Fooey Say...

Goodbye my Sensei

2011-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

My Dear Sensei,

I am so brokenhearted that I had to say Goodbye to you today. What a sweet angel you were, my boy. I am so lucky and grateful to have had you in my life. You truly were my Sensei, an amazing teacher. Thank you for making me take my training to the next level by demanding that I communicate clearly and respectfully with patience and understanding. I am so sad you are gone but so grateful that you were able to leave this world with dignity and comfort, in my arms while I kissed your head.

With all my love,

Your Student

Rescues, ruptured discs and haircuts

2011-04-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my student organized an Easter Egg Hunt to benefit One Pup at a Time rescue dogs. The hunt involved dogs hunting for plastic eggs full of treats. I am sure it was fun for them, but thankfully, Sensei wasn't subjected to it. With all due respect, I am simply not made for "sniffing". I am also not particularly interested in playing games when it comes to my food.

That being said, it was successful. Lilith Anne, the lovely, older Dachshund that spent a week with us, was adopted. Wonderful for her! Razzie, the wire was also adopted and went to her new home yesterday. It was bittersweet. We are happy for her to go to her new forever home, a on 30 acres with chickens horses and a barn, it sounds lovely. On the other hand, we quite liked having her here as well.

The wasn't the only thing that happened yesterday. Poor, dear Winnie began walking funny and with those, long, low Dachshunds, we know what that means. She has a mild disc rupture. She will probably be okay but will need to be on medication and crate rest for 6 to 8 weeks. We have been through this before and always came through successfully, so we are hopeful that Winnie will come through fine. Still, it hurts Sensei's heart to see her this way.

I saved the worst for last. Yesterday, my student clipped off all of my beautiful coat, save a few longer hairs on my tail and head! Something about allergies and skin and needing to grow it out all over again. I was further humiliated by being forced to endure a bath today. I do, however, feel quite nice with both the haircut and the bath, but I will never let her know that. So say Sensei...

Spring; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2011-04-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

The Good
The lovely flowers. Sensei's favorite part about Spring is the colorful, cheerful, wondrous flowers. Soon my students will go flower shopping and will refill all the pots and containers with flowers and plants!

And, the weather! Welcome back to the sunshine! Warm sun, but still crisp and cool out. That is indeed the good.

The Bad
The unpredictable weather. Sensei prefers to plan his days ahead and I dread not knowing whether tomorrow will bring sun or rain. I like cool, I do not fancy wet. Definitely, the bad.

The Ugly
The dreaded allergies, just as they always do have come roaring back for Spring. My student is feeding me not one, but two pink pills a day to help control my hay fever. I quite like that they are delivered in delicious sausage slices, but even those don't make the allergies worth it. Undeniably, the ugly.

So say Sensei

Pearls of Wisdom

2011-03-11T09:13:00.001-08:00

"Cleverness is not wisdom."
~Euripides

Another Holiday

2011-03-11T07:36:00.001-08:00

My students are packing, which means they are going on holiday, which means my lovely Michelle will come, which means the dreadful pug will accompany her. You must accept the good with the bad I suppose. And now, she has adopted a handicapped puppy with no front legs. One would think Cheerio, as he is called, would annoy Sensei, strangely, he didn't and I am quite taken with him. He is a good little lad and I shall enjoy my time with him this weekend. She will bring Cupcake, the old pug as well. I mind her not. She is easy to live with. It should be an enjoyable weekend, minus the donut....

Rumble Grumble

2011-02-17T17:27:00.000-08:00

Last night my students, the others and I were relaxing and enjoying some television together. All of the sudden, there were flashes of light and then the most earth shattering, rumbles and grumbles of noise! It was horrible! Sensei is courageous and brave, but I must admit, I was afraid. I ran screaming to my student and demanded to be picked up. She picked me up immediately and found I was shaking. I was so afraid I cried out and she held and rocked me. She explained that it was okay, only thunder and that she was there. There were no more rumbles after that and she held me until I calmed down. Quite a scare. I do not wish to experience a Thunderstorm again.

A Travesty

2011-02-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of dog shows or of beauty contests in general. One should not be judged on their looks alone, but should be judged on who they are inside. Take dog shows, your honorable Sensei is not viewed as "show quality" and so, is not welcome to compete in a dog show, yet I possess more wisdom and charisma than a thousand "show quality" Pekingese. Not that I am one to brag, but it's quite true. But, I digress.....

While I am not a fan, I do occasionally fancy watching a dog show on television now and again. I made the mistake of spending the last evening watching the Westminster Kennel Club show. At first, when the Pekingese Malachy won the Toy Group I was quite pleased and thought that I might actually enjoy this, until he was robbed of the Best in Show award! It was a travesty, clearly he was the best dog there, he is, of course, a Pekingese. So say Sensei.

Close Call

2011-02-13T14:36:00.000-08:00

She trapped and bathed four of the others today. Sensei only narrowly avoided being number five! So say Sensei!

Pearls of Wisdom

2011-01-26T09:20:00.000-08:00

"Breed not a savage dog, nor permit a loose stairway."
- Talmud

Shoes of the Lion

2011-01-25T15:53:00.001-08:00

My student considered purchasing some Pekingese shoes she found. Unfortunately, they most insultingly did not have them available in black and tan. The nerve. So say Sensei.

Under the Weather

2011-01-25T15:51:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since Sensei has written. I do apologize, I have been busy as of late. The fact is I was feeling quite ill for a few days which was just dreadful. As my student was leaving town last week to attend Clicker Expo, a large and exhausting conference she realized that I wasn't feeling well. I had a horrible stomach ache and couldn't eat for days. I thought for a moment that she wouldn't leave Sensei, but I let her know it was best that she go. That left my other student to care for Sensei. He is not nearly as diligent or thoughtful as she is. He always believes she "overreacts" when Sensei or one of the others is not feeling well. There is no overreacting when it comes to Sensei's health and well being!! Can you imagine? I suppose I should mention that in an attempt to make me "feel better" and "clean me up", he gave me a bath, unfortunately, he does not realize that Sensei absolutely abhors baths. In the end he did schedule me an appointment to see the most wise Dr. George, however, I improved greatly prior to the appointment, thus, I did not have to be seen. It was a most awful few days though, I was quite under the weather. I wonder why they refer to being ill as "under the weather". Sometimes, on crisp, cool, sunny days it is quite nice to be "under the weather". Perhaps they are referring to the rainy, blustery days when being "under the weather" might not be as pleasant....

