Posts Tagged ‘puppy’

During Twitter chat yesterday a Corky puppy pal had a wish list to pick just one fun thing for the weekend that included: dog park, bacon, long nap, long walk, or cheese. Dad decided we could try to do all in one day, and almost did.

The photo above was taken earlier today at Mill Slough Dog Park in Kissimmee, Florida, and shows Corky the shelter dog peeking over a tree stump. The long nap, long walk, and cheese were a snap. I’ll get bacon tomorrow to complete the weekend quadfecta.

Any day is a good day going to the dog park, and after days and days of rain today was perfect. The wish list and Dog Park Weekend Challenge will be a huge success even if we miss that bacon tomorrow. With so many pals still in animal shelters waiting to be adopted, I really am a lucky dog.

Thinking of adding a pet to your family? Visit your local animal shelter to rescue a cat or dog today.

The photo below shows me close to baby ducks (again). I figured I’d let out my secret for getting close to baby ducks. The photo is cropped for this blog illustration, so follow this link to the baby ducks and puppy pal wallpaper (1200 px wide) for a big version of the complete graphic, or click the illustration here:

The illustration shows a Momma duck with 8 baby ducks looking at me, Corky. Notice the leash is loose so I’m free to move about while Dad was taking the photo, and then realize Momma knows I won’t lunge at her or the ducklings.

The secret to this trust is revealed in the photo insert that shows a big knife used to prepare bread cubes. Besides those pieces of bread just cut on the paper towel, some are already in the plastic bag Dad carries to entice the ducks closer (and closer).

Look in the green grass between the ducks and me and see pieces Dad tossed on the ground. He has taught me “leave it” and “stay”, so he trusts me and so does the Momma duck after getting closer and closer over weeks and weeks. That’s my secret for how you become a puppy pal to baby ducks.

It’s my birthday! How time flies when you’re a rescue puppy in a forever home! I have nearly forgotten those distant memories of being dumped on the street at 4 months old, being scared about finding food and shelter, and then doing time in doggy jail including a jailhouse tattoo.

The photo below shows my new pal Beauregard met outside the groomers today on my birthday. He’s a rescue dog like me. I’m 2 today and Beauregard was born a day earlier only 3 years ago. If I’d asked “What WERE you… born yesterday?” his reply would have been “yes”.

That’s me (top left) and Beauregard (right) touching noses, and then two circle photo inserts of him showing off two more views in the lower corners with his BIG puppy eyes. He’s a rescue puppy and his parents live in Jacksonville, Florida. That’s hours and hours away yet they were in Kissimmee on business, and took Beau with them!

Besides the two puppy birthday boys, @PrincessGwenie my Twitter puppy gal pal and cutie patootie was 3 today! Happy Birthday to Beau and Gwenie!

This title describes ME, Corky the Shelter Dog. I am one of those dogs who entertain themselves. As one example, I play alone with my ball flipping it in the air, letting it bounce, stalking it, chasing it, and pouncing on it. I play from one end of the house to the other for long periods of time.

Watch my eyes and you’ll discover I’m in another world just pretending while having fun yet oblivious to anything or anyone around. Here’s another of those dogs who entertain themselves.

The photo of this medium sized brown dog stalking a dragonfly was taken 2 weeks ago at Fleet Peeples Dog Park near Orlando. The circle above his head shows the dragonfly in flight while the large insert shows an enlarged view of the bug.

Use the circle above the dog’s head for reference for a better look. How? View the brown dog stalks dragonfly wallpaper (1200 px wide) and study the look in his eyes as he stares at the bug. Remember the circle above his head, and the dragonfly should be easier to spot now.

Unlike this narrow strip illustration cropped from the original photo, the desktop wallpaper version shows a large and beautiful area of Fleet Peeples Dog Park including trees, grassy area, bushes in bloom, the wooden bench, and woods.

That brown dog stayed on the grassy area playing alone for 10-15 minutes as he leaped and chased the dragonfly back and forth in a 30 foot square open area. The fun time continued similar to me “in another world just pretending” while maybe 30-40 dogs frolicked on the beach just 100 feet away.

A dog can be alone at home or out with 40 dogs nearby while playing solo to entertain themselves. Dad’s theory concludes this canine behavior is a sign of superior intelligence. Who could argue with that?!

My newest puppy pawpal is a gentle giant English Mastiff met during a surprise trip to Fleet Peeples Dog Park near Orlando yesterday. Check out the photograph collage of my pal Brutus the Mastiff who weighs a whopping 170 lbs (77 kg), and he’s just a puppy!

