Dave the Dog

Funa and games

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:38:37 GMT

Well the last few weeks have been different in my house. It all started about three or four weeks ago when my mum started moving things around the house and spending even more time up in her room producing lots of squiggles on paper and then putting that paper inside other pieces of paper. After that my mum and dad went even more bonkers by bringing a tree inside the house. I decided not to make too much of it, as they tend to do strange things every now and then, and I didn't mark it just in case it was a special tree for the pack.

Over the following weeks lots of my friends visited. People who smelt like my mum, extended pack members, we visited people who smelt like my dad, saw emperor and atreic. Oh, and now we have a new friend who is a little frightened of me! This almost never happens as I'm just lovely, but I am being nice and offer her my toys whenever she looks like she needs something to play with.

My mum's paper squiggles seems to have done something as she now seems to go off hunting on her own and comes back smelling very interesting. I'll have to keep a close eye on her and make sure she comes back each evening. It took my dad long enough to make sure she kept staying here and not going off to visit my other pack mates.

It's very complicated in my house these days, but I'm still have a great time and hope my friends keep on visiting. I'm really sleep after they go off again, but it's so much fun!

Back to the old den.

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:50:38 GMT

Last weekend my Mum and Dad started to pack up all of my things. Now for any puppy this is stressful, but for me I know it means a trip... a long trip. I had become use to the five day home time and then a long trip to see my mum, but over the past few months all this had stopped and I had been getting into enjoying the long lazy days. However, my M&D did pack my stuff and then we went to the car. This time we went in the red car which is better for me to see out of, but it doesn't seem as stable as my dads car. I did feel a little ill, but not as bad as I had been as a pup. Halfway to my mums old den we stopped and picked up another person. I didn't know her, but I welcomed her as I know I should. Then my mum sat in the back with me and we continued on.

The weekend proved to be so much fun. I saw all my friends and some new ones. I had a brilliant time, but had to have a little kip in the middle of the evening gathering as a puppy has to recharge batteries at some stage. The next morning most of the pack had gone hunting, but my dad took me on a long walk. I saw all my old places, the big green, the hill above all the buildings and the river. It was lots of fun and I hope we will go back again soon, but I wish I didn't have that long trip. We came back to the main den that evening. I like coming back to the den. I know everything here and it's my place. Still, I do like seeing my pack too.

Life is always a little mad for a pup.

Ah well, a puppy has to do these things to keep up with the pack.

The "Birthday"

Mon, 22 May 2006 11:12:20 GMT

Yesterday was the "Birthday". Lots of people said "Happy Birthday" to me, and my Dad gave me a strip of pig's ear, which was nice. And they kept saying that I was a big dog now, which is strange, because I've been a big dog for ages. But I'm Two now, they say, and not a puppy any more, which is strange, too, because I think I'll *always* be a puppy.

I'm not sure I like this "Birthday" thing, anyway. It started raining every time my Dad said we should go for a Walk, which was very frustrating. And then later, my Dad put me in the car and drove me home again, which is no good, because we leave my Mum behind. We'll have to see if the "Birthday" is better next time, I think, before I make my mind up...

Anyway, happy the "Birthday" to any of you, too. I don't know, is that how it works?

Hero puppy!

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:13:44 GMT

I've finally manage to badger my dad into updating my journal and explaining how I earned my Collie stripes.

It was a late winters afternoon. My dad had recovered from work and had taken me down to the Patesians Rugby ground for a bit of an investigate and a run. Now it was a normal late afternoon, the sun was going down and I was having fun checking things out. However, when we reached the bottom of the fields I heard a strange high pitch noise. It kept repeating and was a wrong noise. My dad didn't seem to pick up on it and didn't really make anything of it, but I did. My collie senses were tingling! I went to the far gate of the fields. My dad shouted to stop me and then he called me back. I ignored his request to come back over because this wasn't right. My dad wondered slowly over to me and I kept looking at him and looking at the house over the road. As my dad came to my side he put the lead toward my nose, but then he stopped. He heard the noise, looked at me and then looked at the house I was gesturing at. I told him he wasn't mistaken using the correct, true to form collie wording. 'Bark! Bark!'
The high pitched noise rang out again, two words could just about be made out. 'Hello' and 'Help'. My dad put my lead on for me and walked me over to the house. The hedges in front of the garden were massive, but well tended. My dad called over the hedge and a voice replied. He then took me very quickly into the garden. An old woman sat against the front door of the house. He made me sit at the gate and he went to help the old lady. She had slipped on the slanting wet paving slabs and hadn't been able to get back up. Luckily she wasn't hurt and my dad helped her to her feet and into the house. Once he closed the door he came over and gave me a big hug.