The Matriarch

2010-12-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Ivy is the Matriarch of Braveheart. Warm and caring to all puppies and new students, but tough as nails when she has to be. She is a dear friend of mine and I have great respect for her. So, it is my pleasure to be able to congratulate her on newly attained Field Championship at the grand age of 13 years old! Last weekend, Ivy, Grand Lady Red, went out into the field to track rabbits with dogs 1/2 her age and younger. We always knew she could do it, it wasn't a matter of whether or not she "could" it was a matter of whether or not she felt like. You see, Ivy doesn't always feel like hunting and when she doesn't feel like doing it, well, then she's just not going to do it. Last weekend, however, she felt like it. She won her third first placement (only one is required for her championship) and best of winners. She narrowly lost Absolute but an amazing runs all through the day nonetheless. Congratulations my dear friend, you have made Sensei proud....

Tails and Turkey

2010-11-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

You have not heard from me lately, for I have had quite a difficult week actually. I developed quite an itch on the base of my tail. I couldn't help myself and chewed and scratched until my tail was raw. Undignified I know, but I had no choice. It was very uncomfortable. My dear student realized the problem and wrapped my tail so that I couldn't get to it to further upset it but it was too late. The following day she completely clipped and cleaned the area down and removed the scab and dried coat. She then applied a healing ointment and wrapped my tail up. In addition, I was given medication for the pain and itching. My gorgeous plume is back to it's perfect self and Sensei can get on with my life.

Thanksgiving was quite nice except for the fact that my student slipped and fell on black ice and had to be taken to the emergency room. I encouraged her to go as head injuries can be quite serious, and thankfully she complied. She was checked out and sent back home to cook us a delicious Thanksgiving turkey dinner. I was offered only the turkey and that was just fine with Sensei.

The Bed

2010-10-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

This morning Sensei was quite lonely, whining and pitifully looking for some one on one attention. My student was in bed but heard me and came to see if I was okay. Then, much to my surprise, she picked me up and carried me to bed with her! For reasons I do not know, they do not take me into bed with them. They take others, but not Sensei. It could be that they do not feel that they are worthy of sleeping beside me. Or, it could be that they are afraid I shall create rules with the others concerning the bed, either way, I have not yet been invited.....until this morning. It was quite nice! It was still dark and everyone was asleep. They have many soft covers on the bed for Sensei to roll around in. I rolled and rubbed and snuggled into them. Unfortunately, I sneezed on them quite a bit as well. It was a nice morning indeed.

Dalai Lama

2010-10-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

She went! My student went and saw the Dalai Lama speak, without Sensei much to my dismay. She reported that the experience was overwhelming and profound. The message was that kindness and compassion for others makes us healthier, stronger and more happy. Do what you can, no matter how small it seems. Every little bit matters. Money and possesions don't make us happy or content, that comes from peace within. Powerful stuff. So say Sensei....

Clean

2010-10-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

She gave me a bath. Dreadful. There is nothing I hate more. As usual the towel drying felt quite good, and it is a warm day. Perhaps not so bad. She said I have to be prepared to accompany her to a lecture she is giving tomorrow. I wonder why Sensei is being dragged to her lecture instead of the Dalai Lama talk on Thursday that I really want to attend. But, I digress....

His Holiness....

2010-09-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

My student will be attending a public talk of the Dalai Lama. As you may have noticed from Sensei's Pearls of Wisdom, I am quite a fan of His Holiness. I am a bit hurt that I was not invited to attend with my student and her friends. I am sure that no other Pekingese has spread the word of the Dalai Lama as much as Sensei. I am sure His Holiness would be happy to have Sensei in attendance, but alas, it is not meant to be. So, I will not attend, but Sensei shall be there in spirit....

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-09-10T07:01:00.001-07:00

"The kind of behavior that really is spiritual practice consists of refraining from falsehood and abiding by the truth, neither humiliating nor mocking others, being humble, and having a good heart and helping others."
~Dalai Lama

A Basset? Seriously?

2010-09-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Wait until you hear what she has done now. My adoring student can make some downright stupid decisions for such an intelligent human. This time her heart has completely disregarded her head when she brought home a 3 1/2 month old puppy. A Basset Hound mix puppy no less! The animal in question is Jenny, a young puppy who has had a rough start in life. Her mother, a purebred Basset Hound wandered into someone's yard and gave birth to a litter of puppies. Two days later she and her littermates were taken to the local animal shelter. Shortly after that they went to their first foster home. Jenny's mother was not particularly interested in her puppies or caring for them which was too much for the foster home so off they went to their second foster home where they were to stay until they were old enough to go to suitable permanent homes. This poor pup had a pretty rough start, but was so desirable looking that she was quickly chosen by a family looking for their first dog. Despite the fact that Jenny was cowering and afraid, they chose her. By the second day after she had began growling at the family and friends and had a frightening episode at the vet they realized that she wasn't the puppy for them. Enter my student.... She was contacted to evaluate the puppy and Jenny came here and is here to stay, at least for a while. She is doing much better, but it still a very fragile and fearful little thing. Sensei is trying to be patient and compassionate, but puppies...ggrrrrrrrrr. She has a lot to learn about Sensei's space and boundaries! That will come with time and lessons from Sensei I suppose.

Lionlike

2010-07-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

If you school yourself on the topic, which all of you should by the way, you will find that in China, the Lion is a symbol of greatness. 2000 years ago, the people of China had never seen a Lion, only heard about them from travelers. Through these reports and through their own experience seeing wolves, they began to depict the lion in what became known as Fu Lions which is basically a creature with both dog and lion features. The Fu Lion became a symbol for pride, strength and prosperity and statues of Fu Lions could be found outside of palaces, temples and tombs. It became realized that they could create dogs that looked like lions as well, so became the Fu Dog, the first Pekingese also called "little lion dogs of Peking". Pekingese were owned only by the wealthy and royalty. It was very prestigious to live with a Pekingese, or lion dog.

So, when my student decided to trim my gorgeous coat into a lion clip I wasn't at all offended. For I understand that she only wanted to help me to remember my ancestors and to remind people of what Sensei is, a little lion dog of Peking who represents strength, pride and prosperity.

Caliente

2010-06-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

In general, Sensei tries not to "hate" it's bad Karma. That being said, I can't think of a word that better describes my feeling for the current weather conditions, hot hot hot! The dreaded heat. Too hot even to go out for a toilet break or to enjoy some fresh air. Too hot for Sensei indeed. I shall patiently wait for Fall to arrive which I will welcome with open paws.....

Farewell, my sweet Pearl

2010-06-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Pearl was adopted today. The poor old soul was dropped off at the animal shelter in a cardboard box, completely matted and unhealthy two months ago. Since coming her (via Muttville) she was groomed, spayed, had a dental and was put on medication to help her eyes and ears. Now, Pearl looks and feels wonderful, so much so that today she found her forever home and for that, Sensei is grateful.

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

Today is Memorial Day. I am grateful for my freedom and to those who have fought for it. Today Sensei will relax with my family, perhaps lie in the sun for a bit and enjoy some barbecue later on. I'm quite looking forward to it actually.

