A Puptastic Week!

Greeting Wooferteers!  My name is Milo and I am the New Kid on The Block... this is what my new big brother has called me so I think it sounds cool.  I have had the most exciting week ever.  Just a week ago I was busy chasing my Mum around trying to get her to play tag with me when these two humans arrived for a visit.  I was quite taken with them, they seemed to appreciate my handsomeness and were wowed by my puptastic paws (who wouldn't be?), I investigated them thoroughly, I checked for treats in pockets and made sure that they appreciated the wonder of a face lick.  Yep they seemed alright!

I was busy having a little doze when I heard that they were taking me away.... I had mixed feelings about this..... I love my Mum and all my aunts, granny and uncles but I am ready for an adventure.  I heard the words labrador, ball, mule, work and Dartmoor.... I had no idea what any of that meant but it sounded puptastic to me!

My Ma, isn't she gorgeous

Bye Ma!

The time was ready for me to wave goodbye to my Mum, bye bye, I promise I'll be back to see you soon, will you recognise me when I've got long, floppy teenage hair and I've filled out Ma?  I'm sure you will,  bye bye my humans too!  I will miss you and promise to visit for plenty of face washes and to  tell you all about my puptastic adventures!

My first week has been filled with adventures ....

First there was my new big brother the Pocket Sized Labrador (aka Murph or Bigbro), I don't think he looks pocket sized? He's massive!  He is big and woolly and makes an exceptionally good pillow to lie on, his ears also fantastic chew toys, I don't know why he grumbles at me after a while of chewing??  I LOVE him!  He is awesome and lets me play with all his toys... all at once... I want that one... or that one... or whichever one you're chewing...

Bigbro Murph is my hero!

Wherever my Bigbro goes I tend to follow.  There is also my new humans, they're quite nice really :-)

There is MH who is my master, he tells me how to behave and is brilliant for playing games with and cuddles (don't tell anyone he likes to pretend he is the disciplinarian, hehehehe).

The 'Discplinarian'

Then there is FH who is the soft one.  Quite literally!  She is very good to lie on, if she takes liberties sitting in my bed then I shall insist that she pays the Milo price ;-)

FH makes a good pillow

She is also very excited by face washing, she really does need to clean her face better Muskehounds, I found all kinds of tasty morsels stuck to her fur.

Face washing lurcher style!

FH carries around the great stuff called tea.  I don't know why she won't share?  I got my long nose well in to the cup today, yummy!  Please FH can I have some more, it soaks in to my whiskers and then I can lick it off later...lovely!   I have to say that there is one disappointing thing with my new FH, hmmm her errrmmm fashion sense is a little off.  Come on I'm not sure about those socks and stripes?! I think I may have to make those socks disappear... they look like a nice chew toy ;-)

Mmmm tea for puppy me!

During the week I have been perfecting my posing, this is something that I need to work hard at if I'm to be a famous pup on this blog thingy, the PSL tells me that we have to be on bestest behaviour as we are only borrowing from those long eared creatures.... 

Aren't I a handsome lurcher puppy?!

Speaking of which... I met one over the fence! Yikes this one is big!  She was checking out my puptastic handsomeness and was making strange squawky noises, apparently her name is Dragon, that sounds scary!  I had a little sniff and then showed her my moves. She seems less than overwhelmed? Better try harder next time... FH says I will not be on paw shaking terms with these guys, something about their dog defenders??

There's been lots of time for games galore!  Bigbro has given me some toys and I have been playing fetch the ball a lot. It's hard work when your legs are as short as mine.

Fetch!

I've also been teaching my humans some puppy moves, we've been learning loads of stuff.  My humans seem impressed that I can already sit, lie down and stay, duh?! Of course I can I am super pup! They are easily pleased, this is a good sign!  My next challenge is to learn 'paw', I've been watching my bigbro and he has this mastered, I am not too good at getting my legs coordinated, it won't take me long though ;-)

Teaching the humans....

Later in the week the 'work' word was mentioned.  What chasing bunnies for dinner?  No surely not?  I'm too young!  Oh... it would seem that I was off to work with FH.  She works at the place with lots of long ears and nearly as many canines.  Wow!  This is the best place ever.  I have found my newest friend Flint who looks a lot like my uncles.  He is so nice I have pinched all of his toys and tried out his bed when he wasn't looking but he still loves me.  While FH is 'working' it is my job to look cute, guard the office (this involves sleeping lots and having growly dreams) and greet my huge new fan club.  Can you believe it? Everyone loves me and wants to visit!

