EDCH Sponsored Walk

Hi there! This first picture is me waiting for the sponsored walk to start last Sunday! All the staff and some other keen folk, along with loads of us canines did a walk all the way from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home at Seafield to Musselburgh. The other pictures show us all at the halfway stop. Boy was it a hot day to be doing a long walk on. But it was all in a good cause because people were paying us to do it! Well, not really paying us, but giving money to buy agility equipment for the poor dogs that are stuck in there with no forever homes to go to yet. I didn't know what 'agility equipment' meant but mum told me it's things like jumps and tunnels and poles to weave in and out of. I told my mum it sounded lots of fun so she set up some of Angel's jumps in the garden for me the other day and I had a great time. Though mum laughed and said I jump like a Kangaroo! Ha ha! Anyway, I'm so glad that all these other dogs who don't have lovely families are going to be able to have some fun now. As I said, lots of folk turned up for the walk and, thank goodness, we had some water stops on the way - especially when we reached Musselburgh. We walked along the beach promenade as far as we could and lots of people stopped to look at us and some put money in the collecting tins. One or two people didn't look too happy and a few looked confused (well we must have looked quite a sight) but overall most people looked very happy to see us all walking along. Mum couldn't join in the walk herself so someone else took me but she saw us off at the start and was there to cheer us when we got almost as far as the home again. Some of us got a quick swim to cool us off before we got all the way back so that was fun too. And when we got back into the home we had big bowls of water and lovely treats while the humans got hot and cold drinks and biscuits too. We don't know how much was raised yet but I hope it'll be loads!

Walkies with mum and a visit from Toby!

Hya'll!!

Do you like this pic of me with Angel? We were sunning ourselves on mum's bed but then we started to play and messed it all up so she threw us off it! She did laugh though.

Toby came up for a week's holiday - that's him in the picture with Ben - and he's fine now after his snake bite thank goodness. He showed us his paw and it was all shaved by the vet and you could still see the bite marks. We all told him how brave he was and how worried we all were about him. I think he liked that! I got to meet my human grandma for the first time too and she really liked me, I'm glad to say. She liked my cuddles especially, but I think she thought I was a bit rough on the beach. Well I can't help getting so excited can I?!

Ben is doing fine but he does struggle with all of us doods around. Mum says it's all a bit much for him now, but I don't quite get what it is about us that is too much for him...... He does get very grumpy with us sometimes though. He still played with us when he came with us to the beach the other day, so that was fun. Sometimes he just stands and stares into space and that spooks me a bit. Mum gives him extra cuddles when he does that, like she feels sorry for him. Still, she always finds time to give me lots of cuddles too!

At last mum's been able to walk (still with one crutch) well enough to take me for a wee walk - YIPPEE!!!!! We had to go really slowly together and I kept watching her to see that she was ok but it was so exciting. I knew she was nervous of falling over so I tried really really hard to go slowly and carefully. I did forget a bit when I saw another poochie friend I wanted to play with so Kirsty took my lead then so I could say hello without mum worrying. It's early days but it is definitely a good start. I hope it wont be too long before she takes me out properly again. It's so much fun being out everyday with Kirsty and the doods Angel and Sam but I want my mum back!!!

Yesterday mum managed to walk all the way down to the Dog and Cat home where we work (well Kirsty does - we just play and supervise!) just to see me in the big paddock at lunchtime. I thought that was lovely, though I was too busy chasing Angel and Sam to have cuddles!

My fur is growing back all curly again and mum is trying to decide whether to get me another hair cut! But there is a doodle day coming up in June and I think she wants me to look a bit fluffy for that for some reason. Angel and Sam told me all about last years doodle day in a place called Dundee and it sounds great fun. Just imagine - a whole park full of us crazy doodles. Wow - I can't wait. I just thought - maybe I'll get to see my brother Herbie again too - that would be fantastic!!! I'll be keeping my paws crossed that he'll be there!

At last some news!

I've been trying to persuade mum to get another post on here for ages but she keeps saying there's no news. But there's always news........like the seagull us three doods caught on the beach (mum called us 'gross'!!!) and my new haircut which made me feel so much better and all the new friends I've made going to work everyday.......!! But finally mum reckons we really do have news!

Mum's been out of action for ages now and unable to take me for walks but at last she has been able to at least come out and play in the garden with me (albeit with her crutch) and the other night she took me out on my lead for my last pee of the day. I was so pleased and I was really good and didn't pull at all in case she fell over again! Anyway, mum said she is getting an operation next Tuesday which is going to make her leg straight so she can begin walking properly again. I don't really understand this operation thingy but anything that means mum is going to get better is fantastic! She says once she's recovered she'll have to start with just little walks with me first until her knee gets strong again. But I don't care - I just want to go on walks with my mum again (not that I don't adore Kirsty cos I do, and everyone knows I love playing with Angel and Sam, but mum is really special to me). So I'm keeping all my paws crossed for next Tuesday!

Our other news is not so good. I asked mum to put a picture of Toby and Ben on here today because it's about them.

