Becoming a Helper Dog

This morning Ruth made me a special breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon and then she took me for a walk by the river and had a bit of a cry while I played in the long grass. When we got home she packed up all my toys (80 or so) and my bed and my food and my treats.

She gave me lots of strokes and a hug when she said goodbye. She told me I'm a big puppy girl now and ready for the next stage of my training. She said I'll be the best helper dog ever but if there's ever a time when I can't be a helper dog I could come back and live with her and Eric and that would make them the happiest people in the world.

Visiting Elmo

This is a photo of me and Elmo looking smart in our special Canine Partners coats.

Today I went to see my brother Elmo at his house. He lives with Carol and Gareth and their children Abi and Jamie. I liked playing with Abi and Jamie. Abi threw a ball and I ran and got it and brought it back. Elmo doesn't like retrieving things yet but he did like running round and round the garden and play fighting with me. Elmo is going to start the next part of his training next week and so am I. I wonder what the next stage of our training will be.

Cambridge

Today Ruth took me on a long car journey to somewhere called Cambridge. We met Keli and Gil and they made a big fuss of me – which I liked. But then a swan on the river hissed at me – which I didn’t like. I had a jumbo bone while they had lunch in the restaurant. The waitress gave me some water and Ruth gave me the ice cubes from her drink. I liked crunching them.
I practised walking on my loose lead around Cambridge which is what I'll do when I'm a fully trained helper dog.

Chicken and Rice

My tummy was a bit poorly and I couldn’t concentrate at puppy class so Ruth made me some chicken and rice and we had lots of cuddles.

Bedford Park

Ruth’s been taking me to all my favourite places. Today we went to Bedford Park and I met Sharon and her dog Pippa. Pippa and me played and played and then we went back to Sharon’s house so Pippa and me could play some more. Mainly we played chasing and tug of war.

Keys

Ruth taught me to do something new today. She told me to wait in the kitchen and then she went into the living room and hid her keys and then I had to find them. I could find them just about everytime - even when she hid them in my toybox and in my crate and on the stairs and the sofa. Ruth thinks I'm very very clever. Her keys have a special smell that makes them easy to find (it's because she dropped them in something yucky and even though she cleaned them they still smell a bit funny to me).

After all that hard key finding I needed a rest.

Canine Partners

Eric and Ruth asked Canine Partners if they could keep me. They offered lots and lots of money. But Canine Partners said no because I might make a very good canine Partner dog one day and change someone’s life.

PRIORY PARK

We went to Priory Park today and I had a paddle and a swim and got to say hello to lots of other dogs.

VETS

I had to go to the vets today because I was poorly over the weekend. The vet wanted me to wee in a little bottle so she could see what bacteria was causing my urine infection. But I didn’t want to wee when the vet wanted me to. So Ruth had to collect the wee when we got home. The vet says I’ll be better very soon.

Bronze

Today I took my bronze kennel club exam. I did everything right apart from you have to stay sitting or lying down for 1 minute. I lay down for a whole minute but when Ruth walked back to me I sat up – so I failed. They said I can try again another time.
Ruth and Eric still think I’m the best dog in the whole world.

Rain

The path I walk on when we go down the river has disappeared because of all the rain. We had to come home because we wanted to go for a walk – not a paddle.

I did very well in puppy class today so Ruth gave me some of her ice lolly when we got home – yummy.

Swimming

It was very hot today. Ruth took me to Priory Park where they have a big lake. At the shallow bit she threw a stick in for me to chase. I love chasing sticks. Anyway, she threw the stick in once and I went up to my shoulders to get it out and then she threw it in again and I don't know how but I started swimming! Ruth was amazed. I must be a really big girl now I can swim.

Rolling Over

Eric is very pleased with me because I can do a special trick just for him. When he says roll over and makes a sign of rolling over with his hand I roll onto my back and then onto my tummy. Eric sang me a special puppy song and gave me a jumbo bone treat because he said I was such a good girl.

Ruth Comes Home

Ruth came to pick me up from Clare's house today. I was so excited I ran round and round and kept wagging my tail and then I ran to my toy box and kept getting toys out to show her. Ruth said she'd missed me lots. I missed her too - although I liked staying with Clare and her dog, Nicole. I think Ruth and Eric shouldn't go on holiday again - unless they take me with them. Eric brought me a present back from France where he said the dogs were allowed to go in restaurants and shops - just like I am.

