Red lights and finally .... the couch

Thanks to all you other secret computer using dogs out there. I love your notes, and comments. It’s the secret life of a dog that keeps us sane while we give them those goofy sad eyes and happy faced pants they love so much.

Life around the compound; has taken on a comfortable rhythm. My people seem to be slaves to routine. The light goes on upstairs shortly after I wake up and call to them. One of them comes down and gives me breakfast (they take turns) and cleans my pen, then we go for a walk up Oxley’s where I get let off the lead and can run around and explore as we walk. That’s a ½ hour jaunt.  Then back home, they eat, have some of that bitter dark stuff they drink (I sneaked a lick, why do they drink it every morning?  Yuck) Then 3 days a week, I go back in my pen with a yummy marrow bone, my toys & I listen to the radio and do dog stuff for the day.  When they come home, I tell them how happy I am to see them, they feed me dinner, and we have another walk and play, then they eat. Then its TV time and if the skies are clear, Graham takes out his huge telescope and we look at the starts.   Thursday, Graham and I hang out and Friday’s and the weekends we’re all together.

Don't get me wrong, I have Teddy and Kitty I pal around with. As a matter of fact, Kitty and I nap together regularly.

Me and Kitty Snoozing

Red Light

Some times when Graham is setting up his big telescope, he uses this red light he calls a laser to set it up.  I notice sometimes the light escapes and darts around the ground. I run like a crazy think trying to catch it and give it back to him but it just circles around just out of reach, it’s ever so fast.  The red light even ran up Julie’s legs once. I tried to get it off her, but it’s just too fast for me.  Thankfully it didn’t seem to bother her, and then it disappears.  I’m sure it’s cause it’s tired of me chasing it. I know I’m pooped when it goes.

Finally, the couch

Yesterday Rose, George & Winnie were over. That cute little vixen of a little white dog always gets to sit on Rose’s lap when they’re here. I try to get up too but they shoe me away. Last night I finally wore them down. When they were outside looking at the stars, I got up on the couch and tried out the pillows, and I must say, it was really comfortable.  I was up there for quite a while before they noticed. Darn glowing red collar gave it away.

Caught on the couch

First they told me to get down, but after I snuck up there a couple more times, Graham put a blanket on the couch and said it was OK for me to be up there.  He he he…. I knew I’d get him.  First the couch… Hmmmm what next???? 

Shoot, they’re coming in from the garden… got to run around and look floppy eared and puzzled , they like that.  Woof woof  Elwood

Boot Camp; Kennel Relatives and hanging out

Woof Woof - Found the laptop availabe for this update but have to be quick before she comes back -

Ah Ha - Laptop available for secret Blogg Update

After the excitement of the other pack members leaving I just couldn’t settle. Work days seemed sooo long, I was so excited to see them, I’d jump around like crazy to tell them how happy I was to see them, and was so distracted, I couldn't focus when they told me to behave. I just couldn’t stop, it was like I was posessed. I even ran around the yard jumping into the air and spinning I was that excited. They laughed at those antics, but they weren't so happy when I coudn't stop eating their Ugg boots when they were wearing them, and wouldn't settle down. Thursday was Alpha Male Graham’s day at home, and he told me it was ELWOOD'S Boot Camp day.

Yahoo! I couldn’t believe my luck as you know how much I love foot atire. Who'd have thought, a whole day of it!!

I’ve been at their feet every minute this last week, and I thought they were getting frustrated with my addiction. I couldn’t wait for the boots to come out. What would they be? Leather ones like Graham’s new ones I’ve been tasting lately? Fluffy woolly UGG boots that I LOOOVE, rubber gum boots (not so tasty but fun to gnaw on).

Julie left for work, I sat looking at Graham waiting for the boots. Imagine my surprise when we walked back into the house and no boots appeared. It appears Boot Camp means "back to training and rules". BUGGER! Although I suppose deep down when he said I had to re learn my manners so I’d be a good dog allowed to be in the house, it's worth it. I love being with them inside.

It was a day of patient repetition for me, Graham must have said NO a million times, but he was always ready to give me a tummy rub after when I did the right thing, and we played too.

Kennel Relatives

Early Saturday morning, we went for a walk to get the paper and stretch our legs. From across the street we saw 2 chocolate labs, like me only older in the parking lot at the Cricket Oval. They smelled straingly familiar yet different. Their heads lifted when they smelled me too and they started straining at their halters. Gee they were BIG. Max and Gus (Augusta) and they smell familiar 'cause we share a parent. They're from the same kennel as me. It was great to have a sniff and a chat with them. Looks like I’m going to be big – around 35 kilo’s – did I mention I’m already 23 kilos now? Julie says my body seems to have lengthened in the last week, I know I'm always hungry. Maybe another growing spurt on the way? Everyone commented on me having a good looking head, and being a fine looking specimine. Awe Shucks.

