Nero Lab - BaDDogz - Brea Agility Dogz

Nero Labrador & Friends' Dog Blog

Me as a baby!! hahaha!

In Memory of Katie Labrador . . . March 2014

It has been a good and a bad week.

Last time on the dog blog I put a photo of the three coloured labs, Coco (chocolate), Maeve and Katie (golden). Last week my boss noticed Katie was a bit under the weather, chatted to the vet on Friday who prescribed special food (Katie has always had a bit of a dodgy stomach), there wasn’t really much change over the weekend and Monday morning Katie was taken back to the vets, they x-rayed her and saw what looked like something she probably shouldn’t have eaten, they operated and when they looked they found she had a perforated gut and peritonitis. There was nothing they could do and Katie had to be put to sleep. This may have been a long term problem but Katie apart from the occasional upset stomach showed no signs of being ill, up to last weekend she was eating, playing etc as normal.

We always referred to Katie as Nero’s girlfriend (even though they never actually met!) as she would have been his mate to continue the breeding line. Even when it became obvious Nero couldn’t be used for stud a sibling of Maeve’s litter was going to be used.

Have fun at Rainbow Bridge Katie, free from horrid tummy troubles. Have fun playing with Ace Labrador x

Nero

We went to an agility show! I was AWESOME!!!!!! Maeve came on Saturday and we had fun and we ran around and Maeve ate some poo (actually I think Maeve ate A LOT of poo because she smelt really bad!) and we cuddled up with Mummy. On Sunday Mummy and Lauren got in the car with Maeve and I and we went to the show place. It isn’t very far away! We had three runs each and I was AWESOME!!! The first run was steeplechase I started really well and went through the tunnel and did some jumps but then I needed a poo so I ran to the side of the ring did a big poo, mummy picked it up quickly and we carried on. I did ALL the agility! I got eliminated though, apparently you cant take a poo in the ring!

I did two more runs, the second one was jumping (I like jumping but not on full height, I just run under them) and I was AWESOME!! For a minute I was thinking about running out the ring but then I didn’t and I did the whole course! I went through the start and the finish and I did ALL the agility in between I was AWESOME! I knocked a pole down but that doesn’t matter because I have never done a course without being eliminated before so this is really really good! Mummy was so PLEASED!!! The third run was helter skelter I was a bit tired but I did all the agility but for two jumps I couldn’t decide if I wanted to do them so they were classed as a refusal but I WASN’T ELIMINATED!!! When I was put back in the car for Maeve to have her go I squished myself right at the back and I wasn’t going to move because I wanted a sleep and I came home and I got in my crate with the squishy duvet and I slept ALL evening!!!



My people brother Billy made mummy a rosette that says ‘Nero Not Eliminated’ I think the show people should make me one because in two years I have been eliminated in EVERY show (and we don’t even talk about what happened at Stithians last year!) so this was very good. I wouldn’t sit for the photo to be taken though!

Maeve

I came on Saturday and played with Nero and Blue! Bella kept trying to bite me so I played with her but she does leg biting and ear biting but I don’t do that. Nero bites Bella on her legs but Bella is quicker.

We went to a show and I was good but I wasn’t as awesome as Nero! I went wrong but it is all Aunty Sarah’s fault! She won’t let me go and do agility she makes me go over every piece of agility when she is there, it is because she wants a rosette and wants to make sure I do it right, but I didn’t, I did it wrong! In the first run I got eliminated, I came out of the tunnel, Aunty Sarah didn’t call me off and went straight over the finish line, unfortunately I had missed out about ¾ of the course! It was fun though! I then did another run and did exactly the same as Nero and knocked a pole down! This was Aunty Sarah’s fault as she called me and then I didn’t have enough space to jump it properly! The last run Aunty Sarah was calling me ALL the time and I didn’t know what I was meant to do and I kept jumping up at her and that didn’t work well either. I had lots of fun though and I hope I get more agility competitions to go to soon!

On Monday we went to agility training and we have Fiona as our instructor now! She is lovely! There were numbers on the sequence we were doing and Aunty Sarah went into full competition panic mode, how silly is that, a few numbers and she can’t train me properly! I knew Aunty Sarah was sad and she kept giving me cuddles (I’d rather have had the pilchard cake instead of the cuddles) and it didn’t really work for us, when it was our go I didn’t jump over the jump but ran around the jump wings to get to Aunty Sarah to try and make her happy. We came home and had big cuddles there was a big dog pile on the sofa, Bella, Nero, Blue and ME!

I got to stay until Wednesday that was a lot of playing and fighting and snuggles on the sofa. Then I got to go back and see Coco mummy dog, she was sad because she missed Katie and she kept crying. I used to sleep in a big bed with Katie and it is empty now with just me in it. I think my sister Acelina is coming to stay up here soon then Coco mummy dog won’t be so sad.

In memory of Katie golden Labrador xxx

. . . 20th February 2014

Harvey Greyhound

Harvey wasn’t our first greyhound, we original rescued a massive white greyhound, he had a stump of a tail as he had injured it while racing. Unlike Harvey who was a failed racer Murphy was a fab racer. We even managed to find some of his racing videos on the internet. We don’t like greyhound racing and don’t believe in it BUT it was pretty impressive seeing him run (and win). Murphy had a few quirks, he would go out for a walk but hated turning round and coming home, you had to take a tasty treat to bribe him to turn around! He stole stuff, we found a random selection one day in his bed – Billy’s toy tanker and a bag of flour were two of the things he’d pilfered! Everything was going fine until one day Lauren walked into the room and Murphy snarled at her, I’m not talking a little growl here, I’m talking a full on snarl as in ‘if you come any closer I’m going to bite you’. The local representative from the Retired Greyhound Trust visited us and he did it again to her whilst she was here, it was agreed we would manage the situation until they could find a kennel space for him. Move forward a couple of days and Murphy was snarling whenever Lauren was remotely near (even if she was in a different room behind a glass door), we could have managed this but it was her birthday and we had 8 little girls coming for a party. The RGT were great, they arranged emergency kenneling straight away and Kelvin drove him down there. I was heartbroken, even in a short space of time Murphy had filled a space in our hearts. He was subsequently rehomed with an older lady and another small dog. We have never seen him again.

I can’t remember how long after Murphy went another dog was found to be suitable for us. He was in foster in Truro with a family and we went up to meet him, as all the paperwork had been done we were allowed to take him there and then if we got on. Lauren was boarding at school so it was just Kelvin, Billy and I went. The foster family had Harvey in foster and a greyhound of their own. Their own dog was the most unlike greyhound I’ve ever seen! She just came and rolled onto her back so we could tickle her tummy! Harvey was nervous but we felt we would like to home him. We couldn’t think of a name but as we were driving to get Lauren from school in Truro, we drove by Jack Harvey Plant Hire and decided on ‘Harvey’!

Harvey has been a good dog, he’s never had any issues with anything, he tolerated Nero as a puppy but let him know who was boss. He is terrified of thunder and fireworks, the first firework night we had him he had the worst diarrhea I have ever seen an animal have – purely through fear. He is a lot better nowadays but at one point if there were fireworks he would physically push the sofa forward to get behind it to hide. He got on very well with my in-laws lurcher Rosie and my mother-in-law used to walk them both every day. Sadly Rosie died a couple of years ago at 16 years old but my mother-in-law still walks Harvey every day, they feel they are too old to get another dog themselves but they spoil Harvey rotten!

