February sunshine

The weather has been changeable to say the least.  One day rain, warm and windy, next day sunshine and eye watering cold.  Walks have been short some days so I bought a tray of lambs liver and cooked it, chopped it into cubes to use as treats to keep the dogs amused.  Lots of sitting, down and waits. 
I got out the tray of mixed fish (cod, salmon and smoked haddock!) to cook a pie for tea, but it was sell by yesterdays date. Sigh.  I put it in the microwave with a little water and told Kizzie she could have fish for her tea.  Whilst I waited for it to cook, we played a few games.  I left the fish in the microwave to cool and went back to whatever I was doing.  I overheard Brian talking to Murphy, who I understand was sat watching the bowl of liver.  B moved it out of reach and all was fine.


Some time later, I could hear Kizzie trying to tell Brian something.  She was running around and quite vocal.  Eventually I came to see what the matter was.  She took me to the microwave, sat and looked at it, then at me, then at it, then at me - all the time saying something in dog.  The fish was still inside. 


So, what did they have for their tea?  "I gave them that liver"  sigh.  They had fish for pudding and smacked their lips and asked for more. 






***postnote - I was awoken this morning by a very fishy lick.  Just what you need.

it is very difficult not to adore this big lump of gorgeousness. 

When Kizzie came to say good morning today she brought me a toy. She put it down and snuggled up.  Murphy came running, jumped on me, carefully reached in and gave me a gentle lick on my cheek.  Then he grabbed the toy and ran off.  Kiz looked at me and sighed. 

They are not allowed on my leather furniture.  Kizzie lies on Brian, careful to have every part of her on him and not the chair.  Murphy doesn't understand not allowed.


Today I have to stay in until either the courier delivers the package or Brian comes in.  So no walk yet.  Kizzie went and sat in the utility room and waited.  She looked at me, she looked at my scruffy shoes and sighed.  I washed the floor.  She nudged me and went back to her position.  I hope this package comes soon

January 2016 part 2

Kizzie is all grown up.  Murphy is as grown up as he will ever be, which isn't very.  My gorgeous, handsome, big lump of fluffy adorable boy still thinks he is a puppy. 

Murphy is rarely without something in his mouth.  He loves his ball and even throws his own and runs after it.  He loves squeaky toys.  He loves soft toys.  Murphy loves everyone.  (He doesn't like dogs except for Kizzie, he loves her).  Murphy also loves food and has been known to steal.  We always know it was him because he leaves whatever toy he had behind as evidence.  And he has this satisfied smile on his face.  And he smells of whatever he stole. 

Everyday is an adventure for Murph, he goes out for his walk, dancing and squeaking with excitement, anyone would think it is his first ever trip out.  His tail is a lethal weapon, going round and round like a helicopter blade when he is excited, or just swishing from side to side the rest of the time.  He likes to sit on people.  35 kilo of hairy gorgeousness on your lap is a bit of a test, but he is so lovely that most people just smile. 

Murphy doesn't roll in mud.  He doesn't roll in dead stuff either.  This is a good thing because Murphy doesn't agree with baths.  As soon as he see the towels coming out, he slopes off and hides.  It takes a huge amount of deviousness and cunning to get him near the bathroom.  Then he plants himself.  Trying to heave 35 kilos of unwilling dog into a bath is a job for superman.  Murphy doesn't mind rain so most of his baths involve Brian taking Murphy for a walk in the rain.  The wet dog smell subsides after a while..



Happy fifth adoption day Murphy

January 2015

Kizzie is all grown up.

Some habits die hard, she still likes to help to load the dishwasher

She still loves her blankie.


The training has gone really well.  Kizzie's communication skills have grown from strength to strength.  Even new visitors are taught stuff.  She first greats people appropriately (in her opinion) then shows them where the treats are kept.  She will then sit by the treats and wait patiently for one.  If the visitor doesn't understand, she nudges them, walks back to the treats and sits.  Then she looks at the visitor, looks at the treats.  If this doesn't work she does it again until the lesson is learned.  It has never failed.  (if you are wondering, Murphy simply waits to one side until the lesson is learned, then he steps forward for his treat)


I have been taught when it is time to get up. Kizzie jumps on the bed, lays next to me,  wraps her paws around my neck and snuggles.  She pushes her head into mine and says numnumnumnum. The she holds me still and washes my face.  (Murphy lays on my legs helping and washes my hands.)  I eventually am allowed to sit up, drink my tea and read email on my ipad.  They go off to watch for the postman and stuff.  The moment I close the cover on the ipad, Kizzie comes running, and the numnumnumnum, cuddles and face washing repeats.  She snuggles and cuddles and it is really really hard to find the will to get out of bed. 