Hanging Out  We left them to carry on with their day and had a good romp in the dog area, then spent the day together around the house. It was great. I even got to have an extra walk with my little girlfriend Winnie in the evening. She gets grumpy when I try to play with her (after all she is older) but it was nice to have her along. I hung back with her to make sure she was OK, but it almost seemed like she was hanging back, trying to avoid me…. Hmmmmm.

I helped Julie with the Gardening too. I’m not sure why, but she tried to fluff up all the flower beds I’ve spent ages jumping into and flattening so they’re really comfy for me. She snipped the dead stuff and pulled it out, so I sniffed everywhere she was working to make sure there was nothing around that was dangerous. She kept patting my head and moving me along. We’re a good team.



Ready for Smoko

Sunday I had Julie all to myself. Graham went to the Fire Dept training day, and she decided to stay home. We hung out while she cleaned out the pantry. When she said it was smoko time, I trotted outside got my current favourite bone, brought it back in and went straight to the couch with it. She was smiling and shaking her head, as she very firmly told me no, and asked me what I was thinking? She told me we were having smoko outside and explained inside the house is a "bone free zone". Gheesh, just when I thought I’d figured them out. I’ve been watching so I know for smoko they get some food, sit on the couch and have it and a coffee. I thought I'd fit right in.

When she sat at the picnic table, I tried to get up on it, bone in mouth, so I could have my bone with her, and she told me dogs couldn’t eat on the table. I looked at her and wondered “what’s a dog?” but snuggled close to her feet and we spent a happy half hour listening to the birds and the water feature, and the dulcet sounds of brush cutters and weed whackers as Sunday unfolded around the neighbourhood.

Did I mention we had 4 Pete’s at the bird feeder this morning. They are beautiful parots, but they don’t share very well. Only one of them will be in the bird feeder at one time while the others stand guard, or pick up the dropped seeds.

Yikes here she comes - that's all for now.


My new toy - Kitty

Jude Lee and Julie went to Bruny Island today and Graham stayed home with me. It was nice to hang out with my Alpha.  The others had a nice time and came home with stories of their adventures and lots of pats for me.  This is Auntie and Uncle at Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island

It was the last night with our visitors.  Uncle Lee gave me a whopping big batch of berries and Auntie Jude gave me a wrapped present left behind by Santa Paws. Everyone was impressed with how quickly I opened it. It's another fluffy toy. This one is a Kitty.  It smells like my cousins in Canada Meg and Riley and I went absolutely delerious when I got it.
I raced around shaking Kitty and was so excited It had to go outside with her. Just when I thought Kitty couldn't be any better, Julie came over and squeased her front paws. My goodness, they both Squeak!!  This is just the best!!

Company - Auntie Jude & Uncle Lee

More socialising for me, as this week I met more of Graham’s pack. His sister Jude and her mate Lee came to visit. When I came around the corner, I knew she was family because she smells sort of like Graham. There is something especially yummy about Jude, which makes me really love to sneak up on her when she sits on the couch and lick and nibble her. There’s something about her feet that is very appealing to me. No matter how often they remind me, to stop I just can’t seem to help myself.

Julie and Graham had to work the first monring of their stay, so Julie took me for my early morning walk, and then they left me in my pen and went to work. Auntie Jude and Uncle Lee got up and let me out of my pen and we started to hang out. I like them in my pack. They feed me lots of biscuits and take me for mega walks, and Uncle Lee picks the best black berries for me which he feeds to me by the handful.  Yumm!!

Uncle Lee pretends he doesn’t enjoy me being around, but I see through his playful gruffness. They all laughed when he said he thought I was “a bit of alright” until he saw what I liked to eat along the road. Then he didn’t want any part of my licking him anymore. 

I’ve got his number though.  If I sit as close as I can to him, and watched his every move intently, he slips me some veggies, and puts some chicken bits aside for me for breakfast. I’ve got him wrapped around my little paw nail. 

We all went for a walk on Thursday and it was heaven. Uncle Lee fed me handfuls of blackberries and I didn’t even have to do anything for them. Not sit, shake a paw just one after another overflowing handful of the juiciest berries he picked for me himself.  I love them. Graham and Julie shook their heads, but we had a lot of fun. Everyone was getting me sticks, and Uncle Lee and Graham found really long branches for me to carry. Life is good.

