Fun Things

 Friday, me and Stanley went to the fort to have fun with our friends.  When we are there, wonderful things happen.  We play, we swim and best of all - we get really, really, really, dirty! I also get to see my hero Bert.  And another bestest thing is that Goose's mom throws the ball and I get to chase it with Bert!  Goose's mom has the best pitching arm in the universe!  I can't help it, when she throws the ball I go crazy and jump for joy!

It isn't just me, all the dogs know she has a great pitching arm.  We talk about it all the time.  We are going to nominate her to the Ball Hall of Fame as soon as we can type up the letter.  When she starts winding up her arm, we all stop and pay attention!

Another good thing that happens is something Stanley wants to keep a secret:  He has a crush on Baci!  She is not only beautiful but has a great personality!

 Anyway, just to show you how much fun we have, we made a video for you.  We hope you like it:

On Saturday, me and Stanley went to the Doodle Clubhouse for a looooong time.  We never stay there for a long time but this time we did!  We were suspicious when mom and dad didn't come back in an hour or two.  When they did come back, they were all dirty!  They were also tired.  Me and Stan thought they went to the fort without us but mom told us they went on a hike to the top of Ben Lomond Peak, over 9,000 feet!  I asked if she was sure they didn't really go to the fort.  She promised they did not and then she showed me some pictures to prove it.  She said when me and Stanley get big we can go there too but it is 16 miles and we aren't ready for that distance yet.  She is right, that is a very long way!

Mom says there isn't much shade on the hike.

But the view is so beautiful!

Dad stopped to chat with others.  Nine people went on the hike.

There are lots of rocks, mom says that is why her feet hurt.

Mom took a picture of dad on top of the mountain.

After mom and dad got rested up, they said they needed to talk to us about our trip to swim in the ocean.  Together we all decided that we should leave later this week so dad called and made reservations at an RV camp.  It is right by the ocean and a redwood forest.  Me and Stanley are so excited!  We hope everybody had a fun weekend and is watching all the excitement on the Blogville Olympics!


Murphy



PS - Today's Blogville Olympic events are:  Mayzie hosting Camera Avoidance Tae Kwon Do and Rubie hosting Equestrian

Marathon Chewing - Authorized Division

Today is THE day!  After weeks of anticipation, months of training, and what feels like FOREVER, it is time for our event.  We have two categories for the Marathon Chewing Event so be sure you check them both out!

Ready . . . set . . . Let the chewing begin!!!!

In the "Authorized Chewing" event:

Hunter, at 7 months of age, may be a young athlete but has "cute" totally locked up as he starts in on his chew.  Notice that his youth doesn't stop him from taking on a larger challenge.  Many pups would be too intimidated to go for a bigger chew! And he gets extra points for smiling at the camera!  Good luck Hunter, go for the gold!

Our pretty athlete  Lily begins chewing on her Hello Kitty stuffie with a show of style and grace.  She shows absolutely no signs of stress.  We think she plans to intimidate her competitors with her relaxed approach. She flirts with the camera with a slight wink of her left eye but make no mistake, she's in it for the gold!

Our next athlete is Benny.  As you can see, he is totally focused on the task at hand.  This is the approach of a master! His eyes are locked on the chew as he methodically begins on the corner.  Benny sets the bar high with this kind of drive!

Lily Belle takes a side approach to her chewing.  Ever the lady, she uses her tongue to avoid any unnecessary drool.  She is living proof that you can be a serious athlete and maintain your looks.  Such style and finesse must be admired and praised!

Muffin sizes up the competition as she prepares to begin her chewing.  She isn't easily distracted and keeps her lovely paw (with those sexy long nails!) on her chew lest a competitor attempts to take it from her.  

Molly has taken on the challenge of chewing an anaconda!  She looks fearless  as she manipulates the serpent into her special "chew-hold".  Watching this kind of action is intense and the judges are on the edge of their seats.  Athletes of this caliper captivate the crowd with their daring and courage!

Casey fears no bone!  It takes lots of training in order to take on a challenge this big.  And not only does Casey make it look easy, he doesn't even break a sweat!  We have a feeling that Casey could do this with one paw tied behind his back!  Casey has always been a crowd favorite for this event!

