Being Cute

This weekend, I went for a long walk in Edwin Warner park. The weather was beautiful and I got to meet a lot of people and little dogs there.

While at the park, we had a photo shoot to get a good picture of me for the Cutest Pet Contest I am competing in this week. We decided to go with this photo (at right) since I am smiling for the camera here. The winner of the contest will be announced tomorrow evening. I think it's a little unfair that there isn't a separate category for adult dogs, so I have to compete against puppies. Either way, it should be fun to go to the contest tomorrow and meet other animals. Every year, law students bring their dogs, cats, and sometimes bunnies to the law school for this event, and I hear it is a lot of fun.

I was so tired after my long walk in the park that I couldn't help my foster mom with her law school reading. I tried, but it put me right to sleep.

Yoga Dog

I've decided to take up yoga now that I am retired. Downward dog is one of my specialties. Although, lying-down dog (demonstrated on right) is really my favorite pose.

I've settled into my foster home quite nicely now. Yesterday, I discovered a new toy called a vacuum cleaner. It's fun to jump around and lunge at it because it makes such interesting noises. I'm doing much better with wood floors and stairs, and have enjoyed going for long walks outside while the weather has been nice.

Next week I am competing in the Vanderbilt Animal Law Society's Cutest Pet competition. My foster mom is a law student and thinks I have a good chance of winning if we submit the right photo.

Cry Kaizen!

Yaaaawwwn. I am really enjoying being a retired racer, because I get to sleep all the time! (Except, of course, when it is time to eat, go for a walk, or get up to check that my foster mom is still in the room and give her a sniff).

I retired about a week and a half ago, and I think living in an apartment is great. I don't bark or make any trouble (even when I am awake). Luckily, my foster home is carpeted, because hard-wood floors are scary! I'm learning how to walk on wood floors, but I don't understand why they are so slippery. I already learned how to go up and down stairs, but I much prefer the non-slippery kind.

In case you were wondering about my name, all my siblings are also called "Cry," so it is more like a last name than a first name. My first name, Kaizen, means "improvement" or "change for the better" in Japanese. My nickname is Inu, which is Japanese for "dog."

Also, I don't have any injuries! The red bandage on my leg is from having a shot (or maybe anesthesia?) when I went to the vet to be neutered. I'm pretty well recovered from my surgery now.