Dog Show

Canine Partners had a special dog show at Clapham today. Clare took me along because Eric and Ruth are on holiday. I got to be in the display and show people some of the clever things that Canine Partners dogs can do. Ruth's mum and dad came to watch me and they said I did very well.

CERTIFICATE AND ROSETTE

Today was a very special day. All the puppies in our pre-puppy class had a test to make sure we were very good puppies. We had to sit and lie down and come when we were called and stay when we were told to stay. Then we had to let our people look in our eyes and ears and at our teeth and paws. Ruth was very gentle but I coudn't help wriggling about a bit. But it was fine and now I have a lavendar rosette and a certificate that says I've achieved my Good Citizen award.

VISITING

Today we went to visit Ruth and Eric’s friends called Val and Chris. They have two little girls called Helen and Katie who I liked playing with very much. Di and Phil came to visit too and Di took this picture of me. Ruth said I was a very good girl because I played nicely with Helen and Katie all day and let them take me for a walk on my lead.

SOFAS

Ruth and Eric went somewhere called North to visit Eric’s relatives. We stayed with Eric's Aunt Myra. Her dog, Fin, is allowed to sit on the sofa whenever he likes. It’s not fair. I’m not allowed to sit on the sofa at home. I tried sitting on Aunt Myra’s sofa whenever she went out of the room but she kept making me get off the sofa when she came back. Her sofa was very comfortable. I think Eric and Ruth’s sofa will be even more comfortable. Maybe they’ll let me sit on it if I’m very very good.

PUPPY CLASS

This morning I went to puppy class. We had to practice walking on our leads nicely, waiting for our treats and not snatching them, coming when we were called and staying when we were asked to stay. Next week we are having our pre-puppy class test and if I pass it I’ll get a rosette and a certificate. Ruth’s going to stick them on the wall next to my new big puppy-girl’s bed.

WOODS

Today we went to some woods. Ruth and Eric kept wanting me to sit in the bluebells because they said it’d make a cute picture. Usually they don’t like me sitting in flowers because I quite like to eat them, but this time I did it without eating any - just to make them happy.

PRIORY PARK

I didn’t go to training class today. I went to Priory Park with Elmo and Eden and another dog called Barney. I’m much braver about going in the water now and had a splash about in the lake and got covered in mud. Elmo went splashing in the water too. But Eden’s the most brave of us three about going in the water and Barney just dived in.

I had to have a big sleep when I got home. Playing with Elmo and Eden is exhausting.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury’s
Today we had our Canine Partners training class in Sainsbury’s. We had to walk round the supermarket on loose leads and not pull our people or sniff at the food or jump up at the customers who came over to say hello. We were all very good. Then we had to wait while our people drank coffee in the café. They took ages. Luckily Ruth had brought some tasty treats for me and I was able to have a nap while I was waiting.


Elmo
My brother Elmo came to visit me this afternoon. He’s staying with Amelia and Ronnie for a few days. I showed him my new paddling pool. He was very impressed and even tried it out. Ronnie was most surprised as Elmo doesn’t usually like getting his feet wet – he even avoids walking in puddles!

Then we had a bit of an accident while we were playing and knocked over a pot of white paint that was in the garden. She didn’t say so, but I think Ruth was quite pleased with mine and Elmo's white paw prints because they made the patio look so pretty - perhaps she'll get some more colours and we can make it even more pretty – maybe she could have some of Eden’s paw prints too.

Paddling Pool

This morning I went out to play in the back garden and found a really
big drinking bowl, it's so big that I can fit inside it. Eric told me
that it's called a paddling pool and I can have lots of fun splashing
around in it when the weather is hot.

Puppy Class

Today I went to puppy class and saw my friend Eden. We had to sit still while our people walked backwards away from us saying ‘stay’ and then came back again and gave us a treat. Then they wanted us to come when they called us. I don’t think they could make up their minds whether they wanted us to stay or come. But we did it anyway. Eden and I had such a good time that we didn’t want to go home.

Training Class

It was great seeing all the other dogs at Canine Partners Class after there being no class last week. I had lots of catching up to with the other dogs and our people wanted to catch up too. They took ages drinking tea and talking about us. Luckily Ruth had filled my kong toy with interesting things for me to nibble on while I was waiting.

