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