The first thing we do every day is go for our walk.  We have several routes and I sometimes get to chose which way we go.  We meet people (sometimes she ignores everyone, and sometimes she lets people stroke her), we meet dogs (if she feels like it she has a run around and a play, if not, then she walks straight past).  Kizzie ignores cycles, joggers and is so well behaved I could bust with pride.  Sometimes she sees a cat.  I honestly don't mind the view from the inside of a bush.  She likes to lull me into a false sense of security, I walk along thinking how grown up and beautifully behaved Kiz is, then she finds a dead hedgehog.  I can cope with the mud, I can wash off bit of stinky dead hedgehog but I really really don't like fleas. 

Back from the walk, Kizzie snoozes whilst I tidy up. 

Sometimes she even sleeps in her bed. 

It has been a wonderful six years





Too canny for me

  Today Kizzie was walking along so nicely.  She picked something up and I told her to drop it.  It was a piece of woody material - someone had been trimming their hedge.  I gave her a treat for being a good girl.  *Three paces on, she picked up another bit, looked at me, spat it out and nudged my hand.  I gave her a treat.*  Repeat from * to *.   I ran out of treats before the road ran out of twigs ;)

head

 It was a lovely sunny day and me and Kizzie Whizz were out for a lovely long walk.  We came to a secluded path and I took the lead off so that Kiz could have a rummage and a sniff.  There is a lengthy ditch where Kizzie once found a packet of rich tea biscuits so she always has a lovely rummage in there.  I walked on.

After a short while I realised that she wasn't following me.  I called.  No sign.  I walked back and looked up and down the ditch.  No sign. I called.  I heard a rustling noise and she came running out of the bushes.

At first I thought she had a dead pigeon.  I hate taking those off her as they often disintegrate but as she came nearer my heart almost stopped.  There were fluffy brown ears sticking out of her mouth, no! not a baby rabbit.

I didn't dare try to take it off her, we were too close to the road and I knew she would run rather than hand over her treasure.  So I calmly turned and walked down the path.  She followed.  Then overtook me.  She was prancing along with her tail in the air as happy as can be.  The ears were jiggling up and down as she walked.  As I caught up I could see more and it became clear that they were not real rabbit ears.Phew, you can't know how happy O was/

Kizzie walked straight home, no sniffing or trying to get into other people's back gardens, she carried her treasure all the way.  It was only when we got home that I got her to show me what she had. 

The head has a ball inside, and has clearly been loved off it's body.  Some poor dog has lost his much loved and much chewed best friend.  I will take it back tomorrow and try to leave it where Kizzie stole it from.

 

 



Merry Christmas, may all your wishes come true. 

Dogs in need

Once upon a time, Kizzie would have charged around the house to stop me putting those ears on her head, there may have been pain.  Today, she just sat and sighed.    My girl is grown up.

I sorted out a pile of washing, whites in this pile, coloureds in that basket, brought the whites down to wash and lost Murphy.  He was sitting with his head buried in the basket of mucky socks!  He did eventually emerge but had a look of sublime bliss on his face.  I do believe he is a proper boy...

lollies

Would you look at the state of my lawn!  It's a good job I love the hooligans.

They are not usually this far apart, but they have treasure and are carefully guarding it from each other.  I buy goats yoghurt, add a piece of banana and sometimes honey.  I freeze approx. 2 tablespoons in little pots and they have one each on a warm afternoon.  They love it and I get ten minutes of peace and calm :)

There are rather a lot of balls in my garden.  Most are popped.  I keep a bucket full of tennis balls to throw for Murphy to catch.  It is easier to gather them all up, sit and throw.  He usually has three buckets and then has a rest.  Kizzie couldn't care less about balls unless it is to take his to tease him with it..

