Just Jack

Jack is very much the big brother. He's much more serious than Joe (that implies Joe is serious which in no way is he) and loves taking care of Joe too. Jack's movie star persona (per Pheenix) is George Clooney, it's a good comparison - handsome and serious yet slightly quirky. Jack has his own set of nicknames as well..."Jacky," "Jack Jack," "Little Jack," "Yack Yack" and "Handsome." Like Joe, he responds to all his love-names.

Whhhaaat...what dog doesn't sleep between his people?

Jack is never in trouble (not counting the NOT eliminating on leash) and while we're on our walks he is never that far from me and always makes a round back to check in. Jack will also "tell" on Joe when Joe is being bad, he has this certain look on his face and it just screams Mom, Joe is being bad!

He is very serious about sleeping in bed with Perry and me. He ends up many nights in between us like a four year old child. He will sleep under the covers with his head on the pillow and loves to spoon. Another thing that is very serious business to Jack is greeting Perry when he gets home...it's a full on barkfest of love! Although the barking is not something we encourage and really it's something that drives us crazy, but who can resist being totally and completely adored when you walk in after a day at work? You gotta take it how you get it sometimes!

Get to Know Joe

Joe is cute! Everyone thinks so, even the Charter guy said so. My daughter, Pheenix, says Joe's human look-alike is Vince Vaughn. I love it! We have many nicknames for Joe too..."Joey," Joe Joe," "Joeg," "Yogi," "Stinkers," "Little Stinkers," "Yo-Yo" and his rap name, "Yo-Master-Yo." He will respond to all those names too, does anyone else have nicknames for their dogs?

Kickin' It "Yo-Master-Yo" Style

Joe is also an adventurer! I believe that when we are on our walks he is in his own little world. Some days he's an English Cocker Spaniel flushing all the quail from their hideouts for his quail hunting person, other days he's a Rat Terrier shoving his nose into any hole in the ground, then there's the days he's an explorer poking his head into every Rabbit Brush bush and nook & cranny of rocks looking for gold.

Joe is ruled ultimately by his stomach. This Corgi can find food anywhere...he will sniff it out and start gulping within seconds of retrieving what he considers a delicious morsel. It could actually be appropriate food stuffs or very likely inappropriate "food" stuffs. Whatever, Joe loves to eat! He likes to eat so much that he's been on a diet all year. Last year the vet said Joe needed to be under 40 pounds. This means he eats diet food and not very much of it. This also means he has to walk everyday, eat diet snacks or whole grain Goldfish and has a special Martha Stewart doggie bowl that has challenging objects in it so he eats slower...yeah right.

Establishing Authority...or Not

WARNING: Poop Talk Ahead!

Okay so I'm still working on the whole authority thing. I'm not sure I'm making any headway and I certainly don't blame the Corgis (entirely) but what I ask you is...Will Jack EVER poop while on leash? Now, Joe, he's the poopenest dog I know, no problem there, but Jack, he just refuses, and I know he's refusing on purpose. It's an actual thought going through his head, I know Mom wants me to poop while I'm on this dumb leash, but I'll show her! Grrrrr, it's frustrating! But, again, I don't blame him (entirely)...I've never owned dogs that I actually had to train and honestly (although we did try a couple of obedience classes) was avoiding most training except for the basics-sit-down-off-stay, some of which work all the time and others work some of the time, but actual training...not so much. Now that we're somewhat city dwellers and actually have encounters with other dogs, people and we do not have a fenced yard and poop walks are necessary and Winter is just around the corner, it's just time to get them trained, more importantly get Jack trained to poop while on leash! I've got to get myself a Cesar Millan book.

Good Sit.

Maddening Love

Along with the move and the 500 million other life changes I'm trying to make, one of them includes presenting myself as the pack leader in our little Corgi pack. This means for the majority of our walks the Corgis are on leash. This also means that if they have to (sorry) poop, they have to eliminate while on leash. This also means meeting up with other walkers, walkers with their dogs, joggers, kids on bikes AND golfers! This is where the maddening part comes in...while on our morning walk, along side the Kiley Ranch golf course, yes there were golfers, Joe is well, his weird defensive self and as one of the golfers is in his back swing Joe lets out with one of his ear splitting, high-pitched yelps. And, he won't stop and I'm menacinglywhispering under my breath, "Joe, Joe, Joe." But, this is when he gets in the zone...he cannothear me! Oh, but the golfers can and they yell at him too, "Joe!" Will the world open up and swallow me now?

So, yes, this story does lead to the love part. This is the day we chose our babies, Joe is on the right and his sister Stella (my Mom's pup). It was a beautiful Northern Nevada October day when we drove out to Palomino Valley, and when I say chose our babies, I mean Joe chose us. While sitting enjoying all the puppy love, up into my daughter's lap Joe crawled, we knew he was the one. And then, what can you not love about this picture?

For the Love of Patrick

Both Jack and Joe love my nephew Patrick. And, because I don't allow them to lay on him and lick him at will the next best thing is well, Mickey. I gave Patrick this Mickey and now when he visits me he brings it with him...this is a good thing - makes a perfect pillow for Joe!

It's October - Time for the "Hot Dog"

I'm actually getting somewhere in this move. My office is just about done, the bedroom is almost there and the living room...well not so much. That said, once I find my camera and put it on the charger I will have new Corgi Adventures to share! And, because it's October and Halloween, one of my very favorite holidays (not sure if it's because my birthday is in October, or if it's the fun of dressing like my alter ego or just all the candy) is around the corner, I thought I'd post the "Hot Dog" picture from last year's Halloween.

Here Jack is contemplating the Halloween fix he's in. I just know he's thinking these people think they're funny...