Thursday *Schooling Ole Baby Face*

Dear Diary,

Remember how I said that Baby Face Frank was a big gentle honey to play with? Well that's all changing and he's become a big stompy monster (still stupidly cute though). He's also turned into a cunning play fighter as you can see in this photo of him chewing my leg off!

So I'm having to school him in some manners! Being a big lump of a thing I have use fairly strict methods with Frank. Firstly I need him to understand that being on top all of the time (and munching on young ladies necks) is not good manners.

To do this I employ the ever successful ear chomp. Those big black velvety ears are perfect for a gentle nibble or a strong reprimanding bite if the play gets out of hand.

Sometimes a two on one ear chomp is necessary and Cooper is often on hand to help me with this.

If the ear chomp doesn't quite get through to Frank that I am in fact in change then it can be necessary to bring out the muzzle gnaw.

This only works on dogs that have a nose to chew on, like my mate Hunter, but my dear little friend Milly is immune (and she knows it).

Once the muzzle chew has been deployed I find there is a much friendlier and more submissive Frank for me to play with. Over time he has learned that when I say enough it is my turn to be on top and I of course take full advantage of the situation.

While Frank is beginning to learn good manners with me, he still has some way to go with the other distinguished sausages in our gang. Only I'm allowed to use Kaiser as a step stool or launching ramp, Frank is far to big!

The only time I don't like playing with Frank is when he's been galumphing around in the spa pool. He loves the water, which I don't really understand. He clambers in and out of the pool with the big dogs and even likes having it poured on him. What a weirdo.

The worst thing is when he's wet he soaks me! That is really not manners at all. I guess there's not really much I can do about that though, unless I employ a towel boy to dry Frank off before he plays with me? Hmmmm, something to think about there.

Wednesday *Road Trip - Eventually*

Dear Diary

A lovely sunny day today and Mum AND Dad were both home! Fun times. Lots of playing and snuggling and playing and napping and snuggling. That black cat is still not running away from me as much as I'd like but I can't work out how to get things back to the way they were before. He keeps hitting on the nose when I try and chase him!

Mum took me up to the high dog park and there were lots and lots and lots of dogs there today. Some of them were really fun, like little Atari the Staffie cross, we played lots and he was a great ball chaser. Mum tried to get me chase my new frisbee, but for some reason she kept throwing it away. If she doesn't want it then it can't be very good so I just hunted for badgers.

There were some grumpy mean dogs at the park too today. They barked and barked and barked at me and their owners just let them bully me lots. Mum rescued me and took me away. Luckily there were lots of other fun dogs so I forgot all about the bullies. 

Once we got home all sorts of strange goings on went on. My den got packed up and all my toys put away, then some got put in a bag with my blankets and bed and stuff. Mum got the cool sucky machine out, but I wasn't allowed to play with it. Dad gave me treats for not playing with it. 

Then lots of things got put in the car. Then I got put in the car with Mum and Dad and we drove and drove and drove! We finally got to a place I've been before. Aunty Sarah and Uncle Greg's! Their place is really fun because it's out in the countryside and there's sometimes big white fluffy dogs to play with (I'm a little bit scared of them), and they leave delicious treats in the grass. 

No fluffy white dogs when we arrived, but I made sure to check their paddock and drink from their trough. Then I found a ginormous mound of grass to play. It was sooooooo fun, I was sure there was a badger in it, but there wasn't. I'm going to check it again though, when Mum isn't looking, just to be sure. 

I ran round and round and round the house lots and played with a ball and then had to go to bed early because I was just too excited. I can't wait to go adventuring tomorrow! 

Tuesday *Play Date*

Dear Diary,
Mum was right, she did have an awesome surprise for me today. At first I thought we were going to the beach, but we went to this cool big park. Then this really nice lady turned up and she had loads and loads of dogs with her and two of them were sausages. This is Otto.

He was quiet and dignified. And this is Kaiser, he was a dirty old man who just had one thing on his mind! As you can tell I wasn't to opposed to this.

Although I did give him a run for his money a couple of times. You know what they say, treat em mean and keep em keen.

I also meet a super cute little pug, but she didn't like me kissing her.

I was very good and gentle and let her think she had the better of me.It doesn't do to beat up puppies that are smaller than you after all.

There were lots of dogs to play with and they were all fun, but Kaiser didn't really let me play with the others much. I still had the best time and got to run around lots and play and jump and fight and sneak and pounce and explore and so many things!!!!

Mum says that we'll get to go walking again with the fun dogs and the lovely lady again. She runs a company called Pet Care Services Ltd and she is awesome. Mum says if I ever needed someone to take care of me she'd definitely be the one I'd go to.

Friday *Puppy Madness*

Dear Diary,
So tired. Today has been a play day. Mum got my special toy out this morning and we played for ages.

I guess that was to make up for the fact that she went out without me for EVER! Mum says it was only 2 hours, but it was actually forever and ever. When she came home I used my best puppy eyes and made her lie down so I could snuggle her and sleep on her. I think we were both happy with that outcome. 

Later Dad came home and we (they) had a picnic dinner at the dog park. As usual I played with lots of dogs. I meet a pack of fun little dogs and only one wouldn't play but that was cause she was 19! That is so very old. Mum said with lots of exercise and eating right I'll be at least that old and still coming to the dog park.

Then I met some nice black and white shaggy dogs and we ran up the hill and made Mum cough with all the dust we kicked up. They were fun. 

Then I met Judd. He was 6 months old like me and a vizsla. Vizsla's are one of my favourites ever! We had so much fun. Everyone was laughing at us because we were the best players in the the park.

