Jozi of Nebraska

“My name is Jozi and I am a spunky, fun loving, rebel Corgi with a wet black nose, big ears, short legs, the ability to lick anything up in a second or less, loving dark eyes, long eyelashes, and a cute wiggle butt that Mommy and Daddy always talk about.  Although they call me wiggle butt, their other names for include shorty, jozi jo, trouble, chewy, ears and other names that I just can’t remember right now. 

As you know, today is MY BIRTHDAY!  I was born on June 1, 2011 on a farm with my other brothers and sisters. I watched all of them leave and go to their forever homes, leaving me waiting for my own forever home. 

Mom and Dad came and picked me up on a warm and sunny day in August when I was 11 weeks old.  I was pretty scared on the three hour drive home but I never whined or barked; I just looked around at all of my new surroundings and then took a long nap.  When we finally got to my forever home, I was introduced to life in suburbia with a new parents and two pussy cats who seemed to rule the household.  I spend most days looking forward to running and romping and giving kisses and stepping on Daddy’s toes.   

When I first got home I was tiny and had really short legs, so I had a lot of problems getting down the stairs on the deck. Daddy built me a ramp to use and now I like to stretch out on it every morning when I take my early potty break after a long night of Corgi dreaming. When I am in a deep sleep, I lay upside down with my back legs in the air and dream of frapping and playing with my toys.

I wag my tail nub frantically and give little whoooos, baroofs and friendly growls when I see Daddy and I can be paralyzed by a belly rub and a scritch behind my ears. In the early days. when I got a belly rub I would shake my back leg and Daddy would say that I was playing the guitar but I really didn’t understand that … can you tell me where there is a Corgi that can play guitar?  I’d like to meet them, please!

I’ve gone on a lot of adventures in my first year of life and have had a lot of experiences too.  I went on my first shopping trip, when Mommy and Daddy bought me my first harness. It was pink with polka dots and I loved it!  I got lots of scritches and gave lots of kisses on my that trip and even got to pick out a Kong toy. I am sorry to say that it did not last long; I chewed its head off in less than a day.  I loooove to chew on things and I guess that is why parents call me “chewy” a lot.  I went to the vet for the first time and got so many scritches and loves that I didn’t even realize that they were giving me a shot!  I got extra treats for being so cute too!  Who knew a little body with big ears would be so attractive! I just love the attention!

When I got my first bath I stood still like a statue not knowing what to do when that water came out of the long sprayer. It confused me and I whined just a little bit, but I knew I would get good treats so I acted like a big girl and got my bath and a good drying off. Then I was off to run amok through the house again!  

Last Summer, Mommy was home a lot with me because she was sick and we spent a lot of early mornings out on the deck enjoying the sunshine before walking around the yard where I would chase my ball and frap and frap and frap.  I love seeing the sunshine and sometimes it makes me yawn really big;  Mommy took some pictures of me yawning that I did not think were very nice because I have only one eye open and my tongue sticking out and they do not look very lady like, in my opinion.  I really don’t like to sit still too much and I just really don’t know what the point is. They tell me it’s for my blog; I don’t even know what a blog is but I just figure I’ll roll with it for now.  I would think that Mom and Dad would be tired of holding that camera by now!  

Some of my favorite things are treats, especially my homemade ones. I enjoy frapping through the house and doing laps around the dining room table, as well as ice cubes, baby carrots, yogurt and organic peanut butter.  I like Cheetos too but Mommy told Daddy not to give me any more of those and it made me sad.  She said they should have named me Cheeto, but I don’t think so. I’m not orange, I am a Pembroke red!  

I love to meet other dogs and I am very friendly to them all; big or small! I also like chasing the kitty cats and trying to lick them to smithereens, which sometimes ends in paw taps and hisses.  One day they will come around and until then … Corgi POWER!!

For Halloween I got some pajamas with bones all over them and I posed pretty for pictures. Of course I proudly took off my own PJs because I was tired of wearing them.  

