Wild Puppy Days

Being a dog is so exciting and for the past few weeks, I've had so much fun.

Dad got back from his trip to somewhere called Switzerland, and I was so excited to see him that my tail went out of control with all the wagging and I couldn't stop smiling at him. He obviously loves me more than mum as he brought back some new squeaky toys for me and I haven't stopped playing with them since. One of them was just like Snowman except that it had ears, so I ripped the ears off to avoid any confusion, and then pulled out some of the stuffing which was so much fun. The other is a squeaky lion and I love it so much that I take it with my every time I go out and shake my head at people whilst making it squeak which everybody finds really scary.  

My New Squeaky Lion

Dad only bought chocolate for mum and of course I knew she was going to share some with me, so pinched some off the kitchen worktop when she   wasn't looking. She also puts food up there for Smudge the cat and because he doesn't eat it straight away, I have to drag it off the worktop to eat it so that it doesn't go to waste. I keep getting told off, but I don't see the point in food going to waste and I don't want it when it's gone all dry and crusty.

I've been down to the doggy park quite alot this past couple of weeks and it's been ace. I love chasing my ball down there, but all the others dogs like my ball too so come charging in trying to pinch it off me. I'm so much faster than them though, so when mum and dad throw the ball for me and there are hundreds of other stupid dogs chasing after it, I'm way out in front and I feel so confident knowing they won't catch me. It's ace at the doggy park as there are doggy only beaches, so I go down to the beach and have a swim in the river. I'm quite a good swimmer and I enjoy a race with the other dogs, but the best part is being soggy wet and then rolling in the sand to get dry, which gets me absolutely filthy and then I look for a stupid human in light clothing to go and say hello to. Mum and dad are never impressed, but then humans really are thick and don't fully understand the needs of dogs.

Today I've been over to Bragg Creek to see my best friend  Jakey and we had a brilliant time chasing each other and having a wrestle. Then we had a squirrel chase and because I'm younger than Jakey, I can jump much higher and run alot faster but the squirrels always have a head start and just avoid me - one of these days I'll catch them!

Me and Jakey having a wrestle

We went for a walk around the lake again which I love, but I'm starting to get frightened when I go because there are funny smells that I don't recognise. I've heard mum and dad and Jakey's mum talking about mooses or something, and cougar. I think they meant mouses and big cats, but Jakey reckons that mooses and cougar shouldn't be treated lightly and it's made me wary. Jakey is so sure of himself and last week  when I saw him, he ran ahead and a big black thing was coming towards us so I barked a warning but Jakey went running in. I scarpered in the opposite direction and yelped a warning at Jakey, but then mum shouted me back so I knew it was safe and it was just some stupid female dog trying to show off so I growled and snapped at her and told her off for making me look stupid in front of my friend. She just wagged her tail at me and I think she was struggling to understand me - I still can't quite shake off my English accent, so when I say woof, it clearly means something else over here. Mum got a little annoyed at me and I didn't know why, so I just gave her my sheepish look and wagged my tail, which made her smile and then everything was ok again.

Sooo tired from all the running around :o)

I'm trying so hard to be a good boy at the moment, but sometimes I forget things and I get into mischief. I'm getting paranoid that mum and dad don't love me anymore as they are talking about "another dog". I have to keep cuddling up to them to let them know how much I love them, and they always seems happy when I do that and I feel safe, but I've caught them looking at pictures of other dogs. I've mentioned this to Jakey and he reckons they are trying to find me a new friend to help build my confidence and give me somebody to play with every day, that's closer to my age and will keep me company. I'm not sure though as I've got Smudge and Spud that I play with, although sometimes Spud will grunt at me (strange for a bunny!) and Smudge will hiss at me and try to punch me, and I think I may be too heavy pawed with them and get a bit carried away.

But I'm not going to worry too much as I am enjoying myself so much at the moment, and I know that mum and dad have lots of things planned over the next few weeks that mean I will be having lots more adventures.  The snow will be here soon too I think and I keep looking at my doggy coat and booties hanging up and can't wait to go out in them again like I did last February when I first came here - as I say, life as a dog is VERY exciting!

Mountains of New Toys.....or something.....

It's been a funny week as dad has been away and because i  know mum misses him, I get up to mischief because I know it makes her laugh. Trouble is, she thinks it's me seeking attention because I miss dad - humans are so stupid!

I got a new toy this week too, called Philly Monkey. Dad went to Philadelphia a few weeks ago and brought back this monkey for mum, but it was just sitting at the side of the bed, so thought I may as well make use of it. I ripped the eyes out as they were quite scary looking - and then I started throwing him around the house and having so much fun. Mum spotted me and I was scolded, but I know she didn't mean it, and when she wasn't watching me, I pinched Philly Monkey back and ran into the garden to play with him. He's much nicer than Snowman and Squeaky Squirrel, both of which I've now completed empted of stuffing and there is no longer any joy in playing with them as I can't make a mess.

