Little Upstart!

Taz: It's been a while I know, but I've been left speechless. This little puppy is still here and from the way Mum speaks to him looks like he's going to stay, she has given him the compulsory nick name. His name is Slug!  She's been doing a lot of training with him and he's won a couple of classes and moved up a grade already. Show off!  Dylan's not scared of it anymore, they romp around the room together like a couple of idiots. Must admit though that I have to join in every now and again. It does look like such fun. I haven't been doing much running and jumping lately; at the moment it's all about Squid. Apparently he did very well at a show in the summer. We stayed in the Housey-thing-on-wheels for a week. It was great. I got to do lots of running and jumping and lots of playing with my friends, I would run in the field and sniff and sniff and sniff. I had to wee on lots of things as well......oh sorry back to Squid, he came 2nd in some competition and has to go somewhere and have another go.  I don't understand, if he was so good why does he have to have another go, and why is Mum doing so much training with him? he obviously isn't that good. Stupid Squid.

Dyl: We are doing lots of running and jumping at the moment and yippee there's always loads of chicken at the end of the dog walk. Mum says that I have been a very clever boy and that I qualified for a final - what ever that means. I had to have a medal put around my neck and had my photo taken. We have to go somewhere soon and run against lots of other dogs. Mum seems very nervous about it, I don't know why, I shall run as fast as I can and rush to the end of the dog walk for my chicken. hmmmmmmmmmm chicken xxxxxxxx. I like chicken. 

Marley:  Whoopie. I've landed on my feet here. Great food, great treats, and great fun. I am warm and dry, have a lovely comfy bed to sleep in and sometimes I am allowed on the chair with Mum or Dad for a cuddle. I have learnt loads especially how to run and jump things. Mum seems to like this a lot. She has taken me to a couple of different places where I had to go running and jumping and was really pleased with me when we finished.  Sometimes she has come back to the van with a red ribbon in her hands, stuck it under my nose and said look what you have done and then given me LOADS of chicken. Dylan sits in the crate next door glowering and drooling at me when I have his chicken - tee hee.

Taz: What has she been and done now. She's only gone a got a puppy. It's a pain in the arse and I growl at it. It's a boy!!!!!!  Why did she get a boy??? If she'd got a girl then I would have been friends because little girls have benefits, if you know what I mean and being a man I do have needs. But no, she had to get another boy. The pesky little thing keeps licking around my mouth trying to be my friend but I really don't want to know. He smelt really strange when he arrived and that stupid Squid was scared of him. Fancy being scared of an 8 week old puppy. He's not scared of him now and they play a lot.

We've done a few of those running and jumping show thingeys lately and Mum seems quite pleased with me. I am trying to go over the poles now because she seems to like that more than when I knock them out of the way - it's not quite so much fun though. I like to give everyone a job and those people sitting around the edge of the ring really appreciate it after I've been and knocked all the poles off because it stops them getting bored. However I've noticed that Mum likes it more when I don't knock them and because I am such a good boy I like to do what pleases her (even though she got this puppy thing).

Dyl : Oh I was so scared. This little smelly thing with really sharp teeth suddenly appeared in our house. I didn't like him at first but now he's not so bad. We play quite a bit but he barks when he goes in the garden and I know he shouldn't do that. I run to Mum when he starts so that she knows it's not me. He likes to bring in lots of twigs and things from the garden and he makes quite a mess in the house - it is fun and I join in. He was very dirty when he first came and would wee and poo all over the place. I didn't like that and had a word with him about it; now he goes outside to do it. Much better! Mum says she's going to teach him to do agility - I don't like to tell her but I think he's too stupid.

I've got a few more rosettes for Mum at the shows we've been to. It's getting harder to get them though and I have to listen to Mum really well because the courses are very strange. It's not where you think you have to go anymore, you have go around the back of jumps and do them in the wrong direction and then maybe miss one out and do the next one. I don't know who is making up these courses but they are weird. I still try to go as fast as I can (apart from the dog walk - I've gone up another grade to G6 but there is still no chicken at the end of the dog walk - WHERE IS THE CHICKEN?????) and she is really pleased with me still.  I never know if  I've done it right or wrong because she always seems pleased whether I get a ribbon or not, I suppose that must mean that I always get it right - I'll just keep going as fast as I can because it is such fun. Thanks Mum.

