Uh Oh,

Its getting tense over here, that little monster Monty is undergoing a formal disciplinary procedure!

He has already had a couple of verbal warnings and it looks like he is on for a written one. The allegation is that apart from digging up all of the bedding plants in the garden at work, he has now started ripping branches off the laurels running around like a trophy and then shredding them.

I have been called as a key witness and I am not sure what I should do. Should I keep my mutt firmly shut, you know with the canine code and all that, or grass on the little mobster and possibly get some extra treats – life is just full of these difficult decisions.

I myself was subject to an ASBO when I was young and so I know how it feels to be young and full of energy, but I am a lady now you know.

I feel a little bit guilty as it was because of me that he was in the garden. We have some big double doors leading into the garden and because it was so hot they were open. As the mobster has a history of getting up to mischief some boxes were placed in the exit to keep us both in. Not sure what they were thinking but all it took was a little shove and they moved. I gave them a push and Monty bolted for freedom – what a double act!

Because he was out unsupervised he got up to mischief. I will let you know how he gets on with the meeting

Lots of licks

Sophie

Hey, if anyone asks you haven’t seen me, Dad is on the war path.

I am in the dog house big time, how was I to know that they had just planted new bedding plants in the gardens at work. I saw people digging and when they finished I just copied them.

It was great fun, after I dug all the plants out I chewed, shook and pounced on them shredding them into little pieces. The lawn looked lovely with lots of purple, yellows and reds.

When I wandered in my Dad told me that I was a dirty little thing as my paws were covered in mud (left paw prints in his office (oops!)), but it wasn’t until the end of the day when my Uncle saw what I had done that I really got in trouble.

I know that I am now bigger than Sophie but I am still only a puppy, and traumatised after my recent op - of course I was going to get my own back. I have now been banned from the garden unaccompanied, but I expect that will change when I need a wee and it is raining.

Lots of woofs and wags

Monty AKA The Mobster

Hi all,

Monty here, just wanted to let you know that I am OK, if a bit battered and bruised. Sent my Dada on a guilt trip on Friday as I would stop whimpering all night - serves him right, how would he like it if someone took away his broach and earrings!

By Saturday I was feeling much better and wanted to run around but Dad kept telling me I was on bed rest (some chance!). You will also see that I am wearing some retro 80's style leg blue warmers, this is because they also took away my dew claws whilst I was asleep, I kept jumping up at the gate at work and catching them on the chicken wire. Despite Dad telling me not to I can jump all I want now.

Lots of licks

Monty

PS. Did you see that my Dad finally updated my photo - who's a good looking boy......

HELP! – Call the RSPCA

That minx Sophie has been teasing me for the past couple of days about my operation tomorrow, and I have finally realised what it means, and I am not happy at all about loosing my wedding tackle.

I won’t mind the fact that I will not have this constant urge to hump things, but what about my figure, I am very statuesque at the moment.

Sophie said that I could ask the vet to replace my plums with something like ping pong balls. Ping Pong Balls! I told her don’t be stupid they would float when I go swimming. She then suggested ball bearings. Ball Bearings! I would have to pull them behind me on a skateboard! Finally she suggested Pickled Onions, Pickled Onions! I might loose the urge to grab Sophie but imagine what would happen when I saw a cheese sandwich!

No, all things considered I will just have to become a eunuch, I wonder if that means that my bark will get higher?

I have also found out that my friend Alfie was recently snipped, what is going on, is it a conspiracy? Anyway, not looking forward to tomorrow, but you can send get well cards and biscuits or cake care of ADMAR

Your apprehensively Monty the Mobster

Hello everyone,

Monty the Mobster here,

Can I firstly say how sorry I am that my blog has not been updated for a little while, despite trying I have not yet mastered the keyboard and my Dad has been too busy working (so he says).

Well, tomorrow I am officially 6 months old – party please, and I am the same weight as Sophie. I am getting a little worried as Sophie keeps telling me that I am in for a shock next month, I think that we are going fishing as she keeps talking about my tackle!

I am doing my best to keep everyone on their toes, and my latest trick is to go paddling in my water bowl, everyone at work goes mad but it is only water, I helping to keep the walls clean!

My adult teeth are well and truly on the way and I have lost most of my puppy gnashers, my Dad said that if I hadn’t of swallowed them I could have put them under my puppy pillow and got a treat from the tooth fairy. Not sure if I like the sound of someone creeping up on me whilst I am asleep.

That’s all for now, I promise to write more soon.

Loads of wags

Monty

Hi everyone - It's my Birthday (again) 4 years old today, although I am feeling older now I have Monty to cope with.

Had a wonderful card and new Frisbee from my friend Yuri and can't wait for the garden to dry up and stoop being a mud bath so that I can play with it.
Going to eat my cake now

Love

Sophie

Hi there fans, Monty the Mover and Grover here. Things are happening so fast in my life, I am growing up quickly and getting some weird sensations and urges, not quite sure what they are yet but they are getting me into trouble with the girlfriend.

I met Sophie’s friends Molly and Lucy the other day, now, don’t tell Molly that I said this but she is one Big girl – she is enormous. My Dad has been telling me how to behave with ladies and told me that apparently you should never mention a ladies age or weight. You should avoid answering questions such as ‘does my bum look big in this’ and never, ever sniff their bottoms without first asking permission. He also said that this is a special doggy technique used on other hounds and should not be the greeting of choice for other people that I meet.

