A friend comes to see us

I got up and came downstairs as OH went up for a shower. While he was in the bathroom we both heard a strange noise and shot to the stairs. Rodders has taken to standing at the top and throwing one of his toys down, he then runs down to collect it and starts again! He does the same with slippers too but they don't make quite the same noise.

Once OH was showered and dressed he was ready to go off to work. Rodders went out to the gate with him but came running back when I called him.

He was happy to lie on his bed pad for a snooze while I was on the computer and he came upstairs with me when I went to get washed and dressed.

My bestest friend is here from America and we were expecting a visit. As she pulled up outside the postie was there too and Rodders was barking hello. I put him down as I went to the door and he decided to be shy and backed away as she came in. She was excited to see him as she had brought him a present - an amazing present! A whole turkey dinner on a plate but all soft toys and buggy type things! We took the plastic dome covering off it and left it on the floor. One by one he came and took each item: A turkey, a baked potato, a sweetcorn, some bread and some greens. He absolutely loves it!

She and I sat about gossiping and drinking tea for a while but, although he was happy to take gifts from her, Rodders was  keeping his distance. She needed to do a bit of shopping so Rodders got put in his crate for a while so that we could go out.

Once back he was a little better with her and she managed to give him some treats while I cooked lunch. As we ate Rodders sat on snuggle fleece at my feet until he asked to go out in to the garden. While he was out there a hail storm started and he came running back in. Once it was over he asked to go back out and had a great time eating the build up of ice on the door step. I also spotted that he has been digging in the stones to the left of the door so he now realises that the stones go round three sides of the patio!

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to her. Just before she left Rodders did approach her and allowed her to fuss him. I am so pleased, this is one person we don't get to see very often but she is a very special friend and it is important that Rodders likes her too!

An busy afternoon

Once the shopping was all away I sat down with Rodders for a few minutes and then said that I needed to go in to the kitchen. He started to squeak again, telling me he was quite happy where he was I assume!

I put him down and went in to the kitchen anyway. I made the spag bol, unloaded the dishwasher and washing machine and sorted the recycling out. Rodders was pottering about playing or getting under my feet. He then stood at my feet barking and I asked if he was hungry. He went straight to the kitchen door so I picked up his bowl and went to get some kibble for him.

Once he had eaten he wanted to go out in to the garden and was barking so I made him come back in and come upstairs with me while I hung the washing on radiators.

The next time he went in to the garden he was happily playing for a while but started barking again so I went out to see why. I couldn't see or hear anything but did spot where he has been digging in the border. He wasn't very happy when I got the trowel and filled his hole in and even more disgruntled when I cleaned his feet as we came in the door!

I went upstairs to use the bathroom and he came too. By this point he just seemed to be getting more and more naughty. Is he tired or does he need to get rid of some energy?

I needed to move things around in the back bedroom to get to the underbed storage to get out the Christmas Cards, they really need to be in the post this week. While I was doing that Rodders was chewing a roll of wrapping paper, when that was taken off him he found some tissue paper.

Christmas cards found and another load of washing for the machine in my arms I started down the stairs. Rodders followed me with a slipper in his mouth!

It has been drizzly, dark and horrid most of the day so I decided we would do some road walking to try and wear Rodders out. We just went through the estate and up to the shops and back and I was making him sit and wait each time we crossed a road. He was mainly walking to heel and he wasn't pulling much but he does like to bark at people a lot of the time. We were out for over half an hour and, as soon as we got back, Rodders had a mad five minutes.

I then heard him growl, a much different sound to anything he has done before so I went to investigate. He was bring to drag a bag off a chair and it wasn't working! I made him come away and he is now having a snooze on the bed pad at my feet.

A lazy afternoon

Once we were back home Rodders was happy to snooze on his bed pad and sit on my knee but wasn't very active until about 4pm when he started playing and wanted to go in and out of the garden several times.

While he was being fairly quiet I gave him a chew. These take him about half an hour to get through and he only gets about one a week, they are supposed to be good for his teeth.

I did manage to get him to sit still on my knee for about half an hour this afternoon and comb him through. He wasn't ever so happy about it but seemed to realise I wasn't going to stop until I was done.

I have put his toys in to his old plastic bed and put the new bed pad in his crate. He can't work out why the toys are in the bed and keeps taking them out one by one, especially if he is around when I put them back!

He has been running about the house with his yoghurt pots and ball and beating up teddy but most of his toys did get played with a little today.

Out in the garden he seems to love sitting or lying facing in to the wind and his ears get blown backwards. He just barks at it! He has also been digging and has been running between the tree and the patio.

OH called to say he was on his way and typically Rodders had just settled on my knee after two hours of activity when he came in through the back door. Rodders stood straight up on my knee with his front feet on the arm of the sofa barking like mad but with his tail wagging. He then changed from barks to whimpers of delight at soon as he realised who it was and wanted to get down. Just before I went to lift him down he decided he could do it himself and jumped from the sofa to the bed pad and then hopped off there and ran to OH. He jumped up to be lifted and was squeaking with pleasure as he gave OH a wash and nibbled his ears and beard.

Once Rodder settled they both went upstairs and Rodders appeared back with one of my slippers. When I took that off him he went back to get the other one! Once OH was changed they both came back down for a snuggle and play in the conservatory before OH helped me finish off dinner.

Think he was just tired

It took an hour to get me washed and dressed, put some laundry away and sort out some washing for the machine with my little helper!

He did finish his breakfast using the Kong in the bathroom as I got washed but that kept him amused for a whole 5 minutes. Then he played with his copy for a minute before trying to jump up me.

Once I was washed I took him in to the bedroom and he went straight for the laundry basket and got a firm no. He stopped for a second and went back to it so got a firm no and a tap on his nose.

I out him on the bed while I sorted out my clothes for the day and he did snuggle down for a minute until I said good boy! The next second I turn around and he is behind me so he definitely can get off the bed.

I let him run around after me until I caught him trying to eat the cable for my hairdryer (eek) and then got his toy out the bathroom, he played with that for a minute but thought a coat hanger was better. As long as it keeps him amused and I can get done that's fine!

I put my clean laundry away and sorted two loads for the washing machine before calling Rodders. Every morning when I open the bedroom curtains I pick him up so he can say good morning to Pentland. He usually has a good look around before we come downstairs, today he gave a quick bark as someone was walking around.

Once downstairs he had a quick play in the conservatory before asking to go in the garden. He still just walks towards the door and stands there which isn't very helpful if I am not in sight so I have started to ring the bell that hangs on the door handle each time he goes out. Lets see if he learns to do it for himself!

While he was outside I managed to load the washing machine, unload the dishwasher and sort out some paperwork. He came running back in when he heard the shredder going but wasn't in for long before asking to go back out.

He has found a stone up by the back patio and has brought to all the way up the path, he has been sniffing about, pulling at the grass, barking to let the neighbours know he is here and checking to see if there is any water coming out the drain pipe. Oh, and a bit of digging!

Digging

I heard a strange noise out the back so went to investigate as Rodders was playing in the garden.

And there he was digging up the stones we laid yesterday. He looked very proud when he actually managed to get one out!