Certificate and Rosette

Today was a very special day. All the puppies in our pre-puppy class had a test to make sure we were very good puppies. We had to sit and lie down and come when we were called and stay when we were told to stay. Then we had to let our people look in our eyes and ears and at our teeth and paws. Mum was very gentle but I coudn't help wriggling about a bit. But it was fine and now I have a lavendar rosette and a certificate that says I've achieved my Good Citizen award.

Visiting

Today we went to visit Mum and Dad’s friends called Vanessa and Clive. They have two little girls called Heather and Kirsty who I liked playing with very much. Denise and Paul came to visit too and Denise took this picture of me. Mum said I was a very good girl because I played nicely with Heather and Kirsty all day and let them take me for a walk on my lead.

Sofas

Mum and Dad went somewhere called North to visit Dad’s relatives. We stayed with Dad's Aunt Mabel. Her dog, Fin, is allowed to sit on the sofa whenever he likes. It’s not fair. I’m not allowed to sit on the sofa at home. I tried sitting on Aunt Mabel’s sofa whenever she went out of the room but she kept making me get off the sofa when she came back. Her sofa was very comfortable. I think Dad and Mum’s sofa will be even more comfortable. Maybe they’ll let me sit on it if I’m very very good.

Puppy Class

This morning I went to puppy class. We had to practice walking on our leads nicely, waiting for our treats and not snatching them, coming when we were called and staying when we were asked to stay. Next week we are having our pre-puppy class test and if I pass it I’ll get a rosette and a certificate. Mum’s going to stick them on the wall next to my new big puppy-girl’s bed.

Woods

Today we went to some woods. Mum and Dad kept wanting me to sit in the bluebells because they said it’d make a cute picture. Usually they don’t like me sitting in flowers because I quite like to eat them, but this time I did it without eating any - just to make them happy.

Priory Park

I didn’t go to training class today. I went to Priory Park with Eddie and Elvis and another dog called Barney. I’m much braver about going in the water now and had a splash about in the lake and got covered in mud. Eddie went splashing in the water too. But Elvis’s the most brave of us three about going in the water and Barney just dived in.

I had to have a big sleep when I got home. Playing with Eddie and Elvis is exhausting.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury’s
Today we had our Canine Partners training class in Sainsbury’s. We had to walk round the supermarket on loose leads and not pull our people or sniff at the food or jump up at the customers who came over to say hello. We were all very good. Then we had to wait while our people drank coffee in the café. They took ages. Luckily Mum had brought some tasty treats for me and I was able to have a nap while I was waiting.


Eddie
My brother Eddie came to visit me this afternoon. He’s staying with Annabelle and Gloria for a few days. I showed him my new paddling pool. He was very impressed and even tried it out. Gloria was most surprised as Eddie doesn’t usually like getting his feet wet – he even avoids walking in puddles!

Then we had a bit of an accident while we were playing and knocked over a pot of white paint that was in the garden. She didn’t say so, but I think Mum was quite pleased with mine and Eddie's white paw prints because they made the patio look so pretty - perhaps she'll get some more colours and we can make it even more pretty – maybe she could have some of Eddie’s paw prints too.

Paddling Pool

This morning I went out to play in the back garden and found a really
big drinking bowl, it's so big that I can fit inside it. Dad told me
that it's called a paddling pool and I can have lots of fun splashing
around in it when the weather is hot.

Puppy Class

Today I went to puppy class and saw my friend Elvis. We had to sit still while our people walked backwards away from us saying ‘stay’ and then came back again and gave us a treat. Then they wanted us to come when they called us. I don’t think they could make up their minds whether they wanted us to stay or come. But we did it anyway. Elvis and I had such a good time that we didn’t want to go home.

Training Class

It was great seeing all the other dogs at Canine Partners Class after there being no class last week. I had lots of catching up to with the other dogs and our people wanted to catch up too. They took ages drinking tea and talking about us. Luckily Mum had filled my kong toy with interesting things for me to nibble on while I was waiting.

Then we had to practice not being distracted while we were working. We all had to sit in a circle with our people and then Lorraine tried to stop us concentrating. First she tried walking round and in between us with another dog to see if we’d take any notice. I kept on looking at Mum. Then she went round eating a packet of biscuits but I still didn’t get distracted. Then she jogged round us but she still didn’t manage to distract me. But then she did something that was impossible to ignore. She started brushing the floor with a broom! I couldn’t resist I jumped up and wanted to run over to it but Mum wouldn’t let me. I’m working at not being so interested in brushes and brooms but they’re so exciting it’s very hard not to want to play with them.

