Monster Pups

Hello, my name is Rohan Arwen Evenstar, AKA Arwen, or Trouble, and possibly many other names. I am the new girl on the block, and am having a wonderful time annoying Balin and Kili, Smeagle and Pipin. I am learning lots of new tricks and am getting very good at learning selective commands, i.e. just the ones I LIKE.

I love it when mom and dad call me "here" and "sit" because I know I'm going to get a nice treat. But when I hear the word "NO", I get very annoyed and make out I have no idea what it means. Plus it's fun to see mom hop and skip to get my attention, and know that if I persist long enough I will get a treat when I sit nicely and look all adorable. It's great having such a cute face, because I know that no matter what I do, if I look at either mom or dad with my sweetest face I am bound to get away with whatever it is I have done. Although that isn't working very well with Kili at all.

I am a bit of a handful and have a passion for shoes. My philosophy is, "if it's on the floor, it's mine". I am becoming quite the escape artist, especially when I do manage to get my teeth into a shoe or a sock. Another thing I enjoy doing, which really annoys my dad, is to sit in my water bowl, but he has spoilt my fun with that one, as the bowl is now raised and I can no longer take a bath in it. But for those pups out there who can still achieve this, the aim is to tip out ALL the water and make a lovely mess for your humans to clear up. Plus you get fresh water more often and it keeps your bottom nice and clean.

See this face, THIS IS MY MEAN LOOK!!!! Okay, you took my shoe, now you'll pay!!

Going deaf periodically is also a great source of fun when you want to see what lengths your humans will go to, to get your attention. Also learning to perfect the great art of whining pitifully, or making monkey noises is also of some benefit when you want to get someone's attention.

You will find that humans don't always understand what it is you want. Try and make it as plain as you can........... here I am giving my mom a huge hint!!!

Just one more tip before I go............ if someone has been stupid enough to buy you a toy with a squeaker inside it, make the most of it before they take it away. I can squeak mine at least 100 times in one minute, make sure you watch your humans faces whilst you chomp away on your squeaky toy, it's priceless. Especially worth doing while they are watching their favorite TV program.

Dear Arwen, I hope the bad weather hasn�t blown you about. I had a ton of fun running around like a crazed puppy with my tail in the wind. I am having fun with my human family, but, quite frankly I don�t know how they ever got along without me. So far I have helped my mom get over some of her �privacy issues�. Apparently she liked being alone in the restroom, could you just imagine? I took care of that in a jiffy, and to think some people pay therapists money for help with their �Issues�.

I�m also trying to teach her the proper way to tie her shoes, but I guess she doesn�t catch onto new tricks as quickly as I do. It�s taken me weeks of trying and she still doesn�t have the hang of it.

Miss You! Conall, North Carolina

Hi Conall. The bad weather was annoying because mom and dad wouldn't let us out when we wanted to go, and then we had to go out on leads so it was boring, because the wind made us want to run and play. It was very strange, because our garden looked completely different when we did get to go out and explore, and dad has spent days cutting up trees with a very noisy machine which scared me, and then when I felt brave enough to see what it was I wasn't allowed to go near it.

I'm glad you're helping your mom, my humans like to go into that room alone as well so I always let them know I'm outside waiting for them to come out. I like getting in there, because there is a great toy which stretches all the way around the house if you don't get caught!! That's a fun game especially now I can run really fast.

I know what you mean about the shoes, I'm always trying to help my mom and dad with their laces, they're just no fun sometimes.

I miss you too, but it's great that we get to catch up, take care we'll chat soon.

Hi Arwen, Mummy said to ask you why is it when people see us lovely pups they pick us up and cover us in kisses?

Love from Morgan and Indi

Scotland, UK

Hi Morgan and Indi

It's because we are so cute they just can't help themselves. I don't know about you, but I sometimes find it annoying when I'm busy, but sometimes it's nice. I have been looking at pictures of you on your moms website. It looks like you are having lots of fun.

Big hugs from me, Balin and Kili XXXX

Arwen how are you doing in your new home with your new brother and sister, hope you are happy!!
Love grandma

Grandma and Grandpa, I really miss you!!! But I am really happy, and love playing with Balin and Kili. Kili really likes me a lot and plays with me whenever I want to. She didn't like me to start with because I was, to quote mom, a pain in the butt. But now I have learned some manners from Kili, I am having a blast! I hear from my other brothers and sisters, which is cool. Mom says she is going to bring me over for a visit next week, or even maybe this week if she has time. I can't wait to see you again, I am so glad you live so close.

Big hugs Grandma and Grandpa, I love you!!! Arwen

Dear Arwen, I hope you are well, I sure do miss you. I like it here with my humans and the rest of the four leg-ed lot. Looks from your pictures that you have a lot of playmates too. Do you have your humans wrapped around your paw as well?! My mom is kind of a strict-by-the-book type. I think she is afraid of messing up my formative months. Does your mom try and have you do your business by using �key words�? That can be so embarrassing. What if I�m at the dog park, and I run into a really cute little girl dog, and she says �the word� and I just can�t help but �go� in front of her? Help!

