Bath, laughing & playing

On Sunday afternoon Molly went upstairs & accidentally left the stairgate open. So of course I followed her up. Then I saw that she was in the bathroom & realised that she was planning to give me a bath! Nooooooooo! I did a quick turn around to escape but her brother was behind me & caught me, then put me in the bath & Molly & her dad turned the shower on me. Humph! I was determined to climb out but they wouldn't let me so calmed down a bit, but still tried to escape every so often. After that I was brushed (with the help of lots of food bribes) & apparently looked very handsome for a short while. I look scruffy again now but not as bad as before my bath.

Later that day Molly took me for a walk round the village in the dark. We went a new route which was interesting but I had to stay on my lead for the whole way.

When Molly took me up to her bedroom for the night I was determined to dig a hole in her sofa. I also did plenty of growling at my antler, stole her place on the bed when she popped out of the room & located a long lost piece of food under her chest of drawers. Molly rescued it for me but I looked away when she actually got it out so thought that piece had just appeared & that the original piece was still under there. In the end she had to get another piece of food from downstairs & pretend to get that out from under the chest of drawers so I'd eventually stop scrabbling around underneath it! She said I make her laugh which is good because that's what I try to do! After that I showed her how mature I can be by just sniffing at the magazine she was reading & then returning to chewing my antler. In the past I would have tried to play with or eat her magazine.

Since yesterday I've been sleeping in later in the mornings due to the clock change. Molly really likes this!

Yesterday morning I 'helped' Molly's dad in the garden again while Molly & her mum popped out. I got a bright yellow lid from a gas canister stuck on my nose/snout but Molly's dad didn't take a photo to show her! I also had fun chasing his tape measure & generally being a bit of a nuisance, hehe.

Later in the day I enjoyed playing indoors with Molly's dad. Molly took some photos to share with you.

Molly's brother took me out for a walk yesterday before tea. I enjoyed playing with another dog.

Yesterday evening Molly nipped upstairs to get her pyjamas on before she took me up for the night. She always does this because I still find it great fun to pounce on her pyjama bottoms. Everyone else followed her up for the night but her dad, who went up last, left the stairgate open - again! Molly didn't realise this so was quite surprised when she opened her bedroom door & saw me settled very happily on the rug on the floor of her parents' bedroom!

Unfortunately Molly then had to take me downstairs again & made me go out into the cold garden to do a wee. I refused until she accompanied me out - I didn't understand why she could stay warm inside, hehe!

More mischief & fun

On Thursday evening Molly's older brother came round which I was very happy about. I didn't have any excitement related accidents this time!

When Molly's mum was sorting some washing out the other day I tried to run off with one of the items. That reminded Molly's mum to tell Molly that I'd run off with & chewed a pair of her knickers while she was away! So Molly is now keeping an eye out for a pair with holes in them. Oops!

No-one brushed my teeth while Molly was away but she's done it a couple of times since she got back. I still really enjoy it - I get all bouncy & excited when Molly gets the toothbrush & toothpaste out & sulk when she puts them away. Molly thinks I'm strange for enjoying it so much but suspects the meat flavoured toothpaste helps!

I also had my beard washed on Thursday evening because it gets a bit smelly from everything I eat & all the sniffing & scavenging I do. It hasn't been washed again since then but Molly said I'm going to have a bath later today, eek! I don't smell too much but I do look really scruffy.

Molly left the stairgate open on purpose the other day & waited at the bottom because she wanted to see how I went up a couple of steps. She knows I can do it but hadn't seen me do it before & was intrigued as to how I was doing it because I made such a noise last time. I sniffed around & pretended to be really hesistant before shooting up the whole staircase, often 2 steps at a time, much too quickly for Molly to catch me! Hehe! Now she's making sure to keep the stairgate shut! She said when I'm fully grown I can use the stairs but she'll need to make sure I can get down them safely. The vet said I should be fully grown at 8 or 9 months so not long to go now. After that my exercise/walk restrictions will be able to be lifted as well.

On Friday morning Molly weighed me & I was 7.8kg. Molly was surprised that I'd put on so much weight in a week but I didn't tell her that it was because her Dad & brother had been overfeeding me, haha! Now she's back I'm getting normal amounts of food & treats again, humph!

That morning I annoyed Molly's mum, who was doing some gardening, by stealing various things from the greenhouse & running round the garden with them.

Later that day I waited patiently in the car with Molly while her younger brother popped into town. Then we all went on a nice walk around some fields & into the country park.

We had a race to see who was faster - me or Molly's brother. I won!

