Aubrey's Doodle Adventures

2010-09-23T14:08:00.013+01:00

Oops! Just seen how long it was since I last let you know what I was up to! I've been a very busy boy, what with turning a year in May and starting my agility training! I'm very good at it I've been told and am showing great potential! I hope that at my first show in December I remember how to do everything and concentrate hard! I'm really looking forward to it as I love agility!

Anyways, lets update all my fans:

In late February I went with Mummy and the girl up to Scotland for a few days.

It was a long snowy journey but I was very well behaved and much admired where ever we stopped. It was a great few days and I enjoyed the beach walk in the snow, but appreciated my coat! Brr!

We went on all sorts of walks and I really enjoyed them all. I loved the forest walks, town walks, beach walks and well generally all walks and really loved sharing lunch with the humans. I got tired on the the long forest walks but the humans made me walk. Apparently I'm too big to carry now, but I did try!

The views were great too and I admired them lots whilst thinking on my new toy and all about biscuits and about how nice the warm cottage was going to be to come back to. All in all it was a great few wintery days. I think the humans enjoyed it too.

Right at the end of the month Uncles Raif and Mac had an agility show and Uncle Mac was very clever and won his class. He won a medal and a rosette. He also went clear in his other classes but was absolutely pooped when he got home. He wouldn't even pose for his photo!

In April Mummy and the girl went to Crufts to cheer Rhys and Neighlor on. Neighlor is a staffy and lives with my best friend Rhea. They did very well and came 6th! The girl says if I keep working hard at my agility I might make it to Crufts one day! I hope so!

Uncle Raif and the girl were busy working hard preparing for Uncle Raif's first KC show, and so attended a training session with Toni Dawkins. They learnt loads and I'm gonna do a session next year. I reckon she'll love me, but hey who doesn't?

At the end of April it was the Norfolk Game Fair which Mac was supposed to be competing at but he had hurt his eye. As it was not a KC show and Valley Farm were helping with the demo on the Sunday the girl was allowed to swap Mac for Raif. Mac stayed at home and me and Uncle Raif went to the show. Uncle Raif didn't have time for contacts but he ran nicely otherwise and I had a go at the Scurry. They were very impressed with me and I got a certificate as I had such a good time. Unfortunately Dock Dogs had pulled out due to the problems of getting to the UK from the US due to the volcanic ash so I couldn't have a go at that. Never mind I should get a go in October.

In May it was Uncle Raif's first KC show and he was great. He stayed in the ring and concentrated so well he finished in 4th in the Jumping! I was great too, well of course! I was very good around the rings but oops! Me and his girl distracted Uncle Raif when he was running so he missed his weaves. Me and his girl have to hide now, so Uncle Raif doesn't see us!

At the end of May I turned One! I am now officially allowed to start my agility training! I started with the basics, with small jumps in a straight line but now I'm a pro! Well I like to think I am! I am still on medium jumps and will compete at large but the girl says as I'm such a big boy we better wait until I'm 17 months before going up to large. I keep showing her I can manage them but she says 'medium for now'!

In June it was Uncle Mungo's birthday and he turned 15. He got a special toy which I helped to pick out for him. We call it Hairy Fairy and he really really likes it! The girl reckons its ugly, but Mungo loves it!

Uncle Mac and Uncle Raif were competing at the RVA show held at the East Anglian Country Show. Uncle Raif was placed 9th in his jumping and 6th in his agility. The humans were very proud and so we all got treats! Uncle Mac and I went round the farm animal stalls and I enjoyed meeting all the pigs and sheep. I wasn't keen on the emus though!

In July we attended the Just Dogs Live show and although Mac and Raif didn't go clear at all, and it was a scorching hot weekend it was great fun. It was also a real luxury as we now have a caravan instead of a tent. Wicked! I had a go at the scurry again and went and met the groomers so the humans could buy a stripping brush. I also had a go at terrier racing, obviously in the large dog category and I won! The people running it couldn't believe that I beat the lurchers and greyhounds so I had to have another go and I won again! I got loads of attention all weekend and met people in wheelchairs and a rather abrupt autistic girl. I was told I was a very good boy as I was so calm.

In August Mac, Raif and I took part in a demo at an old peoples home. I even got to show off my skills!

I had a go at the fancy dress too and I came 2nd. I went as a teenage delinquent. No comments please!

