My Poor Paw!

MySister, Kathryn, has just come home from the Hospitbull after MyMum and MyDad took her to get hurt. She's all sad and sore. I don't think they meant for her to get hurt, but they were gone a long time and only came home at night. I think she's getting better now.

But what I wanted to say was - I got hurt too! Last Wagnesday I was over at ThePark with all MyFriends running around, chasing DaBall, chewing DaSticks, and generally having a good sniff around, when something hurt MyPaw. There was red stuff all over it and some more red stuff on MySide from where I'd been running. So MyDad took me home and, although I was a bid frightened, he and the other kids washed MyPaw and MySide. Thankfully they made the red stuff go away, but it still hurt a lot and I couldn't walk real fast or run.

Today it was still sore, and although I still wanted to go to ThePark to see my friends, I couldn't run very well at all! Zac kept getting DaBall before I could! And Billy wouldn't let me get DaSticks!

Then the next thing I know, MyDad has put me in DaCar and taken me to "The Scary Place" again! How could he! I mean, here I was shakin' and tryin' to get away, and he just took me on in there!

DaVetMan came in and sat down next to me and looked at MyPaw - he hurt it abit too, but then came and put some powder stuff on and then wrapped clothes around MyPaw so I couldn't lick it. Then I *really* had to hobble around. I tell you, if it wasn't so serious even I would bark out loud!

So now I'm at home with Kathryn and feeling sorry and sore. But I showed them, I get up and hobble away everytime they come near me so they don't hurt me again - *pout*. And then to top it all off, they are trying to put strange things in MyFood - yucky things!

Howl!!! - I sure wish MyPaw would get better again!

A Howliday Weakend

You remember howl I was saying howl all MyFamily went away at different times? Well, this last weakend, I got to do that too! It was kinda weird at first - all MyFamily went away all together, and I was left in MyOutside and it was getting all dark and stuff!

Then Penny and Penny'sMum came by and took me inda car ride to Penny's Place! So I got to spend a Weakend with Penny! She had MyFood, and I had Penny'sFood. I tried to sleep by Penny'sBed (really Penny'sMum's couch!), and then in with Penny'sMum... and back to Penny'sBed... I eventually found a real safe place in Penny'sMum's little clothes hanging place. I just curled right up and went to sleep.

During the days I'd play with Panny and Penny'sMum and Penny'sMum's bunnies and birds. And I'd do the CrazyDog run around and around Penny'sOutside. Then we'd all go for walk to ThePark!

And the bestest part was on Mondy when Dave the DogWashGuy came over and gave Penny and me and Zach (who was visiting for the day) a lovely NiceSmelly bath and pamper-brush. BOL! The funniest part was when we were all done washing we all lined up onda mat and sat real pretty waiting for our biscuit!

Then MyDad came and picked me up and took me home. I wanted to stay a bit longer with Penny, but it was nice to get home and see MyFamily again! They had a howliday too!

Of humans absent, and the *Scary* Place

What is it with my humans! It seems like they go away all the time. I mean, I expect them to go away and leave me alone during most days (something about places called "work", and "school"... I've seen "school" and it looks like such fun with all the kids and stuff, I wish MyDad would let me go to "school" with Kathryn or Thomas too! BOL!). But the thing is they always come home each day and I get to have hugs and cuddles and play and just hang out with everyone.

But over the last few months something very strange has been happening! One of them disappears for weeks on end! First it was MyMum - she went away for five whole weeks before KissyMoose. And it was only because I got treats and a house guest - one of my bestest friend, Kane - that I was OK about it.

But then after NooYear, MyDad went away for three weeks! And he didn't take me!!! I got to help drive him out to the place where the very big loud birds come and go, and then to pick him up again. Well, I'll tell you, I was none too impressed and didn't want to know him for... oh, lets see.. at least a whole day when he got back (that'll teach him to leave me behind! Woof! taught him a lesson, didn't I!) I refused to come for a pat, or play games. I made an excpetion when it came to food (but I did give him *The Look*).

And then a few days after that MyMum went away again! Can you imagine that! You'd think I'd get used to it by now. But it gets worse... Not long after MyMum got back from her second trip, now my sister, Kathryn has gone away. And I miss her (well, except when I'm asleep, or everyones away for the day, or its meal time, or walk time, or play time, or... you get the picture, I miss her heaps of times!) MyDad said she has gone to a place called Italy. I wonder do they have dogs there... hmmm.