Cinderella likes to nibble her stuffie before going in for the full chew.  She approaches her  challenge with confidence that can only be gained through hard work.  The placement of her paws is proof of her confidence in her ability to carry this event to a personal victory!

Finn is obviously trying to distract the competition with his beautiful shiny coat.  He enters this competition with a matching rope toy.  Notice as he goes in for his beginning chew that he has methodically grasped the rope in its center location.  What aim!  Finn is quickly building his reputation as an athlete who doesn't cut corners and strives for meticulous delivery of the bite. 

Goose demonstrates a firm grip on his favorite blanket.  His years of expertise produce a perfectly equalized jaw pressure to assure the blanket is not destroyed.   His affection for the blanket is demonstrated with the placement of his paws resulting in an amazing vise-like grip and yet a combined measure of tenderness.  Young pups could learn a thing or two from this master athlete!

Duncan is a perfect example of an athlete's ability to  balance the chew treat while walking.  His confidence in this is noted with his easy stride.  He prefers the longer chews because he says his secret ambition is to compete on the high wire and this is a necessary skill to perfect in the beginning stages of high wire training.  The judges obviously think Duncan has mastered this and is ready!

Nola is a vision of joy and beauty, proving once again that a girl can show off her athletic abilities and still maintain her femininity!  Nola likes to "keep things natural" as she chews her driftwood.  She believes sports can be fun and still "stay green".  The judges can't help but notice that her neck scarf perfectly matches her dog tag. Coincidence or part of her impeccable style?

Oskar is a serious athlete that exemplifies determination and grit.  As he bears down on his Busy Chewnola, the look on his face tells you that he is all business about this competition.  He says he can already feel that gold medal in his paws!  We won't be surprised to see him on the platform holding gold!

Bertie has such a good time chewing that he just breaks out in giggles all over!  We love an athlete who doesn't take everything so seriously that there's no fun in it anymore.  The word at the Olympic tent is that if you're looking for fun, this is the athlete you need to keep an eye on!  Go Bertie!

Sarge enters the competition with a paper towel roll.  This clearly demonstrates his flexibility and willingness to accommodate his game for the current situation.  Great attributes for the official Police Chief of Blogville and one amazing athlete!  Sarge has a big fan base at these games and we're sure to see lots more of him!

Peanuts is such an experienced athlete that she can do this with her eyes closed!   She has a firm grip on her ball - not going to have any dropsies here! We have to admire an athlete that approaches her sport with such ease and confidence!  You go girl!

Reuben shows total commitment to his stuffie.  He says that you cannot expect to do well in this event unless you go for the gusto!  His "all-at-once" approach sure does exemplify this attitude!  The judges suspect Reuben has a bright future in this event! 

brinksey winksey pudding and pie (AKA Brinks) is crazy about his chews and we think this scene does a great job in showing it!  Some athletes like to keep a poker face during competition but not our Brinks!  He says if you have passion for a sport you have to show it.  Well done Brinks!

Shadow is one of those athletes who keeps a low profile and then suddenly, as everyone approaches the finish line, seems to come out of no where to claim victory!  No wonder - it looks like Shadow is making good progress with that chew.  This is going to be a done deal before you know it!  Nice job Shadow!

Rubie comes to this event from Australia, sporting a dried beef tendon. Whoa, this is a serious athlete who believes only the best "equipment" for this sport! We suspect most of the athletes in this competition will be jealous when they see Rubie compete. There's already talk about others trying to get to Rubie's trainer to find out where she shops for her equipment for this sport! Set the pace Rubie!

Betty White approaches her chew from the side.  She says  it allows her to compete in this event and still maintain her cute girly image.  We think the judges must agree that she has done exactly that!  She sets the bar high for cute and then when no one is suspecting anything else, she comes in for the chew.  Great job Betty - impressive!

Sadie has a friendly easy-going expression on her face as she starts on her chew.  She says this disarms the competition and helps her get in the lead.  She must be right because one of the judges almost leaned over to give her a pet!  She has the confidence of a highly trained and experienced Marathon Chewing athlete.  Her trainer is posting more pics on her blog today to demonstrate Sadie's versatility in chewing.  You're rocking it Sadie!

