News Hound Ady & Flo

If I can figure out what that means, I will be leaving dog school and heading to university as a Rhodes Scholar.

It all came about because I was asked over to Flo's place for a sleepover. Uncle and Auntie are now left trying to figure out how you can invite someone for a sleepover when there is no sleep involved – which is the conundrum.

Apparently I am the culprit and was ushered back to the boss man's place pronto.

It was all supposed to be about helping Flo get comfortable in her new accommodation; the laundry. But I do not like being in restricted places and the laundry is certainly up there with being in a submarine as far as restricted spaces go. It was not for me I can tell you, along with most of Te Puna.

Now it was only last week that I pointed out that I am not a teacher; I am a free spirit, a dog on a mission or whatever. So please do not lock me in a cupboard – all be it with a swinging door in it – and try to read Flo bed time stories. It was a recipe for disaster.

Flo has a lot more to say on the matter and it is lucky uncle is not around to add his bit.

He is possibly catching up on a few lost zzz's, as having the covers pulled off you at 3am is just not cricket. Well by a dog anyway.

I am happy to report, I am back patrolling The Strand, attempting to keep the streets safe for you all as with the silly season now upon us, the ‘turkeys' are about. And the human variety, if they cannot act with some common decency and show a little respect to others, should be treated like the ones on the front page of our Coast and Country paper out this week.

If there are any of you wee pups out there or dogs like me who require a little more training, Wendy Grayson is running a few holiday programmes through the Christmas period. My thoughts though are why, if it's holiday time for two-leggers, should we have to go to school? Not for me, I am already dreaming about free ranging in the wild, the only school I like.

Life has been full of new and interesting discoveries this week.

Now with all my vaccinations on board, thanks to Jorg and the team, I can roam freely, as free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows…

Till I come to the end of the long lead.

Wendy the Dog Trainer took me on an enlightening lesson at Memorial Park where I had the importance of recall reinforced.
I've also been for some pretty exciting runs with the big boys in the neighbourhood. Jim came by for his morning walk and took me for a burst with Big Bobby and Big Sam. Roxy joined in too. It was like a retriever convention out there.

With all the hot weather, the boss has been watering the tomatoes and I have been incredibly helpful with this task. Especially with the hose, which magically pours water out the end. This requires barking, biting and running away with, all at the same time.

The bosses thought it was really funny, until I decided to run inside the house – while the hose was running full bore. As if they haven't had enough water issues lately. So my hose exploits have been curtailed somewhat and restricted to the lawn only.

Now the Canine Quarters (laundry) has been rebuilt, the bosses reckon it's time I moved in there at nights. They tried this when Ady came for a sleepover, but the pair of us made such nuisances of ourselves we were back in the bedroom by 3am. Ady then spent the rest of the night till dawn trying to weasel her way under the duvet. Geez girl, it might work at your place, but it's not accepted in my household's Code of Practice.

Still, I'm told it's only a matter of time before I am annexed to my own room. I guess the cute puppy looks won't work forever.

Take it easy all and party on, but safely and wisely.

Training by Wendy Graydon,
The Dog Trainer. 0210 700 111
Repairs and Maintenance:
The Mobile Vet 0800 VETCALL
Sustenance: Ziwipeak. www.ziwipeak.co.nz
We do all our own stunts.