Human barking

Well friends I bet you did not know that humans bark. Mine does, especially at night just after I get nicely settled to sleep. What can I do about it, I don't know. there are plenty of shows telling humans what to do if they have a problem with their dog , but no one has yet made a show about what we do with our problem humans. (well The Dog Whispere gets close).

Now this barking business, Mum has been doing this for weeks now, about 7 I think in human time.

She went to the human vet and they said she had here asthma bad again - the first time for 5 or 6 years. I don't know what asthma is even though she has tried to explain it and that it is not barking. A couple of weeks ago she seemed to be getting over it nicely and not barking anymore when she started sniffing and running at the nose - ugh. Apparently that is what humans call a cold. It was not cold though it was quite warm in doors - funny language they use. Well that started her barking again, only this time it seemed to be even worse so back to the human vet again. They have given her some tablets to take to try to help and she breaths into this funny shaped funnel thing which seems to help. She also sleeps a lot. As for walking me just short walks at the moment before she starts barking at me again. Now I think that is just rude. I don't bark at her.

You're in trouble

Oh Granda you're in trouble. Mum read your comments.

Last night Mum let me stay up to watch Crufts. All those dogs mincing around showing off. What do they think they look like? Have you seen how they are poked and prodded by the judges too. Not for me, after all I know I am the best. Here is a picture of the best in show. Not bad he is just lucky I was not there.

Smells

Before I start today I just wanted to reply to Granda who wrote - 'Do you remember the little dog Charlie,(he didn't like you) well he went to the rainbow bridge on saturday.'
I know Charlie didn't like me (I didn't like him much either) but it is sad for his owner. So I hope she knows about Rainbow Bridge.
Now down to business. SMELLS. Yesterday was a day of smells. We went for a walk through the fields in the morning and I could smell allsorts. Mum said I had my nose tothe ground all the time. MUM that is what noses are for. Well then she saw what I was smelling. RAT yes there was a big fat rat in the field. We have seen them before there but not usually at this time of year. Now I know Mum is not afraid of rats but it did make me laugh when she jumped because it ran just in front of us. I wanted to chase it of course, but Mum would't let me and I was on the leader so I could not get to it. I know on the leader in a field, but she had spotted another dog in the distance. Anyway I had to content myself with barking at the fat rat.
Next wonderful smell of the day was breakfast. She put water on my food and the smell was wonderful, when I got to it I saw that the water was all brown and tasted of meat. Yum.
Off she went then with her funny machine and bags, so I just knew she was going to cut fabric up and sew it together again. Funny woman. I thought she would be away all day but she was'nt. Is that where you put the apostrophe mum says not. Hey I am just a dog and I think I do quite well with my writing.
She came in then went out again, what was she playing at? When she came in she was carrying two bags. One of them smelt wonderful. I tried to put my nose in to see what it was but she chased me saying it was not for me. I sat and looked at her with my big brown eyes, I know I looked cute (it always works on Granda) Not on her though she said I am on a diet. Now I am not fat at all (honest) but the vet man says that I need to be careful. Hey I am a x jackR staffie. Does he not know that I am supposed to be muscular? Anyway mum does keep an eye on me and does not let me eat toooooooo much.
Later I was sitting on the back of the chair looking up the road when I saw a car that I knew. It was Auntie Diana. Yippee we have fun together. I got very excited, too excited mum said. I heard her talking to auntie Diana later saying she was not happy and that I needed to calm down when people come in. But Auntie is not people she is AUNTIE DIANA. I have known her nearly as long as I have known mum. In fact she was with Mum the day she picked me up from the shelter so of course I get excited. I did jump up a bit though so maybe that is what they were talking about.
The next smells were the most interesting. A man came to the door and gave mum some lovely smelling bags of food. Those two though just started to eat it all. Now I knew I would have to pull out all the stops to look as cute as possible to try and get some of this delicious smelling food out of them. Eventually It worked Auntie Diana gave me a little of hers she said it was a prawn cracker. Yum. Well the two of them ate and ate and ate. You know I said I have to diet well so do they so what were they up to? A treat mum said. A treat what about me? Well I managed to get another of the prawn crackers. The smells hung around for ages though.

Treadmill

Auntie Di visited again yesterday she snuck in the back door while I was investigating all the smells in the garden.

We played a game for a little while with my ball then she asked if she could use my treadmill. No problem I was tired so decided just to sit and watch. She was going some and turning redder and redder. I am sure I look really cool when I am on. No red face for me just the cool handsom lad I always am.

