Getting Naughty

My Person has been out a lot doing Dog Listening.

She says I am getting NAUGHTY. Yesterday she called us all IN from our field.

Marmite is Slowest but she came IN first. Monty the Mont wanted to come in but I didn't let him. I stood in front of him and I ATTACKED him. I grabbed the fur on his neck.

Then I let Monty the Mont go in.

Later, when I felt like going in it was Too Late. Person had shut me out in the field by myself.

So Person says she is going to BLITZ me with Dog Listening for a couple of days. I am waiting for my tea. I have tried asking but Person is ignoring me. I am now lying down patiently, not looking at her. That will Do The Trick.

I knew it would.

I was a Good Boy at Person Training (Dog Training ha ha) today. Marmite was a Good Girl at Training. Monty the Mont stayed in the car because he doesn't like Training. He is On the Defensive. He doesn't like being with lots of dogs in a small place because he can't run away if he's scared.

I am Never scared at Training. I just stay close to Person when the Big Black German Shepherd that Growls looks at me. Marmite used to be a little bit Scared to start with. She then made a Puddle on the floor like she did at the Vet's. Linsey Person was never cross with her. Linsey Person is a very Kind Trainer.

Anyway, Person is going to try taking Monty the Mont back to Training soon. She says now he has been thoroughly Dog Listened that he will trust her to look after him. Then Monty the Mont won't have to worry about the other dogs. He won't have to be On the Defensive.

Person likes going to Training because she likes TALKING to other Persons. It's for herself really. Not for me, not for Marmite and certainly not for Monty the Mont.

Monty's Last Stand

I have decided I quite like Person being a Dog Listener. Marmite has decided she quite likes Person being a Dog Listener.

I am happy to go along with Person Pretending to be an Alpha Wolf for now. He-Person hasn't said That Bloody Pip for a long time. He hasn't said That Flaming Marmite for a long time. He still says You're a Lovely Boy Mont but that's because Monty the Mont is He-Person's Favourite.

Person says Monty the Mont is making his LAST STAND. Monty the Mont is Upping his Game. He is trying even harder now to be Top Dog.

When I lie down on the floor Monty STANDS OVER me. He is saying to me I'M THE BOSS. When Marmite lies down on the floor Monty STANDS OVER her. He is saying to her I'M THE BOSS.

When we come in from OUTSIDE Monty the Mont comes through the door First. Then me. Then Marmite.

Monty the Mont doesn't want to Play Person's Game of 'Who's the Alpha Wolf?'

Monty the Mont is trying to push through the door IN FRONT of Person! When he does that she turns around and waits until he is behind her. Then she goes through the door.

Monty the Mont has begun to Throw himself at the door when he's OUTSIDE and wants to come in, instead of waiting patiently like he used to do, and like Marmite does and like I do apart from my sad little noises.

So, Person is doing extra Gesture Eating especially for Monty the Mont. Person is doing special Stop Start Change Direction walks with Monty the Mont. Person IGNORES Monty the Mont unless she calls him to her.

Today I am going to Person Training (Dog Training ha ha) to see Linsey Trainer Person. Marmite is going to Person Training too.

Monty the Mont will stay in the car this time. He will go to Person Training again when Person has WON the 'Who's the Alpha Wolf?' game. I wonder how long it will take for her to win.

Anyway, I might see Minto and I might see Abbey this afternoon.

Sausages

So, when Person came back from her Course with her Certificate in Advanced Canine Communication we were Very Happy Dogs. Because she didn't Look at us when she came in we were also Very Calm Dogs.

Then she SPOILT it all. She took us to the Person Training ('Dog' Training ha ha) Christmas Party.

We were Very Good Dogs and Very Calm Dogs when we got out of the Car - until we heard lots and lots of BARKING and TALKING and MUSIC coming from our Training Hall.

Monty the Mont was Prancing About. He-Person went ahead with Monty PULLING him.

My She-Person had my lead and she had Marmite's lead. She had to hold on Tight.

I felt Excited. I also felt Scared. Danger? I PULLED so I could get Ahead. Marmite also PULLED so that she could get Ahead.

And Person just STOPPED.

Then she Started again and Changed Direction. She didn't say anything to us at all.

I PULLED again to get Ahead and so did Marmite.

