So it seems Smudgie didn't lie!

Santa came here after all! Yay!

He brought us toys and treats and treats and treats, and oh yeah...treats. Wow.

I don't understand how he got into the house without us waking up. We are ferocious guard dogs, who never ever let anything slip by, so I am a little surprised and uncomfortable about it all, but he brought great stuff, so I think I'll get over it.

He brought me this chewy toy made from recycled tires. I loved it. Mommy said the label said it was indestructible. Well, I scored a personal best on that one...four minutes was all it took me to chomp off a hunk...and then the uprights jumped up and took it away from me. What was that all about?

When Mommy and Daddy gave us a present to unwrap together, I think I forgot the true meaning of Christmas. I growled at Smudgie (I was so excited that I wanted the present all for myself). Mommy scolded me, and Smudgie ran off and TOOK my new ring for himself. I've been told. I'll try to do better. When I went to take my ring back, he GROWLED AT ME. So I sat down. Then he stared at me. So I laid down. Once I did that, he was okay with me again. I guess he really made things clear for me there. I'm sorry Smudgie. I just got a little carried away.

Mommy and Daddy made brunch for Grandma and Grandpa, and we all had a great morning. Then Mommy went away for a while, but we got to snooze with Daddy, so it was all good.

I've decided I'm definitely on board with this Christmas stuff. The toys are great. The treats are awesome (and Smudgie, with his little princess type tummy only threw up the one time)...

So, Merry Christmas to you all! I highly recommend it!

Take care all, and ho ho ho.

Rudy, Santa's little helper

Dear Santa,

Hi there. It's me, Rudy. I'm not really clear on this whole Christmas thing, but Smudgie said that you're a very nice man, in a big red suit, who comes on Christmas Eve and brings us presents. Smudgie lies to me a lot, so if this is another one of his pranks I'll be pretty unhappy with him...but just in case, I thought I'd cover all my bases.

Smudgie also says that when you come down the chimney (Who knew the chimney wasn't properly secured in this house???? Has anyone told Mommy and Daddy about this????) I should remember not to bite you. I don't think I'd want to bite you...I hear you're really nice...but I'm glad Smudgie warned me, just in case.

He says that we can ask you for presents. He says his list is really really long and that he's already sent it to you in triplicate (whatever that is). If that's the case, I don't really need anything. Whatever you bring Hudson will be just fine with me. I always take his stuff away anyhow. It makes up for when he falls asleep on top of me and then growls at me if I move.

So anyway Santa, I just wanted to let you know that I'm not asking for anything for Christmas this year. I don't want to be greedy you see. Way back in January of this year I got the one present I'd been dreaming about my whole life...I got a family. And it's a pretty nice one if I do say so myself. My Mommy loves me soooooo much, and so does Daddy. Mommy cooks yummy food and sometimes lets me have a taste. She always tells me what it is before I eat it, and it's always good. Daddy takes us for walks in the snow and rollerblading in the summer. He's the best Daddy ever! I also have a big (little) brother. I had no idea that being part of a pack family would be so great.

I get to sleep on the bed, and have chewy rings to get my crazies out...and when I eat silly things, like socks, I have an awesome veterinary team to cut me right open and take them back out. (Note to self: Don't do that anymore...it scares Mommy and Daddy.)

So Santa, I just wanted to say hi, and tell you that I'm really really happy now, and I don't need anything at all for Christmas. I know that I didn't get my family until January of this year, but Mommy tells me that she and Daddy met a rescue puppy named Spock on Christmas Eve, and that he was their inspiration for starting their search for me.

And, since it took place on Christmas Eve, that probably means you had something to do with it, so thank you very much for that. I sincerely mean it. And don't worry about presents in the future. I'm very happy with the family I've already got, and can't imagine ever needing anything else.

Take care all, and especially you Santa!

Jingle Rudy

P.S. If you're stopping by to drop off stuff for Smudgie anyway, he really likes those Nylabone rings....so if you happened to add one to his list, and it isn't too much trouble....well, um....you know...

Is it true?

