Shih Tzu Happens

                                                                                     Something's Up Mam and dad are behaving strangely. I’m not sure what’s going on but they are not acting as normal. I am getting a little concerned however they seem to be quite happy. Also, not wanting to be too rude, but mam seems to be putting on a little weight! Not sure how to approach this. Mam was on the sofa, so I decided to jump up and sit next to her. She held her tummy and let me know that inside was going to be my new brother or sister. Oh I now see what’s going on. That was it, I was really excited about this news and had a good sniff at her tummy to see if I could find anything there….no, just rumbling sounds and mam’s perfume as normal. Over th...

  Elton John Eat Your Heart Out! My dad was very into music. He had a small recording studio in one of the spare bedrooms. This consisted of several keyboards, an electric drum machine and a huge mixing desk as well as a few different computers. He used to enjoy playing piano almost every night. I would aways follow him into this room and settle down next to his feet. He used to complain that sometimes as I made myself comfortable so close to the pedals on the piano that he could not use them. Occasionally, when I was less tired, I didn’t like the idea of the piano getting more attention from dad than I was getting. So I would come into the room with one of my toys, long dog normally (see previous blog for more details) and sit next to dad while he was trying to concentrate on the piano. Just at the right moment I would give him two loud “Gruufffs” strategically placed to completely put him off the rhythm of the piece he was playing. Also, I could pitch my “Gruufff” just a little...

That's me looking cute - so I say so myself! One Sunday evening dad took me into the car and off we went for a ride. I was not very old at this point and car journeys were still quite new for me. I wondered where we were going. After about a 15-minute drive we pulled up onto a driveway of a house. What’s going on I thought? Dad got me out of the car and let me walk about on the front lawn until I had been to the toilet. Then he lifted me up and took me inside. He walked along a short passageway and then turned right through a door which led to the living room.  “I have someone who wants to meet you” he said to the occupant of the room. I still couldn’t see who this was. He then lifted me up and I saw Gran for the first time. She was dad’s mum. I felt a little overawed by this as I was still really young and a little nervous to meet new people. I was let down on the floor and ran straight away under Gran’s legs. She was really nice to me and gave me a huge cuddle. I immediately took...

Overlooking my kingdom from a log! Summer is a great time of year. Dad used to take me out for fantastic walks. Despite living less than 15 minutes from the city centre, we are surrounded by farms and countryside. This gives us a great opportunity to explore.  One morning, dad had taken the day off work, and he was “baby sitting” me. That’s what I let him think anyway, I think it was more me babysitting him! It was a lovely sunny day and already was getting hot even though it was still early morning.  Dad got my leader and harness on. He didn’t like my collar as he said that he felt that it choked me, especially when I ran off away from him in excitement and the leader reached its full extent (it was one of those retractable leads that could extend out to 5 or 6 metres). This was my favourite harness, and we continued to use this all through my life. Dad still keeps it with him now to remind him of me.  Dad took me down the hill to a range of fields. It was later summer, ...