The trials and tribulations of a boating dog

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Caravanning

In my last blog I said that something was going on and there was – we have been caravanning!

 

I wasn't too sure about the big cream thing that appeared to be very close to the car as we were driving along but as Pa wasn't worried I settled down for a sleep.

 

We drove into a fairly large field where we were greeted by a very nice lady and her Westie called Bertie. They were very welcoming and Bertie showed me round the field and the best places to go.

DSCF0384The inside of the caravan isn't very big so my bed was put up on the bench where Pa sits - I thought I might get some food at meal times but I was made to stay in my bed. However the best part of caravanning was that I was allowed to sleep up on Ma and Pa's bed at night though I was told to stay in my bed which, being the good boy that I am, I did. I had to get up twice through the night for a pee but didn't wake up again until 7am.

The days went by with lots of walks and trips out in the car. I didn't see much of Bertie as he went away but I didn't mind too much as I had lots of attention from Ma and Pa.

After the first night I only had to get up once during the night and still didn't wake up til 7ish.

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On our last morning we went to the seaside. I was promised sea and sand but all I got was lots of sand as the tide was out whatever that means but there was definitely no water. I met lots of dogs on the beach which was exciting but I really wanted to be picked up and carried - but as hard as I tried M and P weren't having it.

Packing the caravan up to go home was amusing - running in and out of the awning as they took it down. There was one time when I thought I was going to be packed up in the bag with the awning but I got out just in time.

 

It's been a wicked few days and I really enjoyed the caravan - apparently we are going away again in two weeks’ time when I will meet my cousin Niamh - I hope she likes to play J

Thursday 21 February 2013

Abandoned!

So a weekend without Ma and Pa.  I really missed them but Aunty Vix was very good to me. 

We had lots of visitors on Saturday.  Rachel and Amy came in the afternoon – they are very nice people and made a real fuss of me.  There was lots of playing in the garden and I was pretty knackered after that.  Sam, Sandy and Caitlin came in the evening, they were going to stay the night but decided against it as they don’t fancy being woken up at the crack of dawn (or before) by my barking – all they have to do is come and get me and put me in their bed and I will be quiet then.  Don’t think Ma and Pa realise that yet!  The girls all had a Chinese take away but didn’t offer me any which I thought was a bit mean.

We had a quiet day on Sunday though thereIMG_2436 was lots of playing in the garden as it was a lovely day.  Aunty Vix was watching Game of Thrones on the TV and I was very interested in the dog, especially when it started howling.

Yesterday I met my first children.  Lisa came over with Mathew and Elliot and we played in the garden.  Aunty Vix found a big ball which was great fun.  The boys had their tea and I waited for bits to be dropped on the floor but nothing came my way.  Ma and Pa came home in the evening, I was very pleased to see them and, I think, made all the right noises to greet them.

I guess it’s back to normal today though I get the feeling that something is afoot as things are definitely happening here.

Friday 15 February 2013

A new style of blog


Dog on the line
I’m going to change how I write my blog from now on as I’m sure you don’t really want to hear all about my piddles and poos – though they are a big part of my day!  I will write my blog every couple of days now and pick out the highlights. 

S
o what have I been up to?  We’ve started something called lead training – I don’t really understand why I need to be fastened to a piece of rope and unceremoniously pulled around the garden and what makes it worse is that I’m not allowed to chew it!  Still afterwards we play with the ball which I really enjoy.

Ma went out this morning (work she called it) and as it was such a lovely day I spent a lot of the time in the garden just mooching around.  Pa had his little tractor out but I’m not too sure about it as it does make quite a noise.  Pa and I went to the tip with the rubbish trailer but of course I just had to watch from the car window – there looked to be all sorts of good things there to play with.

