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Did you ever write to a dog before?
Comments are very important to me. You can write about my website, about my blog, about me, about your dog, about your cat, about your neighbor’s cat. You can write if your dog has been injured (or hit by a car, like I was). You can write about the street or the city or the country where you live because there are probably dogs there too! I doubt it, but it might help expand my vocabulary.
Although I can’t read, my parents can, and will make sure I get your message.
If you would like to respond to any specific posts, you can go to specific posts through my “Index”. If you are reading posts in any category and would like to comment on a particular post, please click on the TITLE of that post and you will see a “comment” field at the bottom of that post.
Much appreciated!
Joey
Hello,
The DogTime editorial team has been reading through hundreds of pet-related blogs and we’ve selected your blog to become part of the Dogtime Blog Network.
Who is DogTime? DogTime is the largest online community of animal lovers with 24.2 million unique visitors per month, 600 pet-focused websites and more than 350 blog network members. Our community includes the best dog, cat, bird, fish, reptile and horse bloggers from across the pet category.
Please visit DogTime.com to learn more about our mission.
As part of the Dogtime Blog Network, you will reach a larger audience of animal enthusiasts, plus you will have access to DogTime’s powerful tools that can drive both traffic and revenue to your blog.
Participation is simple, as we will use your existing RSS feed to feature your blog and posts. If you would like to participate, simply reply to this email with your acceptance. Once approved we will send you your DogTime Blog Star badge to post on your homepage (above the fold). For more details about the benefits of participating in the DogTime Blog Network please refer to our FAQs.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks and Many Happy Wags!
Best,
Bella Wong
Network Manager
Dogtime Media
Hello Jane
I saw your posting to Sayontan about eliminating the search bar in the header. Could you tell me where is that option please?
Many thanks
Claudio
Claudio,
Joey has forwarded your email to me.
Sure. First, you have to have his most recent version (I think it was put up just this week).
Go to Appearance, Suffusion Theme Options, Navigation Bar Setup, and the last (bottom) item is Show Search in Navigation Bar. The default is to show the search button. Choose the other option and click “save”.
Yours,
Jane
Jessica and Bruno,
Oh, I’m sorry that Bruno is limping. How old is Bruno? Is he still a puppy?
Three weeks does sound pretty short. Here are a few things you can think about:
I limped after my splint was taken off but this is because I had gone for 10 weeks without using those muscles and I had to recondition my leg. My dad is fond of saying “muscle atrophy”. Big words he uses. Also, I had to get used to the plate and screws in my leg and learn how to walk again.
And then again: Did the doctors take x-rays at the point where the splint came off? Has the doctor taken x-rays in the three weeks since then? If so, did you see the x-rays? The doctor would be able to tell from the x-rays- and then to show you – if the leg has started to heal properly – and how properly. Puppies heal more quickly than adolescents or older dogs like me. Luca had his splint taken off four weeks after surgery, which was also early, and that was because Luca had developed a serious infection.
Bruno broke his front leg and I broke my back leg, so the splints would be different. Still, I would like to tell you a little about my splints: The first one was very big. It went from my toes to my hip. The next one was much smaller: It went from my toes to below my knee. This made it cooler for me and easier to move around. It looks from the picture on your blog that the original splint was pretty large; was the sore near the top, where it cut into Bruno’s front leg? If so, maybe there was an option to just make a smaller splint that does not cut into his leg, where he was getting a sore. Of course I do not know where the broken bone was. Maybe you do and this was part of the decision to use no splint at all.
Second, each time I had a bandage change my leg was washed with antiseptic and allowed to just feel the air for a while.
Next, when my splint was removed after week 7 after my surgery, the bandages were not. The bandages remained for a while to maintain stability while giving my leg a chance to strengthen and to get more air circulating. Rebandaging Bruno’s leg to just add some stability might be something you can put on your list to talk to Bruno’s doctors about. The bandages won’t cut into Bruno’s leg and will provide more stability.
I think that looking at the x-rays is the key and seeing how healed Bruno’s leg is – is the key.
Well, like I said, I’m not a doctor, but I know it’s very important for our parents to be more informed about, knowledgeable of, and involved in the medical options and decisions made for us injured dogs.
I look forward to receiving your photo!
Joey
NOTE: Thanks for the photo! From now on, we can communicate on Bruno’s own page; just follow this link. The post name is “Meet Bruno: A dog who won’t tell anybody how he broke his leg“. See you there!
Joey and your parents,
Thank you for your story. It helped so much tonight. Loud noises scary my to death. We had fun reading your story and now I have calmed down and ready for some sleep. Won’t have to pace the apartment.
Hugs from a distance cousin,
Ruby
11 yr old choc lab.
Ruby,
Hugs to you too! You’re eleven? Wow! We probably have a lot of stories to tell each other about life as a choc!
Your distant cousin,
Joey
I just started to read your blog and it brought tears to my eyes! Your blog is brilliant!!