Then we had to practice not being distracted while we were working. We all had to sit in a circle with our people and then Lorraine tried to stop us concentrating. First she tried walking round and in between us with another dog to see if we’d take any notice. I kept on looking at Ruth. Then she went round eating a packet of biscuits but I still didn’t get distracted. Then she jogged round us but she still didn’t manage to distract me. But then she did something that was impossible to ignore. She started brushing the floor with a broom! I couldn’t resist I jumped up and wanted to run over to it but Ruth wouldn’t let me. I’m working at not being so interested in brushes and brooms but they’re so exciting it’s very hard not to want to play with them.

After that we did something else tricky. Three of us lined up on one side of the room and three on the other and then our people called us and we had to run to them right past all the other dogs that we’d really have liked to stop and have said hello to. Everyone did it right. Lorraine was very pleased with us and kept telling us how good we were.

BABY

Today we had a funny thing come to see us. It was called a baby and had to be carried about all the time and kept making squeaky sound like my toys but I wasn’t allowed to play with her or the rattling toys she brought with her. Baby Jasmine also got to drink lots of milk from a bottle but I wasn't allowed to have any. Luckily her mum and dad, Robin and Eunice, played with me a lot so I got to have some fun.

I was pleased when all our visitors had gone and I could have Ruth and Eric back to giving me all their attention once again.

VISITING DAY x 2

I like to get as close to Nicole as I can. So close that when she wags her tail my face gets hit with it. Ruth tells me not to stand so close but I don’t listen. Nicole wags her tail a lot.

Nicole is a picky eater, unlike me. She wouldn’t eat the food her person, Clare, left for her so Ruth and Eric kept trying her with lots of other tasty things like bits of ham and chicken and cheese and bread – Nicole loves bread. I love ham and cheese and bread too. I ate up all the bits Nicole didn’t eat. Nicole likes tripe sticks too – just the same as me. They’re so crunchy! At first she ate them slowly so I got to finish hers
off but then she got fast at eating them. Even faster than me.

A VISITOR

Very good news! Nicole came to visit me today instead of me going to visit her. She’s never been to my house before. I got to show her all my toys. I even let her play with Spikey.
Even when it got dark Nicole didn’t go home. She slept at our house. But she didn’t have to sleep in a crate like me. She brought along her own bed. I wanted to sleep in it but Ruth and Eric wouldn’t let me because Nicole kept getting out of it whenever I tried to get in.

Nicole wants to go in the water all the time. She likes it even more than Eden does. As soon as she saw the river she was in it. I’m not quite so keen on the river – it’s all cold and wet and when Nicole shakes herself after going in the water I get covered in splashes.


When we went for a walk by the river Nicole found a big stick. I took hold of one end because I like sticks too. So Nicole had one and I had the other end and we ended up going round and round in circles. Ruth and Eric kept laughing. I don’t know why. Finding sticks is a serious business.

PRIORY PARK

There were no classes this week so me, Elmo and Eden, decided to meet up in the park. Because they seem to enjoy meeting up too, we let our people come.
We played and played and then Eden ran into the lake and I tried to follow him but only up to my shoulders because I got a bit scared. After going in the water I rolled over and over in the long grass. Ruth said it made me a bit smelly but I didn’t care. Elmo and I found a little tunnel, just the perfect size for puppies, and pretended it was our house until Ruth called me. I always run to her when she calls me - to see what she’s got nice for me to eat or play with.

NICOLE'S HOUSE

Today I went to stay with my Labrador friend, Nicole. Nicole’s nine and a half years old. Sometimes she tells me off with a gruff bark if I keep trying to get her to play with me when she doesn’t really want to. But I keep trying anyway.

Picture Framing

Today we went to somewhere called a factory where people work at putting pictures into frames. They made a big fuss of me. I felt like chewing some of the waste paper – there was lots on the floor but Ruth said it was bad for me.
Tomorrow I’m going to visit Clare because Ruth has to go out. I don’t know what Ruth does when I go to see Clare but it can’t be as much fun as looking after me. Clare’s dog Nicole used to be able to run much faster than me but I’ve been practising and now I can almost catch the ball first.

Lead

Now Ruth’s even getting me to find my lead and bring it to her! Luckily I can usually find it. I can’t wait till Thursday when I’m going to the park with Elmo and Eden. Ruth says we can have a really big play.

Shopping

Today Eric got all excited because we were going shopping. I got all excited too because Ruth and Eric usually let me pick a toy when we go out. I had to put on my special Canine Partners assistance dog jacket but we didn’t go to a nice pet shop we went to some shops with computers and electronic stuff in them. Eric was very happy but I was very bored.

