A blog post by Josiah, the morning-exploring Yorkie puppy
Hi, everyone. I hope you’re ready to enjoy your new year. Miss Janet told me a new year starts this week. For everyone! I’m only seven months old, so I don’t understand how it’s a new year for me already. But if it’s something we all get to celebrate together, that sounds really fun to me.
To get ready for the new year, I’d like to share my morning routine with you. Then you can see how I start my day as a Yorkie puppy. It’s like a new year for me every morning!
We wake up with the alarm clock. That’s what Miss Janet has taught me since I was a baby. No amount of whining on my part will get me out of my overnight crate sooner—so I don’t bother trying anymore. I just chill, waiting for the wonderful sound of the alarm clock that means it’s time to explore the new day.
I like to stretch a little. Miss Janet cuddles and greets me. Then she helps me put on my harness. It’s really easy. I just step in, and she does the rest. I used to fight it, but I never won. I finally realized if I don’t put on my harness, I don’t get to explore outside. If the cold front monster is visiting, I put on my winter coat too.
As soon as we get outside, I race over to the pasture gate to see how my sheep and donkey friends are doing. If the donkeys are nearby, they come over to visit. The sheep just stare. After I greet them, I set out to explore my elm tree and the back yard.
Our yard is filled with trees, and every morning, birds are settled in the branches. I race to greet them, and they all chirp and fly to higher branches to get out of my way. Silly birds. It’s not like I can catch them. I’m on a harness and leash.
When I get to my elm tree, I stop to survey the whole farm. I look for anything that may have changed overnight. My nose tells me who came through, and who might still be hanging around. Then I work on my dig-hole and chew on a root before moving to the back yard.
I check out every inch of the back yard very carefully. My nose is on high alert. I have to make sure the woodland creatures stay in their place and don’t get too close to the house. Mice, voles, possums, snakes, ground hogs—I think it would be great fun if they joined us inside, but Miss Janet would freak out, and that’s too much for me to handle.
I love to explore the dirt where the tractor has gone through. It churns up interesting tidbits from underground. Miss Janet lets me explore with my nose and paws, but when I try to taste something, she discourages it. She says eating off the ground isn’t good for me. But I say a little dirt never hurt anyone.
Miss Janet laughs when I smell something on the ground and jump straight up in the air. It’s because I’ve smelled an intruder who came through the night before. The smell is so strong that it feels like the intruder is right in front of me.
When we get back inside, I wait patiently (sometimes not so much) in my playpen while Miss Janet prepares my morning dinner. When she tries to pick me up from the playpen, I try to make her chase me. She used to fall for it, and we had a great game of hide and chase.
Now, she’s gotten smarter. She drops a treat, and when I go to eat it, she picks me up. Sometimes I’m too quick for her, and she has to bring another treat. The game isn’t as wild anymore, but it’s still fun.
I still eat in my crate. Miss Janet says I’ll outgrow that habit eventually. She tried to move my food out of the crate, but I pitched a fit. Crate dining makes me feel safer. I don’t have to constantly guard my food like I would if it were out in the open. I hope she lets me eat in the crate a little while longer.
I only eat a few bites of my dinner in the morning. I prefer to eat later in the day. Miss Janet says when I get older, I’ll probably want my full morning meal. But right now, I think it’s a waste of time. There are too many things to do, like play with my toys, practice my free roaming and commands, and nap in my comfy bed.
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the morning world with me. What is your morning routine like? Take your time and enjoy it. That’s the best way to start your day and your new year.
Sniffs and slurps,
Josiah
The Inquisitive Yorkie 