

Off to the Vet

2009-07-12T21:09:00.003-05:00

Had an accident. Was in the backyard, doing the usual play stuff with Indigo and Caribou. I was in the big pool and jumped out. Caught my back legs on the pool and came down pretty hard on my left front leg. I went down and started to cry. I know it was not real lady like to be on my back with legs in the air and wailing, but it really hurt!

Emergency visit to the vet. I love St. Francis Animal and Bird Hospital.

They are some pretty special people. Took me in and one of my favorite vet techs found time to give me a squishy face. She likes my extra flappage!

Deep tissue damage. No walks for 10-14 days! Rest, rest, rest. It has been four days and I am going stir crazy. I heard the humans talking about getting me a red wagon so I could go for a walk. That would look dorky, however I could get out! At least it is not a basket on a bike. Have you seen those dogs? How humiliating.

I can see the name of the wagon - not Radio Flyer. Kona's Konvalescence Kart!

PAINT!

2009-07-07T22:40:00.002-05:00

Humans are painting the kitchen. Mmmm. Why would I not want to rub against the wall, leave some of my small labrador hairs, and cause angst for the humans. I don't understand why they would paint it yellow when they know I have brown hair!

Do I have to teach them everything?

Hummus

2009-07-03T15:47:00.002-05:00

Humans had friends over on a summer day. They were eating snacks and having beverages on the patio. An absolutely lovely day for them. For me? An occasional visit to the patio and some pats on the head. (Guests thought I was kind of cute!)

Then...sneak to the kitchen. Don't they ever learn? Leave food in the kitchen unsupervised and I find a way. What did I spy? Hummus. Never tried it, yet, seemed as good a day as any.

Stretched my body up to the top of the table - about 42" and then had to stretch my head and tongue another 6-8". Alas, hummus. The humans would never have known except I came out of the house with hummus on my nose and somehow it got on my back. Must have slurped too hard.

It was not too bad. Would have been better with crackers.

What a Day!

2009-06-22T19:54:00.002-05:00

One of the humans went to the store for landscaping supplies. Came home and I figured out how to get the side door open before the big door was closed. Whooooosh was the sound of Indigo and I running.

The chase was on - human fell on the gravel and sliced a knee. Indigo did get caught and I came running at the sound of "treat!" Stitches in the knee. 3 cm deep and 4 cm wide.

Then Indigo caught a sparrow. We wrestled with it and shook the little thing. Did not make it. Humans not so happy with us.

If I could...

2009-06-14T08:20:00.002-05:00

just reach the ball from here. Ahhh. Never mind, will take a nap instead.

Rain!

2009-06-07T22:57:00.004-05:00

The grass sure needed it. Made for a long day yesterday. I hate getting my hair wet. It gets wavy down the middle of my back. Humans think it is cute. I just don't like going out in the rain.

Indigo does not mind. She still stares at the trees waiting for squirrels. Weird.

Caribou is not much for going out in the rain either. Smart.

Wet dog smell.

A Runner!

2009-04-30T15:35:00.004-05:00

Little Miss Indigo escaped. One of the humans needed to go to the airport and Indie escaped. Pretty traumatic and I am pretty sure that Indie was a rogue for her first few months of life before she was rescued. This definitely came out this week.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when a wonderful man named Bart put her in his car and called the number on the collar. He really liked her. Called her "Princess." What Bart does not know is that I (Kona) am the Princess.

Humans were a bit teary with her disappearance and we all welcomed the runner back.

Put your address and phone number on your dog's collar!

It's That Time Again!

2009-04-12T11:01:00.001-05:00

The patio furniture is out!

Can't Keep My Nose Out of Things

2009-03-28T09:06:00.005-05:00

Managed to get into this empty bag. Thought I would lick the inside and get it all. It is my new food—CORE Reduced Fat Formula by Wellness. Pretty good stuff.

Thank goodness the humans laughed - mumbling something about "couldn't find your way out of a paper bag."

Found Something I Did Not Like

2009-03-21T14:39:00.006-05:00

Peeps!
Only nibbled the head on one.

Sugar Lifting Record?

2009-02-16T16:18:00.006-06:00

Humans may lift weights. Me...I lift sugar. Managed to get a 10 pound bag of sugar out of the "secured" cabinet. Carried it about 11 feet and spilled about 2 cups. Not bad for only my second attempt. First attempt—20 feet only spilling 3 cups. That was back on the "buckwheat pancake mix-cream of wheat day" posted earlier.

Wonder which is better? Someone will do the math.

