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.

Pronged!

Strong willful crazy three legged dog Wyatt Ray needs a prong collar to help stop leash pulling.

Remember back when I told you how the Gentle Leader is a great nose hair removal tool? Well, it works so well that I lost tons of mine, and my nose was getting so bald that Mom and Dad said “Hey Wyatt, guess what? You don’t have to wear the Gentle Leader anymore!

Huh? Really! Woooowweeeee! I jumped for joy.

Then they took me to a pet store. I made sure to run in there as hard as I could to tell everypawdy the news.

Mom and Dad walked me right over to the leashes and collars. Man, I was so hoppy! “I’m getting new bling!” I said to myself.

I got new bling alright.

It came in the form of this really shiny metal collar that has sticky things all round it. I thought “Wow, I’m gonna look like a badass!”  Come on Dad, put it on me!

So he does. And guess what? He turns the collar around, and puts the sticky things  on the inside. I’m like “Huh?”

When Dad says “This is the one,” we go up to the register, where a nice lady gave me a bunch of treats. I think she knew what was coming and felt sorry for me.

We walked outside with my new reversible badass collar. I was feeling kinda crazy, and ran over to the truck ahead of Dad. But as soon as I did . . .I felt a pull and then the metal things went thwack!

Ugh!

I’ve been pronged!

Mom said she feels bad, that she never ever thought she would have to use one of these things on a dog of hers.

But I told Mom, “no worries Ma, I’m one of a kind, Mister Original!”

All those things you “thought” about dogs, well, throw them out the window because there is only one . . .

Wyatt. Ray. Dawg.

Hot Dawg No More

Three legged tripod Wyatt stays cool in the Texas heat.

There’s this thing called “beer” that my pawrents seem to like. They like it so much, they went to a big factory to see how this stuff called “Shiner Bok” is made.

Of course, the beer people didn’t want ME in their factory. Can you believe that?

I guess the Shiner people haven’t heard that the Texas Rangers thought I was cool enough to go into the Alamo.

Since then, it’s gotten real hot in Texas, so there’s no more leaving me in the truck. Now I go everywhere with my humans and they have rearranged their lives just for ME.

I can’t wait to get back to Cooooolorado. I like Texas but I really hate the heat. Whenever it’s sunny, I always look for shade. I won’t walk another step if it’s too hot for me. This black fur of mine is really warm, you know.

And by the way, if you see any dog locked up in cars this summer, be sure to ticket the ignorant humans with one of thise My Dog is Cool flyers.

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