I’m sure you will be pleased to know that my cough is a lot better.  I just cough now when I’m running about outside – apparently I am having pills but I haven’t seen any so I think they are just kidding me.  However tonight I have been given short rations of dinner – VERY short rations and a rather nasty medicine shoved down my throat.  This is supposed to make my poo better as I have to admit it is rather runny at present.  I won’t know myself next week when I have good poo and no cough!!!  Sadly though all this means that I can’t have my second inoculation next week – I’ve got to wait an extra week but I really don’t mind playing around in the garden.

Ma and Pa are leaving me with Aunty Vix this weekend as they are going away.  I will miss them but apparently lots of Aunty Vix’s friends are coming to visit and I just know that I will be the centre of attraction J 

Thursday 14 February 2013

A nasty discovery

 
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Today was not a good day. 
 
It snowed in the morning which I rather liked but Pa kept throwing snowballs at me which were very cold.
 
After lunch I had to go and see the vet man (except it was a woman) again.  I’ve been coughing and apparently it needed “seeing to”.  The vet was very nice but she put another needle in my neck and this time it really stung and I couldn’t pretend that it didn’t hurt – it did.  But then there was a rather momentous happening when the vet lady said very quietly to Ma and Pa that I am actually not a little girl but a little boy!!  It doesn’t make any difference to me as I am who I am but they were obviously a bit shocked.  It was a rather a quiet journey home and the mood in the house was rather sombre.  There was a lot of quiet talking – I think they thought I couldn’t hear but I could.  Things like “take him back” and “get another one” were mentioned which were rather worrying.  I tried to be as loving as I could but quite honestly I didn’t feel up to much as the back of my neck was still hurting and I felt pretty rotten.
 
We all sat on the sofa watching TV in the evening and I snuggled up between Ma and Pa to make myself feel better.  It did help but there was still a cloud hanging over me.
 
When I went to bed I felt very sad and sorry for myself.  Was I wanted or not, was I going to have to go back to Mike while they had another puppy to look after.  What was going to happen to me?  I had a bad night which was not helped by a new barrier across the kitchen which I managed to push over and then realised that I probably shouldn’t have done it as it could be another reason for me to go back.
 
So I have been here a whole week now and what a week.  I was really miserable at first but everyone here is so nice and I’m really settling down.  I certainly don’t want to go back to the farm so I will try and behave myself.  

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Days 5 and 6


Day 5

 My favourite position

Off out in the car again but this time I was left on my own while Ma and Pa went off “shopping” again!  I didn’t really mind as I was rather sleepy so took the opportunity to catch up on a few zzz’s.  However Ma did come back with a rather interesting squeaky toy.

After lunch I had a visitor, it was Aunty Laura.  I have to say that I forgot to say that Uncle Bob was my first visitor on Tuesday when I first got home.  Just to keep you in the picture, Aunty Vix is Ma’s daughter – she and Yoyo are living with us for a while.  Uncle Bob is Ma’s son and he is married to Aunty Laura.  Phew these family things do take some getting used to.  Ma took me up the garden for a pee and I could see the two Aunties looking out of the window at me so I decided to do something clever but somehow managed to fall flat on my nose – still it gave them something to laugh at.

After all the playing around I settled down with Aunty Vix to watch Die Hard.  Ma said that I was really too young to watch it but I don’t know what all the fuss was about as it was so boring I just fell asleep.

Apparently Saturday night TV isn’t good and I have to agree as I just couldn’t keep my eyes open though I did enjoy Casualty.

My second night in the kitchen.  I thought I would just let them know that I really don’t appreciate being shut away on my own but I guess I knew it wouldn’t work so I gave up the noise after about 15 minutes.  I seemed to sleep quite well but at 5.30am I really had had enough and anyway I needed a poo.  I tried barking to see if anyone would come but of course no one did but I remembered the piece of paper so used that – that will save Ma a job in the morning.  However I then needed another poo and got in a bit of a mess and managed to walk poo everywhere.  Ma was very calm when she came in thank goodness.