Mum got be a munchy bone today, I think it must be my birthday, she said it was 8 years since she was lucky enough to find me. I am pleased she found me too . She is beside me now watching me type this and waiting to get to sleep. So am going to finish now for today.

Back again

Now I know I can type, but even I have problems opening the laptop and signing in. Mum was so busy yesterday that she did not have time to do this for me, I ask you how long could that take. Yesterdays walk was uneventful, I think I have scared all the big dogs away from my area first thing in the morning.
I found one of my old balls behind the chair and decided to get it out and play. now I think that I should have been picked for Newcastle United, but they say I have too many legs. TOO MANY LEGS I have 4 like every other normal dog. Just because humans only have 2 they think everyone should. Let me tell you 4 is better every time. Better for the back, better for balance, better for football. I love football and can dribble the ball better than most of todays players so I think KK should think about taking me on to show his team how to do it.
Mum came flying in last night from work fed me grabbed something for herself and then out she went again even though I did try to sit on her to keep her here. It is ages since she was out on a night time, but she took her sewing bag so I guess she went sewing and sure enough when she came back she smelt of another dog. She always smells of another dog when she goes sewing on a mOnday night. Now I think if there is a dog there I should go too but she says no. WHY well she says I would not behave myself. Of course I would. I would put Dougal (yes Dougal) in his place and as long as he did what I wanted him to do it would be fine.
Mum is rushing around getting ready to go out again this morning, she says she does it to keep me in dog food. Hey I will eat anything, in fact I can eat what she eats if I can get away with it, but only manage to get away with it with Granda.
A bit of excitement for me. Sharon in NZ left me a comment. Thanks Sharon I am pleased you are enjoying reading my ramblings. I hope you are letting Mozz read them too. lOL

Visiting granda

A great day today, when we got up Mum anounced that we were going to see Granda today. I love going there lots to see and do and of course I can wrap Granda round my little paw. As soon as I got out of the car I ran to the door which was just open enough for me to get through and ran in, past Granda and into the kitchen just to see what I could find - not much. Mum had to have a coffee and a chat and of course I was able to cadge a treat out of Granda, I didn't think Mum saw but of course she did. Then we went for a walk. I like going for walks with Granda there are sooooooooooo many interesting places around.

The most exciting part was that I could get off the leader and have a good run around. Trust them though they split up one at one end of the field and the other at the far end and of course they kept shouting of me to come. WELL I ran back and forth between them and I was exhausted. We then went down to the river and were going to go over the bridge when Mum saw a loose dog and so we headed back to the car. I don't know why she knows I will protect her no matter what.

We were going along minding our own business when the big dog came up behind us. He was just spoiling for a 'chat' Granda put his stick in front of me so that the other dog would not get hurt because well I would have seen him off no problem - the bigger the better as far as I am concerned. Mum had told me to wait though and I know that means I have to leave the other dog alone so against my better judgement I didn't even bark at him, I just looked dignified and kept going.

I see Granda left a comment, thanks Granda I enjoyed the visit too. Hope to see you again soon.

Helping

Mum does a lot of quilting - I don't understand why she would cut fabric up and then sew it together again. Humans are strange things, but she feeds me, exercises me and cuddles me so anything she wants is OK with me. I help her of course, just got to inspect any quilt she makes to be sure there are no mistakes.

I looked at this one and decided it had to be for me so decided to show it to Rabbit. When I was looking for other pictures of me helping Mum I found this one of me begging her to let me learn to type. It worked and I think she did a good job too, and I have picked it up very quickly. Now though she says that she can't get on the computer herself. It sounds like an excuse to me for not catching up with her blogs. http://craftingpatch2.blogspot.com/ is one of them - yes she has more than one, no idea why they all say the same things. HUMANS go figure.

excited

I am so excited tonight two comments left on my Blog. thank you Tessa and Falk you made my day. Tessa are you trying to say that I am short? Believe me I am a big dog in a little dog's clothes.
Falk i told mum about you and that you are from Norway and she was so pleased she loves Norway and is going back there in May for a visit. This will be her third. I will be going to Granda's to stay while she is away.
Mum was in a rush this morning so only had the walk and no treadmill, but Iwas happy with that. Tonight auntie Diana came for a visit, she smelt of Bailey, but that's OK she is still welcome. We always have fun together. It's very late now so am going to finish now and then write more tomorrow. Waggs and woofs to everyone.

