Possible Alien invasion !

                                               Proud to be an Aussie Kelpie on Australia Day

                                                      
                                                           Scary stuff afoot in my yard !

Just lately there have been holes appearing . They seem to appear early in the morning when I am waiting for my walk - just on daylight. At first I thought the cat was digging them but then I heard Mum and Dad laughing and talking about crop circles. Come to think of it the holes are heaps bigger than Smokey's toilet excavations. (Hey that's a big word for me ! ) , so perhaps I can blame - Whoops - rephrase that - perhaps the Aliens are to blame ?









Mum keeps filling the holes in but they just reappear - spooky hey ? Yup - it must be Martians I reckon . Nothing I can do about that .
Mum tried to stop them by shaking black pepper around but it didn't work. My obedience trainer, Aunty Heather, reckons chili flakes should scare 'em off . Could just work - we shall see.



I have gone off zoology  . Had a bit of a close encounter with one of those big lizard things . I've been watching them through the fence for a long time but the other day one of them had the cheek to climb over into my yard so I had to chase it out. The stupid thing ran under Mum's wire veggie frame that keeps the possums out . When it pushed its way out I moved real fast and managed to get my paws on its back before the parents spoiled all my fun. One good yell of "Leave it" from them and I obeyed.( I am just such a good boy - sometimes ) It fled over the fence and up a tree so I sat and gave it the evil eye until walkies time. To be honest I was a bit relieved that the parents called me off as I had no idea what I was going to do with it. It smelt disgusting, even by my standards.

So I might take up archeology instead of zoology. These digs (sorry - crop circles) seem to turn up all sorts of interesting things. Will let you know what I find.

                                                   Do my ears look big in this ?
                                        (Doggy equivalent of "Does my bum look big in this ! )

This is me an' Smokey watching Mum making eggy sandwiches for their lunch. Smokes and me luvs eggies and wherever we are we can smell 'em cooking and we rush indoors. There always seems to be enough left after Mum has made the sangers for Smokes an' me to have a tiny bit each, so we sits and waits very nicely . I always have to check Smokey's plate afterwards as he sometimes doesn't eat the white bit . Yay - all the more for me .

                                      I did it !  I did it ! I did it !   I passed my Level 2 obedience .

This is me when I got home from obedience class . I was so proud that I ran up my ramp and stood on the top to show off my certificate. Mum and Dad said that I was very good today and deserved to graduate. Don't I look just so handsome in my new red backpack ? I wear it when I go for walks and sometimes at classes.  I can carry all sorts of stuff in the pockets (it even has a raincoat for me ) but it mainly holds two small bottles of water. The extra weight is supposed to tire me out and get rid of my super energy (Ha - fat chance) Mum reckons two 20kg lead weights on each side might work better.
             I don't think the parents thought it through very well though . Doesn't red go faster ? 

New Year Report

 My earsies grew even bigger over Christmas and they are both standing right up now.  I think it was because of the birdseed I have been eating to help me fly. Next big wind and I will be up and away .
         Aren't I just so handsome ?

 Sorry I haven't been talking to you lately but I have been busy looking after Mum . Dad suddenly vanished the week before Santa came . Then Mum kept going away and I was chained up  but I did get lots of big juicy bones to chew while she was gone. One day Mum put a black box next to my ear and Dad was in there. I could hear him but couldn't work out where he was so I just licked the box . Must be people magic. Dad didn't sound right anyway - probably 'cause he was squashed in that box thing. He was gone for lots of sleeps and wasn't even home for Christmas and Mum was so sad that I had to give her lots of licks and snuggles. Then one day he just turned up again but he smelt different - bit like it smells at my vet's place. I was tied up so that I couldn't jump on him so I just leapt up and down on the spot - all four legs at once and then rolled over and over waggling my legs in the air and squeaking, When I was able to get near him I just licked him and stayed by his side all the time. He is still not playing much yet but I'm happy he is back and Mum is laughing again so that is good.

                    Christmas was fun. We had a break up party at KDOT training with all my mates .
                             That's me in my antlers with my bestest friend Randall behind me.

                                                Randall and me having a Christmas wrestle

 I was so excited that I just couldn't do anything right. We had bon bons and treats and agility games and everything. Man it was good but the parents weren't real happy with my behaviour and said Santa doesn't come to naughty dogs.

                     Anyway Santa did come so I couldn't have been that bad so there!

  

LOOK WHAT I GOT !!!!!!!