My humans seem to like to give me some alone time while this new pack is here, so we have a little morning time together, then I get a fresh bone and some relaxation time in my pen while they go exploring. When they get home, I get a walk and Uncle Lee gives me more blackberries. This all seems like a good deal to me.

Today I worked my pen fence out enough to be able to make my way up the wood pile and into the yard. I think this is very sensible set up for me, so I can come and go. Graham and Julie were sure surprised when they found out how I was getting out.

Uncle Lee saw blackberries were for sale for $6. a punnet and was horrified at the dollar value of the snacks he’s been supplying me with, but I think deep down he thinks I’m worth it. After much insistance from Julie & Graham about me having to do something for the berries, he's taught me a new trick.  What ever - as long as I get the berries in the end.....

First time at the Kingston Dog Beach




Who Loves You?

 

I guess it's just more proof that I am growning, It appears I'm too big to be a lap dog, so I get my hugs sitting up.  I weighed yesterday at 22 kilo's exactly. I will be 5 months old on March 5th.

Our resident Parrot friends Pete, Pete and Big Pete have brought a little friend along with them lately. What a lovely colour, This little fellow fairly shouts good weather, don't you think?

 I had a big day today! I had my 2 1/2 kilometre morning walk, then ... 



A man and his dog



My Alpha male Graham, made me feel like a big dog for sure. He took the small puppy crate which I had fit nicely into for my flight here from the kennel, out of the back of the truck and put in my big one. It's official; I'm more dog than puppy now. I have way more room in it. My pack popped me in my bigger crate, and we went on a very mysterious adventure. 

We stopped at Kinston Beach and walked along the path, past the beach volley ball players, (where I enjoyed some attention and a few pats from the officials) to the KINGSTON DOG BEACH.  Wow, it's totally for us canines, complete with a huge "Off the lead" area. As I walked I could hear loud noises, that seemed to come from the salty water, Julie told me they were waves, and explained it was them crashing

Florence teaches me the ropes at Kingston Dog beach

 onto the beach I could hear.  I wasn't game to go jumping into them yet they're a bit un nerving.



It was very exciting as there were so many new smells to sniff out as we walked along the path and people who wanted to pat me.  I met a new friend, Florence a medium sized Labradoodle like my cousin Jigs only smaller and less curly





She loves to play and we had a great time running around each other, into the freshwater, rolling in the sand, sniffing the seaweed and jumping. It was fabulous fun.  And there was so much room to race around in. I definitely had my happy face on!



 

Who's faster??

I thought I could run fast until my experience at the beach. These other dogs are very fast too. I had to really push myself to stay in front.












Mommy!!!!

I met lots of other dogs during my walk. From a huge Burmese Mountain Dog, to the tiny Springer Spaniel puppy (from the same pack). The Dalmatian had me running back to the safety of my pack. I wasn't quite sure about him.



I had some time with Graham throwing sticks into the water for me. I wasn't that keen on fetching, but the whole water experience was really quite fascinating!

I even tried sniffing under water.






Toby and me, playing

 

I met another Chocolate Lab puppy from the mainland whose birthday is 4 days after mine. His name is Toby and for 4 days younger than me, he's much bigger. He's from the mainland but another breeder, and they think he'll be over 70 lbs when he's grown. We had a lot of fun together, and even though he is bigger, I held my own with him. Julie said it was lucky he had a collar on, or she wouldn't know which of us was which.

After all the excitement of these new dogs, we walked back to the car on our own. It was nice to just walk with my pack, to be truthful, I was quite pooped.  I had a huge snooze, then another Oxleys Road walk after dinner.

What a HUGE day!!

 



The other dogs are fun, but I like this best



New Tricks - Frisbee

Graham and Julie came home today with a new toy – a Frisbee for Dogs.  Graham sat me down and explained how it worked. I looked at him and listened intently, but it took me a few explanations and tosses to really understand. That and I kind of get a kick out of him throwing something, then showing me how to go and bring it back. The actual dog frisbee is very well designed from my puppy point of view. It has a bump in the middle I can grab with my teeth if the bump faces up  and if the bump is underneath, when I step on the frisbee, the bump makes the disk tilt so I can pick it up on the sides with me teeth.  It’s great fun.

Still Growing

OK even I have to admit I’m growing now. We looked back at my favourite toy, the plastic plant pot. We lined them up in order of sizes I’ve gone through, and when you think I used to put my whole head in the little black one, I must have grown. 

 I’ve also noticed how small the travel crate is becoming. I almost fill it up. I think I’ll be in the bigger crate soon.  I'm still puppy cute though right?