And Person just STOPPED again. Then she Started again and Changed Direction. She didn't say anything to us at all.

I could see that if we carried on like this we would NEVER get to Find Out what was Happening in the Hall.

So then I Walked Very Nicely and Marmite Walked Very Nicely as far as the Door.

There were Lots and Lots and Lots of Dogs, and Lots and Lots and Lots of Persons and lots and lots of Children. I SPRANG FORWARD. Marmite SPRANG FORWARD. I Love Children. Marmite Loves Children. There was Music. I could smell Food. Dogs and Persons and Children were Laughing and Shouting and Barking and Running About and Sitting on different Chairs. We PULLED and we PULLED on our leads.

Monty the Mont then started BARKING and He-Person took him back to the Car. Monty the Mont kept on BARKING in the Car. Monty the Mont always BARKS when he is all by himself in the Car. So He-Person took Marmite back to the Car to keep him company.

My Person said it was BEDLAM.

I played one Game. It was a Sausage game. There was a row of Plates and each had some Sausage on it. I had to run to each plate and eat Sausage as Quickly as possible. I love Sausage. If Person fed me Sausage instead of Dry Neutro I wouldn't Mess About at meal times.

CONFUSING. Lots of Persons I didn't know. Lots of Dogs I didn't know. Lots of Persons I did know and lots of Dogs I did know. I was on my lead so I couldn't Investigate. And for some reason I had Sausages to eat from a row of plates.

Anyway, I did manage to have a quick kiss with Abi the Retreiver who is in my New Class. I love Abi and I love Minto. I couldn't find Minto at the Christmas Party, but I was on my lead so I couldn't have a good look. I said Hello to Person Ann's little Patterdales and to Toby and Bella who are Jack Russells. I said Hello to the Other Monty who is a Whippet. I was a bit unsure of a Big Lassie Dog so a lay on my back to be on the safe side.

I was just beginning to Enjoy Myself when Person took me back to the car. Marmite and Monty the Mont SNIFFED me.

SAUSAGES?

Certificate of Advanced Canine Communication

Person came home yesterday evening with a 'Certificate of Advanced Canine Communication'.

I had not seen Person for Three Whole Days, nor had Marmite and nor had Monty the Mont. She had not see US for three whole days either.

And do you know what? Person came in the door and she IGNORED US!

(I did hear Person saying she was very very pleased with us because we didn't jump around her. We sniffed her (she smelt of Jan Fennells spaniels) and we followed her about but we didn't get excited.

Anyway, soon Person called us to her and made a fuss of us and put our collars on.

Collars on? We're going out somewhere?

Well, she put my collar on and she put Marmite's collar on, but Monty the Mont started to Prance About, so she didn't put Monty the Mont's collar on. She went and sat down at her computer instead.

She then called Monty the Mont to her again and he was quiet while she put on his collar.

Person next fetched our leads but Monty the Mont had forgotten something! He started jumping about and Person put his lead away again. I had to wait in the car and so did Marmite. Then Monty the Mont too came out to the car nice and quietly.

Persons then took us out to the Person Training (Dog Training ha ha) Christmas Party.

Certificate of Advanced Canine Communication????

Well, I'll tell you about the Christmas Party tomorrow!

Here is a picture of my Person and the other new Dog Listeners. Tony who Taught them all is fourth from the left.

Monty's Getting The Message

I think Monty the Mont is beginning to GET THE MESSAGE in spite of Yesterday.

Yesterday at Person Training Monty the Mont was Not a Relaxed and Happy Dog.

He BARKED at Person when he was doing SIT STAY. He got up and Followed her each time when he should have been doing DOWN STAY with Person Out of Sight.

After that Monty the Mont went On the Defensive with a very little dog called Jack. Person then put Monty the Mont back in the Car.

Person felt Sad. She hoped Monty the Mont now realised she was his Alpha Wolf like Marmite and I do. But he needs MORE TIME and More Dog Listening.

Anyway, something DID happen with Monty the Mont this morning. And it was VERY DIFFERENT.

Always when Person goes out of the room Monty the Mont has to Follow her to the Door. Even if he's fast asleep he quickly Wakes Up to get to the Door before Person leaves the room.