After that we did something else tricky. Three of us lined up on one side of the room and three on the other and then our people called us and we had to run to them right past all the other dogs that we’d really have liked to stop and have said hello to. Everyone did it right. Lorraine was very pleased with us and kept telling us how good we were.

BABY

Today we had a funny thing come to see us. It was called a baby and had to be carried about all the time and kept making squeaky sound like my toys but I wasn’t allowed to play with her or the rattling toys she brought with her. Baby Maisie also got to drink lots of milk from a bottle but I wasn't allowed to have any. Luckily her mum and dad, Jack and Carmel, played with me a lot so I got to have some fun.

I was pleased when all our visitors had gone and I could have Mum and Dad back to giving me all their attention once again.

VISITING DAY x 2

I like to get as close to Nicole as I can. So close that when she wags her tail my face gets hit with it. Mum tells me not to stand so close but I don’t listen. Nicole wags her tail a lot.

Nicole is a picky eater, unlike me. She wouldn’t eat the food her person, Kathy, left for her so Mum and Dad kept trying her with lots of other tasty things like bits of ham and chicken and cheese and bread – Nicole loves bread. I love ham and cheese and bread too. I ate up all the bits Nicole didn’t eat. Nicole likes tripe sticks too – just the same as me. They’re so crunchy! At first she ate them slowly so I got to finish hers
off but then she got fast at eating them. Even faster than me.

A Visitor

Very good news! Nicole came to visit me today instead of me going to visit her. She’s never been to my house before. I got to show her all my toys. I even let her play with Spikey.
Even when it got dark Nicole didn’t go home. She slept at our house. But she didn’t have to sleep in a crate like me. She brought along her own bed. I wanted to sleep in it but Mum and Dad wouldn’t let me because Nicole kept getting out of it whenever I tried to get in.

Nicole wants to go in the water all the time. She likes it even more than Elvis does. As soon as she saw the river she was in it. I’m not quite so keen on the river – it’s all cold and wet and when Nicole shakes herself after going in the water I get covered in splashes.


When we went for a walk by the river Nicole found a big stick. I took hold of one end because I like sticks too. So Nicole had one and I had the other end and we ended up going round and round in circles. Mum and Dad kept laughing - I don’t know why.

Finding sticks is a serious business.

Priory Park

There were no classes this week so me, Elvis and Eddie, decided to meet up in the park. Because they seem to enjoy meeting up too, we let our people come.

We played and played and then Elvis ran into the lake and I tried to follow him but only up to my shoulders because I got a bit scared. After going in the water I rolled over and over in the long grass. Mum said it made me a bit smelly but I didn’t care. Eddie and I found a little tunnel, just the perfect size for puppies, and pretended it was our house until Mum called me. I always run to her when she calls me - to see what she’s got nice for me to eat or play with.

Nicole's House

Today I went to stay with my Labrador friend, Nicole. Nicole’s nine and a half years old. Sometimes she tells me off with a gruff bark if I keep trying to get her to play with me when she doesn’t really want to. But I keep trying anyway.

Picture Framing

Today we went to somewhere called a factory where people work at putting pictures into frames. They made a big fuss of me. I felt like chewing some of the waste paper – there was lots on the floor but Mum said it was bad for me.
Tomorrow I’m going to visit Kathy because Mum has to go out. I don’t know what Mum does when I go to see Kathy but it can’t be as much fun as looking after me. Kathy’s dog Nicole used to be able to run much faster than me but I’ve been practising and now I can almost catch the ball first.

Shopping

Today Dad got all excited because we were going shopping. I got all excited too because Mum and Dad usually let me pick a toy when we go out. I had to put on my special Canine Partners assistance dog jacket but we didn’t go to a nice pet shop we went to some shops with computers and electronic stuff in them. Dad was very happy but I was very bored.

Lead

Now Mum’s even getting me to find my lead and bring it to her! Luckily I can usually find it. I can’t wait till Thursday when I’m going to the park with Eddie and Elvis. Mum says we can have a really big play.

River Walking

Some people didn’t want to say hello to me today. They said no, no when I tried to greet them. Maybe Mum’s right and I shouldn’t jump up. Maybe I should wait to see if the person wants to speak to me first.
I met a nice little tiny boy, though, and his dog and grandparents, who did want to say hello. I chased his dog and the little tiny boy chased me. He kept making squeaky laughing sounds like my toys do. He tried to throw a stick for me but it landed on me instead. I didn’t mind.