River Walking

Some people didn’t want to say hello to me today. They said no, no when I tried to greet them. Maybe Ruth’s right and I shouldn’t jump up. Maybe I should wait to see if the person wants to speak to me first.
I met a nice little tiny boy, though, and his dog and grandparents, who did want to say hello. I chased his dog and the little tiny boy chased me. He kept making squeaky laughing sounds like my toys do. He tried to throw a stick for me but it landed on me instead. I didn’t mind.

Training Class

Today I practised walking on a loose lead. I can do it really well now and I have learnt not to pull Ruth when she is walking beside me. Then we had to practice weaving in and out of cones. I liked doing it very much especially when Ruth went fast and we had to run in and out of the cones. Some of the other dogs kept running when they’d finished running in and out of the cones but I didn’t. I sat down nicely and waited for my treat – when I'm really good in class, Ruth gives me treats, I heard her say to Eric that they weren't really extra treats but part of my normal food
because if they give me too many treats on top of my food I'd start to get tubby – but they’re still yummy treats to me.
After the cones we had to do something really weird. We had to practice Ruth meeting an old friend with a dog and chatting to her and me having to sit still and not jumping up to say hello. Later when I went to see my next door neighbour, Simon, who is very poorly I didn’t jump up. I just gave his hand a lick.

Washing

Ruth has spent ages teaching me to ‘bring it here’. I bring her keys and her shoes and socks and washing out of the washing machine and lots of other things. Anyway today she was hanging out the washing and she got me to go to the peg box and pick out a peg and bring it to her so she could hang out the washing. I had to do it lots and lots of times until all the washing was hung out. Then Ruth said I was very good – the best puppy in the world – and took me for a walk down by the river.

SEASIDE X 2

Because Ruth and Eric liked the beach so much we went back again today. This time we went to Clacton on Sea. I ran up and down the beach and got to meet some other dogs. Then Ruth put on my special Canine Partners coat and we went on something called a pier. It went far out to sea and had a fairground on it with lots of loud noises and lights. I was very brave and the lady in charge of the dodgems gave me a cuddle and said what a lovely well behaved puppy I was. I’m glad Ruth doesn’t drive like the people in those dodgem cars.

SEASIDE

This morning we went to West Clacton and I got to dig in the sand. I dug lots of holes – digging in sand is easy peasy. I dug one really big hole and then I sat in it.

Ruth was a bit scared of the waves – because they come in very fast. I showed her how to run away from them.
I met two tiny little dogs called chiquahas in the beach café. They were so little the two old ladies they were with had them in what looked like handbags and they just had their heads poking out. I hope Ruth doesn’t try to put me in her handbag because I’m a bit too big to fit.
When we came home I got to play for nearly a whole hour with a bigger puppy from the farm. His name was Zack.

PS Eric put this photo of me into 'Puppy Wars' on the internet and I got 78% of the cutest puppy votes.

CAR

Today we went on a long long long car journey. So long we had to stop a few times to stretch our legs. Ruth made sure I was OK in my car harness and had lots of toys to play with on the back seat and some treats to eat if I got hungry. Finally we got to where we were going – a farm. When we got there an old dog came to say hello but when Ruth wasn’t looking he snuffled one of my tripe sticks. I didn’t mind really especially when he showed us the way down to the lake with the fish in it.
Later on we went to pick up Eric from Colchester station and then we all went to sleep in our little farm cottage.

CANINE PARTNERS CLASS

There was only me and Eden at the beginners class today so Lorraine let us do some fun things like run through the plastic tunnel and weave in and out of a line of sticks and we even got to jump through a big hoop – just like the dogs at Crufts. Then we had a rest and Ruth gave me a tripe stick. Eden got one too. We love tripe sticks.

After our rest the older puppies arrived for the more advanced class and Lorraine said because Eden and I had been so good we could stay. I got to practice bringing back a TV remote control and a mobile phone and a purse and also how to take socks out of a box. And I learnt a new game called tug-tug that’s going to help me take off Ruth’s coat for her by pulling at her sleeve.

At the end of the class we got to work with the other puppies’ people. I worked with Dora’s person, who is called Ronnie. Dora’s very sad because she loves Ronnie very much but soon she will have to leave her and go to live with someone else.