Smudgie says that soon Mommy will be on holidays for Christmas. He says that she'll be home with us for two whole weeks. He says she'll ruin our napping schedule.

Is it true?

Two whole weeks with Mommy?

How awesome is that!

Maybe she'll enjoy it so much that she'll stay home forever.

Paws crossed.

Take care all.

Rudy, the Optimist

I want to sincerely apologize to my family.

Last week Auntie Brighit, and my cousins Vienna and Jzero gave Smudgie and me some wonderful Solstice presents. One was a duck with a big black tail that can fly really far, and the other is a tugging stick with tennis ball in the middle.

I loved them both. I really really loved them both. (Even though only one was, technically, for me and the other was for Smudgie.)

Anyway, I loved them so much that I've torn them both to shreds. Smudgie says that's not how it's supposed to work, but I was just so excited. The duck's tail was the first to go. Sorry Mr. Quackers.

Later I shredded the tennis ball part of the tugging stick. The green part looked really tasty, and I thought it might be lime flavoured (it wasn't). So, I had to give it a taste.

I really, really want to thank them for their wonderful gifts, and apologize for loving them so much that they are in pieces. Mommy cut off the remaining pieces of the duck's tail (ouch) and hopefully I'll control myself better from now on.

Take care all,

Rudy, the appreciative toy terminator

I sure haven't been doing a good job on this blog lately.

There's so much going on around here. I don't know where to start. The "not for peeing on" tree is all glittery and sparkly, and it's lit up all the time. Now there are lots of presents underneath it. It's really cool.

The ones that smell really good (and I've only sniffed, not torn into, honest), are the ones that Smudgie says are for US! He says that presents are things that people who love you get and give to you and then you get to keep them forever. I think this is a neat idea, and that we should do the present thing more often.

There's even a present for Daddy under the tree that says, "Love, Hudson and Rudy." I don't remember going shopping for it, but Smudgie says we went with Mommy. I guess I'll have to take his word for that...or maybe he said that HE went shopping with Mommy, in which case I think my feelings are really hurt...oh well...as long as there are presents it's all good.

Mommy's been out really late almost every single night this week. She says that's what happens when you're a teacher. I think she should stay home more, and teach ME things instead...like how not to pee in the house. I'm down to once a month or so, which I think is pretty close, but Daddy says, "Close only counts in horseshoes or hand grenades." I don't get that either...but he thinks he's funny.

Apparently Grandma and Grandpa will be coming for breakfast on Christmas Morning. I'm not really sure what that means, but I am prepared to share my kibble with them, if necessary. I'm a pretty generous dog, and besides, I can always steal Smudgie's if I don't have enough.

Well, I should end this now...I heard Daddy say the words "dog" and "walk" in the same sentence. This could be important.

Take care all,

And to all a good night...

Rudy, the red nosed snowdog

I guess it's been a while...

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Things have been really busy here. That pretend, but not for peeing on it tree, is still up, and these strange looking boxes and bags keep appearing underneath. But, none of them appear to be for me. And I know. I keep checking.

Every time I check (or Smudgie does) Mommy or Daddy keep yelling, "Leave it!" So, I'm guessing that's what the pretend, but not for peeing on it tree is really called. It's a "leave it!"

So, I think the "leave it" is really pretty and all, but how unfair is it that there's nothing for us underneath? Some of those boxes smell really pretty, and I think that if it smells good (or particularly bad) you should eat it.

Sigh.

I continue to be baffled by some of the strange customs around me. I'll have to keep investigating things. And I'll be sure to update you all on what I find out.

Take care all, and leave it!

Inspector Rudy

Welcome to Finnegan.

Mommy and Daddy just told me that I have a new baby cousin. His name is Finnegan, and he's just a baby...eight weeks old. She also tells me that with my bad attitude toward others I'll never get to meet him. That seems unfair, but I'll have to keep working on my attitude I guess...or maybe hers.