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-05-12T13:44:00.001-07:00

"I am not responsible for the behavior of others. They are responsible for their actions, words and belief systems."

~Lisa Clifton Bumpass

Photography

2010-05-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

I was photographed yesterday. I deplore being posed for photographs and believe me she does it quite often. As if the photo shoot wasn't enough I had to endure a horrendous car ride nearly 2 hours away for the "perfect location". It ended up raining, my student got us lost, it made for an awful morning. Oh, and to make matters so much worse, she groomed me prior to the shoot. I am sure the photographs will be stunning as I am quite photogenic, but really, I could have done without the rest.....

Pearl

2010-05-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

We have a new rescue dog here. After making the decision to take some time from doing rescue, my student has already caved and brought home another poor soul looking for a home. How can I complain, her story is so heartbreaking that even I couldn't have turned her away.

Pearl is probably 10 years old at least. She was left outside the animal shelter in the middle of the night in a cardboard box. Her coat was matted and filthy. She has obviously had many litters of puppies. Imagine using her that way and then simply throwing her away as if she were garbage. Heinous. Oh, and did I mention? She is a Pekingese.

My student went to Muttville, who rescues and rehomes senior dogs to pick up a foster to bring home. Pearl had just arrived that morning. Of course, she took one look at her and brought her home. She will go in next week to have a full vet check up and if she is healthy enough, she will be spayed.

It can be difficult having an extra body in the house, but who could turn away such a pitiful little dog? A Peke no less. Imagine treating any living thing like that. So, Pearl shall stay here with us until the perfect forever home comes along that can take care of her for the rest of her life like she deserves.

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-05-07T19:09:00.001-07:00

"If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends - you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue."

~Alice Duer Miller

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-05-05T17:48:00.001-07:00

"It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them."

~Dalai Lama

Champions

2010-05-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Carrot completed her championship today. I am glad for her, however, I am opposed to dog shows and beauty contests in general. I don't believe a dog should be judged on his looks alone, but rather his character, heart and loyalty. A good dog can be homely and a bad dog can be striking. It is what is inside the dog that truly matters. Who he is and what he stands for, not simply how he looks.

Sensei for instance would not be permitted to enter a dog show. For I do not "conform" to their blueprint of what a Pekingese should look like. However, no dog possesses more of what a Peke is meant to be or stands for than Sensei. You may show me a "prettier" dog but you will not show me a Peke stronger in character, heart or loyalty than Sensei. True beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-04-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

"Unbidden guests are often welcomest when they are gone.

~William Shakespeare

Flat Faced Visitors

2010-04-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

We have house guests visiting and I am not quite sure how I feel about it. MuShu, the young, wild peke who lived here for four months being schooled by Sensei is back! And, he is not alone..... oh dear. He brought his housemate with him! They will be here for a full week while their human is in Miami.

To be honest, I have always been fond of MuShu. True that he is a young, foolish peke with little self control and common sense, but I still quite like him. And, he continues to improve as he grows up. I speak lower than I think of MuShu actually.

Now, Jolie, his housemate, is a lovely, mature pug. She is rather a joy to have around frankly, and Sensei doesn't say such things lightly.

My week shall be filled with lessons I am sure....

Time marches on....

2010-04-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just realized it has been quite a while since I have written. I have been quite busy. There has been much going on here with my student now offering board and train services through a kennel I have had to adjust to her being away more which I quite dislike. I prefer constant doting to her being gone for hours on end. Of course, she is rarely gone for more than a few hours and she always comes home to tend to Sensei, however, ALL of her time would be nice....

My student was also busy with some dog shows and lectures and such. I frankly don't mind that as she typically takes one of the others, or perhaps two along with her, which gives me some peace and more attention from my other student while she is away.

I haven't been bathed for a while which always makes me suspicious that she may be plotting to do it again soon. We'll have to see.

I am quite enjoying the weather when it's nice out. While not quite as nice as Fall, Spring is a close second with sunny days that are not too hot.

Well, I believe that is about it for now. I shall not wait nearly as long to post the next time....

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-03-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."
~Bruce Barton

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-03-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

~Charles Dickens

The Dickens you say!

2010-03-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

If I am not mistaken, Dickens, the foolish young Cavalier who has been visiting for a month or so, is not leaving! Has my student lost her mind? Sensei was quite happy with his family just the way it was, I do not need yet another young buffoon here to educate. Does she think I have nothing better or more important to do than school her charges?

On the other, the little dolt is quite charming in his own way. Honestly, you have never met a more respectful young man. Always groveling and begging and licking. I have even consented to play with him on several occasions. He plays quite nicely actually. Ribbon clearly adores him. Despite my not really wanting to, I actually quite like him.

Enforcement

2010-03-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

My students have decided that Sensei shall not be permitted to "snark" at the others when they annoy me. Isn't that just delightful? Can you imagine? The new "plan" is that when one of the thoughtless clods that I live with walk past me and I warn them to move away, I - me - Sensei will be escorted into the other room to sit alone. Am I at fault for wanting my own space? I'll admit that some might feel that a 3 foot radius is unreasonable, I, however find it quite acceptable given my failing eyesight and general superior existence. Perhaps they should work harder to accommodate Sensei? Perhaps they should move away at my slightest glance. Perhaps they should simply stay out of the room when I am not feeling my best. We shall see if they continue to enforce this nonsense. For getting up and removing is a quite expensive behavior physically when one would prefer to continue relaxing, we will see if they are willing to continue to remove me. I suppose if they DO stick with this new plan, Sensei may have to consider relaxing my boundaries just a bit to keep the peace. We shall see.....

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-03-05T17:11:00.001-08:00

"It is good and healthy to go on a negativity fast once in a while and clean life from selfish, unkind and disrespectful people. Just because their level is there, it does not mean that one has to stoop down to it by acknowledging, responding or allowing those individuals the privacy and serenity of your time and energy. "

~John Contoupe

Winnie

2010-03-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

As you well know, Sensei lives with many others and while I get along fine with everyone here, I am particularly quite fond of Winnie. She is nearly 10 years old and has a very big heart. She is a good friend and besides her and Ivy's distaste for one another (which I will never understand) she is a close and trusted friend to everyone here.

It was recently discovered that Winnie appeared to be urinating more often so she was taken to the hospital for a senior screen which is a package of lab tests for older dogs. It was thought that she had a bladder infection and so she was prescribed antibiotics to clear it up. After several days the antibiotics appeared not to be working and in fact her frequent urination seemed to be getting worse. Two days ago she was taken in for x-rays and many large stones were found in her bladder. Yesterday she was taken back to have a pain patch put on and today she has been taken in to have a major surgery done to remove the stones. My poor dear Winnie. She has been in pain and very uncomfortable. It's quite sad for Sensei to see such a kind and gentle soul in pain.