Harvey is a bit accident prone, although to be fair his injuries haven’t always been his fault. Whilst being walked my mother-in-law bumped into a friend who was walking a golden retriever, they were chatting and next minute they heard a kerfuffle and the golden had bitten Harvey’s side. She came back really quickly and said ‘I don’t think it’s that bad’. I don’t think she had actually looked at it, Harvey had half his side missing L A very quick drive to C-vets in Truro and they said they would try and stitch him but being a greyhound there isn’t much skin, she said even if they did successfully stitch it it may come open and there would be nothing else they could do. Luckily they did stitch it and it stayed closed. Harvey never actually seemed that bothered by it!

Other injuries include – repeatedly catching his dew claw (the last time he did it he pulled it completely off), catching his leg on barbed wire and gashing it, managing to get his tail shut in the back door (to be fair I think my mother-in-law shut it on him) and then coating the entire downstairs of our house in blood, this happened a few times as it wouldn’t heal and then it was decided to amputate part of his tail. The most recent injury is he somehow managed to yank one of his canine teeth out of his jaw which needed surgery to remove it. I’m kind of scared what he will manage to do to himself next!!!!

Harvey is getting on a bit now and he likes to spend his day sleeping on whatever squishy duvet he can find, bizarrely, he has recently started sleeping in one of the crates we have here, it is quite amusing watching trying to get in it but he seems to love it!

Nero felt a bit sad that the blog was a bit boring last week so he has really upped his game….

Nero

I didn’t steal much last week because I had a funny head but this week I’m MUCH better! So far I’ve had a cooked bagel (Lauren’s tea) off the dining room table – ate it, a bread roll from the kitchen worktop – ate it, I pulled ALL the clean washing out of the basket and pulled all the socks out one by one and then I ran past mummy and she chased me to get them – a great game! And today I stole a tape measure, I ran around with it, Lauren tried to get it but I slipped through her legs and pulled her over. So much fun!!!

Today is Saturday and I’m wandering around the house to find what I can steal! Mummy and Lauren are studying at the dining room table and they aren’t paying enough attention to ME! I just stole one of mummy’s most expensive shoes. Lauren caught me though.

The cows are back, they are in the field at the end of the garden. I would like to chase the cows but I can’t get them. Bella can, she escapes out the top of the garden. She is naughty.

I stole Mummy’s sunglasses, she can’t wear them because when she first got them from the optician (I was a lot younger) and I ate one of the arms on them, mummy still wears them but she has to wedge the arm on every time… today I found them. Let’s just say I don’t think the arm will wedge on anymore…..

I’ve been a bit grim this week too… everybody has colds and I like tissues… Mummy says I can’t write about that because it will make people sick. Sick is fine I don’t mind sick… One day I had to go to my old vets and they made me sick, they made me so sick that when they did an xray they didn’t even have to sedate me I just laid there all sick and sad. Billy had been carrying batteries at home and he dropped some and Mummy couldn’t be 100% that I hadn’t eaten any because I really will eat anything! Luckily I hadn’t but we needed to be sure. All you mummys and daddys out there must make sure us doggies can’t get anything we shouldn’t have. The batteries were being taken to the recycling which is why there was so many and why Mummy didn’t know if I’d eaten any.

Bella and Blue were having a game of barky bitey face! I didn’t play it though I found a tree in the garden and chewed on that. I tried to bring it in the house but I wasn’t allowed to. I love chewing trees! I love trees!

My week gets better! Stupid mummy is leaving stuff for me to steal to make my blog good! Today she left her handbag on the floor (durrr!) I have had….scrunchie (didn’t wreck it though), mummy’s hand knitted gloves (wrecked both of them!), a plastic tub I stole from the dishwasher while mummy was loading it (got a few teeth marks in it but still useable!) and a toy shaun the sheep. It is a good day for me! I don’t mind this awful wind and rain, the other doggies are wimps! I did bark to be let back in the house though – normally I just wait quietly but not today!

I had a birthday! I am 4 years old! Lots of people said that I was lucky to get this far, I don’t know what they mean, apart from epilepsy I’m a very good healthy dog! Silly people! 4 years ago I was with my brothers and sisters all tiny and cute and newborn! There were four boys and four girls and we all had different collars and I was the orange puppy. I was the tiniest and mummy felt sorry for me when she came to see us when we were 2 days old! I’m not the littliest anymore!

I stole a chocolate muffin today off the worktop, I don’t think I should have done because it was an expensive wheat/gluten/dairy free muffin – whoops!

I went to flyball! I’m an ace at flyball because I have done it before! At last mummy is really pleased because I can do something really well! Mummy LOVES flyball and so do I!

Blue

I made Mum happy because she was doing some training with Bella and I and she said ‘sit’ and Bella and I sat and we got a treat. Then she said ‘down’ to Bella but Bella didn’t move but I did go down. Mum didn’t know I could do that! I got a treat and Bella didn’t!

I went to agility today! I go to beginner’s agility because I don’t have a clue and I got treats! There were six people in our group and we split into two groups. I was in a group with a Rottweiler called Bruno (and he had ears like me!) and a collie x lab called Gylly, we didn’t really pay much attention to each other. I don’t know agility yet and I like to see mum all the time so I wouldn’t go in the tunnel because I couldn’t see her! We did a little bit of jumping and mum did a reverse turn (I think it is a hard thing). What if I went in the tunnel and she went away and left me? I wouldn’t like agility then. We did lots of work when it wasn’t our go, we did sit, down (although mum only did that with me once when she realized how muddy the field was!) and ‘touch’, I haven’t done touch before but I learnt it really quickly! Then I got put in the car and Mum went off, I could see her and she was saying hello and stroking a small black Labrador, she better not swap me for it I would be very sad.

Nero was naughty this morning, he made me cry L We both got told to get out of the kitchen, Mum was trying to drag Nero and he turned and snapped at me, he didn’t bite me but it makes me sad. Mum made him go in his bed. He did it because he wanted the empty bag of dog food and he thought I was going to get it (and I wasn’t) Mum gave me lots of kisses and cuddles and she let me lick the dog food bag so it was good! Nero is still mean though.

We went out in the field and played Frisbee – I love Frisbee but I hardly ever get to catch it as Bella is so quick! I love running about though!

Maeve

I came to Aunty Sarah’s house! And I played with the other dogs! And I ran around! And I jumped on the sofa! And I chewed on the tree!

We went to agility and it was a GOOD week! Aunty Sarah managed to get everything right and that means I get everything right! I managed to jump higher this week, I went up a height on the jumps last week (now one below the top) but last week I wasn’t quite sure and kept catching my feet on it but this week EASY PEASY I jumped it and didn’t catch the pole at all!! I’ve been measured as a large dog so when I go into proper agility competitions (not just anysize) I will jump at large but I’m not ready for that yet!

When I got taken back to my Nanna’s house Aunty Sarah and Lauren came in and they let my mummy dog and Katie dog out of the dog room and we all ran around! It was mad! My mummy dog is a tart and just rolls over onto her back for you to tickle her tummy! We all had to sit still for Aunty Sarah to take a photo, Coco and I did it very nicely but Katie was too excited!! One of each colour! Aunty Sarah was VERY happy with that!!