Anyway, I saw his picture (and didn't even growl at it by the way) and he really is a cutie. And what a lucky dog he is...he gets to live with Auntie Brighit, Cousin Vienna, and Cousin Jzero. They are three of my all time most favourite people...and he gets his own family for Christmas. I'm sure enjoying my Christmas season this year...so far anyway...I just don't understand why everyone gets so nervous when I dig around in the presents. I don't even really know what presents are, so how can I possibly be doing it wrong?

Anyway, welcome to the family little Finnegan. Even though they won't let me see you, please know that I already love you (and so does your Cousin Smudgie).

There's nothing like a family for Christmas!

Take care all, especially little Finnegan.

Big Cousin Rudy

I am NOT a doofus!

Mommy called me a doofus, and I just don't see how this could possibly be fair.

The other day Daddy was home really late and Mommy had to stay and have parent meetings at school, so I was in my crate a LONG time. I had an "accident." It wasn't my fault. It was theirs, but that isn't the doofus part.

When Daddy got home I needed a bath, and my kennel needed cleaning, and he did a pretty good job of both. Smudgie was mad that only I got to do downstairs, and I could hear him fussing. But, when I came up all wet, Smudgie figured out what the missed and ran away. Daddy couldn't even find him after that. Hee hee. It was funny.

So, then it was time to pick up Mommy. The truck was nice and toasty warm, and when we got there he took us inside the building, but we didn't find Mommy. When we finally headed back to the truck she was in there (magic I guess). I got to drink out of the water fountain at the school. It was just my size. Nice.

We came home, and our glorious snow is up to Smudgie's shoulders. Now, he's a shrimp, so for me it's just my ankles.

We came inside and snuggled for a while at the TV, and then we had dinner and went out for our pees. (Here comes the doofus part.)

I was still pretty wet, and it was pretty cold out, but I wanted to play in the snow, so I was mucking about (as Mommy always says) on the deck when I realized I was FREEZING.

I didn't know what else to do, so I curled up and laid down in the snow, waiting for death to take me. It was over. My new life and family began to fade.

Then, a miracle happened! My Mommy (who had been watching me from the door, and had been calling me in but I wouldn't listen), ran out (barefoot - she's awesome!) and grabbed me and dragged me into the warm house.

She put a blanket around me and hugged me and I warmed up really quickly! I was saved! I was saved!

As I was showing my gratitude with an enthusiastic face licking, she said, "Rudy, you doofus, when you feel cold you're supposed to come inside. The door wasn't even closed."

Frankly, I think the name calling was completely uncalled for. How was I to know enough to come in out of the cold?

Sheesh!

Take care all, and stay dry this winter...it could save your life.

Rudy Frost

I think they might have been trying to kill us both!

Yesterday Mommy and Daddy tried to make me wear pretend antlers and sit nicely by the Christmas Tree (you know, the sparkly fake tree you're NOT allowed to pee on) in the living room. Then they kept pointing this device at us that looked like a camera, but who really knows for sure?

So, even though they tried and tried and tried, I managed to escape time after time. Someone must have been lurking in the background, with a real camera, as this is what I looked like:

I heard something about a Christmas Card and all that, but I didn't see one, so I made sure to never, ever stand still. I don't think it was my real Mommy and Daddy with the fake camera/weapon of doom, but rather some aliens from outer space, up to no good. The good news is that the aliens returned my Mommy and Daddy shortly after, but I do pledge to NEVER sit still when a "camera" is pointed at me. I will survive!

Trust no one and take care all!

Major Rudy

The snow is back!

Mommy is complaining a LOT. She says that the big snowstorm made the roads horrible and that Daddy should drive her everywhere. Daddy does not agree.

I try to stay out of their differences of opinion. I just think we should all WALK...everywhere...all day long.

Snow, glorious snow! Oh, how I've missed you.

When Mommy came home from work (what exactly is that anyway?) she took me and Smudgie out in the backyard without any stupid muzzles, and we romped and pounced and played in the snow. I ate so much snow I was worried there wouldn't be any left for anyone else, but turns out, it just keeps on coming down.

I'm soooooooo happy. Bring it on!

Take care all, and I wish you lots and lots of snow.

Rudy Snowflake