Chasing Baxter

Affectionate musings and sage words for a young pup from an older, only slightly wiser Tibetan Terrier.

2 notes

Dear Baxter,
I saw your post about your predicament in the washing machine and I wanted you to know you are not alone. Recently, I noticed that Ryan and Caroline were packing their clothes in preparation to leave me and send me to camp in NJ. I decided that my only recourse was to join the closet they were raiding. Unfortunately, they mistook my actions not as attempt to fit in their suitcases, but rather they quickly took out their cameras to capture the moment.
Trapped in the closet,
Barney

2 notes

Dear Baxter,

Apologies for my lack of correspondence. Perhaps I am getting forgetful in my old age (I’m 11 now). Nevertheless, I wanted to bring you some full-on vintage snow-rompage from earlier this year. As the weather warms-up in the ensuing months (and give us the inevitable snap-back), I wish you, as a Tibetan, enjoy the kind of temperature you were meant to frolic in.

No haircuts till May,

Barney

3 notes

Dear Baxter, Monday night I arrived back from a two-and-one-half weeks vacation at camp in New Jersey. When I enthusiastically arrived home, Caroline and Ryan started telling me about how they sort of missed me, but not really, because they had a lot of fun at their “wedding” and “honeymoon.” I’m sure that the margaritas and sunshine they enjoyed in Mexico were not nearly as fun as the romping I did on the rolling hills of my second home, but I didn’t want to burst their bubble. But I do not write to you to keep you informed of my parents. It is pictures of me and MY activities that you want to see, am I right? So, here I am, on my way out for an evening walk with Caroline as she takes out the trash. That stogie in my mouth is one of those bully sticks (that I know Amanda doesn’t approve of!). Sometimes those things are just so delicious, I can’t let them go and I keep them with me the whole time we’re outside. I just cannot let something so precious out of my sight. Nom, nom, nom, Barney

Dear Baxter,

Monday night I arrived back from a two-and-one-half weeks vacation at camp in New Jersey. When I enthusiastically arrived home, Caroline and Ryan started telling me about how they sort of missed me, but not really, because they had a lot of fun at their “wedding” and “honeymoon.” I’m sure that the margaritas and sunshine they enjoyed in Mexico were not nearly as fun as the romping I did on the rolling hills of my second home, but I didn’t want to burst their bubble.

But I do not write to you to keep you informed of my parents. It is pictures of me and MY activities that you want to see, am I right? So, here I am, on my way out for an evening walk with Caroline as she takes out the trash. That stogie in my mouth is one of those bully sticks (that I know Amanda doesn’t approve of!). Sometimes those things are just so delicious, I can’t let them go and I keep them with me the whole time we’re outside. I just cannot let something so precious out of my sight.

Nom, nom, nom,

Barney

3 notes

Dear Baxter,

As I mentioned earlier, I am particularly fond of playing fetch in the early mornings. However, you should note that my personal brand of fetch is more along the lines of chasing after a thrown ball, returning with it, giving it a good chew until it pops out my mouth and rolls towards my ball tosser. And, as you will see from the video, it’s not exactly a perfect science, but one I look forward to almost everyday.

Chasing the dream,

Barney

3 notes

LESSON TEN WHEREIN YOU LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TEN-YEAR-OLD TIBETAN TERRIER Dear Baxter, Ever since my tenth birthday just last week (January 2nd) I have been compelled to relay to you what particularities you may come to expect when you reach this milestone. For your convenience, I have outlined them in three categories below: HEALTH: We Tibetans are a hearty breed and to date I have had no severe health complications due to my age. My previous scare was due not to age issues, but Caroline’s carelessless of proper dirty-clothes-hamper procedure and my insatiable desire to consume all matter that might taste of her. I should note, however, I have developed a few protuberances on certain parts of my body. But, my veterinarian has checked these out and they have been labeled “benign.” Just a cosmetic side effect of getting older, I guess. ENERGY: Some are amazed at my age considering my energy levels. But compared to the amount I used to have, I’m much calmer now. Aside from my three daily walks, I tend to lie down and sleep most of the day. I save up energy for when guests come to visit and to stand my ground at the door against the upstairs neighbor dogs. In the mornings, I am an avid, spirited fetcher of balls, but I tend to ask for a timeout less than ten minutes into a set. I also still love a great game of chase.  But, as in fetching, I don’t last very long and after a lap or two, I may suddenly just abruptly stop the game to catch my breath. In general, I reserve most of my energy to uphold the ideals of the Tibetan Terrier as described below. TEMPERAMENT: Overall, I am still 100% Tibetan Terrier: I bark when I want things; I demand attention (most often by barking) when desired; I bark furiously EVERY TIME the neighbor dogs walk by my door; and all packages at snout level are still thoroughly inspected by me. I still enjoy greeting other dogs, but my days of rumble-tumble are over. I have a “not the face or neck” policy and I think most other dogs understand my attitude because they can sense my age. Since I moved to Brooklyn, I’m allowed to roam freely in the open grounds of my nearby park in the early mornings. But, aside from the fetch sessions, I generally mill about sniffing the ground and munching on sticks. It’s an easy and low-stress life I live now. I hope that, in the coming years, you take full advantage of all your enthusiasms and interests, and live your life to the fullest as I believe I have. Cheers to the next decade, Barney