Gee, thanks! I’m glad you like my blog so much.
Joey
Dear Joey!
I wish you and your parents Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I wish you health and futher success in your activities. You are wonderful dog, it’s true!
Tatyana
Joey-
Yesterday I was in my old neighborhood (in Brooklyn) and thought of you. I was getting my hair cut and a black lab walked in with either her “mom” or best friend- his working partner who was blind.
It was hard not to think of you of course. This dog was so so quiet and calm and trying to be helpful. He let strange- but looking helpful people take his partner’s arm and guide her first to a chair to wait and then to get her nails done. I kept wondering how he let his partner go through all this and not interfere- to me his partner’s getting her nails done looked like an attack!- all those scissors and files. But he was smart and able to diffrientiate and I am sure she was here before. My hairdresser- who probably recognized the dog, went over to pat him and he seemed to enjoy it–but I was always not not to play with a dog while he is working–and he definitely was!
He sat still, all the time starring at his good friend to see if she needed something and then as the place got more crowded and there were more people, his “mom” told him to lie down-which he did, all the time alert in case he needed to pop up again.
I was thinking, now that your story is becoming more well known, if you yourself could do good to help others. I know your parents are generous- and help others, but perhaps now after all your experiences, you yourself have learned that not all dogs and people are as blessed as you- perhaps you can get training to become a helper of some sort too. At least publicize it if you have not yet on your blog-maybe you have already. Dogs can visit nursing homes and help children going through difficult situations, Dogs and their parents were trained to help out during 9/11. TRaining is fun and the demands for help can be short-term ( www. therapydogs. com, http:\\www.tdi-dog.org). The Delta society is a great place to start and you and your parents should join, too!
I think it’s interesting to have a story that is told from a dog’s point of view. I think a child who loves animals or an adult for that matter would find the story very intriguing.
Hi Lenore!
It’s really nice to meet you! You sound like a reallly nice person. I’m glad you like my story. The dog’s point of view is the only one I have!
Your new friend,
Joey
It’s great story!
When I was reading it I was remembering the book of Troepolsky “White Bim – Black Ear”. In Russia everyone knows about this dog because of the same named film was created with participation the most famous in Russia actor. ( I don’t know but I think that film and maybe book were translated to English). After reading of this book I weeped. In the end of this book Bim dies because of people hard-heartedness. It seems that the main author’s idea and aim was to show that it is no kindness without spite. I think if you find something, which make every reader to think “Am I kind or spiteful?” or another significant for people question, your article will be successful. That I think so, but maybe I don’t understand something in your story.
People say that a dog becomes more similar on his owner in the course time. Is it true? Maybe the answer for this question causes to be people more kind and careful to animals and each other too like to see themself in mirror.
Joey has kind and clever eyes in photo and, I think, happy character. People said that a dog becomes more similar on his owner in the course time. Is it true? Is Joey more similar on Jane or Phil?
Tatyana.
Tatyana,
Thank you for telling me about the book about White Bim. It’s very interesting; dogs are all over the world, and so are people! So we have a long and wide history together. I don’t read much, but maybe my mom can read the book to me.
Some people are kind to dogs, and some are not. I have been very lucky; my owners are very kind and loving to me. My sister Rosie’s owners are very kind and loving to my sister. This is nice.
Yes, is the answer to your question. It is one idea in my blog: I want people to think about how they treat their dogs: If they are kind but firm with their dogs, their dogs will return the love and be kind, too. And will be obedient, too. After I was hurt, I obeyed my mom much more than I did before. I just wanted to please my parents, who had been so kind and dedicated to me when I needed it most.
Am I more like my mom or my dad? Gee…. I guess I’m like my dad, in that we both like to get up early (very early) and go outside and run, while my mom likes to sleep late. But my mom likes to dance, and I enjoy that, so when she dances, I do too. I am also similar to my dad, in that both he and I have reddish brown hair. And I am similar to my mom, in that she always likes to try new things, and so do I. I like harmony. I think I have influenced my parents in this way. My dad always used to say “Thank you” to me when I obeyed a command and my mom always teaches me to say “thank you” to people who have been kind to me, and I have learned to be appreciative of kind acts, so I am similar to both of my parents in this regard. Both my parents try to learn and explore new things (though it is this exploration that got me into trouble in the first place), and make friends, and be kind to others, and enjoy the little things in life and in nature, so we all fit together and have a good influence on each other.
It is nice that you and I are friends! I think you understand me!
Your pal,
Joey
Our grandchildren Rachel & Tamara recently acquired a Portuguese Water Dog. We know for sure they would be first in line at the book store if Joey would publish a book about his experiences. They not only LOVE their dog (Marcos) but are anxious to know all they can about caring for him. Learning from an actual dog would really spark their interest!
