Fun and Games

                                                   I just love this tunnel thing at school

                                            My BIG friend Randall and me having a sniff

          I am learning lots at KDOT school . Our fun day last week was a hoot and Mum and Dad didn't need to take valium after all as I was so happy to see all my friends again. I only had a couple of growly moments and they weren't my fault - Honest they weren't.
          My friend Randall plays by flopping down on top of me and wrestling. He is the same age as me but is a very big boy . I just love having fun with him. Last week we were on our leads playing but his Mum couldn't see what he was up to so she asked my Mum . Mum said "It's all right he just has Skip by the throat !" His Mum told him to stop it but it was really okay as I was giving as good as I got in my own way . We were just having so much fun.
           Then there is my mate Brodie . He lives down the road from me and he can run at warp speed and tries to round us all up because he is a proper working kelpie. He rocks.

                                                      Brodie and me having a chat.

 The catch cry in our house at the moment seems to be "What have you got in your nasty little mouth ! "
Bit harsh I reckon - it can range from experimental poo tasting to sock detection . I don't think my parents realise that I only have my mouth to test things out. I have to learn about things somehow.

                                                         Sock bandit

For instance I heard Mum say that she was going to buy some fringed silk scarves to paint so I thought I would save her money by shredding the edge of the one she was working on . Dad must be a mind reader because he called out to her just as I was about to start this delicate and very generous operation. I still can't believe that she refused my offer - she must be made of money.

     Early one morning I dug up an old bone. It had reached the ultimate stage of maturity in all respects . There I was having a good old chew when Mum decided it was walkies time. I ignored her when she came over with my lead as my bone was more important and anyway I just knew that she really wanted my bone for herself so I took off at lightning speed round and round the garden until I was just a blur - Is it a bird - is it a plane - No it's Super Skip !  Then Mum made a big mistake - she dropped the liver treat that she had been nibbling and before she knew what had happened I dropped my bone and grabbed the treat from right under her nose. Somehow I suddenly had my lead clipped on and my bone had vanished, so we went on a great long walk and had fun instead. When I came home my bone was back in my bone cemetery. Can bones fly?  Ahhh I just checked in my bird book and found butcher birds. That must be them . Good job I am studying ornithology hey ?

       Back later with more news.   

Three weeks on

                                                              My favourite toy
                                                (P.S.  I don't fit in my basket any more ! )

Here is the second letter that I wrote to my Foster Mum and my lovely friend at AWDRI :

  Hi Aunties,

                  I am having lots of adventures with Mum and Dad.

     They wanted me to study obedience but I decided to major in poo science. I became an expert in the field, studying the subtle difference in the texture, taste and smell of cow, horse, 'roo, wallaby, rabbit, hare and possum poo. My favourite is possum. The sample I tried was a little immature but had a pleasant bouquet and a delicate woody after taste. I now have a Ph. degree in poo science so I am broadening my education in other directions . I am now into ornithology.

     I attended my first obedience class last Sunday. Oh boy - So many dogs and so little time ! I freaked out and decided that fight not flight was my best option so I scared the hell out of Mum and Dad by trying to attack the entire pack. Even the giant dogs. My teacher wasn't cross though .  She has seen many puppies do this and showed Mum and Dad how to calm me down. Then her big - big dog came over . He is trained to teach manners to puppies like me . He grumped at me severely when I was naughty and then ignored me completely with his head and tail in the air. He certainly put me in my place but in the kindest way. I spent most of the lesson too excited to do much of the stuff but by the end of the hour I was saying "Hello" nicely to the other pupils and had made some friends. I did have fun jumping over some hurdles and my parents were pleased that I did something right. Can't wait for the next lesson as we are having a play day . Mum says they may have to take valium themselves ! I think she is joking - hope so - I will try to behave but it is all so exciting.

        At home I learn quickly and sit nicely in front of my food dish until Mum says "Okay". I started to learn that with my foster Mum. I also sit before going in and out of doors and at the paddock gates until I am allowed to pass. I come when I am called and also sit and stay. Mum can tell me to sit and stay and she can walk a long way away ( and hide behind trees) before she tells me to come and I am so good. My walking at heel is coming along okay as long as the grey furry thing isn't watching. I am now learning "down". Not bad for less than three weeks at home. I really only do all this stuff for the liver treats I sometimes get but Mum and Dad don't realise this of course.