Now back to Molly, she was really sweet but very hairy, I think that she needs a visit to the hairdressers, although don’t let on I said that as all of her brothers are police dogs with the Met – they are one crazy bunch of dogs and I wouldn’t want to get mixed up with them.

Going to go now, loads of mischief to get up to and need to strut my stuff, got to show the ladies my mojo – yeah baby!

Love Monty the Kid xxx

Uh oh, we’ve got trouble, it would appear that young master Monty is going through his terrible teens phase. He is being argumentative, getting into trouble, being noisy, and worst of all he is discovering what his mojo is for. I know that it is not a nice subject for such delicate readers, but he has started to get the ‘itch’ if you understand my meaning.

He has started to take an interest in my lady-bits and he is not that gentle either. My uncle has had a word with him about the birds and the bees and said that if he doesn’t stop trying to ‘polish’ everything he is going to get his wings clipped – not sure what that means but it doesn’t sound good.

For the time being I am going to call him ‘Kevin (that’s so unfair) Martin’

Love

Sophie

Has anyone got the number for the RSPCA? things are getting desperate here, it's only Monday and my week has gone from bad to worse.

Firstly my Dad has completely cut out one of my meals, what a cheek, doesn't he know that I am a growing boy. He said that now that I am 12 weeks old he is feeding me more but only in 3 meals not four - does he think that I am stupid, I know when I am being hoodwinked!

Secondly, he has started teaching me how to type, he says that I have to learn so that I can type my own blog - hasn't he heard of child labour. Oh, and another thing, he no longer carries me around everywhere, he makes me walk, me, walk! he said that now I have had all of my jabs I can walk everywhere, and, get this, he said that I am getting heavy - talk about kicking a puppy when he is down, I am wasting away now that my meals have been cut back.

On the plus side the first day that I went out I met the lovely people in my local pet shop, there was loads of smells but my Dad told me to stop chewing the bags of food. They had a big bucket of bones which I could smell but not see, you wait till I am bigger I will be able to pinch one when no one is looking. I Also met lots of new friends who walk on my business park, I met two Dalmatians, Two Old English Sheepdogs a six month old Alsatian puppy (for a puppy he was Hugh) and finally a little terrier - I was even taller than him. My Dad though that I would be nervous but I ran in amongst them and had great fun. Can't wait to see them again.

Go to go, I am so tired through lack of food that I need a sleep.

Monty

Way-hay everyone, I absolutely love my new family – they are wicked. After the Christmas Holiday I had to start work, which was a bit like going to school. My Dad told me that humans have to learn the three ‘R’s whereas puppies have to learn the three ‘P’s – that’s Pee, Poo and Play, in that order.

Play is easy, I am naturally gifted at that and could get an A* if there was an exam. Pee and Poo are a little more difficult to master. Having said that I have been studying hard and 80% of the time I get it right, with just a few accidents here and there. I think that I am going to study sport as I am very talented at running, I whiz around like a little whippet, my Dad says its like have his own little Andrex puppy.

My favourite hobby at the moment is paddling. I haven’t had my second injection yet, that happens today and I am not looking forward to that I can tell you, and so I can’t go into the sea yet. I am just practicing in my water bowl. My Dad gets really irritated and tells me to stop, but I just speed up paddling faster. I then stomp around the kitchen and leave foot prints everywhere.

I am getting bigger every day and I am now able to play rough and tumble with Sophie, she is great fun and she is quite gentle although I do get a bit carried away, occasionally she tells me if I am overstepping the mark.

In a few weeks time I will be going to puppy classes which I am really looking forward to, and then I will start to learn what they actually do here at ADMAR.

Woof, woof off now to get into more mischief!

Monty

What a week this has been. It has been Monty’s first full week at work and it has bee, hum, what is the word my Dad used, Challenging.

Monty is a One Puppy Crime Wave. When he is awake you can not leave him for a moment, if he is not running up and down the corridors like a whippet, he is crawling under desks trying to chew cables. We do not need to use the confidential shredder at the moment, you just leave a piece of paper within Monty’s reach and he runs off with it under a desk and proceeds to annihilate it.

He has got into the naughty habit of running off with shoes and he is so small and fast you can’t catch him, here have been quite a few calls of ‘you little (I’ll let you fill in the gaps)’ and everyone in the office is taking turns to puppy site him. I am told that I was worse, but I can’t imagine that.

He is constantly picking on me and the tags hanging off my collar have loads of little Monty teeth marks in them, when I am trying to get 40 winks he runs at me at warp speeds, jumps on me and starts attacking me, I try and be gentle as I know that he is only little but he has a lot of strength and energy for a bundle. He is not yet giving me the tender cuddles that my Biggles used to, but he is growing up fast and I am sure that it will come.

Sophie

Well, the new kid on the block has landed, he was about the same size as our friend Alfie, but he was the same colour as my old friend Biggles. He even has similar stripes likes Biggs, but that was where the similarity ended. Monty smelt funny, my Dad said that all puppies smell like that, I thought that he smelt a bit like a digestive biscuit. I was very gentle when we met, but he repaid my kindness by biting one of my nipples - I couldn't believe it, it hurt like hell and it was such a shock, he has got needle like teeth, I gave him a piece of my mind I can tell you.

After that we had a good sniff of each other and my Dad kept telling me to be gentle and 'play nice', he didn't tell Monty and he was jumping all over me. I think that I did very well all things considered. To prove how tolerant I am being look at this video of Monty abusing me.

