Autumn is cold and nasty

I feel a little bit sad now that it is autumn. When the alarm goes off in the morning it is dark, but mum makes me get up. Does she not realise that given the choice a spaniel would prefer to sleep until noon. Mum makes me toilet outside even in the cold and dark and then when it is starting to get light she forces me to put my new purple coat on and she takes me and sister Fly to work. We have a scamp in the field and then go to our kennel. I have a lovely warm coat so I am happy, but Fly is very stupid and keeps taking her coat off and then shivering.

I've never had to be a kennel dog in the winter before and I don't like it. I always used to stay at home on a nice warm snuggy bed. But mum has pointed out that I must either come to work where it can get chilly but I get loads of walks and cuddles, or I stay at home but get a lot less walks now her and dad don't get breaks in the afternoon. She has said that if it gets properly cold she will let me in the office so long as I don't bark. I was offended. I never bark! (Mum says I'm lying) As you can see me and my sister can be good and snuggly and quiet sometimes in mums office.

A poppy action shot. I was just taking off after the ball dad had
thrown. I should be an olympic athlete.

The best thing about autumn is that I sometimes go on trips to the beach and there are hardly any people there. This week it was lovely as it wasn't as cold as normal and I did some sea swimming. I was a little sad as I lost a good Kong tennis ball and punctured another one. Kong balls are the best but I have to have so many to keep me occupied that mum says she needs shares in the company.
The beach was amazing as me and Fly did lots of running and playing, and then when I got fed up of her I went swimming because Fly is scared of water so she can't get to me when I'm in the sea . Younger sisters can be so annoying sometimes.

Coming out of the sea like a bond girl dog

Mum says I've got something very different to look forwards to this Saturday. I'm having my very first hair cut. I don't even know what a hair cut is but I have a horrible feeling I won't like it. Mum says she wants me to be a smarter spaniel because I am like a woolly mammoth at the moment. I always thought I was cuddly and cute not scruffy, but mum says that is not the case. I shall make sure I post before and after pictures and will tell everyone how horrible the event was. I am very scared!

Lots of love
Pops dog xxx

Lovely weekend walkies

Lovely beach

I've had such a lovely few days that I feel like the most special spaniel ever. Firstly I went to school as usual on Saturday and now that there is a new beginners group I have progressed in to the next group up. How clever am I! It's only taken me a year, I don't think that's very long at all. I ran across a full size dog walk for the first time ever and think I did very well.
Normally because I get very tired after working hard at school I don't do much else on a Saturday other than have a good sleep, but when I got home I had a lovely surprise because mum and dad took me and my sister to the beach. Now that it's October there are hardly any tourists so we had a really good scamper and a good chase of my ball. Well I chased the ball and Fly chased me. I was so tired when I got home that I slept for the rest of the day and had some amazing chase dreams.

Very, very sleepy Pop dog

I thought nothing could top that but I was so wrong. On Sunday we went on a brand new walk, to Nine Springs park in Yeovil. It really is the best park in the world I think. There were woods to run through, mud to splash in, pools and streams to swim and splash in, and plenty of places to chase a ball. All the things I like best in one place. I did a little bit bad though, I accidentally lost three tennis balls as I got so excited about what was happening around me that I kept putting them down and forgetting about them. I felt a little sad for Fly as there were a lot of dogs and people around so she had to stay mostly on lead as she felt worrysome, but I had the time of my life. Mum and dad said we could definitely go back there again, but next time we will go in the week when it won't be so busy so that Fly can enjoy herself too. I can't wait!
Back to work with mum tomorrow though. I suppose my lovely doggy fun had to slow down at some point but I hope I go somewhere equally doggy good next weekend.
Lots of love

Pop Dog xxx

Why my crate is my happy space

Me in my lovely big crate with my tennis ball

Mum brought a big doggy crate home from work a couple of weeks ago. She told me it was for Fly because Fly was going through a phase where she liked having a den to snuggle in. But Fly has been scared to even walk near the crate. Mum has been throwing bits of cheese and sausage in there and has put really comfy doggy beds and a pillow in there as well as some great toys. The crate was starting to look very appealing so I went in there and discovered how great it is. Now the crate is my snuggy place. Here is why it is fantastic -

Mum looks pleased and tells me I'm a good dog when I go in there
The beds are very comfortable
It is warm and cosy and peaceful
I get fed treats when I am in there
I often find my tennis ball in there
Fly is scared of it so she can't tug my ears when I'm in there
Fly can't get at my toys when I put them in there
I hide from the hoover in there

In fact I think I may take my new rawhide bone off to my crate to chew now
Lots of love
Poppy xxx