But the most scary bit of news I have is where MyDad took me today. I got all excited when he got MyLeash and asked me to hop in the back of the car. I thought we were going to get Thomas from school, but he took me somewhere else instead. MyDad took me to "The Scary Place". You know, where the vet-person is that pokes and prods and sticks thing into you, and makes you get all sleepy and you wake up with sore paws and a plastic cone thingy on your head! *That* place! Well, I was so scared, I peed on the floor. I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. I was shaking so! And it was so scary waiting for the vet-person to come and see me. I was imagining all kinds of mean nasty scary things...

But its all over now. The vet-person came and looked at my teeth, listened to my heart and then stuck a sharp thing in my fur. Then it was time to go, and dog, was I outta there fast! Now I'm safe at home and I'm hangin' out with MyDad and Thomas and sleeping on the floor next to my favourite wall.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, this last weekend gone was my birthday - but somehow I don't feel any different. I read all about every other puppies birthdays as something wonderful, and I suppose it was a great day. Sure, I had lots of fun when my bestest labby friend Penny came over to visit and brought a yummy icecream cake over for us to woof down! And I did get some very nice new toys to play with (BOL! I even managed to break one within an hour or so of getting it - what a dumb idea to have two balls joined as a dumb-bell... I separated them to proper balls like they should be!). And I even had a special dinner - human food! Hawaiian chicken was what they called it! I'll tell you, that H. chicken didn't cluck too long in my bowl! Woof! Plus, there have been great time playing with my pals in the doggy park... But somehow, I don't feel any different. What gives, guys? Oh well, at least Daddy got me a nice new red registration tag for my collar. BOL, I played tricks with Dad when he took my collar off to attach the tag - I wouldn't let him put it back on! Aren't I just the naughtiest littel girl there is?

Long time.. No Bark!

Well, it has been a while since I have written anything here. Life is just so full of things to do, places to be, pals to sniff and lick, and ponds to splash about in!

Mum and Dad got me a new kennel, but I don't sleep in it. They put some blankets inside to make it comfortable, but I drag them outside and lay down on them there. They did get me a nice day-bed which I like sleeping on - during thew day, of course.

I still sleep inside with Mum and Dad at night, though - especially like the carpet at the foot of their bed, or in the lounge. Everyone in the family is such fun to play with whenever they are home (not nearly often enough if you ask me) - I love bringing my toys for them to toss down the hall way. I run as fast as I can after them and slide on the polished floorboards and snatch the toy up as I slide past!

I've been out to the dog beach, spent the day with Dad when he was at a cadet camp, been over toi visit my cousin Wags, but the best time I have is with my other Labby pals - Penny and Zac. Now that the summer is coming we can get up earlier and go across the road (I'm so excited I can hardly sit to wait safely before crossing) to the park and we have such a time together! I especially love the pond! It's drying up a bit now but still has lots of sloopy sloppy mud and delicious smelling things (oh, and still a bit of water) to play around in. A few weeks ago, after a very heavy rain, there was enough water to actually swim in! I discovered I could swim kinda by accident.. See, I was chasing Zac out - he had the stick were were fetching - and suddenly my feet couldn't touch the bottom! So I had to swim! (Got a mouth full of water, however, and had to spit it out when I got out).

And the other thing I love doing in the mornings is chasing balls (my human sister gave me a huge old netball to play with), or if nothing else, a stick. The park has some really nice sticks to pick up and play with, or just lay down and chew!

So, life goes on... I'll be one year old soon.

This winter thing is not much fun at all...(sometimes)

It used to be much warmer when I was younger - I could sleep outside. But ever since I had my paw fixed up, Mum and Dad have let me sleep indoors. I'm not allowed up on their bed at first now - just in the morning when its time to say "G'day" and have a cuddle. Mum put my blankets on the floor next to Dad's side of the bed, and I love to curl up next to his clothes - it makes me feel safe. I remember there were a few flashes of light and loud noises one night - they frightened me a bit. But Dad cuddled me and said it was alright... and it was!

Lately it has been very cold at night. Dad says its now winter. The other morning when we went out for our walk down to the sports ground, there was all this white stuff on the grass. Dad called it frost. Kind of funny stuff - all cold, but nice to lick. I still love to run around and play with my pals - Johnny, and his new pup companion Java, Missy when she is there (but she can be a bit narky sometimes, Thor (he's so big), and sometomes at the other park I meet Zac. We all have such fun chasing, and tumbling and playing tug-o-war with whatever we can get hold of. But its soooo cold in the morning. I just have to get up and out moving to warm up!