But VERY STRANGE. This morning Person has been in and out of the room LOTS of times and Monty the Mont hasn't Followed her to the Door once! He just stayed Relaxing in his Bed. This has never happened before. (Once, after Magic had died and before Marmite came, Person Practised going IN and OUT of the room every five minutes for a Whole Day so that Monty the Mont would understand that she ALWAYS came back, but he still Followed her to the Door each time and Cried until she came back in).

I have GOT THE MESSAGE that Persons are Alpha Wolves. Marmite has GOT THE MESSAGE. Alpha Wolves are Responsible. Alpha Wolves Look After the Pack. Alpha Wolves make all the Decisions. Alpha Wolves can Come and Go as they please. Alpha Wolves do all the Worrying, not us. We can just Relax and Enjoy Life.

So, Perhaps Monty the Mont is GETTING THE MESSAGE. It will take a little bit longer, that's all.

Bye Bye Harry

I have just come home from Person Training (Dog Training ha ha).

I am sad because I am never going to see Harry-Who's-Very-Clever ever again. He said Goodbye to us for EVER because his Persons are moving house. Here is a picture of Harry.

I was a Very Good Dog at Training. Better than I have ever been. I was in the Top Class and did some new things. Perfectly. There were lots of new Dogs I had never met before. Even when Big Dogs Growled at each other it was OK. Person took no notice and she's my Alpha Wolf, so I took no notice either.

Marmite was a Very Good Dog at Training. Better at Training than she had ever been before too. She even moved Faster than Very Slow!

Don't tell Linsey-Trainer-Person but we had done NO Practice at Home for Three Weeks.

Person says since she started learning Dog Listening and being an Alpha Wolf it has made a Big Difference to me at home and a Big Difference to Marmite at home. It has only made a Little Difference to Monty the Mont - SO FAR.

Monty the Mont was NOT a Relaxed and Happy Dog at Training. He was a Worried Dog. He was Worried that Person might not really be an Alpha Wolf, so he was TESTING her even more than usual. Person gave up and put him out in the car.

Person says Monty the Mont ISN’T READY yet.

All the Dogs and all the Persons are having a Christmas PARTY soon with Linsey-Trainer-Person. Will Monty the Mont have to Stay in the Car? Monty the Mont Barks and Barks if he is left in the car all by himself. Monty the Mont still PANICS when he is left anywhere all by himself.

Anyway, I am Very Good at being a Relaxed and Happy Dog.

Dog Listener

There is no Dog Training (Person Training) Class this week so I shan't see Minto. Meanwhile Person is practising being a Dog Listener.

We are not going Out for any Walks or Runs or Hunts or Sniffs or Classes until we know who is really Leader of the Pack and until we have Got THE MESSAGE in our own territory.

This is the third day after Person did Dog Listening. Person is doing STRANGE things. We are Getting THE MESSAGE.

Person eats before we do while we watch her. She calls this 'Gesture Eating'.

Person goes through the door to OUTSIDE first when she sends us OUT. She only lets us IN when I am not jumping on the door making my sad noises, and when Monty the Mont isn't crashing against the door squeeking, and when Marmite isn't giving her little barks. Person lets us all IN together when Person feels like it.

I don't have to WORRY about anything.

Even Monty the Mont is Happy to Play with us in the Field. He doesn't WORRY so much about going back to Look After the Persons. They can Look After themselves. They can Look After us.

Dog Listeners use very Kind Voices. No Cross Voices. No Shouting. Everything is Very CALM in the house. Even Monty the Mont is more CALM.

I don't need to Jump Up any more. Marmite doesn't need to Jump Up any more. Monty the Mont still Prances and Jumps Up sometimes. When Monty the Mont Jumps Up and Prances Person turns her back on him and IGNORES him. She then calls her to him and if he doesn't Jump Up she makes a big fuss of him. If he Jumps Up she IGNORES him again.

Monty the Mont is beginning to Get THE MESSAGE too.

Anyway, He-Person is happy because Marmite doesn't Jump onto him any more when he is sitting on the sofa trying to watch Sport on TV, to Lick and Lick and Wag and Wag her tail.

Still Sick

I didn't do Person Training yesterday. Monty the Mont did Training and so did Marmite, but I had to go back to the car.

I was in the Top Class for the first time. This isn't because I am better than Marmite, it's because He-Person who is Marmite's Handler at Person Training can't do the Top Class. He has to do something called Going to Work.

