The Dot and Dino Show: Two Cats Playing Patty-Cake

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The Dot and Dino Show: Oreo The Border Collie

Dot: Hello, everybody

Dino: Hello, (munch, munch) everybody.

Dot: Dino, don't eat with your mouth full.

Dino: (Gulp). My mouth is not full anymore.

Dot: We received a very fun letter from a young dog, about seven months old, by the name of Oreo. He said he is a Border Collie. He sounds like a nice young pup, but he was describing a situation that he is having a difficult time with and he is hoping we could help him out somehow.

Dino: OK, lets read the letter.

Dot: Actually, we have Oreo via email on our screen. After we read the letter out loud, Jackie is going to type in our comments and questions to Oreo and Oreo will respond.

Dino: How can he respond? Dogs don't type.

Dot: Listen to the letter and you will find that out.

Oreo:

"Dear Dot and Dino,

I was glad to come across your blog recently while on my computer. First, I'm sure you are saying, "What, a dog doesn't know how to type." Well, I don't type. My mom and dad set up the computer so that I can just touch my paw on the screen and move around that way and put in messages. "

Dino: Wow! That sound really cool. I wonder if Jackie could set that up for me like that.

Dot: No way! You would be ordering take out while she was gone.

Dino: So, why not?

Dot: Let's get back to Oreo's story

Dino: OK

Oreo:

"That is why I am writing to you. My mom and dad are gone so long, all day, and often times over night. Sometimes they have a nice lady who comes in and takes me out to the park down the street, but then she leaves and I am alone again until they come home later that night. Sometimes I am home by myself for up to 10 to 15 hours everyday. I have a nice house, great food and a nice yard. But I am so bored! They set up this computer for me so I can do some things on the computer, but sometimes I find myself just sitting there staring at the screen. I have entertained myself by moving the furniture around inside the house and outside, and then I put it all back so that mom and dad won't be able to tell. I am really good at that. I actually have done that several times in a day, just so I won't go nuts here. Do you have any ideas?" (end of letter)

Dot: That is very sad. I wonder if they even know you are having a problem with this. If you are really that good about putting the furniture back exactly where it belongs, you may be right, they may not even know this is occurring.

Dino: Maybe he is too good. Maybe he should not put the furniture back correctly, and then they will notice. That might let them know that something has been going on when they are gone. If you can, leave them a note somehow on the computer that you are bored and want to do some other things during the day.

Oreo via Instant Messenger: I thought about doing that, but I keep getting afraid. I don't want them to get mad. I know they work so hard and give me a lot of good things. I don't want to disappoint them.

Dino: Hey, Dot, why don't we right a note to his mom and dad? Maybe they will listen to "an authority."

Dot: Dino, that is a brilliant idea. I wish I had thought of that.

Dino: But you didn't!

Dot: Maybe we can write the letter together. Oreo, do you know their email address, and we can send them a note and explain that you contacted us for advice? We won't say that you asked us to contact them, so you won't get into trouble.

Dino: Maybe we can say you asked us about something totally different, and not about being bored. We can say that you just happen to mention that you spent a lot of time alone and that we are writing to them to give them suggestions about getting you more things to do.

Oreo: That is brilliant!

Dino: Yeah, that was brilliant, wasn't it. It was all my idea.

Dot: Jeesh! Dino, your head is getting bigger and bigger as I sit here looking at you!

Dot: Ok, Oreo, why don't you send us their email address and we will craft a letter to them with suggestions like:

1. Taking you to a doggie daycare a couple of times a week so you can play with other dogs.

2. Maybe there is a friend's house who has another dog that you can go over to and play with. Maybe the lady who walks you can drop you off there and mom and dad can pick you up when they come home.

Oreo: Yeah, Yeah, there is a really cute Labrador who lives with somebody mom and dad know that I see sometimes. I would love to go there.

Dot: What is her name? I can include it.

Oreo: Her name is Buffy.