I celebrated my first Christmas a little groggy because I had to have surgery, but Mommy got me a new sweater for Christmas that had love and peace signs on it and I kind of liked it.  I really don’t like any shirts or sweaters anymore and I get pretty mad when anyone tries to put those things on me. I’m a Corgi for gosh sake and I want everyone to see me for my beauty and not for what I wear!  For my first New Year’s Eve I stayed up ’til 3 a.m. with the family and rang in the New Year in style, wearing my “happy new year” headband. 

I got a rubber ball for Christmas; Daddy calls it the Ho Ho ball, I’m not so sure why. but it’s red and has some white h’s and o’s on it. It is my most favorite of my toys because it’s the toy I’ve had the longest in my life without destroying completely. I told Mommy the other day that I need a new one because it’s wearing out.  

I got to see snow for the first time in my life and I have to tell you, I was a little scared when Daddy opened the door to let me out. I stuck my nose out and then backed right up, but after I understood that it was fun to play in the snow I couldn’t wait to go outside!  I love trying to catch falling snowflakes and got to play in snow tunnels my folks made in the backyard for me!

For Valentine’s Day and Easter mommy put a headband on me with smacking lips and bunny ears and made me pose for the pictures. I finally gave in and let her take the pictures after she offered me a treat, but I will protest any silly headbands next year!

Mom keeps a box of all the toys I’ve ever had, and I have to be honest: they are totally chewed up and destroyed, so I doubt I’ll ever get to play with them again.  I saw her taking a picture of them the other day and again I heard that “blog” thing.  I just know she is going to tell on me and show the internet world all of my chewed up toys.  I hope people don’t think I’m a bad dog.  Really, I am a good dog but I just LOVE to chew on my toys.  I love tennis balls and if you don’t watch me closely, I will chew them up too!

I have just started showing my Corgi smile, and in my first pool experience I was such a happy dog and decided to smile big and wide for the camera. Mommy posted my picture and everyone loved it!  I am a ham when I want to be but when I don’t want to be, I will lie down and drop my head to the ground and pout.  I really need to be in charge all the time and no one in my house really understands me fully … yet!

I’m trying to get used to that big purple vacuum cleaner with that attachment they call the Zoom Groom. but I’m still not impressed.  I am hoping that it will just stop working and we can all live in peace and harmony among the Corgi hair! 

I accidentally chewed up part of the linoleum in my cage area when I was younger, so I had to graduate to a kennel. I have gained a lot of confidence, so they give me lots more responsibility nowadays.  

I’ve been learning to shake with my paw and I can do high-five’s and love to play tug of war with my toys, but I am still working on rolling over. They’re going to enroll me in puppy school soon.  I can catch a ball in mid air and go and fetch but I’m not very good at bringing it back yet. I know that I can do it with a little more practice and play time! 

Some other things that I love are car rides to the park and to the PET STORE, eating bubbles, walks around the neighborhood (I’m really good on my leash) and I think that I may be interested in learning flyball. I saw it for the first time when we went to the grand opening of a new dog park and I think I WANT to try this sometime. I think I might be good at it since I’m quick and agile and I can run really fast after a ball!  I also enjoy going to Three Dog Bakery because they ALWAYS give me treats and Mommy buys me a Baxter Brownie that has dog frosting on it … oh, it is so yummy!

Mom and Dad are working on my pedigree name and I think I heard them discussing wiggle butt and some other names.  Oh my gosh …  baroof … wiggle butt?  What the heck?  How am I ever going to face my friends?  

There is a sign on the refrigerator that says “ Dogs have owners and cats have masters”.  I don’t agree with that sign at all, and YES I can read. I am a very intelligent Corgi and I understand more than I sometimes get credit for. I am not owned by my Mommy and Daddy: I own them and they LOVE ME!

I wonder what I’m getting for my birthday … I would love a long walk, lots of scritches, a belly rub and a Baxter Brownie, please!  Oh, and don’t forget I like chewy toys that squeak, too (hint hint) … “

The End

Love, Jozi

p.s. Check out my Mom’s blog Jozi and The Pussy Cats!