Cheerio's World

Snowpoclypse Squirrel Dog 2016

2016-01-23T18:14:00.001-08:00

Ice Cream and Love

2014-02-12T15:56:00.002-08:00

I want your ice cream. And some love.

Snow Day!

2014-01-21T16:49:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

2014-01-01T12:03:00.002-08:00

They've been playing like this for about an hour. It started with a piece of tie-line. Now they're just rough-housing.

Keep your 'London' and "India'. I'm having more fun here.

2013-12-26T14:52:00.001-08:00

Cool new Christmas toy!

Grammas have comfy laps.

Hide and Seek

2013-10-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Kids love to play hide and seek, right? Well, Aussies are basically furry kids. Cheerio LOVES the game of hide and seek.

We can't leave his toys out for him to play with because he either destroys them within 5 minutes, or he torments us with them (this mostly applies to balls). So, we hide some of his toys for him to find.

We used to play hide and seek and have him find the people in the house. To teach him this, we would throw one of his toys and then run and hide. He would bring the toy back for more throwing. But first he would have to find us.

One day, I decided to hide the toy instead. I was feeling a little lazy. Cheerio's favorite game EVER was born. This ball insane dog will actually ignore a ball to play hide and seek!

At first, I hid one toy in easy to find places. After about 10 minutes of easy finding, he was ready for harder hiding locations. Cheerio is super smart, so I was challenged to find difficult places to hide his toy. I noticed he was relying on his vision to find things. He was looking instead of sniffing.

I started hiding the toy under things and behind things. I tried confusing him by rubbing the toy all around. He was not fooled. After a while, it became so easy for him to find the toy that the game wasn't as much fun for me.

On a whim, I decided to hide multiple toys. Usually I will hide 2 or 3, but sometimes I will hide as many as 6. This has just taken the game to a new level for him. First, I will show him, and let him smell the toys I am hiding. Then I hide them in as difficult places as I can think up. I make him look at me and listen before releasing him.

Sometimes I take toys out into the backyard and hide them. That is truly the ultimate good time for Cheerio.

I have found that using squeaky toys are best. I can hide toys, release Cheerio, and not have to follow him. I can hear when he finds a toy.

He will play this game for hours upon hours. It's a great game for him because one; it tires him out - he's running the whole time, two; it tires him out - his brain is engaged the whole time he is looking, - even when he is in a down and stay, three; it tires him out and gives me some peace to do things without him finding things to get into (look at some previous blog posts about that).

A tired dog is a GOOD dog.

BACON!

2013-09-14T10:06:00.001-07:00

Having a great morning!

(helping with clean up by licking bacon juice)

How Can I Play with Thee? Let me Count the Ways

2013-07-06T19:32:00.002-07:00

Round and Round and Round They Go

2013-07-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Self-playing dogs. What's not to love?

20 Minutes later...

My Buddy Tadhg

2013-07-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

I get to have another buddy come and stay for a few days. It's awesome! We play the same way.

After this, Tadhg thought it would be fun to play in our water bowl. I think he thought it was a pool.

Cheerio Plays Keep Away

2013-06-01T17:20:00.002-07:00

This is what happens if you don't play with him on his schedule.

Dog Golf

2013-05-31T04:34:00.001-07:00

Husband tests a new putter. Dog helps

Play Time

2013-03-03T09:10:00.003-08:00

I Am Feeling Much Better, Thank You!

2013-02-11T12:32:00.003-08:00

I am healing quite nicely after impaling myself on a wrought iron fence. I did not enjoy my week wearing the cone of shame.

Proof

Sawyer Came to Visit!

2012-08-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

My buddy's back!

I have someone to play with.

Hey, boy, let's play

Sawyer brings fun toys.

Laurie took Sawyer down the shore. He told me he liked it at the beach house.

I found this really nice spot to chill out.

This toy is a favorite.

Ah, this is the life. A spot on the sofa, in a patch of sun.

You know what? That sun is making me sleepy. Can we have some snuggle time?

Ok, I'm just going to lay my head down and take a little nap...

I came down the shore later in the week. We got to go to the beach and play in the water. I love it. Sawyer didn't want to get as wet as me.

Come on, Sawyer. It's FUN!

Sawyer's turn to chase the ball.

When will it be MY turn?

Just don't throw it towards the water, please.

There's another Sheltie at the beach!

She didn't get wet at all.

Sawyer and I had a lot of fun down the shore. Now we're home and I can play with my boys again.

Camping Adventures

2012-07-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here I am with one of my boys in Shenandoah National Park.

My people had lots of great snacks.

I made this cute face for them.

It always works.

There were all sorts of critters to smell.

And games to play.

This is my favorite thing to do no matter where I am.

We went hiking. Mom couldn't come because she broke her toe chasing after me. I was chasing after a skunk.

We found a swimming hole.

My people thought swimming was a good idea.

I watched over them to make sure they were safe.

While KSB Sings for the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony

2012-06-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

You can watch the ceremony live if you want. There's a link on the page for the live feed on 6/16/2012.

I make peace right here at home. And play, too.

I share toys.

I happily let you pet me and love me.

Nap time is peaceful

Nature time. Definitely peaceful.

Shhhh. There's a bunny in that wood pile.

I just want to make friends with it. Really.

Ball time!

Sometimes the Cat is Bad, Too

2012-05-02T07:15:00.001-07:00

Onions? No, I don't want those.

Tomatoes? Nope.

Chicken? Is that chicken?

Yes, please. I'd like some of that.

Umm... Hello? Chicken?

I will use the Force to get the chicken.

There is something wrong with the Force, today.

On a Rip and A Tear!

2012-03-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Mom.

