A Day in the Life of Bertie - Bertie and the Bike

Bertie is a confident puppy and very anxious to prove to the big dogs that he is just as capable as them. Thus he gallops after them and follows the progress of the Kong. He hasn’t yet acquired the speed to keep up with them and attempt to retrieve it. 

That’s acceptable, though, as Frodo the Faller never retrieves so Bertie always has the company of a big dog no matter what is going on.

He is nearly as tall as Jenna – not difficult as she is a fairly short Labrador but with a terrific turn of speed. He is keen to join his friends and relations in the back of the dog car and can easily jump into the boot but sits in the passenger well at my feet for the time being. He climbs up and downstairs, though not as frequently as he wishes because he is still  growing and jarring the joints can damage them. He barks at people who approach too close without being invited. He is doing his duty as a guardian of his humans. All in all, he is quite a grown-up pup and very little fazes him.

However, one day last week we had just commenced our walk in the forest when a bike appeared on the horizon, coming down the hill. We called the dogs to us, as usual, but for some reason didn’t manage to catch hold of Bertie. The cyclist slowed and steered past carefully. He was now behind Bertie who took fright at the strange apparition – a crouching figure with a huge head and bug eyes on a wheeled frame, a veritable ogre. Have you noticed the sound that bicycle wheels make? It’s a sort of ticking and there’s nothing quite like it.

Bertie fled, tail between his legs, ears pinned back, the fiend following and gaining slightly. No amount of calling was going to persuade him to turn round and face the  monster or brave a path that took him near it. The cyclist obligingly halted and Barry was able to reach Bertie and reassure him while the cyclist slowly rode past.

Suddenly our brave puppy was once more just a little chap out in the wide, worrying world. He stayed close for a while then gradually regained his confidence and became again the courageous canine we usually see.

I am linking this post to 'I Saw Sunday', 'Camera Critters' and 'Pet Pride'

A Day in the Life of Bertie - Bertie and the Mud

Bertie loves going out with the big dogs and observes closely as Jenna and Gus plunge into water or leap over ditches and into dense undergrowth in their eagerness to retrieve the Kong. He chases after them excitedly, stopping at the water’s edge – despite a couple of unexpected dips he’s still at the ‘toes in the water’ stage. He watches as Frodo strides in to bathe but is not tempted to follow. His time will come.

He is not such a little puppy any more. Now sixteen weeks old, he has grown in all directions and is a leggy small dog, more than half the height of Jenna. He has a good turn of speed, short-lived but impressive, and doesn’t have the rocking horse gait that so many pups display.

On Sunday Bertie was galloping after Jenna and Gus near the edge of the first forest pond – that’s not its official name, but one we’ve given it to clarify where we’re going or where we’ve been. We’ve numbered only the ponds in the forest that are most easily accessible to us, the lumbering humans. The dogs can reach all the bodies of water, wherever they are.

The ground surrounding Number One Pond is very wet and as Gus and Jenna charged past, Gus caught Bertie a glancing blow and knocked him into the mud. He gave a little yelp, more of surprise than pain, and came back to us. He had been transformed from a golden puppy to a black and tan dog. There was no lasting damage. 

When we reached home the mud soon dried to powder that dropped off his coat to garnish the floors and furnishings of our house. 

I don't think our home will ever feature in a glossy magazine unless as a warning to othersJ 

A Day in the Life of Bertie . . . Berties’ Busy Day

Yesterday the weather was warm and sunny once again and Bertie’s day began with breakfasts. The second one occurs when the big dogs have their raw food and he is given a dish of tripe and heart, or chicken.

A hike in Simon’s Wood followed after an interval sufficient to allow thorough digestion.

Lots of interesting sniffs here!

Rustling through the fallen leaves was fun but the trees were raining sweet chestnuts. 

Got to look where I'm going - those green spiky things look dangerous.

Luckily, none of them hit any of us but little paws had to be careful not to tread on the spiky husks.

This is the only way I can use a broom - the handle's much too long for me.

Back home after a short walk – bearing in mind the 5 minutes per puppy month mantra – it was time to help in the garden. The yard broom served as a huge toothbrush for the little lad.

Do we really have to go in?

Soon it was time to go indoors again.

Puppies are so tiring! I have to go upstairs for some peace and quiet.

Jenna had retired and was resting quietly on the stairs, ears alert to sounds of food. She had trusted the housework to Bertie who set about it with a will, selecting a damp cloth to clean some of those stubborn spots.

I just don't know where to start.

This could certainly do with some attention . . .

There's a strange many-footed creature in this house. I hope I never meet it.

 . . . but there’s nothing to be done about Frodo’s . . .

He wouldn't be Frodo without his spots. They don't wash off - I've tried.

. . . or Winston’s. In any case, it’s not wise to disturb a blogging cat.

Winston is checking his emails

Bertie sometimes likes to pretend he’s a cat – here is one of his recent portrayals.

Not bad for a beginner . . .

After that, Gus asked Bertie to play.

Come on, Bertie. I've got the Kong.

Bertie whispered something in his ear.

Whisper, whisper, whisper

Gus asked Bertie, “Does my breath smell?” Bertie assured him it was as sweet as a nut.

You didn't have garlic last night, did you?

Then there was a bit of mouth wrestling.

The Kong cord gets in the way.

Bertie has learnt to climb on the settee so decided it was time to play on the same level as Gus.

I should have climbed up from the front - it would have been easier!

Peep . . .

. . . o!

Awurr, awurr, awurr

More mouth wrestling . . .

There? Just there?

It’s good to have a friend to help you clean those parts you can’t quite reach.

Schlurrp!

A friendly lick from Gus.

I think I'm going to be a dentist when I grow up into a human. 

Open wide!

What do you get if you cross a Collie with a rose?

A collie-flower . . .

What do you get if you cross a Labrador Retriever and a Curly Coated Retriever?

A Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of all research scientists.

Bertie and Gus share a joke.

Finally it was time for a well-earned rest on the Master’s chair.