And a final note . . .

The other week BaDDogz lost a very special dog, Chico the Rottweiler after a short illness passed over the rainbow bridge.

Chico was a fantastic ambassador for the Rottweiler breed and he changed my perception of it – I grew up first in the ‘German Shepherd bad breed’ and then of course the ‘Rottweiler bad breed’. When I first saw Chico at training he was coming to his class as I was leaving with Nero, Nero lunged (as he always did) and I dragged him away, I was nervous of Chico after all Rottweilers are bad aren’t they? They bite people don’t they? I didn’t know Lisa and Andy then but over the years I would like to say I have become good agility friends with them both. I never have had much of a chance to be near Chico due to Nero always being with me but at Stithians Show last year I got to have a cuddle with him. I couldn’t believe how soft his fur was or how he just looked knowingly into your eyes. How could I have ever thought this breed was bad? My heart goes out to Lisa and Andy at this time, I cannot imagine the pain they are going through. Rest in Peace Chico.

A Pretty Boring Week . . . 30th January 2014

This week hasn’t been very exciting in dog world! The weather has hampered walking all the dogs together – Harvey greyhound hates mud and rain and it is a real chore to get him going. Bella loves mud, water etc etc but hates being bathed and with the amount of mud that attaches itself to her you can’t just give a quick hose down - we are talking a full on shower is needed! Blue loves water and mud as does Nero (but I think Blue likes it a bit more!).

Nero has been having more seizures and we have to get bloods done in the next month to check whether the medication is affecting his liver. I always panic when he has any testing but it has to be done anyway. His liver reading was slightly raised at the last tests but they were still just within normal limits. He’s been slightly more erratic in his behavior which means he ends up being crated a little more than usual – we cannot take a risk with Billy, although I’m 99% sure nothing would happen it is better to be safe than sorry. Nero enjoys going in the crate for a sleep in the duvet!! I know people may look at us and wonder how we take a risk – It is always in the back of my mind, I won’t lie, but we are all very aware and can spot the tiniest change in Nero’s behavior, as I said before Billy isn’t left alone with Nero at all. The other option, to get rid of him, (and let’s be honest who would take him on with his history) I couldn’t bear it.

Blue continues to improve on the barking, he’s beginning to understand commands although he sometimes struggles with getting on the sofa when we say ‘up’ yet other times he jumps up so quickly he can beat Nero! He was lying on my lap last night and was so peaceful it was lovely just to watch how relaxed he was and I know we really made the right decision in keeping him.

Blue

I went to see Jason the vet! He fiddled with my neck and gave me treats, actually Mum gave me treats but I tried to get some off the counter but I wasn’t allowed to. Jason listened to my chest and had a feel of my tummy, apparently I’m in really good condition because I’ve lost lots of weight – I’m now the right weight for my breed and size. I’ve had my vaccinations and my microchip checked. Mum has a form to send off to the kennel club to register me and to get a proper name. Apparently I’m being measured soon for agility, I don’t know what agility is but I hope it’s something to do with food!!

Today I found an empty cereal packet, I ripped it up and licked every little crumb out! We all shredded a tube too, cardboard EVERYWHERE!! It was fun. We also had plastic, Mum isn’t sure where that came from and she can’t work out what it is anyway!!!

We went out walking at the weekend, we managed to dodge the rain. We go walking to a field and then we play frisbee, we normally go in the field near our house but it had cows in there! Bella wants to herd them! We had to walk past another field with cows and there was a BIG bull. Nero barked and barked at him but the Bull didn’t care at all he carried on eating his grass. We went in a different field and played Frisbee and running in the mud, even Harvey greyhound ran about and usually he just stands and watches. I made everybody laugh – I’m not sure what was funny but I had the Frisbee in my mouth and everybody kept laughing at me! It made me very happy! Bella got brown, she was splattered all over her whiteness! She got taken upstairs when we got home, I didn’t, I got taken outside and hosed down. Nero doesn’t like the hose, he’s scared but we don’t know why.

Mum has a shed at the top of the garden, it is her work shed and she goes up there and does things with paper and her computer. I like to go up there with her but she shut the door and I was outside, Lauren sent a text saying I was outside but Mum didn’t let me in and it was raining but I sat outside with my nose touching the door and then it rained lots and I was wet so mum let me in. I went under her desk because that is where the heater is and I got warm and dry. It was just us, no other dogs, just us.

I had a lovely sleep on Mum’s lap, it was all peaceful and calm and Mum kept stroking my head. It was lovely.

Maeve

I came for agility! First I went to my Nanna’s house (my daddy’s mummy) and there was my lab mummy Coco and also another lab called Katie. She was going to be Nero’s girlfriend and they were going to have gorgeous babies but Nero started biting flies and now he can’t have babies. I played ALL day and then Aunty Sarah came for me and I went to her house and I played there too!! Then it was agility! I love Agility! I had pilchard cake and when we got there I just sat and stared at Aunty Sarah until she gave me some, she wouldn’t just let me have some I had to do something for it. I do sit, down and with a bit of help I do left and right. I also do ‘touch’, I think Aunty Sarah likes this one as she keeps getting me to do it! I did lots of jumping, I’m jumping a bit higher, I was jumping medium but now I’ve gone to one down from the top and I can jump that! Aunty Sarah’s brain doesn’t work right sometimes and she gets it wrong, Agility Trudy helps her remember where to go. After agility I got taken back to my Nanna’s house I didn’t get to stay with Nero today. I hope I get to stay soon I like playing with them all!

Nero

I’ve been sleeping lots this week. I’ve always been trying to steal lots this week! There were bread rolls on the counter top, mummy puts my tablets in them, I didn’t want to wait for my tablet so I kept trying to jump up and get them. Today I have managed to get them and there is only a little bit left which is good because I need a tablet in a minute! Perhaps I’ll get a tablet in pilchard cake, or cheese I really like cheese! Perhaps mummy could make a cheesy pilchard cake! That would be heaven. It is my birthday next month perhaps I’ll get a birthday cake! I’m going to be 4 years old! Apparently I’m very lucky to live to 4 because I’m so naughty! I’m not naughty I’m lovely! I haven’t stolen much else this week but I have ripped up a duvet.

We went in the field, Billy got stuck in the mud, we had to pull him out I thought it was great fun and I ran off with the Frisbee while nobody was looking. Blue had a Frisbee too we carried them home together! We look like twins!

Bella

You haven’t heard my story but Mum thought you might like to see this photo of me, I sleep in all sorts of funny positions but this is the funniest for a while! Perhaps she will tell you about me next week!

Maeve, My Borrowed Dog! (and 'THE' Hat!) . . . 23rd January 2014

Maeve is Nero’s little sister, Nero was from the first litter of 4 boys and 4 girls and Maeve is from the second litter which produced 2 girls and 1 boy. Maeve’s litter have all stayed within the breeder’s (my employers’) family. When Maeve’s litter were quite small we brought home the boy puppy for some socialization, it didn’t work well as Nero was very aggressive and had to be crated, because of this I was very wary when my boss asked if I could look after Maeve for a few days while he had to go away. When we introduced them Nero growled a little but within a few minutes they were absolutely fine! I did panic when they had a good old game of bitey face as Maeve was so small but she really could (and still does!) give Nero as much as he gave her! Over the last couple of years (Maeve is 2 in March) she has stayed with us many times – she fits in incredibly well as if this was her home (well, I guess it is her second home!).

