My Visit to a Grand Old Lady

While we were on our holidays we went to see Auntie Edna. She is Sally's great aunt and almost 99 years old. On Monday we checked it was alright to go and see her and it was although she hadn't been too well recently. On Tuesday morning while we were having breakfast we got a message to say she was "failing fast". I'm not sure what that meant but I know that it was decided that although Sally & Nan could see her it was thought that it would no me a good idea for me to see her! That was a big disappointment for me - but I was allowed to go in the car and we left almost straight away. When we got there I stayed in the car while Nan & Sally went to see Auntie Edna. They came back after a while and we went to have lunch. After lunch I had a great surprise - I was taken to see Auntie Edna as she was brighter than before. Auntie Edna was in bed so Sally sat on a stool and put me on her knee. Auntie Edna had a great big grin for me and Sally said her face lit up! She stroked me and kept trying to get closer to me. She was very very nice. She made a great fuss of me which is what I like best. We stayed until Auntie Edna fell asleep and then we said our goodbyes.

Very sadly when we were out walking on Thursday we got a message to say that Auntie Edna had passed away. I'm not sure what that means but I am sad because Sally said I won't be able to see her again - she was a grand old lady! Here is a picture we took of me and Auntie Edna when we went to visit in November.

A holiday in the Peak District

I have just had a lovely holiday in the Peak District. I went with Sally, Nan, Grandad & Jack. We did lots of lovely walks in the warm sunshine. We had a lovely little house to stay in which was airy and bright and had great views from the windows. I liked looking out of the windows. There was a nice orchard where we walked in the mornings and the evenings.

I saw lots of lovely countryside and cows, sheep, deer & ponies! I saw rabbits and birds too - but I wasn't allowed to chase them. Now I am a big boy we didn't have to take my crate. I slept on my duvet (from home) in Sally's bedroom and was ever so good because I didn't even try to get on the bed. Our favourite walk was Lathkill Dale because of the very pretty river.

When we were walking through a field of cows on this walk one of them was very rude! It made it quite clear that we were not welcome! It followed us all the way up the path to make sure we left straight away! I wasn't very happy about that!

Here are some pictures of the view from our window, the bossy cow and Nan & Jack by the pretty river.

My Birthday Present

Last week I was one year old!!!! Sally sang Happy Birthday to me but I didn't like that it was a very peculiar sound. It worried me a lot. She got me some special chews for my birthday but I decided to save them for another day.

Then I found my own birthday present. I saw it in the garden when Sally was doing some watering. Then when she went upstairs to do some work I went and collected from the garden. I tossed it all around the kitchen. It was great fun. Then as it was one of my special treasures I put it in my bed beside me and my teddy and went to sleep.

When Sally came down she said "What are you doing with that Clematis plant?" I rather gathered from the tone of her voice that it wasn't meant to be my birthday present. This is a picture of me in my bed with the Clematis plant.

My New Bed

Big news... I have got a new bed. It is absolutely fantastic. I loved my old crate as it made me feel very safe and secure. But my new bed is so soft and comfy I get into to it to have a sleep whenever I get the chance. It was a surprise. One day I came in from the garden to find my old crate had moved to under the TV and in its normal place was a great big bed with a great big soft duvet in it. I jumped straight in without any hesitation and snuggled down into the duvet.

That night I was not quite sure at bedtime whether I was meant to go into my old crate or into the nice new bed. But Sally said I should go in my new bed. I didn't need telling twice!!! I have worked out why I have got a new bed.. it must be so my little brother can have the crate (he is arriving in 3.5 weeks time!). That is fine by me. But the bed is really big enough for two so perhaps one day we'll share (that's if I like him of course).

Here is a picture of me in my new bed and other one that Sally took of me lying on the garden table.

I have decided to drop "recalls" and "getting into the car"

Training.. training and more training. Sally has stepped up my training recently.. most of it is great fun but I have decided I don't like recalls... and I don't like getting into the car any more. I have heard that human children can "drop" subjects at school if they are big enough and don't like them.. well I am big enough and I don't like them. So I am dropping "recalls" and "getting into the car". I have only recently taken a dislike to getting into the car but I know I don't like it now.. so its dropped. I haven't told Sally about this yet but I know how to get around her.. and anyhow I've made up my mind and that's it.

These are some pics from Easter day in the Chase.

