Happiness

When we are getting ready to go out for a walk, I show my exuberant happiness by going into dad's study, grabbing something out of his basket and tearing it to bits. Fun, fun, fun!

Grrrrrrr

We labs look sweet and friendly, and that makes this game very effective. Walk up to a stranger, preferably an old lady. Smile and wag your tail. She will smile back, bend down in order to pet you, saying "What a nice doggie." At that moment do a little forward jump, raise your hackles and growl, showing your teeth. The commotion this causes is very amusing.

Wise old dog

I am inquisitive and have a good memory, and I am suspicious of things I have not seen before. When I was young I used to bark at people with something white on their head, white hair or hats. I also barked at people with umbrellas, motorcycle helmets and once at a man with a child on his shoulders. It looked like a tall two-headed creature. I embarrassed my mom and dad the most, however, when we all went to the airport to meet a friend, and while we waited outside the terminal I saw a black man for the first time. I went wild. Now, however, I am a lot wiser, and of course I happen to be black myself!

Another Day, Another Adventure

We walked a long path today, into the woods and back by a lake. I met a handsome guy who followed us for a long time, his owner trotting behind, constantly calling him, but he was very disobedient.

At the lakeside I went into the reeds and guess what! I found a big well rotted fish, so I had a good roll. They did not see me doing it, but when I joined them they tried their best to clean it off. Then they left me in the car, and went for a cup of coffee in the visitors' centre. When they came back the car windows were all steamed up, and there I sat in the back seat, their steamy stinky dog. The cleaning job had not been all that successful. The rest of our pleasant Sunday drive was taken with open car windows.

October Morning

Great walk in the woods this morning. I got wet and I got muddy so I was allowed a long swim in the river before we went home. I found a good stick which I carried all the way home.

Photos taken this morning with camera phone.

Mixed Messages

I like to be kept up-to-date on what is going on here, and am constantly looking for signs. When dad puts on his walking shoes I get all waggy and happy, but then he may disappoint me by going out to paint the fence instead of talking me for a walk. If mom changes into different clothes and comes downstairs with her handbag, I think we are going out for a drive, but then she goes away on her own to meet her book group. Most of the time, however, I get it right. I pick up essential words from their conversation, such as “take her” or “take Tess” or “going in the car” or just “go” and I jump up and run around them in circles, and wag not just my tail, but my whole body.

Blankets

I love my blankets. I have several. There is the brown one, the green one, the red one and the yellow one. If you want me to settle in a certain spot, just throw down a blanket, and I will go ant sit on it. Blankets are nice for wrapping up in, too.

Training

This is me aged eight months, being "trained."

When I was a pup they took me to training classes. It was run by two angry women, both named Evelyn, and we were to walk around in circles, the humans leading their dogs, and stop and sit and then walk on and turn and stop and sit. All of us puppies wore choke chains around our necks. I got overexcited and wanted to sniff the other dogs and I pulled and pulled and did nothing right. Mom got stressed and the Evelyns shouted, which made us even more stressed. It was a nightmare and I learned nothing. One of the Evelyns took me outside and walked me up the street on the lead, and I pulled so much that she told mom that I was “diabolical.” Me????

In the end we gave up. Mom decided that choke chains and shouting was no way to train a little dog. She was right. If you want me to learn something, just use food.

Mom’s handbag

Several years ago I stayed at home one day, while they went out for lunch. When they came back I got a whiff of something delicious, and guess what! There was a big chunk of lovely steak wrapped in a napkin in mom’s handbag. Since that day I always check her handbag for meat when she returns home from somewhere. One never knows.

Lazy Saturday

On a rainy afternoon they like to sit in front of their screens. He downstairs, she upstairs. And in the bedroom I am doing what I like most, after eating. Dreaming (of food).

Boxes

When my biscuit boxes are empty I always get them, because I love tearing them up. Also, for some reason, they always leave a biscuit or two inside these boxes, which makes the work of shredding them even more interesting.

Dog tired

Just back from my walk. Wet and tired. Leave me alone.

Intelligent?

There is a tennis court in the park, and yesterday Rory went in, but could not find his way out again. There he was, running back and forth on his little legs, ears up, worried about being left behind. The humans in our walking pack found it amusing. "Go and get Rory" they said to us dogs.
So I walked up to the court and stopped outside the gate. Rory came running and found the way out. I got all the praise. "She is so intelligent" said Rory's mom, and gave me a biscuit. Did I do this good deed deliberately? Am I actually a wonder dog? Who knows.

Black Cat

Yesterday I almost got it. I saw it in the garden and I howled and barked and rushed out, and the cat ran across to the top of the garden. As it happened dad was there, painting the fence, so the cat turned and ran the other way, right in front of me. It was one black streak, the cat and me after it. But cats run fast and they can climb, so it escaped. Mom was pleased with me. She said she hoped that the cat would stop trying to get the birds in our garden, now that it knows that there is a fearsome dog in the house.