DENVER -- November 25, 2009

I keep hearing how amazing it is that I can step right in where Ross left off on the DogBlog. People think I'm too young or something. Well, let me remind everyone that I'm from the new generation of CCI puppies. We're savvy, we're hip, we're techno geeks, we're CCiPups! So there. I am Puppy, watch me Tweet. Hahahahahaha.

Anyhow, I was happy to get an email from my brother Madden this week. We're both big fluffy black puppies with gold splotches on our paws, but Madden has lots more gold mixed in with his fluffy black fur and golden brown eyebrows. When people ask what I am, Marianne says that I am a "Black and Tan Teddy Bear Retriever" which fits Madden perfectly too.

Madden and I had a good chat and filled each other in on our puppy raisers, new homes, family members, yada yada yada. Here's an edited transcript:

MARS: Where are you being raised? What is your new home like?

MADDEN: I live in northern New Jersey where there are lots of mountains, leaves on the ground, deer, chipmunks, and other critters I cannot name. My new house is a ranch but I don't get to see much of it except the kitchen, office and bedroom.

MARS: Hey, me, too! I wonder why that is? Marianne says it's because I'm not "trustworthy" yet, whatever that means. Do you get to run in the house?

MADDEN: There is a long hallway between the kitchen and bedroom that I like to run down when going to bed.

MARS: Me, too! Wow, that's amazing. What else do you like about your house?

MADDEN: There are big glass doors in the kitchen that I like to look out and I am starting to get the hang of squeaking when I need to go outside; that works pretty well on my humans. I have a kennel in the kitchen filled with toys and stuff but my favorite place to sleep is with my head on my new buddy's belly. More on that later.

MARS: Squeaking, huh? Does that really work? I find I get faster results when I yell at the top of my voice. What are your Puppy Raisers like?

MADDEN: Regina and Dave, my PRs, are no fools; they seem to know what they are doing. They call me Love Potion #9 since I am their 9th CCI pup.

MARS: Hmmm, I'm Lucky Puppy #7 for John and Marianne. Do you go to work with your PRs?

MADDEN: Regina works from home for a big telecommunications company so I spend the day in her office with my new pal.

MARS: OK, enough hints! Tell me about your pal.

MADDEN: You mean my buddy, Doug the Dog. He is what PRs call a CCI COC (Change of Career dog) and is 5 years old. I know he is part golden retriever and part lab like we are, but he looks all golden and has a big bushy tail that I love to chase and chew on when I get the chance.

MARS: Oooh, that's sounds fun! Does he mind?

MADDEN: He is really a sweet guy and when I am "respectful" and don't chew on him, he lets me climb on him and snuggle in for a nap. If I am not in my kennel sleeping, I am always touching him with one body part or another.

MARS: (wistfully) That sounds nice! I've tried snuggling with Mina in her crate but she doesn't like it much, and Meryl usually relaxes on the couch or the bed where I'm not allowed. What's your work day like?

MADDEN: We go out about every hour during the day and once in a while I get to just hang out in Regina's office before going back in my kennel -- yep, I have one there too. Dave gets up in the dark and he is the one who takes me out in the morning and then I get to play in the kitchen for a bit. He leaves the house just when the sky gets bright and comes back in the dark again. He picks me up and we snuggle, but only after he does that with Regina -- she gets him first. They smile at me a lot, and sit on the floor with me so I can crawl up on their laps, which we all like.

MARS: That sounds just like life here, except I go to work at the TV station or with John to his office. I have crates in both places, and lots of toys. Marianne was letting me have some free time in her office but I goofed and tried to chew on a power cord yesterday so she says I have to be in my crate until I'm "trustworthy." There's that word again. Shoot.

MADDEN: I guess I must be trustworthy already. Ha ha.

MARS: Yeah, right -- more like you haven't been caught chewing on a power cord yet. Do you have snow there? You could have knocked me over with a Nylabone when I stepped off the plane into frozen white stuff. Talk about surprised! And cold. Brrr.