Dot: Buffy, got it. We will put her name in there.

3. Maybe they can come home early or go in late some days and take you out to the park for a couple of hours.

Oreo: Well, I know dad like to go to a gym in the mornings. He leaves really early to go there.

Dot: OK, maybe he can take you out instead and take you running or ride a bick with you instead of going to the gym. Would you like that?

Oreo: OH! That sounds like a lot of fun. What is a bike?

Dot: A bike is a type of machine that a human rides with two big wheels and then the dog runs alongside it.

Oreo: Oh, I think I have seen those. I thought those were just for me to bark at.

Dot: No, but I know what you mean. I used to do that too until Jackie taught me not to. Now, I don't care anymore. There are a lot more funs things to do. I barely notice them anymore.

Oreo: Wow! I envy you guys. I wish I had as much fun as you two do. I have read your past posts, and it sound like you guys do a lot of fun things.

Dot: Well, we will try to tell your mom and dad that you need some more fun things to do, also. Oh, we will tell them about dog sports, like agility and herding. I have heard Border Collies are really popular in those sports.

Oreo: Agility and herding?

Dot: Google "dog sports" and see what you are missing.

Dino: We will include that stuff also in our letter, also.

Dot: Oh, Oreo, how would you feel about having another dog friend at your home to play with?

Oreo: I would like that alot. A little brother or sister. I know mom and dad had a dog before me. I have seen pictures on shelves. I think it looks kind of like me.

Dot: OK, we can include that in the letter.

Oreo: Thanks a bunch guys. I really do appreciate your help. I don't know how to thank you.

Dino: No thanks needed. Both me and Dot have been in your position, but we ended up loosing our homes. Luckily, Jackie adopted us and gave us a bunch of stuff to do. Now, we try to return that favor..................

Dot: Jackie calls it "earning our kibble."

Dino: Right, "earning our kibble" and now we try to help out others. Oreo, we will send you a copy of the letter we send to your mom and dad.

Oreo: Thanks again. I will keep an eye on your blog, and I will forward it to my friends on my Facebook account.

Dino: What is Facebook?

Dot: Nevermind. That is a whole other blog. Say, "Goodnight, Dino."

Dino: Goodnight, Dino.

The Dot and Dino Show: Dachshund Chasing Ball from Machine

Dachshund chasing ball from machine

The Dot and Dino Show: Talking Dogs and Cats

Talking Dogs and Cats

The Dot and Dino Show: Extra Curricular Activities

Dot: Welcome to our show again, folks. Good to have you stop on by to listen.

Dino: We had to take a couple of days off to do some extracurricular activities.

Dot: Dino, tell everybody what you did.

Dino: Well, Dot you helped me out on Saturday night by laying a scent track that I could find. I really appreciate your help with that. Without friends like you, I won't have anybody to help me learn how to track to find lost pets.

Dot: Scout helps out also, right?

Dino: Yes, she does help out by laying her scent for me to find. I will thank her when I get home.

Dino: There is only one other dog in this whole area that does real tracks. Not just practices like me. His name is Annubis. His mom is Donna and they work together to help find lost pets. You can find out more if you want by visiting their website: www.findingpaws.com. They also have a blog (kind of like this one) of all the animals they help try to find. I do have my own MAR (missing animal response) training blog (www.dinosmardogtraining.blogspot.com) where everything can be viewed in greater detail, but basically I did a practice track with Jackie on Saturday night through a neighborhood. We did pretty good, especially since it was night.

