Prison

Day 3 of incarceration.  Three days of being confined to the back garden.  Three days without a walk.  Three days of being locked up without a trial or any charges being brought.  Three days of poop!  You can't keep us confined like this.  But you can keep the guilt treats coming, I like the guilt treats.  And it is pretty cool having the human home all day but I need my walks.  I miss the fire hydrant at the end of the street.  I miss stopping at every tree, every lamp post and every road sign to eek out that last drop of wee.  To show the neighbourhood dogs I'm still here, still doing my thing.

Me and the other inmate have hatched a plan.  Misty started digging for freedom today but the silly human mistook it for Misty digging up the tomato plants.  The human now keeps a close eye on the new girl allowing me to sneak away to work on the real tunnel.  We need a plan to get rid of the soil though, the pile is getting quite big.  If I hand trousers I could fill the legs and casually re-distribute it around the garden - I think the human would notice me wearing pants, especially when it's 30oC.  At current rates we should be out next Tuesday.  I hope Misty can keep to the game plan that long.  I have my doubts, she seems to like the human far too much....

Klutz Update

I may have been a little harsh on the human yesterday.  She's now on crutches and in a splint.  Maybe she wasn't being lazy after all.  She better get back on her feet soon, the yard is filling with poop at an alarming rate.  Maybe it's all those guilt treats she keeps giving us.

Misty needs to learn to chill a bit more

Klutz

What kind of klutz manages to sprain their ankle playing golf?  My human that's who!  Talk about irresponsible.  It's golf.  You stand still to hit the ball, how can that result in injury?  How am I supposed to show Misty round the neighbourhood and laugh at her trying to chase squirrels when the human is laid up icing her ankle.  I know she has fat ankles but this one resembles a bruised grapefruit.  She is so selfish, sitting around complaining it hurts instead of taking us out.  It's a good job we have a nice big garden to wander around in.  She'll need to do a serious amount of poop patrol when she's better.  

Misty likes lazy afternoons

My Hero

We met Jack on our walk tonight.  Jack is an arse!  And his human isn't much better.  Where I come from, if you don't want to meet another dog you politely pull off the path and wait for the other dog to pass.  Not so with Jack.  His human let him come barreling  towards us, where he did his usual and jumped on me.  Being the old dog I am I collapsed under 35 kilos of fur-ball.  Misty was having none of it and jumped to my rescue giving Jack the worst telling off of his life.  To tell you the truth she scared the hebegebees out of me.  She's so quiet at home, I didn't know she had it in her.  I don't care that a girl came to my rescue, she's my hero.  I might even let her have the best bed tonight as a thank you.    

It's all about Misty

Misty has been a good girl this week.  She only knocked the bin over once... notice I said knocked over as apposed to raided, I'm sure it was an accident, she couldn't possibly be looking for food, there's no way she could be hungry with the amount of food she eats.  I would definitely say she's settled in.  She's a bit clingy for my liking, always following my human around but she's quiet, doesn't bother me and is learning not to eat my food - although it kills her to look at my full dish when she's scoffed all her food. 

I'm a bit jealous, she got to go to another human's house on Friday.  The upside was I got to eat my treats without a big slobby dog getting in my face and stealing my stuff.  But still I was a little peeved she got to go and I didn't.  She still has some learning to do though.  First rule of going to another human house: don't run into the kitchen and counter surf... so uncool.  Say hi to everyone, settle down, look cute and the treats will come to you, that's how I roll. 

Mirror Image - I'm on the right

Grumpy

Poor Misty came face to face with grumpy human the other night.  It wasn't her fault, nor was it mine.  I've never liked storms but since I started going deaf they don't bother me the same now.  This one was really loud, with lots of lightening and loads of rain.  It was so loud even I could hear it, well I heard the tornado warning on the telly, so I sought comfort with my human... by trying to climb on her head.  Misty isn't a great fan of thunder either and she was trying to hide under my human's shirt, which she was wearing at the time.  Unfortunately the human was preoccupied trying to move furniture and carpet and mop up a growing pool of water that was seeping in from the garden that was quickly turning into a swimming pool  She didn't see our close presence as being all that helpful and got a bit cross with us. 