 
Day 6

 
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Ma and Aunty Vix took me to Tesco this morning – well they left me in the car while they went in but then we went to Pets at Home where I was allowed to go in – well carried in.  I chose a few toys, showed off to the cashier and then we drove home.  I’m really good in the car now – it’s not really worth barking and making a fuss as it only gives me a sore throat and I know we are coming back home anyway.  I love my new toys, especially the dog with the rope arms and legs – they are really good to chew on.

The afternoon seemed to be a mixture of playing and sleeping – nothing better for a puppy really.

Uncle Bob popped in to see me after he had finished work – I do like him as he enjoys tickling my tummy J

I fell off the sofa this evening, not too sure how it happened!  I was lying on Ma’s knee – upside down of course as it’s my favourite position – and next thing I was on the floor.  Ma said that I had wriggled in my sleep – I’m just hoping that she didn’t just tip me off!

Oh how I hate bedtime.  I know I will see everyone in the morning but it’s still hard.  I do like to object, just a bit, but it doesn’t make any difference – no-one comes L  Still things were different in the morning as Aunty Vix was going to work and was up nice and early – in fact before me!  I had made rather a mess on the floor which she wasn’t best pleased about.  But the main thing was that she went off to work and left me on my own again – not too sure about this plan.  I whinged and whined until eventually Ma got up to make the tea and take me outside.  There was rather a lot of cleaning up to do before making the tea though L

Sunday 10 February 2013

Days 3 and 4

Day 3

 

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Thank goodness no trips to see the vet today – phew.  However this afternoon we went out in the car – apparently for tea whatever that is.  I really didn’t appreciate being put in the cat’s crate on the back seat - I much prefer to sit on Ma’s lap (yes she is now Ma and he is Pa).  It really is quite tiring barking for 15 minutes especially as it didn’t seem to make any difference – I was firmly told to be quiet.  We went to see a very nice lady, Pa’s step mother I think she was and she has a nice dog called Zara.  Zara is a long haired miniature dachshund and is apparently 9 months old - however I am taller than her though she is longer!  I was really looking forward to playing but she said she had an ear ache and didn’t feel like playing – huh!  Maybe next time.  On the way home I still wasn’t allowed to sit on Ma’s knee so I have to admit that I kicked off a bit but quite honestly by the time we got home I had given up.

 

Aunty Victoria was at home and we had a good game of rough and tumble – those games always knock me out though for the rest of the evening.

 

I really can’t get the hang of this bedtime lark.  I was very good till about 3am but I really needed a pee so I gave a few whines and was whisked out to the garden.  I really didn’t feel like going back to sleep after that so whined a bit more and was again taken into the garden – hey I could quite get to like this.  I managed to get them up four times in total – result!

 

 

Day 4

 

 

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A rather boring day as no one seemed to have much time for me.  I was taken out into the garden quite a few times and walked around.  Ma found me a stick and threw it, only a few yards but Mummy Whiz you would have been proud of me as I took it back to Ma just as I remembered you told me to do.

 

In the afternoon we went out in the car again.  I tried to complain about sitting in the back but gave up in the end – it’s easier really.  Ma disappeared while we were out – not sure where she went but she mentioned something about shopping but that seems to be the excuse for all sorts of things.

 

I went home with Pa and we had a good bonding session and were both fast asleep on the sofa when Ma and Aunty Vix came home from the cinema (whatever that is).  It was nice to see Ma as I was rather worried that Pa had forgotten to collect her from “shopping”.

 

I think Ma and Pa have caught on to my early morning game as tonight I was left in the kitchen.  Pa put a board across the kitchen door, something to do with the cats being able to jump over it, but it is too high for me L  I’m afraid that at 3.30am I was wide awake and needing a pee but as I wasn’t locked in my crate I got up and relieved myself on a piece of paper that smelt as if I should pee on it!  I tried to summon someone but no-one came so I dozed a bit more and tried again but to no avail.  Hm – these humans are proving rather difficult to train.

Saturday 9 February 2013

The first days of my new life

Ah ha!  I’ve only been in the house for a couple of days but I think I’ve worked out how to use the black box that Mistress seems to spend a lot of time fiddling with.  It would appear that “the cat” (they call her Millie) has a blog so, not to be outdone, I’m going to have one too.

