Hip score

We've just got my hip score back in the post. It's pretty good, as you can see. A 2:2, so total of 4/106. Not quite a 0:0 (which is perfect), but as Mat says 'pefection is an imperfection in itself'!

Santathon 2009 - the run

Well today was the Santathon, so we all got our Santa suits on and went running.

Lucy and I have been on two runs in the week and we had a run with Bramley yesterday too. We were quite good running together, though I'm very keen to be at the front all the time, which Lucy says isn't right.

There was a lot of rain over night and the course, on the school field, was very wet and muddy, so as the course was four laps of the field Lucy decided it would be safer if she took me and Bramley separatly. This was fine with me because I got to stay with Mat and watch the people running past. Bramley ran the first lap, then I did the second, with a bit too much gusto, and Bramley did the last two laps, then we all finished together. Pip, who is Kate's dog, ran all the way, which is very good as she only has short legs.

I enjoyed myself lots and Lucy says we are going to do lots of training so that next year I can do the whole race.

Here is our team photo from before the race. There isn't one of us after, but you can imagine us looking a lot more muddy.

Santathon 2009

Next weekend I'm going to be running my very first race.
Last year Bramley, Lucy, Pip and Kate ran the Santathon for Leukaemia Care in Worcester and this year they have asked me to run with them.
I've never done anything like this and Lucy and I haven't done much training, but I'm sure we'll be ok and Bramley will show me how its done.
If you would like to sponsor me for my first run the team have a just giving website. http://www.justgiving.com/lucyandkat
When I've recovered I will post and tell you how I did.

Happy Halloween

I'm on Trick or Treater guard

I've passed puppy class

Today was my last puppy class, and although I missed the official test 'cos I was on holiday, all 3 of us (me, Sophie and Sandy) passed. Next term we all start our Good Citizen's Bronze award. I've got all of the school summer holidays to practise.

As it was end of term we played games. I like games, but when the plastic tunnels come out, I turn into a right wimp and wont go near them. Apparently Bramley has his very own tunnel that he plays with in his garden. I think I need him to show me that they are not scary. Then I can really impress everyone next term!

I've been on my first holiday

We've just got back from a week in the Lake District. It was great fun! I learnt to swim, and got lots of practice in the lakes.

After driving all the way up the motorway, which was my longest ever car ride, first we went to Bowness, to find the water. Then we met Bramley, and we went to a much bigger beach.











We stayed in a cottage in Skelwith Bridge, 2 miles West of Ambleside. It was right next to the river, which made paddling really easy. My room was up in the loft. The first night I slept in my crate, but all the rest I was allowed to sleep where I wanted to - I chose Mat's dirty washing pile.













On day 2 (Saturday) we drove into Ambleside and did some shopping, then walked back to the cottage over Loughrigg Fell (but not to the peak). Then we walked to Elterwater to do some paddling.




















On Sunday we walked to Grasmere, via Huntingstile Crag. In Grasmere I played with my new rescue ring. Then Bramley arrived, over the top of Loughrigg Fell and we played on the beach. On the way back to the cottage, I was so tired, I tried to go to sleep in the middle of the road.
















You'll never guess what we did on Monday - we went back to Elterwater for some more paddling.

On Tuesday, Richard and Fran brought Rosie, Elliot and Holly to play. The last time I saw them I was very little. Now I am as tall as Rosie and Elliot (and much bigger than Holly). We all went to play at our favourite beaches in Elterwater. Then we went to the pub, all 5 dogs and 6 owners. The barman brought our some leftover beef for us which was nice.













We thought Elterwater was getting a little bit repetitive on Wednesday, so decided to go to the seaside. We drove to Barrow in Furness where the beach is huge (even bigger than Brean). I drank too much saltwater which made me just a little bit ill.













On our last day in the Lakes, we went on a boat ride on Windermere. First we got a coffee from the Waterside pub while we waited for our boat to arrive. Then the boat took us from Waterhead to Brockhole where we went for a nice walk, before catching the boat back again.