Later that month we went to Dogs In Need show and Raif and Mac had a dodgy kind of week with some poor performances but they pulled it out the bag and on the final day Uncle Mac got a lovely clear round in agility whilst Uncle Raif went on to be placed 8th in his Jumping class.

Mac hadn't been his usual self all week so this relieved the girl but he still had to go to the vets. Unfortunately he has been diagnosed as having kidney failure and is on limited time. At the moment though he is back to normal and still barks and nips at me to run so he can chase me and Uncle Raif! He likes his cuddles too though!

In early September we had visitors from Australia so I showed them the local countryside; mud, water, you know that sorta stuff. He seemed impressed!

The boy and his missus were here too along with Uncle Dylan. They are off to New Zealand and Uncle Dylan and Uncle Raif are moving with Raif's girl to Norwich. Me and Uncles Mac, Mungo and Archie staying put with the girl and Mummy and Daddy. Uncle Raif will be back at weekends to do agility though!

Anyways that's me up to date. Sorry for the delay folks, but when you are as good looking as me its hard to take the time to sit and do boring stuff!

2010-02-02T17:05:00.011Z

I know I haven't posted for an awfully long time but we've had our ups and downs, and been torn apart. Stanley got ill before Christmas, suffering from kidney failure and despite his and Joe the vet's best efforts he succumbed to his illness. We all miss him so much and have found it very hard to adapt, especially as he was so young. He will always be the one and only Cog or Dat, the best!

In late October I had my first taste of life as a gundog with a trip to the Game Fair. I was much admired and met all sorts of people and animals. I met sheep and horses and donkeys, ferrets and chickens. I also got exposed to gunfire and was so unfazed by it all that I took a nap!

I also got a good look at Dock Dogs and my friend Tolly jumping into the lead. He jumped 20ft to win! I'm gonna have a go at this when I'm older.

I've been practising hard at all my training especially my retrieves and I'm getting pretty good now. It's really good fun!

In November and December we had snow. I love snow! Its brilliant! I didn't get it at first, and chased the flakes! That was a good game too! When it first started to really snow it was dark but I could have stayed outside for hours!

All the other boys love the snow too and we all played all the time. Mac loves snow as much as me and we had a great time mucking around chasing each other! Raif and I wrestled in the white stuff and Archie chased me too.

It was exhausting!

The snow melted and along came some new excitement. Christmas was a muted affair as a result of our loss but I loved it all the same and Uncle Dylan came to stay which was great. I am new to this Christmas lark but I really got into the spirit of it.

I got some great presents including an enormous Kong. I love getting the sausage out that Mummy stuffs inside it. Its a real challenge but I always manage!

After Christmas we had even more snow! It was so thick that I came in all balled up with snow caught in my fur. The humans then put my feet in warm water to melt it but to be honest nothing stops me!

I've now started my training in Working Trials. I've been told I'm a natural so I'm gonna give that a go too! I'm a really busy boy! Anyways gotta go; stuff to do! Oh and Happy New Year!

2009-10-19T15:05:00.008+01:00

Wow, it's been ages since I've posted and I'm sorry about that but I've just been such a busy boy! I've been up to all sorts of things, meeting lots of new people, dogs and other animals and I've been all over the place!

I've been sailing since I was 11 weeks old. I'm now 20 weeks so I'm an old hand now!

Uncle Mungo told me what it was all about. You have to wear a life jacket; which apparently makes me look even more cute so I get lots of attention! Women eh?

And then you paddle a bit but Mummy prefers me to stay dry until we come back from sailing. She doesn't like wet cuddles! So you sit in this boat thing which takes you out to the bigger boat.

When you are on the boat though you get the wind to blow through your hair and then you get to snooze in the sun. Its great and its Uncle Mungo's most favourite thing to do.

I really like sailing but agility is good fun too. I've been to training and to shows and I get to see Uncle Mac and Uncle Raif in training and in competition.

They get me really excited and I can't wait until I can do it too. I really yell my head off when the others are running! I can now do the tunnel and run through the wings and sit on my contacts. I love it! I am very clever!

Uncle Raif did his first show the other day and he came 6th in the Agility. He is very proud of his girly rosette!

I have lots of friends at Agility but my best friends are the same age as me. There is Rhea the Staffie puppy who is a week older than me. She is quite dominant but I'm a lot bigger than her so we have a really good rough and tumble. We get a bit carried away though and forget that when we are called we have to come back. Rhea get just as excited about agility as I do so we are both looking forward to starting our training. My other friends are Jarvis the Cocker Spaniel puppy, who is the same age as me and Dillon who has just turned a year old and is a poodle x collie but likes to play chase. Jarvis and I get a bit nutty too and play rough. It's great fun but last time Jarvis was to wiggly for me and in trying to catch him I banged my head because I trod on my own foot! How embarassing!!