In the Top Class I said Hello to some of the Dogs because I hadn't met them before. Then I started to walk to Heel. Then Linsey-Trainer-Person said 'Tell your Dog to SIT. I heard her so I SAT (my-Person-Handler then said SIT but I was already Sitting). Then she said 'Forward' and I walked to Heel again. Then I stopped. Then I was Sick. On the Floor. It was some Grass that I had been eating. So Person took me back to the car.

She said it wasn't a very good start in the Top Class.

Person is going away this weekend on the Canine Communication course to UNDERSTAND DOGS. I don't want her to GO AWAY. I don't really want her to UNDERSTAND DOGS.

So perhaps if I keep eating Grass and if I don't eat my food and if Grass makes me Sick then Person will Stay at Home.

Click here if you would like to see my 'Pleeeeeeease Let Me OUT' video again.


Here is a picture of our Field. You can see the steps leading up to our garden. You can see the Old Station House behind and the window is where Artist and Sue-Person, our Neighbours From Heaven live. On the left is where Guy-Person who didn't get burnt on Bonfire Night lives.

You can just see where I live with Monty the Mont and Marmite, behind the wall.

Grapes

Marmite was OUTSIDE for a long time by Herself.

She had found the Grapes and she had eaten all the ones on the ground. She couldn't Reach the Grapes that hadn't dropped on the ground because her Legs are too Short.

Monty the Mont could Reach the Grapes because he is taller. He likes Grapes too.

I don't like Grapes. But I can reach HIGHER. I can pull off twigs with Grapes and drop them on the ground for Marmite and Monty the Mont.

He-Person says HE'S A TRICK, THAT PIPPIE.

(Perhaps when Person has done her Canine Communication Course she will UNDERSTAND that it's NATURAL for Dogs to pull bits off plants and trees. Like I did with the little Olive Tree yesterday).

At last Linsey-Trainer let us do STOPs at Person Training yesterday. I did STOP Perfectly. Marmite was OK but not as good as me. She doesn't wait for the COME because she knows there might be a Treat on the Bed where she has to STOP.

Monty the Mont didn't do STOP because he his still in the Bottom Class. He was a Very Very Good Dog last week doing everything off lead, but he was NOT a Very Good Dog yesterday. There were more other dogs in his Class and there was a new puppy. It made him Prance About and Not Concentrate.

Anyway, next week we are MOVING UP CLASSES. I shall go into the very TOP CLASS!

Monty the Mont and Marmite will go into the Middle Class together. But Monty keeps trying to go to talk to Marmite. When Marmite is in the same Class as me I IGNORE her. Marmite takes No Notice of Monty the Mont. Marmite takes No Notice of me. Marmite doesn't take much Notice of anything, really.

Will Minto come to the Top Class with me? Minto is a Very Good Dog at Training. Except when she's off lead when she comes to see me and she lies on her back. I love Minto. Person says she is Wanton.

Flaming Marmite

I have been That BLOODY PIP again. While Person was doing Tea or Coffee with Sue-Person next door I pulled bits off the baby olive tree so now it has a cage around it. (He-Person calles Marmite That FLAMING MARMITE when she keeps asking to go OUT then IN then OUT then IN making her Grimbling noise to go out and little yaps to come back in. He-Person calls Monty the Mont MONTY. Not Bloody Monty or Flaming Monty. Monty is his favourite, you see).

Person is going on a Course very soon. It is called a Canine Communication Course and is run by someone called Jan Fennell who does DOG LISTENING. It's because I am really a WOLF and I must be UNDERSTOOD better. So must Marmite and so must Monty the Mont. I like the sound of that.

Person will then UNDERSTAND that I don't want to do DOWN sometimes. She will UNDERSTAND that Digging is GOOD.

We have Person Training today. We have been Practising at Home. We have had lots of Treats.

PS. I haven't told you about my Wound for a long time. My hair has nearly grown all around it but there is a SCAR left to see.

PS. Mary-Contrary-Person's Dog called Nellie the Collie who lives with Robin the Golden Labrador is still not very well. She had an Operation. She is a Very Old Dog.

Training at Home and Treat

More Practice at Home. Person has GIVEN IN. She is now doing 'TREAT on a Bed' like the other dogs do. She takes me OUTSIDE by Myself to do this.

CONFUSING.