Bluetooth compatible

Today the postman delivered a parcel through the letter box. 'Cos I can't read I didn't know it wasnt addressed to me, so I opened it. I presumed it must be food, as it didn't look like a squeeky toy, so I ate it.
When Lucy came home, she was angry. It turns out I had eaten Mat's new Bluetooth USB dongle for his laptop, that he had bought off Ebay. Oops. Here's what I left:

Train

Today I went on a train. We got on at Worcester and went to Malvern, and then back home in the car. It was a long InterCity train with doors that slammed very loudly, and was a big gap between the train and the platform. Here's me on the bridge watching the train pull away after we got off at Malvern.





I didn't get a copy of my x-ray when I went to the vet, but we did see it on the vet's computer. Everything is fine so we shall just wait and see if the injections make it better.

Bramley is coming over this afternoon to sleep over. But not just for one night, for 7 nights!! It's gonna be fun. Shall b back later.

Paw-ly poor

I've got a poorly paw.


I went to the vets today and they gave me an injection to make me sleepy. When I was asleep, the vet took some xrays of my leg. Its ok, 'cos she says the xrays dont show anything bad. I have to have four injections over the next four weeks so I shall be at the vets a lot. Then I hope my leg will be better and I can play off my lead again. Until then I have to stay on my lead, so I'm getting plenty of practise at 'close'.

When I go to the vets next week I shall ask for the xray and post it up here, so you can see inside my leg.

April Update - Sleep over, Malverns, pubs and camping adventures

We’ll I’ve had a very busy month. The first weekend I went to stop at Granny and Granddad Capel’s whilst mum and dad went to a wedding. Uncle Stuey came home to help look after me, not that I’m that much trouble. I tried to be ever so good whilst I stopped there for the night, so that they will let me stop again sometime.

The next weekend was Easter which means I get extra treats for some reason. I don’t understand that but I’m not complaining. That was quite a busy weekend. Saturday night I had the house to myself as mum and dad went out for a bit. I was very good and didn’t have a party or anything.

Then on Easter Sunday, Bramley, Nana Lesley and Grandad Dixie came over in the morning on their way out for the day. They were taking Bramley somewhere nice but I got have a play with him first, which was nice ‘cos I hadn’t seen Bramley in couple of weeks. In the afternoon mum and dad went for lunch with Granny and Granddad Capel, Uncle Stuey and Great Nan, cos it was dad’s birthday the weekend after, and then they all came back to see me. I was very well behaved again, well I tried to be.

Easter Monday was the most exciting day because I was invited with mum and dad to go walking on the Malverns with Helen and Matt. I’d never been to the Malverns before. It was great. There are these big hills with grass and stuff on, and lots of smells and space to run and then sometimes there is some water to splash in. I splashed in some water with Helen; that was fun. We did lots of walking so we had to have a sit down for a bit and look at the view.
After all the walking we went to the pub. It was my first proper trip to the pub, but I was so tired that after eating my lunch I fell asleep in the sun. I was so well behaved though that mum and dad said we can go to the pub again, and Helen and Matt have invited me walking again some time. I like Helen and Matt, they’re fun.

So after that very busy and exhausting weekend I spent the week sleeping ready for the next busy weekend. It was dad’s birthday so mum and dad had a long weekend, so everyone was home on Friday. I asked mum to go into town for me to get dad a birthday present and she got a new camera too so there are even more photos of me! Whilst she was gone I help dad do some DIY. In the afternoon Bramley came over with Nana Lesley and Grandad Dixie. Apparently they came to give dad his present but I think they really brought Bramley to play with me.
The next day was dad’s birthday so I went upstairs to help him open his presents and then we packed up the car and went on an adventure.

