My new life so far...

I've lived with Sarah and Nicky for 4.5 months already, and have kept them far too busy to write any blog posts! It's been very exciting for me too:

- I've fallen in the canal twice
- I've given Sarah and Nicky a huge scare when I ran out of the house and up the street in pursuit of a cat, and again when I followed a scent almost onto a main road (I'm not allowed off the lead very often now...)
- I've completely destroyed two of my beds (Sarah sewed new covers for them, and I'm biding my time working out how to get at that fluffy stuffing!)
- I got a new crate to keep me safe and contained (Sarah and Nicky found out that my old crate was two sizes too small!)
- I love my dog walker Jo, who takes me out at least once a week, and always has yummy treats. She also came to stay at our house and looked after me for 2.5 weeks when Sarah and Nicky went on holiday.
- I put on 8lb eating too many yummy treats - oops! One healthy diet later and I'm already back to my beautiful normal size.
- I've met lots of new people and dogs! Nicky and Sarah call it "socialising" and try to give me as many new experiences as possible, like going to the pub and going on a train. Everyone loves me wherever we go, I'm such a socialite! As long as there are biscuits involved, I'm happy to go anywhere.
- I got a tummy infection and needed two injections and a course of antibiotics which made me feel very sorry for myself and I needed lots of cuddles. I like the vet though and get very excited when we go there!
- I'm still learning to walk nicely on the lead, but since Sarah and Nicky have introduced the Halti, I've found it a lot easier to be good.
- Sarah and Nicky have bought me lots of new toys! My favourite at the moment is a green ball that treats sometimes come out of when I roll it around. I love playing with it even when it's empty though, and often cuddle up with it in my bed!
- I loved the snow but I'm not too keen on rain, especially when we go out for walks in it! I try to run under low trees to keep dry, forgetting that there's a big person on the other end of my lead... I also hate puddles and will dance around them to avoid getting my feet wet. Yucky!
- My favourite treats are fish jerky, cheese, melon skin and pig ears, but I'll eat most things except for raw parsnip which I hate!

Such a lot to pack in a short space of time for a dog just out of puppyhood! It's nearly my 2nd birthday (Sarah and Nicky have bought me a handsome new collar so I will look fabulous for the summer), I wonder what adventures I'll get up to this year!

Today I was really bad. Kate had put Nigel’s slippers on the radiator to warm and I took one off and chewed it. It is unwearable now. I don’t know why they don’t just give it to me. It would be so much easier. Kate then sprayed something on it and gave it back. I think she was hoping that it would be horrid but I quite liked it so she took it away again.

And to top off the morning I had a bit of a bad experience. I was sniffing round the telephone table and got the phone cord wrapped round my neck. I tried to run away, half strangled myself and brought down the table, phone and  CD player. The table went flying, along with the address box, pens and pencils and a charity collection box full of change.  I was still tugging to get away and strangling myself in the process when Kate came out of the study and calmly removed the cord. I felt rather subdued after that but I wasn’t told off. I did then however leap onto a slice of marmaladey toast left on the coffee table for just a moment.  I was very told off then!!!  I must go, it’s time for a walk in the snow. I love snow!

Start the month as you mean to go on... Kate left the stair gate to the stairs open this afternoon. I had a lovely time removing all the bits and pieces they had imagined were safe behind the gate. I chewed on two pairs of slippers, a dustpan brush and a roll of black insulating tape.  It has been snowing. I like the snow; I love my cosy warm coat too and am good as gold as I wait for them to put it on me. I know what’s coming!