Cat Food

2009-02-01T11:18:00.002-06:00

Found out the stick in the drawer handles is easy to move. Eureka!!! Moist cat food. Shared 10 bags with Caribou and Indigo. I did eat most of it though. I know why dogs are not supposed to eat cat food - I got very sick in the middle of the night.

The humans say I am stinker naughty. Guess that is when one is very smart and being naughty.

It is fun to listen to how the humans are going to keep me out of these drawers. Just two days ago, with one of them in the kitchen, I sauntered over to the drawers and pulled the bottom one open. Had to show my talent with one of them watching.

Fort Knox and Forgetting

2009-01-25T15:02:00.007-06:00

Here is what some cabinets look like - they think it keeps me out. You can see I have even chipped paint working on these.

Well, guess what? I got in! The toaster "did" have an electrical cord. Not so connected anymore.

This set of drawers with the stick? It works when they remember. Otherwise, I get in. Today, for instance, ate all of the treats in that bottom drawer. I have a stomach ache!

It is always an adventure around here!

The humans say I can be calm. I think I am going to have to try that for an extended period of time. Maybe they will take a photo of that for all to see.

Blogging Takes Work

2009-01-10T08:51:00.006-06:00

I have to rest.
No one told me it would be this hard.

The New Year

2009-01-02T23:56:00.004-06:00

It is here. The humans encouraged a New Year's Resolution from me. Aaaaah. Why would I do that? I just want to go on a walk everyday, chase the ball that the humans throw for me to fetch, and eat some food. I would prefer people food, yet know they are giving me the weight loss stuff.

Shenanigans are around the corner.

It is Winter Around Here

2008-12-31T14:30:00.010-06:00

Brrrrr.
My sister, Indigo, has to wear a coat because she does not have much hair.

Me? I get to wear a dog pack with rocks! (I overhear the humans talking about my weight and I need to lose some pounds.) I do think I am sporty looking.

My brother, Caribou, is so in his element. Mr. Husky is right at home in the snow and cold. I am thinking I should attach a sled and he could take me for a walk!

Thanks for Coming to My New Home

2008-12-30T06:39:00.000-06:00

Thanks for coming to this new home. I put the posts from my other home here for you to enjoy.

My adventures continue.

The Humans Are Getting Smarter

2008-12-30T06:36:00.001-06:00

If you read what I wrote about the "cabinet adventures" in a recent post, you will understand just how much fun I have when the humans are gone.

They would tell you that they are smart, however, they just recently passed that test. I can't even tell you the number of times I have gotten into the cabinets with food. They just think it is a one time deal. How can that be? I have done this a bajillion times!

Well, they finally put pots and pans in the spot I got into. I keep opening the cupboard in hopes that they will leave food. Okay I know there is not food, but I think it is absolutely a hoot to see them come home and grumble about my getting into the cupboard again. How dumb do they think I am?

They put all of these eatables in a drawer thing, Aaaaah, another puzzle. I learned how to pull the drawer out! Pretty smart for a Sharprador (Shar Pei/Labrador for those who are not up to date on the latest "mutt news.")

Now, they put a stick in the handles of all three drawers. It is only a matter of time!

Oooops I did it again

2008-12-30T06:35:00.001-06:00

The humans once again put some bags of food in the cupboard. They went shopping for healthy dog treats and stored them in the bottom cupboard. Yesterday I had some time on my hands and thought I would check it out. "EUREKA!" was my cry. There was more. I wriggled my 80 pound body a distance of two and a half feet from the right cupboard to the left and pulled out not one, not two, but three bags of treats!

I shared a few with Indigo and Caribou. Mostly though I ate it all myself. I don't feel so well. I feel like those humans who eat too much on Thanksgiving!

I had to go outside a whole bunch of times and I am drinking water like crazy. The humans are calling me "Gascious Clay."

They used to say that I was smart stupid. I learn some things and not others. Well, I learned where the snacks were didn't I? Who is stupid now?

The Other Characters

2008-12-30T06:34:00.001-06:00

I realized you do not know what the other characters in the house look like. You saw Caribou, my big brother.

Meet Indigo and PV.

Indigo is sort of a dork because she chases bubbles. She got this one.

On our walk today, she picked up a frozen dead bird and was carrying it along. The humans don't really know what her breed is. I say 100% crazy.

Get this - she would stare at the trees for hours in hopes that a squirrel will fall and she can do some chasing. Man, talk about a stiff neck! Some kind of crazy.

PV, the cat. She is something like 15. We would love her to play, she does not want to. I just try to touch her with my nose to let her know I am there. She gets all hissy and everything. I usually hear "leave it" from the humans.

