The Eighth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke - grumbling

Hello everyone!
My friends have come to stay for a few weeks. I'm always glad to see them but Tia's ever so strict. If I play too noisily near her she tells me off. I don't like that very much but she is my elder and better so I have to put up with it. Jenna grumbles too, but she doesn't really mean it. I know that's true 'cos as soon as she's finished scolding she starts playing with me again.

Foxy, Gus and Jenna

Foxy never moans – I like Foxy. Buddy grouses at all of us dogs but that's because he can't see. He's very old so we should respect him.
When we're out walking Frodo shouts at every dog and human he sees, even the ones he's seen for years, but at home he's usually very quiet. Sometimes he complains if I'm clambering over him to reach my toy box, specially if I take a long time choosing something to play with but he never snaps. I even took his bone away from him the other day (lamb ribs – yummy!) and he didn't do anything - just looked to see if Jenna had finished hers. I'd never be able to take her bone; she would snarl at me. Sisters! I really like Frodo – he's awesome. I know I've said before that I'd like to be as big as him one day and I truly, truly think I might be! My head's broader than his and I weigh nearly as much as him. I just need to grow a bit taller.
Tia and Buddy have got quite a bit in common at the moment. They both look as though they've had their coats trimmed the way some horses do – I think Mrs H called it the Hunter Clip.

Anyway, they've been shaved and are showing a lot of skin. Tia had a big lump taken out of her and I know her Humans are worried about her. Buddy's stomach had twisted and Ben-the-Vet and Mark-the-Vet worked on him to turn it back. Their coats are growing now and Tia looks really well again. She's put on weight which is good 'cos she was very thin. She's about the same age as Frodo. She's already nine and Frodo's birthday's in December. Talking of birthdays, I shall be one year old on September 6^th. I shan't be a puppy any longer.

I'm quite a grown-up chap now.

There's a puppy next door. She's not there all the time 'cos she's a grand-puppy but she's ever so noisy. I haven't seen her but I know she's a little dog – a West Highland White Terrier. She's got a funny name for a white dog, though – she's called Rosie and I think she should be pink. I don't suppose many dogs are pink, only when they're coloured by their owners. She goes out in her garden and yaps and then Foxy starts grumping and Tia joins in and after a while we're all barking and all the dogs in the houses around are woofing – what a racket! Then we all settle down again but soon we hear 'Yap, yap, yap, yappity-yap' and clapping! Why do they clap her? She'll only do it more. What? Oh, Jenna's just told me that it's called 'destruction technique'. What? Oh, 'distraction technique'.
That's all for today! It's time to play with my friend Foxy.

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That's Welsh for 'Goodbye for now!')