This and that

On Tuesday Molly got my tug of war rope out of the cupboard. It's a special toy because we only ever play with it together & it's always put away again afterwards. I hadn't seen it for over a month (since before Molly went into hospital) but I remembered it & got very excited as soon as I saw it.

Molly's dad took the carpet in the passage up this week because I kept chewing it (see previous post) & started bringing bits inside & trying to eat them. Oops!

On Wednesday my new collar arrived. It's very cheerful & fits me much better than my old one. Molly tried to take some photos of me wearing it but when she got down on my level I thought she wanted to play so jumped on her & gave her face (& camera!) a very thorough licking. She got a few photos though.

And then she took a few more when I flopped

That morning Molly had to have a blood test at her local hospital so her dad took me for a walk in the grounds while she was doing that. I wasn't very happy when Molly walked away from the car in a different direction from us though so once I was let off my lead I kept running back towards the car to try to find her!

After that we went to the vets. I'm still not very keen after they insisted on taking my temperature on one of my previous visits there. After tempting me into the treatment room & putting me on the table I immediately jumped off. Luckily I wasn't hurt despite the height & landing on a hard floor. I calmed down a bit after that & was well behaved to let the nurse clip my nails (Molly said we'll go back again next time they need doing because I'm too wriggly at home) & check my mouth (I've finished teething now). Then Molly & her dad needed to do some errands in town (including Molly buying some new slippers so she doesn't fall down the stairs again!) so I went with them.

Yesterday Molly & her mum went to vote so they took me with them. We met quite a few people who fussed me. After that we went to the park & Molly decided to let me off the lead because the only other dog was too far away for me to want to play with -  or so Molly thought! As soon as I saw the dog I shot off to play with him & ignored Molly when she called "Toto come". She knows chasing me isn't a good idea but this was a grumpy dog (who I had a run in with the other week) with an elderly owner & Molly knew I wouldn't return to her until I'd said hello. She didn't catch up with me before I got there but luckily the other dog didn't hurt me. Then Molly slipped over on the grass in the rain so I ran back to her to check she was ok! Molly said now she knows what to do when I ignore her recall! She put me back on the lead until we were away from the other dog but let me off again in time for me to explore as we walked round the pond. Apparently I now might have to be kept on a long lead when there are other dogs around. I don't like the sound of that!

Molly's dad looked after me yesterday afternoon while she went out to see some friends. When she got back she noticed I'd got some very knotted fur in my beard where a burr had got tangled in it. She couldn't untangle it so had to cut it out! I was very wriggly which made her job quite difficult. Then Kate & Libby called round - children are so exciting! I calmed down relatively quickly though.

Yesterday evening we went for a little walk round the local streets & to a small field where I could be off-lead. Molly picked up one of my poos & put it in her pocket (inside a poo bag of course) with one of my two treat bags. When she later went to get a treat out for me she got dog poo all over her hand & isn't quite sure how it happened! The treat bag & her coat pocket needed a thorough wash when got home.

Today Molly had to spend quite a long time at the hospital & her mum had to take her because she's not allowed to drive at the moment. Molly's dad and brother were at work so I had to stay at home on my own for longer than I ever had before. I had a short walk round the nearby streets beforehand (at 7am which is early for both me & Molly!) & a nice neighbour called in to see me (& play with me & feed me) three times so I didn't get too lonely. Molly also left me a chicken foot to eat, yum!

And here are a few photos of me trying to show Molly's mum how much I love her.

Mischief!

I know I've got a bit of carpet on my nose & more down my legs [which you can't see on the photo] but I don't know anything about the chewed up carpet in the passage. It wasn't me!

Lots of walk photos

On Sunday afternoon Molly & her dad took me for a walk round some fields near a local racecourse.

♫ Somewhere over the rainbow ♫

Yesterday we went back to the local woods. Molly's dad took us a really long route (so we could see the bluebells) so Molly had to sit down & have a rest part way through. It was a good chance for me to do some exploring though.

 Can you see me?!

Today Molly & her mum took me to a local animal shelter for a look around. First we went in the pet shop where I was given lots of fuss & some biscuits by the staff. Molly's mum bought me a chicken foot but I've not been allowed to eat it yet. I'm very excited to try it though! I then attempted to mark a display cabinet but Molly caught me & stopped me just in time, whoops! After that we went to look round the charity shop where I was quite vocal but well behaved apart from that. I did worry a young child with my barking (because I wanted to play) so when they passed us again outside the shop Molly distracted me with treats, yum.

After that me & Molly's mum showed her a walk that we found while she was in hospital. It's along a country path & comes out in the biggest field I've ever seen. I did disgrace myself while we were walking along the path to the field though because I spotted 3 dogs (on leads) & ignored all attempts to recall me because I really wanted to say hello to them. Luckily no harm was done - this time.

Here are a few photos from the walk

These strange caterpillar like things kept sticking to my legs. I was not impressed!

Ooh & just as we were heading out in the car today another schnauzer walked past the house so I was allowed to greet him. He wasn't too keen on me though, maybe I was too bouncy for him.

