Dear Oscar, I noticed a lull in your running log between Sept 4 and Sept 22. What gives? -- Running Coach

Dear Coach,

Here's the thing. Alison and Mark are always training for these big events. And here I run with them -- basically get them trained and ready to go. Do they say thank you? Do they bring me to the event?

The latest event that I wasn't allowed to attend was the PumpkinMan Triathlon in Maine. You think I didn't want to go swim in the pond and run the half-marathon with them? So they really didn't run at all the week before the race, and then they left me at home for like 4 days.

Meanwhile, there's more to the story. We went for a big hike last Saturday in Lincoln, Vermont. (Not Lincoln, Nebraska in case anyone is wondering.) Anyway, a mile into the hike, I caught a scent. I'd say it was a wild animal, but I can't even be sure. All I know is I got all excited and split. Mark and Alison were so worried! They actually walked back to the car looking for me! Like I would go to the car! Anyway, because of me we got to hike 13 miles instead of 10 (they should be thanking me!). However, on my little foray, I must have twisted my front leg. When I went to the group run the next day, I was limping all over the place, so I walked with my friend Todd who was pushing his baby Henry.

It was a little embarrassing to be stuck with the walkers, but I suppose it was for the best.

Hope this answers your question,
Oscar

Dear Oscar, From your blog, I see that you are an excellent writer for a dog. But have you tried your hand at photography? -- Picture-Perfect

Dear Perfect,

I am so glad you asked! In addition to writing my blog, I am also a highly skilled picture-taker. In fact, today in the middle of our hike, I took the pictures below of Mark, Ali, Gladys, and me, thinking they would make nice shots for the Aiken family Christmas card. Let me know which one you think would be best.

Taking pictures can be a challenge for a dog. For one, it isn't easy holding a camera with paws. But mostly, it's tough getting everyone to sit still. Pix below...

Your friend, Oscar

Dear Oscar, Do you or any of the pets in your household have nicknames? -- An interested Reader

Dear Reader, We are one of those families with more animals than people. And, yes, the pets run this household. Here are some of the animals I live with and their nicknames.

Scout
Cat
Age 15
Scouty-boy
Scouterrific
Scouteromovich
Orange-white



Gladys
Puppy
Age 9 months
Gladiator
Pup Squeak
Pupper dog
Glad-dog
Sog-dog


Waffle
Cat
Age 3 years
Wafflekins
Waflo
The waffle-nator
Orange
Mouse Killer






Oscar
Dog
Age almost 5 years
Oscar-nator
Bubber
Yellow
Yeller
Buddy

Dear Oscar, I heard Hurricane Irene hit Vermont the hardest. Did the storm affect you? -- Weather-Watcher

Dear Watcher,

As you can see from these pictures -- all taken of my street -- yes, the storm affected us. Fortunately, our family and our stuff is safe. In fact, our great friend Craig from South Carolina got stranded here with us for 24 hours and even helped us split and stack half of our winter firewood supply!

Sadly, however, we have neighbors who were hit harder than us. For example, at Maisie the lab's house, the basement was totally flooded. Also, all of the surrounding cornfields were flooded and destroyed -- which affects all of the cows in our neighborhood.

What is left of the cornfields also affects me -- quite profoundly, I might add. Seeing all of the corn plants that had been flattened by the swollen river, I did the logical thing yesterday on our morning walk: I ran off, skipped the walk, and munched on ears of corn all morning. Made sense to me, right? Well, it turns out that river-soaked corn isn't so good for a yellow dog; last night, I threw up everything I ate. And although I was completely willing to clean it up afterwards (as was my little sister Gladys), Mark made us steer clear of the mess, while he cleaned it up himself and (gasp!) threw it all away. What a waste!

So as you can see, Irene affects not just people, but dogs too. Best wishes to those who are still digging themselves out. And remember, river-soaked corn is no good to eat -- especially in large quantities.

Your friend, Oscar

Photos (clockwise, from top left): A flooded cornfield; After the flood, Gladys inspects river-flattened corn; High water mark next to our road; Gladys inspects debris left by the river.

