S.G. Blaise's Blog

Oh for the love of rain!

When it rains (doesn’t matter if it sprinkles or rains cats and dogs—no pun intended) Zeus and Apollo act like they never peed or pooped outside in their whole lives.

First, it starts with carefully choreographed movements that fully showcase their reluctance when it’s time to go outside.

Then, after a gentle push in the tush, they step outside, painstakingly avoiding any surface that’s wet. You might as well think they are close relations to Elphaba with how much they despise water. Fortunately...

My World Tour (okay, London Tour)

Growing up in Europe (Hungary), I always wanted to visit the UK, but never had the chance.

Fast forward twenty something years, and an opportunity opened up to attend a convention called For The Love of Fantasy.

My hubby and I didn’t hesitate to sign up and combine our trip with a brief vacation before the event, spending time in London.

From the first moment we arrived, it was a magical trip. The weather was beautiful (it’s a big deal over there), perfect for sightseeing. Everywhere I looked, f...

Apollo’s Vocabulary

Apollo is the master of doggie language (i.e.: whining.) He has perfected his tone over the years to, well, perfection. He also tends to communicate in full sentences, sometimes even in paragraphs.

Here is his vocabulary of tones (whining):

Auf – I need to be fed or taken out, RIGHT NOW!

Long whine, with a questioning uplift at the end – Have you seen my tennis ball? I know I left it here, somewhere.

Whine with a sob at the end – my family left me! I don’t want to die so young! Whatever am I goi...

Zeus’ Vocabulary

Zeus and I have a specific way of communicating with each other. When I say these words, this is what Zeus hears.

No = Mom and Dad’s favorite word
Stop barking = an encouragement to keep barking
Quiet = louder
It’s outside = run outside to bark
It’s only Dad = scream at Dad for scaring Mom
Let’s go to work = go lie down next to Mom while she is working
Stairs = we are going upstairs or downstairs for fun
Let’s play = bring the tennis ball or Zeus’s favorite toy to throw
Closer = stump on the ten...

Apollo’s Dreams

Apollo, just like his older brother Zeus, spends most of his time sleeping. He likes to curl over his two paws, with his back turned toward the big, scary world.

His favorite dream is when he gets to bark uninterrupted. He makes the cutest and softest little barks–though they are still full of passion and ire. He must be the alpha dog of the house, the one who gets to bark first and last.

Other times, he dreams of chasing flies–Apollo despises the pesky insects that fly into his face and bother ...

A Day in Zeus’s Life

Zeus is an early riser. He believes that the sun wakes up thanks to his gentle barking. It is an important job. He also lets the neighborhood know that he is there to keep a watchful eye out for anything suspicious.

Then he goes back to sleep after such hard work—a much deserved rest if you ask him.
Then, finally, his mom gets up and serves him a yummy breakfast of kibbles.
Zeus celebrates the wonders of breaking fast by going outside to sing, I mean bark.
After that, he takes a couple of hours ...

A Few of Apollo’s Favorite Things

Throwing up on soft surfaces, like carpet. Or on tiles. Or on the owner’s foot.

Sunbathing in a spot of sunshine, but never going on a walk outside the house.

Barking in his sleep, dreaming about chasing other dogs and not vice versa.

Taking long naps with legs stretched behind him.

Ignoring commands like, Come here! or Sit! or Stay!

Playing with an orange (or a yellow or a blue or a red) mini tennis ball—no other toy will do in their stead.

Resting in his grandma’s lap for hours, or in his mom’...

A Few of Zeus’s Favorite Things

Throwing up from his mom’s lap.Running after a tennis ball for hours.Bothering everyone to throw said tennis ball.Sleeping curled up under a pillow, or under the sofa.Wagging his tail in his sleep.Peeing over Apollo’s pee spot (and missing it by a mile).Smelling his or Apollo’s poop from less than an inch apart.Following his mom everywhere.Eating lamb flavored treats (that are really medicine).Barking at anyone or anything.Barking to bark.Barking in his sleep.Barking at his dad when...

Apollo’s Careful Consideration

Apollo is the type of dog—not just a small dog—who likes to consider the many aspects of life.

For example, when someone passes by, he listens first, then barks second. If it’s a dog, then all bets are off.

Another example is dog toys. Apollo prefers tennis balls, the smaller variety, over other toys. He often studies the round orange (or blue, or yellow) toy for long moments, gazing at it with appreciation. He only likes to fetch once or twice, but definitely not over three times in a row.
Last...

Zeus’s Bark

Zeus is a very smart dog. He knows the maximum number of barks in a row that are tolerated by his mom (that’s 3 in case you’re wondering) and he carefully portions his barks out in a one two-one-one-one two rhythm, to get the best out of his neighborhood watch.

If he gets carried away, it happens often since Zeus takes his neighborhood watch job seriously. His mom asks him to come inside.

But that’s okay. Once inside, he gets a lot of attention and pets for listening to his mom. Sometimes, he pr...