Townsville

We went for a drive to Townsville where we climbed to the top of Castle Hill. It was steep, narrow and tiring, but the Navara Diesel coped well with it. Some poor dogs had to walk the 2.9 km up there so the council has put a dog water fountain alongside the human water fountain. Here I am at the top looking towards the Townsville beaches. I had a run on the dog beach, and found some sea glass.

We moved on yesterday to Innisfail. It started raining 2 hours before we arrived and has not stopped. I had a brief run on the paddock behind the park and since then it is just a quick trip out and then back inside to get out of the rain. Playing fetch under the caravan annex is not much fun.

Tropical Life

It has been a beautiful day here in Tropical Queensland. I have had my morning run on the big open space at the back of the caravan park, then we went for a drive into Ingham. When we got back I went for another run and then had to have a lie down in the shade of the palm trees surrounding the caravan.

What a tough life I have.

Turkey Spotting

There I was minding my own business when a Bush Turkey came wandering past. I was in my run in the annex of the van so I could not get out to see what he was doing, all I could do was watch. The van is in Midge Point Caravan Park in the Whitsunday region.

There is lots of wild life here. On the beach I chased hundreds of tiny crabs, then later on I went for my evening loo walk and there were several Cane Toads jumping around, but Keith would not let me near them. Tomorrow I will be exploring Midge Point again.

Dog Wash.

Here I am in a Public Dog Wash! No privacy, all the world looking on and me wet through in the trough. I have never been so embarrassed in my life. What made it worse was that it had been vandalised and the owner was repairing it. He had to stick his finger in the mechanism to make it work.

After the bath I did feel better, and I had lost my doggie smell, but it wont take long to get it back.

We have been touring again, round Rockhampton. Keith tried to get me in to the Rockhampton dog club for a training session, but we had missed their training night and they did not want visitors anyway. Maybe I can get in next week at Mackay.

Beach Girl

Today was spent as a tourist. We went to Bundaberg then on to the Beaches. Lunch was at Kelly Beach, where I went for a walk amongst the volcanic rocks. KnK set up the photo of me standing on one of the rocks.

The next beach was at Elliot Head where we walked for miles.

We were going to go further on to another beach, but I had had enough and curled up in my travel crate and went to sleep.

I was looking for sea glass on the beach, (Auntie Wendy collects it) but I could not find any. It just goes to show, dog owners do not take bottles to the beach as there is never any glass on a dog beach!

On the move again

We are moving again. Today we left Esk and went to Lake Monduran via Ban Ban Springs. There I am in the pic outside the store.

I liked Esk, there were lots of people to pat me and the people at the Caravan Park were really nice to me. There was a puppy I got to know on the walk down to the creek, and I was beginning to know my way about, then we upped sticks and left!

The new place has a big area for me to run, only a few metres from our site, so I can get lots of exercise, but we will not be here for long so there is no point in making friends with anybody.

There was a dead cane toad near the road but I was not allowed to investigate it. Even dead ones are dangerous, so I was dragged away. It seems there are a lot of nasties in Queensland, what with ticks, toads and taipans a dog is not safe at all. Maybe that's why KnK keep yelling at me every time I go off to sniff something.

New Video Added

I have put up a video of Freddy and me playing at the dog club grounds just before we left for Esk.
We kept this up for ages, but the video is just 25 seconds.
The music is The Sabre Dance played on chainsaws by the Texas Chainsaw Orchestra.
Click on the "Tiffy and Freddy" link under Video Links on the left of the screen.

Running with Freddy

The trials are over, and I was not in them. KnK were judging all day and I was left on my own for most of the day. However, when we were packing up to leave, Freddy the Poodle came to visit and we spent ages just running and playing all over the paddock.

We had to leave eventually, and we are back at Esk with the big walk round the back of the caravan park.

I slept all the way to Esk, and also while the van was setup. I went for a walk near the creek then went back to sleep. I really did have a big run with Freddy!

How I Travel

I have found a really good way to travel. I climb up on top of my soft crate and stretch out. It is springy, comfortable, I can see out of the windows and I can bite Kathy's hair without moving. The only down side is I have to get down to get to my water.

We had a short drive today so it was over in just one nap.

I am having the tick treatment so I will have a greasy spot on the back of my neck for a few days. Still, that's better than one of them horrible ticks sucking at my blood.

Long Drive again.

