No Dogs Allowed On Beach?

When I first overheard that there were no dogs allowed on beach after we got to St. Pete, I was so very sad! Sure, I got to swim in an awesome cement pond this last summer and swim in the surf on the Outer Banks, but we’re in Florida now and beaches are everywhere!

We got in the car one time and drove, and drove and drove…and I got to hang out the window and stuff. Then we were slowing down and I just knew we were going to a park. Woohoo!

Another dog park!

So we drove and drove again after I got to say hello to the gate keeper and finally parked. I could see the fence and the other dogs! Yay! There were other dogs (sometimes there isn’t anybody to play with) running and playing in the dog park!

We got out and I was trying so hard to obey and heel, but I get so excited knowing I will soon have new friends to play with. But we didn’t go to the first gate. I guess mom knew of a back gate so I just kept trotting along the fence as good as I could..

At first I was confused because mom wouldn’t turn the right way to go into the park, but I was being a good girl to heel up nicely and then…there it was! Could it be? Was she going to take me on the beach?? But it’s not allowed!

We walked down the sand to the beach and mom made me sit, like she always does (I don’t like this) and took off my leash. Then I had to wait like an hour…she kept saying stay, stay…I was, already! Finally, mom said, “Go ahead!” I ran as fast as I could to get to the water and jumped right in after the Frisbee mom threw!!

When I got out, I looked around and there were ALL kinds of dogs…EVERYWHERE!! Later, mom said this is the only beach close by that is JUST for dogs. This is awesome! Boy this was fun! I guess mom and poppi were wrong…dogs ARE allowed on the beach!

Fort De Soto has the only dog park where dogs are allowed on the beach in a designated area. There are also 2 fenced in areas near the beach for large and small dogs with water stations - view dog park- (beach entrance is at the far southwest corner of dog park, not shown)

Home In Pasdena Marina

I can't believe it! We finally made it to my favorite home...Pasdena Marina! I never thought we would come back and here we are. I just couldn't stop crying with excitement as I just knew poppi would be here too!

My mommy and I have been traveling forever...had to have been a year at least, but she swears it's only been a week! I don't care though, we are home now and poppi must be here.

When I finally got let out of the car a ran for the boat...but where was it? It should be here. Poppi should be waiting. Mommy keeps saying he's not here, but surely I am not looking in the right place. No. This is it. Where is poppi?

Okay, I will be patient a bit longer 'cause mommy says he will be here and she is never wrong! Oh, but this is so hard...the waiting.

This is the best place of all...there are city streets to walk on, cafes that let me sit outside with the parental units, boats everywhere, beaches, dog parks...OMG! St. Petersburg and the S. Pasadena town we live in is home for sure. I just hope we don't ever leave again!

Poppi? Are you here?

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

 After much discussion with Abby over the last week or so, I have conceded. It seems she wants to run this blog. Her argument was simple, but valid. It's all about Abby, therefore she should be in control. So here it goes.

Finally, I get to be in charge of MY blog! WooHoo! To start, I want to show you some of my favorite things in life.

 Usually, my pack leaders allow me the freedom to do as I wish. As you can see here, riding in the car is the awesome-est!

I get to have the whole back seat to myself and my parents have made sure to put in this comfortable bed (they call it a sling, which doesn't make sense) so that I can perch my head between the seats to catch the cool breeze that flows directly from the front of the car.

And the windows aren't even open...must be magic! I really love riding in the car :)

Speaking of cars, check me out! If I dance around in the back seat enough, someone always rolls the back window down and OMG! What a freaking rush! All the smells are shoved up my nose at high speed! I can take it though and love to get the scent of the ocean, the beach, the sand the people, the cars, the dogs, the food, the trash, the poop...I am in heaven!

I could do this ALL day...it is at the top of my list of favorite things!! And if mommy or poppy open BOTH windows, well, need I say more?? I can run back and forth between the two so as to not miss a single scent! What a rush! Maybe this is the number one thing on my list...

But Wait! I soooo love swimming, but jumping off the dock to get my fave toy? (Sometimes they don't use my favorite because they tend to lose it in the ocean or under the dock so I make do with whatever they want to throw.) I can fly! Who knew? This HAS to be my favorite thing in the whole wide world! I not only get to fly, but get completely wet after I jump because I can go under water like the fish...then I get to swim, swim, swim until I find my toy and then I get to swim, swim, swim back to poppy or mommy so that they can throw it again. This always makes them happy and I love it when they are happy.

 Check ME out:

And did I tell you I love napping? Yup, it's definitely one of the top favorite things of all. It's one thing that I do really well! And can do it ANYwhere. So this has to be my favorite thing of all! Mommy shot the following photo of me napping, but I don't like it so much. Looks like I've got string hanging out of my nose. I know she thought it was funny and as long as she's laughing or smiling, I'm okay with it...I guess!

I know there are so many other favorite things, but these are a few! I'll be back to tell you more cool stuff about me because it is all about me, on MY blog...just call me Abby Dabby Doo!