We drove in the car for probably quite a while, though I’m not sure ‘cos I was asleep, and eventually got to a place which had lots of fields with caravans and tents in. We found a spot and I had my lunch whilst mum and dad put the tent up. I did some supervising and helped out a little. Once the tent was up we all went for a little walk to a beach which was just like my sandpit but much much much bigger and had moving water which tasted salty. We played fetch on the beach for a while and ran in and out of the sea and then we went to the pub for lunch, where I fell asleep again. I think that’s what I’m supposed to do in pub gardens. After my much needed rest we went back to the beach and dad bought a spade so we did some digging together. Someone had stolen the sea though, don’t know where it went, but it wasn’t where I left it, so instead of playing in the sand and I investigated some holes instead. Soon it was time for tea so we walked back to the campsite. I had my dinner and a doze in the sun and mum and dad had some birthday cake. The birthday cake looked interesting but I preferred dad’s empty beer bottle.

When it got a bit later mum and dad put me in the car and took me to Weston Super Mare. It’s another beach but this one had a pier once and might have had the sea too. We had a play on the beach and I met some dogs. Some weren’t very nice but some were fun to play with. As it got darker we watched the lights come on, whilst I ate a bit of sausage the nice chef in the pub gave me. Then it was back to the tent for mum and dad’s dinner. They ate fish and chips in the tent and I was very good and didn’t dribble or steal any. We all lay around and chilled for a bit, and then the fireworks started for dad’s birthday so we went out to watch. I quite like fireworks. They’re quite pretty and don’t scare me at all. We watched the fireworks for about half an hour and then got ready for bed. Mum and dad had brought my crate to sleep in so I got in that for a sleep and they slept round me in their sleeping bags. They left the door to my crate open in case I didn’t want to stay in there and as it got later I got colder, so came out and snuggled into mum’s sleeping bag. It was nice and warm in there and with us all snuggled together I was very happy and fell asleep.

I didn’t wake up to quite late the next morning and it was nice and warm in the tent. We all got up and I had my breakfast whilst mum and dad took the tent down. Then we went to the beach again. This time we walked the other direction, down to the cliffs and dad played with the toy I got him for his birthday. I bought him a doggy driver so he can throw my ball like it was a golf ball. It was great fun and I really enjoyed running up the beach. It was very windy though so it was nice to get to the cliffs where there was a bit of shelter. We had a look at the pebbles and the rock pools. I found some seaweed which was interesting and left some footprints in the sand. I didn’t find any crabs or fish though. The sea was still missing and mum and dad said it wouldn’t be back ‘til later that afternoon. I was tired out so I was happy to eat my lunch and have a sleep in the car on the way home.

I was so tired I slept nearly all day the next day and only really woke up for mum to take some photos of me in the bluebells and to go the puppy class in the evening. As it was a nice evening we played games outside. We played recall, which I was good at and then had a relay race, big dogs against small dogs. Our team lost, but never mind. After the excitement we went inside and all the mums learnt how to bandage our paws. I was the model for Janice to show the class how it should be done. She kept wrapping a piece of material round my paw which was fun and I wanted to eat it, but I don’t think I was supposed to ‘cos mum was feeding me cheese to distract me!

Mum managed to bandage my paw eventually, after I stopped wriggling and she gave me my ball to play with. Sometimes I am trouble!

And then finally last week it was the last puppy class of term. I passed all the things I had to and have now passed my puppy good citizens so I can go up to the next class. We had a party for our last puppy class and played musical mats, had a relay race which the big dogs won J, played a sit and stay game which dad and I won and a game where you had to different things at different points; that was a bit confusing. At the end of the class we met Lucy who will be taking us next week. I’m looking forward to her class.

A mum has taken so many photos of what I have been up to in the last month, she is setting up a webpage to view the photos on. I’ll get her to post the link when they are done.

Photos
Arthur on the Malverns - http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/110335417
Arthur goes to Brean - http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/110147446
Arthur passes Puppy Foundation - http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/110351342

As promised

As promised on sunday here is some video over me playing in the woods.

Also here's me in my new sand pit

I've also lost another tooth, but I shall spare you the photo of that.