Uncle Archie has taught me all about new foods and just how important it is to look cute; you get more apparently! Apple is a new favourite.

Uncle Dylan came to visit and he showed me how to chase rabbits.

I really liked doing that but because I got so dirty I had to have a bath. Yuck! Swimming is one thing but a bath?

After all that its time to go to bed. Stanley likes my bed though so I prefer Mungo's bed. That's not allowed though so Stanley has to move to his bed and I move to mine.

I'm so big and clever now that I am dry 98% of the time and my family are very proud of me.

2009-08-07T18:41:00.019+01:00

I'm sorry its been so long since my last post but the girl who helps me upload my blog has been away and I struggle with the mouse!

I'm very settled now and quite at home. I love it here but I'm not sure the other boys love me being here! I don't care though and love to annoy Mac by making sure he's asleep before creeping up to him and barking lots at him! It's great fun! And when he tells me off, I scream very loudly and the humans come running! Its great!

I've grown loads and I love my food. I'm studying hard and am getting very good at my sits, stays and comes but I'm not so sure about the down! I've had a go on the lead and can't wait until I get to go on my first walk! That's going to be great fun! I'm still not keen on the car yet so I hope it's a local walk! I know that I'm going to be going up to agility like the big boys and I think that will be fun. Raif trains in the garden and I followed him over the seesaw. Turns out I can fly! Raif says that there are nice dogs for me to meet at agility and that he loves it there. I had a nice email from Gypsy and Harvey, Mac's friends who also sent me a picture of them so I'll know what they look like. Here it is, Harvey is the handsome black and white springer and Gypsy is the pretty and very wet liver and white springer.

The other boys are very tolerant of me. My Uncle Mungo is the best! He lets me hang on his ears and on his feathers and only tells me off if I really hurt him, or if I take his favourite toys one time too many, but I know he doesn't mean it so I just do it again! That's when Boss man Archie tells me off. I really respect Archie and do what he says! He still plays with me which is great but Mungo is best. He even lets me play with Purple Dog and Robbie the Reindeer!

I like to play with Raif too and to take any toys of his. I regularly go into Psycho Puppy mode around Raif and he just looks at me like I'm mad! Raif doesn't like it if I hang off him though!

Raif is a bit sad at the moment as he's really missing his girl but he's really excited that she's coming home soon. I really want to meet her too and I considered posting myself to her. It's a bit dark in there though!

I've been told I'm a cheeky monkey but I'm not sure I am! I'm just me!

I went to meet other puppies on Monday at the Puppy Party held at the vets. Mummy says that I was the best behaved there and was neither shy or full on. I liked showing off my training and playing with a staffie puppy called Rambo. There was a lurcher puppy called Whisper who was a bit of a bully. I just kicked her off when she floored me but some others struggled with how to deal with her. I was the youngest there but the biggest! Mummy says I'm going to be a big boy! She says you can see both the Golden Retriever in me and the Poodle as demonstrated by my portrait photos below.

Anyways time for another nap!

2009-07-21T20:51:00.008+01:00

I'm sorry everyone, I've been very slow on updating my blog but I've been so busy! I promised to tell you all about my first meeting with my big brothers. When I got home on Monday I met Stanley first and then I met Mac. Mac is a border collie cross rough collie and he is a rescue dog. He is about 7 years old and he does agility. He's not very impressed with me, especially when I try and get him to play, but Mummy says that when I'm bigger he'll know what to do!

Next I met Mungo. Mungo is an English Springer Spaniel and he is 14 years old, but don't tell him that! He thinks he's not much older than me! I love Mungo as he's taught me lots of things and has let me snuggle with him. This has suprised my family as Mungo doesn't usually pay puppies any attention! That makes me feel very special!

Next I met Raif. Raif is a Border Collie and he is 6 years old. He is scared of me!

He's the puppy and he doesn't know what to do with this new puppy who wants to play! He is very good with me though and we have had a game of tuggy! I think he's scared of hurting me!

I met Archie last. He's the Boss. Archie is a Cairn terrier and he is 8 years old. Apparently he was very possesive of Raif when he was a puppy but he isn't of me. He likes me though and we have had a good time. I like to sleep near his crate.

