A Ten Munn. Defee Sit! Piss Odor.

I heard Daddy describe my behavior as something called “A ten munn. Defee Sit! Piss Odor.” I’m not sure what that is. I know there isn’t 10 of me - since Daddy calls me “The Munn”, I have to assume I am the only one. I don’t know any dogs named “Defee”, so not sure why Dad would want him or her to sit. And if Defee’s piss odor is anywhere nearby, I’m sure my snout will locate it in no time so I can pee there too. When I told him I was confused, he explained to me that it was a way to describe someone who gets distracted easily.

First, Daddy’s one to talk about being distracted! I can never get his attention when he is barking away on this useless thing he calls the “cell phone”. I pull on the leash if we’re outside. I’ll whine and try to play with him if we are inside. But to no avail! That stupid “cell phone” thing always distracts him from paying attention to me. If I ever get my teeth on that thing!

That being said, Daddy is right to say I get distracted easily. But I’m a dog. From what I understand, I have certain heightened senses that make me more aware of things. So I think that gives me an excuse. Daddy did point out that I was getting distracted from my blog and that wasn’t fair to the readers cause they might think that I ran away again. Let me assure you that is not the case. I am still home with Daddy and very happy. In fact, here’s a picture of me safe at home.

But for future reference, I figured I should point out to people that if I do seem to be away from the blog occasionally, it’s not because I’ve gone missing again (that’ll never happen again!) but because I became distracted by something. Although this is not a full list, it likely is one of these things that distracted me:

1) Loud Noises – I already discussed this one in detail before since it’s what caused me to run off. Although not all loud noises scare me, almost all will distract me. I know it annoys Daddy when I hear noises when I’m trying to poo because, as he claims, “the stars need to align before I poo”. He just doesn’t understand that poo opportunities are limited and so when you have them you need to make sure you have the perfect spot. Not sure why you humans go mostly in the same place all the time. Such a waste! When I have to go, I’ll sniff around as much as I can to try and get a good area. The area needs to be dry, and secluded, and really, really hard for daddy to clean up after me once I go (it’s a game we like to play! Although it amuses me more than him). Once a good area is found, I have to circle the area and make sure I find the perfect spot within the area. Sometimes it helps to shake myself out. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. Anyway, sometimes a noise will distract me while I’m looking for my perfect poo spot and then I have to start the whole process over.

2) Good Smells – Daddy used to take me to agility class when I was a puppy. That was fun, but he stopped taking me because I guess the instructor used to get very frustrated with me. At times I was the best in the class and would zoom through the course no problem. However, more often, something smelled very good on the course and I had to go sniff it. I don’t see what the problem was – good sniffs are hard to come by. But the instructor and Daddy tried everything to get me back on the course. But nothing is better than a good sniff!

3) People I like – Daddy and I have several friends that come visit us often. Most of these people love me as much as I love them. I never know when to expect them, though, and they seem to just randomly show up sometimes. So sometimes if we’re walking along and I see someone who might look like one of these friends, I don’t want to walk any further until I know for sure it’s not them. Also, if a car stops close to us, I always feel we should look inside the car to see if it is one of these friends. Daddy does not agree with this unfortunately. He doesn’t know how many times we may have missed out on getting tummy rubs and rump scratches from the friends that might be in those cars!

Anyway, there are a lot of other things that distract me – like bones, for example. But I think this should assure everyone that if I disappear for a week here and there that I’m just temporarily distracted and not lost again!

I have good news! Two of our Rocky stars have been helped – Mugsey the Bulldog has been found and is home after 35 days, just about the same time I was gone! And also Acura has found a foster and is out of the high kill shelter so he has a second chance at life. I want to wish upon two more Rocky stars that need fosters this week, Amber (http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13239509) and Murphy (http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11895494). Please look at these two pals of mine and see if you or anyone you know would like to help them.

Off to find a good sniff!