I Done Good

Dyl: As you can see from the picture Mum is very pleased with me. On Saturday morning she gave me a really good brushing. Not sure if I like that or not, it usually means we are going somewhere so it's worth having it done but it's a pain to have to stand still - I don't do standing still. Anyway we got into the van, (Mum has a new van so we've got much bigger crates to travel in. It's a bit noisier than the car but when it stops brumming we are always where Mum wants to take us; so it works.) Emily came too. Mum had made a flask of coffee and I saw that she took some shortbread, Oh I love shortbread, if I'm a good boy and run really fast she's bound to give me some. Tazzie was not allowed to come. He ran away from the door crying and went into the other room to look out of the window as we drove away, but Dad was home with him. I expect he saw the shortbread box coming with us and knew he wouldn't get any.

We went brumming along in the van for ages and Mum and Emily were talking such drivel that I went to sleep. Eventually we arrived but I couldn't see any jumps or tunnels, what was I going to have to do to get some shortbread?

We went into a room and there were lots of people wandering around and eating biscuits. That's ok I thought. I can soon work the crowd and get a few biscuits here; but we all sat down and I had to stay with Mum. A man was out the front shouting instructions and names, I heard him call our names and Mum obediently got up and walked to him with me. He looked very pleased with me and said something like 'up the merles'. I'm not quite sure what he meant by that so I sat down quickly, just in case. He gave Mum a glass bowl, everybody clapped and we went back to our seats. What the hell was all that about??? The man called more names, there was more clapping and then we had to have our photo taken. Then we went home..............................where was my shortbread? I didn't get the chance to do any really fast running to earn it, or to do any tricks in front of those people to get them to feed me. It wasn't really very fair. I didn't do anything but Mum kept on about how proud she was of me and what a clever boy I am. I done good at something -wonder what that was.

When we got home Tazzie kept sniffing me to work out where I had been. He doesn't believe me when I tell him I have no idea what happened, that I just went for a long drive in the van to see a man who threatened to stick something up me and then come home. I always said Mum was a strange woman but this is the strangest yet.

Very Strange

Taz: We've been to lots of those showey things lately. Each week Mum seems to take us to one, they are fun. I get to run really fast and can never do anything wrong. Mum is always pleased with me but sometimes more pleased than others. This weekend we'd been a long way and had that housey-thing-on-wheels on the back of the car. It always means I get to sleep with Mum when we take that (but not on her bed as she need too much room!). Anyway Mum was really really pleased with me on Sunday. I jumped over all of the jumps and weaved and listened/watched really carefully to what she was saying, so when she pointed to the black bin bag that was hanging on the side of the ring, I even went to investigate that. Mum called me back quickly and I ran as fast as I could. She was really pleased because she was laughing. I've never been sent to a black sack before, I wonder what obstacle name that has. She gave me lots of cuddles when we had finished and lots of chicken!!!! A bit later on she turned up with a rosette and apparently I'd had a clear round. Squiddy got 2 rosettes this weekend but both of his had a number on. They didn't say clear round - mine's better than his, well I think so anyway and Mum is very very pleased. Stupid Squid thinks he has done something wonderful. Doesn't he realise that if it doesn't say clear round on his rosette then he is just an 'also-ran' He may have got a placing but what's that in comparison to a 'clear round?' I am so clever. I am a good boy. I shall keep running around with my tail in the air and my ears all puffed out. I am the bees knees and Mum keeps telling me so.


Dyl: I don't know what's wrong with Maggot, he is acting very peculiar and Mum seems to be encouraging him. I suppose he did get one of those rosette things last weekend, he doesn't get very many so he might be a bit excited about that. I've got lots and lots of rosettes but I still want more as it makes Mum so happy when we get one.
We went to another small dog club to have a go in their playground. Their jumps and things were very different to what I'm used to and Mum wouldn't let me do some of the obstacles. (I was quite pleased because one of them was like the side of a mountain and I wouldn't have gone up there even if she had offered a whole chicken, hmmmmmm chicken, well I might have had a go if there was chicken on offer but as there wasn't I was glad that I didn't have to try!) We had a good run around and then had to go back to the car while Mum had some lovely food. I know it was lovely food because I could smell it and it made me dribble. Mum says that they are going to come to us and have a go in our playground. We will make it a bit of a party and have some lovely food as well.
Apparantly we are 'going to wipe the floor with them' They will get very dirty and dusty as our floor is covered in wooden chips. I wouldn't want Mum to wipe the floor with me but will be interested to see how we are going to do it. I wonder if we will we attach a stick to them and push them around or just push them around with our feet? Can't wait to see this one, Mum can practice with Maggot. He likes doing new things! She can wipe the floor with him! She is very strange sometimes.