As many of you know, I am currently, actively searching for a job. Since my job is to find a job, I spend a good deal of my time in front of my computer. This does not meet with Cheerio's approval. He sits down near me. I begin to focus on my job search. I hear the sounds of a dog trying to be sneaky. I grab my phone/camera and...

Mom: No, you may not eat any plastic mint wrappers. And just WHERE did you get this?

Mom: (5 minutes later) I don't even know what this is!

The sound of Styrofoam is NOT pleasant.

Cheerio: Mom, I really would like to play.

Cheerio: With this...

Cheerio: or this...

Cheerio: No, don't clean it up!

			Meanwhile, as I was cleaning up this mess...

Cheerio: If I bother Soda enough, he'll play with me...

Soda: Go Away, beast.

Cheerio: Okay, then maybe Squeeky will play with me.

Cheerio: HEY, SQUEEKY! YOU WANNA PLAY?

Cheerio: Come on, I'll chase you...

Cheerio: Please?

Cheerio: Pretty, please?

Soda: We are not amused.

Squeeky: Back off! I've got a comfy coat to nap on, here!

Cheerio: Fine, then I'll bark at you, instead.

Cheerio: I know, we can play with THIS!

Cheerio: C'mon. Chase me!

Cheerio: I love this game!


Cheerio: Well, if I can't have that long thing, how about this, instead? Mom: (sighs) Drop it!

Mom: DROP IT! LEAVE IT!

Cheerio: This? Can we play with this?

Mom: Alright, fine. Good Dog.

Mom: You're so cute, let me get a picture of you. Cheerio: NO!

Mom: Just a nice picture of your face. Cheerio: WOOOF!

Cheerio: I will not look at the camera.

Cheerio: Well, maybe a goofy face.

Cheerio: Maybe not...

Cheerio: Look! Soda does want to play!


Mom: I am not getting any work done. Let's go play outside. With the balls! Cheerio: I'm there!

Good Thing!

2012-03-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

I am just so darn cute. You just can't be mad at me!

I LOVE you! LOTS!

Even though I do things like this...

Good Moms don't leave paper on tables.


Peanut butter jar!

Why isn't Mom chasing me for this?

She's kind of laughing at me.


Vinegar!

These are Mom's reading glasses.

I have stolen and destroyed 6 or 7 pairs of them.


You know what else is good? Dad's sunglasses.


He left them especially for me.

Highlighters. Yellow=TASTY FUN!

You can't hide these from me! I will find them every time. (same pair-different day)


Even when you tell me to DROP IT. If you're not looking I can get them again.

But this? This is the MOST fun of all.

EVER!!!!

Now who wants a kiss?

One Day's Thefts

2012-03-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

I kept bringing them interesting toys. They kept taking them away. It has been raining for the past couple of days. I haven't had as much outside playtime as I need. Even though it was sunny today, my yard is a muddy mess.

This is a straw. It came from the shelf in the pantry.

This also came from a shelf in the pantry.

I LOVE anything that is like tape.

This came out of some boxes that my boys forgot to put in the trash.

Mom says this belongs on the car's seat belt. I say it's a toy.

I believe I was able to access the trash can for this!


Even though it was behind a gate. Gate... puzzle... same thing, really.


Plastic bags are fun to rip up.

I did get to go out to play outside a little later. This is what I looked like when I came in.

My white parts aren't white.

The Daily Thievery

2012-03-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Mom has been taking pictures of me grabbing interesting toys to play with. She has been posting them on Reddit in the section for 'bad dogs'. I am offended! I am a good dog. I am a playful dog. ANYTHING can be a toy. You just need to know how to use it.

I heard Mom say that she might just put up a picture every time I take something that is not 'officially' a toy. Here are her pictures so far.

Sticks are AWESOME.

Hey, let me help you with that.

This is a great toy. You want it. You know you do!

See how much fun this is?

Chase me!

I am the wind. Nanny nanny boo boo, you can't catch me.

The cats seem to like this stuff.

Let's find out why.

I think it's too long. I can help with that. Small bits, right?

You were done with that, right?

Play Time!

2012-02-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

I have been ignored for too long! Mom just sits at that screen for hours. I think she needs to get up and move. I know! I will turn into ...

THE TERRIBLE TERMITE TERROR

Dining Room

Hallway

I didn't do this.

Living Room

When Mom got up to clean up the piles, I begged for play time. I put on the cute face. Sawyer did, too. She got out my favorite toy. The S-Q-U-I-R-R-E-L. (It has to be spelled because if the word gets spoken, I must bark!)


Disgusting gummed up thing.

Sawyer loves the squirrel, too

I let Sawyer chase me for the squirrel for a little bit, then I let him have a turn.

But now, I want it back.

Please, please bring it back. PLEASE!

Little Feller's All Tuckered Out

2012-02-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hi, Dad!

There are fun things out there.

I'm feeling a little sleepy.

Could you turn out the lights, please?

All your squirming keeps waking me up.

Shhhh! Baby's sleeping.

It's afternoon and therefore Nap Time. My buddy, Sawyer, thinks he is a cat. He PURRS!

I think we may have tuckered him out. Our regular walk is about 3 miles long. When we got back, Mom threw a ball and my favorite toy squirrel for him.

Sawyer Returns for a Visit!

2012-01-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

My buddy, Sawyer is visiting us, again while his dad is on a super, secret trip to someplace far, far away.

I am happy to know that he remembers the trick (shake) we taught him last summer. You know what else he remembers?

He remembers where those cats live. He loves them!

After we had dinner and went for a walk, we thought we would practice our acting skills:

We are pretending we're hungry. We are acting CUTE, so we will get some lunch meat!

We love when Sawyer is here. Have a safe, fun, and productive trip, Mr. Fisher!