As you know Ben is an old man now (he's 13) and his sight hasn't been good for ages but it has got worse lately. He's been following mum around really closely and getting snappy with the rest of us and we thought he was just being possessive of mum, being home with her all day and everything. But mum just realised he can't see very well at all now and that's why he's like that. She thinks it's because he knows all of us doods are there but he can't read our body language properly to know that we're just having fun so he tells us off. Also we make him jump a lot because he doesn't see us coming (I do that all the time - sorry Ben). When he was out on Arthurs Seat with us doods and Kirsty the other day he ran off in a panic, even though we were all nearby, because he couldn't see us. So now mum says he's going to have to stay on a flexi-lead when he's out with all of us. Poor Ben. He seems happy though and he's still very fit - he can run about with us lot fine, he just sleeps really well afterwards! Mum said she's going to read up on blind and partially sighted dogs so that we can do all we can to help him. I do just keep forgetting though and then I get a mouthful from Ben when I jump over him and gve him a fright......!!!

Now, about Toby (grandma's dog). Poor, poor Toby got bitten by an adder yesterday and grandma and mum were really worried about him. I didn't know what an adder was but mum explained it to me. I don't like the sound of them but mum said they're very nice really, you just don't want to get bitten by one. Anyway grandma and Toby were having a lovely walk up Cleeve hill near where they live when Toby came up hobbling with a sore paw. Very quickly he got all tired and floppy and his paw got huge where he had got bitten. Poor grandma was on her own and couldn't lift Toby and had to wrap him in her jumper and drag him along the ground as best she could until a nice lady came along to help. She had a big car that could go across hills so she went and got it and fetched Toby off the hill so grandma could take him to the vet. Then he had to have a special injection to deal with the snake poison and other injections to help him too. Mum said it sounded as though he was really poorly and everyone was very worried about him. Anyway grandma phoned this morning and said he is a little bit better thank goodness but will have to stay at the vets for a while yet. So I'm sending big doodle kisses to Toby and grandma today.

Phew, that was a lot of news - mum was right! But I nearly forgot to tell you about yesterday. I helped mum tidy the shed up! It was great fun. It was a lovely sunny day so mum took me outside with her and put me on a long line (tied to the gate) so I couldn't get up to mischief!!! Ha ha she should have known better!!! She had a huge cover she put out to air to I ran off with it and threw it around all over the place and then got all tangled up in it. Mum laughed and laughed at me! Then I helped her empty out the shed but I don't think she really wanted all the things taken out of it and got a bit cross after a while. Anyway then we had lots of cuddles and some more play before we went back inside. And I had had a lovely day!!!

Well this is me with my new look!!! I had it done while mum was away so I think she got a shock when she saw me! Loads and loads of my hair came off and there was a huge pile of it on the floor! It does feel much better though and mum says I feel all velvety and soft.

I missed mum when she was away even though I had lots of fun with Kirsty and her doods, Angel and Sam. When mum got back on Monday night I followed her around everywhere just in case she disappeared again. Typically, the first thing Ben did when he got back was put me in my place! I couldn't believe it, I was so pleased to see him too!

While they were away Kirsty was on holiday too and I got to go to lots of different places - especially Arthur's Seat. I got so muddy then shook it all over Kirsty and her friend!! Because it was so sunny we played in the garden a lot too and the three of us romped around for ages while Kirsty sat in the sun. She had lots of tasty treats for us too which we got before we went back inside. We were too tired in the evening to get up to much but we did go for some nice walks on our leads. When it came to bedtime, Kirsty knew I'd miss my mum more at night so she let me sneak onto her bed which was very kind of her.

Except for the week's holiday, I've been going to work nearly everyday with Kirsty since mum hurt her knee. I feel very grown up when I walk down the road beside Angel and Sam, knowing I'm going to work. At the beginning Angel and Sam had to tell me who everyone was and what we were going to do, but now I know everyone it's great. I get lots of attention and the other staff come and talk to me while we're in our kennel and run, then at lunchtime we all get to play in the big paddock. The best bit though is when we get to go to the beach with lots of other dogs and we all go mad splashing in the sea and chasing around. By the time I come home to see mum and Ben I'm pretty tired and love to just cuddle up.

I know mum misses all our walks and feels bad that she can't take me but I try and let her know that it's ok. When I get home I rush in to see her and jump all over her, then I settle down and snuggle up. I'm even allowed to sneak onto her bed for a little while too! All in all - life is pretty good!!!

Hiya all, I'm feeling a bit sad today so I thought I'd put a picture of me with my brother Herbie on to cheer me up! It seems like ages now that we met on the beach and had such a fun time. I really hope it's not too long before we get to play again.

But that's not the real reason I'm a bit sad. Mum and Ben are going away tomorrow morning and I know I've a job to do here, and I know mum loves me (I mean, just look at the poem!) and that she'll be back but it's going to feel like a long week without her and Ben. Mum has said that her knee is beginning to get better now and that when she gets back it won't be too long before she can take me for walks again which will be amazing! She's also said she'll help me write up my days at work here on the blog, and that, after her week away I'll have so much more to tell her. So I'm looking forward to that. I've no other news really but mum was telling me last night about the number of doodles that need rehoming and she showed me pictures on a new website launched by the Labradoodle Trust. So I've added their website to the list of my favourite websites now if you want to have a look at some of these gorgeous doods. I hope they find forever homes soon with mums and dads that love them as much as my mum loves me.