Sensei wishes for Winnie's surgery to go well and is sending healing thoughts to his dear friend for a safe surgery and a comfortable recovery.

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-02-26T22:28:00.001-08:00

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."

~Mohandas Gandhi

Temperament

2010-02-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

From the official Pekingese written standard regarding temperament:

A combination of regal dignity, intelligence and self-importance make for a good natured, opinionated and affectionate companion to those who have earned its respect.

That is accurate. So say Sensei....

Clean

2010-02-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

Full comb out, nail trim, feet trimmed, shampoo, condition, towel dry.......dreadful, abominable, loathesome.......

but, clean

Goodbye

2010-02-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

This morning Slater passed away. He was nearly 15 years old. He was a fine dog and a good friend.

Goodbye my friend....

Visitor

2010-02-09T07:59:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed I have been fairly quiet recently. I do apologize, but I have been quite busy and have had my hands full.

A few weeks ago my student decided to accept a "visitor". Dickens, a young Cavalier pup has been here since for training. He has been quite a lot of work for Sensei. Young and active with little self control. However, he IS black and tan, so I decided there was hope.

Actually, he has been doing quite well. Initially, he would bark a lot, which we all found quite obnoxious. Now, he is relatively quiet. He lies down and waits to be released to eat. He can leave it even when food is tossed. In fact, I quite like him now. Sensei has even been playing with him a bit. He is hardly threatening and plays really nicely, so I allow him some play with Sensei now and again which he seems to love.

Dickens will be leaving this week and his sister will be coming for 7 days. Let's hope Sensei doesn't have as much work to do with Lilah Mae....

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-01-20T13:13:00.001-08:00

"A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease. "

~John Muir

Photo Shoots

2010-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

My student has been speaking about taking Sensei on a photo shoot in the near future. It seems one of her clients has offered to photograph Sensei and possibly Chico, one of the others. I am quite dreading this event.

First, I absolutely detest car rides. I cannot imagine spending the morning driving to some distant location for this "shoot". Surely, I appear quite as striking regardless of the background so I can't see any reason for all this fuss about the location. Second, I abhor being pressured into posing for photographs. I wish not to be portrayed in an unrealistic light. I loathe posed pictures of animals and I will not agree to be photographed in this way. They must allow Sensei to be photographed naturally and comfortably. If they are willing to do this, I may allow a few candid shots. Perhaps the only positive thing is that another photo session will mean that she will have even more photographs of Sensei hanging around our home, which I quite like.

Thankfully, the photo shoot was planned for today but cancelled due to the rain. Ah, how I love Mother Nature......

Rain Rain Come Again Today

2010-01-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

Apparently, it will rain today. I hope this is true. Sensei loves the rain. It is much more desirable than the warm weather which I despise. I adore rainy days requiring me to stay inside all day making only brief visits outside. When it's raining outside it is more likely to be cold, which will be mean we will have a fire and all stay inside together. We have not had enough rain this year in my estimation. Much more rain would be very welcome. I am further pleased it's raining today as it has forced my student to cancel the dreaded photo session she was planning to drag me to today. Ha! We shall NOT be going out to take pictures today! The only downside to the rain is that it means that all the others will be inside with me all day today as well. I quite prefer when they spend more time outside while Sensei spends his time lounging inside.

Resolutions....

2010-01-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

New Years. Resolutions. Every January 1st brings the idea of New Years Resolutions when one promises to make changes or do things differently. Sensei has never bothered himself with New Years Resolutions. Not because I am being obstinate, I simply don't understand the need to wait for a certain date or time of year to make necessary changes to ones lifestyle or character. If there is something that may be done better or more effectively, why not make the change immediately? If one is behaving in a way that is detrimental, unkind, unhealthy or otherwise unproductive we should resolve to change our behavior immediately, not in one or six or twelve months from now. Every day is new, why should we wait any time at all when we can resolve to be better now? I propose that each one of us strives to make New Days Resolutions. Why not examine ourselves and see what we can do better each day? Our goals would be smaller and more attainable. We would be more successful and less overwhelmed. What can you resolve for today?

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-01-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

~Seneca

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Christmas Day

2009-12-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were delightful! On Christmas Eve my students took Bill on a long walk at Point Isabel, while Sensei, thankfully stayed at home relaxing. I do not care for long walks particularly when I could be lying around relaxing instead. When they returned we were given many gifts that included soft toys for us to play with as well as frosted gingerbred cookies that I quite liked. My students were in for most of the day cooking the prime rib dinner for them and their guest, who thankfully did not bring her dogs along. To be honest, I get along quite nicely with her dogs, but more dogs simply means more of Sensei's space being invaded which is not such a good thing.

Christmas Day was enjoyable. My students went out for the afternoon and then came home to be with Sensei and the others. My grandmother sent home a gift for me. It was a soft, plush, wonderful soccerball with a rope attached. She sent one for Bill as well. While I am sure she loves us all, Bill and I are certainly her favorites. I am personally invited to every family function at my grandmothers house, however, I have to look at all the children and other dogs attending and assess if I wish to be with them for the day. On Christmas Day we were all, as planned, fed prime rib and yorkshire pudding. It was delicious and I could eat it every day of my life if they allowed it. Then we all sat down to enjoy a movie together. The movie was not enjoyable. It was a raunchy comedy with a dreadful plot, but they seemed to enjoy it. I just enjoyed the time relaxing with my family.

Currently, my plan is to lie around enjoying the rest of the year.......

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-12-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

"Christmas is the gentlest, lovliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, it's voice has strong authority."

~W.J. Cameron

Book

2009-12-22T09:13:00.001-08:00

Sensei is seriously considering publishing my thoughts into a book......

Holidays

2009-12-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

I apologize that I have not been writing as much lately. Sensei tends to be less motivated during the winter months. I step outside only briefly to "do my business" and then come right back in and curl up in my favorite round donut bed.

I love curling up in my cozy bed. The only thing I don't love is the others constantly walking by and disturbing me. I will admit, when it comes to my space, particularly when I am snuggled in my bed, I have little patience for others walking by. Partially, it is because my vision is quite bad and only getting worse as my condition progresses. So, while they might feel that I am just being grumpy and unreasonable, I am really feeling a bit insecure and uncomfortable because I am easily startled. I am working on this, as I am sure that they are working on not walking as close or invading my space.

Other than that, I am quite enjoying the very cold weather and the holiday season so far. I am very much looking forward to Christmas Eve when I will be fed prime rib and yorkshire pudding. Among my favorites. I wish all of my students a wonderful Christmas!

Cornbread....

2009-12-13T20:33:00.001-08:00

Today, my student made cornbread muffins. It smelled divine. There is nothing like being inside a warm house on a cold, rainy day with cornbread muffins baking. I did not eat any muffins. It isn't the eating of the muffins that I enjoy, it is the smell of the muffins baking and filling our warm house with delicious smells. A Sunday consisting of lounging around inside my toasty house and smelling cornbread muffins baking makes me grateful and happy to be alive....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-12-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

~Pablo Picasso

She did it!