Rocky the Munn (rockydab@yahoo.com)

The "Box"

Grrrrrr.... That's not directed to you, blog readers. As much as I love my daddy, he occasionally does things that make me upset. And last week was one of those times. First, let me apologize on his behalf for me not being able to post a blog last Friday. On Friday morning, however, daddy took out the "box". I never know when the "box" is going to come out, but I do know what it means when it does come out.

The "box" is this thing that daddy takes out from time to time and puts a bunch of stuff in. Then him and the "box" leave home and go somewhere for a period of time. The "box" doesn't always mean something bad - sometimes daddy takes me with him and the "box". Like when we go see daddy's mommy and daddy. That can be a fun trip since I can try to get the squirrels and rabbits and maybe the occasional duck to play with me by chasing them in the backyard... as of yet, the squirrels, rabbits, and ducks don't want to play. Usually, they run away from me like I ran away from scary people when I lost my daddy. I try to tell them that it's ok, I just want to play. But I guess I can't blame them for ignoring me since I did the same when I was without my daddy. Maybe they would be more willing to play with me if their daddy would meet my daddy first. I'll have to suggest that to daddy next time we go there.

Back to "the box" - other times, daddy leaves with the "box" and leaves me behind. In some cases, someone else will come and stay with me. Other times, I get to spend the time that daddy is gone at daycare. Whenever daddy leaves me behind though, he never tells me where he is going or when he will be back. So I'm left to guess whether or not he will come back. And being this is the first time that he left me since...

One thing I should point out is that while I've heard many people say that I was "lost for 36 days" - no one mentions that daddy was lost for 36 days too! I didn't know where he was and he should have been with me. So he was lost too! When daddy leaves with the "box", I always wonder where he is and wonder if I should go try and find him. It's just that I wasn't sure how to do it. But now that daddy has told me all the things he did to find me, when he left with the "box" on Friday, I knew what I needed to do to try and find him and the "box". Unfortunately the daycare didn't have the means for me to print posters, set up a blog, or contact the media. And findtoto.com doesn't have a section for finding a human. And I couldn't find a helpfinddaddy.com. Anyway, long story short, daddy and the "box" prevented me from blogging last week.

Thankfully, just as I was getting really frustrated, I found daddy when he walked into the daycare! It was so good to finally be able to find him! I tried to jump over the fence to see him but it was a little to0 high. Eventually someone opened the door so we can be reunited but not before I barked at daddy for getting lost! Of course, he never explained to me where he had been. Sheesh, the nerve of him sometimes.

I want to wish upon a "Rocky Star", Tasha, who has been missing in Friendship Heights since March 14. She was seen heading towards a Bloomingdale's recently - perhaps because it's a really big place to pee on. Tasha has also been seen hanging snout on the large GEICO property several times at Harrison and Western, but the mean people at GEICO have been unwilling to help assist with bringing Tasha to a safe haven. I always knew that elitist GEICO gecko needed a big smack across his snout. If you know anyone at GEICO who may be able to help, please alert them to Tasha's blog: http://findtasha.blogspot.com/. Otherwise, please do whatever else you can to ensure Tasha finds safety.

Off to go kick dirt! As always, feel free to contact me at rockydab@yahoo.com.
Rocky the Munn

Nice Daddy vs. Evil Daddy

So I have been informed that I have more humans then dogs that read my blog. I guess that makes sense since I would probably much rather read a human blog then a dog blog. I understand why dogs do what they do. Humans on the other hand, I sometimes really don't get them. Even the human that I know best in the world, my Daddy, makes little sense to me.

For example, a few weeks ago shortly after I returned home, Daddy decided to be nice and give me access to all the yummy stuff in the fridge when he left for work. So I went in and helped myself to the spaghetti sauce he made the night before. I was so appreciative of Daddy doing this to me, I licked the entire container clean so he wouldn't have to clean it out for me when he returned home. I also left him one of the containers so he would have some of it when he came home. I did take the bigger of the two containers, but I thought he wouldn't mind cause he knew I had barely eaten for the 36 days I was gone! Still though, you couldn't say I was entirely thoughtless in my behavior.

