Wednesday 30 April 2008

Fetch!

Played fetch this afternoon. Sometimes I get distracted by other things, but I fetched this one.

I've lost my first tooth!

I lost my first tooth last night. Daddy was trying to get a foam coaster from me and it was embedded in the coaster! It was only a small one so I can still do some damage!

PS I am learning what gets Daddy's attention - coasters, remote controls, plastic bags, glasses cases,.... He still leaves them lying around so I reckon they are fair game and it's great fun being chased!

Tuesday 29 April 2008

Westonbirt Arboretum

They say that Westonbirt Arboretum is good for trees and bluebells at this time of year. Well I reckon it is just as good for mud, and, most of all, for all the other canine friends that I can play with there. I met another flat-coated retriever who reminded me of my Mum, Poppy.

Monday 28 April 2008

On the lookout

I'm always on the lookout for what's happening next.

Sunday 27 April 2008

Thunder

Oh dear! I've just heard thunder for the first time while out on my afternoon walk. What is that noise? I hope there's not too much of it what with global warming and all that.

There's another Dexter in the village! This morning, I bumped into Dexter - a 14 month old cocker spaniel!

Saturday 26 April 2008

Severn Estuary

Went to the Severn Estuary today and managed to close the old bridge!

Thursday 24 April 2008

Eau de vache

After yesterday's attempt at smelling sweet with eau de renard, I thought I would try eau de vache today at Damery. Here I have just jumped into the river. That washed some off, but the rest had to wait until I got home. Another bath - hooray! I think this might get into a habit.

Wednesday 23 April 2008

At home

I think I quite like it here! I am 4 months old tomorrow.

4th lesson

Learnt to 'sit', 'wait', 'come' and more socialising - great. The good news is that my treats are going to be changed. I hope Daddy finds something attractive that agrees with me as the treats I have had so far do not.

Low-flying flat-coated retriever

I think there is a need for a new road sign!

In the dog house

I'm in the dog house today. I found some fox's poo for the first time and rolled in it - lovely! I was frog-marched back straight into the bath - that wasn't bad either! (Why is it called frog-march?)

Tuesday 22 April 2008

Litter buster

I'm now officially a litter buster! I helped Daddy and a couple of others to pick up litter which is quite bad in the village. Mind you, I love litter, especially when it is chewable! While on this exercise, I found a very muddy puddle and splashed myself like a hippopotamus does! When I got home, as I was so warm (& muddy), I decided to do the same in the garden pond. Here I am asking to come in - no way!

Monday 21 April 2008

Vegetables

Daddy asked Jeanette on Wednesday about adding human food to my kibble. She says she does it herself, so Daddy has been giving me some vegetables. I am very discerning about which I like - it was broad beans this morning which I decided I liked, but marrow... that is something else!

Now I've finished dictating this, I have got the lead and brought it to Daddy - perhaps he will get the hint, even though it is raining!

Sunday 20 April 2008

Sunday afternoon

Sunday afternoon is definitely a good time to meet more admirers, walking off their Sunday lunch. I met a lot of people and dogs on the way to the bluebells at Sheepcombe Brake and Lower Hazel. Some recognised me as a flat-coated retriever and reminded me that the breed is the 'Peter Pan of the dog world - they look eternally youthful and are always playful' - see www.flat-coats.co.uk. I can't argue with that!

Saturday 19 April 2008

Daft as a brush

Will someone brush me?

Vocabulary

Daddy has started to list my vocabulary - see right. (He hasn't got a good memory!) I have been taught to sit at a kerb before crossing a road (hence 'cross over'). Today, I stopped at a kerb at the bottom of the lane and told Daddy that is where we cross. He thinks it was a coincidence but I know it wasn't! I am also told to sit and wait while Daddy opens a door and I am normally not allowed through first, especially if I have muddy feet.

Weight

Daddy weighed me yesterday and I am now 2 stone (or over 12 kilograms). So I have been growing more in length than weight in the past few weeks.

Friday 18 April 2008

Good memory

Daddy says I have a good memory for places. I went to Auntie Chris's for coffee yesterday morning and I liked it so much I wanted to call in again today when we went past. I do exactly the same with Auntie Avril and Uncle Roland - and all the gates and stiles into fields I have ever been in!

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Third lesson

I had my third lesson tonight. I was impressed by how many people remembered my name. I was very excited again and enjoyed seeing my friends. I managed to concentrate enough to 'watch', 'come' and 'sit' - well some of the time anyway.

Tuesday 15 April 2008

My first bath

Here I am having my first bath. I did enjoy it, especially being dried off with a towel and lying in the sun afterwards.

