Tag: Life

It is with sadness that I must write of another beagle friend who has passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Port Hunter lived in northern California. I never met him, but I was honoured to be able to communicate with him regularly and call him my friend.

His love of life, his sense of adventure and spirit of freedom always shone through. His life was full of fun and adventures. His mum was his rock, and PH was hers I think. They were inseparable, as often as possible being out on the hills and trails enjoying the sights and scents of the countryside. PH became ill over the last few years and soldiered on despite being poorly. He was determined to enjoy everything he possibly could at his mums side.

I patrolled in his honour today. I walked the fields and byways near where I live. I smelled the scents, admired the views and peered from the top of the hills just the same, as I know PH would be doing on his patrols. I even managed to chase a squirrel up a tree. I hope he would be proud of my efforts.

It is a privilege to know friends like PH. I never met him but I feel as if he was a good friend. We spoke on many things being good, bad or funny. Always polite, always approachable and always as happy as possible, he will be missed.

Farewell dear, sweet Port Hunter, travel well to the Rainbow Bridge. We shall meet in the future and be able to patrol together. In the meantime rest easy dear friend, for your time down here is done. Gone from our sight but never absent from our hearts. Always farewell and never goodbye.

I have sad ears.

I have briefly taken over Dexter’s blog to introduce myself. I had better hurry along before he notices that I have borrowed his computer.

Here goes. I was found as a stray in Cyprus. The people that found me said I was a stray on the streets. I went to the municipal pound who then phoned the nice Cyprus Beagle people. Anyway it only matters that I was found and rescued by Cyprus Beagles. I wasn’t in rescue in Cyprus long before I got a plane ride and found myself in the UK looking for a new home with a family to watch over me and make sure I have a life full of fun, direction and treats. I must not forget treats.

When Dexter and his mum and dad came to see me, I had no idea who they were but I could see straightaway that Dex is a good lad with a kind heart. I introduced him to my friends and we played a while in the garden. We went out for a walk whilst the humans chatted about things and I introduced Dex to the local park. I told him I hadn’t long been in the rescue lady’s house but I knew the park well. Dex and his parents left fairly soon after arriving and to be honest I went back to playing with my buddies. It was only when I was put into the car the following Saturday did I wonder what was happening. I was on the motorway and we were going somewhere new.

We arrived at Dexter’s house, went in and I immediately ran out into the garden, with Dex in hot pursuit. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. This was great, there were flowerbeds, grass, trees, hedges, a log store and a shed. There was even a gravel patch. Wow. Just wow. I raced around at breakneck speed with Dex, trying to take in all the sights and smells. All the while he wanted to know who I am and where I was from. It felt like we didn’t have time to relax on the lawn so I just whizzed about, enjoying myself. Then the ladies that brought me here said goodbye and told me to be a good boy. And they were gone! I was here, in a new house with new people and a new friend. I had no idea what was going on so I raced around the garden a bit more. This was all new to me, and to Dex as well. He was a little confused at this new young tearaway suddenly arriving in his house and disrupting his routine. It was a lovely sunny day so we spent a large amount of time in the garden, mainly engaged in play fighting and bitey face games.

Only when we were both sufficiently tired did we retire to the living room and took the chance to have a nap, before commencing bitey face again. These extensive sessions of play fighting would be a recurring theme for a while, unfortunately. When it came to bedtime, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that I had a bed all to myself with blankets and even a cushion base. Dex had the grace to show me which bed was mine. What a good fur.

When I awoke early the next morning I had to check around me to see if this was happening. Indeed it was real as there was Dex in his bed sleeping away with his leg hanging out of his bed. This was a sight I would have to get used to. I thought it might be fun to wake him up, however this proved to be a bad idea. He was already awake. Not only did we start play fighting but it also woke up Dexters mum and dad who weren’t best pleased with the early morning beagle alarm. At this point I can only confirm what Dexter said in his blog about the water spray bottle being wielded precisely by mum and dad. We were both soaked quickly. It was effective though, as we stopped for a while. I had a walk in the afternoon with Dex and he showed me one of his favourite walks in the fields behind his house. This was fun. I could get used to this. In fact, I have got used to it.

The first week went by in a flash to be honest. It was all new to me what with a routine that was being implemented and new things I needed to learn. In amongst all the routine and rules, Dex & I were squabbling for considerable periods and this was causing mum and dad to become worried. We were new to this “living together” lark and we didn’t know what we were supposed to be doing. Dex had been an only child for the first 5 years in his house, and I came from a background with no real system, routine or rules. Both Dex & I heard the humans speaking to the ladies who had delivered me. There was concern in their voices and I think the travel crate was in the car ready for my return. Maybe this was the reality check I needed. I could see they wanted me to settle, to succeed in making this my home and to enjoy life with a new brother. Both Dex & I could see that we needed to change something, but what?

