1 Francesca! Are you ready? We need to take some photos for the blog! This will also be good practice for our upcoming magazine photo shoot!

2 Smile, Franny!

3 Hold steady and say, Meatball.

4 Oh come on, Franny! Since when are you shy? Smile for the camera.

5 That's better.

6 Work it, girl!

7 Look coy...

8 Are you getting my good side, Sharkey?

9 Now let's get these shots on our iPad so we can select our favorites.

10 We can use the iPad Camera Connection Kit to import photos directly to the iPad, Franny. The large touchscreen is a lot easier on our paws than a computer keyboard!

11 I'm nervous, Sharkey. Do I look okay? How are my wrinkles?

12 Franny, I didn't realize you were taking pictures of me! This is supposed to be YOUR photo shoot, not mine!

13 Let's find the shots I took of you...here we go!

14 I think this one of me is pretty good, Sharkey! You certainly have an eye for photography! This will look amazing on our blog!

1 It's true! Dressing like a toad is often safer than eating one.

2 Ditto for turtles.

3 And dragons.

4 Even red dragons -- this is from the Martha Stewart Pets Halloween collection at PetSmart

5 If you must chew on frogs, may we recommend the tug-toy variety? This guy is from Martha Stewart Pets for PetSmart.

6 Or this little critter, also from Martha's new collection. He likes being chewed so much, he squeaks!

1 Hey Franny, what do you have there?

2 It's one of our stuffed toys! It's nice and soft and doesn't hurt my mouth when I chew on it. Sometimes, when I chew it just right, it makes a squeaking noise!

3 Chewing is very important to dogs! Puppies chew when they are teething, but full grown dogs need to chew, too. We inherited a lot of our chewing habits from our relatives.

4 Dogs, like our non-domesticated wolf relatives, are pack animals. Often, we assert dominance over another pack member by fighting over the last bit of food. That's why we love biting and chewing toys!

5 I sure showed him who's boss!

6 Dogs are also avid lickers. You've probably noticed that's the first thing we do when we meet you! Sharkey, people don't realize that licking is a way for us to communicate with each other.

7 Pack animals use licking as a form of silent communication so as not to reveal their location to prey. Licking another dog's face and ears is a common greeting.

8 Licking is also a form of cleaning. We not only groom ourselves, but other members of the pack. Franny, you're such a good pack mate!

9 Sometimes, Sharkey, I lick your mouth to let you know that I'm hungry, just like a puppy will lick its mother's mouth!

10 Why, thank you, Franny! It's so nice to have my own personal groomer to keep me looking beautiful!

1 Francesca - look at all of this twine! The guys must be using it in the peony bed to create the twine supports.

2 I think we Frenchies should help them with this chore. You know how much we love peonies and we would appreciate them so much more knowing that we had a paw in helping them flourish!

3 Sharkey, I'll use this mallet to bang in the stakes - you start passing the twine through the eye holes.

4 Wow! We sure worked fast! We finished this part all by ourselves! Let's help the guys finish the section they're working on.

5 Chhewang, pull the twine through!

6 Here, I can facilitate.

7 Ooh!!! That moving twine feels hot on my paws!

8 There - I got it through the eye hole.

9 Francesca, you're not thinking of taking all the credit for this task, are you?

10 Yeah, I figured as much!

11 OK - OK - Don't have a snit! I'll give you your due credit, Sharkey. Just imagine how amazing these peonies will all look!