2009-11-30T12:10:00.001-08:00

She did it. My student gave me the dreaded bath today. As you all know I abhor baths. I absolutely detest being subjected to the porcelain prison and the loathsome shower nozzle. However, I did find it a tad less traumatizing today. Perhaps it is because I know that I will likely feel better and have less desire to scratch after it is over. Maybe it is that I so love the towel drying and profuse apologizing and groveling that my student does while toweling me off. I am not sure. I do know that I still find it an undesirable and hideous activity, but perhaps I may give her less trouble about it. After all, she seems to be doing it to make me feel better....

Dreaded....

2009-11-27T16:30:00.001-08:00

My student keeps telling me that I need a bath. What nerve! The worst part is that it means she is plotting to subject me to the dreaded porcelain prison, my worst nightmare. The only bright side is the rather pleasant towel drying that comes after. Still facing the loathsome bath is quite upsetting. I shall not go down without a fight!

A Day of Thanks

2009-11-26T21:09:00.001-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving. The Day of Giving Thanks. I thought that perhaps, I would share those things that Sensei is thankful for.

Sensei is thankful for my loving students who provide me with a comfortable home, good food and as much love and adoration as I can possibly imagine.

Sensei is thankful for the others. It's true that at times I would prefer to be the only non human living here, the fact is that most of the time, when they respect my boundaries, stay out of my way and act reasonable, I quite like them.

Sensei is thankful for his wisdom. For without it, how could I enlighten all of you.

Sensei is thankful for his health. Despite my impaired vision and allergies, I am quite lucky to be the healthy Peke that I am.

For all of this and so much more, Sensei is thankful.

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues."

~Cicero

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-11-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

"No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong."

~Albert Einstein

New Rules...

2009-11-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

Today my student made a new rule that the others are not permitted on the couch, at least for the time being. Seems that they have gotten a bit out of hand and are running quite amuk and she needs to reel them in, so to speak. The new rules, naturally don't apply to Sensei who shall, of course, continue to sleep and sit wherever I choose. Frankly, I am not too interested in being on the couch or on their laps, so even if they attempted to "ban" me, it wouldn't affect me much.

Actually, I think that the new rules are a good idea. She really should have been working on this long ago. It's not that they are bad, it's just that they cannot bear to be away from her and when she is sitting on the couch they are all over.....like parasites actually. They really ought to be able to stand on their own four feet and get ahold of themselves. Their adoration is a bit pathetic actually.

My student has also decided to separate them and rotate so that they are not all running wildly loose together. Once again, this rule does not apply Sensei who shall continue to be where and with whomever I choose.

I hope that this new arrangement helps. It will certainly make things more relaxing for everyone, including, most importantly, Sensei.

Chilly

2009-11-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

Cool, crisp, Fall weather... chilly mornings..... quite nice....

Entertainment

2009-11-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

As you know, my greatest form of entertainment is leisure. I greatly enjoy comfortably lounging around, however, I also draw pleasure in other more mobile activities.

In jest, I refer to Sonic as a fool. In truth, I am fond of the little guy. Sensei understands that playing and acting foolish once in a while is a good thing. I do believe, however, that these things are best done at home with the ones you know and trust.

I play regularly, daily actually with Sonic. I enjoy chasing and wrestling with him. There are times when he wants to play but a simple "look" will tell him, "not now, perhaps later" and he politely backs off and harrasses someone else. Other times I allow him to climb on my back, pull on my ears, and roll and chase around with him. When I am done, or tire out, I let him know and he simply runs off to find another victim.

You may be surprised to hear that Sensei play like this. That it is not dignified behave this way, but I believe just the opposite. To play is to stay young, to have fun and enjoy laugh. We should all enjoy a little foolish play each day....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-10-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Love does not dominate; it cultivates."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Pink Pills

2009-10-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Sensei suffers from dreadful allergies. My allergies cause my skin to itch which makes me have a desire to scratch at it. Scratching at my body damages my beautiful coat and makes me quite uncomfortable.

In response to my scratching, my student checks my body for fleas. I realize she does this to protect me but it's really quite insulting for her to imply that I might carry parasites like some common filthy vagrant. She, of course, never finds any.

My student also worries that Sensei's allergies may be caused by my diet. However, ever since I have come to live here I have always been fed, healthy, allergen free, fish based food. My food is made with Salmon and has no wheat or corn or other ingredients that cause allergies. I have eaten several types of good food, but still, my allergies remain.

It may be that I am allergic to pollens and other things in the area as my allergies can get worse in the springtime. Even so, they remain all year long.

Perhaps I am just allergic to the other dogs that live here that actually ARE a bit filthy. They roll in dirt and other foul substances. They like digging and participating in other unclean and unhealthy activities, but I digress...

Whatever the cause I experience horrible allergies. In order to help Sensei and my body better cope, my student provides me with small, oval shaped, pink pills covered in squeeze cheese. I quite enjoy my morning pill dripping in runny cheddar, so much so that I run to the kitchen whenever I hear any pill bottles rattling that may predict my much loved cheese snack. It's not always cheese, my pills have been delivered in peanut butter, little chunks of meat, cream cheese and sometimes even in "pill pockets" which are clever little liver treats with a hole for my pill. Some mornings I won't even finish breakfast until my pill has been given. They may think differently but I am not being fooled. I don't mind taking my pill at all. I am quite aware that my daily gooey snack has a little surprise hidden inside, but I couldn't care less. Do they not see that I rarely chew my food and prefer to gulp it down, I certainly don't chew my little pill. In fact, I would probably eat the pill without the lucious coating as they do make me feel better, but it's nice to keep them on their toes so I will continue to run to the kitchen each morning and wait for my delicious delivery.

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-10-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them."

Dalai Lama

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-10-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

"Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is. "

~Jim Morrison

Welcome Autumn...

2009-10-07T15:35:00.001-07:00

With my lush, thick coat it should come as no suprise that I am not fond of Summer. As I have shared in the past, my students work hard to keep me cool and comfortable but it doesn't stop me from despising those dreaded summer months.

So, it with an open heart that Sensei welcomes the Fall. The crisp cool mornings, the falling leaves and the chilly nights. I look forward to seeing the front grass covered with yellow golden leaves and the crows that seem to appear just as Halloween approaches. The sound of the neighborhood children passing by and greeting our large tree with a face each morning.

I welcome all of what Fall has to offer........Welcome Autumn....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-10-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

~George S. Patton

Sunday...kayaking, television, gathering

2009-10-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Apparently, my student has taken to kayaking with Sonic. I cannot think of a more revolting way to spend an afternoon. A bath is dreadful enough, but the thought of being completely surrounded by water is unthinkable.

