Wednesday 30 July 2008

Training

Had my last (14th) lesson in the starter class tonight. I need to practise with fewer commands and more hand signals. I have a tendency to wait for treats before obeying commands and I have been sussed, darn it! Apparently, the idea is for Daddy to train me and not the other way round.

I'm off to the Lakes tomorrow (yippee!) and so I start my new class in September.

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Help, I'm outnumbered

I suppose it's my own fault. I do tease cows and try to get them to chase me. Well today they got too close for comfort, so I ran for cover.

An evening at the pub

Went down to the Fox at Old Down last night and had a great number of admirers who spoilt me rotten. I would rate this pub as well as Daddy would, but for different reasons! He and I were puzzled by one question - did he get me 'to work'? That's got him thinking.

Monday 28 July 2008

Wedding

Well that was a tiring 24 hours! Amy and Tigger (2 springer spaniels) were kind enough to invite me into their home and 'looked after' me, while Daddy went to his nephew's wedding. I crashed out when I got home and slept it off, but I hope they will have me again. They've got a great garden and I found the pond.

Thursday 24 July 2008

Training

Went to training (13th lesson) last night and it was hot. Did some more bronze award training. I was alright on most things but Daddy hasn't been teaching me the down-stay, so I need to do more of that. Teacher said some of us should be moving up after the summer - scary!

It's even hotter today (***I'm 7th months today***) - over 33 degrees C in the garden, so I took a dip in my pond after my walks - that's very handy.

Daddy has been doing his social secretary bit and arranged for me to be at friends (and their masters) during his nephew's wedding on Saturday. Apparently, dogs and wedding outfits don't mix, I don't know why.

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Internal GPS

I impressed Daddy while I was staying with Daisy again during the last few days. I took him for a walk across the A4, under the Newbury bypass and into Bagnor where I know the river Lambourn is. I have been before, but only by car (to the Blackbird pub). Clever, eh?! I do anything for a swim. Daddy was gobsmacked.

Thursday 17 July 2008

Pawstretchers

Had my 12th lesson last night when we went through the Kennel Club Bronze Award requirements. Daddy needs more training than I do.

Earlier, we went to Pawstretchers to see about the possibility of 'day care' there. I really loved it and met what seemed like hundreds of other dogs in a large field. Came back this morning for a two hour session without Daddy. That was very successful as well and I came back very muddy. So I will be going there tomorrow for the whole day while Daddy goes for one of his long walks with his mates.

PS That day was great fun and I can't wait to go again.

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Stuck in the car

Had an awful day yesterday. Daddy went to a funeral in Warwick and I was in the car most of the afternoon. Fortunately, it was not too hot. Then, when we got back home, he went out without me. Where's the fun in that? However, things are looking up today. Went for a long walk and went visiting this morning.

Thursday 10 July 2008

My favourite walk

Daddy has been playing with his new toy. He is a lot happier now that he has got it to work. Apparently, his new mobile phone (Vodafone 1615) has an in-built GPS which gives him a position for the photos it takes and a tracklog of our walks (on Anquet maps). Here is the end result. I suppose I should be impressed. All I know is it is a jolly good walk and one of my favourites. I am now sleeping it off. For more information, see Daddy's own blog here.

Dexter's favourite walk - Widget powered by EveryTrail: GPS Geotagging

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Teckels

Went to my 11th training class today. We went through the foundation requirements and did a lot of mixing. Some new faces arrived and some are going up to the next class.

We got an invitation to Teckels Fun Dog Show on 7 September at Whitminster Inn. I do hope I can go.

Monday 7 July 2008

Wimbledon

Hooray! Wimbledon has now finished. I have been somewhat annoyed at the amount of time Daddy has spent watching grown men and women hit tennis balls at each other. I would much rather go and join them. Anyway, last night's men's final was an epic affair, or so I am told. It lasted so long that I went out for two rather foreshortened walks while it was going on. Hopefully, normal service can now be resumed!

Saturday 5 July 2008

I found a squirrel

I have just spent a few days in Newbury with Daisy. I like going there, not least because there is a river in whichever direction we go - the river Kennet and the river Lambourn. Here I am with some cygnets on the Lambourn Valley Way which goes through the Donnington Grove Golf Course. (Planning permission to divert this path has fortunately been denied.) We also visited Hungerford Marsh again which has a lot of water.

When I came back home, I saw my first squirrel. Well, it just had to be chased. To Daddy's great surprise, I jumped up a 7 foot high fence to try to reach it, but I couldn't and it disappeared up a tree. I think squirrels must have great fun.