She spent the first year coming into the office and sleeping under my desk – when she hit a year old she started becoming possessive and barking when certain people came into the building, obviously in a customer based environment this was less than idea so her time in the office was limited and once we moved to our new office last August it was decided that she would be better off at home during the day.

During early 2013, I was looking after Maeve for a few days and I asked Trudy if I could bring her along to puppy classes as I had a feeling she was quite bright (I’m sure Trudy hears that all the time!), she did very well straight away and I knew then I really wanted to give her a chance at agility. My boss agreed I could take her and we started in puppy agility. Maeve picked it up incredibly quickly and to be honest I was absolutely amazed. We moved on to more pieces of agility equipment and Maeve took it all in her stride.

When we moved inside for training in September 13 I was hovering around waiting to see which class I was in as our groups had changed, I was waiting with some people who had younger dogs like Maeve when Trudy pointed and said I was meant to be at the end of the sand school, not that I like to argue with Trudy I was pretty sure she had got it wrong but no, we had moved up a group! Suddenly we were working on more complex layouts and Maeve took it in her stride (I, however, didn’t always get it right!).

We started thinking about entering Maeve for her first show, after all she couldn’t do worse than Nero could she! As we were in the winter season we looked for a club match as something to start off with. We sent off our entry, Maeve could be measured there at lunchtime – it was obvious she would be large but of course we needed the official measuring for her agility record. I entered Nero as well – it was his third competition of the year (and I’m not prepared to talk about the other two!).

We arrived at the competition and I collected our running orders, as I was a member of the organizing club they ask for you to help so I signed up for a few slots of ‘lead duty’. Maeve and Nero were both entered in 'anysize' – helter-skelter, steeplechase and jumping. Nero was eliminated in all his three runs BUT (and it is a VERY BIG but) he did incredibly well. He went through the start, the finish and did an awful lot of correct agility in between. He DIDN’T run off out of the ring, he didn’t even run away from me in the ring! His problem was excitement – he got through the start and didn’t quite make the first few jumps in the right order but we had a great time and I felt a real improvement.

In Maeve’s first run both she and I panicked – she was excited and kept jumping up at me, I was nervous and panicking I’d get the run wrong and we both got it wrong, the second run I can’t actually remember what happened but again she was eliminated, finally it was the helter-skelter and Maeve went clear. Not quite 20 months old, having been training in agility for about 10 months at her first show she went clear!!!! We got a lovely rosette and I was so proud of her.

Most people had gone by the time the presentation came around but the lovely Fiona Austin stayed to see me get my rosette! Maeve’s owners were very very proud of her. I have entered both Maeve and Nero for the February Match at Carharrack – watch this space!

The Hat….

Maeve

I am still here! Normally I go home straight after agility but this week I didn’t and I’m still here! Perhaps I’m here for ever! Although I love my daddies very much it is fun here with Nero and the other dogs. Nero is my bestest though because he is my brother and we play together lots. Sometimes we sleep in a big dog pile. I had fun at agility on Monday, we did lots of things. I’m learning the weaves but sometimes I don’t see them and I miss them. I’m getting better though. Aunty Sarah was very happy when we did my first competition as I got a pretty rosette. She was very smiley when I got it. People clapped us! I don’t know what I did but it was very good!

Today isn’t good though we are all in BIG trouble. Aunty Sarah came downstairs and I was caught with a hat in my mouth. The hat was special. Aunty Sarah wears it every day. Aunty Sarah made the hat. The hat has a hole in it. Actually the hat has two holes in it. A big hole AND a little hole. Just because the hat was in my mouth doesn’t mean I made the holes. I’m not saying I didn’t but I’m not saying I did. We are all sticking together. We all had to go in our beds and STAY THERE. Aunty Sarah WAS NOT HAPPY WITH US.

I got to go to the beach! It is a different beach than I go to normally but it was BIG and it was raining. I don’t mind the rain, I like the water and I swim! Nero and Blue came to and some other people from agility! We all played together and I ran with Patrick and we ran and ran and ran on the sand, in the water and into each other! He knocked me over and rolled onto my back! We got very wet and then we went home. I did some swimming in some pools on the way to the car and I was very wet!

Aunty Sarah is wearing the hat, if the hat had holes in and she was cross why does she wear it. She told me not to touch it. She told me she’d make a hat out of me if I touched it – how? I’m a dog?

Nero

Oh no the hat has holes in it! Lots of holes! We are in trouble. I keep licking mummy’s face to make her happy but she isn’t having any of it. I keep trying to be funny. I laid upside down on the sofa but that didn’t make her happy. I licked her face again but that didn’t work. I lay quietly but that didn’t work either. Then I started growling so I’m now in the crate. I don’t mind the crate it has a big squishy duvet in it. We aren’t saying who ate the hat. It might have been me. It might not have been me.

We went to the beach and I ran and played. We took Blue but he was a bit naughty and had to have the lead on when other dogs were nearby. I was good for a change!!!

The hat is back. The hat is on mummy’s head, how does that work? The holes are magic and gone. She still shouted at us though. It’s a magic hat.

I’m having lots of fly biting times. It makes me sad. It makes me feel funny. We are going to see our friend Jason at the vets. He is very good and makes me feel better. I am glad he is our vet.

Maeve stayed all week! She went home last night and we were sad she was gone – she was very happy to see her daddy though and he was very happy to see her! I’ve sort of been good this week but I did eat a cushion, I tried to say it wasn’t me but I was found lying on it surrounded by bits of it’s insides. I wasn’t very clever.

Blue

I didn’t eat the hat. It wasn’t me. I don’t eat hats. I eat food but not hats. Maeve had the hat. I think she ate it. Nero might have eaten it. It wasn’t me. We have been doing lots of training with the clicky thing, I don’t really get what is happening but I do get food when the click thing goes off.

We went to the beach and I growled at other dogs (not the ones with us) and I had to have the lead on but I love the lead and I love the beach and I love walking! It was raining and we swam in the pool. Then we went home and it was wet and when we got home Nero and I rubbed ourselves all over the sofa because the towels didn’t dry us very well. Everything smelt of us then!

Maeve is going to turn into a hat if she touched THE hat again. That would mean she wouldn’t be on the sofa with mum so that would be good! I’m still barking lots. I like to get my own way. I want to sit with Mum on the sofa all the time and I don’t like it when she has Nero there with her so I bark really loudly. She puts me in my bed when I bark like that, she says I will learn soon that barking isn’t good, barking seems good to me!

And Blue Makes Four! . . . 16th January 2014

We never intended to get a fourth dog, if I’m honest we never really intended getting a third but sometimes things are meant to be and I honestly think Blue was one of those.

A friend messaged me one day and asked if I knew anyone who could foster a three year old collie, I said I didn’t know but would ask around BaDDogz, we chatted on and off and then she produced a picture of a black lab (knowing my addiction to anything Labrador, especially black!) also needing foster but due to his age (estimated between 9-11 years) she wasn’t having much luck securing him a place. Knowing it wouldn’t go down well at home, I said to her she could call me as a last resort. Few days went by and I didn’t hear anything so presumed he had been found a foster space. On the following Sunday I got the call that he wasn’t happy in kennels and could I go and have a look. Lauren and I went to the kennels and as said in Nero’s story last week the meeting between them wasn’t the greatest. We brought Blue home (he whined and panted the whole way in the car) and kept him and Nero separated between the lounge and the dining room, we had two large crates so that wasn’t a problem.