Me guarding Philly Monkey so mum doesn't pinch him

I've had some ace walks this week too. It's been so hot but I never turn down a walk and I've been playing with Kong in the fields and down by the river. I went for a swim on Thursday and came out smelling fishy which promptly resulted in mum trying to put me in the bath to freshen up - she clearly doesn't understand a dog's need to disguise his BO - and she's supposed to be an experienced dog owner having owned dogs for years - yeh right.

I've been getting so hot when out walking that now when I get home, I climb into my dog bed and mum turns the hosepipe on to fill it up with water, and it's like my own doggy pool. It's ace and I love lying  in it for about 15 minutes to cool down before throwing myself around on the grass and then the carpet to dry off.

My doggy pool

Today has been the bestest day of the week though as I climbed my first mountain. I always know where I'm going so when mum got out of the car at the foot of this mountain I had never been to before, I saw that the path went up, so just followed it and dragged mum along with me. It was a bit rocky and my paws got a bit sore, but I loved being in the outdoors, loved all the weird and strange smells that I couldn't identify, and loved been out with mum who was so happy. It was a tough walk and it was so warm, and mum kept stopping to give me a drink and dousing of water to cool me down which I really appreciated. She seemed a little twitchy and kept going on about bears, but I knew there were no bears around and was more interested in chasing the squirrels in the trees, dragging mum along with me  so that she nearly fell over a couple of times. I found it funny, but she just kept scowling at me, and then laughing, so I wagged my tail and gave her to reliable Wilson look, resulting in my head being ruffled and me getting a kiss!

Walking up the mountain, there were some other dogs and I needed to tell them this was my turf. I had a bark and shook my head at them, and they didn't dare bark back at me as I looked so ferocious. All the humans were laughing and it must have been at the other stupid dogs for giving in so easily.

Me and mum got to the top of the mountain and I was disappointed to see that all the trees had now gone meaning no squirrels. Mum had a sandwich and gave me some cheese and a doggy biscuit, but I just wanted to get down to the trees again and pulled like mad once we set off again.

Me at the top of the mountain, and looking for squirrels

We got down that mountain in about half an hour we were going so fast. Mum kept stumbling as she couldn't keep up with me - I'm quite agile and with having 4 legs I can balance better, and I kept looking up at mum and laughing to myself  when I saw the exasperation on her face.

We are now back home and I am so tired. I tried to go to sleep when I got back, but Philly Monkey was teasing me so had a good hour running around the house with him, mum following and trying to get him off me. I'm exhausted now, but think I will have trouble sleeping as dad is back tomorrow, and I'm going to the doggy park for a walk and swim before fetching him from the airport.

I love days like today, and the weekend is only going to get better with dad being home, and I reckon I'll be off to see Jakey on Monday for some proper doggy play. Life is great :o)

A Puppy's Life so far...........

Hello!

My name is Wilson Granville Wilberforce - or Wilson Bilbo for short. I was born on 19th December 2012 in a little village just north of Congleton in Cheshire, England. My real dad is a lovely graceful placid brindle Whippet, whilst my real mum is a working Border Collie from Flash near to Buxton in Derbyshire. As you can see, as a young puppy, I looked just like them :o)

Me when I was 8 weeks old

I have 9 brothers and sisters but I don't remember them as we got split up when I was just 8 weeks old. What I do remember is that nobody wanted me, and out of 10 puppies, I was the last one to go. If I hadn't gone that night, I would now be living in the same village in an outdoor kennel, with my real dad, 2 Jack Russells and a load of ferrets, and would have been made to hunt rabbits for my dinner!

Thankfully my adopted mum and dad found me, fell in love with my cute stumpy body and baby blue eyes, and they were hooked on me :o)

After mum and dad fell in love with me, I was collected in a cardboard box and moved to Stoke in February 2011. I ended up with a big brother named Sammy, a thing with big claws and a grumpy face (I think it was called a "cat" or something), and two funny looking things that had big ears and hopped around and they looked just like the rabbits that the ferrets used to bring back.

Me and the big eared things

Being a Young Pup!

Life as a very young pup was very exciting and I was always up to mischief and getting dirty, usually with Sammy. Sam was much older than me but that didn't stop me pouncing on him and tormenting him. He used to try and hide in the spare bedroom, but I always found him and made him play with me in the garden.