Anyway, when Daddy returned home, he got mad and started gesturing at the floor. And then he took out a towel and this scary spray bottle and started scrubbing the floor. I mean, I'm a dog. And plus it's not like he left me a plate, fork, and knife when he left the house. I even had to open the container myself - and I'm not like a human! I don't have opposable thumbs! You can imagine how difficult opening it was! So explain how was I supposed to NOT get spaghetti sauce on the floor! If he really wanted me to eat it the right way, he should have just left it in my food bowl before he left. Of course, sometimes I like to dump my food bowl on the floor when he leaves just to show him that I was thinking of him while he was gone (which he also gets mad about sometimes - see you people make no sense! I am just trying to show Daddy I care and he totally takes it the wrong way!) but I certainly wouldn't have had he left me yummy spaghetti sauce.

Since that incident, Evil Daddy has begun to lock the fridge again to prevent me from getting in. And more recently, Evil Daddy has started putting things on his bed to make it more difficult for me to take the sheets off his bed and use them to hide my bones in case someone comes and tries to steal them while he's gone. I mean, I can still pull clothes out of his hamper to hide the bones, but I think we can all agree that sheets provide better cover for bones! So please, all you humans out there that read this - can you tell me how I can get Nice Daddy back that leaves the fridge unlocked and the bed unmade?

I want to wish upon a "Rocky Star" for a dog Acura that needs a foster: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13176643. Acura's previous owner starved him, not like how my Daddy doesn't always leave the fridge open when he leaves, but just didn't feed him at all. He has been brought back to health from his starvation, but now Acura is an high kill rural shelter and is desperately hoping for another chance to live. Please, if you can do anything for Acura please contact through the homeward trails link or email maritae@rocketmail.com. If you have questions on being a foster, please visit http://www.homewardtrails.org/fosterprogram.html.

Off to hide a bone in Daddy's clothes!
Rocky the Munn

A To Do List and 2 Rocky Stars

It has come to my attention that a lot of people are curious what I did on a day to day basis for the 36 days that I was trying to get home to Daddy. I’m not sure why this matters to anyone. Daddy leaves me alone and goes to what he calls “work” several days a week. When he comes home, I don’t care what he did there, I’m just glad that he survived this awful “work” thing that takes him away from me and returned back where he belonged safely. I did ask Daddy if I was at “work” when I was gone for 36 days. It was a pretty awful 36 days, so I wanted to know if Daddy has to put up with that same awfulness every time he leaves the house for “work”. He responded by saying that he wasn’t sure – and then he asked me what I did every day! So I guess Daddy was curious just like everyone else. Anyway, he came up with a suggestion for me. He said “Munn . Why don’t you create a To-Do list?” At first I thought he said a “To-Poo list”, so I went to the door waiting for him to take me out. But instead of grabbing my leash, he showed me a piece of paper with a list of things on it and I understood then what he meant. So here is my To-Do list of a typical day when I was at “work”:

1. Wake Up
2. Stretch
3. Find Place to Pee
4. Look for Daddy
5. Sniff Something
6. Scratch myself
7. Find place to Poo
8. Find something to eat
9. Find water
10. Run away from scary people
11. Find place to hide
12. Bark
13. Howl
14. Go to Sleep

I showed this list to Daddy and he said that some of these items were normal things I did even when I was home. But others, like 4, 10, 11, 12, and 13 were not. So these things I apparently could call “work”. Well, those “work” items were the ones that made me sad. So I hope Daddy is not always sad when he is at his “work”. I’m sure he is though since he is not with me. I know it’s sad for me to wait at home for him.

I want to wish upon two “Rocky Stars” this week. First, an English Bulldog named Mugsey has been missing since February 13th. It is believed that Mugsey was dognapped out of his backyard: http://findmugsey.blogspot.com/. Anything you can do to help Mugsey find his way back to his backyard would be appreciated. Second, Sugar needs a place to call home: http://adoptsugar.blogspot.com/ and some resources to help with some health issues that she has. Please visit Sugar’s blog and see if there is anything you can do to help her.