She then shuts me INSIDE and tries to get Marmite out by Herself. I don't like this because if anybody is going OUTSIDE I have to be there as well, IN FRONT.

Marmite finds it all very CONFUSING too. All she is thinking of is the Treat. She has to Start All Over Again. Monty the Mont doesn't find it CONFUSING. When he finishes his Prancing About he is a Very Good Dog at both AWAYs and STOPs.

We went for a RUN HUNT CHASE SNIFF in the Big Field yesterday. Person says we GUSH out of the car when we get there.

Across the Field I saw a HORSE with a Person sitting on it - I saw it first because I am a SIGHT Hound. Marmite came with me. My Persons called us back very LOUDLY but I nearly didn't COME. I wanted to say Hello to the Horse. She Person called PIP PIP PIP PIP PIP so I though I had better go back to her. She gave me lots of FUSS. Marmite saw me COME Back so she Came Back too - SLOWLY. Monty the Mont had already been with Persons. He had been checking that they were Still There so he didn't have to COME Back.

Marmite is making Person CROSS just now. She keeps asking to go OUTSIDE and then she makes her Funny Little Noise to come back INSIDE. Persons call Marmite's Funny Little Noise 'GRIMBLING'. Person has just shouted NO MORE at her so she has gone to her BED. Monty and I are playing quietly. If we make too much noise we will go OUTSIDE then we will want INSIDE and then person will have to get CROSS with us all.

Person has just shouted OUT at me and Monty the Mont. Marmite is OUTSIDE again.

Person Training Classes

Here is Monty the Mont being a Good Dog at Person Training. That's Linsey-Trainer in the Middle.

This is the Bottom Class. I'm not in the Bottom Class because I go to the Middle Class with Marmite. We have passed our Bronze AND our Silver tests. Monty the Mont hasn't even passed Bronze yet.

Monty the Mont will have another go at the Bronze very soon. He will be a Good Boy with the other dogs this time and not be On the Defensive. Person says he will catch us up very soon because he is BEST at doing all the Things.

You can see Toby the Little Dog who thinks he's a Big Dog and Gina who is a German Shepherd and exactly the same age as me. You can see a little bit of Pippa who is a Rescue Dog like I am.

We will be Practising at Home again today. I will get Treats. I will be very CONFUSED.

STOP

We did Practice of STOP this morning.

Will we be Good Dogs for Linsey-Trainer this afternoon?

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Linsey CALLED OUR BLUFF. She didn't do STOPs at all! She did AWAYs instead. We had to go AWAY instead of COME. We then had to go DOWN instead of STOP.

Nearly all the other dogs were better than me and Marmite. Especially Minto (I love Minto) and Harry who does Everything Perfectly. Bella and Toby who are Jack Russells were Very Good too even though they don't like DOWN much (neither do I).

Marmite was Very SLOW and kept sniffing bits on the floor. I pretended I had forgotten what DOWN means. I was a Good Dog though when Linsey passed Person a Smelly Bacon Chew right in front of my nose and I had to LEAVE IT. (Person tasted it and said it was too salty).

Monty the Mont was a Very Very Good Dog. There were only three dogs in his class this week so he wasn't On the Defensive at all. He did nearly everything without his lead and he walked nicely to HEEL. Person was Very VERY Pleased with Monty.

I think I might have been better without Practice. And Marmite.

We went to the Seaside in the Summer. Here is a picture.

This and That

I wonder whether David Blunkett might like to borrow Monty the Mont if Sadie wants a rest? Sadie walks a little IN FRONT to Lead David Blunkett to stop him bumping into things. Monty the Mont might Lead him into a Lamp Post or a Tree. Sometimes Monty the Mont PULLS. And he likes to have a SNIFF. If Monty the Mont meets another Dog he might Go On the Defensive. David Blunkett might not know what to do then.

Here is a picture of me Eating my Tea yesterday. Very Very SLOWLY. I always eat Very Very Slowly when Monty the Mont is watching me.

Persons have been Practising STOP at Home.

She-Person's PLAN-A didn't work. She called COME and when she shouted STOP He-Person Jumped Out and grabbed me and made me SIT. I didn't like that! I just didn't COME at all any more. Neither did Marmite or Monty the Mont.

