Something is definitely afoot!

Today is Friday and both Mum and Dad are at home.  Hmmm...unusual.

The day started as it usually does with treats and a post -treat snooze and then Heidi and I decided to have a game of tug of war.

                                                           Ready....set.......pull!

                                                                                        Heidi won.  She was very pleased with herself.


I was exhausted.  Tug of war is a very tiring game.

Dad went out to mow the grass and Mum was messing around with the washing machine and the bedsheets and stuff like that.  Everything seemed to be under control when I was pounced upon by Mum and taken outside to have a bath under the garden hose.  It was very undignified and quite chilly too. I was shivering. Mum said I was a wuss.

Then a quick towel down and I was put into the pool room to dry off completely.  One is not allowed inside when one is in any way damp...or muddy....or smelly. (House Rules according to Mum)

Heidi was also hose-bathed and eventually joined me in the pool room.  We rested and tried to get ourselves dry as quickly as possible while watching Dad washing the patio with the pressure sprayer.
Heidi observed that it was a blessing that Mum did not use the pressure spray on us.

Some time later we were brushed (which I really enjoyed) and issued with bones.

Now, I ask you, is this normal?  We are washed. We are fed bones. There are a million trillion cans of dog food in the garage. A lot of cleaning is going on.  Humans have not gone off to work as they usually do.  Hmmm.
Something is definitely afoot!

Something is afoot!

The great detective Heidi Ho has announced to me that something is afoot.

I have been so busy being an OCD….Outstandingly Clever (and Beautiful and Busy) Dog...that I hadn't noticed what Mum has been up to lately.

In the garage there is an old book case. Mum keeps our cans of food on the shelves there. Usually,  when I use all my toes to count them, there are about four paws worth of cans there. HoHo says that is sixteen.  Well, right now, there are so many cans in there that we don't have enough toes to count them. We have used up all our toes twice and there are still more that that!!!!

                                                     Something is afoot.

Why has Mum started bringing home so much dog food?  Not that I am complaining, you understand. One could not possibly have too much dog food but this is definitely odd behaviour, even for Mum.

Heidi has wondered if we are getting another dog.  I don't think so.  What would Mum and Dad need another dog for when they have us?  We do our best to keep them on their toes.  What more could they possibly want from us?

Heidi says there are extra treat packets in the kitchen cupboards too.  Hmmmm.

                                                    Something is definitely afoot.

Surprise!

Today is Friday. We like Fridays because Mum doesn't go to work. She stays home with us so we can go for a walk and have treats in the middle of the day. All good stuff!!
So today I thought I would do something nice for Mum.
You might remember that Mum has a thing about collecting all of our 'leavings' in the garden.  She really seems to enjoy picking them up each day. So I thought I would make it easier for her by putting my offering in a place where she would be able to find it easily and not have to go searching all over the yard.  I considered the issue carefully and decided to put my little gift right outside the laundry door so that, when Mum opened the door, there it would be.  How thoughtful am I?
So imagine my surprise when she didn't enjoy the experience at all.
She opened the door as I had anticipated she would. She stepped out and found my deposit.  Easy!
Is it my fault she stepped out without looking down?
Apparently it is.
Humans!  You just can't please them sometimes.