My Brother

Sorry I haven't written for a while but today I have got the most exciting news for you. On Tuesday Sally decided it was nearly time for me to have a dog to come and live here so she emailed my breeder (that is my doggie mum's owner) to ask if she knew of any Springer puppies. And she got an email back to say that my half-sister (Holly who is exactly 3 years older than me and my brothers and sisters) had pups just 2 weeks ago and what is more these new pups have the same Dad as me. So the pups are my half-nieces and half-nephews on my Mum's side... and my half-brothers and half-sisters on my Dad's side.

So today Sally went to see the little puppies (I went to but couldn't go inside because they are far too little to see big dogs like me!). Sally has chosen one (there were 3 boys and four girls). Sally has called the little boy coming to live with us - Kofi.
Here are some pictures of Kofi and his Mum and brothers and sisters.

Pictures from Today's Walk...(or Run)

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Most days me and Sally go for a walk in a lovely place that she calls the Meadows. Well to be more precise Sally walks and I run! In fact I normally run and run and run and run! It is such great fun... and there are lots of smells and birds! I do chase the birds.. but I haven't caught one yet .. they go up high into the sky where I can't get them. Its just not fair... but I am sure that one day I will find out how to fly in the sky with them. But come to think of it I haven't seen any other dogs in the sky.. not even Springers. Oh well.. maybe not! Here are some pictures from the walk. Mostly taken when I am not running because Sally says I run so fast that I am just a blur on a picture!

Me surveying the land (and showing off my lovely tail)

Me going into a hedge (I love hedges!!)

Me running through the middle of a hedge!

Me coming out of a hedge!

The World Turned White Today!

When I went out this morning I got a big shock! Everywhere was covered in this stuff which was cold and white and wet! When I walked on it my feet sank into it and I left holes wherever I walked. I tried eating it but it didn't taste of anything much. Then I ran around in it - that was good fun. When Sally & I went out for our walk this morning I found that it was everywhere not just in our garden. In the field there were very big lumps of it - nearly as tall as Sally. I wondered what this were.. and whether they had fallen out of the sky (because the rest of this white stuff did... I saw small bits coming down). Then I saw some children rolling one of these big bits of snow.. and as they rolled it .. it got bigger and bigger...

But when we went out this afternoon it had nearly all gone.. where I don't know.. perhaps someone had come and swept it all up (Sally sweeps up bits from the kitchen floor so I know about sweeping). Here are some pictures of me in the snow.. and a flower in the snow.

This first picture is of me wondering what on earth had happened!

This is a picture of me looking for the grass which is normally in the garden!

Carl's Pictures

Today Carl came over to see me and Sally. He took some pictures of me. Here they are.

An evening in front of the fire

I am not going to say much this time because I think these pictures speak for themselves. They are of me and my friend Pippin. On the question of friends I have some very good news. Sally is going to get me a Springer pup to come and live here and be my best friend - but not until the Summer. Maybe she will get me the puppy for my birthday.. although Sally says that is a bit early... I will ONE in May. Sally says she would let to get another Springer who is just as nice as me!!!!

A Trip to the Vets!!

Last week I had a trip to the vets.. well actually two trips in the space of one hour. It was because I had eaten one of my "hoof" chews. Sally brought them back from America for me but apparently I wasn't supposed to swallow them. It would have helped if someone had told me!! I swalloed it on Tuesday evening ... I was sick on Wednesday morning and Thursday morning but as it hadn't "come up" Sally said I better go and see the vet.

The first trip was very nice because I met the vet and some other nice people. The vet said I was at a "willowy" stage - this didn't seem to be a bad thing but everyone was surprised when I weighed as much as 14.4Kg. We didn't stay long and when I got home I had a meal.. great I thought .. an extra meal. Then we had a walk and went back the vets. This trip wasn't so good. The vet gave me an injection and then I was sick.. and sick again.. and again... and again. Sally and the vet were just beginning to think the chew wasn't coming up when it did!!! I was sick about ten times. And then we went home and I had a sleep. Sally was very pleased because if I had not brought the chew up then I would have needed and x-ray and an operation!!

I'm not allowed those chews any more! This is picture of me and Jack taken at Christmas. We're quite good friends now.

New Year's Day Walk

On New Years Day (that was the day after the fireworks night... but I wasn't at all bothered by those) I went for a walk with Sally, Nan, Carl & Jack. We went to Greenham Common. I had great fun going into the little lakes. Jack doesn't like the water though.. he prefers to run after his ball.. I just think that so boring.. but he goes on and on and on...I think he would be very happy to chase his ball all day.

Carl & Sally both took some pictures of me.