Working lurcher!

Test driving Flint's bed...

It hasn't been all fun and games though Muskehounds.  I have been busy assisting with the housework!  Today I helped MH bring in the logs for the fire, this is essential as I need the fire to keep me nice and warm while snoozing.  I particularly like it when MH brings in fresh logs as it means I can pick out a new one to chew, hmmm apparently I can chew sticks outside but not inside... these humans are so picky!

Well Muskehounds I've had a very lovely first week in this new place called Muleteer HQ.  The humans reckon I fit right in, apparently I shall be living a life less ordinary - sounds brilliant!  I shall survey my kingdom as it seems I might just stay.

Time to dream of adventures to come!  Sending you woofs and wags, especially to my Ma and my pup humans, I love it here, thanks for waiting for the right home to come along for me :-)

Roller's Philosophical Friday: New Beginnings

Dearest Muleteers!  Spring may be on the way, it's official!  I have started to shed my coat, a process which takes at least 6 months so I need to start early.  FH is starting to see us in actual daylight during the week as she just leaves as the sun is rising and is home before the fall of night - this means she can see my ponificent self much more clearly :-)

Although I am happy to see Spring just around the corner... mmmm yummy spring grass.... I am a little sad because Winter is my favourite season and I shall have to say good-bye, FH reckons we'll have more of the white stuff before my coat is finally shed though, I really hope so!  Alas it got me thinking that with every end there is a new beginning... a simple saying that sheds much light and is always worth considering when things are challenging!

From the end spring new beginnings.

Pliny the Elder

Feeding Time at The Mule Zoo

What's a Mini got to do to get some service round here?  Honestly dinner time here is chaotic!  FH calls it feeding time at the mule zoo.... hmmm charming... we are not common beasts like lions and elephants you know?  The problem here is that like all good restaurants everyone wants to eat at the same time.  Unfortunately here the Maitre D is not very good at crowd control!  I decided some feedback was in order so here's my review of the 'The Mule Restaurant'

When one of us spots FH entering the yard at roughly the right time we all gallop down full speed ahead.  Some of us are better at queueing than others, there is a hierarchy here that must be obeyed.  

Dragon is often first in to the yard, she has longer legs for running to the restaurant than us minis and is definitely greedy.  She pulls her greedy face at FH and squawks.  

Enter my handsomeness who must restore order.... honestly I'm supposed to be a customer, not staff!

I pull my angry ears at Dragon so that she knows I am first to get my starter (yummy vit supplement)

I do have to ensure that I also use my 'I love you' ears for FH as I don't want her to not love me or feed me.... even though I am the customer! 

Roller stays outside the restaurant and stares in through the glass at all the lucky diners, he will wait his turn though as he says some of the other diners have bad manners.

Just when the Maitre D (FH..) is nearly ready to seat us an interloper emerges and barges right on in to the restaurant blocking the path of the Maitre D, some diners think they are worthy of special treatment and always have the look of the cat that got the cream?

Finally we are all seated and given our tasty meals! Roller needs to be quick as it seems naughty Catanian has her eyes on his dinner, I'm not sure that mule vits are good for cats?

Once the vits and mins are dispensed with it's time for the main course, yummy haylage!  I have stuffed my mouth with ample quantities so that Roller doesn't notice it....

Oh no!  The other diner has noticed my spectacular dinner and is trying to help themselves!

Hmmm Roller if you're last at the restaurant you will sometimes get the worst table, sometimes this can even mean that you have to eat facing the wall??!! Ooops...

Dragon is also a 'stuff it all in as fast as you can' kind of girl, her table manners are pretty atrocious, it's a good job we didn't go for spaghetti on our first date, I thought she was sophisticated back then!

Would you believe it!  Dragon has decided that she likes the look of the 'All You Can Eat Buffet' next door?!  Oops it would appear that Dragon has actually inserted herself in to the restaurant kitchen... the chef is gonna be mad at her....

Alas when all the goodies have been exhausted from the menu it's time for the healthy option for dessert...