Chillaxin'

What a grand day this has been! Sitting by the Dock of the Bay with Abby, waiting on our pack leader to return from an afternoon sail charter. There are always crabbers to watch here at the dock, so as I sip my Coors Light, Abby and I are entertained. We sit under the covered porch in the comfy chairs overlooking the canal and marina.

Abby just had a nice swim at the boat ramp up the street, but not as much as she would have liked! The winds are calm this afternoon so the water was too nasty, keeping lots of muck right at the ramp. But she did jump off the dock a couple times to retrieve her Frisbee even though I cringed each time she swam out through the nasty sludge that collects at the ramp. It did cool her off enough to keep her out of the water playing in the parking lot. She loves chasing her Frisbee!

And just in case she needs to be alert for the evening sail, Abby and Frank get their power naps in! It certainly pays to be a dog in this pack. Playing, napping, eating, snuggling and most importantly, getting to ride with her head out of the car windows catching every scent the wind can shove up her cute-little-pink nose!

Being new to this dog-blogging, I HAVE to remember to continually carry my phone so I don't miss any photo ops! There sure was some hilarious fun times at the local dog park that I did NOT capture on camera. Would have made a great video and given more than a few laughs ;D

Aw well, I am learning that everything is a photo op and just need to make it second nature to capture absolutely everything! Especially as far as Abs is concerned.

I can't wait to show of some of her funnier moments and antics!

Cool Dog!

Abby is quite the dog and very, very cool! Sometimes, I am so amazed at what an awesome pack member she has become. She is so lovable and obedient (mostly) and surprisingly adaptable. No matter if we are having a relaxing day napping or riding in the car or striking the pose, Abby fits right in. I couldn't have asked for a better kid and am so glad she has accepted us as her family!

Abby and Frank

There is nothing more fun for me and Abby then hitting the beach in the evenings for a swim, walk and Frisbee playing. I once had a black lab that loved to surf and never thought I would see that it another dog again. But now Abby surfs!!! I was able to capture a few seconds of it the other night. I don't like to use my phone much at the beach because my hands are always wet and sandy, but I had to get this short video. I love my cool, little surfer girl!

When Abby has been out playing and swimming on any particular hot day, she loves to cool off with her favorite treat: puppy cups! These dog 'ice cream' cups (sans the ice cream) keep her content, non-stop licking, until the frozen treat is gone. And she's very careful to not make a mess, never a drop on the floor nor cushions!

She's my Abby Dabby Doo and the best kid ever!!

Abby’s Typical Evening

Last evening had to be the best sail of the year, so far! What we thought would be a wash with the looming storms turned out to be an awesome charter! With dark clouds hovering all around, we thought there would be no way we could make the evening sunset sail. However, to Abby’s delight, the skies broke and the rains stopped so off we went…

But not before my little gerbil lapped up a bit of water from the icy cooler drain:

Then Abby took her initial post in wait of the boarding guests. She’s quite the dutiful crew member, sporting her life jacket, sizing up each passenger to see who might be in need of her attentions.

Of course, not long after we set sail, Abby settles in for a nap. The wind, the gentle roll of the boat through the waves, instantly calms her soul as she grabs a power nap.

As the boat tacked to the other side, she moves to the low side of the cockpit. This evening Abby was particularly content in napping for most of the trip.

Wait, what was that? Did someone call for me???

Abby has come a long way from last summer’s charter season! Now 20 months old, she is quite socialized and life on the boat has become the norm. While last season she was rambunctious and in a state of minimally controlled chaos, this year she thrives on sharing her home with guests as she has become quite the icon on the boat…all her manners intact. Well, most of the time…

Life With A Boat Dog

 

This is awesome!

We own a 41' Tartan Sailboat and Abby is a wonderful sailor! She lives on the boat with us and goes sailing all the time. Frank runs a sunset charter business during the summer on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Abby is part of the crew. And yes, this is the same boat we all live on.

Abby loves to greet the customers, but has learned who doesn't really want to be bothered by her presence...who the hell doesn't like dogs anyway?? Oh well, paying customers first and sometimes, for whatever reason, she has to ride below deck. This does not make any of the pack happy, but especially Abby :(

For the most part though, Abby get to ride up top and enjoy the wind and waves with the rest of us! She does wear her life jacket now (which I will post a pic of soon) like a good young sailor does. Anybody on board under the age of 12 must, by law, wear a life jacket and that includes Abby Dabby!

After the meet and greet, Abby will keep a watchful eye as we leave the dock and head down the ditch to Kitty Hawk Bay. Once the sails are out, however, she will settle down into the cockpit on the heeled side and fall sound asleep. Most of the time, the only instance she wakes is when the boat is tacked signaling her need to move to the other side of the cockpit to be on the low side of the boat's heel.

When the winds are light, Abby will wander the deck to see who might be interested in giving her a  pat on the head or scratch her belly. She knows immediately who the dog lovers are and befriends them quickly, but she is rarely annoying and will move along at the right time. Usually to the cooler with its missing plug...she looks like a gerbil getting water out of its water bottle :D

Once the trip is done, Abby will wait patiently for all on board to debark so that she can run through the empty dock parking lot to burn off any excess energy then settle into her fave spot in the salon's aft berth for some evening TV viewing.

What a dog's life!