LESSON TEN

WHEREIN YOU LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TEN-YEAR-OLD TIBETAN TERRIER

Dear Baxter,

Ever since my tenth birthday just last week (January 2nd) I have been compelled to relay to you what particularities you may come to expect when you reach this milestone. For your convenience, I have outlined them in three categories below:

HEALTH:

We Tibetans are a hearty breed and to date I have had no severe health complications due to my age. My previous scare was due not to age issues, but Caroline’s carelessless of proper dirty-clothes-hamper procedure and my insatiable desire to consume all matter that might taste of her.

I should note, however, I have developed a few protuberances on certain parts of my body. But, my veterinarian has checked these out and they have been labeled “benign.” Just a cosmetic side effect of getting older, I guess.

ENERGY:

Some are amazed at my age considering my energy levels. But compared to the amount I used to have, I’m much calmer now. Aside from my three daily walks, I tend to lie down and sleep most of the day. I save up energy for when guests come to visit and to stand my ground at the door against the upstairs neighbor dogs. In the mornings, I am an avid, spirited fetcher of balls, but I tend to ask for a timeout less than ten minutes into a set. I also still love a great game of chase.  But, as in fetching, I don’t last very long and after a lap or two, I may suddenly just abruptly stop the game to catch my breath. In general, I reserve most of my energy to uphold the ideals of the Tibetan Terrier as described below.

TEMPERAMENT:

Overall, I am still 100% Tibetan Terrier: I bark when I want things; I demand attention (most often by barking) when desired; I bark furiously EVERY TIME the neighbor dogs walk by my door; and all packages at snout level are still thoroughly inspected by me.

I still enjoy greeting other dogs, but my days of rumble-tumble are over. I have a “not the face or neck” policy and I think most other dogs understand my attitude because they can sense my age. Since I moved to Brooklyn, I’m allowed to roam freely in the open grounds of my nearby park in the early mornings. But, aside from the fetch sessions, I generally mill about sniffing the ground and munching on sticks.

It’s an easy and low-stress life I live now. I hope that, in the coming years, you take full advantage of all your enthusiasms and interests, and live your life to the fullest as I believe I have.

Cheers to the next decade,

Barney

4 notes

Evidence of the Puppy Pagentry on the Internet

Dear Baxter,

I’m so glad you were amused by my Halloween costume this year. As one can judge by the official PUPkin Halloween photos, I clearly was not.  As I ascended that stage and my costume name “Presidential Candidate Rick Puppy” was announced, my neighborhood, while technically diverse, showed no support for my outfit and literally responded with audible “boos” and hisses. It was mortifying. Caroline tried to explain the “joke” she was making, but I don’t think the standing-room-only crowd was able to get the subtle intricacies of the outfit from that far away, nor were they probably familiar with the headline making story of a few months back. Needless to say, I was rather grumpy by the time they took my photo.

But feel free to peruse the Flickr stream of the other non-controversial outfits of this annual event.

With a paper bag and paws over my eyes,

Barney

Filed under No really- we're not Republicans

3 notes

Dear Baxter,

First it was postponed; then it was cancelled; then it was back on, but at a different location, and in all it was madness. There were dogs everywhere on the block and the crowds of dogs so thick, there was no time for too much documentation.

I was not pleased at being dressed in a costume at all, especially one that involved specific knowledge of a story in the current election cycle. Nonetheless I held out for as long as I could, which turned out to be about 25 minutes. And then I got to go home and wear nothing but my collar and feel like a real Tibetan again.

Tricks and Treats,

Barney

Filed under Full disclosure: we are not Republicans

4 notes

Dear Baxter, Gloriously, it is snowing for the first time this season. This not only means there will be snowrolls in my immediate future, but that the humiliation that I was to suffer at the hands of my parents this morning has been postponed. Unfortunately for me, its rain date is tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted with an update on the puppy pageantry to come. Tiaras and tennis balls, Barney

Dear Baxter,

Gloriously, it is snowing for the first time this season. This not only means there will be snowrolls in my immediate future, but that the humiliation that I was to suffer at the hands of my parents this morning has been postponed. Unfortunately for me, its rain date is tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted with an update on the puppy pageantry to come.

Tiaras and tennis balls,
Barney

6 notes

Dear Baxter,

If you’re as much of a fan of eating wild greens as I am, you’ll be jealous to know that the grass at my local park is now at its peak height for casual munching.

Think global, eat local,

Barney