Vern Turns Three Today! Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I never had a son, only daughters.  I have only had female dogs.  I had it in my head that male dogs mark everything and like to hump.  I know females are not immune to humping because our Lab, Hershey, would find the nearest available pillow whenever the song Macarena came on the radio.  I just figured she had weird taste in music.  When I was searching for dogs, I had more than one breeder tell me they preferred the males.  I didn’t listen and got Fudge.  When we went to get our second dog, our trainer told us to go with the opposite sex and I listened.  Vern is our first male dog.  I always worry people will misconstrue what I am trying to say and think I don’t love Fudge as much as Vern, but if we ever get another dog, it will be a male.  Maybe it has nothing to do with the sex at all, but Vern’s personality makes me want to love him at every opportunity and mother his fears away. I try not to baby him, but I do tell him constantly he is the bravest dog of all.  He isn’t brave at all when it comes to a lot of things, but I have no doubt if push came to shove he would find the strength to protect us and be brave for us. 

 

As much as I love Vern, if I could change one thing about him, it would be his sleeping patterns.  I have written about it many times and have come to the conclusion that it is another part of Vern that we can’t change.  Sometimes, I think he just likes checking up on us to make sure we are staying put and other nights I swear he is payback for any sleepless nights I caused my parents. He also isn’t terribly loyal when certain people show up at the house.  As soon as he sees the dog sitter, he stands by the front door and sucks the air from around the door frame to try and get her to open the door faster and get him the heck out of there.  When my daughter wakes up and comes upstairs, he practically knocks me over to get to her and wouldn’t come to me if I were wearing Lady Gaga’s meat dress.  Well, maybe, but I am not prepared to test that theory.

Vern turns three today. Since I have almost gotten all the Christmas crap decorations put away, I promised Vern we would let the rest slide until Friday.  Instead we plan on going for a couple of walks, allowing unlimited rolls in the grass, and celebrating tonight with a baked sweet potato.  I learned with my daughters to keep birthdays to a minimum from here on out or I will have Vern knocking us over on his way to beat us to the mailbox to check for birthday cards and announcing one day is not enough to celebrate his birthday and a week would be even better.  See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Vern, we love you. You make our life better every single day!! Happy Birthday!

[Leslie and Halas]

Happy Birthday, Vern!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Leslie. My trainer wants to know what Pee-ups and Fartleks are??

[Leslie and Halas]

Pee-ups is a word I made up, so they're nothing.  But fartleks are real things.  It's kind of like interval training, but why say "interval training" when you can say "fartlek?"

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL...I told him it was real exercises. You tricked me :) I will tell him I was had by a cut-up...LOL!

[F, Calla & Luca]

But your use of Fartlek is spot on. Interval training is so dull comparatively.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I will add that to my conversation with my trainer, although I will wait to add the dull part until AFTER the session is over :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good thinking.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Andrea!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Happy Birthday Big Guy!! Roll away to your hearts content! Dance up a storm at the front door and sleep ANYWHERE you want:) Celebrate your wonderful family while we celebrate the many hours of entertainment you've given all of us in your 3 short years. It's your day! Here's a BIG birthday kiss and a tail wag xo Cheryl & Finnegan

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Cheryl, Thank you! He has rolled and walked today. Sweet potato cooling now. Vern is pretty easy to please.

[Suzanne & Jack]

Happy Birthday, Vern.  May you have many more.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Suzanne and Jack!