Your littermate, the puppy formerly known as Uther Pendragon

Conall

Wow, this is wonderful hearing from all my siblings!! I thought everyone had forgotten me, but mom said that would be impossible because I am too naughty to be forgotten that quickly. I definitely have EVERYONE wrapped around my paw, except for Kili. She is my new doggie mom, and is very strict, but at the same time, lots of fun, she is teaching me loads of stuff. My human mom sounds just like yours, but she says it's for the best, and from what I've heard she's usually right, so I'll have to go with that I suppose.

I have to go potty when mom says "Get busy!" What a silly command, but everyone else goes when she says it, so I suppose I should follow suit to keep things running smoothly. Most well behaved girls and boys go upon word commands, so I wouldn't worry about meeting a girl friend in the park. She'll just think you're terribly smart, and us girls like that. Thanks for the photo, I am going to put it on my photo page. We all seem to be growing so quickly, so make sure you keep me updated with regular photos so I can see what you look like.

Big hugs, Arwen

Arwen, my mom and dad don't take me places, what do I do to get to go along for the ride?

Reply: HOWL!! Like your heart is broken whenever they head toward the door. Even if it doesn't work right away, the neighbors will soon convince Mom and Dad to please take you so you'll stop howling!!

Hi Arwen

I have learned, as young as I am, that I can bite my humans butt when she isn't looking, and I don't even have to stand on my hind legs. For some reason my human doesn't appreciate this and I get the old "NO NO BAD DOG" line. Makes you wonder what I'll be able to reach when I grow up. Any suggestions for sneak attacks? And I know what you mean, Keagan and Fergus are barely tolerating me, and won't play my games. I guess its part of being the new kid.

Hope you are safe in Florida with all that wind and rain.

Your brother in TN, Fitzpatrick

PS- my human keeps saying she'll take pictures -but never gets to it. I'll keep bugging her and send you some soon.

Reply: Hey Fitzpatrick, howz it goin'? Listen, sneak attacks are easy. Late at night is usually a safe bet, once they are snuggled in watching TV, someone is bound to fall asleep, my mom always does. Now strike while the iron is hot!!! Feet are the best thing to go for, makes my mom squeal beautifully. (I'll give the butt thing a try tonight) Or you could try the old "kisses" routine, I fool my humans by being really sweet, giving them lots of kisses on the ear. Then I take a quick bite, works every time.

PS Can't wait to see photos of you. Tell your mom she'd better hurry up, because you won't be small-ish for very long.

Hi Arwen! This is Duncan (Indie's reading over my shoulder). Remember? We met you the other night. We think you're pretty cute for being a girl puppy & we hope you won't boss us around when you grow up. Kili's a lot of fun to go hunting with but (& this is the important part) she won't let us knock her down & chew on her (the same problem we have with Fergie)....so, we want you to know that's really the best & only way to play. Also, we like all of the games you play with your parents & know you'll think of tons more during the next year or so. It's good to keep them busy & alert because, despite their protests, they have nothing else of great import to do other than play with you. Have you taken the end of a roll of toilet paper yet & run through the house with it? Also, do not limit your chewing to shoes - think BIG. Be innovative. We've got lots of suggestions but you seem to be doing fine on your own. Keep up the good work. One more thing...could you teach us some of your cute faces? We could use more treats... Fergie gets more than us just because she follows mom everywhere. You'd think she'd come up with something more creative, being a girl & all....

P.S. What's "devil's spawn"? If we get called that can we get extra treats just like you?

Hello Duncan and Indie. Yes I remember you, you guys kept trying to run away from little ole me!! Why is that??? Umm, well the best and only way to play question is a difficult one because I'm just learning myself. I just play how ever I want to, and if it's not acceptable Balin and Kili ALWAYS let me know. I have learnt that pulling someone's tail or biting paws are not such a good idea, nor is jumping on top of someone, but chasing around the yard like crazy and jumping up and down can be a lot of fun. Also tug-o-war has become a favorite of mine.

Of course I've run off with the end of the toilet paper, but I only made it as far as the door, which was annoying as I'm sure I could have made it to the bedroom. That could have been a lot of fun, but my mom keeps the bathroom door shut 99% of the time (until she forgets) because she seems to have a problem when I try and investigate the big drinking bowl they keep in there.

Next time you come to visit I can teach you some of my cutest faces, they are really easy to learn, and all seem to work a treat. And with regards to thinking BIG when it comes to chewing, I have recently turned my attention to the couch, the carpet, the corners of the walls, my bed and cushions, not forgetting remote controls, but best of all, my dads pool table. This is a great one, because I can escape underneath it and run to the other side and no one can catch me, this affords me an awful lot of attention, but no doubt there will be lots of other things I can find. I'll keep you posted on those.

I think "Devil's spawn" is like "monster child". When I get called this a training session usually follows, so when you get called that it sounds like a great way to get extra treats to me.

PS Girls always get more treats, it just a fact of life, and it's because we are cuter than boys. Sorry, but there's not much you can do to change that.