A twilight walk in the woods

Yesterday evening I had a brilliant walk in a local wood with Molly & her dad. It was just starting to go dark & there was no-one else there. I did lots & lots of running around & exploring.

Here are a few photos

Just before the photo above was taken Molly's dad nipped into a nearby field to do a wee. He shut the gate behind him but I wriggled under it & started trying to drink his wee (as he was doing it)! It made him & Molly (who was sitting on a bench & could just hear his exclamations) laugh!

When we got back to the car park I found part of an animal skeleton which I refused to give up (even when Molly offered me a fish treat) so we then played chase which I thought was great fun! Molly's dad had to take it out of my mouth in the end but I did get a fish treat in exchange.

And this is what happened when we got home!

When I originally came home I slept downstairs in my crate overnight, then I slept upstairs with Molly in her bedroom, then when she went into hospital I started sleeping downstairs but out of my crate. I've continued to do that even now Molly is home because we both sleep better that way.

My nails have got really long over the last month because despite numerous attempts Molly's dad & brother haven't managed to cut them. They're not sure if I just don't like it or see it as a game. Anyway, Molly & her dad are going to take me to the vets next week & a nurse there is going to show them the best way to cut my nails.

Molly noticed last night that I've almost outgrown my puppy collar which I've had since I came home. So she's been looking at some new collars online for me. She said she's ordered one so far but suspects she'll be tempted by more!

This morning Molly fell down the stairs. Luckily she was ok but it worried me, I don't think I've ever run up the stairs as quickly as I did then to make sure she was ok!

Disadvantages of the dog flap

Well Molly sees them as disadvantages. I don't.

When I steal something like a slipper (in this case it was Molly's fault for taking it off & leaving it on the floor), rather than just taking it somewhere in the house to chew, I can now take it out into the garden!

I completely ignored the "leave it" command (& ran round the garden with the slipper) until I saw that Molly had a treat, then I gave my treasure up.

The dog flap also means that I can take myself out into the garden at 11.30pm & bark at our neighbours when they are having a party/get together. Oops!

Together again

Molly came home on Wednesday! I was so excited to see her when she came in the door that I jumped all over her, licked her thoroughly & even knocked her glasses off in my enthusiasm!

I'm not a particularly snuggly dog but have been keeping a close eye on Molly to make sure she doesn't disappear again. When she comes downstairs every morning I'm so pleased to see her & have to make sure she knows it! And this morning she was pleased when I briefly dozed on her legs.

A bit later in the morning Molly's mum took this photo of me dozing because my ear made her & Molly laugh!

Then Molly took me out for the first walk since she's been home (don't worry, other members of the family walked me yesterday) & her mum joined us too. I had lots of fun exploring & following scents near a local reservoir. Molly can't believe how much I've matured since she went into hospital but then I reminded her that I'm still an excitable puppy by trying to play with a jogger! Molly found it funny when I tried (& failed) to mark most of the trees we passed. I wasn't doing that a month ago. Here are some photos from our adventure.

^ I found a glove!

^ Molly insisted on taking this photo because I used to be a wimp when it came to water & getting my feet wet but today I drank from this muddy stream & then crossed it.

^ Investigating a rabbit hole. I wasn't particularly interested in potential rabbits, I was trying to find rabbit poo, yum!

And here are a few photos from walks that I went on with Molly's mum while Molly was away.

^ Molly thinks I'll be good at agility when I'm old enough

On the walk that the last four photos were taken on, I met a man walking along eating a packed lunch. I know I usually get rewarded with food for obeying commands, so I went through my repertoire of "sit", "down", "come" etc (with no prompting!) in the hope of earning some. Unfortunately it didn't work.

Regarding food, I'm no longer shut out of the dining room when everyone else eats. I know I never get people food so tend to just sleep under the table while they eat - and then I vaccuum the floor when they've finished!

This afternoon Molly & her mum popped out for 35mins & left me in the house alone. I was very well behaved & just waited calmly behind the front door for them to return. I don't use my crate in the house any more & am trusted with free run of downstairs when I'm left alone. The only thing I ever destroy is post. Oh & the occassional newspaper!

Since Molly went into hospital her dad fitted a dog flap in the back door so when I'm home alone (or with everyone here) I can go in & out as I please. It's brilliant because I love being outside & now I don't have to wait for someone to let me out. While Molly was away she missed my attempts at trying to get out the dog flap with a fully inflated balloon in my mouth - it didn't work!

I still try to play with everyone & everything I meet. This isn't always successful though. A few days ago another dog growled at me at the park because he didn't want to play & I did. Apparently that was a sign I should have left him alone but I wasn't deterred. Luckily I didn't get hurt. I also tried to play with a baby robin I found in the garden. I didn't mean to kill it :(

I'll be 7 months old on Sunday! Molly weighed me yesterday & I now weigh an impressive 8.2kg & haven't finished growing yet. Apparently I'm quite big for a miniature schnauzer but I always have been & I'm not overweight.

Ooh, I forgot to tell you that I wrestled a panda on Wednesday!