SNOW and CHICKEN!!!!

It has been snowing since two days ago -- really snowing and there's snow eveywhere! I can roll in it and stick my nose in it and toss it and have fun! My dog-friend Lennon next door and I play together, he's on one side of my fence and I'm on the other, but we see each other and race back and forth! Mom says he's a Sibern Husky. He's actually rather slim; I'm not sure I'd call him husky. But whatever.

But before the snow, there was CHICKEN (and not just Milos!). Mom was hungry and went to the store, and she came back and brought in some bags that didn't smell all that great, but then she came in with a bag and I smelled CHICKEN! It smelled cooked and warmed and OH SO YUMMY!!! I couldn't stand it! I jumped on Mom's arm and grabbed it out of her hand, and took it to my den and pulled the chicken out, and by the time she got to my den I already had the plastic off! OOOH that chicken was good! Mom reached for it and I growled. I growled at mom. I'm shamed. Mom said "KIMI!" real loud, and I let her have the chicken back. I'm a good dog, but it was just too much to bear.

She didn't want to eat it, she even said so, with my slobber on it. (Well, I slobber on her face; she doesn't throw THAT away...) But she cut some off with her sharp knife and gave it to me. So I got some chicken. I don't know if she ated the rest or if she threw it away. It would be really sad if she threw it because I would have eaten it all up. [I was worried about the bones cracking and hurting her insides. And I wanted that chicken for myself! Growl at me, will you?! Mom. Hungry.] But it's all gone now, and all I get is more Milo chewy things. they're chicken too. But not as good as warm cooked chicken. If I could I would cry. I very very sad 'bout that chicken. At least I got a little.

But there's SNOW!!! And we haven't had snow all winters and I don't member that ever happen afore. Mom says she doesn't either and she's waaay older than me! So enjoy your weather, dog and hooman friends, and humans, don't forget to give your doggies CHICKEN. And walks. Lots of walks. And snow. And. Oh, Mom says I have to stop now. Bye!!!

Mom and My Food

OK, I know I talk about food and treats a lot, but that's because hey, I'm a dog, and food and treats are important to me. Besides sleeping and walking and chewing on my bones (Mom put them all in my den an I reeelly has LOTS of bones!), the only fun things(besides licking people, especially people who don't want to be licked!) is FOOD. Both in my dish and treats.

Now my friends and Mom know that my favorite treats are my peanuts [a shaped treat with peanut butter in them somewhere.Mom.], but my new favorite is My Low. Or maybe MILO? I don't know. But it's a little dry and it tastes like CHICKEN!! oooooh its gooood. I could eat a whole pack, really I could, all by myself (but I don't share much; Mom does, though). But then Mom said she read the Fine Print (if it's fine it must be goodd,right?) but she said the MILO comes from China. She says this is bad because chickens get sick in China. She said a lot about that, and she was mad. but she still buys it cuz she loves me.

Mom used to give me just one food that came in a green bag [Nutro Sensitive Stomach, if you care] and it was a good food. Then one day she came back from the Dog Food and Treat store with two bags; the green one and a blue one. (yes, despite what people say, we CAN see colors!) The blue one has intersting picturs on it. There are things that look like dogs but mom says they are woofs (which sounds like a dog?)[I said WOLVES, not woofs.Mom] and there are these other two animals I've never seen in person. Mom said one was a deeeeer and one was a boffle. Buffle? [buffalo; technically a bison, if you're going to get snotty about it. That means YOU, Meg] Mom says that woofs hunt deers and boffles and eat them. She says she read FINE PRINT and that deeer meat and boffle meat are first.

Since a long time ago Mom said I was closer to a woof than any other kind of dogs (something about Dina?)[DNA.Mom] I was pretty sure I'd like those meats too. They come in little crunchy pieces like my green-bag food, but they're really goo. So good that I don't want my green bag food anymore. I tried to show this to Mom. I took a piece of the green-bag-food and brought it out to her, opened my mouf so she could see it, then I dropped it on the floor. THEN I went to my bowl and picked a piece of the Woof food, and brought it to her, opend my mouf again, and ate it all up, right in frotn of her. If she can't figure that out, she's not as smart as she things. I thought it was pretty clear.

I still get the green food mixed with the woof food, though. But when I eat it, I take one green food bite from my bowl and take it into the room where my table-den is, just outside the kitchen, and drop the bite right there. Then I eat up my bowl of food. Then I go to Mom and show her that I liked my dinner [she belches.Mom.], and tell her that I need what she calls Doggie Dessert. I likes those -- they are my treats! Dessert is a really good idea. (sometimes she forgets but I remind her. I paw her, wooooo at her, and go to the kitchen. She figures it out, eventually.}

So human friends, give your dogs woof food [Taste of the Wild. Mom.] and make sure to give them doggie dessert. Dog friends, make sure that your Mom gives you good food and dog dessert and treats!!

That's all for now. Until next time!
Kimiko. The Akita. The most beyoootiful one in the world, Mom says. but then, She loves me a lot. And I love her too, even if I don't get just the woof food.