Station

Went to Bedford station today, there were lots of exciting things
called trains there - some of them whizzed past me very fast and I was a little bit scared but Ruth gave me a cuddle and a puppy stick and I soon felt better. Ruth walked me up and down the platform and took me into a strange little room called a lift - every time the doors opened we were somewhere else. When I get a little more used to trains, Ruth says she is going to take me for a ride - hope it is to
somewhere nice - perhaps I'll see Eric there - he goes off to the station everyday.
He must like stations a lot.

Door Training

At puppy class today we practiced going through doors and gates. They told me I should let my person go first and follow them through the door. I tried telling Ruth that I'm really important and should always go first, but she explained that my person may be in a wheelchair and we couldn't both fit through at once.

Card

Eric painted my paw and then helped me press it on a card for Ruth. It was for something called Mother’s Day. Ruth liked my card very much and gave me lots of hugs and Eric lots of kisses.

Dogs

Now I've had all my injections, I'm allowed to go out more and see other dogs. I like to go for walks by Kempston river and at Marston Moretaine. I like to say hello to the people and other dogs a lot but I always run back to Ruth when she calls and then she gives me something nice like a puppy stick.

Andrex

I was watching the television the other day, and I saw a little puppy just like me playing with a toilet roll. Eric and Ruth thought it was very funny, but when I did the same thing they didn't seem to like it very much - why is the puppy on the TV allowed to play with toilet rolls when I'm not ?

Canine Partners Class

I can now do all these things well: come, fetch, bring it here, stay, sit at the side and in front, down, stand, shake hands and give. Next I’m going to learn how to help a person take off their coat by pulling at the end of their sleeve and also how to take the washing out of the washing machine.

Car

I wish I could ride up in the front of the car with Ruth. Perhaps then I
could play with the radio like Eric does, but Ruth says that even big
puppy girls like me must wear a special harness and travel in the back
seat of the car where they are safe and can have a nice sleep. I don't
know what she's talking about, when I'm in a car I'm too excited to
sleep, there is so much to see out of the window, plus we are usually
going somewhere nice.

Pub lunch

I must be a really big girl now because they're let me go in a place called 'the bar'. I couldn't see any bar, just lots of men and women eating and drinking.

Ruth said that generally little ones aren't allowed in grown-up places like bars, but because I was wearing my special purple helper jacket, I'm allowed to go almost anywhere.

Stinging grass

Ouch ! Went for a loverly walk this afternoon, I was having so much fun running up and down and chasing sticks. I was having the best time until I walked through some funny looking grass that made my little paws all itchy. I tried to be brave, but Eric and Ruth had to bathe my feet and put some white stuff on my paws to stop the itching.

I was so brave, they gave me lots of my favourite puppy chews - so it wasn't all bad.

Puddles

I went to a forest walk this morning and had the best time ever, I got to chase sticks and jump in and out of lots of big round wet things that Ruth called puddles.

I got so dirty I needed a bath when I got home. Didn't like the bath, but loved the puddles.

canine partners training class

Today I went to the class with other dogs that are training to be helper dogs. I got to play with my friends before training class.

At canine partners we practiced walking on our leads. Ruth said I was walking really well because she was giving me lots of treats all the time. to keep my attention

I got to see a really big funny looking dog that Ruth said was called a pony. Ruth said he eats grass, not puppy food like me I'm glad because he was so big that he'd eat all my puppy chews in one go.

Bank

I went to a nice place today called a bank. It's were people line up to pay something called money in. Not sure what the bank does with it then - perhaps they could buy lots of puppy chews.

Everybody said I was really clever and well behaved because I queued up just like everybody else. The lady behind the counter said that they don't let puppies in banks but because I looked so smart in my little purple jacket, they'd always make an exception for little puppies like me.

BOWL

This evening I discovered if I take a bowl to Eric and Ruth they'll fill it up - at last they're learning what I want them to do. I got given some of my favourite goats milk. I might try it again tomorrow.

PRE-PUPPY SCHOOL

Pre-puppy school day! I met lots of new puppies but my favourite was Alfie. He’s a cocker spaniel and very little – even though he’s older than me. He’s been trying to train his people by biting their calves but it hasn’t worked so far. We got to practice walking on a lead and sitting and down. And then we learnt leave because some puppies grab their treats instead of waiting politely like me.

After class my brother Elmo came round to visit and we had a wild time. He helped me do some more digging in the garden for Ruth and Eric – hope they appreciate all our hard work.