Tonight I am in Goondiwindi, in Queensland, a long way from where I was last night. I have been in the car all day, sleeping mostly with just a few minutes outside for a leg stretch. We had a stop at Gilgandra while I had a walk in the park, (see pic,) and a walk at lunchtime. The rest of the time I was in the car.

We had a bit of excitement when a man called us on the CB to tell us to get off the road as a huge truck was coming, and earlier there was a herd of cows wandering about on the road, but that was about it.

When we got here I was playing fetch on the nearby paddock, when I saw this huge fan up in the sky, a Windmill KNK called it. It put me off my game so I would not do anything until KnK took me round it. I'm still not sure it is safe.

Travelling again

I am on tour again going to Queensland. Last night was freezing cold, and when I went out for my morning ablutions, the grass was white and crunchy. We were at Burra on a big oval where I could run and chase a ball, until Keith got cold and had to go inside.

We left Burra early and got to Broken Hill where I went for another run in a park. The picture shows me bringing back my ball. I did a bit of training, a lot of playing and finally back to the caravan where I can have a well earned sleep.

Champion Tiffany Community Companion Dog

At 15 months I have letters before my name AND after. Today I got the third pass in the CCD Class, and won the class too, so my full name is now Champion Sherbrooke Tiffany Ale, CCD. Here I am with my first place trophy and sash.
Yesterday I gave Keith a fright when I turned towards Judge as she came to examine me, but I only moved my front feet and still got a Qualification in CCD. Today was the third pass, so I did behave better. That is until the down stay when I had a sniff and wriggled a bit. It all helps to keep Keith on his toes.

Champion Tiffy

I DID IT! At nearly 15 months old I have the 100 points to be an Australian Champion. KnK have to go into the office to claim my title, and that makes my title official.

It has taken a long time. I have been through all sorts of training, grooming, trimming, bathing, and traveling, but now I am a Champion.

99

I am on 99 points for towards my Australian Champion title.

I just have to get one more point and then I will be a Champion. There is one show tomorrow, and if I get the challenge, that will be IT.

We are at Red Cliffs, in the caravan again. I had my bath, hair trim, foot trim and brush up before we left on Friday so I was all ready for the show today. The trip up here was over quickly. I got in the car at home, had a quick nap then had lunch at a roadside stop, then had another nap, and we were here. Don't know why KnK were so tired after such a quick trip.

Going for a walk around the oval, then an early night to get ready for tomorrow.

Community Companion Dog part 1

I have had busy weekend at the dog trials. On Saturday I was in a trial where there were lots of kids playing soccer while I was in the ring. At one point I had to wait for 20 seconds while they moved a couple of kids away from the fence because the ball was distracting me. Well they were right, I got too interested in the game and lay down in the Recall and blew my first attempt at a trial.

Next day we were in another trial, and this time I passed. The picture shows me in the middle of the Recall where I have to run to Keith as quickly as I can. I am in mid-air in the photo, showing how fast I can run.

After the trial I was given a ribbon and a certificate. I need 2 more certificates to get the letters CCD after my name. Not bad at 14 months, Keith took 20 years to get letters after his name!

Port Pirie

Here we are at Port Pirie for the dog trials. We stopped at Port Wakefield for a loo break on the way up yesterday, then came here in time to meet up with Freki, so there have been the three of us having a ball so far. We went for a walk across the causeway for about an hour, then came home, got fed then we collapsed while the humans had their food. Tomorrow we are back at the trial for the morning then we go exploring again.

Bert has to go home when we get back, so we are making the most of our time together.

Bert is Back

Bert has come to stay for 3 weeks! I missed Scruff when he had to go, but now Bert is here I have another live-in playmate. We are playing Tug in the picture. We have toys all over the house so where ever we go there is a toy to play with. Kathy keeps spoiling the fun by picking them up and putting them in the box, but we just spread them out again as soon as she is not looking.
I am learning how to do agility weaving poles using the 2 X 2 method. This means that I occasionally run through some poles stuck in the ground and Keith gets excited and throws a ball for me. It does not take much to entertain the humans.

Scruff's Visit

Scruff has come to visit for a week. He is staying with me while his humans are away. We spend all day playing until we are exhausted, then we have to have a nap. The best game is Chasey, we go running flat out through the house until KnK start yelling at us and kick us outside, but we just run back in through the dog door when they calm down.

I am going to miss having a live-in playmate when Scruff has to go back in a couple of days.