Blue was so stressed, he was panting horrendously all the time, Trudy was amazing and offered much advice via text throughout the first evening. When I was panicking whether we had done the right thing I just reminded myself that there weren’t many options available to him so we were better than the alternative. Although he wasn’t a poundie, his previous owner had been unable to care for him any longer and had called Last Chance Hotel as a last resort. We think he had been very much loved but perhaps neglected a little – when he first came to us he would drink ALL the water in the water bowls (and we have two that are full up all the time), he would then belch and vomit the whole lot back up, I did wonder if he had something wrong with him but I think he wasn’t used to unrestricted water and drank as much as he could to keep him going. Also he is amazing at getting into the bin! We have a metal bin in our kitchen (a bit like one you’d have outside), he can get the lid off and get stuff out of it within a second, if you leave the larder door open he quite likes to help himself to anything within his reach so we are wondering if perhaps he hasn’t been fed as regularly as he should have been. He was rather overweight also when he came to us, possibly because he had been scavenging? He’s lost weight now and our vet is really pleased with him, his coat is in very good condition and he looks fab! He also isn’t anywhere near the original age guestimate, but much younger (which is great because he will be with us for much longer than we originally thought!)

I dropped Blue off to the Animal Hospital on the Tuesday for his neutering and for the vets to remove a growth off his face. Whilst being fostered Last Chance Hotel pays all the vets bills. He coped with the anesthetic fine and was bouncing around when I went to get him, because he was so stressed we were advised to not put a cone on him – big mistake, by the next morning he’d ripped the stitches out of his face and had been left a big hole there (good job I am not squeamish!), back to the vets and it turned out he’d ripped the stitches out from his testicles also. Stapled instead of stitch and with a cone on he healed really well. The only issue the vet said was the stitches in his testicles weren’t straight – let’s be honest, how many of us actually check these things???

Even at this point in my eyes he was still a foster and would go to a proper home once he was healed.

We did a couple of beginner agility classes at BaDDogz with Blue mainly to see how he reacted with other dogs and people – he really doesn’t have a clue, the first week I had to step over the micro height jump with him, he didn’t realize it was even there he just took a step as normal! He grasped the tunnel quite quickly but I suspect due to the gap in us attending classes he will have totally forgotten what it is when we return. Hopefully he will get the idea of it eventually and I will have him measured for agility when it is arranged early this year. He quite clearly is going to be in the large range but obviously we have to follow procedure. He was friendly with everybody, a couple of dogs he did have a little growl at but what dog is friendly with EVERY other dog they meet?

My friend Sue, text me to say a lovely quiet home with an older gent had come up and that it would be perfect for Blue. My heart sank, we were kind of hoping they’d forget we had him! I said to her that I really didn’t think Blue wanted a quiet home, we took the dogs up to the field and threw some Frisbees to show exactly how lively Blue is! I think they were all a bit surprised, it was difficult to tell the difference between Blue and Nero in the filming. I think at that point we made our decision he was staying.

Nero is very unaccepting with new dogs, we felt we were lucky with him accepting Bella and honestly never expected him to become friendly with Blue. Nero is still very much top dog and Blue is still wary but I think this is healthy it would be a total nightmare if they were all competing for the ‘top’ position all the time.



Blue’s only downside is he barks, a lot, all the time, for everything! Originally he would stand in front of you, stare at you and bark and we didn’t have a clue what he was barking for – now he is beginning to grasp the concept of letting us know what he wants ie go and bark next to the door to be let out, he has started putting a paw on the sofa and barking if he wants to be allowed up so hopefully as time goes on we will get to understand him better and he will be able to tell us better what he wants.

Over to Blue . . .

One day I was at home with my collie friend and then everything changed, my collie friend went away and I got taken to a big place with lots of dogs. I didn’t like it there and when people came near me I growled at them. They didn’t like me either. Then two people turned up and they seemed nice, the other people didn’t think I’d like them but I did, they were nice and let me sniff them. Then they brought another dog in, I wasn’t that nice to him but I was scared and didn’t really know what I was doing. The two people took me to their home and they cared for me even though I wasn’t very nice sometimes, I was very scared and they understood and they still loved me and cuddled me and made me calm. They took me to the vets and I got mended. I know they are keeping me now and I have a collar with their name on, they are my family and I know now that the lady that looks after me most is mum. There are three other people here and I love all them too. There are other dogs that I play with and sleep with. I love going on walks and going in water, we run in grass around here and there is a stream I love going in.

Last weekend we went for a walk in the woods with some new people. We went in the new car which is quite small but I got to sit in the back with Billy, I can reach through the front and put my head on mum’s shoulder but she keeps telling me off, apparently some guard thing is coming to stop me doing that. The people we went with are from mum and Lauren’s church, sometimes they go on walks and stuff, I thought church was all talking and praying but apparently not this one is definitely different! There were other dogs there too, a big orangy one (that got muddy VERY quickly), a little fluffy one that looked like a cushion with legs (and he got a really muddy tummy!) and a curly haired girl doggy – she didn’t like me and I didn’t like her. After we let everyone know we didn’t like each other we weren’t allowed to run around without our leads on but that’s ok because mum lets me sniff stuff anyway and I like being with her. We all stopped for snack break and I got tied to a tree, mum was sorting out cups of tea (she does like cups of tea, so do I if she leaves them close enough) and I thought she was going to leave me so I kept barking and barking, I had Lauren with me but I thought mum was going to leave her too so I had to let her know not to forget us.

I didn’t get to go on the walk. I’m not trusted around young children or older children or grown ups or other dogs. Except for my BaDDogz friends because they know me and mummy and everything is ok. I slept on the sofa all morning.

Maeve came and we ran around and we jumped on the sofa (Maeve can jump from one sofa to another and it is a big jump!) and we ran in the garden and Maeve ate some poo and then we ran around some more and then we didn’t run through the door but ran into the water bowls instead and tipped water all over the floor. Then Lauren came home. And we stopped. Somebody wee’d on the floor but it wasn’t me. Maeve slept here all night but she normally goes home. Maeve is my sister and we love to play together. I ignore everyone else when Maeve is here.

Maeve is still here! Perhaps she is staying for ever? I could play with her all the time! We could play tug, and jumping on the sofa and ripping stuff up! All day! Maeve is the only one I don’t bark at near my food that is how you can tell she is special! It hasn’t been a good week for my head, I have been doing lots of snapping – it makes mummy very sad when I do it and she gives me lots of cuddles so it can’t be a bad thing can it?

Our Nanna came to visit too, I had a toy in my mouth and I tried to bite it and bit our Nanna’s leg. The toy then vanished. I don’t know where it went. I think biting legs is magic because when I do it my toys disappear. Maeve’s and my agility record books are on the table, I think we might be going to do an agility competition! We went to a new place with new people before Christmas time, I did such a good job. I didn’t get a shiny rosette though like Maeve but I don’t care because I’ll share it! Maeve might be good at agility but at least I don’t trip mummy up in training.