   We had lots of rain and the overflow pipe on the tank came off so there was a waterfall into my yard which made a big sea of mud. Now I hate water - it's wet !  But mud - well that is different so I had a ball. The waterfall was falling on me so I was soaked but the mud was worth it . Of course Mum had to find me didn't she !! Well she decided that half way to China was far enough for me to dig and she stopped my fun. She really has no sense of humour sometimes and anyway those herbs were nearly dead anyway- well almost - a bit - Well  they were when I had finished with 'em ! She then wanted to wash me - in water even ! I hate water - she knows that.

Before Dad did his disappearing trick I was helping him in our shed and thought I had better test drive my Nephew Matty's  Formula Vee racing car. Well it wasn't actually moving but Dad did the sound effects and I broom broommed all over the place . Can't wait to drive it properly.

My zoology studies are still going well. I saw a red thing with a huge bushy tail fly across the track which Mum said was a fox. It smelt exciting but once again Mother wouldn't let me have fun and chase it . Dad also stopped me another day when I saw a shiny black long thing with a red belly and thought it might be fun to round up. He was very firm about that one but it just disappeared so quickly into the grass anyway. The possum is back in the car port - think it has a baby one too. Then there are lots and lots of big lizardy things which whizz up trees when they see us. Some are much longer than me but they still get up the trees real fast. I always make a fuss and even put my hackles up when I see them . Mum and Dad laugh and say I've got my feathers up ! So rude !!!

               Hope you all had a great Christmas and that your year will be as exciting as mine.
                         'Bye for now,
                               Skip

Nature Studies

                         This is me at 6 months old . I is growing up. Almost grown into my earsies 

   Well here I am again . Have had a very exciting couple of weeks, as a result of which I have decided to relinquish ornithology for zoology. My nose discovered a very different scent at the base of a tree when Dad and I were going for our afternoon walk. I looked up and saw what I thought was Smokey's big bum up there but it didn't smell like him so I got Dad to check it out and he got all excited and rang Mum to ask her to bring the camera down the paddock. Turns out that they were kwalas or something and the parents went all soppy and smiley. Whatever they were they didn't do much and looked like my fluffy toys but didn't seem to squeak. Boring .

    Dad and I have all the excitement because the week before the kwalas when I was taking Dad for his afternoon walk we came across a spikey thing. Because we were down wind he just kept waddling towards us until he stopped just in front and started digging for food. Boy - can those spikey blokes dig in a hurry and  he had such an amazing long nose ! Dad and me "sat and stayed" quietly for a long time and watched . It came very close and Dad got this photo of it with my earsies in the picture.

This spikey thing must like me as he often comes up to the house now and digs for his dinner. The parents tell me he eats ants - stupid thing - no accounting for taste but I'd much rather dig my old bone  up . Anyway Mum did get a good photo of him having what she called his sunset cocktail at the fish pond.

The hoppy 'roos are fun to study. I reckon I could catch 'em if they let me at it . They would take a bit of rounding  up but it would be a challenge. I was a bit upset when one of them tried my hurdles out without so much as a "by your leave" though. Didn't see it try my weaving poles but I wouldn't put it past it - bit cheeky .Luckily Mum was on the ball and got some photographic evidence. Pity she missed the action shot . I did try to attract her attention before it got away . I don't trust them  -they could have anythng in those pouches and I don't like the way they lurk around the fishpond . I reckon they are dealing in goldfish - selling them to the kookas.

I am being as good as I can because I have heard that some fat fella  is going to fall down our chimney soon and give me lots of presents if I behave myself. Sounds a bit scary really and if I don't like the look of him I might bail him up until Dad can deal with him . Still I might check out the presents first .

I did have a couple of problems recently though which may go against me . The first was just a bit of a joke really. I nicked a pair of Mum's knickers from the washing pile and took 'em for a few laps of the yard. Then I had a brilliant idea . I have been watching Mum and Aunty Donna dyeing silk scarves with all sorts of leaves and stuff and remembered that Mum used red mud one time so as a big suprise for her I decided to try a bit of eco dyeing on the knickers. I thought they turned out real good so I wasn't prepared for her reaction .No pleasing some people .

Then one morning early I was waiting for my walk and as it was later than usual I thought that while I was waiting I might as well have a look at some bundles on the verandah table. They were just out of reach but I managed to jump up and grab some and had a great time trying to open them up and shake them loose. How was I to know that they were silk scarves that had been eco printed and were waiting to cure ?  Anyway I only wrecked three out of the ten . Mum didn't speak to me for a long while after that as apparently she needed them for the weekend and she reckoned I had torn the prettiest ones . Well it just shows that I have very good taste .I offered to help by quickly dyeing some more like I did her knickers but I just got "THE LOOK" for my trouble.