I've left Ben in charge!

Well I've been going to work this week so I've not been at home! I'll tell you all about that in a different post though. But it left me worried about who was going to look after mum at home because she still can't do too much with her gammy leg, poor thing. With Ben getting on a bit nowadays I was worried whether he'd be up to the job or not. Anyway, he said to me not to be so daft, he's been looking after mum for all these years he wasn't going to stop now. I think he called me a young 'whippersnapper' or something like that. Well, I have to admit that he seems to be doing a good job and mum seems happier than she was. She can hobble around a bit now too, on just one crutch for support, so things are definitely looking up! Ben moves quite slowly sometimes and I've noticed he watches mum all the time to see where he needs to be - beside her, in front or waiting behind. It's really cool but mum says it's because he's half collie and that's what collies do. Sometimes I wish I could be like that but I just get so excited and go charging round, and I forget how big I am sometimes! Mind you, Angel and Sam are just the same! It's great because the three of us doodles are getting to play together every day at the moment and I can relax and enjoy myself knowing Ben's looking after mum. I don't quite understand what's happening next week though. Mum says I'm going to stay with Kirsty, Angel and Sam while mum takes Ben in a big noisy thing called a train (I've still not seen one of them but mum promises I'll go on one in the summer) and goes down to stay with grandma - who I've not met yet either. Ben has promised to take good care of mum and I'll have to just trust him on that, but - I won't see mum for a whole week and I don't like the sound of that too much. Where will I sleep? Usually it's with Ben in mum's room. Kirsty said not to worry, that I'll be with Angel and Sam, but, well it will all be different without mum. She said it won't be for long though and the rest will help her leg get better more quickly so that she can take me out for walks again soon. Mum said she'll really miss me though and I'll miss her too. I've promised to be very good for Kirsty when mum goes on Monday. Hey - that leaves me a whole weekend of mischief to get up to first!!!!

My 'Big Brother' Ben

A bit about Tara

My mum has lots of doggy pictures on her wall - mostly of all of us that live in the house now - but some of the pictures are of this beautiful white dog. So I've been asking mum about these pictures. She told me that Tara was a girl and was her and Kirsty's first family dog together. She was always up to mischief but was very very gentle and loved getting attention. Mum said Tara was eveyone's friend and everybody loved her! She was also Ben's best friend and that poor old Ben has never quite been the same since she died. I didn't know that before and I'm going to try to be especially nice to my 'big brother' now! She was nine and had always been healthy when, one morning, she suddenly had a funny turn (which turned out to be a heart attack) and she had to be rushed to the vets. He found she had a massive lump inside her (called a tumour) and she died the same day while she was having an operation. Mum and Kirsty don't like to talk about that or they still both end up crying. But they do talk about Tara's life though and she seems to have done lots of things that make them smile. Tara made them very happy and has given them some great memories. Of course, that's MY job now!!! I told mum that I'd like to have some pictures of Tara here on my blog as a tribute to this lovely girl......

In memory of the beautiful Tara

A poem written for me (Teddy) by my mum!

Ode to Teddy McDoodle

He's a hot chocky bundle, my big Teddy bear,
with round amber eyes under thick curly hair.
In obedience he's stubborn, only working for treats,
and on lead he lunges when doggies he meets.
He runs like a mad thing forgetting his brakes;
when he goes at full pelt some courage it takes
to walk without grabbing unnerved passers-by
and there have been times when I've felt myself fly!
He's a big water baby, my canine Canute,
and although he's so crazy he's cuddly and cute.
His fleece smells of seaweed when he's sandy and damp,
He chases the cats and knocks over the lamp.
He takes over the sofa, cushions under his head,
and during the night he sneaks onto my bed.
He steals socks a-plenty, of pairs now I've few,
and sometimes it's bras and other undies too.
But where would I be without my dood friend?
For Teddy and me - we perfectly blend!

Ups and Downs on the Golf Course

Hi, Teddy here! This is me looking very handsome if I say so myself!! Well it's been a funny week with ups and downs, and in mum's case an 'up and down' that ended rather badly. But first - my excitement of the week was that the ice was back on the golf course. I LOVE ice - I love sliding on it, rolling on it, eating it......everything about it (oh, except the time when it froze in clumps on my feet and mum had to bathe it off)! On Wednesday morning I had so much fun because, not only was there ice on the golf course but my two collie friends Digger and Nell (and little Molly the border terrier type puppy of course) were there as well. We hadn't seen each other for ages and so Digger and me had a fantastic high speed chase and a romp. We were over by the trees when Digger says to me 'race you to your mum!' and that was me, I was off at 100 mph to get there first! Um, well, that's when it all started to go all wrong.

You see, I forgot to stop, then I was so excited that when she jumped into the air and then was rolling round on the ground I thought she was playing and stole her hat as a trophy, parading round with it - then Digger tried to get it too and we were tugging (with me winning of course)! Then I saw Digger's mum put her scarf down and before she could get it under mum's head I grabbed that too - yeah, I thought it was so much fun!