So there you have it, Montgomery Martin has officially arrived and invaded my life, he has got a couple of weeks to learn how to behave properly before he comes to work full time, and then it will be my job to guide him on how things are run at ADMAR. I am sure that there will be lots of things to tell you about.

Licks and woofs

Sophie

My First Christmas

Hello everyone, Monty here. I have so much to tell you I am not sure where to start. On the 18th my Daddy came to collect me from my Nannas. I am not sure who was more excited, me or my new family. My Dad came with my Uncle Paul and my Auntie Una and they took turns in holding and cuddling me. In return I licked their faces and nibbled their ears - I didn't tell them what I had been licking just before they came.

I must confess I was a bit nervous about the car journey, I was told that I should think about it as my mobile kennel. It wasn't as bad as I thought and despite the bad snow my Uncle drove very smoothly. I managed to get 40 winks and a few 'cute' photo's were taken on the journey which are now on the gallery.

We got back to ADMAR and I was met by lots of lovely people who also wanted to cuddle me - I could get used to this, it was like being a film star. I don't think any work got done for an hour as everyone was playing with me and laughing. My Nanny said that I might be upset and may be off my food for a few days - Doh, didn't she realise that I am a Labrador, as soon as my food was put into my bowl I woofed it up and developed hiccups as a result. Everyone except me found that amusing.

Then I was introduced to my new playmate, a fit looking blond called Sophie. Despite being excited to see me she was really gentle. Having said that I gave her the shock of her life when I went to get some milk from one of her nipples, I think that she jumped about 5 feet in the air, and said something to me which was unrepeatable. Well, how was I to know, when I was hungry at home I used to get milk from Mum, I thought all teats were the same.

I love my new home now and I will let you know what antics I get up to shortly.

Lots of wags

Monty

O-My-Dog, (did you see what I did there, did you, did you?) Christmas has come early this year. My Dad has just told me that tomorrow - 'D' Day as everyone is calling it (that's 'D' for 'Dawg' Day) is going to be sooo special as I am getting to meet my new bestest friend.

I am so excited, it is a good job that they didn't tell me before as I would never have been able to sleep. Everyone at work is laughing and smiling and they have been talking about it all day, I am not sure who is more excited, me or them.

I expect that you already know about Monty, he sounds like a real bundle of fun and unlike my old friend Biggles, who I still miss lots and lots, he is going to have loads of energy. I have been told that I must keep calm, must not teach him bad habits, must not show him how to bark, or get up to mischief, etc, etc, etc. So what if I may have 'accidently' chewed the computer cables, it was an accident, I was young and inexperienced.

I will let you know more when I finally meet him – not long now.

Love

Sophie xxx

Hi Dad, Monty here,

Well what a week I've had, you wouldn't believe what I've been up to. We all go outside into the run for our meals now, we go to the loo and then we have lots of toys to play with for about an hour; we race round, (I can go the fastest!!!) and I'm very good at grabbing my sisters tail that makes her scream a bit but its very good fun!. Yesterday Nanny opened the gate to let mum in and I shot out just to have a little look around, Nanny got hold of me and said I was a naughty boy!! and then gave me a kiss and a hug.

Nanny says you wont recognise me when you come to pick me up I've grown so much.
see you soon dad

Love

Monty xxx

Hi all, I would like to formally introduce myself, my name is Kai and I am a male Weimeramer dog. I am officially 8 human years old, and contrary to Sophie’s belief I am not drunk. I am just a laid back and adorable rascal who over the years has found that by putting on a particular face I get the ladies wanting to cuddle me.

It was a bit of a shock to the system meeting Sophie, I know now why they call her Minx, talk about a tomboy, she is certainly a handful. Once you get over the initial shock she is quite cute.

Now, about my apple addiction, not my fault, I was trained to do it, I think that my Mum and family are trying to save on buying real toys – that will teach them, especially if I have eaten too much and I have wind.

Now, about apples - they're great! They bounce just like green tennis balls but they are so much more refreshing and.. . they always say 'an apple a day' - hopefully keeps the vet away. Whenever I have to visit the vet, my Mum is always impressed with my placid nature and I always receive a 'good-boy' treat from that very nice vet lady dressed in a white coat - well, that's how my Dad describes her anyway!

Back to about that 'turbo-charged' Sophie - just where does she get all her energy from? I'm much more sedate than that - more of a lovable gentle giant - that's me! I couldn't believe my eyes as to the speed she chased after her toy, but wasn't interested in my apple, thank goodness! She went off like a bullet & still comes racing back for more!

I'm reaching my mature years, but it's not to say that I'm retiring - far from it! I have my moments, especially in my own back garden, bounding alongside Sooty, the black family cat who has a tendency to leap out at me from under the shrubs or off the dustbin lid! Oh well, they say you are only as old as you feel!

....And they all lived happily ever after!!!

My week is getting better every day, today my Auntie Alison who works with my Aunty Jo in our Marketing Department bought her boy to play with me. His name was Kai and he is an 8 year old winy-rarma, at least that is what I think that he said he was called.

He was really laid back and I don't think that he realised how lucky he was that I let him play with me. He was really funny, he loves playing with cooking apples, yep cooking apples! and he was chasing around after a massive apple. I grabbed it at one point but it had a really funny taste, it was so sour it made my nose turn up, I dropped it very quickly and picked up my normal toy. Kai scooped it straight up and started chomping, he must not have any taste buds. My dad told me that sometimes when pigs graze on fallen apples in an orchard they get drunk, I wonder if that is why Kai looks a bit sleepy.

