New Vehicle

Here I am in the back of the Nissan Navara STX. We had to get a new car so that all my stuff could fit when we go away in the caravan. I need my trolley, beds, blankets, towels and all the things a girl just can not travel without. K and K also need some stuff, so when their stuff and my stuff were stuffed in the Xtrail, well, we were stuffed for room. If you want to buy the Xtrail, see Edwin at Unley Nissan and tell him Tiffany sent you, but be quick.
The Navara has long range tanks so we could get to Sydney without refueling, and we have a canopy ordered for the back.
I will be traveling in the cab in my travel bed, where the air conditioning works. There was no suggestion that I would ride in the back with the equipment, I was just posing for the photo!

Growing

I have started to get my Big Dog coat. Long hairs on my ears, tail and legs and there are lots of new long hair on my body. Kathy keeps combing out the puppy fur, but there is still lots of it left.
I got a new ball a few days ago. It rolls about, but it also has handles all over it so I can get my teeth into it. K&K keep throwing it away then tell me to fetch it. I do a few times, but if they really want it, why do they keep throwing it away?
We have been to lots of new places where I can explore and meet new people and dogs. The trouble is, after about twenty minutes I have to have a lie down for a while.

Baths - or The 'B' word

I go to so much trouble getting my perfume right, mixing partially composted leaves, old flowers, essence of birdlime and that elusive eau de possum, until it is perfect. I get my fur with just enough knots and sticky bits to be fashionable, and then they come along and bath me! The soap has a terrible smell and I lose all my street cred. How can I face other dogs if I look like a fuzz ball and smell like a French tart’s boudoir?
They even did a video showing the cruel and in-canine treatment. See the video link.

I had two days meeting dogs. At the dog trials there were lots of people and dogs queuing to see me. I had to turn them away in the end so I could get some sleep. Then after the trials we went to see Clara and Lottie, but Clara is getting on a bit and did not want to play.
A couple of days later I went to the dog club to meet more people and dogs. I went in a class so that Bev could tell Keith how to look after me, and I got to play with Millie the Labrador. Afterwards I went over to the trial dogs to watch Kathy putting them through the competition routines.

Over the back fence is the dog park. Now that the vaccinations are at full strength I can go out there for a walk. We don’t go far, just up to the creek then across to the oval and back home. There are a few owners that are not doing the right thing as there are quite a few ‘barkers’ eggs’ on the ground. It is not much fun for other users of the grounds to step in them and when the kids playing sport fall over and get a face full of yesterday’s Pedigree Chicken and Veg it upsets parents. If it happens too often then the council simply ban dogs from the area. Fortunately, most owners do the right thing, but there are always a few irresponsible dog owners.

The Hole

Why is it that every time a hole appears in the lawn, I get the blame?
I was just minding my own business, outside, when I suddenly find I am being blamed for a hole that just spontaneously occurred near where the water from the washing machine is piped to the lawn. Why would they think it was me? The blackbirds are always digging under the leaves, the possums are running around all night, it could have been anyone, but I get the blame. My muddy feet and nose in the picture are just circumstantial evidence, not proof.
I have been declared out of quarantine, so I can go out to meet other dogs and people. I have been practicing wearing my collar and having short walks on a lead, so I will be out and about meeting all the people and dogs that have wished me well.

11 weeks and growing

Last week I went to see Dr. Sally. She poked and prodded me, gave me my final shots, and declared me fit and well. I already knew that, but Kathy needed the reassurance. I also got some treats, so I wont mind going back to see Dr. Sally.

My hidey-hole has been discovered! I can not cause panic by disappearing anymore. Keith found me on top of the storage box under the bed, mainly because I am getting too big to fit on there and I made a noise trying to get off.

Today I went for my first walk out side. I was on a lead and Keith and Kathy walked me on to the street, past the neighbours and across the street then home again. Not much of a walk, but K&K seemed pleased. They even gave me a biscuit when I got back. It doesn't take much to make them happy.

The picture shows me jumping off the edge of the patio on to the lawn. My best jump is to run into the lounge, jump on to Kathy's sewing box, then onto the arm of her chair and land on her lap. Keith said I am the perfect dog for 18 hours a day. The rest of the time I am awake.

Scary Things

Every dog needs a hobby, and I have discovered the Joy of Leaves. I have started a Leaf Collection and already have lots of them. The pic shows me selecting a particularly fine example. My leaves are all kept by my bed, but somehow they keep disappearing. I will have to keep an eye on them to see where they go.
There have been some scary things happening. Last night the TV started playing through the stereo system and that made the floor shake. Well I was off like a shot and hid under the bed and would not come out until it stopped. It does not normally do that, this time they were playing a DVD, maybe that was what did it.
Then today I was having a mid-afternoon nap when the floor started shaking again, but this time there was a high pitched whine as well. I saw Keith wrestling with this monster that was trying to run away, but Keith had hold of its tail and kept dragging it back. They went all over the carpet like that. When I got a chance, I slipped out to the garden and hid in the agapanthus. Eventually Keith must have won because he came and got me and there was no sign of the monster. Keith called it a Vacuum Cleaner. Maybe it is the Vacuum Cleaner monster that keeps stealing my leaf collection.

The First Week

I have been in my new home for one week now. There have been some visitors with presents, but as I have not had the Final Shots I can not go out much. The picture shows me wearing the bow I got from Auntie Wendy and Uncle David.

I have been asked so many times,"What is a Duck Toller?" so I have made a video to explain it. Just click on the link under 'Video Links' to the left of the page.

I have got a great game to play. I pretend to be asleep, then when no one is watching I sneak away to my hidey hole and they can't find me. I can stay in the hidey hole for ages while Keith runs round the house looking for me! Great fun.

Car trips are allowed, so I have been out to the shops to buy my food, and a trip to see Kathy at work. Its not too bad, except I get locked up in a cage so I can not walk about and help with the driving.

Well, its time for dinner, so I had better go and make sure they get my food ready.