From what I understand, Sonic quite liked it. He didn't mind wading in the water on the beach. He actually enjoyed riding between her legs in the kayak. Personally, I would not have even pretended to enjoy it. The little fool even went swimming with her.

Sensei is thankful that she has Sonic to torture with such activities. I quite enjoyed my own Sunday, lounging around on the floor while my other student watched television. Then, I hosted yet another Pekingese gathering. There were even more Pekingese there than last time. Even Lovely, who I quite liked while she was here made an appearance. Then, home to lounge around some more.

Ahhh....lounging, television, lounging, gathering, lounging.....Sundays.....quite nice....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-09-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

"How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. "

~William Shakespeare

Schooling...

2009-09-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

My student is a "dog trainer". What this means is that she schools people on how to effectively teach their dogs. Thankfully, she is committed to accomplishing this task by using only humane, non violent methods. Early on in our relationship we did quite a bit of "training" together. She attempted to teach me to perform a series of simple, yet mindless behaviors such as sitting, which I do quite often on my own without any coaching at all or lying down, which I do even more frequently on my own. I clearly didn't and still don't need instruction on how to place my own body into simple, everyday, comfortable positions, however I entertained the whole thing because I quite enjoyed watching her attempt to get me to do these things when she wanted.

I am impressed at the avenues she took in order to get me do what she wanted. She never attempted to force Sensei. Firstly, that is against her philosophy on how to treat others. Thankfully so as she would have achieved nothing had she tried to use pressure or force with this honorable master. Secondly, she seemed to know that attempting to force Sensei to do anything against my will would be futile.

What she did was simple. She simply did something kind for me in exchange for my doing what she hoped for. Typically, the kindness involved meat of some sort, a bit of chicken or perhaps some roast pork. I quite enjoy a good tidbit, so I complied. There were times when she attempted to push just a bit, such as when she raised the meat over my head to get me to sit. I was a bit insulted by this and left the room. Wisely, she did not attempt again and instead chose to simply wait for Sensei to make a move and then reward me when she felt my choice was acceptable. I quite appreciated that she accommodated Sensei and changed strategies when I indicated her technique wasn't working for me. I showed my appreciation by working to figure out what wanted and complying when I understood.

I found and still find this arrangement quite enjoyable. We don't train together quite as often as we used to due to my impaired vision and her busy schedule, but when we do, we have an enjoyable time together.

It is amusing to think that she believes she is the one doing the training when clearly it is Sensei who is schooling her....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-09-16T12:07:00.001-07:00

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

~Buddha

Packing...

2009-09-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

It appears as though my students are taking some sort of holiday. They were up early, rustling around and packing bags.

No bags are being prepared for Sensei.

I believe that they are going camping which sounds dreadful actually... walking around on dirt and dust which is hideous for my coat not to mention my allergies, the heat, plus the abominable car ride....

While I don't appreciate being left out of enjoyable trips, I will quite enjoy the company of my caretaker Michelle who absolutely adores Sensei. If I understand correctly she will be coming by herself and not bringing her foolish young pug along with her, who can be quite exhausting at times. This will ensure more time for her to tend to Sensei. I overheard discussion of Sonic going along with them which will keep him out of my hair for the weekend as well... Yes, this may end up being a quite enjoyable weekend for Sensei after all...

Farewell summer...

2009-09-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

I live inside a beautiful, lush, thick, black and tan coat. It is quite luxurious and I would not trade it for the world, however, when the weather gets warmer so then does Sensei. Sometimes during the summer months it is nearly too hot for me to endure. Great measures must be taken to keep me cool.

My student works very hard to keep Sensei comfortable, which can be a challenging task. Plush beds are provided for our comfort, but thankfully, we have cool hardwood floors which allows Sensei to feel some relief from the heat while lying on them. They have also provided fans for Sensei so that I may have a nice, man made breeze to offer some comfort as well. I quite enjoy lying in the path of the fan. When the heat is very unbearable, my students will use a soft mister on us to cool us down. I don't much care for the mister, for no matter how it is delivered Sensei is not fond of water. On truly horribly hot days, my students will sometimes offer me a cool, damp chamois to lie on, however, I tend to prefer the hardwood to the dampness of the wet chamois. Much water is provided so that I may stay hydrated.

Ahhh, what a relief that all of that is looking like a worry of the past as the summer draws to an end. Sensei will now be able to enjoy the more pleasant weather of my preferred seasons Fall and Winter. Farewell summer.....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-09-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

"But when you talk about destruction, Don't you know that you can count me out"

~The Beatles

Pills

2009-09-03T21:38:00.001-07:00

Today my allergy pill was delivered in a "pill pocket" rather than cheese whiz. Quite nice....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-09-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed.
Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."

~Mohandas Gandhi

Lost and then Found.....Finding the Light.....

2009-08-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

On your journey through life there will be times when you feel lost. All of us, at one time or another in our lives have felt lost, even Sensei. When you are lost, there is a way.

Before I came to live with my students, I too was lost. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but that matters not, the point is, I was lost. I was living on the streets with no one to rely on except for myself. Perhaps this is why I understand how important it is to have faith in oneself. For I had to have faith, those were dark times for Sensei. Living on the streets, with no food and no water, in 100 degree heat with my black coat. There were times when I was hungry. There were times when I was thirsty. And yes, there were times when I was afraid. I had been wandering for too long....all alone. Then, everything changed....

Sensei did not like wandering alone on the streets like some nomad, but you see, I had no choice. But, what would come next, while better perhaps, was not much better. I was picked up and taken to a prison. I had done nothing wrong, I deserved not to be in prison. But alas, I found myself there. Cold, gray, concrete floors. Large, loud barking dogs. I was very sick, probably from living on the streets. People coming in to look and then going back out again. My weepy eyes, my dreadful cough, my scarred eyeballs, my protruding ribs, I suppose I did not look my best. This may be why they thought I was old. I wasn't, I was just worn and tattered, but I was not old. Yes, those were quite dark times. Was I afraid? Perhaps, but I had faith. Time went by, but I waited and did not lose faith. Then again, everything changed....

My student came to see me. She saw how very thin I was. She let me out of the concrete prison and looked at my face closely. She could see I was not old. She could see I was very sick and I needed immediate care and attention. She knew I could not go on like that in there. She took me home and the light started to creep back in..... Back into my life, back into my eyes and back into my heart...

My students took good care of me. I needed some surgery but was too thin and too sick to risk it. They fed Sensei so that I could gain strength. They administered medication so that I could get well. They washed and brushed my coat which had been chopped off and was dirty and matted so I could look and feel beautiful again. With some time I grew stronger and my coat began to look shiny again. I stopped coughing and my eyes stopped weeping. I gained enough strength and weight to have my surgeries. In two months, I was myself again. I was again who I once was.

