Perfecting the art of innocence

Just having a little sniff....

and keeping an eye on the neighbours....

What!? I'm not doing anything naughty...honest!!

Oh right, I'm not supposed to be on the furniture - I remember now!

What, not the windowsill either?????

See I can be good!!

...when I'm eating!!

Grumpy mummy :-(

Hello dog blog followers,

It's been rather a mixed week really. Mummy has had a bad back so she's not been as much fun as usual and has been moaning and groaning quite a lot. I've tried to be as good as I can to help her out but I have to say it's not really been appreciated. Today, for example, she had a friend to visit and told me to go and play by myself for a bit. So I found a nice plant in the garden to play with, and that kept me amused for ages, digging it up and chewing all the roots and stuff, but mummy wasn't at all happy. Turns out if was a "New Zealand Flax" or something and was quite expensive and me chewing the roots probably killed it. Well, more than probably actually. It's a shame because now she's not speaking to me and I was so upset that I wet my new bed and this made her even more cross!! And we'd had such a lovely day at puppy training, where I was ever so good and I even got a certificate.

Now I'm not allowed to go in the living room to watch the x-factor with her and I've had my new smoky bacon bone confiscated. I think I'm officially in the dog house! Must be her bad back making her extra grumpy :-(

I love my mum!

Mummy says I'm not allowed on the furniture...

But I have to confess I'm getting mixed messages!!

More teething problems

I've got another wobbly tooth and it's really annoying because it just won't fall out. Mum tried to help me out by giving it a tug but it wouldn't come out and then she got all squeamish and said she felt sick. I'm not sure we was too impressed by the two teeth she found in the carpet yesterday or the fact that I got over the trauma of losing them by chewing her jumper - well it's not my fault I had a bloody mouth is it? I've never heard those words before!!!

Me again!

Hello loyal followers,

Sorry I've been absent for a while, but I've just been having too much fun. Mum had Friday off work so we spent all day together playing and going walkies. To be honest I think we got a bit tetchy with each other by the end of the day (or at least mum got a bit tetchy with me!) but generally we had a good day.

On Saturday I had to go to my new puppy class. Thankfully mummy remembered to bring the Pepperami so that kept me occupied while the other dogs were running riot. It was much better than the old class - the dogs didn't try to jump on me as much and we did more interesting stuff like running through tunnels and doing balance beams. At one point mum got me to walk round and round a traffic cone, which seemed a bit pointless to me but I got a treat at the end of it so I didn't object too much. Janet said I was a very good girl so I was quite happy.

Sunday was really exciting. We went to grandma and grandad's in the morning but they weren't there! Mum said they were on holiday and we had to water the plants to make sure they didn't die. While mummy was watering the plants I thought I'd check out the fish in the fish pond to make sure they were OK. I got a bit too close though and ended up falling in, which the fish found a little bit stressful (as did I if I'm honest). Mummy rescused me and towelled me down and I was OK after that. Then we went to great-grandad's house and he fed me lots of treats and said I was a very beautiful girl. I like him lots! It was such an exciting day I was really tired when we got home. I watched a bit of football with mummy but then I just fell asleep (I won't comment on whether I was watching Chelsea at the time). I'm kind of looking forward to mummy going back to work tomorrow so I can have a rest!

And enjoying the mud...

Who was it who said "mud, glorious mud"?

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Yeah, so I'm a bit grubby. And your problem is?

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Photos of me swimming (well, paddling)

In we go...

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Time for a little drink...

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Didn't you bring a towel mummy? Tsk, I'll have to shake dry then.

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Expelled!

Mummy told me she got an email from Janet (the dog training lady) to say I had been expelled from puppy classes.