Harold & Joyce Kimmelman
Harold and Joyce,
First, I am thrilled that Rachel and Tamara have a dog!! Is Marcos still a puppy? I started out really small and then turned into 80 lbs. Maybe their Portuguese Water dog is a little smaller?
I am an actual dog, this is true. I think that children would be interested in my story. I would like to share my story with others, in particular children. And with adults, because adults could read my story to their children.
I like your idea. If I publish my book and your grandchildren are the first in line, do I have to sign my book for them? I’m not too good at book signing!
Harold and Joyce, thank you for writing and encouraging me! And please say to Rachel and Tamara, “Joey says Hi!”
Your pal,
Joey
Hello Joey,
Pam & I are very glad to find you and learn of your recover from the accident. We are your Grandparents. Your Mom, Cocoa, was our dog. She was a great dog who was loved bu us and the entire neighborhood.
We just got back from a visit to Waban where we spant time with your sister, Rosie, and her family. She sure is a sweetie. One of your other sisters, Strikie, is the one we kept with us after your Mom died. Sadly, she made the same mistake on a street that you did, but she didn’t survive. We hope you have learned to be more careful with streets and cars. That will keep you healthy.
We hope to see you one of these days.
The Tolhursts
Dear Grandparents,
This is a really great surprise! Especially since my parents just picked me up from the kennel, where I was staying for a while, and my family is back together, and my whole larger family too! Learning about my mom, Cocoa, is the best news. My mom was your dog and that means that I was your dog for a while too! I don’t remember being a puppy but people keep telling me I was. In fact, my dad reminds me of it all the time…He says, “Joey, you sit cockeyed. You think you’re a puppy but you’re really a large dog.” Then he says, “You probably sit cockeyed because your mom died so young and didn’t teach you how to sit properly!”
My mom says my sister Rosie sits cockeyed too!
Dear grandparents, it would be wonderful to meet you, again!
I’m sorry to hear about Strikie. It was a great joy for me to meet Rosie, after ten years, and it is sad to hear about my other sister.
Have I learned to be more careful with streets and cars? I have learned some, but my parents have learned more. They have learned not to trust that I will not go into the street. They have learned that I need to get a lot of activity not only in the morning, when I run with my dad, but also in the afternoon, when my mom takes me to the dog park where I can run free and also make friends with other dogs, or to walks with my sister Rosie, or walking around our town for longer distances. They have learned that my sense of smell is very very strong and that I will follow a scent and occasionally forget that the street is there and that in the street are cars that could hurt me.
I hope to see you one of these days too! This is a great day and that will be a great day too!
Your happy grandson,
Joey
Hi Joey,
Yes, good point…you were our dog for a while, as were all of Cocoa’s babies. I remember the fun you puppies had racing at full speed chasing each other on the grass of our front yard and zooming around the flower garden and retaining wall. That made for a nice oval race course for all of you. We had fun watching you and your brothers and sisters, too. You pups were fast! I’ll have to look, we may have some video of all of you running there.
You probably don’t remember, but one of the small trees next to our front door became a favorite chewing spot for all of you. That poor tree didn’t like getting chewed on but you should know it has recovered fully and is in fine shape. You guys were a lot of work, but tons of fun, too. I know we have some photos and video from those days, I’ll have to dig them out so you and your family can see.
Bye for now,
Gramps
Gramps,
No, I don’t remember eating the small tree next to your front door, but my dad always says that I used to eat up the window sills! He also said I used to eat small trees in our back yard! So I guess that runs in the family, too. Then I stopped eating small trees and suddenly, like you said, trees started growing in our back yard. He’ll be happy that your tree is now in fine shape!
We we a lot of work? I still am. So I hear. I’m glad you had fun with me. I think I had a good beginning in my life. I’m a happy dog!
I’m sure my family would love to see photos and videos of me as a puppy, especially my mom because she never saw me as a puppy at all.
And Gramps, I’m still pretty fast! I beat my mom all the time! Before I was hit by the car, I used to beat my dad, too. Now I beat him for the first 20 minutes then I slow down and he keeps on going and gets ahead of me. But that’s okay. I’m still pretty happy about it.
Lots of love to you!
Your grandson,
Joey
Hi Joey,
Last month I told you I thought we have videos of you and your brothers and sisters as puppies. Well, I want you to know I’ve checked and we sure do! In fact, there is video of Cocoa delivering you, the 9th (and last) pup of her litter! There is lots of other good stuff, too – you pups still with your eyes closed crawling all over each other to get to Cocoa’s milk, romping and playing, sleeping, and running around our front yard.
Your Mom and I have been corresponding about these tapes and I’ll be geting copies made for her soon. You’ll be able to see your own birth!
Love,
Gramps
Gramps,
This is great news! I get to see my mom, and me, and how I came into the world. Me with eyes closed? I guess I was smelling a lot. And I still do use my sense of smell a lot! And I still romp and play and sleep, of course.
I love you too, Gramps!
Joey