The following day Dex and I were in the garden. We started play fighting and the water bottle didn’t make an appearance. We must have gone on for an hour or so and only when it got a little heated did either mum or dad step in. However no water bottle at first. We were letting off steam, sorting out our differences if you like or clearing the air. When we went a little too far in the play fighting and the water spray did appear. Eventually we both relaxed on the grass, albeit some way apart from one another.

Gradually there seemed to be a better understanding of the routine. As each day passed I got more of an idea that there are meal times, down times, training and walks. At the end of the second week, there was another phone call and this time the tone was better. Once they had finished the call, I got tickles and back scratches from mum and dad who also told Dex and I that we are now brothers so we had better start behaving nicely. I was staying. Excellent news. We looked at each other and knew it was up to us now to make it work. Dex had been at this stage before, he told me, and he didn’t want to mess this up for me.

When we were out on walks together we would be alongside each other for a while until one of us got a scent and went on our merry way individually. I was pulling on the lead and harness trying to copy what Dex was doing, where he was going and what he was smelling in the hedgerows and fields. Apparently this couldn’t go on so it was decided that I would be walked separately to Dex and I was also to get some training in the garden and local roads, where there are fewer distractions. I have been booked on some training sessions which, apparently, I am going to enjoy. It seems that one beagle who pulls a lot is quite sufficient in this house.

I am three weeks into this new adventure, I am settling down and the routine is becoming more like normality. Dex and I still get to play in the garden and house, but we are also becoming accustomed to each other. We have proven, thus far, that we can live with each other. I have a great chance to make sure this is my forever home and I don’t want to mess it up. Dex is a good fur and an excellent brother. Hopefully I won’t let him down. His mum and dad are now my mum and dad. I feel loved and wanted so all is good.

I will update further when I get a chance to borrow his computer. In the meantime I’m going to try and be a good brother to Dex. Wish me luck.

Look out he’s coming back.

It was a Friday, I remember. The 19th of April 2019. “Come on”, said mum and dad, “we’re off somewhere new for an adventure”. Into the car and around the motorway we went. Indeed this was somewhere new. Somewhere called Essex. When we arrived in somewhere new called Essex, I wandered into a new house and was immediately let off the lead. Suddenly, out of nowhere, 7 beagles, a Jura Hound and 2 Dachshunds were onto me, arooing and barking. What was this, I wondered. It was like a maelstrom of tails and fur. I wasn’t complaining as it looked like fun but I was becoming tired after a while. Some time later I was reshackled and we wandered around the nearby park with one of the beagles that had originally assailed me. We didnt really pay much attention to one another as there were many sniffs to take in. One of the Dachsunds came along as well so we kept on waiting for him to catch up. He had little legs. Mum and dad did plenty of talking and then we left the lady who lived there. We came home and it was back to normality. Or was it?

A week later on Saturday 27th April – day 1

It was a week later on a Saturday and I wondered if there was something wrong. You see, I don’t usually get a double parent walk at the weekend. However today they were both anxious to make sure I was out and about quite early. Having returned from my walk, I resumed snoozing until there was a knock at the door to my house. I wanted to ensure that the intruders knew who’s home it was, but I was immediately told to sshhh. How rude, I thought. The front door was closed and the door to the kitchen opened. I saw that one of the beagles who I had met the week before was standing in my kitchen. It was the same beagle who had walked with me around the park. What was this sorcery? How did this beagle get here? Who were these ladies standing in my kitchen talking to my mum and dad? I decided to disregard all the questions and just show this beagle around my garden. Fortunately, as I was off lead, I could run around having unfettered fun. We ran around and around like a couple of wailing banshees, so much so that the grass was a blur beneath our paws. He was a bit quick, this beagle visitor. We decided we would graduate quickly to bitey face games and I was glad to see that he was also quite good at this too. The humans were deep in discussion most of the time. However they still noticed when bitey face was getting a little rough. Before I knew what was going on, the two ladies left the house and the beagle visitor was still here. I was a little confused.

At this point mum and dad looked at each other and were clearly making plans to try and keep us in order and to restrict the shenanigans which undoubtedly would follow. Unfortunately for me this meant that a water spray bottle was used far too often and usually on my head when I got too rough. To be honest, I was soaked. Darkness soon arrived and I was ready to go to bed. My house guest was still here, I still had confused ears. I’m cool with visitors borrowing a bed so I kindly showed him what to do when it was bed time. He looked a little unsure as to where he could sleep so I jumped into a bed next to him and showed him it was a comfy place to curl up.