All in all we had a great time and I love meeting new friends, I can't wait to meet Kai again.

Lots of wags Sophie

Yea, yea, OK so Cinders is famous, I could have been you know if only I could stay calm and listen to instructions, but I can't. My Dad has decided that I have ADHD but I can't imagine why, take the clip of me and Biggles playing at the weekend, whatever would lead him to think that I am manic! For a 14 year old lab I think that Biggles is still great fun, but he hasn't got the stamina that I have. I can't wait to see Cinders again as she is as mad as me (when she isn't working that is).

Got to go, balls to chase, hedges to patrol and all that.

Love

Minx

Morning all,

I forgot to tell you that our friend Cinders is now famous. Cinders is the good looking Black Labrador who was specially trained as a hearing dog to help our Uncle Ian. Unlike Sophie and I who basically eat, play and sleep all day, Cinders has to work for her pocket money. Uncle Ian is profoundly deaf and it is Cinders job to keep an ear out for anything out of the usual and let him know when noises occur, i.e. the door bell ringing, his phone receiving a text, a fire alarm going off when he stays at a hotel. Cinders has transformed his life and was Miss February 2009, you can see all the details here.

Hearing Dogs for deaf people is a brilliant charity and are always looking for volunteers and donations to help with training the next generation of hearing dogs, if you would like to know more, or to make a donation go to www.hearingdogs.org.uk

You know that I myself am nearly deaf and so I am thinking about applying myself for a hearing dog - do you think that they would let me?

Have a good week.

Biggles

Hello there, Biggs here, it has been ages since I spoke to you and so I thought I bring you all up to date. Well, I am now officially 14 years and 5 months old, what that is in doggy years I am not completely sure but sometimes I feel like and old man, and other times like a spring chicken again. For instance yesterday I was in the main office where Andrew our Bureau manager works and for some reason I was in a really frisky mood, well, Sophie was playing with her ball and I thought 'I'd like some of that' so I stole it off her. Well, it all kicked off, she started pushing me and play biting and so I started pushing back, Andrew was laughing so much that he took a video of it on his phone - you can see the results here (.mp4 format).

Just so you know who is who I am the older, more mature and although I say it myself quite handsome dog, hey, at 14 who else is going to blow my trumpet! The little one with her bum in the air a lot is Minx, officially called Sophie although she is hardly ever called that. I hope that you enjoy the video, it is a good job that it was lunch time and quiet otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get away with it. Normally we play outside in the garden but the weather has been too wet lately that we can't do that otherwise there are muddy paw prints all over the offices. We do tend to race up and down the corridors.

Did I mention that a week ago my Dad took me to the vets, no, well he did. Unlike Sophie I don't mind going there as I get to talk to lots of other animals in the waiting room, some are really weird shapes and smell really funny. Any how the previous day Sophie kept putting her nose in my mouth (I should have bit it really, that would have served her right) well my Dad being as sympathetic as ever thought that I have been eating rabbit poo, what do you mean ugh, I'm a dog. Well, when he went to wipe my mouth he found blood and my gums were all swollen. Turns out that I have two, yep not just one but two abscesses on my front teeth. The vet said that as I was old he would rather avoid surgery and would try me on antibiotics, he gave me a two week course. My Dad was quite pleased but grumbled at the £44.00 vets bill - we are not cheap to keep you know.

I think that the antibiotics are doing well and I am much happier and I have even got more energy - hence the play fight. My gums are still swollen but not as inflamed, I am going back to see Peter next week, I prefer to call him peter as saying the 'Vet' sounds ominous.

That's about it, so far we have avoided the brunt of the recession and are still getting our daily treats, I hope that the economy perks up soon, I would hate for my Dad to change my dog food to a cheaper brand, I am sure that is part of the reason that I stay so fit and healthy, it is really tasty and full of vitamins and oil for my joints.

I had better go and lay down for a while, all this dictation has made me tired - nighty night.

(Yawn, stretch) is it time to get up yet? All I seem to do is sleep now days, well I was 14 last month you know. The trouble is that the little minx keeps taking up all of the bed. Take a looks at these photos, you can see that if I am in my bed she physically lays on top of me and forces me onto the floor. It’s really not on, she should respect her elders.

Having said that I love having Sophie around, me, an old boy sleeping with a young blond bombshell, I can’t believe my luck. From time to time I try to have my wicked way but my heart and hips aren’t as good as they used to be; I was a bit of a looker and a stud in my day you know – now don’t laugh, its not kind.

I am having great fun with my Dad now. As you know I go to work with him every day, he is very lucky that I let him take me. As I said before, my hips aren’t that good and I can’t jump into the car on my own, he has to lift me. I used to put my font paws in and he lifted my bottom, now he has to lift me all in one. We now got into this routine, I stand by the back of the car and jump into the air about 1 inch off the ground, that is the signal for my Dad to lift me in. Good job he doesn’t have a bad back, O, I forgot he does, O Well; and another thing you should hear him moan, what’s a few dog hairs on his suit matter anyway. If he wanted a pretend dog that doesn’t moult he should have chosen a poodle.

It must be about time for my dinner, I haven’t eaten for at least 30 minutes.

Take care

Biggs

Woe, now wait a minute, there is no way that you are doing that to me.

The other day I had another one of my turns (it’s the stress of being so young, beautiful and popular you know!), I keep trembling all over and falling to one side. Not the good type of trembling when I see my friends and get really excited, but the horrible types of shakes that really scare me. All I want to do is find my Dad and have him cuddle me.