But then, oh dear, I realised mum wasn't getting up and she wasn't playing. I dropped the scarf and came over to see my mum because I was worried then - I didn't know what was wrong. I stood still to get my head collar on (which shows how worried I was) and Digger's mum helped mum to Digger and Nell's car because mum couldn't seem to walk. Both Ben and me were confused and I was a bit panicky then, but Ben said to just be good and do what they say and it would all be alright. That's when Ben is like a big brother to me and I'm so glad he's there. We all piled into the car, with me in the boot and Ben, Digger, Nell and wee Molly all on the back seat. It was quite funny really because we were all shouting our heads off when we passed Kirsty on her way to work with Sam and Angel - the confused look on their faces as we drove past was very funny, even mum said so!

Well to cut a long story short, as they say, mum didn't go to hospital until the next day (both Kirsty and grandma called her stubborn) and when she did she came home with her leg held straight in this thing called a splint and these two stick like things which mum said are called crutches. I could see it was hard for her to sit down so I tried to be patient and waited before I jumped all over her and gave her kisses and cuddles! Poor mum. She told me she can't take me for walks for now but I've got to be very good for Kirsty and she's going to take me out. It will be a bit strange and I'll miss going out with mum but she promised she'll be there for me when I come home again. There will be some fun though because I'm going to go to work with Angel and Sam next week! They've both said I can come but I've got to watch them to learn when I can play and when I've to be good and quiet. I've promised I'll try very hard. The best part of the day though wll be when I come home to Ben and mum and lots of cuddles. Then the most important job fo me will be to cheer mum up and make her laugh or just give her lovely cuddles because she's really fed up. She says she'll miss me but she will so look forward to that part of the day too. Well that's all for now, so byee from me Teddy (the tearaway) McDoodle!

Doodle Meets and Doggysnaps Winners

I thought I'd tell you something about the slideshow my mum just put on the previous post. Last Saturday we had great fun when folk from the web site Doodle Times (see my list of favourite web sites below) came through to Edinburgh to meet on MY beach! We had a fantastic time - there were quite a few of us doodles in all different shapes and sizes and we just ran and ran and splashed and chased and jumped and .......erm...got lots of treats!!! All the time our mums and dads just stood there and talked - how boring! But at least they were just letting us get on with the important stuff. Kerouac came down and joined us too, so I was pleased to see my good friend and introduce her to the mad gang. Not that she needed much introducing- she was straight in there. There were only two sad bits to it: my doodle cousins Sam and Angel couldn't come because Kirsty was working (she's promised they'll come next time!) and (the REALLY sad bit) Herbie couldn't make it because Auntie Jan was working too. I so want to see and play with Herbie again - I hope it'll be soon.

My other bit of news is that Herbie and I are keeping the doodle profile up in Doggysnaps (my other favourite website)! They have photo competitions each month and I won the 'Snowy Snaps' one and Herbie won 'Editors Choice' with his snow one! Isn't that fantastic!! Our winning pictures are at the top of this post.

Mum sad to finish with an apology though because the original of Herbie's photo was much better quality than this one but somehow we lost quality when we 'lifted' it from Doodle Times (ooops, sorry!!!)

Doodle Meet February '09

The Reunion!

I AM SO HAPPY!!!

I met my fantastic brother Herbie yesterday for the first time since we were tiny puppies!!

My mum and I went for a wee walk along the beach, just the two of us, while we were waiting for Auntie Jan and Herbie to arrive, then mum was on her mobile phone a couple of times and before I knew it we were hurrying along the promenade. I didn't understand why mum wasn't letting me play with other dogs that we met but I soon discovered why - for there was Auntie Jan by her car and Herbie was still inside! Herbie - my brother - was actually here to see and play with me! I could hardly believe it. Mum told me she wondered if we'd need a bit of time to sort ourselves out, being boys and all that, but we didn't. Silly humans sometimes - did she think I wouldn't know my own brother?!

We wanted to romp and play straight away but we had to do a photo-shoot for the mums first! Herbie had a really cool 'Born to be wild' bandana on but auntie Jan took it off as soon as we got down to the beach. Shame because I thought it would have been really good to tease Herbie and play tug with it! Both mum's had to spend time comparing us too (we were wondering when we were ever going to get to play!). As you know I'm curly but Herbie is smoother and shaggier and has got a bit of a handsome red 'mane' on him. The funny thing is that our mums said that the wetter we got the more alike we looked! Well so we should - we're the same size and shape, more or less the same colour, we run and play the same way and we've got the same eyes and noses and expressions too! Herbie is really just like me but not curly.

The big thing for Herbie and me - never mind all the comparisons - was that not only are we brothers but we were instant best friends. Herbie plays the best game of chase ever, especially into the sea and through the waves. I wish I'd warned him not to drink the sea water though because auntie Jan said he was very sick when he got home, poor lad. He loved my little squashy yellow ball too and I let him play with it and take it off me when he wanted. Herbie loved the beach but the only thing he didn't get was rolling in the sand. I tried to get him to try it but he didn't want to. I LOVE rolling in the sand and getting covered in the stuff! It didn't matter because we had such a fantastic time together and I just wanted to be with Herbie for always. We didn't even go off and play with any other dogs who came over - we weren't interested in anyone else. Why would we be? We're brothers and we had each other!