Me and Sammy playing in the garden

We usually ended up playing in a big pile of mud or in a murky river where we used to play fight for sticks and balls, and if it wasn't that, I would grab hold of his tail and swing from it with my teeth, or run under his belly to see if I could make him fall over. Sammy used to play hide and seek with me, and he'd go into the spare bedroom to try and get away but I always found him asleep on the bed, so I'd jump up and nip him on the cheek with my needle sharp puppy teeth and he would sigh and groan and run away from me so I could chase him some more. At least I think that's what he wanted.

Me as a mucky pup!

Sammy disappeared one day - one minute he was there, the next he was gone, and mum and dad told me that he had gone to a place for good boys up in the sky - a place called Doggy Heaven or something. I didn't understand and thought they were stupid, but I did miss Sammy as he was always trying to teach me to be a good patient little dog, and to teach me some manners, but I never listened to him and now I miss his wise barks and calming nature. I know he got poorly and I used to lick him alot as I'd heard that dogs have healing powers in their tongues, but it didn't work and he just went.

I did lots of other things as a young pup - I went wild camping in the Lake District and protected my mum against big woolly smelly things trying to get in the tent - a growl from me and they soon bolted - and I used to go to Hanchurch Woods chasing the squirrels and things. 

Camping in the Lake District in mum's sleeping bag :o)

My Dadda keeping me warm at Hanchurch

I loved living in Stoke and knew that I owned the neighbourhood and all the other dogs used to turn away in fear when I barked and shook my head at them whilst holding my toy bunny in my mouth. Boy were they scared! 

Then mum and dad started talking about a new big adventure and I got excited. Apparently I was going to a big place called Canada, where there were lots of big dogs and other animals, and I got really excited and couldn't wait. It took 3 attempts flying across the sea for me to finally get to Canada properly and I love it here now. There were some things that I didn't like - I wet myself when I had to go to Dr Vet to have big needles stuck in me, and then I had to sit in a kennel in the dark for what seemed like hours and I really needed to go peepee poopoos, but I managed to hold it in until I saw mum and dad and then I wet myself anyway through all the excitement. I was so happy to see them again and couldn't wait to start my new life as an English dog living in Canada.

Life as a Canadian

Ok, I'm not really Canadian, but having met Jakey, my new best friend over here, he's taught me how to speak with a Canadian drawl and to blend in. I'm quite skinny and bald compared to the other dogs over here, and I'm tiny in comparison, but I've now got a doggy Canadian accent. Mum and dad can't tell the difference, but all the dogs here seem to understand me, so I must be doing ok. Jakey has also taught me proper doggy etiquette and rather than panicking and running away when a dog sniffs my bum, I stand my ground and let them get to know me better. I also now know that a waggy tail with bum in the air means playtime, and I am starting to behave more like a dog.

Jakey trying to teach me Canadian - "Woof" means "hello"

The only sad thing about being here is that my friend Bunny had to join Sammy in doggy heaven - except I think he went to Bunny Heaven but mum and dad said it's the same place. Me, Bunny and Spud were really good friends, and I miss Bunny, but Spud still lets me play with him and he doesn't grunt and charge at me like Bunny did.

I've now been living here for ages and I know why there was all the excitement about moving here. I love it  and feel so happy and healthy that my nose is continuously running, and everybody comments on what a nice looking dog I am! I've been mistaken for so many different breeds - the best one was an Irish Wolfhound which clearly I am not ;o) But I am frequently told that I am a grand looking dog, and I can see the pride on mum and dad's face.

Me looking like the handsome boy I am

It's so wild over here, and I've already chased deer and loads of squirrels, I've been swimming in massive lakes and rivers that are freezing cold but so refreshing on a hot day, I've been to the doggy park and met loads of other dogs, and I've experienced really deep snow that I absolutely love, and was so proud to wear my booties and coat in the early spring. 

Me and Dadda in the snow at Bragg Creek

I love my coat and booties - it can get very cold over here!

I've already had a bit of drama over here - I got spiked by a stick in my chest and it was touch and go whether I would pull through and uncertain what damage had been done. But I was ok - I'm a fighter and know that my mum and dad love me to bits and I try to be strong and brave for them - I love them so much and just want to be with them all the time.

So, that's me so far in a nutshell, but there will be lots more adventures to tell you about for those of you that are interested. I'm only 2 years old in December and I've already had some amazing adventures both in the UK and over here. I secretly opened a shop in Lake Louise just to get my feet under the table, and I'm now training for my pilots license so I can add more Air Miles to my account - flying across the Atlantic 3 times is worth alot you know.

My shop ;o)

I've got so many things planned and I'm so excited, I can't stop wagging my tail at the moment. Hopefully I'll have lots of stories to tell, and hopefully you won't be disappointed.