Now I'm very tired from playing hide and seek in the woods with mum and dad so I've got to have a sleep.

Arthur's update – February and March

Well I'm back – have you missed me? Silly question of course you have.

I didn't have anything to update you with to start with but then I was so busy I didn't have time to write.

I had only been at puppy class 3 weeks when the others in the class did there test. I wasn't old enough to go to the next class but had a go at the test and nearly passed everything. After the test we played games. I came 2^nd to Charlie in the musical sit game, I came first in the first in the walk nicely, wait whilst mum wrote her name and come back and sit down, which was good considering I didn't walk nicely in my test, and Charlie and I won the weaving in and out of cones relay.

Charlie, Sky and Dee have now gone to the next class but I still see them every week after my class and I've made lots of nice new friends now. We've started right at the beginning and its been really good. Now I can walk to heel properly and I'm really good at sit and down and stand and stay. (I'm the best in the class – but don't tell the rest – sshhh). Mum has been teaching me lot of tricks too. I can spin and twist now, and crawl and mum is teaching me to weave now.

I've been very busy outside class too. I've spent a day at Bramley's house and a day at Granny Capel's house and was very well behaved at both. I also spent the night at Bramley's house last week. Mum stopped there too and I had a really good time. I spent the day playing with Bramley and Grandad Dixie and then Nana Lesley came with Mum and me to puppy class because Dad was away. When we got back from class I was very tired and Bramley got into trouble for being a silly boy!

I've grown a lot in the last month. Mum can't pick me up any more and Dad won't be able too soon. I weigh over 16kg, so I'm over half way to my final weight. I've started to loose my teeth too. Two have come out so far. Dad found one this morning so he gave it to mum to keep but I ate the other one.

Now that I'm getting so big I'm starting to learn to stay in the kitchen during the day. Mum lets me stay in there when she is working from home, so she can hear how I'm getting on and if Mum and Dad are going out for a short time I'm allowed to stay in there too. They have to put the towels and oven gloves at the back of the worktops though because I steal them. I've also stolen the dish cloth, the washing up brush and Dad's steak. I got into serious trouble for that!

I'm also allowed to walk a bit further now that I'm bigger, so Mum and Dad and then Mum, Nana Lesley and Bramley have taken me to Worcester Woods. I had a great time on both visits. I jumped in the water and over the little brook and played in the mud and ran along all the paths. It was great. I will ask Mum to put some of the photos and videos up.

I've also been on lots of walks with Maddie. She's my next door neighbour and IA like her lots. She's fun to go on walks with. I try to walk nicely when Maddie is holding my lead, but sometimes I get a bit excited.

Last weekend Mum and Dad brought me a new toy. Because I'm a little digger, Janice, my teacher suggested to mum I have my own digging area or sandpit. Our garden is full of clay so Mum and Dad bought me a sandpit. It's brilliant. There are toys in there I can dig up and I can dig to the bottom and the top doubles up as a paddling pool. I've had so much fun it in, and I've let Bramley play in it too.

And finally, I watched my first Grand Prix today.- Go Jenson! I watched the cars go across the screen which Dad though was very funny.

My first puppy class

On Monday night I went to my first puppy class. I was the youngest there, but I wasn’t scared because Charlie was there too. Charlie and the 2 girls are about 6 weeks older than me and have been going to class for 4 weeks already. I tried very hard and did the best I could. I came to Mat when he called and sat down in front of him like he told me and when we did ‘roll over’ I did lots of them for Mat. I wasn’t very good at ‘close’ though, so that is my homework and I have to learn ‘watch’ as well. I’m practising every night with Lucy and she says I’m getting better.

Snow, visitors and buses

I had another very busy week last week. It snowed on Monday so there was no puppy class but Mat and Lucy still took me over so I could see their mums and dad. At Mat’s parents house I stole his dad’s sock from his foot. I like his socks, they smell nice. At Lucy’s parents house Bramley and I played in the snow in the garden. It was great fun, we played hide and seek. I stood really still and Bramley couldn’t find me, and we played chase.