This is She-Person's PLAN-B. She gives us lots of WAIT COME STOP SIT WAIT COME STOP COME STOP SIT by herself...and she is giving us TREATS. It is still Very CONFUSING but I don't mind because I get a TREAT. Marmite is the best at STOP. This is because she is always SLOW anyway. She likes STOP and SIT and especially she likes the TREAT.

When Monty the Mont has finished his Prancing About and Getting Excited he is then a Good Dog because he does WAIT COME STOP SIT nicely for the TREAT.

I hope I get Very Good at WAIT COME STOP SIT WAIT COME STOP SIT by Thursday so that Linsey-Trainer says I'm a Good and Clever Dog.

Person says I still have to learn to STOP SOONER. Person says I still have to learn to STOP without TREATS.

It is CONFUSING.

More Practice at Home needed

Well, I was NOT a Very Good Dog at Person Training yesterday. I did lots of things wrong. I got up and walked about when I was told DOWN and STAY. When I was told DOWN I didn't feel like going DOWN so I had to be Pushed DOWN.

When Person shouted STOP I didn't stop. I didn't even STOP properly when Linsey-Trainer did it and she called COME to me. I was COMING like she said, and then she stepped forward, put her hand right up in the air and VERY LOUDLY shouted STOP.

I decided to go back to She-Person instead.

So, more Practice at Home. (Persons have a PLAN).

Only one Dog did STOP properly and with NO Treats! That was Minto. Her Person is called Charles. He used a WHISTLE. I love Minto.

Even Harry who does Everything Perfectly doesn't do STOP properly. Harry's Person shouted really LOUDLY at him (just like my Person and Linsey did). I think a WHISTLE sounds much nicer than She-Persons SHOUTING.

Toby and Bella are Jack Russells. They STOPPED OK but they had a 'Treat on a Bed' to STOP for. The other dogs had a 'Treat on a Bed' and they stopped too. A Treat is More Important than COME. I would STOP for a 'Treat on a Bed'.

Anyway, I only PRETEND I don't Understand how to COME and STOP. Persons then try all funny different things to try to make me STOP and I get lots of attention. They may just have to use the 'Treat on a Bed' in the end.

Both Persons tried to make Marmite STOP but she just wasn't interested. Person says we were better before she did all that Practice at Home.

Anyway, Monty the Mont WAS a Very Good Dog. He did a FIND IT with a Toy and Brought it Back and GAVE IT to Person. He was even Very Good with the little dog who thinks he's a Big Dog. His name is Toby too and here he is:

Foam Blowing in the Wind

Not much Happened yesterday. Marmite and Monty the Mont didn't want to play much.

So while Person was doing Tea or Coffee with Sue-Person next door, I dragged my kennel bed into the field and took lots of foam stuff out of it. It was fun but Person wasn't pleased when she found all the bits of foam blowing around the field this morning. She's never really Cross unless she Catches me In The Act so I knew I would be OK. He-Person is different. He will be very CROSS when he sees it and say IT'S THAT BLOODY PIP AGAIN.

Because He-Person gets VERY CROSS when I take the stuffing out of things and it blows all over the field, She-Person often quickly Clears it Away. She hasn't Cleared it Away this time.

We are still practising STOP and we're getting really good at it. Except for Monty the Mont because he doesn't just STOP, he drops straight down onto the floor too. Person can't make him just STOP and FREEZE - yet.

Person took a photo of the back of our house. Here it is.

Practising at Home

Yesterday Linsey-Trainer-Person said Practise at Home.

So Person is doing Practice at Home.

We will be walking towards her and for no reason at all she shouts STOP. We are so surprised that we just stand still. Perhaps that is what STOP means - FREEZE. Anyway, this isn't confusing because she doesn't say COME before she says STOP like she did at Person Training. I don't understand how I can COME and STOP at the same time.

When Person shouts STOP Monty the Mont goes straight Down to the floor and Marmite and I just Stand to see What Happens Next. Last time Person then said SIT so we Sat (Monty the Mont didn't Sit. He was Lying Down already).

Here we are waiting for tea time. When we follow Person in with our bowls I know she will suddenly turn around and shout STOP. Monty the Mont will Drop to the floor. Marmite and I will Stand and see What Happens Next.

Anyway, we will get our tea in the end.

I was a Quite Good Dog at Training

Well, I was a Quite Good Dog at Training. I saw all my friends and had a quick kiss with Minto whenever she walked past me.

