Hamish Labradoodle

Friends

2011-08-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Boo and I met two great new friends this summer. Lisa and Brad lived at our house for a few weeks while Margaret & Shirley were on holiday and they were the best fun ever.

We had loads of walks and ball games and lots of cuddles.

When they went away we were pretty sad... especially Boo who sat under Brad's chair in the dining room for two days.

It's such hard work

2011-06-11T08:03:00.000-07:00

The girls have shampooed the lounge carpet. It smells quite vile. It had taken Boo and me months to get it just right and now all our work is ruined.

Boo was trying really hard this afternoon rubbing his face the length of the carpet trying to put his scent back. I feared he would get carpet burn so I was relieved to find he'd fallen asleep in the middle of his efforts.

We were away last weekend in the motorhome and we had fabulous walks along the river Tweed and through the town of Innerleithen. I like it there ... and so do they judging by the fact that they were online as soon as we got back looking at houses for sale.

Only one small complaint ... I got a tick. Those sheep are a dog health nuisance. Shirley got it out with her magic tick remover thank goodness.

Mud versus snow

2011-02-17T00:42:00.000-08:00

Well Margaret didn't like the snow but she doesn't seem to like the mud either. What is her problem?

We used to bring the snow into the kitchen on our legs and she would rush round with a mop telling us that someone would break their neck on the wet floor. Now we bring the mud in the same way and she keeps making the floor wet with that mop of hers!

There is apparently no logic to the human mind but in her defence she does take us walks, play with us, teach us tricks and most importantly gives us our food so I'll learn to live with her strange ways.

What's she doing down here?

2010-12-21T02:00:00.000-08:00

Margaret doesn't like the snow. I can't understand it. It's brilliant stuff and I get kind of excited every time we go out in it. I'll let you into a small secret. I do quite enjoy burying the wee one in it. He looks funny with ice blobs in his black fur - but boy does he get his own back when I'm asleep by the radiator after we get home.

Anyway, Margaret was having trouble staying on her two feet. I've always said that four were better but she can't help her limitations. Out walking she seemed to slide along behind me so I put on an extra effort pulling her as hard as I could. She said some dirty words which I think is a bit much now we have a wee one to consider.

Yesterday she was all excited. She got some funny things to put on her boots. Right enough after she put them on she could walk much faster which was fun but when I tried to do the pull her along behind stunt she just tipped forward straight into a snowdrift.

I got a surprise when I turned round and we were eye to eye. She wasn't pleased. Funny that.

Middle age

2010-11-15T02:47:00.000-08:00

I'm five. It doesn't sound like much to a human but I can tell you I'm feeling my age.

The girls give me half the food I used to eat as a one year old and I'm still putting on weight.

Perhaps this is due in part to my habit of finishing Boo's food for him when he gets bored with it and wanders off but given what I could once put away I feel distinctly miffed.

I heard the vet say that having my sphericals removed would cause me to put weight on but did they listen? No they did not. The friskiness has gone and so has the waist line.

Now the dinners are getting smaller.

Good thing I'm a happy doodle isn't it?

My friend Lorraine

2010-05-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Boo and I have just been to our friend Lorraine's for an overnight stay. I've been there lots of times but this was Boo's first visit. There are always loads of friends to play with at Lorraine's house because she is a brilliant dog sitter. We had loads of fun. Boo got to sleep outside his crate for the first time, which according to Margaret was very brave. Boo is a brave wee chap it's true but I think it was Lorraine's bravery Margaret was referring to. Fortunately he behaved very well and didn't disgrace us. Isn't it strange how much room little ones take up in the bed though? He's all knobbly knees and feet.

I was thinking that all we really need in life is a warm and safe place to sleep, good food and our people nearby. Maybe Margaret should remember that when she's hankering for that motorhome...

Holidays!

2010-04-22T10:37:00.001-07:00

We've been on holiday in the caravan. To let you understand; I am a very experienced caravanning Doodle but the wee one had never been before. He wasn't very sure at first and to tell you the truth he did two piddles on the caravan carpet which didn't go down at all well with Shirley and Margaret. Give the dude a break! He was way out of his comfort zone.