We spent loads of time on the beach and walked up to where the Figgate burn empties into the sea. You can drink that water because it's not salty so we did get a drink there and Herbie's mum sneaked off to go to the loo. It's so much harder for these humans! Herbie didn't even notice she'd gone but then my mum kept us busy chasing the ball into the sea so much that he didn't have time to notice! Mum stood right in the burn with us, dafty that she is, but Herbie's mum got a hole in her wellies so she couldn't come in. Just as well we don't need wellies!

After that we went back along the beach to the Dog and Cat Home, where Kirsty was working, so that she could meet Herbie too. She loved Herbie - we knew she would. We got to run and play in the paddock there with Angel and Sam, and I think Angel really fancied Herbie! I felt so proud as we walked past all the staff there with Herbie because I could here them all saying 'that's Teddy's brother' !!

But all too soon came the sad part of the day when I discovered that Herbie had to go back to where he lives again. When auntie Jan opened the back of the car I kept trying to jump in - I just wanted to go with Herbie. I didn't want to leave my mum or anything but I wanted to stay with my brother. We stood and watched as they drove away and our mums waved goodbye to each other. All the way up the road I kept turning round to look for Herbie and I walked so slowly hoping that mum would turn back and Herbie would still be there. I felt so sad that mum stopped in the street and gave me a hug and promised me that we'd see Herbie again soon. I was very tired when I got back and slept most of the evening. I was dreaming that Herbie and I were still running into the waves together and chasing that yellow ball! I even slept late this morning (my mum was so pleased!).

Today I feel much happier. I had such a lovely day yesterday and met my brother Herbie and we had fun, fun, fun!! I know now that he's not far away and I can store up all my news for when we next meet up. I hope his tummy is better today though and that he remembers not to drink the sea water next time!

Mum is going to tell auntie Jan to read this message to Herbie, so I'm going to finish with this:

LOVE YA HERBIE, YOU'RE A REAL COOL BRO AND I'M PROUD TO BE YOUR BROTHER! COME AGAIN SOON......!

My friend Kerouac and more about Herbie

Me and my friend Kerouak!

Kerouak's another doodle and is Angel's sister. These lovely photos were taken by her mum, so thank you very much, Kerouac's mum. She managed to get photos of my mum too (clever woman because mum would have hidden if she'd known!). I love going to the beach with Kerouac because she likes to play rough just like me and when mum starts walking away from the sea - which she does when she thinks we need to start drying off a bit - Kerouac looks at me, looks at the sea, and then gets me to chase her right back into the sea again!!! Sometimes she runs off a wee bit just to say hello to other dogs and check them out but she always comes running back and jumps at me to play again. She's G R E A T fun and I'm so glad she comes to the beach with us every Saturday!

I hope she's not too disappointed next Saturday though because mum's going to take her home early after just a shortish play on the beach. But I think she'll understand because it's for a very good reason: my brother Herbie is coming through from Glasgow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!

Mum said we're going to meet on the beach so that Herbie and I can have a really good play and chase and make up for lost time (we've not seen each other since we were tiny puppies!). I can't wait to tell you all about it and to show you all the photos. I'm looking forward to meeting Auntie Jan again too. I think she's lots of fun and when mum's on the phone to her she laughs all the time, which is nice. This is the message that Auntie Jan left me on my blog:

Hi Teddy its fantastic to see you. you won't remember me, but I was very nearly your mum. I see you're confused by this so I will explain. When your mum Coco and your dad Jake gave birth to 10 beautiful puppies, I was first to pick one. It was touch and go between yourself and our scruffy pup Herbie. At the last moment herbie took a liking to my husbands beard and that sealed the deal. I'm so pleased to see you have a fantastic home, with pets who obviously love you as much as I love Herbie (wild thing) McDoodle. It would be great if you guys could get together. Ask your mum to log on to Doodle Times. We can be found there posting nonsense most days. You are one handsome doodle. Big kiss from your Auntie Jan. xxx

Isn't it funny how he's called Herbie "Wild Thing" McDoodle because mum's always said my 'Sunday name' is Teddy Bear McDoodle!!!! How about that! It all has worked out so well because mum talks with Jan on the phone, on Doggysnaps and on Doodle Times now and I'm going to meet Herbie very soon and we're going to play, play, play!!!

Valentine's Day

Well this, so I'm told, is Valentine's day and it's all about love! Yeah right! I barked to go out this morning when Kirsty was leaving to go to work with Angel and Sam and what do I hear from mum but 'shut up and lie down Teddy - it's Saturday'. Like that makes any difference to my bladder. Then she remembers she's meant to be all sloppy about love today and tries to give me a big hug. Well you try standing still and getting squashed when you're bursting for a pee!! She got up eventually and took me and Ben out. I don't know how quiet old Ben managed without me before. But what a cheek, just when I thought our day was getting started she went back to bed with a cuppa!!

We went out at half nine as usual though to pick up Kerouak and I tried to give her valentine licks but she wasn't having any of it! In fact she kept bullying me for ages on the beach just in case I got any 'valentine's ideas'! Fat chance. She got over it though and we ended up having a brilliant chase on the beach and in the water and splashed mum loads of times. It was very dull but much warmer than it has been so we stayed out for AGES! My brother Herbie even sent me a text while we were there and he thought we'd have been home by then. This time next week we will have met - COOL!