Tally

Final large white cushion (started to shred it) Crisp packet (empty and I shredded it)

Yogurt pot – (I was licking it out but I don’t think I was meant to shred it) Pine cone – (Bella and I shredded this together)

Socks (dirty)

I’ve been quite a good boy this week!

Black Labs Rule!!! . . . 11th January 2014

Let me introduce ourselves – I am Sarah, am married to Kelvin and we have two children, Billy who is 10 and Lauren who is 16. We have far too many pets (is that possible?!) – 4 dogs (Harvey Greyhound, Nero Labrador, Bella lurcher & Blue lab cross), 3 cats (Sprockett who is planning to take over the world, Jasper who likes to sleep on your head and Sid who is just cute!), Pyro the Royal Python and Yoda the Giant African Land Snail.

Nero was our second dog having rehomed a greyhound a couple of years earlier. We didn’t really plan on having a puppy but when my employer’s dog had 8 black puppies, I fell in love the littlest one straight away. The children and I visited regularly and couldn’t wait to bring Nero home. I read up on everything possible to do with puppies and dogs and felt I had enough knowledge to do everything right (oh how little I knew!). Nero came home and seemed quite the perfect puppy - he slept in his crate happily, wee’d in the garden and we only had one poo in the house ever!

We started puppy classes with Trudy at BaDDogz after Nero had had his injections, and it quickly became obvious that he was ‘spirited’. He was the one that barked all the time, he was the one that wee’d on the floor etc etc. We practiced all the commands at home and he picked up the basic ones really quickly. For the first 8 months of his life he came to work with me, his time was spent sleeping under my desk (and removing things from the rubbish bin and chewing them up!) and in a crate in the rear office. Clients would come in and ask to see him and even now I get people asking how he is.

Nero helping with the accounts!

When Nero was about 7 months old we started beginners agility, and I loved it straight away. Nero started being a sod straight away, in fact one of the trainers said that she was very surprised we hadn’t rehomed him as she hadn’t seem a Labrador like him in a long time! I don’t give up easily and we tried various collars, leads and harnesses but nothing really worked. We carried on training and Nero continued with his spirited behavior, which got worse and worse. He loves agility and always has done but he has great difficulty controlling himself around other dogs, he would lunge at other dogs, which would of course set them off barking (or worse make them frightened). At the time we didn’t realize it was because he had food issues and was always worrying that the other dogs would steal his treats.

A few months on and things got quite bad. I was laying the table for dinner and had put some slices of bread and butter on a plate near the edge of the table, Nero obviously decided he wanted them and Billy, my young son, was also there. Nero bit him on the hand. I was horrified - I had no idea what I had done wrong as we had done everything we could training him, and my son was very good with Nero and our other dog Harvey. Luckily, it was more of a nip and although it did draw blood, it was a tiny amount and Billy was left with a small amount of bruising, he was now terrified of being anywhere near Nero. We decided then that we wanted to work with Nero and not rehome him, if necessary we would build a kennel and run in the garden so he could be there safely when necessary. He was used to being crated in the house so we made use of this whenever Billy was around (Nero didn’t see this as a punishment he would just curl up and go to sleep!). Unfortunately, it happened again and this time Nero caught Billy on his nose (food related issue again).

I will be honest and admit I did consider getting rid of Nero but this was a fleeting thought that went as quick as it came. We did realize though that we needed to reassess how the dogs had access in the house, especially at food time. Nero hadn’t been neutered as we had an arrangement with the breeder that they could use Nero for stud when the time became appropriate. Nero was booked in for neutering the next week as it was felt he was having a bit of a testosterone battle with Billy, he also had a tardac injection to cover the period of time before the testosterone had left his body. We saw a very quick response – Nero stopped ‘humping’ everything in site and seemed a bit calmer. Feeding wise – Nero was fed on his on in a room with just me. Billy was never left alone with Nero (not even for a moment). While this was going on, we spoke to Billy about what had happened and how he felt about Nero, he reiterated all along that he loved Nero and didn’t want him to be rehomed. I also spoke with his school and they said all Billy talked about in his ‘news’ book was things he had done with Nero that were good.

In April 2012 I entered my first show with Nero at Wadebridge, I was so nervous but wearing my BaDDogz hoodie I had so many people from training come and speak to me (most of whom I didn’t know! Although interestingly enough they recognized Nero….) and wish me good luck. Nero did really well, I hesitated at one part in the course and he just ran off but he did come back. I entered a few more shows that year, but at each one Nero was incredibly naughty and regularly bolted out the ring – one particular occasion, a member of the organizing club had to help me catch him. I was mortified!

In July 2012 I mentioned to friends that I would like another dog to compete in agility with. Within 10 minutes a suggestion was made on facebook of a lurcher girl in rescue. A very short time later Bella Lurcher (whippet/collie) joined us, she was a petite little thing and we were very interested to see how she was fit in with Nero. Within about 5 minutes she showed him that she was boss and she wasn’t taking any rubbish from him! They get on incredibly well and sleep piled on top of each other quite often.

Nero and Bella aww!

In 2013 Trudy asked if anyone would be interested in a class for reactive dogs -agility combined with behavior. I don’t think I’ve ever typed anything as quick before – were we interested??? Oh yes!! Nero has been attending ‘Barky dogs’ since then, - we don’t attend every week, but when we do, Nero has made such an improvement I am astounded by what he is capable of. Although I have never given up on him doing agility, I never expected him to do well. At our last show I said to one of the ring crew that Nero was naughty and would probably run away – I couldn’t have been more wrong! Nero went through the start and the finish and did about 95% of it right in between. Still got eliminated but it was a good elimination!

Aren't I a good boy lol

Early in 2013 Nero started showing some bizarre behaviours – snapping at ‘flies’ in the air (except there weren’t any). I mentioned it to my doggie friends and a lady suggested that I google it as it can be a sign of epilepsy. I had never even heard of it before, cutting a long story short – we kept a diary, saw lots of vets, had lots of tests (including a trip to Langford at Bristol for an MRI) and started medication for partial seizures. Nero is doing well, his seizure level is very low and we can tell if he is heading for a period of activity as becomes very intolerant of us and other dogs. He will be monitored for life but for us we were just so glad the MRI did not show up any abnormalities that could be life threatening.

We have since added another dog to our little dog family group, we have no intention of any more now (famous last words!) and to be honest I didn’t intend to get another when we did. A friend asked desperately if I knew anyone that could take an elderly lab as a foster as he was failing in kennels (his owner couldn’t care for him any longer). Lauren and I went to meet him and we took Nero with us. Balu had been kennel guarding and the kennels weren’t overly convinced this was going to work (but bearing in mind the alternative we were desperate to make it work).

Balu met us and seemed really friendly (the kennels were surprised as he hadn’t been too friendly to them), we brought Nero in and then it went a little wrong as Balu (who hadn’t been neutered at that point) decided Nero would be a fab mating partner and he kept trying to mount. Nero (unsurprising) wasn’t that impressed! The kennels were desperate and because we were able to separate them easily (due to the nature of the layout of our house), we would give it a go but any problems we would return him. This was the Sunday, on the Tuesday Balu, was neutered, and by the Thursday, Nero and Balu were fine with each other. We were gobsmacked. We honestly didn’t expect it to be as simple as that. They still had a few little growls with each other (food related again) but overall, Balu just fitted in. We never intended to keep him (and I had kept telling myself that he was just a foster), but when it came to giving him up as a potential owner had been found, we couldn’t do it. Balu is now Blue and we couldn’t imagine life with him.