Then on Sunday morning we drove a long ways to where Jackie was meeting with Donna to try to find a lost cat. We got there a little late, so Annubis did the first stuff and found out where the cat was going in the neighborhood. I am still in training and learning new things, so Jackie and Donna wanted to see what I could find out about the missing cat. She put on my harness and I got really excited. I love trying to find out what animal I am following and where they are. She showed me the things that have the cat's smell on it and off we went. Annubis is the pro so he was out front. I was kind of checking places behind him and seeing what I could find. I definitely could smell a cat. I think it was the same one. We checked around in the area. Suddenly Donna said, "Get back. We found the cat!" We all backed off to not scare the cat. Both Annubis and me got lots of treats and toys. After the cat left with their person, Jackie brought me around to where the cat ran from. I could really smell the cat where it was laying. It was really strong. It was fun. So far, the only cat I have found was my own cat, Mercury, so it was fun to help find another cat. Well, we know Annubis did all the work, but maybe I helped out somehow. Anyway, it was fun to participate. I had a great time.

Today we drove again a long distance, but not as far as yesterday. I did some more tracks, and these were called "practices." I got to find some cloth things that had Annubis' smell on them, though I know he was safe in his car. Jackie said I did pretty good, and said we have some new things to work on. I said "Oh boy, that is great." I think Donna is helping Jackie train me to be as good as Annubis. That would be great!

Dot: That is great.

Dino: Dot, don't you also have some good news to share.

Dot: Me? What is that?

Dino: Didn't Jackie do something with you yesterday that you were really excited about?

Dot: Oh yeah, she put out some really, really tasty treats in a straight line and I got to eat them all in a straight line. And I got to do that more than once. It was a lot of fun.

Dino: That sounds like how I started my tracking training. Maybe you will be as good as me someday.

Dot: As good as? I will be better! I am smaller and I can go into all those tiny spots that your big head can't fit into. I am more mature, plus I am cuter.

Dino: What does that have to do with finding a lost cat or dog? I am very cute and I don't think it helps out. It is all in the nose.

Dot: Of course being cuter helps, but I am not telling you my secrets, dope!

Dino: OK, Dot, we will see who is better.

Dot: Well, maybe you can pay me back by laying your scent and then I can find your track.

Dino: I think I can do that for you. But you won't be better than me.

Dot: We will see about that. Say "Goodnight, Dino."

Dino: Goodnight, Dino. Where is dinner? I am hungry.

The Dot and Dino Show: Russell and His 40 Tricks!

Dot: We found a fascinating video from a very talented dog by the name of Russell. We also were able to get him on the line for an interview about all this talents and his life. He was very friendly and open.

Dino: I can't wait to see it. (munch, munch).

Click here to Watch Video of Russell Doing His 40 Tricks!

Dot: So, Russell, when you first made the video, did you think your life would change so much?

Russell: Well, at first, the emails started to come in slowly, and I thought, "This is nice. I get to make some friends and maybe get a few dates out of the whole thing." I didn't think anything else. But then, wow, the phone calls, the packages and the emails didn't stop. I quit my day job working at my dad's computer company, I got an agent, a secretary, and it has been a ball ever since.

Dino: You were working at your dad's computer company. What was that like? That must have been a lot of fun.

Russell: Yeah, it wasn't so bad. I got to attend meetings and visit with people and get free cookies and get to spend time with the ladies.

Dino: Wait, wait. You got free cookies and you gave that up?

Russell: They didn't taste too good. They kind of made my stomach upset sometimes. You should see the food I get now. It is the best! I haven't had a stomach ache at all. You guys are welcome to visit sometime. I get so much food and treats and toys and fun stuff. I can't eat it all myself.

Dot: Russell, where do you live?

Russell: I live in Florida, kind of near where Mickey Mouse lives. That what my mom says. I don't know who Mickey Mouse is, but I hear my mom say that on the phone.

Dino: Well, I hear Jackie saying that she is always looking for a reason to travel. Maybe we can talk her into that. Especially if I tell her about Mickey Mouse.

Dot: So is there anything else new in your life you would like to tell us about?

Russell: Well, I guess there is the movie (Russell Meets Hollywood), the book tour, the wedding and the new house that is being built.

Dino: What is a wedding?