Mom and the Tootsie Rolls

Lately when Mom comes home from, well, wherever she goes in her car without me, she brings a bag of these little things she calls "TOOTSIE ROLLS." I don't know what a tootsie is, and I don't like to roll over because of my tail. (It curls onto the tail spot on my back.) But these things look like, well, some of the things in the backyard (yes, I'm embarrassed, but I can't sit on that white chair in the bafroom). But Mom says they are delicious. I wouldn't know; she won't give me any. She says they are choklit and would kill me if I ate them. I know that she usually says that when she just doesn't want to share, but maybe it's true.

First, she would eat one or two, and after each, she would neatly fold the wrapper. (Did I say they come in wrappers? They do.) Aunt Shari said that was a little Oh See Dee [editor: OCD] but Mom did it. And if she ate one or two more, she'd fold those. when there got to be as many as my front toes [8, if you don't count the dew claw] she would throw them away and not get any more.

But then it got to be more than my toes. More and more and more. Mom got a big bag of them, bigger than the others I've seen. She puts the rolls in a bowl-thing on the table in front of her couch, and then she eats them all. Sometimes it seems like they are FLYING from the table to the couch! I try to draw a picture and make it go where I want it to.



She ate and ate and ate, and forgot to fold the wrappers and they piled up and piled up and piled up until they covered up her legs!!! And I didn't get ANY!!! OK, my drawed picture isn't very good, but hey, I don't have thumbs, so don't be mean. Funny thing, though; she hasn't brought more home for a long long long time now!

Life Is GOOD!

Like I said, human readers and dog-friends, life is good. Except we don't have snow and I LOVE SNOW! I am a snowdog! (you know that movie, 8 below? about Huskies stranded on Antarctica for all winter? In real life, they were not huskies, they were AKITAS!) But Mom says to be patient, snow will come soon enough.

Why is life so good? Because over Christmas (I don't know really what that means; Mom tried to explain it, but mostly I think it is about more cookies) CARYN CAME HOME!!!! For those who don't 'member, Caryn is my absolutest bestest human friend (of course I love Mom best, but she's here all the time, except when I stay with Lynn and the BIG dogs [Mom: aka the Kennel...]). She came here to visit me and took me for lots of walks -- I don't know how many because I wasn't counting, but it was LOTS! And she brushed me outside on a really warm but windy day. All my fluff flew away! Mom says because it is so bnorm -- aborn -- strangely warm, I am blowing my coat again. This I don't understand; Mom blows on my sometimes, but she uses her mouth to blow. I am not using my mouf to make my hair come loose. Anyway, it's better when CARYN!!!! brushes me instead of Mom plucking me. Mom, I am not a chicken or a goose or one of those stupid turkey things back of Aunt Shari's backyard (but if you caught one of those and cooked it, I would eat it!). Anyway, it was fun and I'm not so itchy now!

After Caryn left again (I miss her really a lot!), Caryn's Mom and Dad came to take me for a walk! More than once! And Caryn's Dad came all by himself today and I took him for a LONG FAST walk. I'm a good walker, but slow walkers make me crazy. Mom walks me on some of those warm days, and she keeps saying "heal" [Mom: heel...] and I don't remember that word but when I go and stand beside her she gives me little treats, so maybe I should stay a little closer when I walk with her. Treats are almost as good as snow. But Mom walks SLOW. I keep trying to be out in front of her and show her how fast to go, but she keeps pulling me back and giving me treats and walking slow and saying heal. She even makes me stop and sit before we cross the streets! But I get treats for that, too, so it's OK.

Dog friends, tell your humans that a big back yard isn't enough. You need walks with treats! And human friends, remember that dogs need walks (with treats. Little ones are fine). If you can't do it, maybe one of your other human friends can! (Sometimes Mom doesn't feel good and is in bed a lot so she can't walk me; it's good if Caryn's Mom and Dad come then!)

I'm happy to see Caryn and to walk with her and her Mom and Dad, and I'm even happy to be walking slow with Mom. I just wish we had snow. [Mom: I don't, because then it's slippery and even harder to keep up with Kimiko, but I know this warm January won't last, so I'm ready for snow walks. Hope Caryn's parents are, too!] But life is good now, and I think it will get better.

I Went on Vacation!!!

First off, dear hooman readers, I will try to rite more hoomany -- humany? -- because Aunt Shari complains that I type funny. Aunt Shari apparently does not read the site "I Has a Hot Dog" or subscribe to get LOLdogs. Then she would recognize my LOLspeak. But OK. I will try to rite rite. [Write right.] (OK, MOM!!!) (btw it is very hard to make big letters like THIS because I only have claws.)

Some days ago Mom was getting ready to go somewhere. She didn't think I knew she was packing stuff, because she does not no how smart I am (but she knows how beautiful I am!). But I new. I was a little concerned. At least one time she left me alone in the house and friends like Caryn or Connie (across the street; Zeb used to live there; I was in love with Zeb. He was bigger than I am! Mom says he is a Great Dane. I says he is a Great Dog. But now Zeb is gone and Connie has a little dog who barks at me. But that's OK; I bark at him!) what was I saying? Oh yes, these friends come and let me out or in and give me food and treats. But that is long time to be all alone.

