Have you noticed - humans are crazy?

Hi and Woofs,

I went to Jude's work on Friday - thought it was time I introduced myself to the team again. This meant I had to endure a 40 minute ride in the car (each way!) - and even though the suspension settings were on COMFORT I didn't feel that comfortable!

Things went well at work - lot's of people thought I was cute, and who can blame them? I had my photo taken lots of times - sometimes by team members (see example photo of me looking intelligent, taken by the lovely Melinda) and sometimes by complete strangers. Lots of people wanted to pat me, and were impressed that I'd shake hands with them, do drops etc.

The highlight of the morning was that Parul brought me a new toy. It's an elephant holding on to a chew rope. I could smell it in her handbag as soon as she came into the office (Editorial note - what is it about toys that broadcast their arrival? I can never get a new toy into the house past Toby without him being on high alert.) Anyway I gave the toy a good work out - and that squeaker was gratifyingly loud. I'm sure Craig's going to love having another squeaking toy in the house!

Each time I went out for a walk the pesky little bird would squawk and shrill at me - they even tried dive bombing me. I totally ignored them, but sometimes the people holding my lead got a bit frightened, perhaps because being a bit taller than me they were in imminent danger of having their eye taken out!

Before .... 

During my lunch time walk we visited the Marketing crew in the Treehouse. It was great to see Benita and Vanessa, who I remember from my visit back when I was only a puppy. They'd been reorganising the furniture in the office - I think I really should have hopped up on the couch to check what can be seen from there but we didn't have time apparently!

About mid-afternoon we went rushing out after a meeting (from which I'd been excluded - huh!) and across the campus only to see four of the Digital team members standing on the grass in matching t-shirts. I was just thinking what a good looking bunch of people they were when they up and tipped buckets of ice and water over their own heads - something about raising money for Motor Neurone disease research I think!!! Talk about CRAZY - it was only 12 degrees Celsius for goodness sake! Anyway, on the positive side, there were little plastic ducks in their buckets - I thought these might make great toys for me so I tried commando crawling over to get some, but Jude caught me. Oh well, good try huh?

After the buckets were tipped!
See the little ducks by their feet?

It was a busy day. Before you ask, no, I was not awarded my PhD at the end of the day - apparently that takes a LOT of study and work - more than 1 day even. I'm going to think of a topic for my PhD though - then I'll just need to find a supervisor! Much to do ....

Woofs,
Toby

I've got a new toy

This is one of those 'good news / bad news' stories ....

Bit of a sad story - Mr Banana Man has gone to heaven. We think he was attacked by the racoon! We mysteriously found him under the dining room table with all of his previous surgery unpicked (and almost no stuffing at all - Jude's wondering where that went?). Dr Jude tried to save Mr Banana Man but there weren't enough bits left to sew together. Craig suggested that it would be a better use of human time if I got a new toy ...

So I'm introducing 'DUCK DUCK'. He's a duck I think but he makes a really strange quacking noise so I'm not sure, maybe he's a goose! I'm not letting Jude or Craig play with the duck - he's all mine - yay!!! Here's a picture of me holding him in my mouth.

Woofs,
Toby <quack quack>

Soooo much has been happening!

Hi and woof-oh!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. So much has been going on that I've hardly had time to keep watch for passing baddies, let along keep up with my blog.

Where to begin? In July I went and stayed at Linda's place (Pawfect Manners) and worked on improving my manners. Apparently the world doesn't revolve around me - who knew! Well that went well: I had a great time playing with the other dogs at Linda's place and even lost a few kilos from all the extra exercise. I also learned to keep a low profile when Linda's very tall German Shepherds looked my way, and clarified my understandings of the human's commands. Craig and Jude were VERY impressed with my behaviour when I got home.

Winter has been very cold so I've been growing my fur coat. I'm told that I am looking very handsome.

Last weekend was Gran's 80th birthday celebration. Everyone in the family went to Ballarat to celebrate, including me. We drove there in Jude's new car - the sporty suspension made me feel sick. Craig says next time I go in that car Jude should change the suspension setting to 'Comfort' - I was pleased to see her checking how to do that in the manual this afternoon. She says it's easy. I hope it works because I had to stand up on the back seat and pant noisily all the way to Ballarat and home - and that wore me out, taking the edge off my showing off once we arrived.

