Oh, this Snow! Mom's doing pet portraits and I'm stuck inside!

I love cold weather, never wear a coat and won't.  (I do wear my Chimney Inspector hat..on Santa Patrol).  But this much snow spooked me.  It came up way over my belly!  I wouldn't even help Dad shovel, which I usually supervise when it snows.  Instead, I laid on the couch looking really disturbed and upset...this was NOT regular!!  Luckily, even though we got almost two paws of snow (I mean, feet), humans made paths for us dogs so we could walk.  They used shovels and snow throwing machines that were loud like vacuum cleaners.  But they were good, I now have a maze out my backdoor to my driveway and then to the sidewalk, so I could take Mom out for her daily walk. 

Today, a great thing happened, my friend Chloe, who is a chocolate lab, came for a visit to her Grandma Pat's next door (tip...if you're in the neighborhood, Pat gives out biscuits if you sit by her door long enough).  And I just couldn't help but follow Chloe right into the snow to play.  We ran and jumped til I ran out of breath.  Chloe is a lot younger than me, so she can run longer than me, but not faster!

Anyway, Chloe and I decided we could be outside in this all day, but since we have a weird backyard that can't be fenced because of the driveway, Mom has to supervise us to make sure we don't go on our own walk without her.  And she usually likes to do this but she said, "Otto I have one more portrait of a yorkshire terrier to finish and I have to finish it today"..so that means I only get to go out on her 'breaks'.

No fair!  Just when I decided I liked being in the snow after all!

I'm lucky to get a walk...while mom does portraits of OTHER pets!

Yep, I remember this...she's in what she calls "the home stretch" doing pet portraits of OTHER people's pets, like this one. While I try and get her attention...strutting around with my ball and an enticing look in my eye...she just keeps saying, "later Otto I have to get this done".

I'm lucky she walks me. I thinks it's because she also has baked Christmas cookies. Otherwise, it's just watching her work. She says later...we'll see...

Mom's Pet and Children's Portraits - In the Philadelphia Suburbs!

Did you know this? Mom and I work on pet portraits and childrens portraits from our studio outside of Philadelphia! Actually, she works, and I supervise.

I get her out for a long walk every morning. AND I make sure we play ball outside in the sunshine in the afternoons. And I get to snuggle next to her when she draws on the couch, and on nice days we sit outside on the porch while she works on her pet or childrens portraits! I love having my mom home.

When she worked somewhere called an office, she would tell me most days, "Otto, I have to go to work, I'll be back tonight. Be a good boy". What boring days those were! And on weekends, she'd say "Otto, today is a Mommy & Otto day!" Those were the fun days.

Now, we have Mommy and Otto days every day. We both hope it keeps up!

Thanksgiving from a Dog's point of view!

The humans were all busy the past half week for "thanksgiving weekend", saying it was their "favorite holiday". For me? half and half.

The good half: My human brothers came home on Wednesday! So that means I got to go to the park a bunch of times..and for a car rides back and forth! They are so much more fun than when Mom walks with me. They throw sticks really far. The water in the creek was a little cold, but I didn't mind running through the shallow parts to get a stick.

I got to sleep with my human brother. (Don't tell, but I love him even more than mom....)

And DAD has been home for 4 days straight! No "work". (I hate work. Mom used to have to go there, too, before she started doing her dog art fulltime)...it's lonely when they go to work. Dad always has a milkbone in his pocket for me to steal!

I got to eat some turkey. Mom brought a care package home from "thanksgiving dinner" mmmmm....

Bad news: They left me alone ALL DAY on Thursday, and seemed happy about it. They came home and talked about how much fun they had with the family. Now I ask you...if family doesn't include me...how can it be fun. It was DARK by the time they finally got home with my turkey meal.

Mom used that vacuum cleaner a lot. She says I brought in a lot of dirt on my paws...I sorry! I hate that thing. It scoops up things and I am worried it's going to scoop up my toys!! And dad's socks, which are toys, too, right, doggy friends?

And now it's Sunday and human brothers went away to do whatever they do. Mom says we're going to spend the day outdoors today because it's sunny and warm and "we have a lot to do out there". Which is fun...but I also like to snuggle next to mom while she draws, but not today!

So I am glad that Thanksgiving means I see lots of the humans I love the most but that Thursday stunk. Oh well....now they're talking about Christmas..and I know for a fact they are always home with me on that day.

And I'll get to wear my "Chimney Inspector" hat again...

Old Dog - New Trick

Want to know how I'm doing on my new trick? Mom expects me to tap on the floor 3 times when she says "Count to three". And that's the only way she'll give me a bisquie. (Yes, fellow doggies, I did try to get them without having to remember this trick).

After this weekend, I can remember to sit and to lift my right paw and put it back down once. So I have half the trick down, only have to remember to tap the floor 2 more times.

Dad said instead of saying "Count to Three", she should say "What's the square root of 9?". But since Dad does math all day and Mom does her dog art all day, she says she doesn't really remember what square roots are and they give her the shivers to even think about them. So she's sticking to the "Count to three". That's okay with me! Just so I get my bisquies when I want them.

What are you doing today dog friends? Are your humans teaching you a new trick? Otto the Good Boy

My New Trick

I eat mostly what Mom and Dad eat. Even vegetables! I love potatoes and carrots, especially. But in between, I really love my milkbones.

I have to remind Mom to get them for me. She's always working on her pet portraits and forgets that I like to snack. I'm nice and slim so it's not like I snack too much!

So to remind her, I started training her. I scratch on the refrigerator. My snackies are on top of it. Every time I do it, she says "Otto, stop that", and THEN I KNOW I'll get a treat.

But yesterday she said to me, "Otto, you're a shady guy. You've got me trained! Now we're going to learn a new trick, you have to earn your treats!"

So before she gives me a "Bisquie", I have to sit and tap my right paw 3 times. At least, that's what Mom is making me do! She askes me if I want a Bisquie and then she says, "Sit". And grabs my leg and taps in on the floor and says "One, two three, Bisquie!" and then I get it. This morning, when she asked me, I sat down and lifted my paw. It's a little confusing because I also like to shake hands and "high five". But mom thinks I can learn it. What do you think? Otto the Good Boy

I get to write again....sorry it's been so long...

Since I wrote last, a lot has happened. My human brothers are not around much anymore...what IS "work"? I hate that work thing. My dad has to go to that thing too.

But something happened to mom and she's with me almost every day, all day now! Every morning she tells me what she used to say on weekends: "It's a Mommy & Otto day today!" She doesn't put on funny clothes and funny shoes and go to that "work" thing anymore.

She's busy, though. After we walk around our neighborhood and she cleans our house and uses that vacuum thing that wants to suck up my toys and tennis balls, she does her Art.

Sometimes that means she goes into the studio and paints. But other times she sits on the couch with me and does what she calls "Pet Portraits. She gets all excited when someone wants one of those.

Sometimes she works on a Childrens portrait.

Sometimes she works on HER blog about art and animals And she "tweets" to other people and even to dogs, cats and horses!

Whatever she's doing, it means I get to sit right next to her. And every time I get up, I tell her I want to go outside and make sure no squirrels are coming too close to our house. And I love her being here and so does she!

So today I told her I wanted to share my good news with everyone out there! Your friend, Otto the Good Boy