The original plan was that they would care for me until I was well and then find me new students to live with. However, as they took care of me and my health began to improve, we grew close. So close that we could not bear to part. They did so much for me that I did not want to leave. We realized that we belonged together and that I should remain. And so, I did.....

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-28T14:57:00.001-07:00

"There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. "

~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Porcelain Prison

2009-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, I spoke about Instruments of the Devil, the evil contraptions used to torture Sensei's beautiful coat. I did not reveal to you to the worst evil of all.....

Today, I was subjected to abuse when my student placed me inside the large, white, porcelain prison and then thoroughly assaulted me with an equally loathsome water hose. There are few things in this world that Sensei cannot tolerate and this is one of them.

The heinous water shooting at my coat, the wicked soap trying to find it's way into my sensitive eyes..... I cried out in horror.... I could hear the others yelling back to me from the other room.... It was a dreadful event that I wish not experience ever again! However, how lovely it felt to be towel dried in my students arms. She apologized over and over and hugged me and rubbed me with the towel. She dried and dried and kissed me and told me how brave Sensei was and how she adored me. Nearly groveling but enjoyable for Sensei just the same...

Then we went into the other room where I greeted the others who had been awaiting my return. Because of my cries they were worried for me and clamoring around to check on Sensei. I greeted them all and then rolled and rolled and rolled on the cool hardwood floor. I air dried for several hours (she knows better than to try and blow dry me, for that I would surely lose all composure). She carefully brushed out my clean coat later in the evening.

Sensei cannot think of anything more dreadful than being subjected to the porcelain prison, but the drying...... I quite like the drying. A bittersweet experience indeed.

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-22T15:59:00.001-07:00

"Real self-mastery is the ability to stay fully present for whatever life brings because we trust who we are."

~Richard Moss

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-22T07:35:00.001-07:00

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."

~Jimi Hendrix

Fosters

2009-08-21T21:03:00.001-07:00

Fosters. This is what my student calls the vagabonds that she brings here to stay while they are searching for new homes. Having once been a nomad myself, Sensei is sensitive to opening our home to others less fortunate. Yes, it is true, this honorable master was once living on the streets, wandering, learning and teaching. So you see, I have compassion for those lost souls, however, I see no reason to admit non-Pekingese on a regular basis.

I accept and at times even respect the others in my home, however, if we are to reach out and assist, I see no reason not to start with the lost Pekingese of the world. We welcome a seemingly endless string of others which I accept, however, I quite prefer the company of other Pekingese.

Clearly, my student agrees with Sensei, as Pekingese have top priority. This is not to say others are not welcome, only that, if Pekingese are needy, they shall first be taken. As it should be...

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-16T19:44:00.001-07:00

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater. . . suggest that he wear a tail."

~ Fran Lebowitz

Cuisine

2009-08-15T07:52:00.001-07:00

Sensei has decided he is not quite content with his cuisine. My students dine on something different every day. Roasted pork, spaghetti, stir fry made from fresh vegetables from the Farmer's Market or Vietnamese salad bowls with a wonderful grilled pork which I quite like. Something different every day. I have decided that I too would like to enjoy different things each day.

Why would my students assume that I would care to dine on the same food every day when they clearly enjoy a wide variety of fresh and delicious foods? I am not implying that the food they prepare for me isn't, for the most part, satisfying and healthy, however, it becomes monotonous eating the same thing every day. For that reason, I have decided to finish my own meals and then help myself to some of Bill's food when he is finished....or even if he isn't. Sensei does not wish to abuse his power, however I will exercise some of it to let Bill know that I would like some of his food. It takes nothing more than a watchful eye. Unfortunately, my student doesn't care for this arrangement and has indicated to me that I should not help myself to Bill's food, which I find a bit irritating. However, Sensei always wishes to keep the peace, so I shall respect that boundary.

My students will need to figure out a way, without upsetting Sensei's body of course, to offer me more of a variety of foods. Perhaps I will have them start adding some fresh cooked food to my meals, this would make Sensei happy and it certainly isn't too much to request considering what I offer them in life lessons.

Yes, I shall indicate that I want more fresh foods, and will let them know I am satisfied by not vocalizing for my meals or staring at Bill for bites of his.

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

"The more I see, the less I know for sure."

~John Lennon

Ivy and the Birds

2009-08-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

My student keeps an aviary in our garden. It is a fairly small and unintimidating structure and I quite enjoy the soothing coo from the doves and the pleasant cheeps from the finches. Not so for all of us.Ivy, the matriarch of Braveheart is quite flustered by the birds. She can't even walk by without stopping to stare or give the bottom portion of the aviary a few licks. Sometimes she will sit out there for hours just watching them. She is intrigued by the birds. She has very little self control in their presence.

Not only does she stare at the aviary and lick at it, she will also not allow the others to come near it. Not that anyone dares to challenge her. Getting into a physical battle with a Dachshund is rarely worth it. Particularly when it comes to their claim on birds or some other small game. Thankfully, everyone else seems happy to enjoy the birds from a distance which keeps things peaceful.

Try as I might, I cannot understand her fascination. Of course I am aware that these are her natural instincts and that she can't help herself, however, I can't imagine why she finds them so interesting. It's not just birds either, at one time there was a rabbit in a neighboring yard and she could not resist peeking through the holes in the old fence, staring at the rabbits, hoping that one might venture over a little too close... they never did. She has even gone so far as to leave the yard in search of the rabbit, or bird, or cat.... At one time, not long ago there was an old shed to the side of our home, Ivy destroyed the entire bottom of the shed allowing herself inside to hunt for....something. When the shed was finally torn down, rat droppings confirmed her suspicions.

It is no surprise that she finds the birds more interesting than Sensei. A Pekingese rarely worries oneself about such things, we are certainly not going to expend any physical energy on it, that would be a waste of time and effort. What I question is why the others don't share the same intensity towards these things as Ivy. The others here of similar heritage simply walk by the aviary completely ignoring the structure. Perhaps each one of them has their own level of interest and intensity for such things. Although clearly they are all interested in the squirrels, every one of them, except of course, myself.

In a way, Sensei admires their dedication and devotion to to their "work". On the other hand, I also feel as though their time and energy could be better spent on more worthwhile things. To each his own I suppose.

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."

~Gene Hill

Pekingese Gatherings

2009-08-09T18:51:00.001-07:00

My student has arranged for me to host a "meetup" group so that I may interact and visit with others of my kind. She has invited other Pekingese, none as wise as Sensei, but Pekingese just the same to gather and visit with one another.

I quite enjoyed the outing. Sensei rarely experiences the feeling of excitement, but I believe I shall look forward to doing this again. The gathering consisted of several Pekingese aquaintances of mine, as well as a few others I had not yet met.

