Socialising, a fly & cuddles

Molly celebrated her birthday at the weekend so we had a few visitors for me to socialise with. I did lots & lots of barking when Molly's young friend came round again but soon settled. I love it when both of Molly's brothers are around & the younger one even took me to the pub last night! I couldn't believe it when we found Molly's mum & dad there! I was very well behaved.

At one point while Molly's parents were out I fell asleep on Molly's floor as it was getting quite late. Molly's younger brother popped outside briefly but I didn't hear him leave so when I heard the door on his return I ran downstairs all excited thinking it was Molly's parents. I was disappointed that it wasn't so huffed at her brother which made him laugh.

I also huffed at Molly yesterday (& then walked away) when she tried to groom me & I just wanted peace! Sometimes I try other tactics to get out of being groomed. When it's my beard I've tried putting my head flat on the floor so Molly can't get under my chin & I've also tried burying my head between her legs.

Occasionally though I do cooperate & Molly has managed to get a few knots out of my beard. I'm going for a professional groom tomorrow which Molly is quite apprehensive about. She knows they'll treat me well but she expects I'm going to have to be at least partially shaved or cropped really short because I'm so matted. She feels guilty but I know she does her best when she's ill.

Molly had to pick lots of vegetation out of my coat when I got back from a walk where I'd been chasing rabbits!

I found a dying fly on the carpet a couple of days ago & made everyone laugh when I just stared at it for ages. I didn't know what to do!

I went to a puppy play session over the weekend! Apparently I showed Molly up when my hormones got the better of me, oops!

I wasn't very friendly with some of the dogs - I did quite a bit of growling when I was on lead & then tried to dominate a more submissive puppy. I also marked all the agility equipment in the field & the wheel of Molly's wheelchair!

It wasn't all bad though. I played nicely with some of the dogs.

I surprised Molly when the first thing I did when let off lead in the field wasn't going to greet the other dogs but was to explore the agility tunnel. And when I spotted another owner sitting on the floor with treats I ran through my repertoire of tricks in front of her to try to earn myself some food! That made Molly laugh.

Yesterday I was much friendlier with other dogs we met on our walk, in fact I was too friendly for some of them! Molly came out with me & her mum which was great! And I was very good at walking with the wheelchair (even on the pavements), although I did pull a lot.

We went to see Molly's friends & Molly was pleasantly surprised that I didn't attempt to mark in their house despite another dog living there. I wasn't allowed to play with him though because he's old & apparently I'm too boisterous. Humph! So I did lots of barking at him (through a glass door) instead because I was frustrated. Luckily he wasn't bothered.

On the way home I knew where we were going so lay down on someone's lawn & refused to move. Molly's mum picked me up & put me on Molly's lap in the wheelchair but I got a shock when it moved. I didn't like that!

When Molly's mum tried to take me out this morning I wouldn't let her catch me to put my harness on. I don't like the idea of having my harness put on at all but am fine once I'm wearing it. She eventually managed to corner me though.

Molly has been giving me chicken over the last few days when we do training rather than the kibble & treats we usually use. I'm much more keen to please when meat is on offer. I did my first down "wait" which really impressed Molly as we'd only done sitting "wait"s before.

Molly said we really need to work on my recall because I ran out the front door twice yesterday. I only went onto the lawn (because there weren't any other dogs around for me to say hello to) but wouldn't return when Molly called me.

Today I was left at home alone & like usual I got very excited when someone came to the door. They didn't come in & see me which I was disappointed about but they did put something through the letterbox for me to play with. Apparently it was a birthday card for Molly!

Why does Molly say I'm not cuddly?!