POST

every day we have a battle to get to the post before Kizzie does,either she takes great exception to things coming through the letter box, or she thinks it must be for her.  Whatever the reason, she barks like a mad thing, grabs the mail as it comes through and then runs to the window with it, waving it at the postman.
The usual solution to this was to shut the hooligans in the study whilst the postman delivered.  Sadly these days there isn't a time frame and the post comes at all times of the day.
We decided to teach Kizzie not to grab the post.  Much yelling of 'leave it' didn't make much difference so we moved to the punishment method.  When she grabs the post she has to lay in her space under the stairs until we say she can come out.

Today I watched her grab the post, wave it at the postman, drop it on the stool and run and lay under the stairs.  I guess she has decided the punishment is worth the crime.  Sigh!

July 2013

wet dog

one very wet dog just meandered through the house.  B said "how has she got so wet" as he ran past in the opposite direction.  Followed by "bl**dy dog!".  At the same time, a second quite wet dog sauntered in.
Someone (she shall remain nameless) had managed to turn the hosepipe on.  Goodness knows how much water we wasted but two hairy beings had a lovely time. 

What shall we do with the barking doggies
What shall we do with the barking doggies
What shall we do with the barking doggies
Early in the morning

Every morning they nugde and lick and gennerally mug B until he gets up and lets them out.  Murphy runs around convinced he has only just survived another night and BARKS.  I am convinced he is saying "Good Morning, it's morning, it's breakfast time"  Kizzie likes to keep her eye on her boy and so runs out and joins in.  B is in the kitchen weighing the daily food allowance.  At this point, I generally hang out of the bedroom window and yell (words along the lines of "GET INSIDE" - not really sure as I am asleep at this point)

I dive back under the duvet and close my eyes.  I can hear clinking of discs against bowls and the kettle boiling.  Then B lets them back outside for their after breakfast ablutions.

"Morning, I have had my breakfast, goodness isn't it a nice day, I am alive, is that a dog over there ..........."

This time I yell "can I have a cup of tea please".  Hearing my voice the hooligans come running upstairs and jump on me.  I get my morning mugging, cuddle and darn good licking.

Isn't life grand

steal? Who me

I treated myself to a box of Thorntons Vanilla Fudge for Easter.  380 grams of buttery goodness.  B just found the empty box on the bed.  Murphy has a smug look on his face and keeps licking his lips. 

I made a bit of a mess today

Murphy looks so much smaller, maybe he won't need to diet after all.  I left his ears for another day.



is it spring yet?

Kizzie loves this bed, it has her puppy cardigans to snuggle up to. 

whilst Murphy prefers what we call the 'number one' bed. 

There are other beds, bigger beds to stretch out in, and the stools are there for laying on and watching the world outside.  But at this time of year they do seem to like to curl up tight and sleep the afternoon away.

We are all enjoying the blue sky and are waiting for warm air and long days.  And no mud.  I am longing for days without mud...

snow

it snowed.  Kizzie had a run on the green on her way past this morning.  She loves snow and runs around kicking her heels and skidding head first.  A more sedate walk followed.  This afternoon I took the hooligans collars off and they had a lovely play in the garden.  Charging around, boxing each other and running into the bushes.  They are now curled up asleep, Kizzie has her head on the radiator.
 

thunder and stuff

I woke up this morning to the sound of thunder.  hmm, actually it was the sound of the hooligans thundering up the stairs.  I just had time to clamp my mouth shut before Murphy jumped on me and began the morning wash.  Once my face was cleaned to his satisfaction, he lay curled up next to me with his head on my ankles.
In the meantime, Kizzie had setlled next to my head, her paws wrapped around my neck and her face nuzzled into my shoulder.  She carefully washed those places Murphy had missed and then snuggled, making am ummmmming sound.
Although a cup of tea had magically appeared on my bed side table I didn't care to move so we all snuggled together for 5 minutes until I gave in and sat up.  The cup of tea was lovely.

Isn't life just perfect sometimes :)

I did get up eventually and have spent the last hour emptying the utility room because there was a peculiar pooy pong in there.  All surfaces were cleared and scrubbed.  Shoes cleaned.  Washing machine and tumbler pulled out and cleaned behind.  Sigh.  There is still a pong.  I am washing all the coats (theirs and ours) right now and will wash the rug later. 

Hooligans have had a walk and are laying within touching distance of me, fast asleep.

Life is still pretty perfect

baths

Baths so far in 2013

Kizzie = 2
Murphy = 1