I can't wait for mum to read me what it says on doggysnaps tonight. Shadow and I are going on a 'virtual date' and someone called Jacky has made a fantastic photo of the two of us as you can see up above! (These humans really are NUTS!!!!). It's all fun though. Well, valentines or not I thnk me, my mum and Ben are havng a quiet night in. She was invited to a party but she said she doesn't feel like going and she lost the invitation........mmmm, thinks, I wonder where that could have gone to....???? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheering up mum on Friday night!

Today mum was feeling a bit down. I knew it by the way she came in from work with a heavy walk and she sighed a lot. She said the house was cold because the central heating had got turned off by the cat, who had leant on the switch while trying to reach down into a freshly chewed mouse hole in the wall!!!!!!!!!! And it was Friday the 13th but she said she's not superstitious really.

Anyway, I thought to myself 'I'm a doodle, and what can doodles do REALLY well?' and straight away I knew the answer was 'make people laugh'! So I set out to cheer mum up and make her laugh. First I raided the bin in the kitchen that's full of squashed up boxes and things that smell really good and thought I'd bring something nice from there, but one of the boxes got stuck on my head and when I pranced around to try to get it off I heard mum laughing! That's better I thought, so I kept bringing mum lots of thngs till she told me to stop.

Then mum decided to tidy her bedroom so I thought I'd give her a hand with that. I helped her get rid of a box of tissues by chewing it up into lots of little bits and then I hid it under the bed because mum had made some space under there. I discovered that although I'm big I can still squash up into little spaces and that it's fun trying to do that! I tried to hide from mum for fun but I couldn't quite get my bottom in and got all excited so I think my tail was wagging and gave me away! Mum laughed SO loud - until she found the tissues. Oh dear, I think she wanted them for herself. Mum sat down on the bed with another one of those big sighs so I thought 'Teddy boy - drastic acton needed here' so I jumped on top of her and gave her a HUGE doodle cuddle!!! Oh, and I'd just had a drink of water so I think my beard gave her a wash too!!

Still, it all cheered mum up and now she's cooking her tea so it's time for me to work on those big puppy eyes and sitting nicely looking sweet..... it works a treat everytime!!!!!!!!

Really Good News!!!

I just have to write about my good news. Well you know I was already fairly grown up when I came to live with my mum and, although I had fun at my last home, I don't remember much about when I was just a wee puppy. My mum told me about my doodle mum and dad because she looked them up on Tora Labradoodles (and my previous humans told me their names)but I don't remember them or my brothers and sisters.
Well - and here's the GREAT news - thanks mostly to the doggysnaps website (and, I think, this blog!) I've been found by my brother HERBIE and his mum, auntie Jan!!!!!!
Oh, and Jackie from Tora Labradoodles told them where I was too so that was good.

Anyway, Auntie Jan and mum have been talking on the phone and by email non stop!!
Herbie is now on doggysnaps too so we're going to have LOTS of fun there. My kennel is called 'Jacqui&Ben' and Herbie's is called 'groover' if you want to see us there. He looks really like me too (what a handsome boy!!!).

Auntie Jan is going to bring Herbie over to Edinburgh a week on Saturday so we can meet and play on the beach together and have mad doodle fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to tell you all about it and show you photos.....
Bye for now, love Teddy McDoodle

Dancing on Ice - Teddy style!

It's a shame it is still too dark first thing in the morning to take photos because then I could show you pictures of me dancing on ice! Instead I"ve shown a picture of me and Sam watching 'Dancing on Ice' on TV!

This week has been lots of fun on the golf course with the wee pools of water completely frozen over. Normally I can run and jump on them so that they crack and break up and then I can splash around in them which is great fun. But this week they have been frozen solid - especially one big pool. So I ran across it sliding and dancing and having a great time. I rolled around on it too, all the time sliding across it and mum laughing away at my antics! The ground has been really hard too and so I've stopped knocking mum over because I realised that I hurt her the other day, though I didn't mean too. I think she's been a bit scared of me running towards her, too, and I don't want that - I just want us to play together.

Mum said I was very good at Lynn the dog lady's class on Tuesday. I can 'sit' and 'stay' and go 'down' when she wants me too (as long as she has a treat in her hand - after all, why else would I do it?). I think I'm getting the hang of 'stand' though I don't really get why she's tellng me to do what I do all the time anyway. Our humans are really odd at times. Lynn wanted our mums and dads to stroke us while we were lying down to make us all calm (yeah right, me - calm?) and all the others were just lying there. But me, well, I thought we could have some fun here, so I rolled about to have my tummy rubbed and scratched my back on the floor and generally had FUN! Mum laughed though she told me she wasn't supposed to!