I'm not sure if she expected me to be upset by this news but I couldn't have been more delighted. Although Mrs Janet is my friend and I like her very much I HATE puppy training. It's full of jumpy, yappy little dogs - and before you say it, I may be little but I am NOT yappy - I've got a really solid bark and I'm not afraid to use it. Not like this other Westie that goes there. It's got really long hair and it's really fluffy so it looks like it's been in the tumble dryer. And it has the most awful squeaky little bark - it sounds more like my squeaky duck than a dog. Gives the breed a bad name I tell you. And what's worse is that, while mummy tries to distract me from growling at all the other dogs by feeding me Pepperami, this Westie's owner keeps letting go of its lead, then it comes bouncing over and jumps on me, squeaking all the way. So who would blame me for reacting with a growl and a bit of a nip??? Well, everyone apparently. Not my fault - she started it :-(

Anyway, it turns out that I haven't actually been expelled - Mrs Janet thinks I'd do better in a smaller class with older dogs. Clearly I am far too advanced for "puppy" training :-) So we're joining the new class on Saturday - mum says I need to be on my best behaviour...hmmm, we'll see.

Paparazzi

Look, will you get that thing out of my face - I'm not Paris Hilton you know!

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Incarcerated!

Let me out mum!

No, seriously let me out. I'm not pole dancing here you know!

Ahh, relaxation

Went for our usual walk today and as it was such a hot day I decided it would be nice to stop for a little swim in the stream. So I wandered down the bank and had a paddle and a drink. I thought mummy might want to join me but she just said "you'd better be able to get out of there madam because I'm not coming in after you!". Well, of course I could get out - I got in didn't I?

Followed up my swim with a nice relaxing mud bath. Mummy pretended to be cross but she couldn't stop laughing so I knew she wasn't really angry. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed in the living room when I got home - mummy said I looked more like a scotty dog I was that dirty :-(

To bark or not to bark

I've just been told off for barking in the garden.

I don't get it.

Dogs bark, right. We always have. We always will. (Unless someone genetically modifies a dog without a bark-box!)

I don't tell mummy off for constantly shouting "no", "off", "down", "come here" etc

So, why do I get told off for barking?

Me in full bark-pose!

Long live the weekend!

So it's the weekend and apparently this means that mummy doesn't have to go to work. And this means that she's much more chilled out. I don't think work is very good for mummy - I must have a word with her boss about it next time he comes to visit me.

I've been very good this weekend - we've been on lots of long walks so I've not had much energy left for digging. Also, mummy has had me helping with the chores again (more taking socks out of the washing machine, and a bit of vacuuming too) so I've really been a busy pup.

As I've been such a good girl I've been allowed to spend more time in the living room. This is great, because I've worked out that if I climb on the sofa, then up onto the arm and then onto the back I can reach the window sill. Then I can see everything that's going on outside. The only bad thing about this is that "technically" I'm not allowed to do this so I have to time it carefully for when mummy's not in the room.

Tooth update.

Well the good news, loyal followers, is that my wobbly tooth has come out.

The bad news is that I swallowed it. No tooth fairy for me. Mummy said she'd give me a special treat anyway :-)

Tooth fairy beckons

I have a wobbly tooth... which wouldn't be so bad if mummy didn't keep wobbling it.

And then she tells me off for biting her! It's not fair.

Caught in the act (again)!

Having a bit of a dig...


Not sure even my best innocent face is going to get me out of this one!

More football!

Check me out playing football in the park!!

(Mummy says she sounds particularly "West Country" in this clip but I hadn't really noticed.)

The beautiful game

Grandma and grandad came to see me again today and brought me another present! A brand new football. Eat your heart out Theo Walcott!

A girl just can't have any fun :-(

Mummy and I aren't really speaking - she really annoyed me tonight. I was busily trying to dig a chrysanthemum out of a pot but every time I got some soil out mummy kept putting it back in - it really was very frustrating. Eventually I had to pretend that I'd given up on the idea until she went inside - then I was able to have a proper good dig. It went a bit wrong when I accidentally pulled the pot over and mummy came back outside and was very cross. I tried to give her my best innocent "I didn't do it" look but I don't think she was buying it. On the plus side I managed to get the chrtsanthemum out, but on the downside the pot got confiscated. Sometimes she does seem hellbent on ruining my fun :-(

Oops - caught in the act - time for my best innocent face!