When I have these shakes I get really frightened and my tail goes all limp, well, this time my tail didn’t come back up and I heard my Dad say that he thought that it looked broken, all limp and lifeless. It was awful, I couldn’t wag and let them know I was still happy, normally my tail is really straight and I can clear coffee tables of cups and plates in one swift wag. I could still shake my little toosh but it is not as effective.

It was a bit of a palaver but my Dad took me to the vets, I still don’t trust them, prodding and poking me for no good reason. The man in the green coat (I hope that he was a vet and not a janitor!) said that I may have epilepsy, whatever that is, and, this is the worse bit, if it happens again my Dad has got to squirt some liquid up my bottom – I ask you, putting a tube where the sun don’t shine, and in the middle of my shaking. It’s really not on, the indignity, the embarrassment, the liberty! Don’t they know that I AM A LADY!

I am hoping that I will not get it again, but now that I know what will happen I am going to sit down next time – that will be fun to watch, I am glad that no one has a video camera although £250 from Harry Hill would buy me lots of treats.

Bye for now, Sophie xxx

What-ho, Biggles here. Isn't it hot and sticky, I don't like this muggy weather, Lord knows what it must be like to have a thick coat like some of my friends, Molly the German Shepherd must sweat buckets, OK, so dogs don't sweat, clever dick, she must be doing lots of panting, but I am a gentleman and that sounded rude!

2008 has been quite a tough year. Although I will turn 14 very soon (27th August in case anyone wants to send me any biscuits) and my old ticker is getting tired I am still enjoying my life. When I get the urge, which is not often now, I like to chase Sophie and sometimes, only sometimes mind you, I actually catch her.

My uncle has been ill with his dicky ticker, and my Dad has recently undergone surgery on his spine which has been quite bad for over 6 months, as a result I do not get as many walks as I used to. Last month my Nanny became an Angel and everybody was very, very upset, I tried to help where I could licking people when they cried, however, my breath is a bit smelly nowadays and they keep threatening to give me minty breath chews! I wanted to go and say goodbye to Nanny and then on to the buffet afterwards, but because Sophie is so naughty we weren't allowed, she is still a pain. My Dad says that he hopes that she will calm down next year when she becomes three years old, but I doubt it. Having said that I do like having her around as I still miss my Amber and Sophie is quite nice to cuddle up to.

So that's all my news, it has been a worrying year, but we are getting there - you take care everybody, and remember, live every day as if it is your last because one day you will be right.

Lots of woofs & wags

Biggles

Whoopee - Minx calling, who's that, what's that, when, where, why, way-hay, isn't life fun. I am having a really great time with all my new friends at work. We have lots of students with us at the moment who are on holiday from Auntie Versity, or something like that - funny how they all have the same Auntie! they play with me every break and dinner and I go giddy with all of the running around. I try to get Biggles to play but he just sleeps all day and pants like an old steam engine.

I had to go to the vets again (I don't like him) and he stuck a big needle in me - nasty man! apparently they have to do this every year, you just wait till next year I am going to wee in his room.

A couple of months ago my Dad’s friend came to stay and he brought his girl with him, she is a Labrador like me, but unlike me and Biggles who are unemployed, Cinders is in full time employment – she is a Hearing Dog. Her dad, Ian, is very deaf, and Cinders helps tell him when she hears sounds that he doesn’t. She is mad as a hatter and I loved running around with her, but as soon as she put on her red coat and reins she was a different dog.

Ian said that she tells him when the phone is ringing, she taps him and points at it. She has been trained to tell him if an alarm goes off in the night, or if he was in a shop if the fire alarm sounds. She is so lucky, she goes in trains, shops, restaurants and will soon be getting her licence to go on a plane. We were too excited when we met and didn’t want to lay down and so the photos of us three are a little fuzzy.

Lots of love, licks, woofs and wags

Sophie

Hi there everybody peeps, Minx here. I keep getting told off that I haven’t updated my blog in ages, did you see how I said ‘my blog’, I am self centered you know. Anyhow, we have all been really really busy, with lots going on.

I told you last time that poor old Biggles had a mild heart attack, well he is getting better, but still not able to chase me like he used to. I am not allowed to chase him anymore either, which is really boring. I keep being told that he is an old boy and that he will be 14 this year, but that doesn’t impress me much….. ‘I’m nearly 14 years old you know’ said the old man.

To make up for Biggles slowing down I have been making new friends. A new puppy has moved in next door, his name is Yuri, you know as in Yuri Gagarin the Russian astronaut, or Yuri Geller the famous spoon bender. He is a rather attractive 6 month old black Labrador and he is really funny, he keeps putting his head through the gate (I think that he is going to get stuck one day - that will be funny!) and he tickles when he licks my face.

Yuri is rather cute, and I am quite attracted to him, but he lives with my other two friends Jip and Janie and so at the moment he is not allowed to play with me too much so that they do not get jealous. I think that Jip still has a crush on me but his sister doesn’t like it when we play together she barks at me a lot, I think that Janie thinks that I am too rough, she is just being an over protective sister.

Recently at work we had a Cheese & Wine Evening to help with recruitment. Biggles and I were banned from the event - we were gutted, all that free food and new people to play with and we were sent home to bed, as if we couldn't be trusted!. As a result of the event we have got some lovely new people to play with at work.