Garbage, Cream of Wheat, pancake mix, and more

2008-12-30T06:32:00.000-06:00

The escapades continue. Last week one of the humans was in a rush to run an errand. The garbage got emptied and then forgotten in the kitchen. Hot diggity! All three of us, well not so much Caribou because he is not so into misbehaving, got into it pretty good. Coffee grounds, a lovely cooked chicken breast that the humans tried to conceal in an empty sour cream container - ha, found it!- and of course those tomatoes that were too old for humans. Ahhhh, the stomach ache. I tried to be sneaky by taking the sour cream container on the bed and ate the chicken there. Just forgot to take it back with the rest of the garbage. Darn. They know it was me.

The next day...more excitement. The humans put a child lock on one cabinet that I have gotten into. There is this other door that they have not figured out yet. So...I found my way into it. The first time all I got was the Cream of Wheat. Our daytime caregiver came to let us out and found Cream of Wheat on the carpet, along with the mangled cardboard. Oh, she felt bad. Don't know why - we didn't.

Then, one of the humans came home from work. Yikes. We were in trouble. Got into the cabinet again and this time got the buckwheat pancake mix and Cheerios. We also left a couple of mounds of stuff that did not agree with our stomachs on the floor. We had stomach aches big time. I am pretty sure it was the Cream of Wheat.

Just yesterday, I thought I could investigate the cupboard one more time. Those humans got smart, only canned goods down there now. I got caught. The cabinet is only 2 feet deep and human came into the kitchen to see my rear end. The rest of me was in the cupboard. Now, I am 80 pounds and my rear is not the prettiest part to look at. I am so glad that the paparazzi was nowhere near.

Just think...the holidays are around the corner. Reminds me of last Christmas when I got the box of chocolates, which were wrapped. Ahhh, chocolate!

My Mouth...

2008-12-30T06:29:00.001-06:00

gets me in big trouble. Remember, I am a lab. There was this time when I went into the purse of my dog-sitter, the humans were out of town, and I found her mp3 player. Score! It was small and I thought I should taste it. Wasn't that good. Cost the humans a little extra money.

I have tried tasting remote controls, two of them to be exact. That did not go over so well. The one that cost the most money for the humans to replace was a digital camera. There it was on the table outside, just sitting there. I looked around for the human. There, by the back fence. Just strolled over to the table and had myself a digital camera. Not a pretty sight. It did not work anymore.

I like to think I am growing out of that phase. It is a good thing. It got me in a lot of trouble. I always wondered why humans leave things out—shoes, remotes, cameras, clothes. They had to know I would taste them.

AND THEN...Oh, did I do it this time. The humans both left. I sniffed out a bag of cookies that were stashed behind the coffee maker. Up go my paws. Sniffer is turned on. YES! Not one bag, but two. I can't quite reach both of them, alas, I could grab one.

Into the living room I go. It did not take long before they were all gone. Share with the other two? Nope. If I am going to get a stomach ache, I want to feel bad all by myself.

What kind of cookies? Pumpkin Chocolate Chip!!!

Hello World!

2008-12-30T06:17:00.008-06:00

I am a rescue dog, not just any rescue dog. My mom was a rescue and I was not born yet. So, I was born at a foster home.

RPAW—Rescued Pets Are Wonderful—did a great job of taking care of my mom and us when we were born. A foster mom took us in until it was time to go to a new forever home.

The humans went to buy cat litter for PV. Pretty odd name for a cat, I found out after I got to my new house the humans like math and it stood for Place Value—go figure!

Anyway, I was at the front of the store in this little kennel with my siblings. My original name was Charlotte. Ugh. I am so not a Charlotte. Well, PV did get her cat litter and I got the humans. What a deal. I went home to see my brother Caribou. He was so nice to me. I was only three months old, but weighed in at 16 pounds with some pretty big paws.

My first night at home was not scary at all. Caribou took care of me and showed me the ropes around the house. I knew where I was supposed to go to the bathroom, the kennel where I would sleep, and most of all where the cat hung out. I like her, but she does not much like me.

Here is a picture of us on my first day home. He is teaching about toys.

HELLO WORLD!

The life and times of Kona—that's me hiding in the hosta plant. The humans I live with were not particularly happy about me hiding. I liked it though because I could secretly spy on the other two dogs that live with me. I am a middle dog and just turned three.

My older brother is a Husky mix, my younger sister is Boxer, Beagle, German Short-Haired Pointer, and maybe some Pit. Oh, the little one is a blend of crazy. I also live with a cat. She doesn't much hang with me.

I hope you enjoy as I tell you about my life. It is always an adventure.