Sunday 28th April

Morning sun broke early through the curtains and I opened a weary eye. He was still here. This was great. A round of early Sunday morning supervised bitey face in the garden was followed by a brisk walk with dad. We returned to find mum and my house guest in the garden. She seemed to be showing him some training, so I just got on with eating my breakfast. We managed to get another seriously good session of bitey face, and then shenanigans, in before we were harnessed up for a second time and we went for a pack walk to the local fields. This was great fun, I couldn’t believe my visitor was still here.

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When we got back, dad picked up the house guest and stood on the scales. Normally this is not something that dad does voluntarily as it usually ends up with fits of hysterical laughter. However this time he looked at mum and said “10.3 kilos” when he stepped off. Now, even as a beagle, I know that dad doesn’t weigh 10.3 kilos. Darkness fell once more, and the house guest was still here. This time he understood quite quickly that the comfy bed within a bed was the place to go. Let the chorus of snoring commence.

Monday 29th April

Back to school. Wake up early, stretch and there he is still curled up, nose pressed tightly into the side of the fluffy bed. I thought, this is great, as I tried to get past him without waking him up. No chance, as he was onto me like a flash, his little teeth nibbling my ear. Right, I’ll show you, I told him in no uncertain terms and we became a squabble of beagles writhing on the floor. At this point I should woof that this isn’t the best way to wake up my mum and dad, who smartly separated us and made sure that shenanigans were cut short. I had another long walk with dad and this time I returned to find the house guest asleep in a chair. Mum had already taken him out for some training. I was getting a little more accustomed to him now, so the bitey face waited, ooh, until five minutes after I had returned home. However this session was also terminated fairly smartly as we were “getting too rough and needed some down time”. We’re Beagles, hello! Earth calling my parents. Soon after our fun was stopped I realised that even whirlwinds blow themselves out now and again. My house guest seems to like sleeping, somewhat surprisingly, more than I do. I accept that chasing each other around the house and garden, aroooing at the top of our lungs and playing bitey face for ages, may have something to do with our combined tiredness. However he goes out like a light.

The afternoon was topped off with our first zoom around the garden without close supervision. Mum and dad felt they could trust us to race around and not play bitey face as much. We did not disappoint them. Kind of. My house guest is mighty quick across the ground. However I know all of the shortcuts so I could keep up with him.

Before he went to bed, he had a bit of an accident. I think he thought that mum and dad would be angry with him, but they just changed the duvet and put the cover in the wash. He was shaking a bit in his bed but he needn’t have worried. These two are kind, I can vouch for that. I thought I would help him settle in his bed as he looked a little worried. He seems alright, for a pupster.

Tuesday 30th April

Yawn, stretch and morning is here. I slept so deeply last night, I can’t imagine what caused that to happen. Anyway we managed to wake mum and dad up again, but our shenanigans were cut short equally quickly. Dad and I went out for a walk whilst the house guest and mum went off for a shorter “training” walk around part of one of my favourite places, Pednor. I had a great time strolling around the fields at White Hill.

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He was asleep when I got back so he must have had a good time and learned some walking tips. A quick (read 30 minutes) whizz around the garden chasing each other and general shenanigans mixed with rough and tumble ensued. I think my nap is well earned. My house guest seems to be following me around a little more. We aren’t playing bitey face as often and we can walk past each other without being naughty. Something must be wrong. He’s calming down and, apparently, so am I.

We had great zooms around the garden again and when we were told to break it up, we did. Wow, I must be getting old as I actually listened to my parents. We had our dinners together today, for the first time and we didn’t hassle each other. He doesn’t try to pick fights when I am on my bench bed which is good as I can get some down time.

He does eat quite a few sticks though so they keep him occupied. Dad soon put a stop to the twigs on the grass by cutting it and hoovering them all up with the lawnmower. Bad luck little pal. I keep on looking at him and wondering if I was like that when I was a pupster. I don’t remember but I hope so. Whisper it quietly, but I am getting a bit more used to him after a few days. We will see what the next days bring.

Wednesday 1st May

Morning everyone. As dawn broke I looked wearily out of my bed. My house guest is still here and he hasn’t chomped my ears yet. Things are looking up clearly. We had the first part of our breakfasts together, although we were supervised closely by mum and dad. I was then off for another walk with dad, this time to the fields which is always fun as I get to pull on the lead and try to chase deer and squirrels. My house guest went off for another training walk with mum.

