Category: My Adventures

Who’s a Water Dawg?

How not to teach a three legged German Shepherd dog how to swim.

If I was meant to swim in water, I would’ve been born with webbed feet, or at least with a Float Coat strapped around me.

But for some reason, my pawrents think that I’ll have a good time if I get my fur soaking wet in ice cold water.

I tried to tell them when we were camped next to a river in Texas, but they wouldn’t buy it. “The water is so warm Wyatt, get in!” The begged me but I wouldn’t do it.

Then, last week we went to a dog park in Fort Collins that has a swimming pond.

There were a lot of crazy dogs there who loved getting in the water. Beats me why they thought it was so fun. But everyone there thought I should get in too.

The humans kept begging me to go in.

Then you know what they did? They took my tennis ball, and threw it in the water. “Go git it, Wyatt!” they yelled. I thought that was pretty mean. There I was, having a good time chasing small dogs with a tennis ball in my mouth, when all of a sudden it was grabbed away from me and I was expected to swim.

Ok, so I got in up to my elbows. And then I got out. My new buddy got mad, and yelled at me to get back in, but no tennis ball was worth it to me.

 Yeah right. I am a Shepherd after all! I was born to patrol water, not get into it and end up looking like that!

I’ve Been Everywhere, Man

Three legged spokes dog Wyatt Ray shares his winter road trip adventure travels from Colorado to Californi and back.

When my folks got me out of Oaktown in August, I had no idea what I was in for.

They took me to their house in the mountains, and it was great. But just when I thought I was going to have a nice comfy life up here, white stuff started falling from the sky and before I could say “Snow Day!” Mom and Dad packed our stuff up and away we went.

Nevada. California. Arizona. New Mexico. Texas. New Mexico again. Then, back to Colorado, which is where we are now.

It was a crazy winter and I have to admit, I was a pretty crazy dog. What I saw, man it was so different from the life in the city that I knew. We  had our share of ups and downs, but I think it was a pretty good trip.

The last couple of weeks I got to see some humans who met me when I first joined my pawrent’s pack. And you know what they said?

They said that I had changed!

Some of them said I was much healthier and stronger. And others said that I was more well behaved and paid more attention to Mom and Dad. Me? Me! That made me feel pretty good, and I think I saw Dad smile too.

Now, we’re back in the big dog house that doesn’t go anywhere, hanging out and working working working. Well, Mom and Dad are working on their computers all the time.

Me, I’m keeping guard and watching out for the moose that we keep seeing around here.  And I try to get my folks out to enjoy this pretty place.

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Under the Starry Texas Skies

Three legged rescue pup Wyatt visits Ozona, Luckenbach and San Antonio in the great state of Texas.

“Yeeee haw! Yipee kai yay!”

Mom’s trying to teach me how to say that instead of “WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!” now that we’re in Texas. We’ve been moving across this big place seeing so many cool things, and even almost getting caught in a flash flood a couple of weeks ago (Dad can tell you about that).

Texas is a neat place, and dogs can pretty much go anywhere, people are pretty laid back. I think I’ve seen more big dogs than little purse dogs.

Here’s what I’ve seen so far: Ozona Texas, a place named after this dead guy named Davy Crockett. The big park there was a good place to potty.

Just before we almost drowned in the river, we went to see these big rocks in the ground. Something about “Stonehenge” made Mom and Dad go “ooooh” and “aaaaah.”

Me, I just wanted to get out of the pouring rain, but for some reason they though it was important that they get a photo of me sitting on the wet rocks. Do I look hoppy here? I think not!

I also went to a place called Luckenbach, where Mom and Dad went way back with Spirit Jerry. I got to sit on the same porch where Jerry sat, and even said hello to some roosters without eating them for dinner. 

There was loud music all day and even other dogs. I got a LOT of treats that day, as you can see by the kibble hangin out of my mouth.

Sometimes all that craziness got to be too much and I let out some loud warnings to approaching enemies, but overall I’d have to say that dang, I was pretty good there!

After that, I went to the Alamo. Not only did I go to the Alamo, I went INSIDE of the Alamo!

Yes, I did, and I didn’t do anything horrible or bark or anything. I was on my best behavior because before we went inside, Mom told the Texas Ranger guy that I was a good boy and would mind my manners.

My Ruff Wear Harness gives me this illusion of authority I guess, and the Ranger guy seemed to think I was important. So he let us go in, and since I didn’t want Mom to end up in the pokey, I didn’t make a sound when were in this important place.  They don’t let you take pictures in there, which is why you don’t see any of me inside, so you’ll just have to take my word that I was there.

I think we’re leaving this big state called Texas next week. I’ve had a lot of fun here and as far as dog-friendly places go, Texas gets my vote!

The coyotes wail, along the trail,
deep in the heart of Texas,

The rabbits rush, around the brush,
deep in the heart of Texas

The cowboys cry, “Ki-yip-pee-yi,”
deep in the heart of Texas.

The doggies bawl, and bawl and bawl,
deep in the heart of Texas.

Deep In The Heart Of Texas, lyrics by June Hershey

Sheriff Wyatt’s in Town

Three legged Wyatt travels the Southwest on his road trip adventures.

Talk about a find, look what I dug up in the desert~ Can you believe someone left this behind? Mmmmm, tasty. Way better than a road flare.

We walked around the desert a lot this winter in the southwest. I learned a few things, like, don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.  

I wore my Ruff Wear boots all over the place, and I was glad I did. Shoes aren’t my favorite thing but sharp stuff stuck in my paws is even worse.

Since then, I’ve been to Arizona, New Mexico and now we’re in Texas, where we almost got washed away in a river.

I’m getting better at meeting new people and going new places. But I’ve got a long way to go. Sometimes things just hurt my brain when they don’t make sense. Which happens a lot when you move from town to town. So I just have to ask people why they’re doing what they’re doing.

My new nickname is “The Sheriff.”

” Though the miles lay long behind you
You have still got miles to go
How’s love ever gonna find you
If it ain’t here it’s down the road”

– Steve Earle, Down The Road

Pawtying it Up with Arizona Tripawds

Three legged Shepherd dog Wyatt Ray meets tripod Dixie and Chuy in Messa Arizona.

Last week I went to a pawty. But not just any pawty, a Tripawd Pawty! I got to meet my Arizona pals, Chuy and Dixie, and even Nikki and Buddy‘s pawrents, Ted and Mary, came by to say Woof!

Chuy and Dixie are the low key, play-it-cool type of dogs (although I think Chuy didn’t want to let on how crazy he can get!).

For some reason they don’t like to run around wild and bark at anything that moves. Hmmm…wonder why? But that’s OK, because I still think they’re cool. We got along pretty good despite my pestering them to let me chase ’em around.

I really liked being around Dixie. She’s so calm and self-assured. She’s got the Tripawd ‘tude and she wears it well.

The best part about going to a Tripawd pawty at the dog park, is that all the humans there think we are AWESOME.

I mean I already know we are but it’s so much fun to watch their jaws hit the dirt when they look at us and go “hey, those dogs are all missing a leg!”

I had to leave Arizona after the pawty (no, they didn’t kick me out, I’m going back to Colorado with my pack). But I hope that Chuy, Dixie and some other Tripawds that are in the area will continue to have pawties and keep on showing the locals that Triapawds rule!