Ahh well - I will just wait and see if the fat bloke turns up   

Trials and Triumphs

      

The good news first

  I attained my Level 1 Obedience Certificate from KDOT school  on the 12th October after only seven lessons. YEAHHHH  !!   I've certainly come a long way since that first class when I wanted to attack every dog there. They are all my mates now and I have a great time socialising and learning new things.I would recommend all you dogs out there to nag your parents to take you to obedience school for both your and their sakes.

 Mum dragged me out of bed to take this photo so please excuse my dopey expression - not my usual bright eyed and bushy tailed look but I can tell you that we were all very excited and proud on the day.

                                                        Bit of brush action.

Mum and Dad tell me that I should always clean my teeth and say my prayers before going to bed . Can't get my paws around the prayer bit yet but I love having my teeth brushed every night . I have to have a paw in the process of course . I have beautiful big pearly whites. They crunch up bones real well and real fast so I am looking after them like the vet says to.

As you know I love to help people and I am so considerate at times that I even amaze myself.  Mum is ever so grateful when I help her with the housework as she hates doing it . I am a whizz at vacuuming - as you can see from this action shot that Dad took.

Smokey cat likes to play hide and seek with me but I always find him and let Mum and Dad know where he is . He gets in the weirdest places but particularly likes bags so that is where I check first . He sometimes gets a bit narky when I tell on him and then when I am not looking he will hide on a seat under the dining room table from where he can snag my bum as I  pass innocently by. We also play tag and he chases me through the house . This sometimes ends with him leaping on the bookcase and knocking everything over so is not one of Mum's favourite games.

                                                      Cat in a bag

Well I guess I must now tell you the bad news .  It was really all just a mistake . There I was resting on the sofa on the front verandah early one morning while I was waiting for Mum to take me for my walk. This is (or was !) the only furniture that I am allowed on . Anyway - there I was and I just wasn't quite comfy so I started  scruffing the cover up a bit and the next thing I knew there were bits of rubbery foam stuff popping out everywhere . This was such a suprise but I have to admit that the more I dug the more fun it became . I ate some of it but it wasn't up to my standards so I wandered back into the yard to play ball. Dad came out first and then he called Mum but thankfully they hadn't seen me in the act so I blamed the cat !  I got up on the sofa trying to discover some forensic proof of this but unfortunately there was none.  The parents muttered darkly but as they had no proof of my guilt I got away with it. However they pretty much ignored me a lot that day . I was useless at obedience that morning though as I was still all excited about the sofa exploding the way it did. By evening it was obvious that the parents had sussed me out as they were barely speaking to me so I put myself to bed and cuddled and licked my blankie. Mum came in and saw me with my earsies down and I put on my best "sorry " face and looked so pathetic that they asked me back into the lounge and I gave me  lovely cuddles . So the day ended well after all. My family refuse to go to bed without kissing and making up. I think all people should be like this and the World would be a wonderful place . 

                                                                The cat did it - honest .

                                                 Looking for evidence of the cat's guilt


Mum spent nearly five hours mending the sofa but I'm afraid that two days later the rotten thing did the same trick again . This time they caught me in the act and boy did I get in trouble. The cat was highly amused and sat smirking at me. Not the act of a friend . Just wait until he does something naughty !
                                       
                                             Good job Mum and Dad love me so much .

News from the home front

                                                  Someone shrunk my puppy basket !
   I went to "boarding school " for the first time a couple of weeks ago - just for a weekend . Must say I was a bit disappointed as there were no lessons and not even a tunnel thing to run through like we have at KDOT school, but there were lots of new friends to meet and I got to play with some  of them . Unfortunately I came home as silly as a wheel and I had eaten too much which destroyed my perfect puppy figure so I am now on a strict training regime and my rations have been cut down until I have my shape back. I don't think that has anything to do with my basket shrinking though .

   My parents seem to have developed a fascination for my toilet corner in the yard and spend unhealthy amounts of time poking about with a stick in the deposits that I make. This behaviour seems to have started three weeks ago when I swallowed whole a large tough flappy felt foot which I tugged off my toy duck. They haven't found it yet but everything seems to be in working order so I guess I am okay .

                                           Me with a towel that I liberated recently.