Dog Park Blues

Thursday we visited Burlington's Starr Farm Dog Park. I have been there many times, and I usually serve as pack leader/park greeter. I go there and run and run and run and run... and when I'm not running, I'm dog-wrassling. It's a great time.

Except on Thursday, my attitude towards the park was a little different. I haven't visited all summer, and you know? At four years old -- almost five -- I sort of felt... over it. I didn't really run much. Yes, there were other dogs there. And yes, some wanted to play -- including a 1-year-old yellow lab that weighed like 80 pounds. At one point I did sort of chase two brown huskies -- but I admit it was half-hearted. I guess ever since Gladys joined the family, I can do all the dog-wrassling I want right in the living room. And with our almost-daily walks to the river, running around in an open space is really not a novelty. I'm not saying I'll never visit the park again -- and I may even run around next time. All I'm saying is that, for me, the luster has sort of worn off the dog park.

Am I spoiled? Do I have it made? I'm not going to say.

But I think you know the answer.

Back to School

I have to admit, I wondered if I really needed more school. Hadn't I already aced my way through "Think Like a Dog" Level 1? What was really left for me to learn in Level 2?

Meanwhile, I know my human had other concerns. He hasn't been satisfied with our progress since Level 1. Notice I didn't say "my" progress. That is because Mark believes that any achievement (or under-achievement) on my part is due in part to his abilities (or lack of abilities) as a dog trainer. If I don't come when I'm not on a leash, he thinks it's because his actions have shown me that I can get away with not coming when I'm not on my leash.

Which I can! So what were they going to do about it?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure Mark was worried they were going to send us back to Level 1. It turns out he had nothing to worry about. I have to say, once I get to school, my attitude changes. I find myself wanting to please everyone. We did an agility course where the owners have to get their dogs to go through a tunnel. I didn't want to at first, but once I did it once, I got a big kick about doing it over and over. I was one proud dog! Meanwhile, Mark asked straight up how to transform me into a dog who comes. April, the dog trainer, showed him how to use a long line (NOT a retractable leash, she emphasized) to train me. And I have to say, we've been on it this week since class. It's kind of cool because I can still run around a little bit (nothing like I usually do, of course), but the human still has control of his dog to make whatever corrections he wants. The weird part is I find myself wanting to be a good dog.! Like I said... it's very strange.

Meanwhile, up at school, Alison and Gladys were a team. While I walked around proudly acing all the tests and challenges, Gladys was the best "comer" in the group. Gee whiz, puppy, it's just a piece of cheese, for goodness sakes! It's not like they're giving you a steak. Get ahold of yourself!

Bottom line: Level 2 was a good time for everyone involved. So watch out -- I may become a well-behaved dog yet.

Dear Oscar, Were you and your new puppy able to go swimming over the holiday weekend? Lifeguard from Louisville

Dear Lifeguard,

We spent the entire holiday weekend at the Aiken camp in North Hero. It was HOT, and, yes, we did get to do some swimming... obviously!

I should clarify "hot" and mention that being on the lake does cool things down considerably. And the breeze coming out of the south all weekend was so refreshing! But Gladys and I made many forays down to the beach for swimming, sniffing, and exploring.

One difference between Gladys and me that has come to light since her arrival in the family is how she handles water. Clearly, we both have Lab in our ancestry: just look at our heads, fur, and noses. But where I have inherited the typical "water-dog" traits -- the webbed paws, the fur that, like Gore-tex, repels water, and a buoyancy that makes swimming easy -- Gladys is the opposite. First off, when she gets in over her head, her tendency is to sink. You should see her dog-paddling like crazy just to stay afloat! You have me, pretty much just paddling every now and then for steering purposes while she is cranking her front feet to keep her head above water! Then when we get out, I shake once, and I'm pretty much dry. Gladys is sopping wet for hours! She drips like a wet cat, for crying out loud! No matter how much she shakes, she keeps dripping. Alison sometimes has to wipe her down with a towel.

This isn't saying she doesn't like the beach. Gladys munched on several dead fish, sniffed all the smells, and wades in quite willingly. I don't doubt we'll log many more hours down there. But, for now, I'm thanking my lucky stars for my good swimmer's genes.

Oscar