My Report Card

Hello from the blogoshphere!!

I got groomed again this week. My mommy and daddy tell me I look really cute. I thought I overheard my daddy whispering to my mommy (they thought I couldn't hear but they don't realize how good my ears are, especially after the groomer cleaned them) that she took off too much fur. But I feel good. It feels about right to me.

But let's get down to the main point, here. Of all the audacity, my groomer gives me a report card, like she's judging me or something. And lookie here, she only gave me a 'B'. What an indignation, in puppy school, I got straight 'A's. From her comment, I'm led to believe she graded me down for my behavior in the bath. Well EXCUSE MEEEEE!! First she had the water too hot, so I yelped and struggled to get out. Then she had the water too cold, so I tried to get out. She finally got it right, but got soap in my eyes. So I again struggled to get out so I could rub it out. After that, I behaved like a perfect cockapoo, and her comments bear that out. When we're all done, she pats me on the tush, but doesn't give me any treat, nor squeaky toy, no nothing.

As I understand it, (and I understand plenty, let me tell you), it's my mommy and daddy who pay HER. She's the one who should be getting the grade. So here goes:

• My Doggie Says: My hands were cold and I got soap in his eyes
• Doggie Remaks: She was cute (no doubt), but she didn't give me a toy
• My groomer's report card: 'D' I'll try harder next time (but my doggie loves me anyway)

Doggie Orthodontics - Please Vote on the Right

I'm going to share a little bit of myself here, I don't think I ever shared this with anyone before. I don't think it was any secret that when my human mommy and daddy first brought me home, I was a bit down in the dumps. I missed my mom, Cherokee, very much. And maybe even my dad, Cody, just a little bit, even though he never acknowledged me as his son. But I became truly depressed the next day when I made my first trip to the doctor. She is a very nice lady, even though she puts that small stick up my behind every time I see her. But the first thing she told my mommy and daddy is that I have an UNDERBITE and can't be a show dog. You gotta understand, when I was just a little pup, Cherokee would rock me to sleep and tell me stories of how I would be a great champion cockapoo some day. And along comes this doctor and reality slaps me hard in the face.


I want so bad to live up to her dreams for me. I posted a recent picture of me. So what do you think - do I really have an underbite?

So I started searching the internet for solutions. And check this out, it's not impossible. Doggies like me can get braces:

http://www.cyberpet.com/dogs/articles/lexi/bitesbrackets.htm

The article says most vets won't do it unless the dog is in pain. No problem, I'll just pretend, get it? So what do you think? Should I get the braces or not?

Kibbles? No Way!!

My mommy and daddy are no doubt complaining that I am not eating my kibbles. Well, it's not that I don't like my dog food. I'm just too scared, what with all these kibble poisoning scares.

Here, read the latest, from Mars dog food, makers of good old American M & Ms, no less:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/dog-food-recalled-possible-salmonella/story.aspx?guid=%7BE7CA167B-7CD6-420A-B98D-4693F44F3552%7D

Mars Petcare US Inc., a division of food company Mars Inc., perhaps best-known for its candy bars, is recalling 5-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food with a best-by date of July 16 and 17, 2008, that were sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. . . Symptoms in pets with Salmonella infections can include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting.

No thank you. The kibbles must be the reason I barfed in the car on our recent trip. I'll stick with McDonalds hamburgers, turkey, and swiss.

I'm getting a new brother!!!

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130640&ran=22638

As you can tell from the linked story, time is running out for Michael Vicks dogs:

The federal government is preparing to dispose of most of the dogs seized from Michael Vick's Surry County property during its investigation into a dogfighting operation. . .
If no one steps forward to claim ownership, the case will move to a federal judge who has two options: sell the dogs or dispose of them "by other humane means."
Other humane means usually results in killing the dogs, animal rights experts say.

Please, see if you can find it in your hearts to take in one or two of these cute, cuddly doggies. My mommy and daddy are going to take one . . . yup, that's right, I'm going to have another BIG BROTHER, this one of the pit bull variety.

One question, though. The news story doesn't mention what's to become of Michael Vick's fighting cockapoos. What's to become of them?

Hello from the Road

It's vacation season. Being a modern, active cockapoo, I need a break just like everyone else. I'm away right now, but will try to update the blog when I can. I am staying with my Grandma and Grandpa in Cape Coral. They are so old . . . get this . . . they still have dial-up internet!!! So it's painful to browse the internet for interesting news from the human and canine worlds, log in, and keep you, my faithful readers, up to date. But I'll do my best.

My mommy and daddy put me in the car for what I thought would be a simple trip to my favorite store, Petsmart. But we just kept driving . . . and driving . . . and driving. My stomach got a little queasy at one point, and I barfed a little. No problem, it was just a lousy kibble breakfast I heaved. Along the way, I got to stop and sniff at several interesting places. Then we came to a place for the night. There were a lot of strange and scary people, so I did a lot of barking to scare them off and protect my mommy and daddy. Don't worry, they're fine. We went to a cool restaurent, but they wouldn't let me eat there, so we ate beside the pool. More strange people, but I kept everything cool.