Now that the summer is here the doors to the back garden are open and I can wander in and out all day – I am often out on patrol making sure that the area is safe, I am also very good at keeping the garden clear of dangerous debris such as rabbit poo, although you guessed it, I get told off for eating that as well. Biggles helps clean up with me but it is only me who gets told off. He pretends to be deaf and can’t hear them shouting ‘no’.

You would think that they were happy that I am out playing in the garden, but no, I even get in trouble doing that. For example, last night I was in the garden at home and I was sniffing at all of the new plants which have recently been put in. My Dad used ‘organic poultry pellets’ (how posh!!) which I have heard him secretly call chicken poo pellets; well, I was having a good rummage through the mud where all these pellets were covering myself in a lovely fresh countryside smell when I was called in – time for tea and all that.

I wolfed down my tea and had a lovely drink of water to wash it down, ‘Chateau Neuf Du Tap’ I think it was, and before I went back to playing I went to say hi to my Auntie Una who had just got dressed to go and see my nanny who has not been very well and is in hospital. I was only trying to be friendly and rested my head on her trousers. My Dad told me off as I left a wet muddy smudge on her new crispy white linen trousers – you see, I can’t get anything right. I think that she still loves me though as after she cleaned it off she smiled at me.

So, that’s it for now, we are very busy at work and so I may have to wait a while until one of my staff are available to type up my next blog for me, I still find typing quite hard to do.

Lots of lick, wags and woofs, Sophie.

Howdy partners, it’s all been happening up here this week. On Friday my Nanny went into hospital with what Daddy says was acute angina, I assumed he meant Nanny was going to see her vet with a teddy bear called Angina, and she thought that it was cute. Apparently it was her heart.

Well, today my uncle also had to go to hospital as he has hurt his back quite badly, but when he got home, my old friend Biggles, who is 14 this year, collapsed and fell into the flower pots sending them flying. I thought that he was playing around and so I jumped on his head but I was told off (again!).

He was having what looked like a fit, with lots of shaking heavy breathing. My uncle had to carry him to the car, which hurt his bad back even more, and took him to the vets. It turned out that he was also having a mild heart attack - he must have been jealous of Nanny.

Biggles is OK, he is a bit tired but you would not know that anything had happened, he slept most of the time before anyway, and Nanny is coming out tomorrow after they have taken her for walkies around the ward to check that she is OK. I asked my Dad if her nose was still cold and wet and he said it was but he wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

Never a dull moment up here – catch you later alligator.

Love

Sophie

Hi there fans. It has been absolutely ages since we last spoke, the reason is that my Dad hasn't been very well, and then he was very busy at work, I kept nagging him to update my site (did you notice that I assume that this blog is mine now!), but he was too busy.

A lot has happened since I last updated you. I had my second Christmas, which was a blast. Lots of friends came around to play and I ate so much that I felt sick - in fact I was sick a couple of times.Guess who had to clean that up - not me!

Biggles had his moments over Christmas, but he is getting on a bit now. I am told that he will be thirteen this year and in doggy years that is seriously old. He still tries to have his wicked way with me (bad boy) and I tease him by leaving my bum in the air and then running away. I still use him like a chewy toy but he tastes funny - you can see me playing with him here. My uncle is a bit worried about Biggs as his lungs sound terrible at times, but then he gets his second wind and chases after me. I like it when he does, but after about 5 minutes he gives up as he is exhausted; me, I could play all day.

Now, you know me, I likes lots of attention, but I got the wrong sort last month. My Auntie Una noticed a big lump on my tail (she was brushing me which I kind of like, but like to wriggle lots just to make it difficult) and I had to go to the vets. Man do I hate going there, it's like my Dad going to the dentist - horrible. Anyway, they gave me a sleeping pill which zonked me out and they shaved my tail - how embarrassing, and it left one hell of a draught afterwards.

It turned out just to be a cyst, whatever a cyst is, and they put a needle into it. Everything is 'A' OK with me now, except that Dad says that I still have ADHD.

Oh, I forgot - we have had four new people start at work and they are all good fun to be around. I keep getting told off for distracting them but I am really enjoying playing fetch with them. It is amazing how quickly you can train new people, you just drop the toy and they throw it - brilliant!

Well, that's it really, Biggles and I are still coming to work every day and lounging around, eating, playing etc. We just can't wait for the Spring so that we can play out in the garden at work. Everyone gets upset when I come in with muddy feet, and the other day I shook mud all up the wall, Alison from Marketing had to help clean it up. I saw the funny side, but I don't think they did.

I will try and not leave it so long before I write again.

Lots of licks, woofs and wags - Sophie.

O' my God, what a week. As you will all know by now I am used to lazing around at work, snoozing, eating and generally chilling out, but not this week, Oh no; I was on a so called holiday.

Sophie was even worse than usual. She was so excited that she was running around like a wild thing. She kept having to be hosed down because she was covered in mud and muck and, boy, can she talk!

I did enjoy my extra walks and stuff, but I think I overdid it. I have got bad lungs and my ticker is a bit flakey. I try and run around with all of my buddies but it makes me out of breath. I was so bad on a couple of nights that my Dad had to stay up looking after me - he took me to the vets for a check up. Apparently a lot of it is to do with the heat and so I have been told to rest; I have been telling them that for years. Rest and food and then food and rest – not very difficult is it?

Well my Dad is calling. Hopefully it is something nice to chew on and not another pill which he pretends is actually a biscuit – I am not that stupid!