Once we returned he was asleep in the chair so I decided to try and get into the house without disturbing him. I was successful as far as getting through the door. Sadly he was onto me like a flash once I got into the living room. We became the customary squabble of beagles in the various rooms as we continued our now traditional, and extensive, sessions of bitey face games.

I was so engrossed with the renewed shenanigans that I completely forgot that I hadn’t yet had my second breakfast. I have breakfast in two halves, not two whole breakfasts, sadly. Anyway, it seems that we are learning to play nicely sometimes when we are in the grounds and the house. Mum and dad are getting a bit more relaxed with us being together and the water sprayer hasn’t been used as much. I have just realised again that my house guest sleeps an awful lot, and in all sorts of strange positions.

We were wandering around in the garden just before lunch and I was pleased that the water spray bottle hadn’t been used on my head for quite some time. Then I realised that my house guest was sniffing around the orchard, some 20 metres away. Maybe there is a connection between the water spray and shenanigans? I will have to think about this a little further.

You know, it’s weird having a little house guest around. I am so used to being an only dog around here that sharing beds, my grounds, lending him a harness, lending him a food bowl and allowing him to sleep in one of my six beds, takes a little getting used to. I think he wants to be friendly but he keeps on trying to nip my ears when we aren’t playing bitey face. Then he wants to snuggle up but I don’t seem to want to. Maybe this will take a little more getting used to.

It’s lucky he’s good at sleeping as mum is looking up training tips for him, to see if they can bring him a bit more into line and get some good habits instilled early. I’m not sure he would be cheered up if he knew what they are looking at teaching him. Apparently it’s too late for me, as a wise and hardy older Beagle Harrier. Phew.. Anyway, he’s been here nearly four days. Time has flown.

Thursday 2nd May

Morning breaks and the sun streams through the windows. My house guest is asleep and I am gasping for some water. No sooner am I out of bed than my now customary shadow is close by. Mum and dad are clearly wiser to the upcoming commotion and are out and about quicker than usual. We took breakfast together and mum is teaching him some more manners when it comes to waiting for his bowl to at least be put down on to the floor. He’ll learn.

Dad decided to take me for a stroll across Pednor this morning and we bumped into my house guest early into the walk. He is still under initial training by mum. We went our separate ways after a short distance together so he could concentrate. Through the field went dad and I, past the horses and up onto the wooded path, down into the valley and then up the hill on the other side. Turn right at the top and road walk it back to home. I love this part of my walk, its really pretty in the early sunshine.

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Anyway we returned just after mum, to find the second half of my breakfast was about to be provided so it didn’t take long before we were out in the garden. Resumption of bitey face was instant and my head became wet equally instantly.

Then I did something really stupid. We were in the kitchen and still playing. Dad was wiping the water bowl spillage off the floor and I might have nipped his arm in my excitement. The resultant ten minutes of down time in the Boot Room was very boring, I can tell you.

We’ve just got through an entire hour without playing. Something is happening. Ok, it may be that my house guest is in the study (boot room) and I am in the living room but nevertheless, it’s fairly impressive. My head hasn’t been watered and is dry and I can even manage a nap without him wanting to play.

Mum and dad keep on speaking with the ladies who brought my house guest to my house last week. It seems the ladies are checking up on him whilst mum and dad are reporting back. I have no idea what they’re checking up on but its nice sometimes to have a guest.

Friday 3rd May

Another night of sumptuous sleeping has passed and I awoke to find my house guest curled up in his bed, snoring quietly into the blanket he is laying on. I managed to get out of bed, shake and stretch before an inquisitive nose appeared by the side of my face. We managed not to nibble each others ears for a further fifteen seconds. When we managed to clamp onto each other there was this worrying growl and we saw dad was sitting up watching us. For the first time we went into the garden together before our first breakfast and we didn’t squabble or play bitey face. It was extremely helpful that I was onto a squirrel trail very quickly and I was thoroughly distracted. Come on, says dad, we’re off for a walk around Pednor. My house guest set off with mum and I think there was a suspicious smell of cut up frankfurters as training treats in the training treat bag. I was of course mistaken, according to mum and dad. I think something is going on with the house guest as the walks with dad are long, usually around 2 hours. We get home and mum gives dad the thumbs up, I get cleaned up and then off into the grounds for some serious running around and general shenanigans. However the bitey face is still there and the running around happens more as I chase him to have the last word in our game. But the bitey face seems to be getting more growly on my part. We do however follow each other, sniff squirrels trails and, if you are the house guest, eat beech nut kernels.

It’s a strange time I think. We are both trying to show each other who is the boss and we have squabbled a little bit too much today. Maybe we are becoming a little more used to having each other around but for some reason there seems to be more tension today. We are having more regular times apart where we are being watched like hawks. However as soon as we are released we seem to want to continue our little battles.