First thing yesterday morning mum let me and Ben out into the garden for a piddle and a poo and she went back to bed for a bit with a cup of tea. She's been very tired this week, she told me, so she wanted to have a gentler start to her day. Well I know the word 'gentle' because she's been teaching me, so when we came in again I sat beside her being really calm and gentle, and we watched all the birds getting their breakfast at the feeder outside. Then mum put her hand on my head and whispered to me to stay quiet and still and I watched as a sort of dog, and yet not quite a dog, came into our garden. Mum said our visitor was called a fox and that he was probably quite hungry to be out in daylight like that, but he didn't stay long enough for mum to put any food out for him. I was a bit worried though because thought mum was going to put my breakfast out for him instead of me but she didn't. I think she was going to put some cat food out instead! Hehehe, bet those cats will be jealous!!

Mum took Ben, Kerouac (our neighbour) and me to the beach again today. I think we're going to have Kerouac every Saturday now for our beach walk. We went a long way this time, right from one end to the other and back and met loads of new dogs again. Most of them were really fun and we had lots of romps and chases. Best of all, though, was that Kerouac and I had so much fun together chasing and wrestling and jumping the waves as they came crashing in. I think we're going to be best friends now, along with Ben, Angel and Sam of course.

My 'big brother' Ben!

I thought I'd tell you a bit about Ben now that I'm getting to know more about him. He's 13 which seems so old to a teen like me but he's still full of beans most of the time although needs to rest after our long walks. He's mum's very special friend and, although I get jealous when she gives attention to other dogs, I never really get jealous of him. He's like a big brother I suppose. He tells me off a lot when I'm messing around but he jumps in and sticks up for me if he thinks I'm being bullied by someone else. And the best bit is - we get up to mischief together!! Mum thinks he's such an angel but he isn't when he's with me! I like having my 'big brother' Ben around.

Ben came to mum when he was about one or two - around the same age as me! But at least I had come from a proper home where my people loved me whereas Ben came from the Dog and Cat Home in Edinburgh ( http://www.edch.org.uk/ ). He can't remember much from before then except that he was very unhappy and lost when he was picked up by a dog warden and taken there. He was terrified of hair brushes and men waving their arms around - in fact he was pretty scared of all men, mum said. Poor Ben. He told me mum didn't see him at first when she looked round to choose a dog, and he was bouncing as high as he could and barking really loudly to get her attention too. It was the kennel lady who pointed him out in the end and so mum said she'd take him into the paddock to meet Tara, her other dog she had then (in the first picture with Ben). Mum says it was really funny because when they let the two of them off the lead in the paddock Tara ran around like she'd never seen an open space before and Ben just came and sat at mum's feet and waited beside her! And that was it really - they fell in love, mum and Ben. And Tara too once she got to know him. It was like they kind of got married and were always together, Tara and Ben, and yukky stuff like that. The other thing mum told me was that Ben 'talked' all the time. He still does a bit but not so much now. But when he first arrived he talked so much that mum and Kirsty couldn't get a word in. I think that's really funny!!!

Mum still thinks about Tara a lot and she said she'll tell me stories about her another time. I wish I had known her because she sounds lovely. I think Ben still misses her too.

Anyway about a week or two after I came to live here mum and Ben had to go away for a week and I had to stay behind with Kirsty and the other two doodles. Grandma, who I've not met yet, lives down in Gloucestershire and mum and Ben went to stay with her. She has a special friend called Toby, a collie. Ben told me that they all went to a pub with grandma's friend Margo and her dog (who is chocolate like me!), so there were 3 mums and 3 dogs. The other picture (above) is of them all in the pub!! The barmaid gave them all a big bowl of water to share and Ben told me she sneaked them all a few biscuits too! Ben said they go down to see grandma in a big noisy thing called a train. Well I've not been in a train yet and I'm not sure I'd like it but mum says when I've calmed down a bit she'll take me on some nice short trips in the train to go to some fun places. Then, when I've got used to travelling, she'll think about taking me down to meet grandma, but it's a very long journey. Mum can't drive but that doesn't stop us getting around!

Well, I've got lots more things to say but I'll stop there for now. I haven't been able to get on the computer much lately because Kirsty and the doodles have been on it all the time so I have had to save up all my wee stories! I'll be back soon to tell you all about this week.....

Brrr. it's a cold cold day

Would you believe it we went to the beach today. Brrr. Snow is forecast, it's freezing and the waves were wild. I mean, really wild! So do we just settle for a wee walk to the golf course or the park? No. We all toddle down to the beach again. And did we enjoy ourselves? YES YES YES of course we did!!! Sam and I had a brilliant chase and lots of rough and tumble play. Mum deliberately wasn't throwing the ball into the water so we ran in anyway and jumped over the waves as they came crashing in. Mum said we were mad but it was fun. Ben just stayed walking with mum agreeing with her of course! Now we're all inside keeping warm and still drying off. Annette the dog walker's taking us out tomorrow - so I wonder if it will be Arthurs Seat or the beach? I'll have to wait and see. Sometimes she has a wee pooch who's allergic to grass (can you imagine?), poor thing, so then it has to be the beach but then other times she likes to get us somewhere a bit different so we head up Arthur's Seat where it's pretty well all grass.

I thought I'd let you see a picture of all of us this time - our family. You know, I can't believe it's February already and I've been with my 'new' family for 4 months and it's fantastic!!!!

Teddy's Slideshow!

Mum's in love with me again!