Back to normal

After all the excitement of Easter, we are back to the routine life. I am learning Agility on Thursday nights, learning Obedience on Tuesday nights and going to trials at the weekends. Kathy said I can not get into another show until June because we are all booked up.

Keith disappeared for 3 days, so when he came back and I gave him a good licking. They say I should not reprimand when he comes back, but if he does it again I will bite him.

At last I can now settle down to an afternoon nap under his desk.

Skinny Bum

It seems that my bum is too small! The judge said my pelvis was too small and would cause concern if I had pups so he refused a challenge. However the next two judges said I was fine and gave me my points, and then another judge refused the challenge, but did not say why. On the last day I was Best of Breed again.

So out of the 5 shows I got 18 points towards my title. This leaves me needing only 7 more points. Ah well, I will have to do some more shows now.

Showtime

There are 5 shows at Mt Gambier this weekend, and I am in all of them. If I get the points, I could be an Australian Champion, just keep your paws crossed.

We got down the Mount early so I have had time to fill in the blog, Keith took the picture of me trying to think what to write.

Last night we stayed at Keith (the town) as we started out late as usual, partly because I had to have a shampoo, manicure, pedicure and a coiffure.

Anyway, I have to get off the computer as the humans want it back, I will write as soon as I know the results of the shows.

Molly's Visit

Molly came to visit for a few days, along with her mum, and Susan. They were here for a 50th birthday party for Audrey's mum, (that's 350 in dog years) but we were not invited. We had to stay home while the humans went out for the afternoon.

It has been fun having the extra people around to pat me and Molly, but they will all be going home soon.

I have been learning Agility. I can do it but Keith is too slow and can not get round quick enough to show which jump is next. He gets upset if I pick one, so I will just have to find some way of making him run faster.

One Year Old today

I have been alive for a year today. KnK dressed me up in a silly hat and put a birthday cake in front of me for the picture and told me to look happy. Well, would you?

I have had a good time in my first twelve months, I have seen Lake Eyre with water in it, seen Parliament House in Canberra, crossed desserts, been in floods, climbed mountains and played in rivers. I have 78 points towards my show title and would have had a CCD in obedience if I had not come in season just before the trials. Not every day was good. There was the time I got bitten by an insect and my face was swollen, then I got my foot stuck in a chair and could not walk for a day, and there was the time the mad dog attacked me at Tailem Bend, but overall my first year has been a good time.

Horses

We went for a drive to Seaspray, which is a seaside town near Sale, to look at the Ninety Mile Beach, but it was so hot we did not stay long. These horses were near the car park and I stopped to have a chat and a sniff. I tried to get them to play, but all they did was look at me then continued to eat grass. They must have had a really crook stomach to eat all that grass.

I am having the last few days of my adventure, moving on every day, and should be home about Wednesday.

The Dog from Snowy River

Here I am at the McKillop Bridge over the Snowy River. The surrounding area is National Park, so I had to stay on the road and in the car. The animals in the National Park are frightened of dogs, and just the scent of me could upset them, so I have to stay out of the parks. Its a bit sad really, because the only thing that I have ever bitten is my dinner so they should not be afraid of me.

When we were clear of the park I had a run near the Buchan River and got wet chasing pebbles that Keith threw.

Orbost

It finally stopped raining and we have moved on. The pic shows me at a rest stop between Eden and Orbost where we stopped for lunch.

I had another dose of the anti-tick medicine because we are still in paralysis tick country. It leaves a greasy stain on the back of my neck that I can not reach to give it a good licking, and it makes me feel a bit depressed. I did make up for it though, because KnK went to a restaurant and left me in the car, so I ate a packet of crown mints. That really gave me a sugar rush and I was up all night playing. They won't leave me alone in a car again.

Rainy Sunday.

The Sapphire Coast Saturday show was wet. It rained, then rained some more. I was so wet I had to shake the water off me in the show ring, see pic. Kathy was wet through, water was running over everything, yet I still got Best of Breed. This takes me to 78 points towards my Champion title, but I need 25 points after my first birthday so I can not get any more until March. This is a relief because the Sunday show started at 8:30 am and it was still raining, so I did not have to go.
Instead we got up late, went for a walk to the beach and back during a break in the rain, and had a day drying out, or trying to dry out. Its still raining and the forecast is for more rain. I will just have to stretch out on my bed and catch up on my sleep!