I know he’s a pup, and he knows I am an older dog, but for some reason we aren’t hugely tolerant of each other this afternoon.

Saturday 4th May

Even I was surprised when I was woken up at 5.45 this morning. It wasn’t particularly sunny and the light had only just really reached the windows. However, there he was, yawning and stretching as he came towards me. Here we go, I thought, which ear is he going to nibble first? As he slid past me to get some water in the kitchen, I was happy that my ears remained intact, it is my birthday after all. Well, we think its my birthday but as a rescue we don’t know the actual date on which I entered the world. We both wandered out into the garden for an early morning patrol and managed not to squabble as we were too busy tracing last nights wildlife trails. Dad disappeared shopping for a while and when he returned they had breakfast. I was still surprised that, as we hadn’t had any walk yet, my house guest was able to maintain some decorum in his behaviour.

We were soon on our paws and today promised great fun as we were going for a walk together around Pednor. Along the road, turn left up the hill and along the footpath toward the farm. Turn right, up the hill and then back along the road until we arrived at the horses field. My house guest was in awe of the horses, who just stood around eating grass. He arooed at quite a few people and mum was trying to persuade him to ignore people by bribing him with small morsels of frankfurters. I know this is true as I also got some frankfurters once I had cottoned on to his luck. When we got home we started to push each other around a little which meant that mum and dad had to step in and keep us separated for a while.

We went out again later in the afternoon for a shorter further walk. When we got back we were both really quite tired and this seemed to make mum and dad happy as it meant we weren’t as enthusiastic about ear nipping and general shenanigans. Mum and dad are looking at each other a bit worried as it seems that our continual “play time” is getting a bit rough and I am struggling to know when to stop the rough and tumble with the house guest. It’s not nasty, I just want to play beyond the point when he submits. When I am told to leave him alone, I seem to get really vocal and frustrated with everyone. Maybe it’s because I have been an only dog for pretty much all of my life.

Sunday 5th May

My house guest was awake even earlier this morning, sometime around 5.35. This is early even for me, and that’s saying something. We were out in the garden at separate times which is a little strange however it meant that the customary ear nibbling and fighting was non existent. Mum and dad are watching us both again however they needn’t worry as we haven’t been near each other in the house. We even managed to lay in our beds quietly whilst mum & dad are eating breakfast. They’re chatting away and they still sound a bit melancholy.

We went for a circuit around Pednor. The house guest was attached to mum and we all set off. I was straight onto a trail and marched off accordingly.

The house guest isn’t as reactive any more to horses, runners and cyclists which is good. Mum is feeding him copious quantities of frankfurters to distract him but nevertheless he has improved. When we got back we were still not being trusted to be in the garden together and unsupervised. In the house we can be separated apparently but running amok in the garden, not so much.

Dad picked up the house guest again, stood on the scales and said to mum “11.2 kilos” so this sounds like either dad or my house guest has put on some weight during the last week. My noms money is on the house guest. We didn’t play much in the afternoon as we were quite tired after our walk earlier in the day. We had done a fair amount of sniffing and investigating and it was interesting to see that the house guest was following me about a bit more and we were getting interested in the same things.

Mum and dad spoke to the lady who dropped me off a week ago. They had a long discussion about how I was getting on with the house guest, and whether he was also settling in. The general consensus seemed to be that, apart from me being very vocal and fairly rough in play, we were getting more comfortable with each other. As the lady pointed out it is a big upheaval for me as well. After all it’s my house and I need to be able to adjust to a new fur sleeping, playing and wandering around my house and garden. I’ve been an only dog for five years and no one really knows what I was like before I arrived, with regard to socialisation. My house guest seems to have made himself very much at home. He even managed to get into the right bed when he went to sleep. He burrowed under the blanket too. You won’t catch me doing that.

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May

He woke up at five twenty this morning and wandered out to the kitchen for a drink of water. Mum, dad and I just looked at each other and thought “nope, this is too early” so he was coaxed back into his bed. When he jumped up onto the big bed, I don’t think they had the energy to put him off again so they let him snooze there as long as he laid still. Six thirty am duly arrived and we all wearily roused ourselves to start the new day.

We were put out into the garden together fairly quickly after we awoke. This is unusual as recently we have been in the garden at different times because we have been playing bitey face with a bit too much roughness. So when we were put out today and we started nibbling each other, it was surprising that we weren’t admonished. Some two hours of rough playing then passed before we came back into the house. There were regular breaks for water and we didn’t go near each other when we were drinking. It seems that when mum and dad were speaking to the lady who dropped me off, she had assured them that we may need to sort out our differences and that mum and dad were stepping in to break us up a little early in the bitey face “discussions”.