He told me I had earned my collie stripes and said something about Lassie. I think I did what I was supposed to do, but I like having hugs. We then finished the walk, which is always a good thing.

Well, that was very strange...

Sun, 05 Feb 2006 21:47:16 GMT

This morning I got my Mum and Dad up as usual, except that they decided to bundle me into the car and take me to a very strange place indeed. There was this big place with a slippy floor and lots of things going on, smells and noises and things.

I just wanted to make squeeky noises because I wasn't at all sure of myself, and my Dad kept trying to keep me quiet. Eventually I started to relax and look around, and there were lots of dogs just like me! Well, some more like me than others, but I've never seen so many dogs like me before.

Some of them made friends with me, but one of them crinkled his nose at me, which I didn't like very much. And a few people came and made a fuss of me. And over in one end of the place, dogs stood in line and trotted around in circles, and no one really explained to me what that was about, and I didn't do it myself, so I never go to find out.

All very strange, don't you think?

Anyway, then we went for a walk along a river and I kept being stopped from chasing geese, which was mean of my Dad, I think. And then we got back in the car and went back to the Cambridge house where I didn't upset either of the small black and white things. And people were shouting at the shiny box in the corner. People are odd.

My mum says there are some photos of the place with all the dogs, if you're interested.

Christmas, and things that go beep

Tue, 03 Jan 2006 17:30:20 GMT

It's been the thing the people call the 'Christmas' again. I sort of remember this from last year. For the 'Christmas' my Mum and Dad bring a tree into the house. I tried to explain that it was a tree, and it was *inside*, whereas any pup knows that trees live *outside*, but no one listened. They just put twinkly things in it and then behaved as if there was nothing peculiar about it at all. All very strange. A tree! Inside! I do worry about this pack sometimes...

But then there have been good food smells, though not much of it came my way (meanies!), and new toys, and walks, and treats, and lots of visitors, and then since the 'Christmas' my Mum has had a new black thing that goes *beep* and she keeps pointing it at me. She says it's a new camera and that she's taken some nice photos, like my new userpic, and that I should show them to you.

So here they are.

Happy the 'New Year' to you all. It went *bang* a lot, whatever it was. So I barked at it.

Places and things!

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 20:11:20 GMT

It's been a busy time since I wrote anything, so I suppose I ought to let you all know what's been going on!

I've been in Cambridge this week with the alternative pack, which seems to have meant a lot of time lying down watching my Mum and Dad drink tall glasses of brown water. Not quite sure what that's about. Still, lots of people have made fusses of me at the same time, so it's good for a pup! And, my Dad's taken me on lots of long walks, including up a smallish green hill-thingy where the wind blows harder than it usually does.

And then today, we went walking with my Mum and found a big pile of leaves to play in, and my Mum took some photos of me, and if you don't mind me saying so, I look rather maginficent in them!

Me, looking rather windswept!

And, I think this is my best side, don't you?

While we're doing photos, my Dad took one of me when he went to drink brown water out of a tall glass by the river on a walk earlier this week. And it's rather lovely, so here it is:

Still my best side, no?

New job

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 09:14:18 GMT

I've found a new and worth while job. Each morning I go up stairs and wake my dad. He seems to use a small box that makes noise at regular times, but sometimes he can sleep through it. I have found that I can nip up three minutes before this box and wake him with ease. All I need to do is walk up stairs, stand by the bed and pant by his ear. He usually moves in a few seconds and I get a big hug for my trouble. Yesterday however, he wouldn't move so I waited another fifteen minutes by the bed and then got up and made little barks. This worked nicely. He even referred to it as my 'snooze function'. Not sure what that means, but as long as it gets me a hug.

Observations and duties

Thu, 22 Sep 2005 11:09:02 GMT

This time of year is much nicer for a puppy. The heat of the day isn't too harsh and you can lie outside and watch the world go by in comfort. Mornings can be a little strange as each day I wake up at the same time but time it seems a little bit darker. However, my internal clock must be right because within five minutes I'm up stairs and my dad is getting up. My mum still has a problem with mornings, but if she stays asleep too long I have a duty to put my front paws on the bed an yip until she moves.

I have lots of duties in the house, but waking mum is one of the best.

My Dad is very silly

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 14:12:09 GMT

Today we seem to have had the rain everyone in Cambridge had yesterday. We went for a walk and all was well until we reached the far side of the fields. My dad was having a walk while I investigated, but then I heard thunder. My dad didn't seem to react to I carried on with my important job. Five minutes later the first drop of rain hit my nose. By the time we reached the top of the fields the rain was starting to bug me and I bit a few drops to put it in its place. As we left the fields the rain got heavy and even started to get through my coat. My dad still ambled along without a sense of impending wetness. Two minutes later we were sheltering under a large bush and my dad was laughing to himself. I continued to try and teach the rain respect.