Yesterday I 'helped' Molly's dad in the garden for ages which was good fun. And he took me for a walk in the dark last night.

Molly hasn't been very well over the last few days but she was especially poorly yesterday. So I was more cuddly than usual which cheered her up.

We were supposed to go to a schnauzer walk this afternoon but Molly isn't well enough. She's hoping to take me next month though. However we did go out (just by ourselves) to the countryside at the edge of the village where we had a walk along the track there to the bridge.

Molly said the moment she captured in the photo just above made her laugh. I like to investigate everything but am not keen on water so as soon as I realised that I was heading towards a river I did a very suddent turn!

We were only out for half an hour but met 7 other dogs! Molly said I was very good at greeting & playing with them. Apparently I shouldn't have mugged my favourite dog walker for the liver cake I know she carries, but she didn't mind!

Reunited

Hospital stole Molly from me on Monday evening & didn't give her back til today! And she might have to return to hospital again soon. Humph! The rest of the family looked after me really well but I missed Molly a lot. Every time a car parked on the drive (especially Molly's, which her mum borrowed) I got really excited anticipating Molly's return & then was very disappointed when someone else came in the door. I even ran out of the house on one occasion to check she wasn't behind them. I slept by the front door a lot to make sure I didn't miss Molly when she came back.

Molly said she was really impressed by how I behaved for the rest of her family. I usually sleep in her bedroom (I'm allowed on her bed but prefer the sofa or floor) so she was worried what I'd be like at night without her there. But I just slept downstairs (un-crated!) alone every night with no fuss.

I tricked both Molly's dad & mum yesterday morning when I slept curled up in the corner of the sofa. When they both came downstairs separately they were surprised I didn't greet them (I was tired!), didn't notice me & then got worried where I was! Hehe :P I had to get up & go to see Molly's dad but Molly's mum eventually spotted me.

I had lots of fun going on walks, especially with Molly's younger brother. And together we kept up some of my training too - I'm getting really good at "stay close" with him.

I've also been spending bits of time 'alone' because Molly's parents sometimes had to both go out (usually one to work & one to visit her) before her younger brother got up. When I get too lonely I wake her brother up by making a noise but I'm ok for about 45mins on my own now which is great progress in the right direction.

Yesterday when I was alone someone posted a missed parcel delivery card through the letterbox. Apparently I shouldn't have torn it up & eaten the majority of it, whoops! Now Molly's dad doesn't know how to get hold of his parcel!

I'm so happy Molly is home. I'm too independent to be clingy but I've had some nice cuddles & am keeping a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't disappear again!

Walk photos

I forgot to tell you in previous posts that I now know Molly's name. If anyone verbally suggests she's coming into the house or coming downstairs then I get really excited & I can also find her when I'm asked to.

Yesterday morning Molly took me round the fields on the edge of the village for a nice walk. I met a few people who made a fuss of me & a friendly dog. The dog's owner gave me some liver cake (initially one piece but then I mugged her for another, hehe) so she's my best friend now!

Later when Molly was playing with me at home she discovered that blowing a raspberry in the air near my face sends me into a licking frenzy. She found it very entertaining.

We had a busy afternoon with Molly's younger brother. Firstly we went for a walk in some nearby woods which was very exciting! I got stuck in some thorns though so had to be rescued. When we encountered some more Molly's brother thoughtfully carried me.

Then we visited Molly's nan. She hoped for some cuddles but I wouldn't settle on her lap that time. I got frustrated when I saw another dog in the mirror but couldn't get him to play with me.

After that Molly & her brother decided to get fish & chips but because I was with them they got the food to take home. I was very patient waiting in the car with Molly while her brother ordered & waited for the food in the shop. Then I had my tea too when we all got home.

Last night Molly brushed my teeth again. I love the toothpaste she uses so was very disappointed when she stopped & put it away! I sat & stared at her for a while but she didn't get it out again. Humph.

This morning Molly left me alone while she went for a blood test. I was very good for about 45 minutes but then woke her brother up with my whining/almost howling. I was lonely & didn't know he was here. He came down to see me & then I settled again until Molly came home about 15mins later.

Later in the morning Molly took me out in the car. I thought we were going for a walk but instead she took me to the vets! I was quite nervous (especially of the weighing scales for some unknown reason) after Molly left me there last month but I soon came round with some treats.

Then we did for for a walk at the nearby country park. I had lots of fun exploring & recalled away from distractions (although sometimes Molly had to call me a couple of times).