This is Nero’s story and I will now pass over to him…..

I am a Labrador and I am lovely and everyone loves me and I love food any food I love it all. I am very naughty and I love stealing things. I love chewing things up I have stolen. I like sitting on the sofa with my mummy and sometimes I sit with Blue and sometimes Bella sits on me but we all sleep together and it is nice and warm.

I love agility but I get so excited sometimes I don’t know what to do with myself, today I went to agility and I haven’t been for a while. I was so excited! We went to my special barky dog class where all the other dogs need extra help so when I’m naughty my mummy learns how to deal with me. Today I was SO excited I was jumping up and down and I managed to bite my mummy’s finger. First she noticed was when blood was running down her hand. I didn’t mean to do it but she had treats in her hand and I wanted them, I kept doing all the tricks I thought she wanted me to do to get the treats – I did sit, down, left and right, jumping up and down and I still didn’t get the treat but then she asked me to sit and gave me a one. I did very well in the course today, I only went wrong when mummy did, if she doesn’t get her arms or feet in the right direction how am I meant to know where to go? When I’ve done good I get my cage ball thrown for me at the end of the run, I don’t get this ball at any other time than agility. When we were waiting for our last go Mummy had a big lump of pilchard cake in her hand and she was talking to a friend so I jumped up and snatched it from her and ate it as quick as I could. She wasn’t very happy with me.

Other things I have been doing this week are stealing stuff, I can tell if a clean laundry basket has socks in and I dig all the other clothes out to the get the socks. If nobody notices I’ve stolen them I go steal something else from right in front of them so they will chase me to get it, then I growl and run around in circles so they still can’t get it. It’s so much fun how can it be naughty?

Last night Blue was growling at me, he was sitting on the sofa and he growled when I went near him. He doesn’t usually growl at me I’m the one to growl at him. Then I got on the sofa and my head was all funny then I kept snapping in the air, I snapped so fiercely once I nearly bit Lauren’s face. I can’t help it my body does it by itself. I don’t like it because it makes me feel funny.

My tally for the week : Things I have stolen;

Socks (clean and dirty)
Pants (clean)
Pen (I chewed it up)
Chocolate bar wrapper (shredded)
Bread roll off the worktop (I ate it)
Bagel off the dining room table (I ate it)
Crochet hat off the table (they saw me take it)
Large white cushion (we all shredded it together)

We never intended to get a fourth dog, if I’m honest we never really intended getting a third but sometimes things are meant to be and I honestly think Blue was one of those.

A friend messaged me one day and asked if I knew anyone who could foster a three year old collie, I said I didn’t know but would ask around BaDDogz, we chatted on and off and then she produced a picture of a black lab (knowing my addiction to anything Labrador, especially black!) also needing foster but due to his age (estimated between 9-11 years) she wasn’t having much luck securing him a place. Knowing it wouldn’t go down well at home, I said to her she could call me as a last resort. Few days went by and I didn’t hear anything so presumed he had been found a foster space. On the following Sunday I got the call that he wasn’t happy in kennels and could I go and have a look. Lauren and I went to the kennels and as said in Nero’s story last week the meeting between them wasn’t the greatest. We brought Blue home (he whined and panted the whole way in the car) and kept him and Nero separated between the lounge and the dining room, we had two large crates so that wasn’t a problem.

Blue was so stressed, he was panting horrendously all the time, Trudy was amazing and offered much advice via text throughout the first evening. When I was panicking whether we had done the right thing I just reminded myself that there weren’t many options available to him so we were better than the alternative. Although he wasn’t a poundie, his previous owner had been unable to care for him any longer and had called Last Chance Hotel as a last resort. We think he had been very much loved but perhaps neglected a little – when he first came to us he would drink ALL the water in the water bowls (and we have two that are full up all the time), he would then belch and vomit the whole lot back up, I did wonder if he had something wrong with him but I think he wasn’t used to unrestricted water and drank as much as he could to keep him going. Also he is amazing at getting into the bin! We have a metal bin in our kitchen (a bit like one you’d have outside), he can get the lid off and get stuff out of it within a second, if you leave the larder door open he quite likes to help himself to anything within his reach so we are wondering if perhaps he hasn’t been fed as regularly as he should have been. He was rather overweight also when he came to us, possibly because he had been scavenging? He’s lost weight now and our vet is really pleased with him, his coat is in very good condition and he looks fab! He also isn’t anywhere near the original age guestimate, but much younger (which is great because he will be with us for much longer than we originally thought!)

I dropped Blue off to the Animal Hospital on the Tuesday for his neutering and for the vets to remove a growth off his face. Whilst being fostered Last Chance Hotel pays all the vets bills. He coped with the anesthetic fine and was bouncing around when I went to get him, because he was so stressed we were advised to not put a cone on him – big mistake, by the next morning he’d ripped the stitches out of his face and had been left a big hole there (good job I am not squeamish!), back to the vets and it turned out he’d ripped the stitches out from his testicles also. Stapled instead of stitch and with a cone on he healed really well. The only issue the vet said was the stitches in his testicles weren’t straight – let’s be honest, how many of us actually check these things???

Even at this point in my eyes he was still a foster and would go to a proper home once he was healed.

We did a couple of beginner agility classes at Baddogz with Blue mainly to see how he reacted with other dogs and people – he really doesn’t have a clue, the first week I had to step over the micro height jump with him, he didn’t realize it was even there he just took a step as normal! He grasped the tunnel quite quickly but I suspect due to the gap in us attending classes he will have totally forgotten what it is when we return. Hopefully he will get the idea of it eventually and I will have him measured for agility when it is arranged early this year. He quite clearly is going to be in the large range but obviously we have to follow procedure. He was friendly with everybody, a couple of dogs he did have a little growl at but what dog is friendly with EVERY other dog they meet?

My friend Sue, text me to say a lovely quiet home with an older gent had come up and that it would be perfect for Blue. My heart sank, we were kind of hoping they’d forget we had him! I said to her that I really didn’t think Blue wanted a quiet home, we took the dogs up to the field and threw some Frisbees to show exactly how lively Blue is! I think they were all a bit surprised, it was difficult to tell the difference between Blue and Nero in the filming. I think at that point we made our decision he was staying.

Nero is very unaccepting with new dogs, we felt we were lucky with him accepting Bella and honestly never expected him to become friendly with Blue. Nero is still very much top dog and Blue is still wary but I think this is healthy it would be a total nightmare if they were all competing for the ‘top’ position all the time.

Blue’s only downside is he barks, a lot, all the time, for everything! Originally he would stand in front of you, stare at you and bark and we didn’t have a clue what he was barking for – now he is beginning to grasp the concept of letting us know what he wants ie go and bark next to the door to be let out, he has started putting a paw on the sofa and barking if he wants to be allowed up so hopefully as time goes on we will get to understand him better and he will be able to tell us better what he wants.

