Q and A with Leila.

You asked, so I decided to post again. This time with my master and over a bowl of cold water and rawhide sticks. So let's get started!

Alpha Male Master Scott (this would be my rap name by the way.): "Leila, what do you consider your best physical quality?"

Leila: "Well, besides being incredibly good looking, I would have to say my colors. I have many colors on my coat and my pawnails each have a different color. Thanks for asking."

Alpha Male Master Scott: "What do you do to pass the time? If your owners are busy eating or cleaning. What do you do with your free time?"

Leila: "Well, I have lots of free time! My only commitments are daily walks to keep my masters calm so they don't chew or dig and daily dog training. I love to hunt anything in the yard including moles, cats, grasshoppers and crickets, leaves that may blow due to wind, and shadows. Other than that, I keep an eye on the house and notify the whole neighborhood when someone is at the door. Oh, and I sleep...a lot."

Alpha Male Master Scott: "Do you have a lot of toys?"

Leila: "Ooohhh yeah. I have to admit, i'm spoiled. But it's good for me. I like to have a choice. It keeps me interested and I shred them real quick. Purses, shoes and toys- life's good! I also have certain spots for my toys. Any ball usually rests on this window. I keep them here when I'm doing something else. I like to keep some toys in doorways and some right were my master's stand most. Other toys have a special place in my heart and rarely make it out of my house so I can have them with me when i'm by myself. Rodriguez is one of my favorites but he needs surgery cause I tore him to shreds. Hey, he's named after a Michigan coach. It's a good thing!" Alpha Male Master Scott: "Leila, do you consider yourself smart? Do you get bored with the nonsense of other dogs."

Leila: "Oh, I love to play but the dog park has some bitches. And I don't mean "female" dog. Some dogs are brilliant but I would say i'm the smartest, and prettiest, dog there every time I go...well...of all the dogs that have ever been there, ever."

AMMS: "That's an awfully confident statement."

Leila: "Well, that's what it takes in this dog eat dog world."

AMMS: "Are you full grown?"

Leila: "Just about. I'm 50lbs and 10 of that are my ears."
AMMS: "So, what do you enjoy most about life?"

Leila: "Ummm, there are lots of things but there are a couple that stand out. One, I love to ride in the car. Two, I absolutely love a good belly rub. Three, my day has to start with waking up my master by licking his face or giving him a snotty nose press. Four, and probably the best, training. It's so much fun. Currently, my masters put all kinds of tasty treats around me and try to tempt me while I do tricks. I caught on quick and need a reminder from time to time."AMMS: "Do you have any nicknames?"

Leila: "Yes, quite a few actually. To name a few: Drama queen, Diva, Jackrabbit (cause my ears), Yoda (again...cause my ears), puppy, tank, girl, terrorist, lazy as#, and leiladodle.

AMMS: "Well, it's been fun Leila. We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to answer a few questions."

Leila: "Oh, anytime, I love attention."

Leila: "Thank you everyone for spending some time with me. Oh, and I just wanted you to know how much my masters love all of you. They miss you so much and are excited to see you soon. A quick shout out to my Ohio peeps, i'll meet you soon. Until then...bring on the rawhide!"

Our California days are numbered but...

A couple weeks ago I had the flu. Well, it was more like a nasty fever. I was stuck on the couch and any movement wasn't worth the effort. Let me make it clear: Leila is not allowed on any furniture! And she is not a lap dog. It's not that we don't wish she wanted to sit next to us on the floor she just doesn't. She will lay on her bed or elsewhere. But when you are sick that's a different story. Leila broke the rules and made me feel a little better.

The other day we had a friend over and her three kids. These kids call me Mr. Lyon and that's kinda weird for me. I had the privileged of helping them hang their Christmas lights back in December and really, they just wanted to get on the roof.

Below, this is what you don't want to do. This says, "jump up for my hands!"

They wanted to be in the Leila's cage and our pup was a bit confused. She loves kids gets so excited when they are around. Our dog trainer says it's because they are both adolescents and she wants to play with them. I always get excited and nervous at the same time when kids arrive at the dog park. An opportunity to practice.

Even when she is resting she is watching. The dobe in her is intense. She does nothing with half effort. One minute she is half asleep the next she is destroying the cricket that made it's way into the house. We did have a bug problem but Leila made that her hobby. She truly is a watchdog.

Well, it's over. Katie did it! She ran her half marathon in 2:11! She expected 2:30. She started in a slower group and had to do a lot of maneuvering of other runners. This slowed her down a bit.

Katie ran it with Rae. They trained together almost everyday- 4 miles, 6 miles, 8 miles, 10 miles.

My classmate and friend Stacey also ran the race. She was the two hour pacer. I parked at her house in the morning and we road bikes to the race because traffic was so bad near the beach.

Kates group started in the 7000-7999 group. She is somewhere in there.

And their off!!
Below, mile three.
Stacey with the 2:00hr sign at mile 9.
Katie and Rae at mile 9. Still lookin' good!
The finishers. Daniel, Jeff, Rae and Katie. Daniel and Jeff did the full marathon. They all finished around the same time. They started way earlier.
Running along the Pacific Coast Highway next to the ocean.
With all the biking and photos I took trying to keep up with them I was almost just as tired.
Yesterday we had a yard sale. It was the strangest sale i've ever been a part of. We started at 730am and didn't get a single person til 10am. That was when we wanted to wrap it up. My neighbor and I talked most of the time. He was trying to sell a manual fishing boat thingy and changed his mind and said you will get more out of this in Washington than anyone down here. So he gave it to me. He also gave me the cargo box below. I was blown away! In almost three hours of trying to sell my stuff I made 20 cents (the guy didn't have 5 more cents...cheap a#@.) and gained a boat and storage carrier. Strange huh?!


Leila had a visitor. Leo. A Jack Russell Rat Terrier mix. He is fast! And Leila is top heavy and still growing into her legs. It was quite funny watching her try to take sharp corners with him.
One of Leila's bet qualities- she is sensitive to the other dogs size. With big dogs she stands upright but with smaller ones she will play at their level.




Give her a straight line though and she will catch you.

And Caught.

Leo wiped her out.

Life slows down the next couple weeks. No major plans. Just packing and putting the finishing touches on our three year California trip. In the end for those of you who don't keep up with your blogs I can honestly say it is worth it. I have our whole time here documented.