Molly took this photo because I'm getting more confident/happier with mud

^ These two photos are our favourites

Molly's brother vacuumed downstairs today. I ran away from it but didn't look scared so they weren't sure what I thought of it. I was very happy to approach it when it was turned off & still though.

This afternoon Kate & Libby came round. I was too manic when they first arrived & kept jumping up at little Libby & trying to lick her so I had to have a rest in my crate. I was better behaved after that.

Helping in the garden & teeth brushing

Yesterday I had a busy day. I did lots of 'helping' Molly's dad in the garden in the morning & also had my adventure with the stairs.

In the afternoon Molly took me out to the fields on the edge of the village but we did a variation on our normal route so I could explore some new areas.

Molly said I was very good on our walk. I didn't recall back to her when I saw a young child but I did greet the child nicely without any jumping up or too much barking. And I successfully recalled away from a jogger!

Yesterday evening I let Molly cut all of the nails on my front paws without making too much of a fuss.

Today I've had lots of fun. Molly's cousin & his son came round this morning to cut a big hedge at the bottom of the garden. I had to stay inside while they cut down thorny stuff which I wasn't very happy about.

But most of the time I could 'help' them outside! I wasn't bothered at all by the noisy saws. I really enjoyed chasing the chickens when I got into their run again (4 times!), chasing & pouncing on the rake, eating some of the plant material they cut down, playing with the broom. Molly said she's sorry for the lack of photos but she's not felt very well today. Here's a couple (apologies for the poor quality) of me & the broom though.

After all that excitement Molly took me for a walk to see her mum at work. I had to stay on my lead across the playing fields because there were children playing football but I was allowed off-lead around the pond. It was a relatively uneventful walk.

This afternoon wasn't very exciting, I just slept a lot. Molly's brother wound her up by stealing her slippers & giving them to me to play with. I liked that!

This evening everyone decided that they needed to do something about my bad breath. I surprised Molly when I let her dad brush my teeth for the first time ever!

After that I still smelled so I was very patient while Molly washed my beard. Apparently I now smell much better. Molly & her dad gave me a brush too but I needed bribing with food for that.

Stairs

Molly says I'm not allowed to climb the stairs til I'm older because it might damage my bones & joints. So when I go upstairs at night & come down in the morning she insists on carrying me & she has a stairgate up to keep me off them at other times. On a couple of previous occasions when the stairgate hasn't been closed properly I've gone up 3 or 4 stairs - & then slid back down again because I haven't learnt how to climb down yet. But today Molly's younger brother left the stairgate open so after whining a little & realising he wasn't coming back, I followed him (at speed!) all the the way up! It was so exciting! Molly had no idea that I'd be able to get up that far or even attempt it, so I proved her wrong, hehe!

Woods & walks with friends

On Tuesday evening we just went for short walk to the little local field so I could have a quick run off-lead before bed. On the way home I randomly sat on the pavement & refused to move on multiple occasions. This confused Molly because I usually only stop like that if I've found something interesting to sniff or eat or if we're at the end of the driveway & I don't want to go home. So she doesn't know what that was about. Molly discovered though that if she started running then I'd start moving again because I didn't want to be left behind!

Yesterday morning Molly had to pop out for half an hour & left me home alone. I was very well behaved, she was so impressed!

After that Molly took me out to a local wood which was deserted! I had a really good run around.

That walk tired me out so I had a good sleep when we got home. While I was still sleepy Molly tried to give me a quick brush because apparently I looked really scruffy. I was good to start with but then got fed up & started trying to bite the brush so Molly didn't manage to try to strip me or have a go with any of the other brushes.

Yesterday Molly watched an episode of a police drama on TV so I curled up next to her to sleep. But then I woke suddenly because there was a dog barking on the TV! So of course I proceeded to do a lot of barking (& some growling) in response!

Molly keeps trying to cut my nails but I don't let her. She said it's very frustrating, especially as she can't work out why I hate it so much. Even food didn't persuade me to cooperate today.

I often bark at the front door when someone/something passes but yesterday afternoon I spent somewhere between 30 & 60 minutes constantly barking & throwing myself at/standing up at the front door, chest of drawers (in front of the living room window) & wall under the living room window. Molly picked me up & showed me that there was nothing outside the window but I still kept going. She said she'd love to know what I'm thinking!

We then went on a walk with Issy round some fields on the edge of the village. Molly didn't take any photos but all three of us had a lovely time.

This morning Molly had to go out for about 40 minutes so her mum kept an eye on me. When Molly got home I gave her a really thorough licking before falling asleep on her lap. She didn't want to disturb me so stayed sat on the floor just next to the front door with her coat & boots still on for about half an hour.