On Wednesday night Helen and Matt came to play with me. We had lots of fun playing on the floor and I showed them I could be a good boy whilst they ate their dinner.

Thursday was the best day, it snowed so much that Mat couldn’t go to work, so he said at home and played in the snow with me. It was very deep snow, the deepest I’ve seen. We played fetch with my ball and had a snow ball fight. I was so tired after I had to have a big sleep.

There was less snow on Friday so Mat had to go back to work, but that was ok because I need to conserve my energy so I could play with Hannah and Pete when they came round to see me. I showed them the tricks I had learnt and entertained them after dinner.

Saturday was Great Grandad Colin’s birthday, so Lucy took me to Bramley’s house to play whilst she went to visit him with her dad. Bramley, Nana Lesley and I played in the snow in the back garden until they came back, then we went on walks and I met Charlie. I was a bit scared at first because Charlie and Bramley were playing big boys games but then Charlie and I had a puppy game so that was fun.

On Sunday I had my biggest adventure yet. Lucy and Mat took me on a bus into town. I was a very good boy and didn’t cry or anything. In fact it was quite fun because I could see everyone getting on or off.

When we got to town Mat and I sat outside a shop whilst Lucy went in. Lots of people came to say hello to me and gave me a fuss. Then when Lucy came back we went for a walk.

We went past the fire station where there was a fire engine outside. This was very interesting so we stopped to have a look, then we walked down to the river. We walked along a path which had lots of people and dogs on and then we found some grass to play

on by the cathedral. When I got home Mat gave me a bath because I was dirty from playing with Charlie and my adventure.

What a busy week!!!

Well what a busy week I have. Last Sunday I went to my first dog obedience class. There were 3 other dogs there and I was the youngest. We did ‘sit’ and ‘touch’ and ‘come’ and we had to pretend we were going to cross the road so had to sit by a white line. Lucy and Mat had taught me these things already so I found it easy and meant I could sit and watch the other dogs have their turns.




On Tuesday I had an exciting afternoon. Lucy took me over to Bramley’s house to meet Rosie, Elliot and Honey. Rosie and Elliot are black labs like me and Honey is a Long Haired Dachshund. We all went to the hills to play. Rosie, Elliot and Bramley played fetch and I had a little go. I played with Honey too. I like her, she reminds me of the puppy I played with in Wales.










Thursday and Friday were very tiring days because I had to help Lucy do her work. Lucy did some typing and I helped by playing noisily with a lemonade bottle. I also learnt some new tricks. I now know what my bed and crate are and can go and sit on them when I’m told and if someone says ‘tummy’ I have to roll over and they will rub my tummy.

On Saturday morning Mat and Lucy took me to play on the Astroturf. We took a ball and played fetch and footy. Luckily we went in the car, so I didn’t have to walk home because I was tired out. In the afternoon Bramley came over and I took him for a walk in the woods. We had fun and met some new dogs.



Today I went to obedience class again. It was very cold this week so I didn’t enjoy it as much, but there was another puppy there. Her name’s Millie and she’s a golden lab. I liked her and wanted to play instead of having to do class.
This afternoon it snowed so Mat took me into the garden to play. I wasn’t too keen to start with but once I got out there I realised its really good fun.



I’ve got another busy week ahead of me. Mat and Lucy are taking me to puppy class tomorrow. I’m looking forward to making some new friends, and seeing Charlie again, now I’m big enough to meet him properly. Lucy and Mat say I must be on my best behaviour and I shall try. I’ll post how I get on.

The woods

Today we went to walk in the woods. First we had to cross the busy road. Then we tried me on my long lead, but I kept getting tangled, so instead I got to run in the woods without my lead. It was very muddy, but it was fun!

Then this afternoon we went to the pet shop. I've been there before, but now I can walk in myself. The floor was a bit slippery, but I chose a new bed to put under the radiator. Mat and Lucy say now I have no excuse for being on the sofa - we'll see.