I like my food and I want to be a big boy like the others. I can't have biscuits like them yet but I want them! I've been told I'm very clever as I've only had two accidents in the daytime and I was completely dry all last night. I have also learnt to come and to sit. I'm getting the hang of it now! Anyways got to go lots of things to chew and explore!

2009-07-20T23:11:00.010+01:00

I have come home to Suffolk! I left home this morning, said goodbye to my brother and sister, who both have to wait a little longer before their new families come and get them,

kissed my Mummy goodbye,

and got in the car for the long trip to Suffolk. I met my new friend Ulysses but even he couldn't make me feel better and I was horribly car sick eight times on the way home.

My new Mummy comforted me and told me to take a nap but I was determined to see where I was going and so I only dozed occasionally. My new family have decided that I will fit right in with their other dogs because despite feeling sick I was immediately awake at any rustle of food wrappers! When we got to Suffolk I met my new Daddy and all my new brothers.

First I met Stanley. He's a cat and wasn't impressed with me. He was very rude! He couldn't believe that the humans had brought another dog home and not a cat. He said the numbers were very uneven!

My big brothers were great and I really love them very much and have already learnt so much from them, like what 'come' means and that I must go to the toilet in the garden like the big boys. I think I'm going to like it here.

I'll tell you about my meetings with my new big brothers

Mac

Mungo

Raif

and Archie tomorrow,

but I'm very tired now as I've had such a big day.

2009-07-13T21:37:00.004+01:00

A week today I go home to Suffolk! I know my family can't wait and were frustrated with last weeks pictures when they couldn't spot me, but hey I'm far too busy to pose for any pictures! Besides which, we'd all just had our hair brushed and our nails clipped. Think I'm gonna pose nicely when I've just had to suffer that indignity? Anyways see if you can spot me!

We are five weeks old in these pictures and into everything which is why we have had to be curtailed in the box! Here we are with a bit more freedom but once again I'm not going to pose as I have more important things to do like playing, eating, sleeping and exploring!

2009-06-26T22:51:00.026+01:00

We are four weeks old today and this week some of our new families have been to visit. Six of us are going to families which live too far away to visit so Sam, our Mummy's owner, has taken some up to date pictures so our new families don't miss out on the excitement!

These good looking chaps are my brothers Dexter and Buddy

And here are my beautiful sisters Dolly, Taylor and Molly.

But my new family think that I am the most handsome of the lot, but that goes with out saying!

We have all been given a toy each which we will take with us to our new homes. My family wonder why I've been given the only indestructible one?!?!

2009-06-18T09:24:00.005+01:00

We all now have names! The three boys including myself, are Aubrey (no1 puppy), Buddy (no2 puppy) and Dexter (no3 puppy), whilst my sisters are Bella (no4 puppy), Dolly (no5 puppy), Daisy (no6 puppy), Taylor (no7 puppy) and Molly (no 8 puppy).

We have grown loads, even since our last pictures, and we are turning into cheeky little so and sos!! We have our eyes open and we are attempting to walk about, but we're a bit wobbly still!

These pictures were taken on the 16th June so we were 18 days old or two weeks and 4 days!

2009-06-10T10:42:00.018+01:00

I have two brothers and five sisters and even at this early stage some of us have been named by our new families.

Here is me, Aubrey,

and my brother Dexter

and my sisters Taylor

and Dolly.

Here are my as yet un-named siblings, my brother, and my three other sisters.

We have all grown loads since our first pictures were taken and are now 12 days old. We had new pictures taken when we turned 10 days old.

Here are the boys, I'm on the left and Dexter is on the right with puppy number 2 in the middle.

And here are two of my sisters, puppy numbers 4 and 6

And here is Taylor in the middle, with Dolly on the left and puppy number 8 on the right.

2009-06-04T23:29:00.027+01:00

My name is Aubrey.

My Mummy is a beautiful Golden Retriever called Tilly and my Daddy is a lovely apricot Standard Poodle called Cracker.

I was born on the evening of the 29th May 2009. I have 2 brothers and 5 sisters and we are all various shades of blonde! We are very lucky as we all have lovely homes to go to.

The pictures of us with our Mummy show us at 1 day old, whilst we are 3 days old in the left hand picture. We are very tiny at the moment but we will mature to be 22" to 25". I am already bigger and more advanced than the others and at 6 days old I am beginning to lift my head! My new owners think that I am the puppy at the front of the picture on the left, due to the white spot on my head!