Saturday, August 27, 2011

Joey's Journal Saturday August 28

Joey's Journal - August 27, 2011

Hello Everybody ~~ hope y'all (Southern dog-talk) are doing well.

Well, all we're getting from "Irene" is light rain and a little bit of wind. Grandmama Sue had told me about "hurry-canes" and I knew just what to do -- yesterday, I hurried and hurried and chased her away. Mom says I'm a hero. < bark, bark >



Dad sold his BIG truck yesterday and Mom and we dogs waited in the van to take him home. Mom took this picture thru the window just before the rain started. (Dad is the one in the green shirt and wearing a baseball cap.) Goodbye BIG truck.
Today, when it stops raining, we're going to go get some carpet to use for my next chroma-key shots. (Dad hopes it will work better than the painted room.) In order for me to look my best, Mom says I have to have my feet and face shaved this weekend and then a bath on Monday. What we actors must do for our craft!! Next time, Mom, can I play a scruffy character?

Love,
Joey

Friday, August 26, 2011

Joey and Storm Worries Friday 082611

Joey's Journal - August 26, 2011

Hi Everyone ~~ did you miss me? All day yesterday, Dad was with people who were interested in buying his big truck -- so all day Mom and we Poodles just "waited". Well, Dad sold the truck and this morning we went to a notary where Mom and Dad signed the truck title over to the new owner. Now, Dad can devote ALL of his time and attention to ME. < bark, bark >

Here I am in the office - "waiting"
Here I am on Mom's office desk "waiting" with Sydney.
And here's Jyah in the office "waiting" . . . (I tried to get in this picture too but Mom said "Enough is enough" - whatever that means).
I heard on the news that a BIG "her a cane" is supposed to come by here tomorrow. So, depending on how big she is and how much damage she causes, I may not be writing for awhile.

Hope everyone is safe where you are ~~
Love,
Joey
ps from Melanie---Joey, hope you and yours are kept safe through the storm, as well as wishing all of your followers a safe weekend. My heart goes out to those of you who have had to evacuate. Prayers and Hugs.




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Joey's Journal Wednesday August 24, 2011

Joey's Journal - August 24, 2011

Bark, bark ~~

It's still really hot here doing the day so we usually do our active stuff in the morning andhe evening after the sun goes down.

Here I am last evening waiting for Dad to get the Mule ready so we can go for a ride in the woods. Notice that I'm riding in the back with Jyah and Sydney. That lasted most of the ride. Mom is letting me decide when I want to finally ride back there.

After dinner last evening, we played a scenting game and I was REALLY GREAT at it!!
(Note from Charlene: this is how I taught Jyah and Sydney to learn to search for different scents http://www.caninehorizons.com/Scent_One.html but Joey is learning it at four-months-old, and he is AMAZING!)

The jar with baked liver inside is on the bottom bookshelf next to the blue books. Joey found it and automatically sat. The little genius! ("Sit" is the signal I train the dogs to use to tell me they've found the scent). Second picture is where he first found the jar on the sofa by the cushions. He sat automatically. What a puppy!!

Below, I set the jar on the second shelf of the music stand (next to where his nose is in the picture) then brought him into the room. It didn't take him any time to find the jar. See how he sits to get rewarded? Good, boy, Joey!!! Glenn took lots more pictures but these will give you the idea. We're going to video Joey finding the scent jar - probably next week.


I was pretty hot after searching for the jar so many times, so Dad gave me an icecube to play with . . . one of my favorite toys!!


This morning, I did my regular stuff including bringing the newspaper - then Jyah and Sydney and I relaxed in the shade for awhile.

Off to eat lunch and take a nap.

Love,
Joey







Monday, August 22, 2011

Oh...the Life of a Star!

That Joey, his journal never ceases to amaze me! I hope his "crew" of photographers and trainers are well paid, as he sure does keep them busy (but I heard a rumor that they are VOLUNTEERS, that Joey has talked his human parents into doing all this, can you imagine?)