The the next day, we got back in the car and what did we do? Drive . . . and drive . . . and drive. We stopped for a good lunch at my favorite restaurant, the one with those funny yellow arches, then did some more driving. Then we finally arrived at grandma's. I hadn't met her before, so when she opened the door, I barked at her. Then I realized it is my grandparents, so I settled in and they have been nice to me, nicer than everyone else in my family. They kept throwing me in the pool. "Wouldn't it be funny to see if Tommy can swim." Well, ha, ha, ha. Yes, I can swim, I'm a dog, for God's sake. But I don't like it in that pool, and daddy, if you're reading this, don't throw me back in or else I won't let you scratch me behind my ears anymore.

Well, gotto go. My big brother wants the computer (so what else is new?).

'Will Be Dealt With?'

I'm back!!! I'll try to post as often as I can, but may have trouble getting on-line. My big brother and big sister are home all day this week and hogging both computers. I do like them being home, but wish they would share the computers more with me.

Had a great time at Happy Tails for the last two weeks. Maybe I'll post more on that later. But unfortunately, I came home with a cough. I think Bubba the Terrier was spreading all the diseases.

Now, on a more serious topic, my owners bided their time in Israel whilst I vacationed. I glanced through some of the pictures they brought home. They are quite interesting, but I was horrified by this one. OK, I get it, maybe there are some places we dogs shouldn't go. But what exactly does that mean - 'will be dealt with?' As I understand it, this photo was taken in Israel, at a park overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, north of Tel Aviv. Does that kind of language sound familiar? Just substitute the word 'Jew' for the word 'dog' and I think you'll catch my drift. As I don't think I'll be visiting Israel any time soon.

Gone Fishin

I'll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks. Don't know if I'll have access to a computer, but if I do, I'll post some updates. In the meantime, what do you think of Abby? Can you believe she was voted 'Dog of the Week.' With that kind of competition, no doubt, I'll be coming home with the trophy.

Peace out,
Tommy

The 'M' Word

I think it's time to eliminate the 'M' word (you know, MU*T) from our vocabulary. It's hurtful and it's derogatory. We dogs with parents of different breeds prefer the term 'DIVERSE BREED'. There is nothing more painful for me than to go to the dog park and hear the other dogs refer to me with that M word (like they're so high and mighty). So please, the next time you see a dog like me, for instance with a poodle for a daddy and a cocker spaniel for a mommy, be careful how you refer him or her. We dogs may not always show it, but we are sensitive.

Thank you.

Who Dunnit?

Check out the great card from me to my Daddy. It came in the mail yesterday. He opened it, was very happy, he hugged me, and told me I was a good dog for thinking of him. Only trouble is . . . I didn't send it. How could I? It was postmarked from suburban Maryland, where I haven't been since I left Autumn View Farm in Mt. Airy where I spent my early months.

So the question is, who dunnit? I'm not mad or anything, it was a nice card and daddy scratched me extra behind my ears. But I'd just like to know. So if it was you, you can leave me a comment or give me a shout-out at tommythecockapoo@cox.net.

Family Searches Feces of Cash-Eating Dog

Yuk. That's GROSS. Imagine, a dog eating cash.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070720/D8QG1KEO0.html

My Namesake?

I was told I was named after a 'Tommy Lasorda', and this is a picture of the only person I could find on the internet by that name. It looks like some fat guy in pajamas. It's got to be a mistake. Anyone got a clue?

Check out my new 'do'

Hey, check it out. I was just groomed - a bath, trim, the works. It was kinda strange. I'm used to being dragged to some place and shoved in a small crate to be groomed. But this time, a big van driven by a nice lady, came to my house. I went inside and she bathed me (I didn't like that part) and then clipped me - all right in my front yard. And then she gave me a new squeaky toy, patted my on the head, and said I was a good boy. It was fun.

So what do you think, how do I look?

My Mom

I just received an e-mail from my mother, Cherokee. She sent a picture of herself and I'm so thrilled that I had to post it right away. Isn't she pretty? I'm going to print this off, frame it, and hang it in my crate.

Michael Vick and Dog Fighting

I was browsing the internet today, and came across this disturbing story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/17/vick/

Let me first say that I'm not completely against dog fighting, per se. While I'm not a fighter, myself, I'm not one to tell another dog he can't earn a living. But this seems just seems like wanton exploitation of my brethren and I don't think these dogs wanted to fight, but were made to. This Michael Vick is a bad person:

"Vick himself participated in the killings of eight dogs in April, according
to the indictment. The animals were killed "by various methods, including
hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground," the
indictment said." OUCH.

Look at the picture. I think I see some cockapoos in the cage. That's just not right. We cockapoos aren't fighters; we're much better at being house dogs, sleeping, being chased, eating, and maybe a little light wrestling for fun.

My Diploma

Hello. Beautiful day in McLean. We slept in late. I tried to sneak onto the bed a few times, but it didn't work. But I slept comfortably.

I wanted to present my bonifides to the blogging world - my puppy school diploma.

Canine Rights - Underdog

I'll open with a very controversial subject - canine rights. My Daddy showed me the trailer to a new blockbuster movie, Underdog. I really want to see the movie, but Daddy told me that dogs are not allowed in movie theaters and I will have to wait until the movie comes out on DVD before I can see it. Do you realize that even the dog who plays underdog will not be allowed to see his own movie in the theater? This is only the latest in a long list of canine rights abuses. So what do you think? Should dogs be allowed to see movies in the theaters with people? Let me know what you think.