Sunrise

Out at 5.30 again today, so I just knew it was going to be another working day. The alarm went off but mum ignored it, it went again and still she ignored it, pretending to be asleep. Well I soon changed that. Off the bed I jumped and started raising the alarm - after all it is an alarm isn't it? She stuck a leg out and said 'I am up' of course she wasn't up her leg was out who was she trying to kid?

We went up the road but it was too dark to go up through the churhyard at the start of the walk so we went towards the village. Mum decided to cross over and took me into a field - WHY then I saw them two large dogs. TWO of them I could take them on no trouble. Thing is they are worse than I am and started barking one. I decided I am better than that and just ignorged them altogether, afterall I know I am better than they are.

Their barking seemed to wake the birds and what a lot of them there were this morning singing away. Not as good as my singing, but not bad.

When we got back in I had breakfast and yes you guessed it on the moving path again. Just ten minutes this morning. Mum started to get ready for work and I thought If I was really good and sat on the chair looking handsom she may say behind today but it was not to be off she went.

A lovely surprise at lunchtime though she came back only for a few minutes though then off she went again, busy, busy, busy. I think I know what retirement is now it is a lot of rushing every where and being busy all the time.

She has let me come on to write this now as she says it is going to be another early night tonight. Catch you tomorrow.

Mum said I should show you all what I do when she is at work, well here it is, I am really good and sleep most of the time.

Working day

Today was mum's first day back at work for two weeks. She said she was well enough but I am not really sure she was telling the truth. We went for a walk at 5.30 this morning. Back to normal there then. We even managed to go up through the churchyard and to the field at the back, but would you believe it that big black dog from up the road was already there. How dare he, that is my field, the only place I get off the leash unless we go to the farm. Well I told him what I thought of him,, but cannot print it here as I was a bit rude. Then he had the cheek to follow us all the way back home. Well Mum was not happy that I was shouting at him all the time so she told me off, still got a last bark in though. When we got home we had breakfast and then Mum put me on the treadmill for 10 minutes, I ask you a walk and then the treadmill, I just knew she was going to be out all day then. She does not do that very often, she says it will be the same tomorrow too. So much for being retired. I understood that when a human retired they did not go out to work.

Had lots of hugs since she came back in tonight though. I am letting her pet me while I write this.

A funny old day

It has been a funny old day today. It was soooooooooo late when we got up this morning, well that is not strictly true the first time was 4 o'clock, but then we went back to bed. Then it was 9 o'clock before we got up again. Now let me say here and now this is not usual, we are normally up and about by about 7.30, but Mum has not been feeling too grand lately and she just felt that it would be better to sleep late today. Mind you she has been sleeping most of today. She says it is the pills she is taking, but I think it is just boring daytime TV that is making her sleep. We went for a short walk this morning, and I mean a short walk, we went to the post box and a bit further then back home. Not nearly long enough for me so Mum let me go on the treadmill. I love it and she knows it. I trot along quite happily. I don't know how she manages to stay beside me when her legs do not move.
I watched the birds for a long time today they were very busy out in the garden, then I saw that little pesky mouse again. WELL I did bark at him, which made him run and hide. there are only a few things I do not like in my garden and that mouse is one of them.
Mum says she has to go to work tomorrow so we will be out early for a long walk, she is very good like that. We are having an early night tonight so am going to cut this short. Sleep well everyone.

New skill

Well here I go. Mum has been helping me learn to type so thought I would start my own blog. I have been inspired by Tessa who has a wonderful blog which she updates every day. Don't know if I will be able to do that yet but am going to work on it.

A little bit about myself first of all. I am about 10 years old now. Not sure exactly as I was put into WoodGreen shelter 8 years ago and they were not sure how old I was but thought I was about two.

I am A JR staffie cross and am proud of both. Mum picked me without seeing me as she had been looking for about 18 months for the ideal dog and had a tick list witch the shelter knew about. When I came in they told Mum and she just said yes without seeing me. In fact she did not see me for two weeks as she had to go away. 4 weeks later after home visit from staff she was able to take me home. I was very nervous at first as I had been mistreated a lot in my first home and was a bit of a mess. I was very skinny and my skin was not the best. I pretended to be a bit deaf at first and I could not bark as I had lost my voice.

Now I think I am a handsome chap, but I will let you judge for yourself.