Dear Oscar, Would you say there are advantages for a puppy to have an older brother like yourself? -- Dog Psychologist

Dear Dog-Shrink,

The answer is obvious: that puppy has it made. Think about it. When you come into a situation where perfection is modeled for you every day, it's very advantageous. Take, for example, the hiking trip we took last weekend. Friday night, we drove out to New Hampshire, stopping along the way at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. Dog Mountain is a place where dogs can run, swim, and play -- and even visit a special dog chapel and a gift shop. We visited both -- while running, swimming, and playing. We arrived at a campsite in Gorham where Mark and Ali set up a tent, cooked dinner, and climbed into their sleeping bags. I showed Gladys (and Berkley, who was with us for the weekend while his human visited a foreign country to the north of the United States) how to sleep through the night and keep the tent nice and warm.

The next morning, we were at the trailhead of the Airline Trail before dawn and at the top of Mount Adams, the second highest peak in the Presidentials, by 830AM. It was crazy windy, but I showed Gladys how to put her nose into the wind so that her ears flapped. That's so much fun!

We descended to Star Lake and then climbed Mount Madison. I stayed right on the trail and didn't even freak out when we saw a moose -- again, a good role model for my impressionable little sister. The way down was pretty rocky as we took a more obscure route -- the Watson Path to the Brookside Trail. The less beaten path proved to be a good choice; we saw about ten hikers, but at the trailhead there must have been 250 cars! Crazy!

It was a great weekend, but I want you to think for a minute. If I hadn't been such a great hiker all these years, do you think Mark and Ali would be taking Gladys on hikes? And when Gladys follows me everywhere I go on these hikes -- to all the good drinking spots and all the good smells -- do you agree that she's a pretty lucky dog?

I figured you'd see things my way.

Your friend, Oscar

Dear Oscar, What is your favorite weather to run in? Also, what season do you prefer for running? -- Track Star

Dear Star,

By far, I like cool and foggy mornings. In fall.

At least that was my preference THIS morning when I ran with Alison. Tomorrow I may prefer hot, sunny afternoon runs. In a couple of months, I'll prefer winter, for sure.

So I guess, to answer your question, it's a tie: I like all weather. And all seasons. My favorite? I just like running. As for when, where, or how, it doesn't matter. I like all of it.

Your friend, Oscar

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.