This time Mom takes me to Lynn's place. She has taken me there before. I love Lynn almost as much as I love Caryn. Lynn is really really nice and she loves me and she knows dog-speak really good. I even like the boys who work there. I run to the back to see if any of my dog-friends are there. Yes! Some of my friends from before are there! And there are some new dogs to meet and sniff and run with. I had a wonderful time! On hot days, Lynn lets me stay in where it's cool. On cooler days I get to run with big dogs. My friend Spike used to come with me sometimes. He was a little dog, Mom had him before I came to live there, but he would go out with the big dogs. He would run a little, then lay down in shade and watch us run and play. Mom said he could not run too much because his heart is too big. I think a big heart is better than a little one. Spike is gone now, and I miss him sometimes. But I like to have Mom all for me! Anyway, I had a really really good time at Lynn's place! I hope I get to go there again soon! Lynn doesn't give me so many treats as Mom does, but playing with my dog-friends makes up for it!

I hardly even missed Mom at all. But don't tell her that, OK?

Oh, and I am a little worried right now. Today a MAN came to the house at lunch time and came in and he had a HAT. (I HATE HATS. NO ONE SHOULD WEAR THEM!!!) Mom and the man talked a long time, and she told me to be quiet when I barked at him. It is my job to bark at strangers, and this man was a stranger! Anyway, then they went out the front door, and they didn't come back for a long time. But then he went a way. I hope he doesn't take my Mom away again.

[Mom: He is a friend from my junior high and high school days; we had a lot of catching up to do, but he is a friend and doesn't live in Bismarck, so Kimiko has nothing to worry about! And she'll get to go to Lynn's again soon, I'm sure. I'm just glad she has a good time there!]

Sleepy Times

It is all the way summer now, and very very hot. My yard is a jungle; I only has a small strip in the front and I has to walk on it a lot so no more green stuff grows. Mom says green stuff is weeds, and her garden in front of my yard has some too, but only not so many as mine.

Mom is not feeling good at all. I hasn't beed able to rite to you, hoomans, becuz hardly ever is the typey thing on. Mom has head hurts, and she keeps lights off, and typey things off, and she stays in bed a lots. Sometimes she goes away and she tells me she sees doctors and I know she's not shopping becuz she does not bring anyfing home. I wish she felt better.

When she is in bed, I lie in the bedroom wif her. I hope I make her feel better becuz I, her byootiful Akita, is wif her. I be very quit. Quite. Quiet. one of does is rite. She tries to read sometimes, but that gives her head hurts too. When she tries to read or watch the box, I sleep on the couch by her or in my den. Poor Mom. Poor me, I need new treats! But if Mom eats, she gives me lots of it. I fink she feels pretty bad becuz she not eating choklit (she doesn't give me lots of choklit, she says it is poyson for dogs, especially Akitas, even though it makes me drool becuz it smells so very good!). She loves choklit almost as much as she loves me!

I show you picshur of me sleeping in my den. I has not a picshur of me in Mom's room, becuz I can't use the picshur-taker-fing. I hope Mom feels better soon, but sleeping inside where is cool is so better than being outside when it SO hot! My fur falls out!

Talk to you later when fings is better for me and Mom, OK?

Woof!

Food -- Who Decides When I Eat?

You can see my bowls. They don't sit on the rug anymore, now they sit on a funny green thing that sticks to the floor and makes sure the bowls don't move when I eat out of them. Do you see what my food bowl says? It says MORE FOOD. (please).

Here's the thing. When humans want food, they get it for themselves. I can only ask. I ask nicely by raising my paw. When I want to make Mom laugh, I talk to her in Akita talk [Mom: that's a sort of wooo noise that changes in pitch as she "says" it]. Sometimes Mom gives me a treat, sometimes she says no. No??? NO??? Do you see the unfairness here?

My food and treats are in containers I can't open because I do not have thumbs. I only get food if a human gives it to me. Usually that human is Mom. But lately she's been taking my dinner away if I don't eat it right away. Well, maybe I'm not hungry when she fills the bowl. Maybe I like to dine later. (My bfdf Lennon says that dining later is sofistikated, and only pesants eat early, so there, Mom!) But if I don't eat before she starts watching night TV, she takes it away. I can't get it.

I have a list of demands. I want a bowl that makes food come out whenever I want it. I want a treat container that I can open myself whenever I want it. I want lots of different kinds of treats: crunchy bones, chewy bacons, sausages, cheezes, swet taters [that's po-tay-toes...] ALL of them.. Whenever I want. If I don't get that, then I won't give kisses, let Mom brush me, or sit by her. I want my food when I want it, not just when she wants to give me it.

Truly, Humans, don't you think that's fair? It is MY food, after all. Woof!

[Note from Mom: I am a softie, and almost always give her a treat, or two, when she wants them -- except when she hasn't eaten the food in her bowl. If she eats dinner after 7:00, then she wants out about 11:00, when I'd rather be sleeping. So I don't feel totally unfair. But I am considering one of those self-feeding tower things... but not for treats, just for food! Too many treats, and she'll be as fat as I am!]