DIGGING

All my digging is making Ruth and Eric’s garden look much nicer. I’ve now made lots of lovely mud hills and holes.

Eric brought Ruth some flowers home and she was very pleased. I’m confused because when I dug up some purple and white flowers in the garden and brought them to Ruth, she didn’t seem to want them as much as Eric’s flowers.

NEXT DOOR

Today was Ruth’s birthday and their wedding anniversary so they went out and I got to go next door. Hooray! I’ve been trying to dig a hole in the fence so I can go next door whenever I feel like it. A drop of rain kept landing on my head from the guttering when I was in their garden. It made me run round and round. I tried barking at the rain to tell it to stop landing on my head but it didn’t.

HOOVER

I took Ruth for a long walk of nearly 10 minutes around the neighbourhood. She had to have a big sleep afterwards.

Usually I don’t like the hoover – it’s too noisy and sucky but today the hoover had some dog treats on it. I don’t know how they got there but I ate them anyway. Maybe the hoover isn’t so bad after all. I wonder if it will keep having treats on it.

SWIMMING POOL

Today I went to somewhere called a swimming pool but I wasn’t allowed to swim. Only people are allowed to swim there. It smelt funny. Ruth said I was very brave because I went through the swishy automatic doors without getting scared.

In the evening we went for a walk and even though I was scared of the dark, I kept really close to Ruth and didn’t pull on the lead, so she wouldn’t be scared too.

Vets

The Vet kept me waiting a long time. "Hurry up" I kept barking until she eventually saw me. I think my bark sounded really good; Ruth said it was because they had an acoustic ceiling - I hope Eric and Ruth get one too.

The vaccination didn't hurt at all, but I still pretended that it did, so Ruth would give me lots of treats and tell me what a brave puppy girl I am.

Pre-Puppy School

Pre-puppy school was really wild this morning, I made so many new friends too. Unfortunately their helper people wouldnt let me join in with the class because I hadn't had my second vaccination yet - whatever a vaccination is.

I did get to bark instructions at the other dogs. Perhaps I was helping them too much because Ruth decided to take me outside, so they'd have to work things out for themselves.

Shopping

Today I put on my helper dog uniform and helped Ruth and Eric to get their shopping. I tried to steer them towards the puppy sticks - my favourites - but they wouldn't go that way. All they got was food I can't eat.

Everyone said how sweet I was and how little. I don't think I'm little. I'm pretty big for nearly 10 weeks old. I still let Ruth and Eric carry me around sometimes because I get a bit tired and it's good exercise for them and I think they need to feel they're helping me.

What's the point of fetch ?

I don't know who thought of the game of fetch, but it certainly wasn't a dog. Every time I give Eric and Ruth one of my toys they just throw it away. I wouldn't mind, but they keep asking me to bring it to them - it's so confusing.

Still sometimes they give me treats when I bring it back, so I might as well humour them.

Football

Eric has taught me to play something called football and he even let me watch a game on TV this afternoon.

Eric seemed to think the players weren't very good and that, even though I've just learned how to play, that I could do better.

Ruth says that Eric watching football is an excuse to drink beer and it will give him a pot belly. I don't know what a pot belly is but at puppy training class this week some people said I was getting one; perhaps they know I like football.

Library

This morning Ruth dressed me up in my special helper-dog uniform and took me to somewhere called the Library. Apparently I have to wear my special uniform so people know that I'm working, otherwise they wouldn't let me into places like the library. Although when I got in there was nothing that interested me, doesn't Ruth know I can't read ?

Anyway, lots and lots of people made a fuss of me and told me how pretty and clever I am - which was nice. I like to be made a fuss of, but Ruth says I need to concentrate on my work because the person I will eventually help may want to go places like the library.

Training

Went puppy class again. This time they made me help lots of different people. Ruth says this is because I need to learn not to get too dependent on one person and learn to respond to different people.

We also had to practice going through things called gates, we have to go through behind the person to make sure they go the correct way. I'm confused because at home, Eric and Ruth have put a gate at the bottom of the stairs and never let me go through it.

Remote

Finally got to play with the remote today, Eric wasn't happy. I let him play with all my toys, so it's only fair I should be able to play with his.

Some nights Ruth seems to think Eric is playing with the remote a bit too much, but now he doesn't seem to want to play with at all, apparently it is something called broken - I wonder what that is.