MADDEN: No snow here yet, but there's some cold, wet crunchy stuff on the ground in the morning, "frost" I think they call it. I can't wait to see snow. Regina says she can't wait to take my picture in the snow. "A little black ball in all that white," she says. I am their first black puppy so they went out and got a new camera to take my picture and capture my face. (grin)

MARS: Woof, they really think you're all that and a bag of kibble, don't they? I'm the 4th black puppy here, but the first fluffy puppy for my PRs. As far as I know they did not get a special camera to capture my fluffiness. What’s your favorite toy so far?

MADDEN: The puppy before me, Indy, had lots of friends at a nearby school and they gave him this silly little stuffed turkey that says "gobble, gobble, gobble" and I just love it. I run around the kitchen with it in my mouth while it is talking -- so fun!

MARS: HEY! I want a toy that gobbles! My toys squeak and rattle, but gobbling sounds so much more entertaining. Time for a trip to the store for a new toy, Marianne. Marianne? Hello?

MADDEN: Did I mention my other favorite toy is Doug's tail?

MARS: Yeah, and Mina says it's a good thing you're not here. She's cranky and says I'd better not even think of chewing on her tail. Meryl complains that I'm TOO LOUD, though in point of fact, Marianne often asks her to use her "inside voice." I'm just saying. Anyhow, do you like making lots of noise like I do?

MADDEN; Nah, I don't make much noise, don't see the point. A quick squeak and they seem to know what I want. I may fuss a bit in the kennel unless I am really tired, but since it doesn't get me anything, why bother? But Doug the Dog is a real barker when someone comes to the door and my PRs don't like that at all.

MARS: Huh. I guess I just like hearing myself sing the Puppy Opera. Loudly. Speaking of loud noise, what’s your opinion of the crate? I'm not as annoyed as I was at first about napping in it, but I'd rather be FREE. Free, free, free.

MADDEN: I have a solid-sided crate and an open wire one and I like to sleep in the cozy solid one at night, but spend the day in the open one -- when they make me go into it. I understand that there will be lots of folks coming here for Thanksgiving: sons Jay and Chris and grandkids. I think my crate will be a nice safe place for me when it gets to be too much excitement. I hear they have a little granddaughter who is 2 1/2 and loves puppies so I am looking forward to meeting her. Isabel and I will be good friends for the next year. I have to remember that her fingers and toes are not to nibble on. I'll try to be good.

MARS: Wow, it's like we live in parallel universes or something! I sleep in a solid-sided plastic crate at night and a wire one at the office, too! And we're going to some weird place called Albiturkey (something like that, anyhow) for Thanksgiving where there will be lots of people, so Marianne says I will also have crate time to get away from the hullabaloo. And there are two small boys named Logan (3 years old) and Elijah (1 year old) that I can play with and I've also been warned about their fingers not being food. Huh.

MADDEN: All these rules! Whew.

MARS: It's been great yapping with you. Anything else my readers should know about my little brother?

MADDEN: (Blushing) My PRs tell me I am sweet as sugar.

MARS: (Gagging noise) Ick. My Auntie Elizabeth calls me Sugar Shoes. I'd rather be called Killer.

MADDEN: (Shrugging) Hey, I like to be held, I give lots of little kisses, and I really like my life. It looks like I won the lottery with this match. There was some rumblings that they asked for a black dog because their son, Isabel's dad, who is back from Iraq, wants me if CCI is not in my future, but Regina says she may not give me up if I become a COC dog. It's nice to be loved so much in less than a week.

MARS: Yeah, I know what you mean. I really like it here too, and everyone at 7News says I am "The Cutest Puppy EVER." My feet hardly touch the ground when Marianne takes me to visit co-workers on our lunch break. Ohhh, lunch! 'Scuse me.

Chow for now!

Mars

P.S. Cool coincidence: Regina and Dave raised Parker's sister, Patrina! Click here for the link to Parker's DogBlog about her.

Questions or comments for Mars? Send him an e-mail!

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to CCI for details.