FH we did not say we wanted to eat at the Health Food Restaurant with it's fibre rich and low sugar dessert menu....uggh :-(

We give this restaurant a 5/10 - lacking in service, the clientele are decidedly pushy, the dessert menu leaves a lot to be desired and the Maitre D is pretty useless ;-) Eat well my friends!

New Kid On The Block

Dearest Muskehounds…. There is a new kid on the block in our house!  Can you believe what happened, there I was having a lovely middle aged snooze when I heard a commotion coming from outside.  The humans had been out for quite a while (a great excuse for some peace and quiet), I thought they’d gone shopping… hmmm well they had… it would appear they have bought me a new playmate!  Can you believe it?  Me a puppy sitter…. Oh dear.  I have a good history of puppy sitting with my human at work but at home?? Surely not?

So I went out to investigate and look what I found!  Apparently he’s called Milo, I shall call him New Kid On The Block; his legs are very long and I am little suspicious of the size of those whopping paws, I think he may be more of a challenge than my previous puppy charges who were spaniels and collies?  FH says he’s got all kinds on long dogs in him, a bit like a patchwork quilt…. Bedlington, Greyhound, Deerhound, Whippet… but alas not Labradorian… we’ll make him in to one, apparently he likes chasing balls which means he’s half way there.

As the senior dog I decided I should show him the ropes immediately, they say with puppy training you should start out as you mean to go on.

NKOTB found a small log to play with, hmmm nah.

That’s a stick

This is a log!

Follow me NKOTB and I’ll show you where the action’s at when it comes to wood to chew!

I think he was quite impressed….

Now for indoors, this is my bed, yes I know I’m very handsome but we are posing for the camera so geroff my face!

I’ve noticed that you’ve tea leafed (thieved!) my Doris Donkey away, I’m watching you…

Doris needs to be treated with the utmost respect NKOTB!

Hmm these puppies really do take liberties, while you’re asleep I’ll just have Doris back thank you, now then MH can you please ensure that the NKOTB stays away from Doris?

Perfect! Peace and quiet!  It’s asleep, I’ve worn it out, yay!  It seems to have decided that it would like to stay a little while longer, my puppy sitting skills may need honing.

Would you believe it?  He stayed all night!  He cried a little and I just deployed my ear flaps and gave him the withering ‘Master Dog’ look to make him shush, he told me he was missing his Mum and family, we had to have a manly chat, I told him he would like it here, it is certainly an interesting place to live!  The humans are errrmmm characterful and softies most of the time and there are some great places to run around… he went back to sleep and had some puppy dreams so I think he's alright.

When morning finally arrived we had some puppy fun and then a little snoozing!  It’s such a hard life..

And then he stole Doris again!  Hmmmm

Would you believe it?  He now thinks my bed is big enough for both of us?  Well I never!  Oh well guess I can share for a little while… he has my big den for nightimes and his own bed but no he wants mine! In the day I guess we can share until he grows in to those paws!! 

I'm keeping Doris firmly under my head though... don't tell anyone but the man hug is quite nice!

I promise to keep you updated on my progress training NKOTB…. It may be fun!  The Muleteers will be back soon after this canine interruption, woofs and wags!  The PSL and NKOTB xx

p.s. Apparently FH has ordered two new Doris Donkeys… there are some advantages to a new puppy J

Roller's Philosophical Friday: Conscience

Dearest Muleteers, my pony conscience is crystal clear, I am a pony with no clouds hanging over me and no impending doom of judgement.  Apparently we animals aren't the only ones with clear consciences but when I read some of the tales in the pony times I do wonder about some humans?  It would seem that when it comes to right or wrong things are not always clear in the world of humans, this I don't really understand...  The sun rises and sets just as there is right and wrong and I reckon most people really do know the difference between right or wrong, surely?

We Muleteers have a very simple moral code to follow, make sure you can sleep at night and that you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.  When time passes we Muleteers are not sure if and how we will be judged but the judgement of today and tomorrow is also important.... I have heard it called conscience.  Once again a great leader and very wise man has summed things up perfectly.

There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience.  It supercedes all other courts.
Mahatma Gandhi.

Have a weekend full of rights and as few wrongs as possible :-) xxx