Not just one nurse...

... but six of them! They all came out of their offices to see me, as I was the only customer in the practice. They all fussed me and gave me biscuits. (I think Mat liked the attention too).

I've been playing on the hills

I went to play at Bramley's house today. Bramley's (and Lucy's) dad picked me up from home and took me to their house where me and Brams played in the garden.



Then we went to play up on the hills. I was allowed off my lead to play, and when I looked like I 'needed guidance', Brams brought me back.

Tomorrow I'm going to the vets again, this time to see the nurse.

Walkies - at last

I've been out on my first walk, and there are still 2 hours left on my countdown! I wore my halo (flashing LED collar) and used my new lead and we walked for nearly half an hour (with lots of sniffing stops). I'm absolutely worn out now though, so must get some sleep. Tomorrow i am going to play at Bramley's. He's going to take me out on another walk. That's after Mat takes me on my first morning walk before he goes to work. I'll try and post some photos (there was no point taking a camera tonight as it was too dark).

Remember me ?

I haven’t blogged for ages – sorry for the wait. It’s been a busy time. I’ll try and write about everything I’ve done since my last blog.

After the first lot of snow, it snowed again, but this time in the day time. I had just had my lunch so was full of energy to play in it. Here is me in the falling snow (you'll need to open the photo to see the snow falling though):



I went to the vets last week to have my second vaccinations. I was a bit more awake than the first time and was very inquisitive when on the vet’s table. I played with her computer mouse, but that didn’t impress her as it stopped working. We haven’t had a bill yet, so I guess she fixed it after we left. Anyway, my walkies counter says I have only got to wait a few more days before I can go out walking. Lucy and Mat have been taking me out at lunchtime but I’ve not been allowed on the floor. We’ve been to the postbox and to the roundabout to watch cars. I’ve also met the binman. He was nice, but his lorry was very noisy.

Bramley came over to play after I had been to the vets. Here is me with Bramley and Andre (he’s asleep).



Afterwards I was very tired, so I took myself to bed with my ‘I’m a QinetiQ Champion’ t-shirt.



Last week it was Mat’s dad’s birthday. We went to his house for a surprise dinner. He un-taught all the good behaviour Mat and Lucy had taught me. Here is me jumping up, on the sofa and biting – it was great fun. Then I stole his sock from off his foot. It was nice and cheesy.



I got possessed by aliens too.



The other night Lucy taught me to play the piano. I can make sounds come from it, but I’ve a long way to go before I’m good at it.



Yesterday I had a bath. I didn’t mind it too much but I did jump out of the bath and dripped water everywhere. Now I’m nice and clean and smell of apples.



Last night I had my first sleepover at Bramley’s house, but I didn’t sleep over all night, only until Mat and Lucy picked me up at 11.00 and took my home. This morning I was so tired, I didn’t get up until 9.00! On Thursday I am going to see the nurse at the vets. As that will be 10 days after my vaccination, I can walk into the vets without being carried. We shall still go in the car though.

Lucy is booking me in to go to puppy training classes. Hopefully, I can go to my first class next week.

Tomorrow is going to be my first whole day at home by myself. Both Mat and Lucy are going to go to work. Until now, I’ve only been alone for the mornings, but I sleep all afternoon anyway, so I probably wont even notice them not being here.

On Wednesday I’m going to Bramley’s house for the day - I'm sure there will be a photo or two to post here afterwards.

I shall be better at writing my next blog - I promise.

Counter

I was wondering how many people visit my blog. So I've written a counter to see. Its at the bottom of this blog

Am I a dalmation?

It snowed last night, and I've never played in snow before. Its quite cool! Lucy threw snow at me.

And here I am standing in the flower patch

Today was also my first day home alone, while Mat and Lucy both went to work (but Lucy went in to her meeting late, and Mat came home at lunchtime). I was very good, putting myself into my bed.