The humans went out for lunch leaving Hamish and me at Gran's place. I think they had fun ... they took a lot of photos anyway ....

In case you are wondering, Nick had a scooter crash during the week which is how he hurt himself.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAN!!!

I want to be a physio-dog-therapist when I grow up!

I've been putting in a lot of hours lately supervising Jude's at home physio exercises. Each week she visits the human physio, Sarah, and gets new exercises to add to the collection - what's annoying is that Sarah gets all the kudos for the improvements with Jude's shoulder while I go unrecognised! It's me who gets up at 5:15 every morning and supervises the workout (even when it's cold and I'd rather be in my warm bed) and it's me who supervises the evening workouts too.

Well I've had enough of playing second fiddle, and have come up with some new exercises to add to the collection - here are some of my favourites:

1. Row exercise. Jude does the basic exercise while lying on the bed or fitball with her arm hanging down the side. My new version is that I place my head between her arm and the bed/fit ball and lift her arm away from her body quickly. I know this is having an impact because Jude yells (with joy I'm sure) when I help with this one.

2. The shrug. Jude holds her arm out at 20 degrees from her side holding a weight in her hand, then shrugs the shoulder in a pattern specified by her human physio. My adaptation is to add challenge - I do this by grabbing the weight in my mouth to increase resistance. Jude's not keen on this exercise yet - I'll keep trying to convince her of the benefits. 

3, Abdominal strength. This is a complementary exercise - might as well get as many muscles working at once as possible don't you think? While Jude is lying on the floor raising her arms and shoulders over her head, I sit on her stomach - to build up her abdominal strength! If it seems like she's handling that easily I wriggle around and dig in my boney feet. 

4. Moral support. Another thing I like to do while Jude is lying on the floor is to lie down right beside her, lean against her (to keep her warm - it is winter you know) and lick her ear or whatever part of her face I can reach. 

I think you will see from readng this that I am well suited to a career as a physio - in fact I'll probably get early entrance into the course via La Trobe's 'Aspire' program, and recognition for prior learning / credit for all the practical experience I have, don't you think? 

Where are you Aunty Sandy?

Feeling very sad at the moment because I wasn't allowed to go with the humans to see Aunty Sandy today! I'm sure that Sandy would have wanted to see me - remember she said I was cute and hugged me when she visited us back in January?

I tried to convince my humans to take me with them but would they listen? NO! They kept yabbering on about how dogs aren't allowed into restaurants - that's discrimination if you ask me.

It's definitely autumn

Woof woofety woof and hello!

Was out walking this morning ... we were going very slowly because my human was dragging the chain - something about not feeling well ... Honestly, just because she's got a cold shouldn't be an excuse for walking slowly! Anyway, because I was going soooo slowly I had time to check out every tree, and I noticed that it really is autumn here in Hidden Valley. All the leaves are changing colour and falling off the tress - amazing.

Jude was saying stuff like:
"Blah blah blah look at the beautiful trees blah blah blah." I must admit she is right.

I love the cold weather - it makes me feel very energetic, and sprightly. And I luuurve getting my whiskers and legs and tummy all wet and messy too  - it makes me feel like a real dog. I pretend that I hate it when I get home and the humans rub me with a towel to dry me off, but secretly I love that too.

Some famous human (Albert Camus) wrote:
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." 
I think there is something in that for all of us ... so I'll leave you with  that thought.
Woofs,
Toby

I'm just trying to help

Woofs and hi!

Just a quick post today - I'm very busy! Jude is home sick today - don't worry, it's only a cold. She's lying in bed with her laptop (perhaps unsurprisingly) on her lap doing work.

I am trying to help with the emails and updating important documents, by standing on my back legs by the side of the bed and pressing the laptop keys. I look very intelligent don't you think?

Jude is not too happy - she says that although I am a great helper, my spelling isn't good. I thought there were at least 5 x 'a's in most words - isn't that why the A key is so conveniently located on the keyboard?

Now I must rush - I have to watch for the postie.
Woofs,
Toby