Even Squid can get it wrong

Taz: Mum is losing her marbles. She took us to one of those showey things last weekend but it took ages to get there. We had the housey-thing-on-wheels attached to the back of the car which always makes us slower but it took forever. 61/2 hours, yes 6 1/2 hours it took us to get there. All stop, start and stop start. Anyway we got there in the end; and then of course it was that very strange ritual of 'the banging in of poles and the warming up of kettles'.
It was very hot and when Mum was taking me to the ring for my go, I noticed that some of the little gardens had paddling pools in them. I want one of those. It did look like fun. I shall be a good boy and ask Mum really nicely then perhaps she will get me one. I'll even share it with Squid.
I tried very hard this weekend to keep the poles up and Mum seemed very pleased with me. I am a good boy. I tried to read the little numbers by the jumps and dashed off knowing that Mum would be surprised at just how clever I am, but apparently I don't know what order the numbers go in yet. I will keep trying to learn because I am a good boy and it will be much easier for Mum if I can read the numbers.
Mum didn't get any trophies or rosettes this weekend, not even with that Squiddy thing, but she didn't seem to mind. She told us we were very clever dogs and that she loves us so much. I love my Mum, she is always pleased with us - except when Squid washes the dishes in the dishwasher! I slink off in the other room cos I know he's being naughty. He is so stupid. Mum will catch him at it and then there'll be trouble. When will he learn?
Mum said that Squid was running in a 'Final' on Saturday evening, and I don't think that went very well either, but again Mum didn't seem to mind. She is very strange sometimes, she gets all excited and thrilled when we get one of those rosettes but doesn't seem to mind if we don't - I always do well, even when we don't get one of those things - it'll be the judges fault because he has put the numbers in the wrong order. I try to show that person, the one who stands in the middle of the ring and waves their arms about; what a good course looks like. I much prefer mine to theirs but Mum always tries to make me do theirs, so sometimes I ignore her and say 'look Mum this would better' and off I go with my ears flying - they are ears to die for you know - Mum says so, so it must be right.
This weekend we are off to Cornwall and Emily is coming with us. She is bringing Cairo. I love Emily. She used to live with us and she would give me lots of cuddles and kisses. I wonder why she doesn't live with us anymore............what did that Squiddy do that made her move out? It must be him because she said I was gorgeous so it can't possibly be me. Anyway I will make up for lost time this weekend and snuggle in close to her. I will be such a good boy, she might want to move back in with us. I will take Cairo to one side and have a chat with him and explain what he has to do in the ring - go over all the jumps, through the tunnels, and to stop and look for chicken on the end of the planky things; that way Emily's 'clear round shoes' will start working and she will be sticking one of those rosettes in his face and saying 'look what you have done. You clever boy' She will thank me for my little chat with him. You see..............I am a good boy!

What's going on????

Taz: We went to won of those showey things and when we came back Aunty Ann & Uncle Ian were at our home to see us. They love me lots. I snuggle us close to them and they keep smoothing me. If they stop, I give them a shove with my nose and they start again - it goes on for hours...............heaven! When it was bed time Aunty Ann & Uncle Ian went upstairs; they stayed. Oh wonderful I thought I can get them to scratch me behind the ears tomorrow. But when tomorrow came it was not such a good day. Aunty Ann, Uncle Ian and Mum went out but Mum didn't come home. I waited and waited but Mum didn't come back. Aunty Ann & Uncle Ian did their best in looking after me, they kept me fed and watered and cuddled me lots but I did miss my Mum. They kept saying that Mum had gone on holiday, but how could she? She takes us to a showey thing in that housey-thing-on-wheels for a holiday. Did she have another dog that she has taken? I don't understand what is happening!!