Mu Shu, the young enthusiastic and at times foolish Pekingese who studied under Sensei for 4 months while living in my home. Sensei taught Mu Shu all about self control and manners which are the lessons that ultimately got him adopted into his forever home. He quite enjoyed socializing and playing with the other Pekingese, or at least trying to get us to play...

Ming Ming, the shy, wallflower of a Pekingese who studied under Sensei over a year ago. Shy, quiet Ming Ming was so afraid when she came to Sensei, but she left here with a new found confidence that is growing all the time. It was quite nice to see her enjoying the visit with her new sense of self.

Yes, all the Pekingese seemed to enjoy the gathering, but perhaps it was the humans that enjoyed it most of all. All were there with the best of intentions of providing their beloved Pekingese with an opportunity to visit with their own. And indeed the Pekingese did appear to fancy their the visit, but Sensei believes that the humans also relished in visiting with others of THEIR own kind. Others who admire the same as themselves, others who admire the Pekingese.

Ah, it was nice to see these former students and to meet others. Yes, I shall look forward to this gathering next month...

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.

~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Instruments of the Devil

2009-08-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

I possess a beautiful, thick, full, black and tan coat. Much to my dismay my lovely coat requires some care in order to stay so luxurious. One of my students is required to care for my coat which is a task I do not much care for. I enjoy being petted very much. I also enjoy having the very top of my head lightly brushed and I quite like having my ears gently combed. However, working on the back end of my body can be very concerning.

My student uses tools that Sensei calls "Instruments of the Devil" to care for my coat. As much as I know she tries to be gentle, some of these evil contraptions still cause me discomfort.

The worst is the flat, sharp and ever so uncomfortable "slicker brush". It pulls on my coat and scratches against my delicate skin. I have indicated that I do not wish to be brushed with the slicker brush by removing myself from her lap when she attempts to use it. Thankfully, she has agreed to find equipment that is more acceptable to me and more comfortable for my body.

This leads us to the "pin brush" which is a much kinder choice. The pin brush has long, wire pins made for combing through long hair such as my own. I will tolerate use of the pin brush on my body however, if there are any tangles on my rear quarters, I may not allow it forcing her to change strategies. You might say that if I have any tangles at all, she is not doing a very good job of caring for my coat and that there should be consequences for this and you are correct. The consequence is that she will need to be extremely convincing in order for me to allow her to comb them out. She will need to work carefully, slowly and exercise great patience to complete the task. On the other hand, it feels much better when I am all combed out so I will typically permit her to finish, provided she is gentle and careful.

Most of the time she spritzes my coat with a pleasant smelling spray as she combs and brushes me to ensure that she does not damage my coat or cause any breakage. I allow and even enjoy the spritzing provided she is careful not to spray near my large, luminous eyes, which she always is.

Usually, she finishes up my coat care with a comb. The comb is acceptable as long as there are few knots and as long as she combs slowly taking care not to pull on my coat in any way.

I believe we have come to an acceptable arrangement. I will allow her to brush and comb my coat provided she is gentle, careful and uses equipment that does not cause my body discomfort. I am awarded with a lovely, soft, plush coat that is comfortable to live in. What is she rewarded with? She gets to live with and gaze at a creature as lovely as I when my coat is in it's most wonderful condition. An acceptable arrangement indeed.

Perfection

2009-08-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

All of us must live through ourselves and not through someone else. No one is perfect, we are all works in progress and we must not push others, humans or canines to be more than they are or punish them for being less than perfect. We are all perfect at being ourselves...

Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love
Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face

Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder

How long before you screw it up
How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up
With everything I do for you
The least you can do is keep quiet

Be a good girl
You've gotta try a little harder
That simply wasn't good enough
To make us proud

I'll live for you I'll make you what I never was
If you're the best, then maybe so am I
Compared to him compared to her
I'm doing this for your own damn good
You'll make up for what I blew

What's the problem ...... why are you crying

Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn't fast enough
To make us happy

We'll love you just the way you are... if you're perfect

~Alanis Morrisette

Developing Self Control

2009-08-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have many students, both human and canine. An early lesson that my students must learn is that to be successful and content in life, they must learn to have discipline and self control. All creatures, even an Old Master such as myself, must learn to accept frustration and exercise self control. We cannot control everything around us. We cannot control the actions and reactions of others. We cannot control the world, but we can control our responses to those things and learn to accept things as they come.

Young dogs will need to be taught that they must be able to exercise self control and have the patience to wait for things. They must be taught how to focus, think, refrain and be patient. Many dogs will have patient humans who will guide them through this process and help them understand that discipline can be a beautiful thing that leads to an abundance of rewarding surprises and experiences. Those dogs are blessed.

Humans must learn to have self control as they are teaching their dogs this process. They must learn to be patient and to think through their ideas and make themselves clear so that their dogs may have success. They must be reasonable and honest and understand that progress can take time and that their dogs need them to be clear, patient, understanding and thoughtful.

We must all learn to accept frustration and develop the discipline to exercise self control. Wise students will learn to enjoy the process and embrace the rewards of self control. Learning to have self control is the first step in learning to be a content and patient person.

Pearls of Wisdom

2009-08-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

"We can't sustain a change in behavior if it leaves us hungry, unhappy, angry or resentful."

~David A. Kessler, MD

You must pay attention to what I say...

2009-07-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

I surround myself with students who have a desire and an urge to understand what I am trying to say and who will make an attempt to listen to me, learn from me and work to meet my needs. I, in turn, will work to meet their needs, by providing them with lessons and information that they would not otherwise have access to. I am willing to teach and educate, but they must be willing to listen and they must want to try...

I am a vocal creature. I have no choice but to use this tool to communicate my needs. Long ago when I first came to live with my students I began to use my voice to communicate to them what I needed them to understand. "I am hungry, please feed me now", "Please open the door for me, I would like to come inside", "I would like to be held, lift me onto your lap please" have always been requested by my lovely, soft moans, gurgles and grumbles. They seem to understand and comply immediately. Lately however, there seems to be a miscommunication or a disconnect where one of my students is not complying right away.

My body is delicate and I must tend to it carefully. As of late, my body is telling me that it needs to be nourished earlier than usual. I have been attempting to awaken my student earlier than usual so that she may get up and tend to my breakfast but she is not complying with my wishes, which forces me to raise my voice and nearly demand what I need. Eventually, she complies, sometimes unreasonably frustrated at me for not being able to wait.

I am not complaining, my students are just that, and as their Sensei I have agreed to teach them and I will continue to try to help them understand that they have agreed to this by their earlier actions. One day they will understand that our history and past with each other shape our relationship and that we are both responsible for having built one anothers expectations...

Welcome to my words...

2009-07-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am Hong Kong Fooey...Honorable Sensei...Old Master. I am a Pekingese. My ancestors were admired for their strong hearts and wise minds. I wish to share my thoughts with you so that you may become wiser and stronger. Welcome to my words...