His owner said Brutus may gain another 70 lbs before he’s full grown. That will make him bigger than my Dad, or equal to 12 of me at 19 lbs! Click the photo or this link for Brutus in desktop wallpaper size (1200px wide).

One problem being such a big dog as explained by the owner, is most dogs don’t want to play. Brutus the Mastiff tried and tried to make friends and play with EVERY dog there, yet most ran away. How sad. He truly is a gentle giant which you will understand once you look past the size.

The usual springtime ducklings were late this year as 13 baby Muscovy ducks appeared last week at the canal near home in Kissimmee, Florida. This puppy is almost 2 years old and gets an A+ in training, so I’ve become a well behaved puppy with baby ducks.

The 2 photos shown above are (left) the Muscovy Momma duck in the water at the edge of the canal in a closeup with some of her 13 ducklings, and then (right) a photo of me, Corky the shelter dog, less than a foot away while sniffing several ducklings.

In my dog training the leave it command can be for ducks, squirrels, cats, people, or whatever, so I don’t bark or lunge at the baby ducklings. In just 1 week they learned I won’t hurt them, so they get really really close to my sniffer. Not shown, but very cute: another duckling walked across my tail.

Earlier today my life story on video continued as Corky Trip to the Groomers became the newest Corky video released. This is #7 and the last video of January 2009 (yes, 18 months ago) which featured 6 other early videos including my capture and doing time in doggy jail before becoming adopted. Playtime (02:39 min./sec.)

The Life with Corky the Shelter Dog video series and format shown on my main website includes the transcript of each video and narration for the benefit of hearing impaired persons, or others who just want to read along.

In addition, the life story series in video is on YouTube, plus my channel has exclusive YouTube Corky videos not shown on my website.

The next Life with Corky video episode “First Doggy Store Shopping Trip” was released earlier on YouTube as well as in the shelter dog video story section of this website. Watch this new episode here or visit Corky’s channel on YouTube to see this plus exclusive Corky videos NOT on this website. (Playtime 01:32 min/sec)

Some visitors may wonder why the site includes a different version with our custom video player in the story section. Those videos have a text transcript of the narration for hearing impaired persons so they may read the story while they watch.

You are welcome to comment here on the blog or follow the link in the right column and comment on YouTube, also.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but recently I’ve wondered about intelligence in dogs.

Curious, I decided to do research to uncover evidence of the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence. My guardians think I manage to score well in dog intelligence based on subjective evidence and informal tests, yet as a TerrierX (terrier plus mutt) how do I stack up when dogs are compared just by breed?

The brightest dogs by breed according to Stanley Coren, author of “The Intelligence of Dogs” are based on results from a survey of dog trainers.

Being one of the brightest dogs is defined as: Understanding new commands in less than 5 repetitions and then obey on first command 95% of the time, or better. Here’s the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence listed in order:

1) Border Collie, 2) Poodle, 3) German Shepherd, 4) Golden Retriever, 5) Doberman Pinscher, 6) Shetland Sheepdog, 7) Labrador Retriever, 8) Papillon, 9) Rottweiler, and 10) Australian Cattle Dog.

Reference: Dr. S. Coren, Neuropsychologist and Professor of Psychology, University of British Columbia

The closest I can determine my rank is #40 out of 79 based on being a mutt and part Wheaten according to my vet who considered my physique and coloring. Actually over 100 dog breeds were ranked because some were tied including 3 terrier breeds at #40.

Keep in mind intelligence can be one of 3 types. Adaptive and instinctive intelligence are 2 and specific to the individual dog as measured by canine IQ tests. Adaptive intelligence relates to learning and problem solving ability. A third type is the breed dependent or working/obedience intelligence presented here.

I learn quickly for a mutt, so still think my overall ranking when you include adaptive intelligence belongs in the top 10. Follow the link to Dog Intelligence Rated by Breed to find your dog’s ranking if not already listed in the top 10 breeds for dog intelligence.

Earlier this week my email included a pawpal ecard sent to Corky as shown below. The St Patty’s Day card was from a special Twitter doggy pal who also lives in Florida. His name is Buddy and he tweets as @WhereIsBuddy. Follow him on Twitter to see what he’s doing!

The writing says “May the luck of the Irish be with you!” and the red arrow points to “Buddy (@WhereIsBuddy)”. The illustration shows me looking at the card and reading it to two very cute kittens.

Why cute kitties? BOL! People can’t resist cute little kittens so even MORE pals will look at my card. Haha.