What do you mean "it had to be me?" I challenge you to prove that accusation!!!

One sleepy mummy

I woke up early this morning because I really needed a poo. I tried to hold on as long as I could but then I really needed to go so I gave my special "I need a poo" bark.

Mummy came straight down to let me out, muttering about how it was only 6 o'clock in the bloody morning and how she'd swing for me one day. Honestly, my mummy is so nice - she's always offering to do things for me :-) She did look a bit like death this morning though - I wonder if she's getting enough sleep. She could really do with giving work a miss sometimes and catching up on her sleep during the day like I do. Then she'd be less grumpy in the mornings I'm sure.

Trip to the vet!

Mummy rushed home from work tonight and bundled me into the car. I thought we must be going somewhere really exciting - like grandma and grandad's but no, we were off to the vet! It was a bit scary, with lots of new smells and things but when we met the vet she was a lovely lady. She patted me and told me I was very good - I'm afraid I got a bit excited and had a little wee but she didn't tell me off. Not like mummy!

First, she put me on a special weighing machine and said I was a little bit small for my age but seemed to be very healthy. She put a cold thing on my tummy to listen to my heart and said I was a very fit little puppy. Then, just when I was starting to feel comfortable she stuck a big sharp thing in my neck and I squealed. Mummy said it was a good thing and now I have a special computer chip that will help her find me if I get lost but I wasn't tremendously impressed. I was well grumpy and took it out on a big ladrabor I saw in reception. Mummy wasn't very happy about that but then she should try being stabbed in the neck and she if it doesn't make her a bit grumpy!!!

Later on we went social walking again with my friend Janet (the puppy trainer) and her big dogs. This time we went on the whole walk, even though I'm just a puppy still. I got a bit tired and mummy had to carry me part of the way but when we got to the big field and I got let off my lead I had a lovely time playing with the other dogs. They were all much bigger than me but I definitely showed them who's boss.

Now I'm home and ever so tired - just time for a chew stick before bed...I think I'll sleep well tonight......at least mummy hopes so!.....zzzzzzzzzz.....

Phew - I'm pooped!!

Big yawn!!!

Ah, a tummy tickle - just what I needed :-)

What do you mean I'm not allowed on the chair?

Forget it, I ain't movin'

Me and grandad playing football

I think that was a handball, grandad - where's the ref?

The adventure garden

Yesterday mummy must have told grandma and grandad how tired she was (after I got her up at 5.30am I suppose) so they suggested that we both come over for Sunday lunch to give her a bit of a rest. The premise being that I could play in the garden and she could kick back and read the sunday newspapers. Now mummy and I both knew that the day would not pan out like this. For starters, grandma and grandad have an amazing garden and it's full of exciting places to hide, forbidden things to eat and naughty things to do. So a mischievous puppy like myself requires a fair amount of supervision in such a place. Still, we thought it would be nice to see them, and grandad does do a lovely barbecue (apparently - I wasn't allowed to have any) so we accepted their kind invitation.

Grandad did his very best to keep me occupied - he found me a football to play with, which I enjoyed greatly...until it unfortunately got punctured :-(

And even then it was good fun to chew...

But I still managed to find some naughty things to do. Grandad, it turns out, had a fish pond, which I can't believe I didn't notice on my last visit. It has a net over it to stop cats from getting the fishes, and you can kind of walk on the net to cool your paws down in the water without falling in. I also spotted a very tasty looking frog, but unfortunately he was a bit quick for me. Mummy came along to get me out of the fish pond so we had a lovely game of chase round the garden - she was running after me shouting, but I was much faster than her, so I think I must have won!

Grandma and Grandad's garden is full of strange noises - lots of things to bark at but then mummy said the neighbours would be having a fit (don't know why) so we had to go home. Still, I had a lovely time - more piccies to follow.