Later Molly took me out & I had a really exciting time. We walked to Kate's house where we picked her up & then we all walked to the pre-school to collect Libby. It was great to see them both. Molly let me off my lead while we walked across the playing fields & round the pond.

I had to go back on the lead though to walk back to Kate's. When we got there I had my lunch, explored their garden & played with Libby! I refused to sleep there because everything was so exciting, so after we walked home (we met some more friends on the way) I fell soundly asleep because I was just so exhausted!

I've had quite a sleepy evening but I did play a bit with Molly's dad & stole Molly's mum's slipper. Her dad spotted me chewing it & wondered where I'd got it from (because all shoes & slippers are now kept out of my reach), so Molly asked her mum who suddenly realised she'd only got one slipper on! Hehe :P I did give it up when Molly asked me to though.

Country park

This morning Molly took me on a great walk before she had to go out. We went to a local country park where I had fun chasing crows across empty fields, playing with another dog & doing lots of exploring & running around. Molly got us a bit lost but I didn't mind because I meant I got a longer walk. And I found a bird carcass which of course I tried to eat - much to Molly's disgust. Silly Molly thought I'd "leave it" when she asked me to. No chance, it was much too valuable! I did impress Molly though when I did really well at "stay(ing) close" & ignoring a group of people working that we passed.

Molly's younger brother looked after me this afternoon. He spent a long time doing jobs in the garden so I tried to help him. Apparently I was more of a hindrance, oops! I had fun biting the legs of his overalls.

I've been quite sleepy after all that running around but Molly said we're going to go out for a walk round the village later once I've digested my tea. And she's already got both of tomorrow's walks & one of Friday's planned.

At the moment I'm chewing a squeaky ball while Molly's dad tries to watch TV, hehe!

Lonely, poo & a tooth!

Hospital keep stealing Molly from me :( She was out for about 4 hours yesterday, expects to be out for several hours today & doesn't know what's ahead regarding more appointments. She's trying to make it up to me though by scheduling lots of exciting social things for us to do together over the next few weeks. And she's also making sure I get regular walks around everything else that's going on.

Yesterday afternoon we went to a local nature reserve. I was really lively, bouncy & excitable & as a result my listening to Molly was a bit hit & miss. I did have fun though & enjoyed playing with some other dogs. Here are a few photos Molly took.

Yesterday evening we just had a pavement walk in the village but I did have a little run off lead at a local small field. Molly said I was a terror - I did a lot of following/finding scents & being very stubborn when Molly tried to pull me away, I barked & barked & barked when I saw another dog (despite Molly trying to distract me with food), I did lots of scavenging & I disgusted Molly by eating another dog's poo (which I'd never done before)! It did taste nice though!

I'm starting to sit automatically at the back door sometimes when I want to go out & usually sit automatically at kerbs now before we cross the road.

Yesterday Molly found one of my baby teeth on the carpet. I really don't understand why she was so excited about it!

Molly thought you might like to see these two photos of me relaxing, both taken yesterday evening.

 Squished up because the silly sofa got in my way

 

 

 Stretched out

And I posed for Molly yesterday morning so she had a nice photo to show anyone at the hospital who asked about me.

Family

Yesterday evening Molly's brother gave me a piece of orange after noticing that I ran away from the smell of the peel. I just stared at it for a good 3 minutes or so before attempting to eat it - picking it up in my mouth, then spitting it out again, and again... It entertained Molly & her brother!

Then Molly took me for a walk round the village which was relatively uneventful. We met some friendly people who gave me attention. When we got back Molly's parents came home after being away in their campervan overnight. I went completely hyper with excitement at seeing them again! Molly had to babysit last night so they looked after me til she came home late - smelling of a strange dog!

Today has been really exciting! This morning Molly took me for a walk at a different area near the local reservoir. She wanted to keep me away from the water & duck poo (humph!) so we walked across some grass before exploring a wooded area. I met about 5 other dogs (as well as their owners, cyclists & joggers) & Molly said I was very well behaved.

When we got home I had a little rest before Molly's nan came round. I love her lots so made sure she knew it!

I wasn't happy when I had to rest in my crate while everyone ate lunch so I whined & squeaked because I knew I was missing something. No-one let me out though so I fell asleep after a bit.

After that Molly's older brother, his girlfriend & little Kiara came round. I always have lots of fun playing with Kiara.

After everyone went home I was exhausted so me & Molly's dad had a nod together.

Now I'm asleep on the floor at Molly's feet. My willingness to cuddle has to be on my terms.