Monday 14 April 2008

Annoyed

I wish Daddy wouldn't listen to Counterpoint on Radio 4. It has a bell which just sounds like the front door bell and I wonder why he doesn't answer it!

Saturday 12 April 2008

SagaZone

Daddy's just joined Saga Zone. Now that's showing his age. He's entered me into the dog section of the photo competition PetzFactor with me in the laundry basket. I think I should win.

Naughty but nice

I can be very naughty one minute and very nice the next!

A lot has happened

A lot has happened since my last entry.

I had my second training class on Wednesday at the Dog Training Club. I disgraced myself because I was so excited and Daddy hadn't walked me long enough after tea! Anyway, the trainers were very understanding and I had a great time. I was taught to walk closely to heel on a lead amidst all sorts of distractions and that is what I will be doing on a lot of my future walks. I think I must be doing quite well because today a neighbour said I was well-trained!

Jeanette says that I need 3 or 4 walks of 20 minutes each per day, maybe one of which can be off the lead. No leaping. My joints will not set until I am 7-9 months old. Swimming will be good for me.

On Thursday, I had a day with Auntie Avril and Uncle Roland while Daddy went gallivanting off to the Malvern Hills. That would have been way too far for me. I got to go to Whale Wharf at Littleton-upon-Severn and I think I was good, but I would say that wouldn't I?

I had a lie-in this morning after some energetic games last night. I love playing chase, sometimes I do the chasing and sometimes I am chased - great fun. I am actually quite tired today.

Wednesday 9 April 2008

Advice

Daddy had a conversation with Wendy (see ...busy-weekend.html) over the weekend about food, walks and chewing and gave him some tips.

Food - Daddy said that I had not been eating all my kibble recently until he started adding gravy and 'human food'. She said Daddy was making a 'rod for his own back' whatever that means. Anyway I have been eating the kibble alright with some added water, so Daddy is going to do that. If I don't eat my food in 10 minutes I will have to wait until the next meal time. Maybe I am not a foodie.

Walks - I fear I might be walking too far and too much off the lead - too bad! Wendy agreed with the vet: half an hour at a time and not always allowed to run free. Daddy is going to see what the trainer says tonight - I think I will be starting some proper on the lead training.

Chewing - I do chew and bite a lot and Wendy's advice is to give me alternatives whenever I chew something I shouldn't. Daddy should also shout 'ow!' loudly if I chew his fingers (or ears, etc). I am getting the message but I do get excited when I am playing.

Tuesday 8 April 2008

Newbury again

I had another great time at Daisy's. I met the first flat-coated retriever since leaving Lambourn and it was liver-coloured (in Newbury). I went for a walk on Snelsmore Common, one of Daisy's favourite places and I can see why.

Sunday 6 April 2008

My first snow

What is this white stuff? It wasn't here yesterday!

Saturday 5 April 2008

Scared

I was scared of a noise something like this horse on this morning's walk! I pulled all the way up the Bridle Path. I kept looking back but I couldn't see what it was. It didn't follow us thank goodness. I forgot all about it until Daddy did this blog for me.

We had a visit from Barking Mad Amanda when Daddy registered me for possible holidays in future.

The morning ended on a high note as I was invited to Auntie Avril & Uncle Roland's for coffee. I am really looking forward to Thursday's visit when they said they will be taking me to Westonbirt Arboretum while Daddy is going to the Malverns for a long walk.

Friday 4 April 2008

Damery

On Basil's recommendation, we went to Damery this afternoon. I really liked it. I had my first paddle in a river up to my tummy, but I didn't swim. Maybe next time.

Food again

I think Daddy has got the hint. He is adding real gravy and vegetables to my kibble and I really love it. (See http://dexter-fcr.blogspot.com/2008/03/its-not-fair.html.) It makes my food much more attractive. Maybe not unconnected, my coat is getting very wavy and shiny.

I am told there is another flat-coated retriever in the village (liver coloured) but I haven't met one yet.

Thursday 3 April 2008

Very warm

Just look at how long I am now! I've just had my warmest walk so far and I am now cooling off on the kitchen floor. I've got one beady eye on Daddy. Daddy says he has found this website which may be of interest to local inhabitants! It says it has peaked at 18 degs C this afternoon.

Tuesday 1 April 2008

Caught red-handed

I was caught tonight red-handed on a chair. Too bad! I am rather comfy. Anyway, the spots have disappeared!

Spots

I woke up this morning covered in spots. I could not get them off! I hope I don't have to go to the vet.