Monday, March 02, 2009

I spy, with my little eye



OI!
A game of footie! (that's soccer, to you American readers)

*Though the straits be broad and narrow, we'll follow we will,
Follow we will, Follow we will.

Though the straits be broad and narrow, we'll follow we will,

We will follow in the footsteps of our team.*
(Apologies to Celtic fans)

(Actually no. I take that back. I make no apologies)

Wuh oh.


Oh shit. RUN HAMMY, RUN!!

Nae worries. MC Hamster was in no real danger. After Piper tried to score a game winning goal with the hammy-ball, the dogs were ordered into a quivering collective of doggie down-stay for the remainder of Hammy's evening on the town.


One-at-a-time hairy eyeball following was permitted under strict supervision

It was haaaarrrrrrrrrrd.
STRESS YAWN!

Oh doG. PLEASE LET ME EAT THE HAMSTER!

Because they were so good, and tried so hard, I rewarded them with a trip to the park.

Meh. Flying Squirrel is okay. But I shall stand here and reflect majestically upon the wonderment of Mister Hamster. I think I can smell him from here, actually.


Hai! Step 1) insert hamster on massive tongue scoop mechanism. Kthx


Even more challenging than the "Leave Hammy Alone" exercise for Piper is the "Relax With Your Hockey Ball" Game. Piper is genetically programmed for a high degree of tension.

What? I'm totally relaxed.


What the - is he looking at my ball??!


(supposedly 'looking at her ball')


OMG he wants my ball. I better grab it.


(la la la nom nom nom)


Okay okay, everyone calm down. The ball is safe. Wait ... do I want that stick too?


HAI! Hamster Tongue Scoop getting tired over here!


*SIGH* Can we go back home to Hammy now?

26 comments:

b13 said...

Oh, poor Hammy!

Anonymous said...

My first thought was "That poor hamster" so I was relieved when you put the dogs on a down stay. Woo looks like a different dog when he is just standing - his expressions and his athleticism really define him.

I haven't commented but I have enjoyed all your recent posts.

The Border Collies said...

Honest - Hammy does not care. He digs the dogs, and he likes his ball. He motors all over the house, banging into the dogs and the bathtub, and is totally unfazed by both events! Piper grabbed the ball the one time (see photo) and the down-stay went into effect.

And actually, when hammy rolls into the kitchen/bathroom part of the house, Woo stands guard in the hall and does not let the other dogs go near the ball. Of course, he really is just protecting his potential snack, but it has the added bonus of not letting Piper play soccer with him. I think Piper likes the ball more than Hammy-in-the-ball as she sometimes steals the hammy ball when it is empty ;-)

Unknown said...

I love the pic with the cat lingering in the back ground. When we've had hamsters in the past the ball was always a great source of entertainment for our other pets. The hamsters never seemed to notice the large cat waiting for the ball to open.

Bae Bae said...

Woh.. that hammie sure had an adventure...

~ Bae

Anonymous said...

That ball is so cool! Must be so much fun for the hamster! =)

The hamster is used to having the dogs around (watching him all the time)so I don't think the hamster is scared of the dogs.

pam said...

We're thinking of getting a Hammy. The enjoyment of the ball alone will be worth it I think. And I want a cuddler.

Anonymous said...

Lo, though he rolls through the Valley of Death... The shot of Hammy motoring blithely through the Piper-Donut-Woo obstacle course is priceless! And your photos have always really captured the sense that Piper might be... ummm... wound a bit tight. Like 3 espressos worth. :-)

StellaStar said...

Haha! I love the photos and the captions! Hammy is a riot! Great choice in new dog toy....er, PET!

manymuddypaws said...

that is pretty funny stuff. totally made my day!

Anonymous said...

Yay, a minor Donutz appearance! (chants) More Nutz! More Nutz! More...uh oh, now *my* cat is here with an evil gleam in her eye.

Michelle said...

Thanks for the entertainment; it was grand!

Anonymous said...

OMG Srsly I am peeing my pants over here. Awesome captions. Especially liked the la la la nom nom nom

Anonymous said...

Hee hee Hammy! And poor poor Piper! (being ball crazy, Ham in a sphere is basically torture)

I'm with Beth. I love a Donutz sighting. More Nutz, more Nutz!

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to get a hamster in a ball for Colyn. I haven't because I don't think it would be fair to the hamster.

Your blog is awesome, as if enough people haven't told you so. Hence, I'm sharing the Kreativ Blogger Award with you. details in my blog.

Anonymous said...

Sparky has to go into a down stay when my hammies are out too. Only it's doubly hard for him because there's two self-moving balls! Two of them!

I'd say pictures are in my blog, but they're not. Hammies are and dog is but not both together!

Must rectify this.

Totally Timmy said...

Oh poor Mr hamster..Good thing he didn't get batted down some stairs!

Rebecca said...

My dogs are also in love with their hammy-balls, though my permanent pup has been less than completely enthralled over the years. :P He still likes to watch from the couch though.

A word of warning though, those balls like to occasionally just pop open, always at the worst possible moment. We've found it best to stick a little bit of tape on them, just to be safe.

Anonymous said...

That was really entertaining. Better than T.V.!

Fenway said...

OMG, Food Lady. Hammy is pure torture for these beasts. You are diabolically funny.

Knatolee said...

Love the hamster saga! Your dogs are lovely.

Anonymous said...

I really love your pictures and reading your blog, really great photos. But I must say, I think it is quite unfair for your hamster to be harassed by your dogs, one of whom is known to attack and kill small animals.

Putting rodents in the presence of predators such as your border collies really stresses them out. And adopting a hamster for the purpose of entertaining your pets is a cruel idea.

I'm sorry to sound so negative, I commend your efforts in improving animal welfare with your border collie rescue. But I think all animals deserve respect regardless of their size.

Chris and Mackenzie said...

Those tongue shots were like 3D. I found a little slobber on my screen!

Anonymous said...

I just realized that my comment sounded more judgemental than it was meant. It wasn't meant judgemental at all. When I said it wouldn't be fair to the hamster, I simply meant that my dog isn't nearly as well behaved as yours. Mine would probably not be able to maintain a down stay in the face of a self rolling ball. And he definitely would try to score the game winning goal.

Laura said...

Good freakin' lord, rodent dvm. You cannot be serious--did you just find this blog today? [shakes head] Because you sure do make a bunch of ridiculous assumptions in your comment that any long-time reader knows to be impossibly out of character for the Food Lady.

Life in vet school said...

Oh, dear god. Unfortunately I found your blog the other day, and am now well on my way to failing out of vet school because it's SO FREAKING FUNNY that I can't stop READING it long enough to STUDY! Thanks a lot! :)

Seriously, I love it -- your photos are great, your dogs are adorable, your commentary is hilarious -- I love it!