Luckily both the storm and the grumpiness were short lived and we got loads of make-up treats and ear rubs.  No real damage to the house although my favourite room resembles a junk shop with furniture and carpet piled in the middle.  Even my bed was relocated to higher ground.  I'm glad I brought my toys in earlier - poor bunny would have been washed away. 

We have another round of storms coming tonight and tomorrow.  The human has been busy in the garden building what looks like something from a Heath Robinson cartoon.  She is confident it will keep the water out this time, and if not she bought a wet vac and a large bottle of gin.  I guess if her contraption doesn't work she'll give up, drink the gin and deal with it later.  Just as a precaution I'm going to move my toys upstairs... you know, just for their own safety. 

Who Dunnit?

I saw this and thought of Misty.  I believe you Tank!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuA6ZjpEJys

You've got mail

I got an email from Misty's foster dog Greta. 

"Ben, it's Greta here. You met me when you and your Mom came to adopt Misty. I was the big black Lab that you didn't take home.  I've been following your blog and I'm here to offer words of encouragement. My Mom and Dad loved Misty from day one. Me? It took a bit of time. You know she told me off the first day--in my own home! (Oh, and tell Carly not to take things personally).  But things got better the longer Misty stayed. My Mom told me that Misty, and all the other fosters that we've had, weren't as lucky in life as I've been so I need to forgive Misty's transgressions and be kind. In fact I kind of wish she were back here now. The new foster we have is only 4 years old and he wants to play ALL THE TIME. I want to sleep. So hang in there Ben. Things will get better in time."

With much understanding and sympathy,

Greta'

Ten days on

Misty has been with us for 10 days now and seems to be making herself at home - see exhibit A.  The peeing on the carpet has stopped, or I've just got used to the smell, so I guess she feels she's made her mark.  The dustbins have been moved out of reach so no fun there anymore.  Dare I say it I'm quite enjoying having her around the place.  I'm a pretty independent guy so I don't mind that she's hogging my human, especially during the storms we had the other night, we've got to make her feel welcome and at home.  We play musical beds, especially at night, as we both want the bed nearest the human.  

She went to doggie school on Monday.  I thought my human had brought the wrong dog back.  Our Tuesday morning walk was an absolute pleasure.  No pulling just a lovely walk next to us.  I don't know whether she's started therapy for her squirrel addiction or maybe it's the new collar she got at school but she hardly bothers with them after her class. 

It's not all been roses and ear rubs.  She lost all her brownie points tonight by escaping from the garden and 'exploring' the neighbour's garden.  When I say 'exploring' I mean tearing round the garden like an escaped prisoner who has spent the last 20 years in solitary confinement.  It was pretty funny watching my human try get her back.  Boy did it bring back memories of my youth.

What's the best part of having Misty join us?  Treats.  Lot's and lot's of treats.  And we've had 3 BBQ's since she got here.  I've think I've lucked out with this young lady.

Exhibit A - I bagsy this sofa

 

Feeding time (at the zoo)

My human has found a way to slow Misty down at dinner time so I can eat at my leisurely pace.  Like most Lab's, she's rather food orientated (see yesterday's post for evidence) and would wolf her food down in 20 seconds, then start on mine.  The Magical Misty Feeder is fantastic.  She is completely focused on trying to get the food out she doesn't even care I'm savouring my dinner at the other end of the kitchen.  It's a little messy, with kibble being flicked all over the floor but she cleans up pretty well.  Another plus with the slow eating...it's stopped her gassy botty.  Phew what a stinker she was.  We can now all stay in the same room after dinner.

The Magical Misty Feeder in action