Lassiter Chase & Benjamin are a duo chewing team.  These two Shelties  are master chewers and often compete with each other.  Although they may look similar, you can see their technique is very different.  While Benjamin seems to prefer the "cigar style" grip, Lassiter Chase is going for the more serious deep side grip.  These two handsome fellas are sure to do well in this event!

Lorenza likes the additional challenge of chewing sticky marshmallow.  She says she likes to shake things up with varying textures and flavors.  In order to do well in this event she says the secret is to not get the marshmallow all over her mouth.  It takes lots of training to accomplish this and we think she has mastered it!

Magic is s special lady in how she magically chews her beef marrow bone.  Her determination and focus are readily apparent as she totally disregards the cheering crowds and keeps on chewing.  It seems like nothing is going to distract this lovely athlete from taking this event to its limits!  Well done Magic!

Storm is playfully flirtatious in how he approaches his chew.  His beautiful blue eyes capture the attention of the other competitors, temporarily making them forget this fella is a serious athlete and he is in it for the gold!  We think Stormie Pie could easily take this event by storm!

Corbin is no light weight in this event.  Instead of chewing a regular tennis ball, he wants to conquer the durability of a Kong ball.  We have to admire his desire to up the ante of his challenge!  The judges admire the way in which he grasps the ball as well as the way his snout muscles are working at high efficiency!  Go Corbin!!

Winnie grasps her chew with a lady-like side style.   She is the very embodiment of a sleek chewing machine!  Don't be fooled by her gentle touch, this lovely greyhound is nothing but serious in her quest for the gold.  She knows how to play the press and is a crowd favorite.

Buddy is said to be the official chewer of his family (notice he has his equipment lined up so he can quickly transition from bone to ball).  When he was just a pup, those who knew him say that he could probably chew his way out of prison!  Luckily, this fine fella has kept things on the straight and narrow as he worked his way up the ranks of this competition.  He is currently ranked as one of the top athletes in this event world wide!  Be sure to keep an eye on Buddy!

Shadow  is in this event for the love of the sport.  He can be busy doing other things and is always happy to stop for a quick chew.  But don't be fooled into thinking he takes it any less seriously than his siblings who are competing with him today!  He is a natural talent in this sport and we expect we'll see a lot more of him in future competitions!

Ginger is a bit of a girly girl with her single handed grip on her chew bone.  Her eyes tend to disarm her competition with their expression of tenderness.  She has taken on a seriously large bone but is confident that with perseverance she will defeat her fellow competitors.  Her motto is "Never give up!"


So there it is folks, your 2012 Blogville Olympics Marathon Chewing Athletes.  The cream of the crop and the best of the best!  In an unprecedented move, the judges have just declared all of the athletes as winners and are presenting EVERYONE with a gold medal!  Each athlete may proudly wear and display their gold medal for they truly are all winners!

Feel free to copy the medal to post to your blog.  Thanks you for participating and please come back to see us again.  It has been a pleasure being able to get to know you all!

Be sure to check out the Freelance Marathon Chewing post as well as the other event for today:   Puddles hosting Marathon Digging

Your Olympic Hosts,

Murphy & Stanley

Marathon Chewing - Freelance

It seems like it has taken a long time to get here but the day has finally arrived for our Marathon Chewing event.  There are 2 categories, this one and the other one Authorized Chewing, so be sure to check them both out!  So, without further delay . . .  let the games begin!

Ready . . . set . . . Let the chewing begin!!!!

In the "Freelance Chewing" event:

Ivy is a highly experienced athlete in our "Freelance Chewing" division.  But don't let this little pup fool you, she is like portable dynamite when it comes to chewing!  She is Jazzi's Texas cousin and says of her skills, "We do everything bigger in Texas."

Betty White also hails from Texas and proves once and for all that southern girls show style and grace in their athletic events.  She chose her mom's  favorite Cole Haan with Nike air heels as the object on which to perform her event.  The judges nod at her choice (even if her "trainer" didn't).  

Coming from the UK, we have Declan  showing us that not only is a seat belt an enjoyable chew, but it is quite tasty as well!  It appears that he has overcome the difficulty of a metal separation device.  The judges note his determination and grit!  Such drive and skill is something we can all learn from!  (PS - For the rest of the seatbelt story click here.)