Duly harnessed for our walk, I was actually feeling the effects of the prolonged playtime. However, when we reached the lanes around Pednor we both found our vitality once again and there was some serious hedgerow investigations to do. He flaked out on his chair whilst I was zonked in mine when we came home again.

We returned to the garden this afternoon and, sadly, my behaviour wasn’t as good as expected for a house guest. I have a very wet head again as dad is expert with the water sprayer and both mum and dad are eagle eyed at spotting my indiscretions and my lack of etiquette. I seem to be struggling still when it comes to learning how hard to press when we’re playing rough and tumble in the garden. I don’t like being told off. I am trying to learn not to be overly rough, truly. Anyway I’m off to bed before I get into more trouble.

Tuesday 7th May

Today I thought I would allow my house guest to do a post on here. I hope it will be interesting.

Hello everyone my name is Lenny and I was born in Cyprus some 9 months ago. I was found as a stray wandering the streets and was then rescued (and saved) by Cyprus Beagles who arranged for me to move to the UK. I arrived in Essex on 9th April 2019 and was looked after by a very kind lady and her family. When I arrived at this house, I think the people said I was being fostered with a view to making this a forever home. I met Dexter the week before I arrived at his house and he seems quite a good dog. He’s very playful which is great as it fits in with my behaviour as an older puppy.

So, what have I made of the last 11 days I hear you ask? I have loved it. There are new rules that I need to understand. I can’t sleep on the big bed, however I have numerous beds I can sleep in. I also have a chair that I can snooze in. I have food three times a day and I go for walks in some great countryside.

I have a big garden to run around in, I have sticks and leaves I can chase and eat, I have a good pal in Dexter who plays plenty of the time and I also have two people to look after me. I’ve been promised a trip to the local town soon as well. Something about socialisation. I even got a chew from Dex today.

I think I have fallen on my paws here.

There have been some teething problems I will admit. My arrival was quite disruptive to Dex as he had a fairly set routine and I, basically, blew it out of the water. As a pup I like to play pretty much all of the time and this includes a fairly significant quantity of bitey face and ear nibbling. I have been on Dex’s ear a fair bit to be honest and sometimes I am surprised that he hasn’t told me off. That’s not to say he’s been wholly accommodating to my shenanigans but he seems fairly tolerant. Equally he is quite vociferous when I have had enough of rough and tumble and he wants to play on. There have been times when we have been told off a little. I am learning to be quieter and not hassle Dex as much as I was when I first arrived. It’s difficult for us all I think as we all have to adjust and, in some ways, it’s most difficult for Dex as he has been an only dog for five years. This sounds like a long time to me but Dex explained that he is eight so most of his life. He’s alright is Dex.

I am relaxing a lot more now I have been here for a few days, and as I adjust to the routine which is set by the humans I am finding more time to chill out and look around me. I get to sleep often as well, which is good for me as it lets my brain catch up on all the fun I am having.

I was walked around the garden earlier today so I could try to get some basic commands in my mind. Dad was very generous with the frankfurter treats as long as I did sit, stay and a little bit of recall. I think I will be getting more training as time goes by, as long as I am staying that is. Dexter told me that the training is really easy, and the frankfurters are dished out liberally.

On my walks I was going out with mum when I first arrived. This was so I could get used to where I was living and so they could see if I pulled or walked nicely, and whether I was interested in pavement food, for instance. Now I get to go out for walks with Dex, although he is usually quite a distance in front of me and pulling on his double leads so he can get to the scents quickly. When we get back he’s usually tired so I thought this was the time to pounce and start playing rough and tumble. Oh how I was wrong. For an eight year old, he’s got a lot of stamina and he knows all the shortcuts in the garden so he can “cut me off at the pass”. Still, it’s good fun running around, rolling about on the lawn and chasing each other through the flowers and shrubs. Apparently I smell of Geraniums, whatever they are.

This is so different from living in Cyprus. I was abandoned and probably heading towards roaming on the street, to be honest. Thankfully I was picked up and now I am exploring new places and new people safe in the knowledge that I am secure and loved. All I have to do is stop nibbling Dex’s ear. I hope I can manage it. And then I need to hope that I can stay as, whisper it quietly, its nice here and I like it. He’s a good fur.

Wednesday 8th May

Back to me for today’s update. My house guest was out of bed even earlier this morning despite it being horrible, grey and very rainy outside. We were hoping that he may want a bit of a lie in but it appears that eight to nine month old pups don’t require as much sleep as other dogs and indeed humans. I have got used to having lazy days when it’s rainy and grey outside so this was a bit of a shock to the system. Anyway “up and at em” I suppose is the motto.