12 Remember last year? Ahh - I can practically smell their wonderful fragrance.

1 I am told I need to go to the groomer as I am going to be starring in my own TV commercial!

2 I guess Francesca and Sharkey are not joining me today.

3 Stonybrook Kennels - we're here!

4 Shall I take a leap of faith?

5 Well, they certainly have some interesting outdoor decor - I didn't know dogs could row a boat.

6 Well, here's a reason to be comfortable with this place. That's my grandfather, Paw Paw, up on the wall.

7 I guess Sharkey and Francesca like this place, as well.

8 So many impressive looking ribbons! They must really know what they are doing here.

9 Well this gentleman, named Alex, is friendly! And yes sir - I am related to the great Paw Paw!

10 I'll follow you in for my bath. Hey, you with the camera - sorry - no photos of me all wet!

11 After my bath using a gentle shampoo, they used this blower to dry my fur.

12 It actually felt warm and nice.

13 I even enjoyed the brushing out.

14 A little snip here and a little snip there.

15 When can I look in the mirror?

16 Be very careful with those nail snippers.

17 Yes, I deserve to be photographed next to these blue ribbons! I am a wonderful example of a champion Chow Chow!

18 Francesca! Look what we have here!

19 OMG! Ooh-la-la!!! Is that our handsome little G.K?

20 Girls, I really enjoyed my grooming experience.

21 And from your reactions, they must have done a fine job.

22 Ladies - I just feel so fluffy and soft.

23 And check out my toes!

24 Yes, I think I am going to enjoy my status as a champion.

1 Whoa, Uncle Carlos! Stop the car - we want to see what those rock formations are all about. It looks like a mini Stonehenge.

2 You know what I think? I think that this stone tower looks like all of those cairns that people build on the beaches up in Maine.

3 You're right, Franny. Maybe Uncle Carlos took a wrong turn while we were napping. Instead of driving in Connecticut, maybe we drove all the way to Mount Desert Island! Woops!!!

4 What's that, Uncle Carlos? The GPS says that this IS Connecticut? Good thing because Martha wouldn't be happy if you made a wrong turn.

5 So I guess, these cairns are a tribute to Stonehenge by someone who lives here. It's a very nice idea and Sharkey, you and I should try building some back at the farm.

6 You do the heavy lifting and I'll supervise. Ha-ha!

1 I'm waiting very patiently for Santa Claus.

2 I thought I was Santa but everyone tells me that's not so!

3 Maybe we'll find Santa out here in the snow.

4 Sharkey, maybe you're right. I mean, he's bound to come sooner or later.

5 Franny, I can't wait! The suspense is killing me!

6 Is that Santa over there?

7 I guess not - you look that way and I'll keep looking over here.

8 Franny, I'm getting a little cold. Maybe we should wait inside.

1 Look Sharkey - it's one of those things they call a leaf blower. That can only mean one thing at this time of year - fluffy, dry leaves!

2 See? What did I tell you? Let's go leaf diving!

3 Oh, this is so much doggone fun!

4 Sharkey, if you're trying to hide, you need to do a much better than that - you're sticking out like one big Q-tip!

5 Not good enough - I can still see you Sharkey!

6 What's up, Sharkey? Is everything OK? Why do you look so concerned?

7 OMG!! A giant leaf sucker! We need to get out of here FAST!!!

8 Phew! Shaun to the rescue!

9 Why Shaun - Is there still time to play?

10 Good thing we were so gallantly rescued. We might have been sucked right up with all those leaves!

1 So Franny - I think this thing is called a spigot. I'm going to turn it and see what happens.

2 Well Sharkey, it looks like water.

3 I think it is water.

4 It smells like water.

5 You're right - it is water!

6 Sharkey, you had a really good idea. This is quenching.

1 Hmmm... Francesca's at a checkup and this is a perfect opportunity to go out and explore that special tree way over yonder.

2 I don't want Francesca to know! This will be my very own secret spot.

3 Every dog needs her or his own special secret place to get away from it all for quiet contemplation.

4 Now, which way was it?

5 Oh right - it's this way.

6 Here it is! The ancient hollowed-out sycamore tree. This is where I'll have my hideout.

7 It's quite large inside and there are some very special features.

8 For instance, if you look up you can see...

9 that someone once hammered rungs to make a ladder. It goes way up high to a hole where you can spy from. Totally cool!! Now, if I could just reach the first rung.

10 There's even a peek hole in the back to see people approaching or to make a quick getaway.

11 After visiting this great place, I feel restored and at peace. Now I just have to figure out how to keep Francesca in the dark.