Restricted practice

Mummy has bought a new baby-gate to put on the stairs. This means that I can no longer run upstairs when I fancy it, which has really spoiled my fun. Mummy was laughing when she saw me trying to go upstairs, which I thought was a bit spiteful, so I weed on the carpet instead. Who's had the last laugh now :-)

A long day

It turned out that puppy training wasn't nearly so much fun as I thought it was going to be. I was very excited to be going back to my friend Janet's house (she's the doggy trainer in case you haven't been following) but when we got there, there were lots of other dogs there. Some of them were very tiny puppies but there were also some labradors and a huge great dane. I found all this quite stressful and thought I'd better growl at them to make sure they knew I was no pushover. Mummy evidentally didn't like this and kept telling me off but she obviously didn't understand how stressed out I was. Eventually she burst into tears, which I thought was a bit of an over-reaction, but I tried to behave as she obviously didn't like my growling. Janet said things would get better but I'm not sure I'm looking forward to next week very much :-(

I was very tired when we got home and went to sleep - well, I had been up since 5.30am. I accidentally sat on my squeaky duck and it woke me up - I shall have to tell mummy not to put it in my bed tomorrow night.

Off-leading

So yesterday I had my first walk "off-lead". Mummy said she was only letting me off because grandad was there to help if I ran away. Not sure he could catch me if I did run away. He must be very old -his beard is whiter than mine!!

Anyway, it didn't take me long to work out that mummy had a pocket full of doggy-treats so I stuck pretty close to her, which she seemed very happy about. I did see some other dogs playing ball on the other side of the park and started to make my way over to join in. But it's a pretty big park and I got a bit tired half way over and mummy was calling me over for a snack so I had a little bark then headed back over. This seemed to make mummy happy too.

I think this off-leading thing may be catching on, because I was let off tonight too - even without grandad there. Feeling a bit shattered now though - think I might have overdone it!

Puppy training starts tomorrow and I'm very excited! I'll be sure to let you all know how I get on.

Howdy!!

Hello loyal readers.

This is just a little post (because I'm far too busy chewing mummy's furniture to spend too much time blogging) to say hello to my new followers in the US of A. That's right - mummy says I've now gone transatlantic - how exciting!!

Nothing like a good read!

So last night mummy was messing around on her computer - don't know what she gets up to on that thing! Apparently power cables aren't for chewing so I found myself a nice magazine to read. That wasn't terribly exciting, especially as I can't read (I'm a dog!) so I decided to have a go at ripping it up instead. Mummy wasn't very happy. She said she hadn't seen anyone rip paper so ruthlessly since her niece and nephew at Christmas!

Anyway, I got a bit bored of that after a while. What are you looking at me like that for? I'm not clearing it up!!

Dig it

Just found this photo that mummy took after I'd been digging my hole. I don't think she approves of my hole-digging. Doesn't she know that a girl needs a hobby?

Social Walking

Tonight when mummy got home from work we didn't do for our usual walk. Instead she said we were going to meet some other doggies for a walk. Great - I was up for a fight!!!

We had to go in the car and because I am such a good girl mummy let me ride up front. She said I was ever so good, which I thought was a signal to climb on her lap for a cuddle, but apparently it's not a good idea to do that when she's driving. When we got to the place for the walk there were loads of dogs there and they were all quite big. Mummy said they were Great Danes and Labradors but I reckoned I could take them on so I had a good growl to let them know I was well tough.

Unfortunately they were a bit tougher than me and I was a bit scared when they barked at me. So, after that I decided it was best if we all tried to be friends and we had a lovely walk. I couldn't go all the way because I'm just a puppy so we came back early. Mummy said she was really proud of me and I was allowed to sit in the living room with a nice chew stick. But then I got a bit excited and started eating mummy's feet so she chucked me out in the kitchen again. Life is so full of ups and downs :-)

Some more photos of me with grandma and grandad

I'm back

Phew, had a really busy couple of days so haven't had time to update the dog blog. Had a lovely weekend - grandma and grandad came to stay so I had lots of people to play with. Grandad has brilliant feet for chewing and he lets me lick his ears, which are very tasty.