In the end we ran the last 1/4 mile home. Once we were in the house we had a good towel fight and since then I've been checking at the back door, but it's still raining. Maybe next time my dad will take an umbrella or maybe even a coat.

He is silly sometimes. :)

One Year Old!

Wed, 25 May 2005 11:44:19 GMT

This is cool! I'm now one year old and things are good. I had a wonderful weekend being taken out for walks, fed wonderful things and basically played with as much as I liked. My dad didn't take me over to Cambridge, but he has promised to take me for more than just a few days this coming weekend. I can't wait to see my mum and all her friends. I don't like the car journey, but getting there is excellent. I have to say hi to everyone and then I usually have my supper. It will be nice to spend time at my second home.

Life is good being a puppy.

Puppy Power!

Fri, 06 May 2005 06:17:23 GMT

Well, I could have told them! They only had to deploy the Puppy Effect and look what happens!

Over the last few weekends, I've been going on excellent, but slightly odd long walks with rmc28. They're odd because you walk up to a house, make the letterbox go *clatter* and then walk away again. All the way up one side of a street. But I get to meet a lot of people, and they all seem to want to pat me. rmc28 calls it 'leafleting' and it's for this election thing you had yesterday.

I know about elections, because p_a_r_a took me for a good walk yesterday afternoon, and on the way back he left me with a nice old lady who was sitting on a folding chair outside a big building while he went to fiddle with bits of paper for a couple of minutes. He called it 'voting'. The lady said I was very fluffy.

And now, I find out that where rmc28 and I were walking, they voted for the person we wanted them to, by lots and lots and lots. I mean, by more votes than there are biscuits in lots of 2kg bags of my favorite crunchy biscuits. Mmm, I wonder if votes taste like biscuits..? Anyway, I'm sure I had something to do with it. Everyone thought I was lovely.

I think I should stand for election. I'm sure people would vote for me. I'm the fluffiest candidate of them all.

All change

Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:50:35 GMT

I'm with my mum this week. It's all change again at the weekend, but I seem to have become use to the car journeys. I really didn't like the sick feeling I had a few months ago, but these days I can deal with that rocking feeling. I think my dad is quite happy about that.

Mum's house is fun. I can see all her friends and usually meet one or two extra people on each visit. I've been out investigating every day and it is really like a little holiday.

I like these weekends.

Strange things that happen...

Sun, 16 Jan 2005 18:10:57 GMT

It's been a strange sort of weekend - I came to visit my Mum at her new house like last week, and got to play with everyone again, and then on Saturday my Mum decided to wrap me all up in bandages. She's a bit strange, really. I think she means well but it wasn't a very nice thing to do to a puppy dog, especially the ear bandage.

Later on we went for a good walk in a new place I'd never been before, and then my Mum and Dad went out for the evening and left me to kip in the sitting room. Well, I got my own back, because they'd only left the bandages at perfect puppy-dog height! It was a very good chew game and left a very impressive mess on the carpet... I think I made my point!

What a thing to do to a puppy dog, really!

Oh, for extra points, can you tell which one's me?

Lots and lots

Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:33:44 GMT

I've been doing so much over the past few weeks that I have been very bad at updating my LJ. Sorry about this and be assured that photos and stories are being sorted out. I've been on trips, seen old friends, I've been given new toys and I even have a new bed! It has all been excellent, but I'm not too sure about this weather. When I arrived at my mum and dads I was too hot. My dad even set up a cooling fan so I could sleep, but now it's seriously cold. I don't mind too much as I have a lovely thick coat, but it really does wake you up in the morning. My mum is back from her long hunting trip and that is so cool, but she still goes away everyday and only comes back in the evening. My dad seems to be home almost all the time and I'm going out for walks twice a day.

Still, must get back to being a puppy. I'll add more details on my adventures in the next day or two.

Hugs to all my friends.

New friends

Tue, 16 Nov 2004 15:30:23 GMT

I met a new friend today. My dad took me for the usual run about on the fields near my home, but when we got there I saw someone who looked just like me. Well, I say just like me, but he was really small and he even had a bit of a gray nose. It's really cool to be the big guy for once! His coat was a little darker than mine, but it was really funny to see someone almost exactly like me.

On the walk we had loads of fun. I could run faster than he could, but we kept running in circles so it didn't really matter.

Hope I see him again.

Another big adventure

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:35:11 GMT

This weekend was very strange. My dad woke me up a full hour early and then didn't feed me! It was quite worrying. He then spent a good hour moving boxes and bags out of our house and into a really big white car. After that he put me in the front and put my seat belt on. I must admit I wasn't too sure about this. For one thing it was still dark and this big white car was very tall.

