Dear Cammie, Column 5

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie, here with the fifth and last (for a while) installment of Dear Cammie!  I hope you've enjoyed my first attempts at an advice column.

My first question today comes from the lovely, fun-loving Airedale, Molly.  She wanted to know:

"How do I get my peeps to play tennis ball with me 24/7?"

This was a hard one for me!  I mean, I like toys as much as anypup, but I just like to play for a while, then kind of hang out with them.

"No... I'm still playing with it."

Not meaning to jump ahead to Nora's question, but I think I more need a puppy than a toy, don't you?  But I digress...

I think you're going to need your handsome brother Mitch's help with this one.  Let your peeps know what you and Mitch can do if they don't take a bit of an edge off your energy level with some tennis ball action!  To illustrate, I'll be you and Zim will be Mitch.  Like so:

"No worries!  We'll make our own entertainment!  Come on, Zim!  I mean Mitch!"
"Yeah!  Let's do crazed river otter races - I mean AireZoomies - past the dining room hutch!"

That might not get you the 24/7 tennis ball play you're looking for, but I'll bet it'll help!  Especially now that there's a bit of a chill in the air and it's making us all super spunky!  Hope that helps, Molly!

Next up is an email sent in by our sweet friend Dolly!  She wrote about how well she is treated - lots of walks, car rides, homemade treats, sweet talk, loving, brushing... but has a very interesting query!  She wrote, in part:

"Here's my problem: Mom gets these little furry mice at a place called Ikea. It must be a loooong walk cause she's gone all day just to bring these home. Then she does something called frog-stitching and puts catnip inside them. When she gives one to my sister Maui it's like that kitty knows a secret! She tosses it in the air, rolls over and over and races around the house with a huge smile on her cute little pussycat face. Once I sniffed this stuff but darned if I know what the secret is. Is there a dognip so all of us can be as happy as the kitties?"

Umm... wait a minute, Dolly.  Your sister is a CAT?!?  I'm sorry.  I mean ... no, wait.  A CAT!?!  Here is a shot of me and Zim from a couple mornings ago.

"Oh, look!  It's my turkey friends!"
"DINNER!"

I don't think I should explain why the photo above fits in here.

Anyway, on to your question!  Zim came in while I was researching the whole "catnip/dognip" thing and he suggested I check the Ao4 Digest archives.  Sure enough, my Davy addressed this very subject - with Zim's help - back in 2007!  I can't improve on his sage words, so please click here to find out everything we know on the subject!

About that "frog-stitching" thing, Dolly.  My mom does a lot of that, too!  (Frog-stitching is when quilters and other sew people go "rip it, rip it, rip it!"  Ha roowooroo!)  Does your mom ever use HBO words when she frog-stitches?  Just curious.  Anyway - I hope that answers your question about catnip and dognip!

Next up is half of that Frisbee-playing, snow-loving, gorgeous Golden Doodle duo, Fiona and Abby!  Fiona wanted to know:

"How can I keep my sister from nudging in on my quality with my Mom? I'll be doing my best job as a lap dog and Abby will walk on me and push me out of the way. Help!"

Hmm.  Don't you have an Equal Opportunity rule there?  We each get one-on-one time with our Mom every day.  For me and Zim, it's an extra walk, a ride, a really cool adventure, play time in the backyard, or toy time - just to name a few choices!  I think you should make your mom implement the rule, then choose lap time for your activity - just you and your mom, no Abby allowed.  Of course, then she gets time for something, too, so both of you win!  All of you, really, as your mom will get to spend even more time with you two!

Here's a shot of me and Zim that has nothing to do with anything at all:

My big brother Zim and me!

I hope that helps, Fi!

And now, only to help my dear friend Nora in her quest to get a mini-me of her own, here is Zim with I'd Like a Puppy Hint #5:

"Yeah, Cam.  That puppy you showed Mom yesterday was really cute, but check this one out!"

"She's all covered in mud and just looks like a TON of Siberian fun is packed inside of her!
Seriously, Cam.  I like this one best!"

"Zimmie!  Don't tell Mom -- that's the same sweet, innocent puppy I was looking at!"
"Wowzers!  The total Siberian package!  Oh... uh... hi, Mom. What's shakin'?  Nothing to see here!"

I suggested Zimmie find a different photo to show Mom ...

"Look!  This one's an Explorer Pup!  Think of the adventures we could go on, Mom!"

Remarkably, it's the same puppy!  She's multi-faceted!  I just know Mom will cave!  I just know it!  How are things going with Mr. and Mrs. Master, Nora?  Maybe if they see these posts it will help your cause, too!

Many thanks to all of you for reading my Dear Cammie columns - and for your questions and sweet comments!  I hope I've been of help!  Have a great weekend!!!

Cammie!

PS: Photo credit of Bebe's (Dancing Winds Polargold Legacy) and Juarez's (Champion D'Azul's El Presidente) puppy courtesy of my dear family back at Polargold Siberians and Finnish Lapphunds. Photo used with permission.