Linsey-Trainer-Person was Very Interested in my Wound. Poor Linsey was sick when she came back from holiday. When I'm sick Person chases me OUTSIDE.

Monty the Mont is in the Bottom Class until he passes his Bronze Good Citizen Test. Today Monty the Mont was a Very Good Dog (for Monty). She-Person Handler only had to use her Bottle With Stones once, at the very beginning. This is because of a very noisy Staffie who jumps about and makes a lot of noise which gets Monty all excited, and a very little dog called Toby who thinks he's a very big dog and he EYEBALLS Monty the Mont looking right In his Eyes. Monty was On the Defensive just for a moment.

Marmite and I are in the Middle Class because we have passed both our Bronze and Silver Tests. I don't EYEBALL other dogs and neither does Marmite.

We are learning to do a very confusing thing. She-Person Handler says SIT and WAIT. She walks away. Then she turns to me and says COME so I start to Come and she SUDDENLY Shouts STOP. But I have been told to COME. Person gets CROSS when she says COME and I Don't Come. We try again. This time she shouts STOP so I think this time I will try something else. So I SIT instead. I am then a Very Good Dog and I get a treat.

So, does COME mean Come, or does COME only sometimes mean Come. Does COME sometimes mean SIT? Linsey says we must Practise at Home.

Marmite was a Quite Good Dog too but she kept Coming when He-Person Handler shouted STOP. She did Stop the next time, but that was only to have a Sniff. She likes to sniff the floor for treats other dogs have dropped while she walks round the room (I found a bit of cheese yesterday). Marmite loves all the other dogs and they love her.

Here I am asleep on Person's legs. It has been a Busy Day.

Person Training Tomorrow

It's Person Training tomorrow (DOG Training ha ha). I can't wait. All the Dogs and the Persons will still be able to see where my Wound was. They call Persons HANDLERS at Training.

Marmite has found a new way of being annoying this morning.

She asked to go OUT. Person let her OUT and of course I was quickly there and OUT in front of her. Monty the Mont was asleep under Person's desk as usual. Then Marmite asked to come back IN. Person opened the door and Marmite just sat there looking up at her (I come IN). First time Marmite did this Person bent down and said "Come On In Little Brown Dog". Marmite liked that.

She asked to go OUT again and then made her funny noise she makes when she wants to come IN. This time she just Sat There. This time Person Shut the Door.

Next time Marmite made her funny noise and the door was opened she came IN straight away!

This is what Marmite looks like when she is being STUBBORN.

Monty the Mont just stayed asleep under Person's desk.

My She-Person

I know you must be wondering why I haven't told you about my She-Person yet.

She-Person RESCUED me.

Person does lots of things for us, but she always makes us WAIT.

In the morning when we want to get up she makes us WAIT. We watch her putting on her shoes. We WAIT. Then she says GOOD MORNING DOGS and makes a big fuss of us. We go straight outside to check where the black and white CAT has been during the night while I've been shut in.

Then Person puts our breakfast out and we have to WAIT.

Sometimes Persons take us out in the car. We have to SIT and WAIT first. (Marmite usually pretends that she can't jump up into the car. She likes being lifted up best. But sometimes Person shouts UP UP UP UP UP and she leaps in with no trouble at all). When the car stops we just can't Wait to get out for a run. But we HAVE to WAIT.

Person sometimes takes us for WALKS along the road. This is to teach us to BEHAVE and NOT PULL. She takes us one at a time.

This is really a PERSON WALK, not a DOG WALK. Dogs don't do Walks just for sake of Going for Walks. Persons do that.

WALKS for DOGS are Runs and Sniffs and Chases and Hunts. I sometimes go to a very large field with Monty the Mont and Marmite where we can HUNT for RABBITS.

Persons take us to Training Classes and we have to do a lot of WAITS. I'll tell you about Person Training classes another time, but I'm a Very Good Dog at Training. Persons didn't take us to Training yesterday because Linsey (who tells everybody what to do and who also says a lot of WAITS) has been away for two weeks. Linsey will be missing me and I've not been able to show her my Wound. Anyway it might be too late when she gets back because my Wound is going away now.

She-Person RESCUED me when I was 9 weeks old. It was only going to be until I was Better and was Found a Home.

When I was Better she just kept me.