Don't you just love Joey? Here is what he is up to today:

Joey's Journal - August 22, 2011

Hi, Everyone ~~

Hey, Cuzzin Shea, I like spaghetti as much as you do! Mom and Dad had that for dinner last night -- only they told me it was "worms". I like worms so much and gobble them down so quickly that Mom had to take several pictures just to get one where you could actually see the worms.

Today, after going to PetSmart, we ate at Qdido's Mexican Grill which is in the same shopping center. It was really hot outside - 85 in the shade - but there were lots of people coming and going so we had loads to look at -- and, oh boy, the smells!
Thought you might like to see how we do green-screen/chroma-key. In this green-room video (this is a still from it), I'm lying on the floor then I get up and put my feet on the box and look up. In editing, Mom cuts herself out of the frame.
In the second picture, Mom has chroma-keyed the green out and and put me into a "Basket Sales in the Republic of Georgia" clip. In commercial movies, they do this sort of thing all the time. Mom says that using chroma-key on fuzzy dogs is really difficult. Also, she and Dad are trying to find a better solution than the painted walls and floor we currently have because light reflects so strongly on paint that it reflects green onto my white hair and it's hard to key it out without making parts of me disappear like the green does.

There's lots of stuff to learn in this movie-making business! < woof >

Love,
Joey

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Joey's Journal Sunday August 21, 2011

Joey's Journal - August 21, 2011

How are you all today? Cool, I hope. It's gradually getting cooler here and we can stay out longer in the mornings. I've only ever known hot outside weather so I'm looking forward to when the outside is "air-conditioned" too.

We're resting now 'cause Mom and Dad are going to shoot more green-screen video of me later so I thought I'd show you what I did this morning. You will note, I'm sure, that as a movie star I have puparazzi constantly following me around. < bark, bark >

Here I am going over the top of the "straight maze" and going down through the incline tunnel. Mom and Dad don't put me on things - they wait until I want to try it on my own. Mom keeps telling me, "You're just a baby, you can't do this one yet." So, that's the one I want to do!
Mom and Dad were astonished when I jumped up the separated platforms this morning -- and also when I jumped back down. (Luckily, Puparazzi Mom was on hand to record it.) I've watch Jyah and Sydney doing this loads of times and, since I'm a big boy now, I thought I'd try it.

Sway bridges are easy peasy! In the second picture there's a long ramp at the end where I came up to go through this tunnel.
I sure like having my own door so I can come and go as I please. (Note from Charlene: Joey doesn't know that when he goes out, one of his parents always looks out the window to watch what he does and to make sure he's safe.)
We're going to go do more movie stuff now.

Love,
Joey











Saturday, August 20, 2011

Joey the Actor Is Already Quite Busy!

Joey's Journal - August 20, 2011

Hello Everyone -- well, we've been pretty busy here. Yesterday, we started shooting my first movie. Mom says I'm a natural actor, and I'm only four months old!! She says she loves that I'm so expressive . . . I even do "head tilts" just like my big brother Jyah. (Mom is ecstatic about that!)

Here's a still from video we took this morning where I'm carrying a "library" book away from the Chatham County Bookmobile. Sadly, the bookmobile was demobilized last month due to county budget cuts. Happily, Dad found where it was parked and we got some video shots.
For the pictures below, I was on a green-painted floor in front of a green-painted wall and Dad shot video of me doing different things that mom was telling me to do. Then Mom put these shots into some video clips and chroma-keyed the green out so that it looks like I'm really in these different places. Mom says there is quite a bit more work to do in the chroma-key process to make me look "natural" in the scenes -- but these "raw" clips are just as she put me into them without any adjustments.

Here I am in Australia learning about kangaroos
And watching Barong dancers in Bali
Then I went to Italy to watch a 17th century festa
'
And on to Rarotonga to search for seashells.
More later,
Love,
Joey

Friday, August 19, 2011

Please Visit Our Sister Blog!

Hi Everyone!

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you to Charlene Dunlap for allowing me to share Joey's Journal on this blog. I hope to catch up with his journal entries this weekend so that more of his engaging photos and adventures can be shared with you.

Secondly, I wanted to make sure that Poodle Blogger readers know about my other blog, which is full of articles concerning dog training and dog rescue, as well as personal stories people have shared about the special dogs in their lives. I would love to have a story about your favorite dog to share on either of my sites.