My First Christmas

Sally and me (and the cats) have just got home from our Christmas holidays. We had a great time.. although it was a shame cos Sally woke up with a cold on Christmas day and she's still got it. We spent our Christmas holiday at Nan & Grandads. My biggest adventure was on the day we arrived. We got there quite late so it was nearly dark when we got out for our walk. On the way in the car I heard Sally telling Nan that she thought it would be best if I stayed on my lead because I like going off exploring. So the minute the boot was opened I slithered through Sally's hands (my coat was all shiny and slippery cos I had had a bath the day before)... and off I went into the woods all by myself! It was so much fun... I did hear Nan & Sally calling vaguely.. but I was having far too much fun to take any notice. I kept an eye on them and they went round some paths and then onto the field. I stayed quite close really but out of reach. But just as it was getting dark I got confused because Nan set off back to the car and Sally stayed in the field. I just thought I would go and up close to Sally to see what was going on. Then she offered me a treat.. and I got all confused.. I really didn't mean to get caught because I had only just exploring but that was the end of that.

Here is a picture of me that Carl took on Christmas Eve!

What I know about Heidi

Heidi lived in this house with Sally before me. I am going to write what I know about her today because it is exactly six months since she left Sally and went to Rainbow Bridge.

Heidi was a very handsome labrador bitch (I am a pretty dog... but I have heard that Heidi was 'handsome'). She had a lot of Crufts champions in her family tree (or pedigree if you want to use the posh word). She could have been one too but she came to live with Sally instead. Sally says that she was very clever (particularly if there was any chance of getting a morsel of food). She did a bow every morning when Sally came downstairs to say good morning (I prefer to stay in my bed). She could do 'twirls', 'arounds' and even 'put in the box' - I haven't a clue what any of these are but clearly she was very very clever. I've told you before about her playing rugby for England... she was also just a little bossy (Jack told me that!) and she was very adventurous .. she would also be first out of the car when there was a new place to explore whereas Jack prefers to stay in the boot when he's not sure where he is. I think I'm more like Jack than Heidi.

I know Sally loved Heidi and misses her lots.. she was a very loving and lively dog who loved being with people and other dogs and it is such as shame I never got to meet her because I just know we would have been good friends. This is a picture of Heidi with Nan.. it was supposed to be just Nan.. but as humans say 'there is no show without punch or Heidi'

Black Thursday

So much has happened since I last wrote including me meeting my long lost brother Louie. He really did look just like me and had a really nice family. Unfortunately Sally forgot her camera so I will have to write more about him when we next meet.

Last Thursday was a really bad day for my walks. In the morning Sally and I went to the green which is where we often go in the morning. When we got there we saw a dog that I had played with a few days before - but he didn't play nicely so Sally and me decided that I should stay on my lead and we would walk on the other side of the green. But before we had hardly started he arrived and attacked me very viciously. Luckily he didn't bite me as I wriggled a lot but it was very scary. He owner tried to call him but it didn't work. Eventually the owner came up and took me away.. he mumbled something like 'sorry about that'!!

Well in the afternoon Sally thought it best to go to the hill where there are lots of nice dogs to play with. That was a good idea because I met Ellie who is also a Springer and just 2 months older than me. We had a great time but then I decided to go exploring - I found a great scent to follow and it took me to the hedges by the motorway - I managed to get through the first fence. I did hear Sally and the other people calling but I was busy following the scent. I couldn't get through the next fence which I thought at first was a shame but then I saw all the noisy cars rushing along the motorway. I tried to get back to Sally but I couldn't find the whole in the fence again.. and those cars really weren't very far away! Luckily Sally found another hole and pulled me through - she was very happy because she thought I had got down onto the motorway. I've hardly been allowed off my lead since .. but I am allowed on my long long lead and we do lots of 'comes' with Sally's new whistle!

Here are two pics of me. The first is of me relaxing in my favourite chair after my morning walk.. and the other is when I had recovered enough to play with Pippin!

Carl's photos

Today Carl and Nan came across to visit me and Sally. Carl had a list of photos that he thought he would like to take of me. He had thought of these before he came. Here are some of the photos. Not all of the photos worked very well because it is a rainy day and there is not much light.

The first photo is of Carl giving me a treat. I like treats a lot but I was very good and didn't grab it from Carl. He said "gentle" and I was. So we were both very good.

The next one is of me on the front door mat. Carl is by my side. The last picture is of me playing with my white hedgehog ball - Carl got me this ball - I like it very much because it has a loud squeak and so I can make lots and lots of noise. (Sally doesn't always like it as much!)