Dyl: Oh I do wish he'd stop moaning about Mum not being here, it's not that bad, I told him I'm sure she'll come back. Anyway I had Ann & Ian wrapped around my paw, I easily got them to give me lots of sweeties and titbits. I would just sit in front of them, look longingly at them and drool! I am quite an expert at drooling and can turn it on and off like a tap, sometimes I can manage to get a piece to hang about 5-6 inches from my mouth. That always works! I was having more of Ian's toast than he did.

Taz: One day Aunty Ann was saying that Mum & Dad were coming home. I was soooo excited. I couldn't wait. I kept going to the window and looking out for them but they seemed to take for ever to come. Eventually though a car stopped outside and Mum & Dad got out. Yaaayy. I'm so excited, I'm so excited. I grab my toy and run about. Why are they taking so long to come in? Aunty Ann let us out, and I ran as fast as I could to see them. I told them 'I'm a good boy! I'm a good boy' I know I am because Aunty Ann told me so. I barked and barked even though I had my toy in my mouth (Mum likes it when I have a toy in my mouth, she likes to play tuggy with me) 'I am a good boy, I AM a good boy' I am so happy now.

Dyl: When Mum & Dad came home Tazzie went mad. He was running around and around and eventually I just had to chase him. I was very pleased to see my Mum & Dad but Taz was just asking to be chased, I couldn't help myself!!! Anyway when things had calmed down, I tried to tell Mum that we missed her by sitting on her feet and generally making a nuisance of myself. It's nice when Ann & Ian look after us but they don't take us to school or do any agility with us, we get to go for walks but don't do any training at all!! In fact I train them, I've certainly taught them to give me some of their biscuits and toast.

Things are back to normal now, I've been to see Aunty Sally, Taz had to stay home and tonight we are going to school as usual. I tried the drooling trick in front of Mum when she had her breakfast this morning.........things are definitely back to normal, I was told to go away in no uncertain terms. Oh well it was good while it lasted............Mummy or toast? Mummy or toast? Oh I don't know it so hard - Mummy! .......................or perhaps toast!

Perhaps Tuesday's aren't so bad............

Taz: I normally hate Tuesday lunchtimes as Mum goes off with that Squid. I know they go running and jumping because he tells me all about it when he gets home; although I'm sure he embelishes the truth about how good he is!!! Anyway as usual Mum started to get ready and got the lovely treats from the fridge - sausage, cheese, chicken and all tasty things like that. Squid started getting all excited and was jumping about saying 'I'm going to see Aunty Sally, I'm going to see Aunty Sally, I'm going running & jumping, I'm going running & jumping - you're not!'

I felt sad and went to my bed with my sad face on and was starting to plan my attack for when they got home. I'll jump about and be really pleased to see them. I'll look longingly at her and then she'll take just me out. But then, you'll never guess what............Mum looked at me and said come then Taz, you're coming as well today. Yippee I'm going, I'm going, I'm going, I leapt out of my bed as fast as I could - wait for me, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming.
I'll give Aunty Sally the biggest wetest kiss she has ever had. I will lick her face and squeak and squeal in delight. She'll be sure to want Mum to bring me again. Anyway when we got out the car we weren't at Aunty Sally's barn, we were at the Monday barn and Pauline was there too. She had that Tougan with her. I like him because he sometimes growls at Squiddy and puts him in his place!

Well we had loads of fun running and jumping. I got to play with my toy lots and I had some of the VERY tasty treats. We also got to go and have a look at the paddock - at least I think that's what Mum called it. Mum and Pauline spent a lot of time looking at the ground Hmmming and Aahhhing. I don't know what was so interesting on the ground I looked but couldn't see anything, so I went sniffing in the hedge. There were some very interesting smells there I can tell you. It's a very nice hedge! Mum said that next Monday we can take some jumps out there and play outside instead of staying in the barn that's if it's not raining. What is it with people and rain? It's only water for goodness sake. I don't mind..........I'll go outside if it's raining....mind you Mum does look funny when she wet!!

I like Tuesdays...........well I liked this Tuesday!!!!