Russell: One of the things I got a lot of once this video came out were marriage proposals. At first, I thought they were silly. I mean, I have been a bachelor for a long time. I didn't want to get tied down, especially with all the new pups I had been meeting. But then, I saw her! She was my co-star in my movie. In the movie she was called Mitzi, but her real name is Robin. She is adorable. We have been inseparable ever since. Didn't you see us at the Oscars? I was the one in the tux and she had on the little black dress.

Dot: We don't have TV at home. Jackie doesn't like it. But I did hear about the event.

Russell: Bummer! It was a good show. We were the most gorgeous couple there. We stole the show. I had to bring my dad with me to help me carry the Oscar home.

Dino: You mean, you won?

Russell: Oh yeah, best actor in a doggie role. I got up on stage and somebody held the microphone down to me and I barked and whine my acceptance speech. Afterwards everybody laughed and cheered. It is on YouTube. I will send you the link.

Dot: Definitely. We can put the link up here on our blog. We would love to see it. That must have been quite a night?

Russell: Whew! The parties afterwards. Man, some people can drink and have a good time. Personally, I don't drink, but Robin downed a couple of Coronas. I had to practically carry her out to the car where my dad was waiting to drive us home. It was a blast!

Dino: Sounds like a great time. Was there a lot of food?

Russell: I saw things they called food that I didn't know existed. I tried some things to see what they were. They had biscuits covered with this and that. They had stuffed biscuits. They had kibble sprinkled over all kinds of things. Honestly, I did want to be careful because of all the scares lately about strange things happening with dog treats coming from another country. Robin stuffed her muzzle with everything she could find. That girl has a bottomless pit for a stomach.

Dot: Good for you. You also mentioned before our interview that you have some more good news.

Russell: Oh yeah, Robin is expecting a litter of puppies in about five weeks. We just learned about it couple of days ago. It must have been during our trip to the Caribbean. I didn't even know she was in heat that time. She must have just started. She is at home now resting and preparing the nesting box and shopping with her mom. We are living with my mom and dad until the house is built, and they said they would help with the delivery. I would like to keep at least one puppy, maybe two.

Dot: Good for you, again. We would love to see pictures and videos of the puppies if you remember to.

Russell: Sure, darling. I think I can remember to do that.

Dino: Thanks for talking to us, Russell, and good luck with everything. It sounds like you will be very busy.

Russell: Thanks for having me on. Listen, I will send you guys a couple of boxes of the treats and toys and food that we get. I got more than I can handle.

Dino: Wow! Thanks, dude. But won't you be needing those for the puppies?

Russell: Naw, we have a dog food company out of France who is sending us all we need for the puppies. We got boxes of things sent to us piling up in the garage. I will send you some things.

Dot: Ok, Russell, thanks again. Take care and say "Hi" to Robin. Tell her I know how she feels. I had a litter of puppies while I was at the shelter before Jackie adopted me. They are a lot of fun. Tell her to enjoy the moment. It goes by very fast.

Russell: I will do that. Take care, and thanks again for the interview. It is nice to hear that the first video that started everything is still out there making people laugh. It all seems so long ago. Bye.

Dot: Say goodbye, Dino.

Dino: Goodbye, Dino.

The Dot and Dino Show: Rocky the Wonderful!

Dot: Hey, Dino, we already got our first question. That was fast. These blogs really do work.

Dino: I guess go. (munch, munch) Who is it from? Can I finish my dog biscuit while you read it?

Dot: Don't eat with your mouth full, Dino. Well, he signed it "Rocky the Wonderful" and his letter says he is from New York City.

Dino: (munch, munch) Where is that? Can we walk there?

Dot: I doubt it. I am not quite sure exactly. I will look at a map and let you know. Are you done with your cookie?

Dino: Yes (gulp). OK, so what does Mr. Wonderful have to say?

Dot: Well, he asks "How do I keep up my tan and good looking body when the weather dips below freezing, it is snowing outside and all I do is lay on the couch in front of the TV?

Dino: Oh, brother. Can I go practice my tap dancing, now?

Dot: Now, Dino, let's try to answer Rocky's question.