We went driving, not something that helps keep my food down, but I guess that is why my dad didn't give me breakfast. After picking up four or five people we went on a very long trip. In the end the sun had come up, but not my breakfast, and we had arrived at a really big puddle of water. There were lots of people getting dressed in black stretchy stuff and funny shoes. It would have taken me ages to chew up one of those.

The good news was that my dad fed me and then took me for a walk, but this walk lasted for ages. We went and visited lots of people and stood by the big puddle. All the people in funny clothes kept jumping in, but I'm not sure why. The water was cold and it was far better making friends.

After hours and hours of fun we finally climbed back into the big white car, but I fell asleep. First time for me! I never fall asleep on a journey, but this time I was just so tired. When I woke up the four people were getting out of the car and then we went home. Dad gave me big meal and a big cuddle for being so good. I must admit it was lost of fun, but I slept for most of the evening.

The next day it happened all over again. Two days of early starts, late food and meeting people in funny clothes. It was a very different, but so much fun. I like these long walks and hope I keep getting them.

Dave

PS. I don't feel ill in the car any more :)

And puppylife goes on...

Sat, 16 Oct 2004 12:18:15 GMT

I thought I'd show you some more photos, just so you can all see how much I've grown! Puppy-things continue. I've been declared star of my puppy class and my picture should be on the internet very soon. Last weekend we visited my Mum and her other pack again, and got to play with more new people. nassus was there but I think I made her sneeze - sorry! Some nice walks on Midsummer Common, too. But without any more fuss, the photos. Just look here if you don't believe that I'm getting bigger!

Meet and greet...

Sat, 02 Oct 2004 15:37:06 GMT

My Mum's said that lots of you out there want to meet me, so if you do, you should come and visit me tomorrow (Sunday) early afternoon, between about 1 and 3. Is that OK? Ask my Mum if you need details or instructions on how to get to her house.

Yay! More fun people!

Another day, another milestone

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 09:32:44 GMT

Well yesterday was a first. My mum and dad have been vanishing each evening and reappearing each morning and I haven’t been very sure where they went. There are some very scary steps in my house and although I don’t mind standing on them, I have never climbed all the way up. My dad used to sit at the top and call me up, but he didn’t seem to realise how big these things are. However, yesterday I gathered up all my courage and went exploring! What did I find? Well, I now know my house is at least twice as big. There are new rooms to go sock hunting in and every time I go investigating my dad appears. Now I know how to get his attention when I’m bored…

Puppydogging...

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 06:47:32 GMT

My mum went away yesterday and I don't know where she is. It's all very strange. Hopefully she'll come back soon. My dad says I'll see her on Friday. I wonder what a Friday is, and what she's doing on it.

More piccies, anyway. I'm getting to be a big boy now. I was four months old last week, not that anyone gave me a pressie...

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All this excitement!

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 15:23:15 GMT

Lots of excitement since last time - my people took me to a puppy party at the vets where I got to meet lots of other puppies and come to the conclusion that Dalmatians and Springer Spaniels are insane. I've been going to puppy classes too, where they feed me sausages for not doing anything very useful. There are other puppies there, too. Some of them are very small and seem to think jumping up and biting ears is a good game. I've got some nice friends there, too, though, who like more quiet playing like I do.

About a week ago I visited my Mum at the vet's, and the nurses made a big fuss of me and fed me biscuits, and then they waved a beige thing over my back and it beeped. I'm still trying to figure that one out. But these sorts of confusing things seem to happen to me all the time, so I think it's best not to spend too much time trying to make sense of them. People are obviously mad, just look at how long they spend playing with their food before they eat it!

I've been traveling, too - I went to somewhere called Richmond where there's a great place for walks and someone who smells kind of like my Mum, and someone else came to visit us who smelled similar, too. I think they're part of the same pack one way or another. Something else to contemplate, when I'm not too busy running and chewing, I suppose!

I'm growing very fast. I'm sure they're starving me, you know!

Photos of me!

Mon, 16 Aug 2004 20:22:45 GMT

Well, it's been an exciting few weeks! Lots of new things to discover, like walks and dogs and people, and everyone thinks I'm just so adorable. The photos are chronological - haven't I grown! On my first day out we went to a thing called "Paws in the Park" where there were lots of other dogs and everyone made the biggest fuss of me. I even went in the show ring, but the judge didn't think I had adorable enough eyes to win. Silly judge - I had by far the most adorable everything else! But it was all very exciting, anyway.

My pack are a bit strange, but I think they mean well. They can't talk very well so when the make an effort to communicate in monosyllables I try to do what they want to praise them. Most of the time they just burble on meaninglessly to each other. But they give me nice food and play with me a lot, so it could be worse I suppose!

But I'd better be going - there's so much playing and chewing to do that a puppy can't hang around for long!