A Day in the Life

4.40 am        
All quiet.....sleeping in my little cubby house bed.  Heidi's cubby is next to mine. She is sleeping too.
4.45 am        
Sleep disturbed as a flying newspaper crashes into the roll-a-door of the garage.
4.50 am      
The door into the house opens. I open one eye and watch as Mum gropes her way to the    
outside door to let the day in.  It isn't light yet so I close my eye and go back to sleep.
5.15 am         
Otto ( the Rat who claims to be a dog) is creating a disturbance out near the back fence.
I trot out to investigate and find that Kahlua is sitting on the fence singing at Otto.
Kahlua is a chocolate brown, exotic-looking cat who has lived in her house as long as
we have lived in ours. We have adopted a non-interference policy towards each other
as long as there is no crossing the property line. Otto sees me and scuttles off back to his
Rat basket on the back deck of his house. Kahlua transfers herself up onto the water tank
and begins her yoga style washing routine. Everything else in the garden appears to be
where I left it last night so I go back to bed.
5.30 am        
The truck that steals our rubbish comes past very noisily. Mum doesn't seem to mind
that this happens every week. Odd.
5.40 am        
Dad goes off to work.  We go down to the bedroom to see if Mum wants company. She
doesn't.  She tells us to go back to sleep. Heidi heads off to curl up on the big chair. I go
outside for a bathroom break and am attacked by the palm tree which, for no apparent
reason, decides to throw one of its frondy branchy things at me.  I get a big fright and
run back in to Heidi. She explains that palm trees are erratic creatures and cannot be
relied upon to remain calm at all times. This worries me as I have treasures buried out
there.  Back to sleep on the couch. Resolve to check on my treasures later.
8.00 am        
Finally......Mum decides that it is breakfast time.  Treats are served.  All is well in my
world.
10.10 am      
Left to mind the house while Mum goes out to the shops.  Heidi says it is my shift so
she settles down for a nap while I patrol outside.
11.20 am      
Mum returns with bags of food and a special treat for us. Bones! Yummo!
12.10 pm    
Post bone nap.
12.30 pm    
Mum won't share lunch.  Otto is barking at Kahlua again.  She likes to torment him
by sitting on the fence and swinging her tail down towards him.  I go with Mum to
bring the mail in.
1.00 pm      
Mum and I go out for a walk. Heidi stays at home. She is allowed to stay in the house to          keep an eye on things.  Mum takes me down to the lake and we check out the water dragons, ducks and turtles. I see the signs that say dogs are not allowed to swim in the lake. Pfft!  I love my walk. I hold my tail high and snort happily as I walk. Mum laughs at me and says I am a 'Nutbag'.  Huh?
1.45 pm      
Home alone. It is Heidi's turn for a walk. I have been restricted to the garage and the yard
because, apparently, I am not to be trusted to stay in the house without supervision.
I am insulted and decide to dig up my treasures and chew them a bit.
2.20 pm      
Mum and Heidi come back. I quickly re-bury the sock I am eating and hurry in to
welcome them.  Mum says I look guilty. Who? Me?
2.25 pm      
Post walk nap.
3.00 pm      
Mum won't share afternoon tea biscuits.
3.35 pm         
Help Mum bring washing in from washing line.  I am a great help especially with the
folding of sheets.
4.15 pm      
Dad comes home.  Welcome him with enthusiasm. He says we are 'Nutbags'. Huh?
4.30 pm      
Dad will not share cheese and crackers.  We love cheese!!!!
5.28 pm      
Heidi takes up position beside her dish in the poolroom.
5.30 pm      
Dinner is served...right on time.  Way to go, Mum!
6.00 pm      
Post dinner nap.
6.30 pm      
Watch over Mum as she makes dinner for herself and Dad.  Helpfully dispose of any meaty
off cuts.
7.00 pm      
Mum and Dad won't share dinner.
7.30 pm      
Evening patrol of back yard.  Possums are starting to bark and growl. The man next door
feeds them and they are trying to get him to come out with their oranges.  I give them a good barking. Mum orders me inside.  Pfft!!
7.45 pm      
Pre supper nap.
9.30 pm      
Dad makes cup of tea for Mum.....smells nice.....she says it is Chai tea.
10.15 pm    
Time for bed.  Treats are served.  One last check of the yard. Manage to get past palm
trees without being attacked.  One last bark at stupid possums. Mum says goodnight and closes the back door. Heidi is already in her cubby snoring.  I curl up in my cubby and settle myself down.  It has been a big day.  I need a nice long snooze.

A visit to the vet

I am in tip-top, fabulous health and I am exceedingly beautiful.  My doctor said so.

On Wednesday Mum took me to see Doctor Ian for my check-up. We left Heidi at home to take care of things and we drove down to Doctor Ian's place.  It's not very far away, out in the trees and is surrounded by amazing smells.  Miss Jeanette's kennel place is right next door. WE had a quick walk around the garden and then we went inside.

I had to sit on the black scale to see how heavy I was...24 kilograms...and then I had to sit politely and wait until it was my turn.  This seemed very strange to me because we were the only ones there.  Who were we waiting for?

Then Doctor Ian came out and said to me how beautiful I was looking and did I want to come in to his room now.  I didn't want to go in but Mum made me go in anyway.  I know what is going to happen when I get in there and I have to say that I am not particularly fond of it.  Doctor Ian looked at my ears and my eyes and my teeth and listened to my chest and pushed my tummy and then.....yes, you guessed it,....he decided to take my temperature.  How rude!  How undignified!
Then I had to have a little sting on the neck before I could have some treats.

