Meet Larry, our Newest Methow Dog

Hi. I'm Larry. I spent three years with my first Dad. Then he got a job overseas and couldn't take me with him, so he had to find another home for me. One day last December he took me to a house where there were two other greyhounds. After a few minutes of sniffing each other we decided that we all really liked one another. The humans were pretty nice too. In fact, I've grown quite fond of both of them in the short time I've been in my new home. Aurelia and Ducati and my new humans make me feel very loved, which is important because we greyhounds don't always feel a lot of love during our racing careers.

I've been hearing talk that very soon I'll have my own Methow Dog Healthy Treat named after me. OK, full disclosure, I've been beta testing a yummy new treat that will bear my name. Look for it later this year.

I've only been to the Methow Valley once - for the Doggie Dash last February..  All of us Methow Dogs are looking forward to our first Spring trip next weekend and camping with our humans in the nylon cave.

Val and Larry checked out proofs of new web photos at Hybrid 3 Design: http://www.hybrid3.com Michael loves dogs and took some really nice pics of Larry...even though he turned out to be rather camera shy, despite his supermodel looks.

Join Methow Dog and other local Queen Anne businesses for an afternoon of champagne, shopping and holiday cheer today from 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Edmonds Waterfront Festival

Methow Dog Does the Edmonds Waterfront Festival on a gorgeous Spring afternoon.

Many thanks to Craig, Wendy and Kate at Smiley Dog for letting us share your booth.

                                  Val getting set up

                   Eva LOVES Methow Dog Treats  

                       Kate from Smiley Dog  

Ducati Meets His Namesake

I know we usually blog about stuff we do in the Methow, but I just had to slip in these pics of me and Dad and this cool Ducati motorcycle.

Here's Dad leaving for work. He sure can go fast on that Ducati.  I used to go fast too.

Our Weekend in Winthrop

We made a quick trip out to the Methow Valley last week to visit our friends.  It was the weekend of the MVSTA's Sunflower Run. But we did not feel the need for speed. 

The humans were all excited about the race, and these things made out of slippery sticks that the humans use to slide down snowy hills. They're apparently not any good for that anymore, so now you're supposed to just sit on them, but they don't look very comfortable to us.

We're in Business!

Mom and Dad say that just because they're selling our treats, OURS! mind you, we are all in business together.  Really?  No one asked me!  And Aurelia and I don't even have a job description.   Well that's fine with me since I've been unemployed since I don't know when.  I was at the track for racing but I haven't raced for a long time.   If being in business means more treats for me and my sister, Aurelia, so much the better.  Dad changed the rest of the web site to tell people how yummy our treats are and how healthy they are for other dogs besides us greyhounds.  We don't mind sharing just as long as we don't run out here at home.   

I could have won the Doggie Dash...if the track was 600M shorter and I was 8 years younger

		I think I’m finally recovered enough to tell the story.  We were out to the Methow again.  In the snow.  Lots of snow.  We knew something was going on when Dad started to load the car with our kennels and then we rode in the back of the car for hours before stopping at a place with lots of yummy human treats called the Anjou Bakery on Highway 2 near Wenatchee.  We had our own treats but more about that later.   We rode some more and then when we stopped and got out we were back in the Methow valley.  It’s so good to be back!
There was snow everywhere.  Even in the air.  We stayed at our friend’s house where they have two puppies, Skyy and Little Miss Sunshine.   Well, they’re big puppies and just about a year old, but still puppies.   They haven’t been around senior dogs like us because they hadn't’t learned that we don’t like to play for very long.   Ducati snapped a few times and growled at Skyy.   I didn't’t know he could do that!  I usually growl at him when he tries to get on the dog bed with me. But I understand cause that’s what happened to Ducati.   One morning after our breakfast (Ducati wasn't’t eating much; he likes to stage a hunger strike whenever we travel) we got loaded into the car and drove to the Winthrop town trail head.   It’s a place for all sorts of silly human games and activities.   The people strap on slippery sticks to their two feet (it still puzzles me why they don’t have four feet like us) and run and slide along a trail.  They call it cross country skiing.  Isn’t that a silly concept!   That morning all sorts of skiers started to show up in silly costumes and with lots and lots of other dogs.  Big dogs, small dogs, purebreds (like we are) and mixes.  People sometimes say “mutts”, but I don’t think of them that way.   They’re just a mix of different kinds of breeds.  They were all just gathered there for the 5th Annual Methow Valley Nordic Club, Doggie Dash.