We managed a quick pre breakfast game of bitey face in the kitchen, living room and dining room. Our breakfast put a hasty stop to the games and we were harnessed up ready for the walk. Outside we were swiftly onto the fields and we were allowed to pull mum and dad through the woods early into the trip. They mistakenly believed that the trees would give them some shelter from the rain, however the drips are bigger and when the wind blows through the trees, the “rain” is heavier. I didn’t care though, and nor did my house guest it would seem. Back out into the meadow and then around the top field, turn left, left again and then around the mile field. Finishing the walk and coming back down the gravel track we noticed that the rain had eased and the clouds had lifted somewhat. When we got back home we were thoroughly towelled down and let loose to continue our rough and tumble through the house before second breakfast was served. We even managed to eat our respective food side by side and without any incursion into each others bowls. Mum and dad looked relieved. Into the wet garden for a short time and then onto our beds for some quiet snoozing.

This house guest is alright. We are walking past each other a bit more often without squabbling. Ok, we are being watched over, however even I am impressed with my restraint in the face of the severest ear nibbling provocation at the moment. There are times when we need to squabble but they are becoming farther apart. I haven’t been water sprayed by dad for a whole day so maybe somethings are changing. My house guest is definitely feeling a bit more at home here. He knows he can wander about and relax wherever he wants and won’t get told off, unless he’s on the big bed of course. For instance he went missing about an hour ago so mum sent dad on a search party. After a few minutes of silence dad came back and said he was in one of my beds under the desk in the study. He was all curled up and sleepy. Originally he was a bit wary of wandering about and trying out some of my beds. However I am a gentle fur when it comes to sharing and I don’t mind if pals want to use a bed that I am not sleeping in. Apart, of course, from my night time bed which is mine and very comfy and definitely out of bounds to interlopers.

As another day draws to a close, my house guest is still here. I am getting more used to him being around and I think he is getting used to being here too. I suppose the longer he’s here the better. The thing is, I always wanted a pal to run around the garden with and wander the lanes, fields and countryside near my house. He might nip my ears and play fight quite a bit, but its nice to have a buddy to knock about with.

Thursday 9th May

I was rudely awoken at four forty am. My house guest managed to leap over my bed and onto the big bed. Suffice to say he was then quickly removed from the big bed. This lasted around ten minutes. I think they let him stay for some peace and quiet. That may not be the best idea in the long run, but we shall cross that bridge when we get to it. Fortunately it wasn’t raining in time for the morning walk and we were off for a stroll around Pednor, so the house guest could get some scents and a little lead training. The walk was going so well until my house guest decided to pick up and try to eat something that really shouldn’t be picked up and eaten. He then allowed dad to try and remove said squelchy, smelly, dirty and vile muck from his mouth. We believe it emanated from a fox. Let’s just say that dad was extremely unimpressed with this gift all over his hand and trainers. As a result the house guest was duly escorted home without honours. This is probably where the phrase “in the dog house” is most apt.

It was raining for the second day in a row. I think the house guest is feeling a little stir crazy. As a pup he needs mental and physical exercise and in the rain that’s a bit difficult. For an old paw like me its easy to snooze the day away, catch up on some rest and recharge the batteries for the days ahead.

He has been wandering around, destroying one of the chew toys I have allowed him to maim.

The rounds of bitey face have returned and this means so has my harness and the water spray bottle. Dad hasn’t lost any of his aim, sadly.

Mum and dad are starting to train him both indoors and outside on the patio. A little recall and some sit, stay and down commands, all mixed with playtime and copious quantities of frankfurters for bribery. This all sounds positive as they wouldn’t be looking to train him if they didnt want him to stay. Dad has even booked a six week course of training sessions with experts, however he has told mum that if the house guest doesn’t stay then I am going to have to pass as a pup and will be doing sit, stay, leave, down and roll over. Ugh good grief, the ignominy of it all. He’d better be staying if that is the case. Anyway I am off to bed before I get into any more trouble.

Friday 10th May

This is getting bad. It was four forty five this morning when I was used as a vaulting horse for my house guest to make his way onto the big bed. He was unceremoniously removed three times before mum relented and allowed him to rest on the big bed. However, he decided that he didn’t want to sleep in today and we were all out and about far too early.

Mum and dad decided that we would go out to Pednor again as it is easier to guide my house guest and show him how to walk properly. It was good weather for a change so we didn’t get a soaking. He was quite reactive to some of the people this morning, and even managed to growl at a couple of lumps of concrete laying on the grass verge to stop people parking there. Strange boy my house guest sometimes.

