Ask the Ao4 - III - Photos, Keeping Cool, Squirt Bottles, and Beverages

Tail wags, everypup! It's me, Stormy! I wanted to field a couple of the GREAT questions some of you submitted to Ask the Ao4. We promise to get to every question, so please bear with us.

Our very dear friend Holly asked the following question:

MGI PhotoSuite 4, Holly! It's a fun program that came with our camera. We can do all sorts of fun things with it, as you can see from the photo above. Dave really likes that "water color" look on you. We can email you just that part of the photo, if you'd like. It would make gorgeous note cards! This should also answer Sitka's question about where the beautiful picture of Amber came from the other day, too!

Joe Stains complimented us by saying we are "the experts on being cool" (verrrrry sweet, Joe!) and continued to say, "and since you are Siberian on being COLD! It is always hot here, how can I keep cool without going in the evil pool?????" Another excellent question! It's SO important for us pups to keep as cool as possible! Joe, you and Tanner have an added challenge since you live in Arizona. Our heat is just starting here. Some readers of our blog enjoy a dip in the pool. Like you, Joe, I think the majority of us here at Ao4 Headquarters would find it evil. With one possible exception. We've never tried one, but they seem way too much like an over-grown bath tub to me. I think you're right to avoid it, and need to find alternate means of cooling off. Some tips you might find handy are:
1. This one might be obvious, but if any bipeds are reading, they might need to be reminded. Exercise before or after the heat of the day, then spend the day relaxing in the comfort of your own home. With the air conditioner on. Forget all that "provide shade, access to water, shelter, etc." stuff. An air conditioned house. It's the only way to go. Bipeds - if it's too hot for you out there, it's too hot for us.
2. Air conditioning not set low enough for you? Seek out your bipeds. Preferably when they're a tad hot themselves. Pant. Heavily. Then try a little whine. Stagger a bit, if it's in your repertoire, or lean up against them to share your body heat. The piece de resistance is the "Sad Eyes Look". That should buy you a few degrees lower, at the very least.
3. Dave also recommends laying on top of the AC vent. Not only will it help you cool down, it'll make the bipeds hot so they lower the thermostat. He is demonstrating his technique here in Haik-woo 31, at right.

Another question was from a new friend of ours - Nugget! It's great to see you here, Nugget - and thanks for reading! Our biped mom was raised by Beagles so we're quite partial to your breed! They helped train her for us. Ha roo roo roo! Nugget's question was, "My Mum keeps squirting me with a water bottle when I bark; I am a Beagle and can't help it, what should I do?" Nugget, I agree whole-heartedly with your approach. You ARE a Beagle. Barking is part of what you do for a living. Doesn't your mom understand that you are barking for a reason? It's up to her to discover the reason (someone outside where you can see him/her, toy under a piece of furniture and you can't reach it, desire to play), praise you for alerting her, and give you a cookie. If she does those things, it's OK to stop barking. If she gets out that water bottle - I recommend a yelp (Beagles are good yelpers, too!), then the aforementioned "Sad Eyes Look" in my response to Joey Stains' question. Use those gorgeous Beagle eyes! Give your expression the most painful look possible. "OW! That HURT! How could you?" Couple it with a mind-meld message that she hurt you. Even though she didn't. Lay on the guilt, Nugget. It can help you achieve all kinds of goals.

Finally, a question from dear Girl Girl, the Hamster-berian. She wanted to know, "What is the favourite drink for each of you?" We're all big fans of water, Girl Girl! Zim would LOVE to enjoy a cappuccino every now and then, but he's not allowed. Coffee is on the Forbidden Foods for Pups list ... though that hasn't prevented him from trying. You can't blame a guy for dreaming... but water is the way to go for us! We have cool canteens the bipeds carry for us if we go on a really, really long walk.

The Hudson Trail, one of our favorite walking areas!

Thanks for the great questions! I hope the advice to Joe and Nugget works - keep us posted, OK?

Keep those cards and letters coming in! We will respond to each one!

Tail wags,
Stormy