It’s a race and costume contest with a dog and their human.   We met so many good, friendly dogs there.   We wore our heavy coats because it was very cold, only 15 F.  Brrrrr!   Some of the dogs wore costumes that helped keep them warm. Some just didn't’t seem to notice the cold with all their fur.  Lucky dogs!   (Is that where that expression comes from?)  Everyone had a lot of fun.  Even the humans that fell on the cold snow.   We stayed and watched and didn't’t race.  We’re retired you know.   I’ve done plenty of racing in my day and even though some of these dogs were fast I don’t think any of them were as fast as we could be.   We gave away lots of treats to people and dogs.  We now have our own treats!  Go back to the home page of Methowdog.com and see. Then be sure to head to the Friends page on our web site for more photos from the Doggie Dash.
We stayed another night with the puppies and then went to stay at a cabin at the Freestone Inn near Mazama.   That’s mu-zam-ah!  Rhymes with Alabama, not Obama.  Turns out our mom and dad had been saying it wrong all along.  Now they know how to say it correctly.   We were in a cabin there where we all stayed a long time ago.  We hear that the Inn is closing and that makes us really sad.  They’re dog friendly there and even the housekeeping staff was very nice to us.    We hope we can visit there again this spring or summer, but it will be warmer then so we can sleep in our meadow in the tent.  
Dad promised us we’d go back before all the snow is gone but I think that could be a really long time from now.  There was almost four feet of snow on our meadow.  I could leap up on top of that easy but my skinny little feet and legs make me plunge right through up to my hocks.   Ouch!   Oh well, I never was much of a snow-dog, but I guess that’s part of being a Methow Dog!   ‘til next time.  Woof!     Aurelia  
Posted by greyhoundogs at 3/2/2008 4:46 PM

New Year, New Beds

It's this thing called Christmas when the parents get presents, but what about us? It's not that we're griping... We get yummy kibble everyday, but we haven't had anything special for a while.  Well, that all changed today as Mom and Dad got us new beds to sleep in. And that's important; we greyhounds sleep a lot!
		The new beds are really comfy and they came from a long way away.  Some place called Canada. I wonder it they have greyhounds there too?  They must, and they have to be as spoiled as we are. Our new beds are from a company called Bowsers and those people must really love dogs to make such a wonderful thing too curl up in. The bottom pad comes out and the edge is a huge roll that Aurelia and I can lay our chins on. We can also hide below the roll so we can't see anything. As any dog knows, if I can't see you, you can't see me, then I feel all safe and secure.
Dad says the beds have that "new car smell" but his nose doesn't work as well as mine, so I don't mind him being wrong.   It does smell nice and new.  Full disclosure: We were tipped-off that something was up when we visited out good friend Nicole at Mes Amis here on Queen Anne in Seattle.  She let us lounge around on a bunch of different beds, in different sizes, right in the store.

I'm really happy to upgrade to the new bed.  It has more padding under me than before, and that feels nice on my sharp hips and elbows. Mom and Dad must really love us to get us such nice beds. That's greyt 'cause we love them right back for making us comfortable.

...Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for a nap.
Posted by greyhoundogs at 1/17/2008 5:29 PM

Metrodogs

Hi Everyone.   We may be Methowdogs but last Friday night we definitely got to be Metrodogs.  Dad loaded us into the car and we drove downtown to a fancy place they call a "hotel".  Its a big kennel for people but there's lots more to do there and lots more people too.  This hotel is called the "W" cause its part of the Westin chain.  Let me tell you this is where all people with dogs should stay cause its completely dog friendly.   After mom and dad found some parking close to the new Seattle Library we took pee break on the bunch grass there.  We walked right into the lobby.  That's the best place in this hotel because they have couches and soft rugs to lie on.  And lots of people to meet!
		We've been here once before with mom and dad when we met up with our greyhound buddies, Grace and Fenway and their mom Lauren.    This time we met a new dog friend who is a very unusual breed.   Our new friend, Cali, is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and she's a beautiful red color with some white on her face.   She came along with her humans, Sarah and Elaine.
		Cali is less than two years old and for such a young pup she was very brave with all the people and noises.   We also met some people who don't have any kind of dogs, Brian and Gen.    They liked all of us, Cali too, and didn't seem to mind our needle noses.   Say what you will about our needle noses but it makes it easy to drink out of those fancy glasses. Dad got some ice water for us and Aurelia had a big drink without spilling much on the rug.   Everyone had drinking glasses but I learned they weren't all water.
		There are drinks called Cosmos and Martinis in some of the glasses and when mom wasn't looking Aurelia tasted the Martini sitting on the low table in front of me.   I'm not sure about that martini thing.   Aurelia said, "it tasted unusual, but let's just say I didn't dislike it and would probably try it again if I get the chance".   I heard dad say something about "never again" so she'll have to be even more sneaky about it next time, if there is a next time.
		The humans talked and talked and we got bored so Aurelia introduced herself to several other strangers there who said their dogs were at home in cities far away.   It's greyt to make people smile just by being a dog.  One lady said she has her own greyhound and missed him terribly.  I guess she came from too far away to drive with him.  I got so bored and the couches looked so comfy I jumped up with the friend named Gen.   She was wearing black so I thought I could improve her look by getting some of my light colored fur on it.   This "W" place is a greyt place cause no one asked me to "get off the couch", which is what I thought I would be told.

We greyhounds are not hyper like most people think we are.   We're couch potatoes, but can run faster than any other dog. 
Mom says we'll come down here again.  Oh boy, I cant wait.  Everyone had such a good time.  Like I said at the start, we may be Methowdogs but the metropolitan life is greyt too!  Woof!  
Bye for now, 
Ducati
Posted by greyhoundogs at 8/8/2007 4:21 PM

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, my sister Aurelia and I spent the weekend in that place they call "The Meadow."   The grass was a little taller but not tall enough to hide in.   It sure was tasty though.  I ate a lot of it.  Aurelia ate so much she got sick.  Oh well, too much of a good thing I guess.   We spent the nights in the big nylon cave that my parents put up in "The Meadow" and during the days we just lay out on our pads.    The very first night we got there, Dad nailed a lot of fresh wood together into a picnic table.   Humans look so silly when they sit.  Why don't they just lie on the ground like us?  But, oh boy, they made some really good food that night.  It was meat!  From a cow!  And they didn't even share a bite with us.  Oh well, I guess they did go out and get it themselves.  We got to spend some time walking around to each end "The Meadow" and they put up some boxes on the fence posts for those silly bird things.   Well, if any color bird besides blue, winds up in those, I know they'll be disappointed.  We got to see some new people too.   I hope we get to go out there to the meadow again soon.   But boy, it's a lot warmer than last time and I bet it will be warmer still the next.   Aurelia says that we're not going to need our fleece jackets next time, but we'll see.    I just want to go back and sleep in the nylon cave again.   I just love snuggling up with my humans, they're so warm and soft.  No wonder I love them.  
Posted by greyhoundogs at 6/4/2007 8:43 PM


Bonus Wagging Rights Today

Hi! There's a whole lot of tail-wagging going on around here today.  First off, we have this greyt new space to dish on all things dog.   Also, we are only one week away from a loooong four-day weekend in the Methow.  That's right.  Four glorious days in the sunshine, and all the interesting smells and sights we don't get to sniff and see in they city.  Best of all, we get to spend four nights in the big nylon cave with Mom and Dad.  That's just the best ever.  We all pile in at night as one happy pack and snuggle in closer and closer as it cools off.  Quite different from our sleeping arrangements at home.  So you can see why we're so excited.
Posted by greyhoundogs at 5/17/2007 10:26 AM