Over to Blue…

18th January 2014

One day I was at home with my collie friend and then everything changed, my collie friend went away and I got taken to a big place with lots of dogs. I didn’t like it there and when people came near me I growled at them. They didn’t like me either. Then two people turned up and they seemed nice, the other people didn’t think I’d like them but I did, they were nice and let me sniff them. Then they brought another dog in, I wasn’t that nice to him but I was scared and didn’t really know what I was doing. The two people took me to their home and they cared for me even though I wasn’t very nice sometimes, I was very scared and they understood and they still loved me and cuddled me and made me calm. They took me to the vets and I got mended. I know they are keeping me now and I have a collar with their name on, they are my family and I know now that the lady that looks after me most is mum. There are three other people here and I love all them too. There are other dogs that I play with and sleep with. I love going on walks and going in water, we run in grass around here and there is a stream I love going in.

Last weekend we went for a walk in the woods with some new people. We went in the new car which is quite small but I got to sit in the back with Billy, I can reach through the front and put my head on mum’s shoulder but she keeps telling me off, apparently some guard thing is coming to stop me doing that. The people we went with are from mum and Lauren’s church, sometimes they go on walks and stuff, I thought church was all talking and praying but apparently not this one is definitely different! There were other dogs there too, a big orangy one (that got muddy VERY quickly), a little fluffy one that looked like a cushion with legs (and he got a really muddy tummy!) and a curly haired girl doggy – she didn’t like me and I didn’t like her. After we let everyone know we didn’t like each other we weren’t allowed to run around without our leads on but that’s ok because mum lets me sniff stuff anyway and I like being with her. We all stopped for snack break and I got tied to a tree, mum was sorting out cups of tea (she does like cups of tea, so do I if she leaves them close enough) and I thought she was going to leave me so I kept barking and barking, I had Lauren with me but I thought mum was going to leave her too so I had to let her know not to forget us.

***INSERT GROUP WALK PHOTO HERE***

There are little furry things that live here too. They don’t live with us they live in the up bit of the house. I can’t get to them but I have been up there and I have seen an orange one. They come onto the stairs and we all try and get them but I don’t think we are meant to because we get shouted at. We are doing training to get used to them but the furry things tease us. Last night I was trying to jump up and see them and I hurt my foot, I was limping. I bet I forget how it was hurting and still jump up at them tomorrow. I like it when I get to go up the stairs as there is poo in a tray and I get to eat it before Mum caught me!

I’m getting a harness like the other dogs, when we go out on a walk I pull and the lead is on my collar and it chokes me. I’m going to see Trudy and we will try a harness to get the right size. Nero’s is a bit small.

Nero

I didn’t get to go on the walk. I’m not trusted around young children or older children or grown ups or other dogs. Except for my Baddogz friends because they know me and mummy and everything is ok. I slept on the sofa all morning.

Maeve came and we ran around and we jumped on the sofa (maeve can jump from one sofa to another and it is a big jump!) and we ran in the garden and Maeve ate some poo and then we ran around some more and then we didn’t run through the door but ran into the water bowls instead and tipped water all over the floor. Then Lauren came home. And we stopped. Somebody wee’d on the floor but it wasn’t me. Maeve slept here all night but she normally goes home. Maeve is my sister and we love to play together. I ignore everyone else when Maeve is here.

Maeve is still here! Perhaps she is staying for ever? I could play with her all the time! We could play tug, and jumping on the sofa and ripping stuff up! All day! Maeve is the only one I don’t bark at near my food that is how you can tell she is special!

It hasn’t been a good week for my head, I have been doing lots of snapping – it makes mummy very sad when I do it and she gives me lots of cuddles so it can’t be a bad thing can it? Our Nanna came to visit too, I had a toy in my mouth and I tried to bite it and bit our Nanna’s leg. The toy then vanished. I don’t know where it went. I think biting legs is magic because when I do it my toys disappear.

Maeve’s and my agility record books are on the table, I think we might be going to do an agility competition! We went to a new place with new people before Christmas time, I did such a good job. I didn’t get a shiny rosette though like Maeve but I don’t care because I’ll share it! Maeve might be good at agility but at least I don’t trip mummy up in training.

Tally

Final large white cushion (started to shred it)

Crisp packet (empty and I shredded it) Yogurt pot – (I was licking it out but I don’t think I was meant to shred it) Pine cone – (Bella and I shredded this together)

Socks (dirty)

I’ve been quite a good boy this week!

Maeve came to see us on Monday, she is a Labrador like Nero! She jumps on ALL the furniture because she is so excited to see us so we jumped on the furniture too (good job Mum wasn’t home to see us)! We had a great game of chase. Maeve got the harness put on and taken out in the car which isn’t fair because I wanted the harness on and I wanted to go. When they got home a man came to the door and we all barked really loudly, mum went to see the man we barged through, I don’t think we were meant to because we got shoved back in doors really quickly.

There are little furry things that live here too. They don’t live with us they live in the up bit of the house. I can’t get to them but I have been up there and I have seen an orange one. They come onto the stairs and we all try and get them but I don’t think we are meant to because we get shouted at. We are doing training to get used to them but the furry things tease us. Last night I was trying to jump up and see them and I hurt my foot, I was limping. I bet I forget how it was hurting and still jump up at them tomorrow. I like it when I get to go up the stairs as there is poo in a tray and I get to eat it before Mum caught me!

I’m getting a harness like the other dogs, when we go out on a walk I pull and the lead is on my collar and it chokes me. I’m going to see Trudy and we will try a harness to get the right size. Nero’s is a bit small.

Nero

I didn’t get to go on the walk. I’m not trusted around young children or older children or grown ups or other dogs. Except for my Baddogz friends because they know me and mummy and everything is ok. I slept on the sofa all morning.

Maeve came and we ran around and we jumped on the sofa (maeve can jump from one sofa to another and it is a big jump!) and we ran in the garden and Maeve ate some poo and then we ran around some more and then we didn’t run through the door but ran into the water bowls instead and tipped water all over the floor. Then Lauren came home. And we stopped. Somebody wee’d on the floor but it wasn’t me. Maeve slept here all night but she normally goes home. Maeve is my sister and we love to play together. I ignore everyone else when Maeve is here.

Maeve is still here! Perhaps she is staying for ever? I could play with her all the time! We could play tug, and jumping on the sofa and ripping stuff up! All day! Maeve is the only one I don’t bark at near my food that is how you can tell she is special!

It hasn’t been a good week for my head, I have been doing lots of snapping – it makes mummy very sad when I do it and she gives me lots of cuddles so it can’t be a bad thing can it? Our Nanna came to visit too, I had a toy in my mouth and I tried to bite it and bit our Nanna’s leg. The toy then vanished. I don’t know where it went. I think biting legs is magic because when I do it my toys disappear.

Maeve’s and my agility record books are on the table, I think we might be going to do an agility competition! We went to a new place with new people before Christmas time, I did such a good job. I didn’t get a shiny rosette though like Maeve but I don’t care because I’ll share it! Maeve might be good at agility but at least I don’t trip mummy up in training.

Tally

Final large white cushion (started to shred it)

Crisp packet (empty and I shredded it)

Yogurt pot – (I was licking it out but I don’t think I was meant to shred it)
Pine cone – (Bella and I shredded this together)

Socks (dirty)

I’ve been quite a good boy this week!