Happy 10th Gotcha Day Franklin

Franklin celebrated his 10th gotcha day today, We loved his cake, sadly as he is not well he spent most of the day in the warm sleeping. I don't think I'm going to get that raw hide bone as although his no longer going on walks with me he still is very happy to eat and chew those chews.

Sorrel and the rottweiler

We met a new dog on the block on our evening walk today. The weather has been wet and miserable all day with only me and Ali going for a walk this morning and again this evening. Its too yucky for Franklin to come, he puts his four paws outside sniffs the air and returns inside, Ali doesn't blame him at all but I need to go for walks to get rid of some energy i have bottled up.

So our winter walks at weekends and on Wednesdays are no wood days as this is when the hunt are out and we don't want to get shot at. We went up the road to the plateau over the other side to a small hamlet where there are 3 dogs we say hello to. The farm on the corner usually has a spaniel type dog chained up all the time with a sheet of corrugated metal for shelter. Ali hates going past this farm as she feels for the poor dog but this is how many farm dogs are treated around here. Anyway the dog wasn't to be seen today, its probably not going to be seen again but what did greet us to Ali's shock after we had passed the farm and was going on our way up the road was a rather large black and tan dog. It didn't bark but was just there, now Ali didn't panic nor did I as we still get a bit concerned as how I will react with other dogs and people.

It had one of those choke collars on, it did look a bit scary but after it did the play bow thing we both sighed with relief, it was friendly. It bounded up the road with us trying to engage me in playing which I was not up for, not sure if it was because I was on my lead, wet and wind blown but I got a bit grumpy to Ali's amazement I even gave a growl and nip as she came towards me, yes she was a young female but didn't get the hint. We had to go back the way we came as Ali got worried we would be taking home a rather large dog and the farmer would be really angry that she was miss behaving and would get told off big time. So back we went, and yes she did get told off. Ali had a quick chat asking if she was female, young and friendly and her breed.

I think next time we see her she may be tied up as Ali is pretty sure as you need a special licence to keep rottweilers here they have to be in a secure environment, we may leave it a week or so when we go back on that walk while I reflect on my grumpy behaviour.

Chew update

Last week my chewing or no chewing was going quiet well I think. I did, to the humans announce chew repeatedly the kindling for the fire but as that didn't really harm any ones stuff I thought it would be OK, however it does make a bit of a mess on the rug. I had many raw hide chews managing to finish off my large one I had for Christmas, this wound Franklin up as he gets through chews really quickly, finishing his Christmas chew in a day. I guess his had quiet a few years practise on that front.

I only chewed one magazine although this might be Ali being on the ball and intervening my teeth investigating objects.She's done a bit researching dog chewing on the Internet and it could be I am anxious/ bored/ was never told not to chew as a puppy or teething (This last one has been ruled out as I'm not a puppy anymore).

 I must confess to what Ali puts down to possibly being bored when on Friday after a shopping trip I found the unopened 5litre box of red wine left next to our food bowls. Jamie found he chewed box first, he put it up on the cooker out of the way but he didn't realise I had put little bite marks in the plastic bag so when Ali came in she found a cooker top full of red wine. Just two and a half bottles were saved, I think I am helping save Jamie's liver although the gas hobs no longer works without a match but then it wasn't me who put it up there.

2016

We went out in the car for a walk along the river this morning. Sunny and warm we ambled along as there was so many new smells. We saw a sausage dog from the distance who's yapping we ignored as he isn't to friendly but we did say hello to Najac's nurse who was out jogging and I didn't try to flee from her, Ali thinks I'm improving with strangers.

So for 2016 I am going to try and hit my goal of being trained to come when out in the fields and maybe even the woods but that's a dream at the moment as my nose just gets takes over me as well as not stealing food that's not mine, to stop barking at strangers, to stop chewing and win over Jamie.

So today  I have not eaten anything apart from what I have been given. I only chewed a couple of bits of kindling wood but did also manage to find my way out of the gate which had blown open in the wind I ran to Ali when she called but got side tracked at the cows making a diversion up the drive. I did go very slowly so I could be caught so it wasn't to bad.

But at least I didn't throw up in the car on the way down the road, however it was a different story on the way back as just as we got into the drive I threw up. One day I will enjoy the car!'

Christmas

Well my first Christmas passed at the Stickler household and I mainly behaved myself. I was so pleased to see freya back and I even got on with Connor letting him stroke me. The only food that was stolen was a bag of Brussel sprouts, which Franklin and I left on the floor. Freya congratulated us on the theft but as they could be peeled she still had to eat a couple with her lunch. I didn't open any of the presents under the tree but did seem to enjoy standing under it making the decorations fall off.

Left to my own devices outside I did managed to pull the snowman decoration off the door, which Ali had put up as she didn't have time to make a wreath. I got that snowman well and truly and even a few wooden father Christmas decorations on the trees off cuts of branches that were tied in a pot outside and decorated.

I did manage to wind everyone up in the end with my large rawhide chew. Franklin finished his Christmas day, I still have mine which makes Franklin bark cause he wants it. It's now hidden for a while.

We had a family walk around a lake but needed to go in the car to it. I got as far as the car park before throwing up, at least it wasn't over anyone but it was a bit chilly on the drive back with the windows open. Being rather windy the other day the gate blew open and out I popped, amazingly when Freya called me I came back, how good of me was that, Ali thinks it was a one off.

However I have been in the bad books I managed to get the half sachet of calf's feed, thankfully it didn't give me any more energy like its suppose to with the calf. Then today me and my partner in crime were left a  lot in the kitchen because of the cows needing lots of human time so we found the pork stock that was defrosting for the turkey pie for tea tonight. It was like eating a giant popsicle. I also weed on the quilt this evening so I need to be very quiet and good. Not sure why I did it but now Ali has 2 quilts to take to the laundrette as Fizz the cat weed on one the other night which Ali found after she got into bed, that really didn't go down well as it was very late and meant changing the bed while under the influence of drink.

The Grinch

She looks so cute.

But already we have had the brussels and left outside she attacked the snowman hanging on the door and eaten the wooden Father Christmas decorations. Bless her, only accompanied lounge visits only

as the presents rest under the tree..

Pumpkins - you just can't trust them

Now who would of thought a small green pumpkin would spook me out but it did, boy did I bark. Freya was back this weekend to visit me and everyone else.

This afternoon she laid out one of her paintings to re cut using two pumpkins and empty bottles to hold the edges down. As I went out side to see what she was up to I couldn't help give a cry. Now Ali and Freya thought it was the painting until I side stepped, barking, backing away  and finally edging nearer to the pumpkin. It kept still, which was good, still enough for me to give it a sniff. I must be the only dog scared of a pumpkin but you see its not usually on the floor and caught me off guard. Don't tell Ali but I don't think that collar she brought is working.