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Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  My name is Muffin and I am a 12 week old Cockapoo.  If you don’t know what one of those is it means that my mother, Whiz, is a cocker spaniel and my Dad, Rupert, is a poodle.  I was born on a farm near Burton on Trent along with my brothers and sister.  Life was just hunky dory until the boys just upped and went – they didn’t even say goodbye L  On Tuesday my sister went off in the arms of a very nice lady which left just Mum and I.  Mike, my surrogate Dad, then decided that I should have a bath – a BATH, I mean to say I know I whiffed a bit but a BATH!  I had more or less got over the trauma when two people came to see Mum and I.  It was quite obvious that they didn’t really want to see Mum at all – I was the centre of attraction J  Mike put me in the lady’s arms and there I stayed for the next 3 hours.  Mike called the couple Linda and Richard but I now call them Mummy and Daddy or Mistress and Master – just depends on how I am feeling at the time.  And here my new life begins.

We had a very long drive in the car but I curled up in a blanket which rather smelt of cat and pretended to sleep but I was really keeping an eye out just in case M & D decided to chuck me out somewhere but all was good.  We arrived at my new home about tea time and I was put on the floor for the first time – Mum said she hadn’t seen me walk before so I cruised around just to show her that I do have legs which work perfectly well.  It was at this stage that I realised that there were already two cats who live here – hmm I wonder how this will work.  Firstly I was introduced to Yoyo who is only a temporary resident and she doesn’t seem too bad and I think we can be friends.  But, oh dear, the other one, Millie she is called, jumped up on top of the boiler and has stayed there ever since – snooty wotsit. 

It didn’t seem too long before I heard mention of bedtime.  This was when I realised that my proper Mother was no longer around – who was I going to cuddle up to?  I was duly put into my crate and wished good night.  GOOD NIGHT!!!  Who on earth did they think I was?  Last night I had both my sister and my mother to snuggle up to but here I was in a strange house, in the dark and I was frightened and let them know!  I barked for ages – 2 hours I’ve heard mentioned - until I was taken into M & D’s bedroom in my crate and put beside their bed.  I was pretty knackered after all that barking and soon fell fast asleep.  I’m only a baby and still can’t make it right through the night without going for a pee so I woke Mum up and was taken out into the garden – it was freezing out there so quickly relieved myself and got back into my crate and went back to sleep.  Would you believe that Mum had to wake me up at 7.30am!  This is unheard of as Mike used to get up at 5am so that is my normal waking time.


Day 2

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Hm – I hope all days don’t start with a needle stuck in my neck!  We went off in the car to see a very nice young man, a vet I think they called him, who checked me all over and then stuck the needle in my neck – it really hurt but I was very brave and I don’t think anyone noticed the tears in my eyes.  Back at home the day seemed to alternate between the house and the garden where I was told to piddle and whizz-pop – what on earth is whizz-pop???  I didn’t really get it at all but hey ho if they want to keep taking me outside then I guess it’s up to them.  Mum went off in the car for a while and came back with toys for me – they look like fun J  I’ve had a couple of accidents today – both wees and poos but I didn’t get told off just dumped out in the garden again.  Are they trying to tell me something?

Aunty Victoria, Yoyo’s Mum, came home from work and played with me – she seems like fun as she likes to roll around the floor with me.

At bedtime I was put in my crate beside the bed again but tonight I had a hot water bottle – that was nice.  I wasn’t too sure about being stuck in the crate when M & D were in their nice soft bed so I let them know but they weren’t having any of it so when Mum threw a pair of her jeans (they were still warm) into the crate I snuggled up with them and fell asleep.  I had to get up twice during the night – I think the injection has made my tummy a bit upset which didn’t really help in the middle of the night.

PS If you are wondering about the title of my blog, Millie’s is called “and Millie makes three” so it sort of follows – yes?