Loot!

I hear that in the 1960s, kids who went in for check-ups got lollipops.

By the 1990s, sugar had been exposed as a health hazard, so pediatricians started handing out stickers to their young patients instead.

I gotta tell you, those old-time docs got nothing on mine!

The other day I went in for a routine Bortedella booster. Mom waited patiently in the lobby as way more time than necessary passed. Finally, the veterinary technician brought me back to her.

“Administering a shot doesn’t usually take so long,” she apologized. “But we all wanted a turn to cuddle with Scout.”

My membership in VCA Care Club meant there was no charge for the vaccine, but Mom didn’t know that. As she approached the front desk preparing to pay, the receptionist asked, “Does Scout like to play with balls?” She waggled a mini-tennis ball before me as Mom considered whether to take it.

“We know Scout likes to wear bandanas,” she said. (Apparently, they read my blog!) “Maybe you’d prefer a bandana?”

“Orange or blue?” her colleague asked me.

“Oh, give him one of each,” the first one said. “And a ball.”

I came home with a bushelful of loot — so much I hardly remember the shot! Now that’s what I call good bedside manner.

Picky Playtime

I try to play and exercise every day. Luckily, I’m small enough that I can play inside, when I’m in the mood!

But here’s the thing, I won’t play with just anybody. And I have to be in the mood, I’m very particular about what mood I’m in when I’m playing. Don’t take it personally if I’m not feeling playful when you visit, it’s just how I am, and being playful on command is a trick this dog ain’t learning. (Woof!)

Lucky for me, I’m small enough that when I do want to play, I basically have my run of the house; I’m small enough to play inside and outside. Outside I like to chase squirrels and roll on the ground, and inside I usually play fetch with my toys, tug of war, or tricks and treats. I’ll tell you more about tricks and treats when I’m feeling more confident!.

I’ll play fetch with just about anything, but I get to pick the toy. Again, I can’t help it, I know what I like! Only a few special people can pick the toy for me. Playtime is a time when I really let down my guard, so I’ll only play with people I feel safe with… I hope that doesn’t make me sound spoiled!

Toy Collection: I had a little Blue Thing...

This is another one of my favorite toys, my blue thing! It looks a lot like my fish, but it plays music when I chew on it: “dreidel dreidel dreidel.” I don’t know what it means! Mom gave it to me when I was helping her run the Hillel in the winter. There were a lot more things shaped like my blue thing around the house back then, but I guess they’re seasonal, because after eight nights, we put them all away! Luckily my blue thing is in season all year long.

I saw some people around the house spinning these things, but mine doesn’t spin very well. It’s really chewy though! In fact, I’ve chewed on it so much, mine has a hole in it… I hope I don’t need to wait until next winter to get a new one!

Toy Collection: Fish

I have lots of great toys, but one of my favorites is my blue and white fish! I love to play tug of war and fetch with it, and when I chew on it, it makes a noise! When I bite down it says “Oy vey.” Actually, I think this is my second fish. Mom had to buy me a new one because I chewed on my first one so much, I ripped it and broke the noise maker. Oh well. That’s the sign of a well loved toy, right?

Mom also likes my fish a lot. I can’t read, but she thinks it’s funny that it says “gefilte” on it. We play together almost every day! Have a good weekend everyone!