Today has been a great day! I have been on my best behaviour because I didn't like mum being so cross with me. Mum herself had a coming and going, popping in and out sort of morning and I got very excitable and restless. Ben, on the other hand, seemed to be having a tired grumpy day and kept telling me off all the time for just being near him I think. Mostly he's active and fun but sometimes his age catches up with him. Anyway, mum told me that, if I really really behaved myself, I could go with her on the bus to her meeting and we'd leave Ben to get some peace and quiet. When she told me I sat there being oh so good and looked up at her making my eyes as big and puppylike as I could! I even put my paw up to shake hands and show how good I was and that sealed the deal!!

I was a bit restless on the first bus we went on because I was excited but it was nearly empty and mum took me to the back so I could look at the world out of the window. Wow, there was just so much going on: people doing their shopping, kids playing football, some men standing talking outside a pub, and dogs.....lots of them, and I could watch them without them seeing me! I did bark at them once when I forgot to be good for a minute but I kept quiet after that. Then we had to change buses and when we got on the second one the driver wanted to stroke me and even called me to jump up but I was keeping my promise to be good and didn't jump, even though I had to miss out on being patted by the driver.

Things got even better when we got off the bus because we popped into a little pet shop and it was like a sweetie shop for dogs with lots of different food on the shelves going all the way up the walls. There were so many tasty smells too and mum said my eyes opened so wide to take it all in. One nice man told me to sit and gave me a treat then disappeared into the back of the shop, the another man came and gave me a treat too! We went for a walk then on some grass called 'the Links' so that I could do a wee and a poo and stretch my legs until we got to where mum's meeting was. Everyone was so friendly there and loads of folk talked to me and told me how good lookng I am! While mum and some people talked away I chomped on a giant chew bone mum had secretly bought at the pet shop for me - my day was getting better and better!

Before we headed home on the bus again we met a little girl and her mum who asked if she could stroke me, so I sat nicely while she patted my head with her tiny little hand. Mum said to her to watch her crisps that she was holding but I wouldn't have touched them because I knew she was a human puppy - a wee sweetheart she was too.

Going home the bus was crowded and mum was a bit worried in case I wasn't allowed on but it was ok. We had to squeeze into the back of the bus though, but then a little bt of magic happened. A little boy, that mum said must've been about 5 or 6, with soft brown skin and a mass of curls, looked me in the eye and said "you're just like me!". Everybody laughed but he really was just so cute and gentle too as he ran his fingers through my curls. Mum gave him treats to give me and I knew I had to be as calm and gentle as I could be. The sweetest part, though, was when he asked my mum if I'd lived with her since I was a puppy and mum said I'd only lived with her for a few months. The wee boy piped up with "he's adopted then, just like me too!". Well, I'm not really a licky sort of fella but I could have licked his little face all over! He gave me such a hug too. I was quite sad when he got off the bus but then I got lots of attention from everyone else who all seemed to want to have their turn to stroke me.

Well, I'm tired now and I"ve had my tea, and mum has said she's so very proud of me. We both think it's been a very special day!

In the dog house!

I'm feeling very sorry for myself today because I'm in mum's bad books. She seems to be getting really cross with me when all I'm doing is playing. In fact one of my favourite games in the morning when we're out on the golf course is to go running up behind her when she hasn't seen me and do a kind of doggy 'boo'! I jump up at her back and bounce away so she can't catch me. I honestly don't mean to keep knocking her over though. I have fun with Ben too. I start running really fast and charge at him. Well it's not my fault he doesn't get out of the way in time and so gets knocked flat is it? I also love running away with mum's hat and gloves if I can get hold of them because she has to chase me and we have a great game then!

Yesterday mum told me off for playing chase in her bedroom (it was really fun!). It was Annie's fault, she's the really mad cat, because she was catching my tail from under the bed. I couldn't catch her from where I was so I jumped on and over the bed, then it was such fun it was like it was snowing bits of paper and I jumped all round trying to catch them (mum got really cross with me then - she said all the bits of paper were something to do with her work). Then Annie jumped out again and we had a great chase! Mum just didn't understand how much fun it all was - and I'm still just a big puppy (at least inside!)

Another thing she gets mad at me for is when we pass other dogs and I'm on the lead. It's so frustrating because I just want to play with them and, if they're a boy like me, I want to get into some rough and tumble, you know, boys stuff. She even told the dog trainer, Lynn 'the dog lady', on me at the class on Tuesday. That's just not fair. Lynn put me on two leads to show mum, one on my collar and the other on my halti, and walked around the hall past all the other dogs like that. Oh, the shame of it all for a young lad like me.

This morning though, she got 'steam coming out of her ears' cross! Mum hadn't got organised with the 2 lead thing so I was just on my normal lead when we passed Eddie, a big white German Shepherd. Well I jumped up to 'boy play' (he gives me the come-on that you humans never see) and we got tangled up and mum slipped over on the ice. I think she hurt her knee and I didn't mean it but she really yelled at me in the street. I sat and was really good, I even wagged my tail and looked cute, but it didn't stop her being cross with me though.

So that's me today - in the dog house and feeling very sorry for myself, sniff. Even Ben's not talkng to me. Think I'll go and find Annie........!