Lets hope Sophie doesn't jump on me in my sleep again - Take care, love Biggles

Hi everyone, Minx here. Well, haven’t I been busy. I was on holiday last week and it was brilliant.

I went to my Auntie Jan’s in Leicestershire and had a great time. My aunties and uncles were all there and they played with me all day; she has a very big garden and I ran and ran and ran.

I did get one shock though; they were all playing a funny game called Boules – I think they meant balls but kept saying it wrong. It took a lot of my will power not to keep running off with the balls (or boules) that they were playing with. However, when I finally couldn't resit joining in I did get a shock, they are made of a really hard silvery metal and they weigh a ton, I was lucky that I didn’t chip a tooth.

I had much more fun running off with the shuttlecock as they were not very good at playing badminton and kept missing the shuttle, or is it cock I don't know, I am still only a puppy.

The best fun though was that Auntie Jan has a compost heap, well, you have to keep them on their toes don’t you. I had a good roll in it and it was lovely and warm and soggy. I managed to get rhubarb leaves under my collar and everything. I still don’t know why they get upset, I smelt fresh just like the coutryside.

Another day Biggles and I went for a walk in the fields and although it was a dry day I managed to find a trough made by a tractor that had filled up with water and mud – I went for a swim and put my head under the water, it was fab. Dad wasn’t impressed though, I just can’t do anything right sometimes, I mean, he called me and I came back instantly. OK, so I shook myself down near him and splattered him in mud, but I am generous and do like to share things.

Biggles, Jannie & Jip were also with me but they all looked down their noses at me – boring!

Well, must go now, more mischief to be made and havoc to be had. If you want to see some pictures of my week go to the gallery – woof woof, lick lick – Sophie.

It seems ages since I last wrote in my blog. Not a lot has been happening with me really. I am still getting up to mischief, but nobody seems to notice. I think that everyone is trying the 'do not give her any attention' approach hoping that I will calm down - I am getting frustrated with everyone not playing with me, but we will have to see who cracks first!

We have been very lucky with the weather in the village that I live; the worst thing we had was that the fields got very muddy and my Dad would not walk me in them. We have lots of very large ditches around all of the fields and the water runs into them first. When we see all of the terrible things happening around the country with people and their poor animals being made temporarily homeless it makes us all very sad.

My Dad tried to explain to me about climate change but I am only a puppy, I didn't really understand. He told me that we must all help to save the environment and that is why he is always turning off lights and computers, recycling glass, plastic, paper and tins and fills up the compost bin. I always tell him that I am a more efficient waste recycling machine but he still puts a lot into the garden composter - spoilsport. He even now uses bio-degradable pooper scoop bags, whatever bio-degradable is. Well, must go, I can hear someone in the staff kitchen; if the gooey eyes don't work I can always sit on their feet until they notice me.

Bath Time .......

I have just had my first real bath (I normally just get hosed down when I get muddy) and it was great fun. The nice man gave me lots of treats and talked to me.

I didn't give him an easy time and kept wriggling, but what did you expect. Afterwards I smelt like a flower, Biggles hated it and was complaining constantly about smelling like a girl, he kept trying to rub the smell off onto the carpet - woosy.

I just don't believe it, the jammy thing. I have been trying for nearly 12 years to taste human chocolate and the nearest I got was when my Dad took me to see a relative in a nursing home and one of the residents tried to feed me an After-Eight mint. I was gutted, Dad spotted it just as I was about to grab it - it smelt amazing.

Now, Madam has eaten half a box full - what a cheek, she didn't even save me one. She is off my Christmas card list I can tell you; and do you know what was worse, E-Numbers. She went so hyper it was like she was on drugs - chewed even more of her bad and ripped another cushion to bits. I am going to keep a closer eye on her in future, I want whatever she is having..............

All because the lady loves Milk Tray ................

Well, it wasn't really Milk Tray but M & S top of the range luxury chocolates, and guess what, the silly things left the box within reach; well, you have to take your chances where you can don't you. Auntie Una stayed on Friday and her and Daddy ate lots of chocolates whilst watching telly - they wouldn't give me any as they said that they were bad for me.

So, next morning whilst they were eating breakfast I nudged open the lounge door and bingo, they were all gone before you could say 'oi Minx' - they we delicious and lip smacking tasty. Dad found me just as I had finished and I thought here we go again. 'Sophie, what are you doing' etc, etc .... usual spiel. Naughty dog, blah, blah, blah - they even phoned my Doctor (I don't like the word vet - too many bad memories) and he said that I was a lab, and he had seen labs eat whole boxes of chocolates and still be OK. Apparently it is very dangerous if you eat human chocolate over a sustained period of time; So crises over, I got a chocky treat and helped them with their diets (yeah right!); every ones a winner.

Evidence to follow.

Saturday 2nd June and another first. I have just found the biggest puddle in the world, but it tasted of salt and was very sandy.

My Auntie Sue and Nanny Barbara took me on a picnic, it was fantastic, we had lots of food and drink and I got to play in the sea. My uncle threw my ball into the water and it floated, without hesitation I ran after it and the strangest thing happened - my feet lifted off the floor; it was amazing. I am not one to boast (yeah right <Biggles>) but I was an excellent swimmer.

I couldn't get enough - in, out, in, out ....... Although I did scare my Dad a bit as I saw some other people playing on the beach and I wanted to join in. I ran up to them shouting at them to play with me, but they reacted really strangely - they kept waving their arms in the air and telling me to go away, but I knew that they wanted to play really and so kept shouting. After that I was put on a long elastic lead but I ran off and it snapped - oops...