Also, let me say that I was overjoyed to hear that Lucy (http://lostlucydc.blogspot.com/) was found! She seems like a fabulous doggy with very loving people to take care of her. Hopefully Romeo (http://adoptromeo.blogspot.com/) has found equally loving people in his new home. I had the pleasure of sniffing Romeo a few weeks ago and he is a fine smelling fellow!

Gotta go pee on something! Till Next Week,
Rocky The Munn

Lucy has been found!

Hi all - I am stealing Rocky's blog for one post to mention that his Rocky star from last week, Lucy, returned home this morning. Details can be found at http://lostlucydc.blogspot.com/. Lucy returned home ONE MONTH from the day she escaped. Perhaps Rocky and Lucy are soul mates? :)
Rocky's Dad

Loud Noises, Cold Stuff, and A Real "Rocky Star"

I'm scared of loud noises. I know a lot of dogs probably understand this but it has become apparent to me that some of the people Daddy talks too regularly don't. He is always being asked why I am so scared of loud noises. First, let me say that I understand things would be better for me if I wasn't afraid of loud noises. I wouldn't have had to spend all of Sunday evening hiding in the bathroom from what Daddy called "Wind". I wouldn't have taken off looking for a bathroom to hide in on January 3rd if it wasn't for a noise that Daddy's friend called "ridiculously unnecessary car honking". As a dog, I don't understand 1) the need, 2) the source, and 3) the cause of any of these noises. They all seem wholly unneccessary. Kind of like that thing people do that Daddy refers to as "talking". In general, I think you people bark and woof way too much as it is - especially into those little devices that everyone seems to play with all the time. I can't figure out the purpose of these things Dad calls "cell phones" other then helping me figure out when someone is coming over soon.

Back to loud noises. At the dog park, Dad makes a loud noise when he wants to get my attention. So this noise doesn't scare me, cause I know:
1) The Need - Daddy needs me!
2) The Source - Daddy!
3) The Cause - Clapping his hands together!

This was not true for Sunday night, as the only thing I could figure was:
1) The Need - To be Scary?
2) The Source - Something that is less likely to harm me if I hid in the bathroom?
3) The Cause - Wind! (only cause Daddy told me)

And regarding January 3rd:
1) The Need - To be Scary?
2) The Source - A ridiculously unneccessary car honking!
3) The Cause - To tell me that I should go find Daddy cause he might need me?

If you can't figure out the guidelines of the exercise above, anything that ends with a "?" is my best guess on what the noise what about. Taking this into consideration, wouldn't you be afraid of these noises?

Although Sunday night was very frightening, I was greeted on Monday morning with this cold stuff on the ground that made my paws all wet. It was like dirt, but white. And colder. And Slippier. This "Cold Stuff" was so much fun to run back and forth in. I'm not sure how Daddy was able to get all this white stuff for me to play in, but I was very grateful. And it was nice of him to provide that for me to make up for the scary "Wind" the night before.

As I pointed out in my last blog, I have no concept of time. I've heard a lot of people say that the 36 days I was gone must have been torture for me and for my Dad. If that's true, then this dog Astro and his Dad must have really struggled for the 9 years they were apart: http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090225/COLUMNISTS35/902250322

I mentioned last time that someone said that 1 year to a person is 7 years to a dog. Which means that 9 years to Astro's Dad was 7 years 9 times over to Astro! (Like I said, dogs aren't good at math) That just sounds like a lot! Now that's what I call a "Rocky Star"! We don't know where or who Astro was with for 9 years, but he certainly had to deal with a lot of loud noises during that time that he managed to survive. It's dogs like that make me think maybe I'll be brave and not hide in the bathroom next time I'm faced with "Wind". Instead, maybe I'll hide in Daddy's closet.

Off to wait for Daddy to pick me up!
Rocky The Munn