         I found some orange squashy things in the house so thought I would see what they tasted like. Not much taste but they were chewy so I ate one. Dad was looking for something he called ear plugs later as he could only find one of them. They found the other one in the garden next morning but Dad said he would pass on using it. He bought new ones apparently.

         The grey furry thing has decided to be friends and keeps coming up to me making a rurring noise and bopping me with his head. He also smooches along my sides which I am a bit worried by as he has sharp bits which he nails me with if I start to play, so I have to stand very still. He doesn't mind me having a sly lick at him and rubs noses. For a short time he even puts up with me sniffing where dogs like to sniff but then he gets all huffy so I try to catch his tail as he turns round. So we are becoming friends and our parents are very happy.

            'bye for now,
Lots of wags and licks
    Skip

Note from Mum and Dad

      Skip is full of mischief and certainly keeps us on our toes. Quite the "Houdini" of pups so the backyard is now a fortress. He just wants to be with us all the time so tries to get to us. However he settles down to play on his own out there with his various toys and favourite treatas ball. He discovered fallen lime fruits early on and has very complex games throwing them around, pouncing  on them and tearing around the yard at a great rate of knots with one in his mouth. It is hilarious when he sinks his teeth into them and tastes the bitter juice. He grimaces, throws them down, shakes his head and then puts his front paws down and bum in the air in a play stance and attacks them with renewed vigour. Keeps him amused for ages . He is still a very cuddly boy and it seems that he has always been here.

                                         Me and the big furry grey thing having a conference.     

Small beginnings

                                                    My first night home


  Hi everyone - It has been suggested by some nice people that I write of my adventures so here I am .

For those of you who haven't met me before I am called Skip . One of my birth parents was of kelpie heritage but the verdict is out on the other half - more of that later .

I was adopted by my Mum and Dad from the Australian Working Dog Rescue Incorporated . A wonderful organisation who rescue and rehome dogs like me who have had an unfortunate start in life or those who have problems in later years, or dogs that  just need a loving home for the rest of their days.

I have written twice to my foster Mum and the coordinator of the organisation as I remember how kind they were to me and anyway they love to hear how I am getting on because I am very cute and cuddly and they love me. These letters have ended up on the AWDRI Facebook page so I am a "published puppy " but I will post them here so that you all get the entire story.

Here is my first letter which I wrote when I first arrived home with my Mum and Dad :

    Boy have I ever had a day. First we went for a cuppa and a walk. Everyone who saw me thought I was so very cute so I opened my big puppy eyes even wider and looked even cuterer. We had to go to see some man then about an awning on the truck which didn't work properly and I was helping by watching out of the window. The canvas flapped on my face a few times so I just gave it a lick to see what it was . I wasn't scared though and the man said I was a very calm pup so I looked cuterer again and got a big smile and a pat from him too.

     I curled up on Mum's lap then and had a big sleep until lunchtime. Mum and Dad got fish and chips and I didn't beg at all - just lay beside them and kept watch . Everyone who went past smiled at me so I just had to look cuterer still. Mum had brought some biscuits and special doggie meat loaf that she had made for me and they had saved me some nice white fish too so I had my lunch after they had finished . I didn't eat it until they said I could but boy did I hoover it up then- Mum is a pretty good cook (or I was hungry after the energy used in looking oh so cute) We went for a short walk and no one could believe that it was my first day on a lead. Mum even had me walking at heel for a time - no idea what that is but she was happy so I just looked cute again.

     The rest of the trip home I chewed my tugga toy a bit but then had another big sleep. We got home at about 3 pm so it was a long day but I was still ready for a big walk around the paddock and games off lead in the back garden with my new ball and my tugga toy. There is strange furry grey thing here ( doesn't smell like a dog) that keeps staring at me and I think he might be alright but every time I get excited and want to play he gets all hissy and spitty . We have been eyeing each other off though and I think we will be friends later. Mum and Dad are keeping me on a lead at the moment when he is around to control it all . The grey thing is keeping its distance but Mum says it hasn't got its big saucer eyes on (That would be scary I reckon as he is nearly the same size as me)  I put myself to bed in my new basket after all the games - but not before I had asked nicely to go to the toilet before I settled down. Have just had my tea so will have a little rest and then a walk before bedtime.

        The walk around the paddock broadened my education no end - I now know the difference between the taste and/or smell of rabbit, roo, horse and cattle poo. What good fun that all was. There are just so many great smells around the place that I nearly wore my nose out this afternoon

        Love and licks - Skip
                    ------------------------------------
       
 
This is me on my first night home trying to get Dad to play with my new toy .