Bertie has come from Scotland to participate in this Olympic event.  However, he still is denying that he was the one who was chewing on the card.  This is being reviewed by the Olympic judges and rumor has it they are prepared to issue the official word to Bertie:  Busted Bertie, the teeth marks match!  But we all still love you anyway cuz you're so dang cute!

Peanuts appears to be in a total state of bliss with some good ol' shoe chew.  This is an athlete who enjoys the basics of a good unauthorized chew. She brought it to the judge's attention that no pesticides were used in the manufacture of the shoe.  It is her continued pursuit to make this sport a more ecology friendly event. Peanuts calls it "getting back to basics".  We have to admire her ethics in making her choice!

Frank loves the fact that his sport is not just fun but tasty as well!  He believes that bathroom towels are a delicious way to start the day.  The judges are wondering if this towel is blueberry flavored?  He is keeping an eye on the competition.  No one is going to sneak past this guy!

Mayzie says she did NOT chew this flip flop!  "Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?" she wants to know.  Now, the judges did not personally witness this event but they're pretty sure she's GUILTY as charged!  However, no official declaration will be made until the DNA testing has been completed.

Roo  has selected lingerie as his freelance chewing subcategory.  We suspect that there have been many athletes who have tried time and time again to participate in this event but it takes determination and grit to reach this level of athleticism.  But wait . . . the judges have noticed something and are questioning the athlete.  Was he wearing the bra prior to chewing?  The judges noticed a strap appears to be still on Roo's left front leg.  But Roo assures them he did not violate the rules by wearing his chew subject.  Whew, that was a close one!  Go for the gold Roo!

Willow believes that her sport is best when it is also combined with functionality.  That is why she has assumed responsibility for her peep's appointments when she chews up their appointment cards!  The judges are impressed by her display of precision in the way she punctures the card with her teeth.  Willow is clearly no amateur and deserves to be in this competition!

This is an "ug oh!" moment for this athletic duo!  Lassiter Chase & Benjamin show off  their versatility in the way that they begin their event with chewing the wooden kitchen chair.  Many athletes would have stopped at this point, assuming that crossing the finish line was good enough.  But not this pair!  They exemplify teamwork with their continued chewing after duct tape is used to cover the original chew marks!  The judges are in awe with the thoroughness this team displays.  They are serious contenders for the gold!

Storm takes on the challenge of size.  Not every athlete would be willing to take on such a huge task as these cushions but Storm says there is nothing to fear because his training has given him the strength and agility to perform such a tough task at this high level.  The judges are impressed with the ease in which Storm appears to be handling the cushions and believe this is one athlete we all need to keep an eye on! 

Winnie is the type of athlete that likes to see functionality as part of her sport.  She has spend endless hours perfecting her skills so that she can chew open packages that arrive in the mail.  She can chew letters as well, considered a "courtesy chewing" but it is the challenge of the package chew that really captures her heart.  

Einstein is a master at this event and has recently offered to take on an apprentice in order to assure this talent is not lost within the Guinea Pig species.  He masterfully has chewed the bars on the cage to remove the pain.  At the same time he has trained his peeps to respond with food.  Here is proof once and for all that this event is not just all about brawn but brain as well! 

Darwin is in it for the pure love of the sport. he says he doesn't need any fancy medals to prove his worth as an athlete. The judges tend to agree with him and are mesmerized by the peaceful look on his face as he chews his cage. When an athlete loves his sport this much it makes those endless hours of training much easier. And the judges say that he may not need a fancy medal but he is clearly a contender for the gold! 

So there you have it folks, your 2012 Olympic Freelance Marathon Chewing event. I think we can all agree that these athletes represent the best of the best and are all worthy of standing on the platform with a gold medal around their neck!

Please feel free to copy the medal and display on your blog.  Thank you for participating in this event and stop by and see us again.  It his been our honor to serve as your hosts for this event.


Be sure to check out the Authorized Marathon Chewing post as well as the other event for today:   Puddles hosting Marathon Digging



Murphy & Stanley

What We Learned in Puppy School

Me and Murphy have been practicing what we learned in Puppy School.  Here are samples of what we learned.

Murphy showing what he learned.

Me showing what I learned.

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Stanley

Wordless Wenesday

Stanley