Eden

Went to visit my friend Eden today, he's training to be a helper dog too. n the last week he's put on a kilo, so now he's much bigger than me, so I can't boss him around anymore - I can still boss Eric and Ruth around though.

Ruth was eating chicken this afternoon, I barked at her to give me some, but she doesnt seem to understand. Perhaps if I bark at her some more, she'll start to understand

Training class

Today I thought we were going to go somewhere boring, but instead we went to the happy dogs training class. I got to see all the other canine partner puppies again. I was especially happy that my friend Eden was there, as was Diesel, Dora, my brother Elmo, Buffy.

A man from the newspaper came along and took looks lots of pictures of me. He didnt see to like me trying to chew his camera, but I think my pictures will go in the paper anyway

Fooling the folks

Sometimes Eric and Ruth tell me I can't do something, like chew a shoe or furniture.

But I've discovered that Eric and Ruth really aren't very smart and it's very easy to fool them, all I need to do is to pretend to play with one of my toys and gradually move it towards the thing they've told me I can't touch - once I get it close enough and they're not looking, it get another quick chew.

It will probably take a while until they realise what I'm up to - but until then ....

Getting weighed

Yesterday Ruth took me to be weighed at somewhere called the Vet's. All the other dogs in the waiting room seemed to be quite worried; I dont know why - there was absolutely nothing to it.

Ruth says next time I go to the Vet it is for something called injections - hope it is as much fun as getting weighed.

Snow

The garden was covered with lots and lots of white fluffy stuff today, I don't know where it came from. At first I thought that Eric and Ruth would think it was something I did, but luckily they didn't seem to care. So I just ran round and round in the fluffy stuff until I got so cold and tired I had to have a little nap.

Ruth said the fluffy stuff was called snow.

Toys

Ruth must think all my toys have been really really naughty because she's locked them in something called a washing machine and now they're all spinning round and round. It's making me dizzy watching them, please let them out Ruth - they've been good - especially Spikey.

While Ruth is punishing my toys, I've managed to find some other things to play with. I like shoes best. But for some reason, Eric and Ruth keep taking them anyway from me - perhaps they are their favourite toys too. Although Ruth says Eric's favourite toy is called a remote. I wonder what it does, perhaps it makes squeaking sounds like some of mine. I can't wait to play with it, once I find out where he keeps hiding it.

Later today I'm off to make friends with a little boy puppy called Eden, surely he can't be as cute as me. I expect I'll need to give him some tips on how to train his people.

Monday

Ruth tells me today is called Monday, so we had to drop Eric off at the station again. I bet we'll have to pick him up again later in the day, when he gets bored.

Still trying to train Eric, but not making a lot of progress, but at least they're finally allowing me to get a good nights sleep.

They took me to somewhere called 'the neighbours' yesterday. Eric just sat down and watched some men running around a field, he said it was called football, while Ruth played with me in the garden - I do like to play, but I also like to sleep mmmm sleep Zzzzzzz

It's the weekend

Really excited, Ruth says it's now the weekend (whatever that is), so there should be lots of exciting things to do today.

Eric's training is coming along well - although he keeps saying 'Shake hands' for no apparent reason. I've found that if I wave my paw at him when he does this, he sometimes stops. They also keep asking me to sit.

The lounge floor is being replaced today, I hope it isn't my fault - I do try to go outside when I need to wee, but it's soo soo cold outside, gruggggh.

Friday

Had a little snooze this evening snooze while Ruth drove me to collect Eric from somewhere called the 'station'.

We took him there in the morning - what does he do there all day ?

Shopping

I took Eric and Ruth shopping today, just for a few minutes in Sainsburys because I didn't want to tire them out too much - I'm supposed to play with them later on.

Shopping was fun, there's so much to see and everybody liked me.

Training class

Ruth took me to puppy training class this morning, I was so sleepy - Ruth and Eric kept me up all night taking me outside to go to the toilet every hour; I wouldn't mind but they never seemed to do anything.

I met my brother Elmo at the class and we had a nice play and he told me about the people he's with.

Everybody said I was the most beautiful puppy in the world.

When I got home I started to train Eric, it's tiring work - but someone has to do it

First day

Still a little sleepy today, I've just arrived at my new 'parents' house after a very long journey.

They are a nice couple called Ruth and Eric. She writes children's books and Eric works in London doing something to do with money, but I'm not sure what.

They've got me lots of nice toys and luckily don't see to mind if I make a little mess in the house.

Time for bed .... Zzzzz