One of my important responsibilities is guarding the house. This includes my house, and when I am there, my grandma’s house and the house in the north woods. I guard the house from wild critters close by. At my house we can have coyotes prowling about in the neighborhood at night. The coyotes travel through the big playfield behind my house and along the easement behind the houses in the neighborhood. Occasionally we get a marauding raccoon or possum in the area. There are a lot of bunnies that live nearby. The bunnies like to hang out in my backyard underneath the bushes and cedar trees. Just so you know, bunnies pose no threat but it sure is fun to chase them. The same wild critters are around the house in the north woods. Additional threats I face up north are white-tailed deer, porcupines, fishers, gray wolves, black bear, and cougars. I bark to let Mister Tom know about any critter escapades. Otherwise he would be clueless.

A related responsibility is guarding against the roving bands of evil-doing upholstery thieves. To that end, I fling myself in harm’s way by placing my body directly between the upholstered furniture and potential threat. I generally lie on the upholstered furniture to ensure that I am not caught off guard, and I’m ready to immediately spring into action.

GUARD DUTY (Copyright 2013 by Buster J. Brown)

Strange animals in the neighborhood,
I alert him like any sentry would.
Hackles raised and menacing growl,
Now he’s aware that critters prowl.

If he sleeps, I urgently wake him,
Using whines and cries and physical action.
Sometimes I have to be persistent,
If I encounter his sleepy resistance.

With me and Eddie, our constant vigilance,
Security ne’er breached, not one instance.
Debt owed for a job well done,
Thanks and praise in satisfaction.

Guarding furniture, my actions more subtle,
Keeping low profile in case there is trouble.
I feign comfy, sleepy composure,
In case nearby lurks a furniture burglar.

He insists my furniture guarding, merely a ruse,
My subterfuge for an afternoon snooze.
Yet all upholstery remains in place,
No evil doers have breached this space!

Mostly us dogs like food and treats that you people critters find stinky. For us, the stinkier the better. Cheese can be stinky, and Eddie and I like cheese treats. Our regular followers know that we LOVE potted meat mixed into our kibble (see the poem Ode to Potted Meat posted April 16, 2013). Canned salmon is the best! All of these are pretty stinky. However, Mister Tom started giving us dehydrated sweet potato chips as treats. They are yummy. He takes whole sweet potatoes, slices them thin, and then puts them into the food dehydrator. They make the whole house smell sweet when they are drying.

FAVORITE TREAT (Copyright 2013 by Buster J. Brown)

A fresh vegetable is used to make,
A treat I will always take.

I supervise each and every step,
Each time he thanks me for my help.

First they’re washed and patted dry,
I watch with careful eye.

Meticulously sliced thin,
Then into the drying bin.

Now ahead the long wait,
Aroma through the house permeates.

I check their status frequently,
Attention focused most doggedly.

The wait seems almost endless,
As I contemplate their lusciousness.

Long wait and angst all worth it,
For crispy, dried, sweet potato chips!

White-colored, brow-spotted Buster here. I intended on publishing my poem about my favorite home-made treat this week. Instead, I wrote a poem about one of my favorite activities, namely snoozing. Mister Tom says I am an expert at snoozing!

You people critters do not seem to grasp the complicated nature of the dog sleep equation. Sleeping is a science and art form for us dogs; as are the associated activities. There is the task of finding the perfect place for a snooze. There is the decision on whether I should actually sleep or luxuriate in simply lying down for peaceful reflection and contemplation. Myriad other variables influence the dog sleep calculus. Do I want to feel the comforting warmth of sun shining through a window? Do I want the soothing coolness of a hard surfaced floor? Sometimes the softness of the sleep location is critical. Do I want the softness of my regular bed? Do I want the chamois smoothness of the mat lining the bottom of my crate? Do I want to covertly rest on Mister Tom’s bed while lying my head on his pillows? Or, I may want to feel the unique coolness followed by warmth and softness of the leather sofa in the family room. It is exasperating that some of the variables are mutually exclusive. Not all combinations are possible. A cool soothing surface may not be appropriately soft. What if I want coolness underneath and warmth on my back?

Moreover, once my rest is finished, stretching and yawning have to be executed precisely to wring out the last bit of delight from the total sleep experience.

ALL THINGS SLEEP (Copyright 2013 by Buster J. Brown)

Start by finding the perfect location,
Consider the options and plan of action.

Warm sun shining through a window,
Feels good on muscle and sinew.

The coolness of a hardwood floor,
My energy to renew and restore.

Cushy comfort might be what I seek,
Each soft location quite unique.

Do I want to feel the human touch?
I hope that’s not asking too much.

Once site and conditions chosen,
Drift into sleep’s gentle haven.

When I awake refreshed and relaxed,
My last delight in a good long stretch!

By now I think our followers have figured out that Eddie and I like being outside. It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. There are always things happening outside. Our feeties will get cold sometimes in the winter when there is snow on the ground and it is bitter, bitter cold. Otherwise, we like it outside. Mister Tom talks to us on our excursions. When there are critters around he tells us about the critters. We know to look to the trees when he says “squirrel.” We know when he says “bunnies” that they stay put on the ground so we go look in their usual hiding places. My favorite bird critters are my crow buddies. When I hear them outside I look around to see if I can spot them. I tilt my head to one side when the crows make their “caw, caw” sound. Just in my neighborhood there is a red-tailed hawk that sometimes sits on the railing by the front door. The Great Horned Owl lives nearby, too. Possums and raccoons and skunks live around here. Mister Tom says we do not want to meet the skunk. Coyotes live in the neighborhood. When the coyotes are out and about in the middle of the night I make sure I wake up Mister Tom to let him know. He always thanks me for being such a good watch dog.

LATE AUTUMN (Copyright 2013 by Buster J. Brown)

Leaves are gone, grass is brown,
You’d think adventures would dwindle down.

Dreary, drizzly, damp and cold,
What enjoyment awaits this canine bold?

Yet in these last gray days of autumn,
Excitement looms around the corner.

Rabbits sheltered ‘gainst wind’s chill,
Now and then emerge they will.

And birds still flit from bush to tree,
They’re my pals, the chick-a-dees.

Migrating geese overnight in my field,
They congregate, stoic and steeled.

Early morning hear the Great Horned Owl,
I keep alert for coyotes on prowl.

Excursions to my yard ne’er some boring drill,
Being outside always brings a thrill.