Judd on top of me

Me on top of Judd! 

Then I got to met some wolves! They were so pretty and but were very serious and didn't want to jump around with me. They were polite though.

So tired after all that, I completely zonked out on Dad's knee in the car. I wanna play with more vizslas!

Tuesday *Caution - Will Give you Kisses*

Dear Diary, 

Mum really made up for yesterday (she always does). After breakfast we headed up the hill to the dog park with a view and I was a little tricksy sausage and jumped out of the car before Mum had hold of my lead properly. Silly Mum. She then got all shouty and mental, but I ignored her till she calmed down and called me properly. I came straight away then. Sometimes humans need extra training. 

I had an awesome walk and played with loads of labs today. There must have be 8 or 9 in the park at one point. Mum had to explain to all their owners that I can play with big dogs and not to worry because I am clever and sneaky. It was great fun chasing the big silly dogs. 

Then a lady with two rat terriers came along and she was really worried her dogs would think I was a rat! How rude. I showed her! I ran rings around her dogs and pushed them over, cause I'm much bigger than them, it's just that the lady couldn't tell. Mum had to spend a long time reassuring the lady that I was fine. She was funny. 

I was even really good at the end of the walk and came for Mum to put my lead on, even though she'd forgotten the treats. Sometimes I think Mum is losing her mind!

Later in the day I got to visit one of my favourite people in the whole world. Els! She was my teacher at puppy school and I love her lots because she's very clever and she taught Mum how to be a good Mum and she gives me lots of snuggles. She's just the best. If you're in Christchurch and you want products or dog training she's the best EVA! Go to www.trainimals.com

While we were there I got to try out and model some exciting new leads. They are from www.safetycollars.co.nz and I think I looked very tough and intimidating in the cool Caution one I modelled. 

Don't I look tough! 

Lightening tongue is coming for you! 

I think Mum should think about getting me the training one because when we go on our training walks round the block everyone wants to talk to me and I'm easily distracted. It's tough being so cute!

After that we went for a visit to Lyttelton. Mum told me that in the big earthquake lots of it got smashed, but that it is still a cool place. I agree. We got to go through this really long tunnel which was weird for me. Then we walked all around the town and looked at all the fun community things that have been done to replace all the broken buildings.

It is a place called a port and I got my usual pats from everyone, even some big tough sailors. I'm beginning to think no one can resist me. I was tired after all the good on the lead walking so I employed a technique I'm learning from my friend called Sir Roger. It's the flop. For of those you that want to master it, just let all your whole body get all relaxdy and lie on the ground. There's nothing anyone can to do make you walk. I find it particularly annoys Mum if I add a "what is the problem" look as well. Tee hee!

I'm very excited about tomorrow night. I'm off to visit Aunty Paula and Uncle Robert again so I'll get to play with Ruby and Hugo and maybe Alice. Mum says I should wear a chastity belt, but I'm not going to!

Monday *Slaving Away and Learning about Cats*

Dear Diary

Monday's really are a lot of work aren't they. I made an early start today as Mum was busy and so I got down to some gardening chores that I felt needed to be completed. First I turned the soil for Mum to make sure her chilli and tomato are going well. Then I removed some weed mat that Mum obviously didn't need there anymore. I was going to bring it inside so I could show her, but then I remembered the potting mix incident so I just left it by the door. I'm a good dog. 

Mum still didn't seem very happy, so I thought I'd help her do some research. She pointed out the library books aren't for chewing so I was on my best behaviour. 

 

Turns out research is really boring, even if it is children's books, so I did what I do best and slept. Mum was really busy so it took ages for me to get my walk. Mum said we were going to a big park on the other side of town. I've been there before and I liked it because it has agility things and a river and countryside and lots and lots of friends to play with. Today was no different. I was ace at agility.

And I played with everyone!

You'll note I'm swimming in one of the above shots. Mum tricked me into it because apparently jumping around in mud isn't ideal for going home in the car. That's my new friend Teddy I'm chasing, he was after my treat, tricksy little thing!

After all the playing it is always important to have some Mum and me time, otherwise she gets sad, so we headed off along the country walk. Mum wanted me to use my awesome tracking skills and hid on top of a little hill. Lets just say it didn't go well and it took me about 6 circuits of the hill work out where Mum was. Lucky she had the good treats waiting. Then further on I met the BIGGEST dog eva! She was on the other side of a fence with lots of other big dogs so I couldn't play with her. Maybe some other time.

I was really tired after my big walk, but I think that was Mum's plan all along because then she took me to place where men looked at her car and went under it and opened it up and drove it on spinney things. It took forEVER, but even though it was really boring I only grumbled a little bit. I'm a good dog.

After that I thought the excitement of the day was well and truly over, but after dinner Mum got my lead out again and we got back into the car! Brilliant. Off we went to visit Aunty Paula and Uncle Robert from work and their three sausages (and two mean cats). I had the best time running around madly with Hugo (although he seemed to have ulterior motives which embarrassed his parents and made my Mum laugh). She did tell me off for leading him on though and that I shouldn't wind up older men. I was extra good and gentle with lovely Ruby who is very old, but still likes to play a bit. 

The only one I couldn't charm was beautiful Alice who doesn't like me and hid on her mum all night.  

I also tried my best to play with the two cats they all live with. I thought they'd be like that black cat that lives with us and I could chase them and have a brilliant time. I was wrong. They are tough cats and try as I might they wouldn't run. 

In the end one beat me up so now I've decided that the black cat I live with might not be so bad. I maybe might be a little bit nicer to him.