But my favouritest time of all is when just me and Dad go out each morning for our walk. Its dark when we leave now, and there is rarely anyone else at the park (*sigh*) - but we go for our walk anyway, and it is such a great time walking nicely with Dad. There's always so much to sniff at,and maybe, just maybe, when we walk back past the park Zac or someone will be there!

Back to Normal

Well, everything seems to be getting back to normal - as normal as they can be!

On Friday Mum took my cone off my head - wow!, how good is it to be able to reach *every* part of me - and a do mean *every* part! And, how cool is it to be able to pick things like stickes up again!

Yesterday, Dad took me back to the nice vet - a lady this time, and she took those stitch thingys out of my paw! There, all better again!

There is a down side, however. Now that I'm better, Mum and Dad want to put me outside to sleep again. But I got them sussed too... the other night there was a thunderstorm, so I pretended to be OK, and then when they were back to sleep I tapped on the window so they had to come and let me in. So nice to be safe up on their bed! Mind you, the thunder that was close was pretty scary so I was kinda glad to have them near by.

And today, Thomas was sick, so Dad had to stay home and I helped look after him - he just loves laying on the bed watching tv and movies. We are so *best friends*! And I got an extra walk today with Dad. But I think he is a bit annoyed - I couldn't help myself and chewed my brand new leash.... now its all broken..... *sigh*

How much longer will I have to have this thing on?

*Woof*

Well I thought I was pretty smart, didn't I! If I sat just so, with my sore paw stuck right out, and pushed the cone thingy back a bit, and bend around at just the right angle, I could lick that darned itchy sore that the nice vet man put on me. And I thought Mum and Dad didn't know I could do that.

I thought licking the sore was supposed to make it better!, But it seems it just gets sorer and sorer and looks all raw! *Sigh* I hate this!

Anyways, Mum and Dad took me up to see the vet again today - nice lady vet this time. She had a look at my sore, cleaned it up a bit and took out some of the broken stitches. She took the cone off my head too! Thank Dog!, I woofed, but then she put an even bigger one on me! How's that? Dang! I still keep knocking into things and now I really can't lick my paw.

How much longer!!! Oh well, at least I can still just lay down and sleep. Hmmmm, this floor looks particularly inviting right now...... Just doze here... a.... bit.... ...... ...... (snore) (snore)

[Dad says, sleep tight, my Bella.]

"Have you been *Fixed*?" - No, but I am on the mend!

Dad took me for a walk this evening - after I had pestered both him and Mum.

We met lots of nice neighbourhood people. First we met the nice lady that lives next door. Dad says she used to have a big dog too a long time ago, but he passed on. I was so excited to say hello, I wee'd myself!

Then there was the other lady that lived up the end of the street - she was out enjoying the cool evening and when she saw my conehead asked, "Have you been fixed?" I said, "No, but I am on the mend!" BOL! Arf! Dad explained about my sore foot. I don't really understand what she meant about being *fixed*.

Next there was that lovely lady that used to give me drinks of water at the deli up at the shopping centre. She was so pleased to see me, she hopped right out of her car and came over!

Last there was the two cats. I barked at them. They didn't want to say hello.

I wanted to go to the park, but it was dark and Dad wanted to go home. Now I just want to go lay down on Mum and Dads bed!

Bella

Conehead

Quick, while Dad's not looking, I gotta tell you all about what *really* happened after I came home from the vet.

I'm really feeling a little sour today after the nice vet took a lump off my back right paw. Now if I can just get Mum and Dad to take this plastic cone off my head!... I feel like a bit of a git with it on and it keeps banging into doors, walls and chairlegs... *AND* I can't even lick myself! How bad is that! *Growl*. Dad says I look like a sat-a-lite dish, whatever that is, and if I point up to the sky he might be able to watch Foxtel, but I don't know what that is either, or if it's *worth* watching.

Mum just says its the latest fashion accessory, although when I met my buddies this morning, none of them seemed to want one! And I couldn't chase Johnnie without tripping over the thing!

Anyway, a girl gets tired after all that vet stuff and all that playing.

Bark at ya later

Bella