72 points

72 points towards my title. We have two more shows to do then we come home. The pic shows the moment the judge pointed to first place and made me Best of Breed, at the Sapphire Coast Friday show.

I have been designated a Princess. Today it was raining heavily when we got up and when Keith took me out for my morning walk, I stuck my nose out of the annex and promptly went back in side. You should not let a human out in weather like that! Anyway, after that Keith keeps calling me Princess Tiffany.

Got to go, getting ready for show number 2.

Tiffany the Tourist

Tilba Tilba is a little village set up for tourist. We went for a walk along the street and stopped for the photo of me outside the Internet Cafe. We spent the day looking at the little villages and beaches along the coast, and where there was a sign that said dogs could go on them we went for a walk up the beach. KnK collect sea glass for Auntie Wendy, but the funny thing is there is no glass on the dog beaches. Does this mean dog owners are more environmentally friendly? or does it mean the drunks only go to non-dog beaches?

The dog shows start on Friday so we have one more day as a tourist then it is back to the grind. I have to get all prettied up and behave all day just for the show.

Hopefully I will get the 100 points soon and can retire.

66 points now

The show for the Saturday went ahead, and I got Best of Breed again, making me worth 66 points to my Champion title.
I came into season too. I know that when it is duck season the ducks get shot, so I am not sure what is going to happen but I am keeping a low profile just incase.
KnK were busy at the trial so there is no picture today.

60 points!

I have done it again, Best of Breed at Bermagui in NSW. This takes me to 60 points towards my champion title, but what a way to do it. It started raining yesterday, thunder and lightning all night, then the annex on the van failing in the middle of the night so KnK had to go out and fix it, which meant that I did not get any sleep at all. Then at the show, the grounds were flooded with just a little dry (well, less wet) patch for me to run on. The pic shows me in the assembly ring getting ready to go in. The water is over Kathy's shoe and I am up to my hocks in it. Despite all this, I still mange a Best of Breed. I hope tomorrow is better, but it has not stopped raining yet.

The trial tonight has been cancelled as there is no dry land showing in any of the trial rings and as there is a high tide and the grounds will not drain.

Where the dog sat on the Tuckerbox.

It seems that whenever a dog visits Gundagai we have to sit on a box of tucker, whatever that is. Anyway, here I am following the local tradition. We did not have a tucker box, so we turned my toy box upside down and I sat on that.

After the photos, we went a bit further down the road, about five miles, and there we found the source of the tradition,

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Someone wrote a poem about the dog that sat on a food box and so there is a memorial, or tourist trap, built to mark the spot.

So, here I am again at the official site of the dog on the tucker box.

Murrumbidgee

There’s a track leading back to an old fashioned shack along a road to somewhere or other near where I am in the picture. It’s the Murrumbidgee river that is flowing past Darling Point which is a town just across the Hay Plain. I slept most of the way across the Hay Plain, but every time I looked up the scenery was the same, flat, long straight road ahead, no trees.

My new Mobile Kennel works very well. Two nights in it and I have got the routine worked out already. I jump on the bed, lick the nearest face and the door opens so I can get out. Its tough being a Toller.

My New Mobile Kennel

Here I am in my new mobile kennel, KnK bought it yesterday so I can travel in comfort. It is colour coded to match my coat and there is even a shower and toilet for the humans.( But no lawn area for me. What am I supposed to do on a cold wet night?) Anyway, there is lots more room for everybody, but it is only a little bit longer than the old one so it will still fit in the front yard.

We will be trying it out in February when we go to NSW for a while so there is a lot of work to do fitting all the little luxuries that need to be installed before we go away.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. We stayed home on New Year's Eve, I had to make sure the humans did not get scared by the fireworks. KnK spent the night eating oysters, prawns, calamari, scallops and whiting, while all I got was a plate of chicken and rice. I even sat at the table with my best ears on, but it did not do any good.

We went to Port Wakefield earlier this week to get the fish from Mathews Fish Shop, lots of local produce direct from the fisherman.

There were a lot of bangs and flashes at midnight that woke me up so I went out to see what was going on. Lot of noise in the distance, but nothing to bark about.

I got a message from Archer, my half brother /cousin. He will be at his new home with Michelle for Christmas so maybe we will get to meet in the new year. Archer and I have the same father, Rio, but his mum is my aunt Cherry, so he is my half brother/cousin or "brothsin". Dogs don't go in for all that monogamy stuff, we are here for a good time, not a long time.