By the second day he was well into the swing of it; all those extra walks and loads of people to bark at as they walk past the caravan. I really don't mean to get on the girls' nerves but it's just too tempting. It's especially good fun when the person walking by hasn't seen you and you let out a great big woof. Boy do they jump!

Sadly Margaret has been reading another dog training book and they didn't put up with this behaviour for long. Shame.

The sleeping arrangements were a bit different this time, now that there are two of us. Boo and I got our own bedroom! How about that for special eh? We had an inner tent in the awning with all our toys and Boo's crate in it. It was grand.

Walkies

2010-03-10T03:33:00.000-08:00

Today Boo came out for his first pack walk with me and the girls. You should have seen his little legs pumping along trying to keep up with my big ones. That dude is cute.

We met some other guys in the park but I told them to back off. Leave the little guy alone I said ... or you'll have me to answer to.

Boogle the Poodle

2010-03-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

I have a little brother at last. About time too don't you think? He is a miniature poodle called Boogle; 10 weeks old weighs less than 2 kilos and a bundle of black curls.

We're getting on just fine. We play and sometimes curl up together to sleep - although he has his own crate for night times - just until he's house trained.

It's kind of funny watching Shirley and Margaret dashing out the front door every hour or so trying to teach him where to pee. Most of the time he gets it right and then he gets a reward but sometimes he leaves little puddles around the place. Margaret says she's thankful it's a little dog this time. When I used to do that it was a pint of pee - Boogle can only manage a tablespoonful. Wimp.

I'm not sure if I'm right but ....

2010-02-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

There are plans afoot to get me a little friend. They think it's a secret. Obviously they don't realise how much I can understand. I'd have to be pretty stupid not to understand conversations that start with "I wonder how Hamish will react when we bring a puppy home." Bless...

Anyway, here's the thing. I'll be fine with a new pup as long as it understands who the boss is around here. It's Margaret ... and sometimes it's Shirley ... but then when they're out it's me. As long as we get that clear it'll be just fine.

Oh by the way ... apparently it's going to be a poodle. So we're kinda related already.

Come on girls, get a wiggle on. I'm looking forward to this in a laid back labradoodle sort of style.

It's snowing!

2009-12-18T00:37:00.000-08:00

I love snow. It's the best thing ever. I roll in it and eat it and throw it about. Talk about getting in touch with your inner pup! There's only one thing I don't like about it - after I get home the little balls of icy snow on my under belly melt and I find myself lying in little puddles of cold water. Getting up and moving to a dry, warm bit of floor over and over again disturbs my post walk nap. Shirley and Margaret don't like stepping in them either. I don't know why they make such a fuss though - they're not trying to sleep on the wet bits.

Coming home

2009-09-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've been staying with my friend Lorraine for two weeks while Margaret & Shirley were in France.

At home I'm the only dog. At Lorraine's I get to play with other dogs every day.

I used to really miss them when they went on holiday and I still hate it when I see the suit cases coming out of the spare bedroom.

I would never choose to be apart from my people but I've learned that they will always come back to get me.

The Dog Whisperer

2009-08-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

Last night Margaret did the ironing and while she was doing that she watched the Dog Whisperer on TV. Something weird always happens when she watches that. She becomes all assertive and won't let me away with anything.

It's disconcerting to say the least.

Thank goodness he's only on once a week.

Starting over

2009-08-24T06:37:00.001-07:00

Losing ones blog is not so bad really. It's always a good thing to start afresh don't you think?.. and anyway I was just a pup in the previous one and now I'm fully grown.

So what's with the dog's blog anyway?

I reckon that I view the world a little differently from you humans - well for a start off I see it from about a metre further down than you hehe!

From where I stand things are simple:

Can I eat it?
Can I play with it?
Can I sleep on it?
Can it hurt me or one of my people?

Are other things really that important?