My Winter Wardrobe...

Hi everyone!

It has been a long time since my last post! I'm really sorry for this - it's not for lack of things to write about because I have tons of ideas, however, my mom has been extra busy lately with her work (she does have to earn a living!), her own blog (http://danislogbookdestinationistanbulbeyond.blogspot.com) and other stuff. Also, I have been sick for the last week and she's been taking me to the vet for the last 6 days for antibiotic shots and I have been wearing a bubble hat so that I don't lick myself! It's nothing major, just a nuance as I have to wear this stupid bubble on my head which is inhibiting my activities! Most importantly, I can't eat my bones properly because I can't hold them with my paws! Anyway, the stitches come out tomorrow and hopefully so does the bubble!

Anway... let's get to the point at hand...

As I mentioned in my first blog, I came into my mom's life on May 10, 2011... I was about 7 months old then because I was born on October 21, 2011.

We had a fantastic summer together and she took me out to lots of places because since we sat outdoors, many restaurants and cafes were "pet friendly". We also went to Çeşme for a couple of weeks and that was a lot of fun! I was outdoors all day as there was a huge garden to play in...

Then, startİNG in September my extracurricular activities started to lessen - which to be quite frank, wasn't something I was thrilled about!

As the weather started cooling down and the rains began, my mom started taking me out less... but we still went to my favorite place - Lucca - in Bebek many times. In fact, we were there just about 3 weeks ago on a nice sunny day!

Then... something came over mom! I think it was in October and it started to rain almost every day in Istanbul! Everytime we went out for our morning and evening walks, mom would go crazy because when we came back inside, I was soaking wet and muddy! Being a white dog, you can imagine what I looked like!

So... all of a sudden... one morning as we were preparing to go out ... what do I see... mom is approaching me with this wierd "thing" which is not my leash. You can imagine my reaction! She was trying to put this thing on me and I wanted no part of it!!!

Long and short of it, she did get it on me after a very long struggle and I wasn't pleased... but I'm a good dog... I adapt very quickly!

My first raincoat

You humans call this thing I have on a raincoat!!! Supposedly, it protects me from getting wet on rainy days!  Well, not exactly! Sure, I don't get as wet, but I do still get soaked by the time I get back indoors if it's raining alot!

My mom got this outfit for me from the petshop at Kanyon (www.kanyon.com.tr). I've never been there because they don't allow dogs, but from what I hear it's a very nice place to go to eat and do some shopping (whatever that means!).

Kanyon Shopping Mall

Kanyon is in Levent and not too far from where I live with mom, so it's a place she frequents often. The pet shop is located on the B4 level of the shopping mall and is called the Pet Box. It's a big store, but she did have a hard time finding me an outfit even though they did have a lot of selections... but, get this - most of the models for this year include a hood!!! Can you see me walking down the street with a hood on my head! Well, I can't and thank god mom couldn't either!!! But, apparently, hooded dog outfits are the "thing" in Europe & the USA this year!!! Also, prices are not exactly cheap, but she was lucky... this outfit I'm wearing was 40 TL and she says that's not an outrageous price although not exactly cheap!

Well... this outfit turned out the be the first of many to come!!! Literally, she has been on a role and buying me outfits any time she sees a pet shop!

She purchased my second outfit at Animallia Pet Shop (www.animallia.com).

Animallia is where my veterinarian is and also where I go to get groomed. So, she had taken me there for a grooming in November and got me this outfit.

With mom Vildan (aka Dani) at Animallia

She prefers this outfit more than my raincoat because it is easier to put on... all she has to do is slip it over my hand and paws - there are no snaps to worry about and I give her less of a hard time.... I also wore this outfit on our visit to Lucca in November...and it cost 64 TL, but since my mom paid cash, she got a discount.

@ Lucca

There was no stopping her now! Like I said, she'son a role and likes dressing me up in different outfits... and tends to get bored easily I guess, because she continues to buy me stuff!

She got my next outfit from the Pet Box at Kanyon too!

This is an easy outfit to wear too... again there are no snaps and just a velcro belt that she can snap right on! This outfit cost 45 TL.

Just when I personally thought 3 outfits were enough... mom gets a phone call from her ex-boss and friend Lale Apa... Lale has two dogs... Samba and Barney. Well, she had ordered an outfit from LL Bean for Barney, but it was too small for him, so she sent to to my mom so that I could wear it!

Outfit from LL Bean

This is a cool outfit too... I like it and it is also a snap on... and the material is really nice... thanks once again Lale for the lovely outfit! I don't know how much this cost and it's rude to ask the price of a gift I'm told!

My last and final outfit (for now!) is below...

purchased at New Pet Shop

This is a wool/acrylic blend and the colors really suit me too! She got this outfit from New Pet Shop (www.newpetmarket.com) located on Nispetiye Street in Levent... and, the price was sooooo right! It cost only 20 TL!!! Compared to my other outfits, it's a bargain!!!

You must have noticed that mom did all my shopping in and around Levent - well, makes sense because that's where we live! But, be rest assured - knowing mom - she will find other pet shops where she can buy me outfits before the winter season is over... what can I say, she's a shopaholic when it comes to me!!

She also checked out some local websites where doggie outfits are sold. But, because she wasn't impressed with the selections, she thought it best not to mention them here. However, the minute she finds a good website, I'm sure she'll write about it!

Right now my grandmother is knitting me an outfit! She spoke to mom today and told her she is nearly done, so I will post photos with my new outfit another time.

On that note, I waited to the end to mention my final outfit...

Technically, this is my "first" outfit, but since mom didn't purchase it specifically for me... I didn't write about it first... you see it used to belong to Çapkın... my aunt's dog. Unfortunately I never met him because I wasn't even born when he passed away on December 29, 2009. He was a terrier and 15 1/2 years old when he died. This outfit was his - I wear it proudly and in his memory....

On a funny note... before I finish my post. I had mentioned that I have some "friends" in the neighborhood... my favorite girl is "Zillie" and I had written a post about our friendship. Besides my gal, there is another girl...much younger  - about my age - she's also a terrier and her name is Phoebe. She's a little more aggressive, don't know if she likes me that much because she's constantly growling and snapping at me, but I think that's her nature...

me (left), Zilli (right) & Phoebe (center)

Anyway... the reason I'm writing about them now is that after their moms saw me parading around in my winter outfits, they started getting dressed up too!!!! Unfortunately, mom didn't have her camera with her to take photos, but will post them at a later date when she takes them!

Till the next time... stay well!
Luka