A Walk at the Chase & Some Exciting News

Today I went for a walk in the Chase with Carl, Nan & Sally. It was great fun. I met Tilly the labrador again. She is the dog who is my brother Louie's friend. Today we had exciting news that not only is Louie my brother but he is my twin. When we were little puppies it was very difficult to tell us apart but I had black patches on my right side and he had them on his left side- so he was called Louie Lefty. And Louie's family think it would be great for us to meet up so Sally is going to call and arrange it! How exciting! Our walk is the Chase was very nice as it was a sunny day. Here is a picture that Carl took of me.

Another holiday!

I have just been on another holiday! I had only been back home for a few days when Sally said we were off to visit Rob & Maria in Manchester and Nan was coming too. Jack was staying at home with Grandad and the cats because he doesn't like long journeys in a tin box on wheels. Sally said I had to be very good and be very careful not to put my muddy paws on Maria's lovely cream carpet. We took lots of towels to keep my paws clean.

Unfortunately on the very first night Sally took me into the garden where I got my paws very muddy and then she was so tired that she forgot all about the cream carpet so I put my muddy paws all over it. Sally was something called 'mortified'... that means very sad and very sorry. But it was her fault and not mine. Sally and me had our own room.. cos Sally was worried about me waking Nan.

I loved spending time with Rob & Maria particularly Maria because she made a big fuss of me. Fusses are one of my favourite things... along with my food and my walks! We went to visit Maria's Mum and her dog called Rosie. I was very good there and so was Rosie but she didn't want to play so she sat on Maria's knee.

I also went to visit Auntie Edna who lives in a nursing home. Well actually she is Sally's great aunt and she is 98 which is a grand old age. When we arrived the lady at the desk said that Auntie Edna was feeling very sad (although she hadn't put muddy marks on Maria's carpet so I don't know why she was sad). But I soon brought a smile to her face and she laughed a lot and made lots of fuss of me. Here is a picture of me with Auntie Edna.

My holiday with Nan & Grandad

Sorry I have not written recently but I have been away on my holidays. I went to stay with Nan, Grandad & Jack while Sally went to see someone called Auntie Kay who lives in Florida. Not at all sure where that is but Sally said that is was too far for me as she had to go on plane. That was a shame because I really wanted to meet Cody & Crystal. They are Auntie Kay's lovely Siberian Huskies. What fun we could all have had!

But I had great fun anyway staying with Nan & Grandad because we had lots and lots of walks and I met lots and lots of different dogs to play with. One day we met a dog called Tilly who was a labrador pup. Her owner said I looked just like her friend Louie. Funny that because when Nan asked about Louie she found out that he has the same birthday as me.. and was born in the same area as me (Wallingford).. and has a full tail like me.. and had a mother who was mostly black like me... So we think Louie is probably my brother! Hopefully we will meet up some day because that would be such a lot of fun!

I was mostly very good when I stayed with Nan & Grandads but I did hear Nan telling someone that I had my moments.. whatever that might mean... can't be anything to do with jumping all over the furniture and grabbing the cushions I suppose .. or chewing that lovely antique table (antiques have a very special taste I find!). Perhaps it is just as well I am home again now!

Here is a picture of me when I got back home. Pippin and I both like the middle step on the stairs.. so we have agreed to share!

A Lovely Autumn Walk with Springer friends

Today I went on a lovely walk with lots of Springers... and a few other dogs too! The springers were like me - except that I was the only black and white springer... that was odd because I know there are other black and white springers around... I've seen them on my other walks - but we are obviously specially rare. My best friend on the walk was called Jesta. She is just a couple of weeks or so older than me and we had great fun playing together.

I also liked playing with little Jade. Jade is only a little puppy (I am a big puppy now!). She is only 12 weeks old. She is not a real Springer... she is a Sprocker (that's a Springer/Cocker cross). She wasn't afraid of the other dogs and was great fun to play with. Other dogs I met today included Pickles, Daisy, Trixie, Jerry, Holly, Buddy and lots more! It was really good fun and Sally says that we can go for a walk with them again sometime.

I am not going to be able to write any posts for a couple of weeks because Sally is going away on holiday. You will be relieved to hear that I am not going to be left alone. I am going to stay with Nan, Grandad & Jack... and the cats are coming too.

Sally took some photos. The one at the top is me playing with my new friends... then there is one of me running .. and then there is one of little Jade.

Here is a link to see a short video of our walk. Remember to look out for the black and white Springer.. cos its me!