This is Willoughby. Willoughby belongs to my friend April. He knows that Christmas is a wonderful time, because the table scraps get better and better, and there's plenty of new dog toys to play with when Christmas Day comes. And all he has to do is sit in April's lap, wag his tail, and put up with the occasional humiliation of a dye job and pedicure.

How about it... should I submit this photo to Cute Overload?

You may think dogs are smart, or you may think dogs are dumb. But in reality, dogs occupy a completely alternate dimension. The dog world is so different from the human world that we will never understand all the things they understand. But trying to understand may give us a laugh every now and then. Our world probably looks as dumb to them as their world looks to us. The most common facial expression on my dog is best decribed as "puzzled". Come to think of it, most of my human friends appear that way, too!

Christmas Dog
by Shel Silverstein

Tonight's my first night as a watchdog,
And here it is Christmas Eve.
The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs,
While I'm guardin' the stockin's and tree.

What's that now---footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a cat or a mouse?
Who's this down the chimney?
A thief with a beard--- And a big sack for robbin' the house?

I'm barkin', I'm growlin', I'm bitin' his butt.
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air.
I've frightened the whole bunch away.

Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again.
The stockin's are safe as can be.
Won't the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow
And see how I've guarded the tree.

Here's a dog's eye view of the Christmas season.

Teach your dog to sing Christmas Carols!

Holiday Etiquette for dogs.

Christmas dog costumes. And even more of them here. And Jewish dogs can dress up for the holidays, too.

There are all kinds of gifts you can get for your beloved canine, but I think this puzzle is particularly educational.

You can even have Christmas fun with a dog that isn't real.

Send your friends a nice canine ecard with a game.

Wrapping Presents with Dogs

1. Gather presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room floor.
2. Get tape back from puppy.
3. Remove scissors from older dog's mouth.
4. Open box.
5. Take puppy out of box.
6. Remove tape from older dog's mouth.
7. Take scissors away from puppy.
8. Put present in box.
9. Remove present from puppy's mouth.
10. Put back in box after removing puppy from box.
11. Take scissors from older dog and sit on them.
12. Remove puppy from box and put on lid.
13. Take tape away from older dog.
14. Unroll paper.
15. Take puppy OFF box.
16. Cut paper being careful not to cut puppy's foot or nose that is getting in the way as he "helps."
17. Let puppy tear remaining paper.
18. Take puppy off box.
19. Wrap paper around box.
20. Remove puppy from box & take wrapping paper from its mouth.
21. Tell older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing it.
22. Take scissors away from puppy.
23. Take tape older dog is holding.
24. Quickly tape one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them again.
25. Fend off puppy trying to steal tape & tape another spot.
26. Take bow from older dog.
27. Go get roll of wrapping paper puppy ran off with.
28. Take scissors from older dog who took them when you got up.
29. Give pen to older dog to hold so he stops licking your face.
30. Remove puppy from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper on.
31. Take now soggy bow from puppy & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer sticks.
32. Take pen from older dog, address tag & affix while puppy tries to eat pen.
33. Grab present before puppy opens it & put it away.
34. Clean up mess puppy & older dog made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping paper.
35. Put away rest of wrapping supplies & tell dogs what good helpers they are.

Colleen’s Corner recounts the day they made pet portraits with Santa.

Watch the story of this Puppy’s Christmas. It will warm your heart, no matter how cold and cruel your heart is.

Barney’s Holiday Extravaganza, a video presentation of Christmas at the White House, as seen through the eyes of the presidential dog. Do you reckon this is also available on the Armed Forces Network?

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a new poem from cowboy poet Woody Woodruff just in time for this post!

What's it's been 9 years
Or has it been 10
Another Christmas Day
Just me and you ole friend

Now I ain't complainin'
You may think that I am
Would love one of Cookie's biscuits
And a little of his Blackberry Jam

While you slept ole Dog
I checked  Buck and little Blue
Figured it being Christmas
Was the the least I could do

By the way I cut us a tree
Was hoping it's all right
There's stew on the stove
Boy, we're feastin' here tonight

Did I tell you it's snowin'
Yeah, it's really comin' down
Reminds me of that cold Christmas Day
When I found you there in town

I'd just left Johnson's saloon
When I heard a whinnin' sound
Your Mama been hit by a wagon
You lay beside her on the ground

So I picked you up
And pulled you up tight
It's been me and you ole Dog
Ever since that cold Christmas night

You know I never told you
How I came to be in town
How findin' you that Christmas
Turned my life 'round

Woody Woodruff
Dec 10 2006

 
Thought for today: Did you ever walk in a room and forget why you walked in? I think that's how dogs spend their lives. -Sue Murphy

humor links Christmas funny dog pet pets