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A few weeks ago, we lost our beloved "pet" dog Barney. Here's a memorial to him. Not Just "Man's" Best Friend, But Every "Man's" Best Friend We got Barney when we lived in Vermont. At the time, we had our first dog JoJo, who had terrible separation anxiety (which later turned out to be a good thing when she needed to be trained as my first Service Dog). We decided to get another dog to be her companion. That dog was Barney. When we went to look at Barney's litter, each little 4-week old puppy looked completely different. But Barney stood out because he was the only one that was brown and white. So we chose him. On the way home, we were trying to decide what to name him. We both thought "Barney" at the same time. For some reason, he seemed kind of dorky, like Barney Fife. That name certainly came to fit him. Barney was a very easy puppy to housebreak and train. We had JoJo there to teach him dog-etiquette and the rules ...

Tags: Barney

For Christmas this year, the hubby got me a speedometer for my scooter. I had wanted one so I could see just how fast my scooter really goes. I think it kicks ass... ! Of course, I used it today to clock the doggies. Here's their times: WALKING Frankie: 9 mph Willie: 6-7 mph Barney: 4-5 mph RUNNING Frankie: 12.5 mph (as fast as my scooter will go on a slight decline) Willie: 9 mph Barney: You've got to be kidding! I think it's funny that Willie's top speed is Frankie's walking pace. No wonder Willie can't keep up with him!

When your dog is most excited, what are they actually saying? Here are my doggie's famous quotes: Willie: "Ball-eee Ball-eee Ball-eee Ball-eee...!" Frankie: "Watch me... look what I can do!" Barney: "Love me NOW!" Willie : "At your service, ma'am" Frankie : "Whatareyoudoing Whatareyoudoing Whatareyoudoing?" Barney : "I didn't do it... it wasn't me" Willie : "Fooooooooooood" Frankie : "Yeah, sure, I could eat a little something" Barney : "Do you realize it's 2 minutes past dinner time?"

How many nicknames do you have for your dog? Here's mine: Willie Wiggle Butt Buddy Boy Big Head Big Boy Villie Villaman Frankie Frank Franklyn Franklyn Green Beans Raymond (see story ) Wiggle McWiggles Dick Head (that's the hubby's fave) Little Boy Barney Bernard Barn Barn Super Barn Barn Barnmeister Doofus Lump Head Handsome Boy Little Man I'll add more as I remember them... What nicknames do you have for your pets (please give original name too)? I have one friend out there (you know who you are, girl!) who better reply. She has TONS of dogs with TONS of nicknames for each and every one... and expects me to keep track!

Today I was doing a small load of laundry. When the load was done drying, the dryer buzzer went off. I started to get up to unload the dryer, but Barney was laying down by my chair. I got distracted and started petting my little old man (Barney, that is!). Next thing I know, Frankie's bumping his nose against the laundry room's door knob. Loudly. What's that about?! Is he reminding me that the buzzer just buzzed and my laundry's gonna wrinkle?? He's so demanding.

Barney is our elder statesman here. He's 11 years old and doesn't know it. He plays hard, but now those play times are in short bursts followed by long periods of rest. But he still loves to wrassel with his brothers. He recently had his "Senior Wellness Exam" and I received the vet's report in the mail. The "miscellaneous" section said the following: Based on these tests, your pets overall wellness is: Satisfactory Recommended Follow-up: Unfortunately, he does have osteoarthritis, but don't tell him he does. Shhh, don't anyone tell him. Doctor's Orders!

Here's a small example of how intelligence varies from dog to dog, using my 3 dogs as "proof": Take 1 Kong. Add some peanut butter. Put in freezer. Give to dog. Willie : Lays down, puts one paw on the Kong, and lick lick licks out the peanut butter. Works on it until it's empty. Frankie : Picks up the Kong, goes to the tile in the kitchen, drops Kong on floor, stuff falls out, he eats it. Rinse, repeat. Barney : Looks at you like you have to be kidding, walks away leaving Kong where you put it. It's obviously too much work for such a small pay off.

Another short post today, still not up to snuff. Bummer. Both Frankie and Willie acclimated to the sound of fireworks very easily. They don't react negatively at all, in fact, they seem to love the sounds! They'll sit out on the back porch with their noses in the air and just listen to the pops and crackles all night. (Either that or they're communicating with their superiors on Planet Caninus about how to deal with us lowly humans, I don't know which.) Barney, on the other hand, is currently on drugs. I can see only the whites of his eyes. Poor boy, he hates The 4th of July and New Years Eve. So do I. Oy.

The other day I found these emails archived on my system. I knew it! -The WillaWoman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frankie" [frankie@dogzrule.com] To: "Willie" [Willie@ServiceDog.com]; "Barney" [Barney@GoodDogs.com] Subject: Bored Dudes! Wake up! I found the coolest web site with hot babes . I'm bored, let's do something. Let's put all the pillows on the floor and then jump on them. Then let's move all the rugs around. Then let's lock ourselves in the bathroom. Oh, by the way... One of us has to figure out how to escape from the bathroom. I can't do it all, ya know! Frankie ================================================== ----- Original Message ----- From: "Willie" [Willie@ServiceDog.com] To: "Frankie" [frankie@dogzrule.com] Subject: re: Bored I'm so telling on you. If mommy ever finds out you were on her computer, she'll have a fit and not feed us or something worse. Maybe she won't play...

Things Barney likes: NOT being a working dog Laying on the couch/pillow/recliner/bed/floor Licking faces (professional licker) Licking the rug (can you say hairballs) Laying outside on his "veranda" Visiting all the employees at the vet's office Going for walks with Daddy Nipping Frankie's toes Things Barney hates: Fireworks or anything that remotely sounds like fireworks Pain Getting tormented by Frankie