Mum and Doctor Ian had a chat about how good a guard dog I am, and how I never let another dog walk past unbarked at, and how clever I am at seeking out possums and pussy cats, and how I am fascinated (I wouldn't have said fascinated...intrigued perhaps, but not fascinated) by Dad's socks, and how I am a teeny bit scared of thunder and other big noises, and some other stuff that I can't remember right now.
Doctor Ian said he "knew the personality well".  I don't know what that means.  Then he said I have  anxiety issues and OCD.  Then he gave Mum some lollies for me to have.....one every day.

When we came home and Heidi and I had eaten the pig's ears that Mum have bought for us, I told Heidi about what Doctor Ian had said.  Heidi explained it all to me.  She said anxiety is when you get worried when dinner isn't served on time or when you get frightened by the storms. Heidi says that is perfectly normal for all intelligent dogs; after all, you would be silly not to be worried then, wouldn't you?  Heidi says OCD means Outstandingly Clever Dog and that I should be proud of that.

I have decided that Heidi is right. I am an Outstandingly Clever Dog.  Why else would I get to have the special lollies every day?

Signing off for now.
Trudy OCD

Issues with Dad

Attention:  Management

Complaints about Dad

 By Trudy and Heidi

• Dad does not play the hunting of cane toads game properly.  He immediately muscles in on the game and takes over completely so that he is the one to get the toad, thus making Mum happy.  This is totally unfair. He has all the fun and he doesn't even have to have his mouth swished out with a bucket of water afterwards to make sure he hasn't swallowed any toad poison.  
• Dad has no concept of time.  On the days that Mum goes to work, Dad is supposed to serve our dinner. Mum knows what time dinner should be served and we certainly know what time dinner should be served.  The bowls should hit the floor approximately five minutes after Deal or No Deal comes on.  The problem is that Dad usually has the tv on the golf channel so he has no idea that it is dinner time.  We usually have to take drastic action to prod him into action e.g. Heidi will rush back and forth between the lounge and the kitchen 'talking' as she does so. If this doesn't work, then I have to jump onto his lap.  That usually stirs him into movement. 
• Dad doesn't share.  Dad likes to eat biscuits with his cup of tea/coffee etc., but he just doesn't respond to our pleas for a little taste.  
• Dad has an unaccountable attachment to his socks.  When Dad comes home he takes off his shoes and socks and leaves them on the floor in the bedroom.  I consider this to mean that he doesn't want the socks any more since they are somewhat odorous (I like it!) and so I take them ever so carefully out to my hidey-hole under the palm trees.  Somehow Mum always knows where I have put the socks and brings them back in and pops them in the dirty clothes hamper.  She usually says, 'Oh Troods, not again!'  Dad, on the other hand, sits me down for a stern man to dog conversation.  Pfft!  They're only socks........come on!
• Dad gets to sleep in the big bed with Mum and we don't.     Nuff sed.  Totally unfair!  How come we have to sleep in the garage? 

Please consider the above list and adjust the household arrangements accordingly.

Thank you.

Troods and HoHo

Avocados

This morning I found these things on the kitchen bench.
Mum said, 'Avocados are not for dogs. Get down from there.'

Well, of course, that just made me more curious about the avo things.  So I waited.

Mum put the avo things in a bag and tried to hide them further back on the bench near the coffee maker. Sneaky but not good enough to fool a big, blonde dog.
I waited.

Mum gave us our breakfast treats and then made herself some breakfast. She sat down at the table to read the newspaper.
I waited.

Mum put dishes in the dishwasher.
I waited.

Mum tied up the rubbish bag and took it out to the bin.
I waited.

Mum went to the laundry to start the washing machine. Heidi went with her to keep her company.
This was my chance.

I had to really s-t-r-e-t-c-h out to reach but I managed to get hold of the corner of the bag and gave it a little tug.  The avo things rolled down closer to me so I could ever so carefully take them out...one at a time....to the palm tree.

And that was my big mistake.  Because.....I forgot....that.....from the laundry room.......Mum has a very nice view of the palm trees.

So when I was tip toe-ing along with my treasure in my mouth, I was spotted.  Drat! Foiled again.
And I was being so careful too......didn't even puncture the avo thing's skin with my teeth.

The avo things are now inside the microwave which is, according to Mum, dog-proof.  (One day we'll see about that.)

Oh well, I bet I wouldn't like avocados anyway.