I have been renamed "The Bra Bandit" since I streaked out of the bedroom whirling one of Mum's bras around my head in the manner of a seasoned striptease artist. Mum was in hot pursuit yelling "Anyone seen a dog with a bra ? " while Dad and our visiting family members tried to head me off before I escaped into the yard. I think they enjoyed themselves as they were all laughing . Must remember that trick to amuse them at a later date. Socks aren't half as much fun .

I've been helping Dad in the shed. So far I am learning how to use the lathe and have just started to learn tig welding. Dad has made a special screen thingy so that my eyes will be safe if I haven't got my welding helmet on when he is welding .  We are building the roll cage for his Chevy Corvette racing car .

     Just checking one of Dad's welds - I gave him a 9.5 out of 10. You can see my welding helmet in the background


And here I am learning all about lathes

                                                 Me with the 'vette .

 I had a sit in the drivers seat but couldn't reach the pedals - Dad said not to worry 'cos by the time I'm old enough to get my licence my legs will be long enough to reach.

When we stopped for smoko I asked Dad "Hey how fast do you reckon our little chevy will go ?"  He reckons about 240 miles per hour but I don't "do" miles so he told me it was around 400 klicks - WOW AWESOME !!!!! He will have to watch out for cops . They'll lock him up and throw away the key if they catch him . I don't want to have to visit him in jail to smuggle in one of Mum's doggy meat loaves with a file inside. Dad explained though that the chevy won't be racing on the open roads but on a salt lake in South Australia . I'm not into geography yet as I am still studying ornithology so he will have to show me where it is on a map. I don't really know what a salt lake is either but as long as there aren't any cops there with radar guns I guess Dad will be fine.

Have to go now - Me 'an Dad are watching Bathurst on TV - Mum is watching as well as typing this for me - She's a girl so she can do two things at once !

(NEWS FLASH  - MUM FOUND THE FLAPPY FOOT  DURING HER SEARCH THIS MORNING . It had been "processed " so was barely recognisable but the parents are very happy )                                                                                   
                                                                                    

New developments.

                                       Pardon the angle - but just look at those cool stripes

    Mum and Dad are puzzled as to my pedigree. One of my birth parents was obviously of kelpie stock but the other half is a mystery - especially as I have developed these real cool stripes across my back legs. It is being rumoured that there may be some okapi antelope somewhere in my ancestory as I do leap and grab at bits of bush as I fly past . What do you reckon ?

    I have found some interesting fleshy plants in the paddock but the parents try to keep me away from them. I did manage to get my nose to one but it must be related to the grey furry thing as it too has sharp bits and it attacked me. Might leave it alone after all.

  Smokey and me helping Mum paint her latest work of art . Smokey is guarding her case of painting gear. He belts Mum up when she tries to get anything out , which is very naughty .

The big grey furry thing (aka Smokey Bear) and I are good mates now. I found out that he was very sad when his best kelpie friend "Danny" went to doggy heaven not long ago and that he spent the last 2 months of Danny's life watching over him , always at his side and would pat him gently  if he thought that he was feeling worse. So I reckon that "Smokes" will be a good friend to have - even though he still gives me a clout if I am being a bit silly. His fluffy tail is Oh so tempting !   

                                                             "Danny"

 I saw something really strange the other morning on my walk. I was watching a big fat "Hoppy 'roo" when all of a sudden a real little one just popped out of it and started hopping around and falling over its own feet .  Like magic it was and I nearly jumped out of my skin ! Mum said something about "Russian dolls" - no idea what she was talking about but I think she was having a go at me - No way could you fit a Russian in that 'roo ! I reckon it had something to do with birds and bees but the parents say I'm too young to know about those things and I don't need to know anyway. Hmmmmm !!!!

  My bird studies are going well. There is one bird that teases me by flying low over my head when we go for walks. They tell me it is called a fantail . I told them "I'll fan its tail for it if it does that one more time ! " I like to help Dad feed the wild birds every morning, especially when he has mince for the meat eaters. I'm a meat eater so I feel duty bound to test it out for them. I also like to scare the finches off the seed tray as that scatters the seed on the ground and I can then test that as well. I am just so considerate. I actually think that bird seed is the secret to successful flying. Dad used to jump off the tank stand flapping a sheet when he was little but he never had much success. he should have eaten bird seed I reckon, I'm already jumping higher. Dad says one of our regular birds is called "Maggie". Stupid name for a boy bird but I don't like to embarass it so I say nothing. "Maggie" keeps walking into the kitchen so I have to round him up every day.

         I am growing so fast and my earsies are going a bit wild. We are wondering if my right ear will catch up with the left.
       
         'bye for now. Back with new adventures soon

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.