It seems he’s been here two weeks tomorrow and “we have a decision to make soon”. We were getting on each others nerves a bit today, the house guest and I, so we were left to our own devices to try and get some angst and frustration over the recent inclement weather out of our systems. The bitey face lasted about 5 minutes before it got a little too heated and was broken up. Mum and dad are stepping in at about the right time now, and we are ordered to our respective quiet rooms to rest and chill out. I don’t think it will affect the outcome of the “decision” but I know there is some serious discussion over how to control our rough and tumble when there is only one parent about.

We are getting better at quite a few aspects of living together such as eating our food at the same time without bothering one another, and the first morning garden patrol usually passes off incident free. With a parents overview, we can often walk past each other without going in for a nibble, so things seem to be calming down. There are just occasions where it all goes a bit wrong. We need to work on these. I look at him and he clearly wants to stay and not be messed about any more with a forever home.

Saturday 11th May

I was woken up before 5 am, I got involved in bitey face and we went out for a combined walk with mum and dad. When we got back there was more bitey face and then we slept for a while. Mum and dad made a phone call and then they sat smiling, wondering what they had done.

Dad was given a bit of a black eye when Lenny leapt over the water bowl and his head whacked dad in the left eye. Good work Lenny.

He’s staying. My house guest is staying. I am so happy I could run around in circles arooing at the top of my voice. He might be a nibbling pain, who tries to turn my ears into beagle versions of colanders, he might try to annoy me all the time and I might try to chase him around the garden until I am exhausted. However he is now officially my little brofur so I have to look after him, show him the way and tell what’s right and wrong. I need to help him through life and be a good friend and a great older brother for him. He has come all the way from Cyprus for this. I am not going to let him down.

Dexter and Lenny are brothers. That has such a lovely ring about it.

Sometimes we have to approach a sad and serious subject. I am on Twitter as some people may know. I have a large number of friends on Twitter and despite not meeting 99% of them in the fur, we woof and discuss what has happened during the day which is usually fun stuff. There are some occasions when the talk turns to more sobering matters such as the illness and injuries that afflict us all at some point in our lives. I have gone through my phase of being pawly and injured. I am hopeful that I have finished with that particular chapter. There are friends who suffer injury now and then. We all try to rally round to help to support them when we can.

Then there is the subject that we all know will arise but none of us want to contemplate, the subject of us making the longest journey. It is known as Over The Rainbow Bridge, as this has a softer tone and feel to the inevitable end. This is the most difficult time for any dog owner, and we always try to treat it with respect and thoughtfulness.

There seem to have been too many friends who have gone bravely to take the longest journey recently and this is always a strange and difficult time. We all know that, usually, we furs don’t last as long as humans. This doesn’t, and shouldn’t, diminish our ability to wheedle our way into your hearts and then take a small piece of it with us when we make our final journey. We may not be here for your whole life but you are invariably here for our whole life. Furs inevitably rely on their humans for pretty much everything from beds to food to tickles and walks. We don’t ask for much when we are here with you and it might be this level of love and loyalty that allows us to take this piece of your heart with us when we go. It’s a strange feeling when you find out that a friend who you have woofed with is suddenly not there. The emptiness in your tummy is palpable and it doesn’t decrease for a considerable time.

I have heard it said that we know when it is “time” and I think this is a true story. A while ago one of my friends was at the vets for various ailments and a picture was posted of him. I looked at his eyes, he seemed sad and resigned to his body giving him notice that this was the time to be brave and make the final and longest journey of all. This is now being replicated by a friend who knows he will go to the Rainbow Bridge soon. However he will do it on his terms and when he, and his parents, want him to go. The bond of love between them remains unbroken and there will be an acknowledgement when the time is right for the lead and collar to be hung up for good.

That the humans we leave behind are sad and feel lonely is, I think, an indication of the esteem and love they hold for us beyond our years of living and companionship. Equally it is an indication of the love and loyalty we have given back. The overriding factor seems to me to be that we have, in the main, enjoyed our time here. This gives our humans that sense of comfort when we have gone. They have looked after us and allowed us to enjoy life, see new things, smell new scents and have fun. Maybe our departure for the Rainbow Bridge shows the humans what they will miss most about us. The sense of fun, loyalty and the bond between us. What I think, and hope, we leave behind is a sense of celebration of our lives and the fun that we had when we were here.

Its not my time yet and I hope that I will continue to be here for quite a while yet. However when I go to the Rainbow Bridge, for I shall go one day, I hope that I leave pals and peeps with a sense of contentment that they made my life worth living and that I was happy. For now though, there is still much life in me.