Bodhi Tales

I am relearning how to say “no” like I mean it. When Bodhi jumps up on the couch, I catch myself saying,”NO?????” instead of “NO!!!!!!” The dog books say “No” is the most overused word in dog training. I am to catch him doing something right and then praise him. I wasn’t raised during the positive reinforcement era where everyone got a trophy so I am finding it a challenge. I am not used to praising him with “skillful doggie” instead of yelling STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

One of my favorite things to do is to relax on the futon!

I had a meet and greet party. My pack leaders read all these books and said that I needed to meet 100 people before I was 12 weeks old. Something about socialization… It was great fun though, everyone who came over brought a toy or treat. I also met some of my kind too ( Cleo, Gracie and Shadow).

After everyone went home, my pack leaders tried to stack me and take a photo. Boy are they poor handlers…

Here are a few photo’s around the yard.

Buddha Belly Bamboo

Mango Flowers

Side Yard

Banyan

Today was family photo day in the back yard. Of course I had to be uncooperative…

Eventually they got me.

We named him Bodhi, after the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha found enlightenment. We found out later that he was born on April 9th in Australia, April 8th in Hawaii – Buddha’s birthday.

We got him at 10 weeks old and I have been living my life in two-hour increments. On pee and poo duty. Keith and I have never talked about peeing and pooing so much. “Did he pee? Did he poo? How much, what kind, solid, loose?” We’ve had accidents. One of the dog books that we have been reading said that we should roll up a newspaper and when the dog pees in the house, we should hit ourselves in the head with it for not paying attention.

The next day we went on a short walk on Wailua Road. All these new and exciting smells of tropical flowers and plants. My nose was in heaven… After my walk it was nap time again. I impressed my pack with my retrieving skills. They were so excited that they filmed me. Take a look…

[ Javascript required to view QuickTime movie, please turn it on and refresh this page ]

Now I reside on the Big Island of Hawaii. I arrived in Honolulu on June 19, 2009. The Hawaiian Quarantine Agents said I was very friendly but I was really very happy to be out of my shipping crate. When I arrived at my new home, I was presented a traditional hawaiian lei greeting.

Soon after I took my first Hawaiian snooze on my new pack leader.

I’ve always been a cat person, but Keith’s dream was to have a dog and a log cabin in the woods. The cabin would have to wait, but a dog? Maybe. Is there ever a right time to get a dog? Job instability, added expense, giving up our freedom to come and go as we pleased, no fenced in yard. Keith is the kind of guy who does a spreadsheet to figure things out. But for this decision, I took another approach, “If you knew that you were going to die in 15 years, would you get a dog?” Being the analytical man he is, he paused, then he said, “Yes.” Then we are getting a dog.

I’ve heard that dogs are a lot of work.They need attention, but they teach us unconditional love. Hey, who doesn’t need some lessons on unconditional love? What I knew for sure was I have confidence in my ability to learn and grow. I can do dog.

My name is Bodhi.

I’m a Hungarian Vizsla that was born on Buddha’s Birthday. I’m named after the tree that the Buddha meditated under and found enlightenment. I was born in Australia to the Hubertus clan. My pedigree name is Hubertus Dr. Dolittle, because I’m so smart. Here are a few pictures of me in Australia.

My dad was a great Australian champion who was born in Hungary. Here is his picture. When I grow up I’m going to be a big boy like my dad!