My boyfriend Biggles loved it as well, and for an old boy he really got stuck in - he loved the sea and even chased after me (not that he ever caught me). He did get a lot of water in his ears and he has need drops in since, but, hey, I am all right!

On the way home in the car we were soaking wet and we had a good game afterwards when they tried to get the sand out of my coat - I admit that I can be a bit naughty sometimes.

We did take some photos, but not with the digital camera and so will post them after the old fashioned film has been developed.

Lots of woofs, licks and wags - Sophie xxx.

Arrrggghhhhh……… what a handful! I was always told that you should never breed from two chocolate Labradors, Sophie’s Mum and Dad are both chocolate Labs and I now know that it is not a myth but true! I think that Sophie must have solar panels – she never runs out of energy. You can run her around for an hour continuously non-stop and she isn't even tired. Even when she does tire after a five-minute nap she is recharged again.

She pulls on the lead and barks at everything; dogs, people, cars, and plastic bags. I know that it is actually me who is the problem and I have seen a dog trainer to train me. That did some good but she is still a handful. I got given an excellent book and DVD called The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell which was brilliant, but the minx still tries to be the top dog.

I have tried stones in a bottle to stop her barking – didn't work. I have tried stopping and turning around every time she barks but that didn't work either. I borrowed one of those remote controlled collar sprayers – useless.

Having said all of that, Sophie is a beautiful lovable, loyal and cuddly dog – she adds character and spark to the office and home, and I love the fact that she is mischievous.

I will just have to keep taking the tablets!

Thursday 5th April 2007 - A day I will never forget. I went to the vets this morning, didn't like it at all.

They said relax, calm down, but I had other ideas, I can give as good as I got and showed my teeth and growled. They gave me what they called a pre-med and it was really good stuff, I was floating around like a puppy, but it made me fall over like I was drunk.

When I woke up I was shocked. I felt a draft near my tummy and My belly was bald! somebody had played a practical joke and shaved all my fur off - carefully going around four of my nipples.

There was a little scar about 2 inches long and I had some funny string holding it together. I heard one of the ladies in a green dress say that I wouldn't be able to have puppies now - why? I would have been a great mum, and think of all the extra attention I would get. But hey, on the up side I will never get a saggy under-carriage.

So, I have been on lead play for over a week, but now I am up and about and bombing around again - hooray..... Strange thing though - I keep getting the urge to mount Biggles; poor old thing - hormones, who said anything about hormones.

Sophie.

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me'eeeee, Happy Birthday to Me

Sunday 18th February 2007 and I am One Years Old - that is 15 years in Doggy Years. I was always told that it was 7 dog years to one human year, but I was wrong. 15 for the first year and 7 every year thereafter.

So, I am a teenager, brilliant. I had a great birthday. Had friends round - Biggles, my boyfriend, a bit old, but he still knows how to give a lady a good time! and my new friends from next door - Jip and Janeke. They were named after a Dutch story. They are brother and sister, and Yip is pretty fit - Janeke thinks that I am a bit of a threat and so is still a bit off. I showed her my belly, and tried to give her a wash but she wasn't moving - I am sure that she will come around.

We had biscuits and cake and I got a new cuddly toy - won't take long to get the stuffing out of that, although Dad keeps taking her off me - spoil-sport.

So, must go, I will put some photo's of the big day on my gallery as soon as I can.

Lots of licks, woofs and wags - Sophie.

O my God, am I excited.

You will never guess what happened last night, I went from a puppy to women-hood, its official I'm a grown up.

I didn't like the feeling sick, which I was, uck, or the other stuff, but I've arrived. I am told that my hormones were going wild, and this may be why I thought those other boy dogs, who I might add I would not normally be my type, I found quite attractive. But, back to normal now.

As a grown up I can stay up late, have slumber parties, and get up to even more mischief - hooray ......

Hi all, Sophie here. O, how I love talking about me...., I am a very attractive blond who at the time of typing, which is no mean feat with only paws, I am 11 months old. I am told that I am a labrador, whatever that is, although I like to think of myself as an individual.

Now, everyday I come to this funning looking place, which Biggles my older friend tells me is where we have to work - to me it is a fun place to play with lots of people, and they are always feeding me - yeah..... I love the yogurt pots most. I am still confused as to what my role is, so at the moment I am doing a bit of everything. So far I have chewed the carpet in the car, eaten 2 chocolates off the Christmas tree (white ones as I know that the dark ones are bad) including a glass ball, stolen the engineers screwdrivers, given my Dad a black eye, and redesigned the wooden door-stop, it is much better now that it has teeth marks in it. I will have to behave a bit for a while as I already have one ASBO

Hi, my name is Biggles, I am an 11 year old yellow 'boy' labrador, and even though I say it myself I am looking pretty dashing for my advancing years. I live with my Dad who is one of the directors at this place that I work, and until January I had a wonderful girlfriend called Amber, who sadly went to the great big kennel in the sky. She was 10 years old and was the love of my life since the first time we sniffed at 3 months old.

I do not know what I have done to deserve it, but I now have to work with a new ladette called Sophie - or 'ASBO' as my Dad calls her. She is a nightmare! I used to be the top-dog and just laze around all day, now I have this little miss chasing me, biting me, and she never sleeps !! she is a bully, anti-social and a vandal, but I do have a soft spot for her..

I must go as the little minx is bugging me, but I will be writing more soon.