Coming soon...short video clips that anyone can access for free on the Knowing Dogs blog site, to show you how to teach your dog basic obedience commands, as well as how to solve common problems such as pulling on leash, jumping up and playbiting. Perfect for busy people who just don't quite have time to go to obedience classes, or for dog owners on a budget who may not currently be able to afford the services of a private trainer or behaviorist.

What is the biggest difference in Knowing Dogs and other dog trainer's websites? I promise to give you EVERYTHING...my websites are not developed to bring in local training business, so I am not giving just a touch of info in hope that you will pick up the phone and call me for an appointment! My life is such at this point that I am no longer doing in-person behavioral consultations, but I love dogs and their owners so much, my hope is to continue helping dog owners, dog show folks and rescue volunteers by sharing information through my blog posts, articles, affordable ebooks and free videos.

Please come visit me today at www.knowingdogsblog.com!

Best regards,

Melanie

Monday, August 15, 2011

Joey's Lake Adventure Monday 081511

Joey's Journal - August 15, 2011

What a GREAT morning I had!! After breakfast, we all went to the lake for an hour. (The lake is about 12 minutes from our house . . . by car.)

Here I am heading out to "see" ~~


And, pouncing on a "floatie."


(Mom has lots more pictures I could send but she said not to bore you.)



When we got home, we all had a hose shower and a good towelling.
Then we lazed in the sun to dry out. (I'm gonna take a long nap after lunch. )
More later ~~
Love,
Joey







Joey's Weekend Adventures

Wow, my little Poodle friend Joey is able to journal faster than I can blog! But, unlike me, Joey has STAFF. Well, Joey just calls them family (Poodle friends Jyah and Sydney, and his human parents Charlene and Glenn Dunlap) but Joey sure keeps them all busy! Note to Joey, I'm really not too jealous, as I don't think I would be too comfortable having photographers following me around, especially when I have a bad hair day. But you need to get used to it, Joey, since you are already being groomed for your role as a future movie star!

Here are a few highlights from Joey's weekend...stay tuned as Joey and friends really had some fun today (Monday) so I hope to post that later today!

Joey's Journal - August 13, 2011

Rain! Rain! Rain! We've had at least seven inches here since yesterday, and I'm all scraggly and wet. But, it's quite cool today so we got to go in the big building to play . . . here, Mom is playing "Fishing for Joey".

I learned about going up and down a big ramp -- also, got to go through some tunnels. I LOVE tunnels!!


I learned about going up and down a big ramp -- also, got to go through some tunnels. I LOVE tunnels!! Then we had some ice cream ~~ yum, yum!! I've learned to eat out of a spoon.
Hope everyone is doing well ~~Love, Joey
Joey's Journal - August 14, 2011

Hi All ~~

Before it rained (and, it's supposed to continue today), there was an empty bucket outside. Dad measured the water in it this morning and there was ten inches!! It's hasn't rained yet this morning so, since it was fairly pleasant, I got to learn more obstacles in the play yard. (Dad says to tell you it's been too hot and wet for him to spray weeds much this summer.)

Here is my first time going over the BIG sway bridge . . . the sway part is 16 feet long. Look at me go!! It was easy peasy .

I even went up and down the stairs by myself . . . and I'm only four months old!! Mom says I'm a SUPER SMART puppy. (note from Melanie--I agree with your Mom!!!)
(Below) This maze tunnel has a flip-flop board that I'm going over. Makes my tummy drop. Dad's helping me on the BIG seesaw.

In the BIG building, this was my first time through the collasped tunnel. No problem. (Below) See how good I am at jumping!!
Instead of bringing the newspaper to Mom like I usually do, this morning I decided it would be fun to keep it and pull off the plastic. Dad had to remind me that I would get a cookie if I took it to Mom -- so I did. I like cookies better than plastic . . . for now.
Mom said she's going to clip off more of my hair today because next week we start shooting my first movie. It's going to be about a puppy who learns that "reading" can take him on all sorts of adventures. It's my first acting job and I don't know what to expect, but I'll let you know how it goes.
Love,
Joey