Dino: OK (sigh).

Dot: So, Rocky, do you have any other buddies there with you at home? If so, you can work on this at home as a group to motivate each other. First, each time you get up from the couch, pretend like you are going to the TV to change the station, but instead go back to the couch. Do this a few times in a row. Take a rest, Eat a snack. Then do another set of reps of that same exercise.

Dino: I like the part about eating the snack.

Dot: Come on, Dino, we need to be Rocky's support here.

Dino: OK, what next, brain girl?

Dot: Second, each time that you go outside to go to the bathroom, take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Dino: The what?

Dot: The elevator. This book here says there are a lot of tall buildings with elevators in New York City. Maybe Rocky lives in one of those buildings (wink, wink!)

Dino: Oh, right (wink, wink!)

Dot: That should burn off a few calories. And make sure you sit near a lamp at home while you sit on the couch. Maybe that will help you with your tan.

Dino: Is that true?

Dot: Uh, sure. I remember my cousin, Spot, telling me something like that. He said he remembers reading it somewhere, but he couldn't remember where.

Dino: (Psst, Dot, you told me you didn't have any relatives you knew of.)

Dot: Shut up, Dino. Oh, I mean, say good bye, Dino.

Dino: Is it that time already? OK, good bye, Dino. I am off to practice my flute.

Dot: Thanks to Rocky for his question. Keep them coming, folks. You can reach us at dot@thesocialpet.com and dino@thesocialpet.com.

We are trying to set up some entertainment for upcoming shows. If anybody has a special talent they would like to demonstrate, and you will be in the Future Lake area, we would love to hear from you. We can videotape it, and put the link on our blog for everybody to watch. Or send us your videotape, and we can put the link up here also.

Good bye, everybody.

Dino: Good bye again (munch, munch)

The Dot and Dino Show: First Blog!

Dot: So, Dino, what is a blog?

Dino: I don't know, but it sounds delicious!

Dot: That is gross. You will eat anything.

Dino: Hey, Dot, I recall many times when you have tried to sneak many of those tasty things we find on the ground during our walks. You know, the things that Jackie gets so mad at you about.

Dot: Me! She catches you more than she catches me. The goal is not to be caught. I hope Jackie doesn't read this.

Dino: Anyway, I think we should change the subject for our own sake.

Dot: OK. So, since this is our first blog, whatever that is, I think we should introduce ourselves to everybody.

Dino: OK, I will go first.

Dot: You! I should go first. I am the lady.

Dino: Well.......................

Dot: Hey.......................

Dino: OK you can go first. You are older.

Dot: You mean, more mature, goof ball. I am not talking about my age. Actually, nobody really knows. My past is unknown, and I am trying to forget everything before Jackie adopted me at the Weaverville shelter. I think Jackie said I have my own personal blog with more details....

Dino: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Get to the point. I have two blogs! You only have one.

Dot: That is because you have more issues.

Dino: Are issues good?

Dot: Yeah, Dino, issues are good (sheeshh!) Anyway, my personal blog is at http://dotstraining.blogspot.com/. That describes in detail my adoption and time following. To see Dino's blogs: http://dinostraining.blogspot.com/ and http://dinosmardogtraining.blogspot.com/

Dino: So, what is this blog about?

Dot: Well, as Jackie explained to me, pets are going to write in asking us questions they have about anything, and we are going to provide thoughtful and insightful answers.

Dino: What is insightful?

Dot: Oh, this is going to be more difficult than I thought.

Dino: Can I sing and dance and entertain people?

Dot: Yeah, maybe, you entertain people and I will be the insightful and witty one.

Dino: What is witty?

Dot: Never mind. Say "Good Bye" Dino

Dino: Good bye, Dino. Remember to write in. I am going to practice my juggling.

Dot: Remember to write us at: dot@thesocialpet.com and dino@thesocialpet.com. Jackie says we need to start earning our kibble, whatever that means, but I think it has something to do with this blog.