Family Ties

Dundee is his name and winning is his game...!

That's me to the left and my sister Fie to the right

Dundee, Fie and Me

A few of the doggies in my training class are related. Fie is my sister and Dundee, Fie and I have the same mother, whose name is Wonder. Dundee is only 15 months old and has already won many awards for best puppy! Fie and I are still working at it...

Winging It

You don't really expect me to touch that thing, do you?

A dummy before its make-over.

A dummy with wings...

And a dummy dressed like a bunny!

Brilliant Disguise

I learned at my recent doggie training class that in the retrieving doggie world, it's not about playing the game, it's about finding the game. Doggies like me are supposed to help their person/hunter by sniffing out the birds, ducks, bunnies and hares that the hunter has killed - and bring them back to the hunter's hand in one piece.

Readers please remember that I am just a young doggie - barely two years old - and a new-beginner in the Beginner Retriever Course. And, up until a few days ago, the only birdies I had ever paid any attention to were the magpies in my backyard. But at doggie training, instead of retrieving a dummy I was supposed to bring back a dead duck. It was the wierdest thing I'd ever poked my nose in - those feathers and everything - no way, no how.

But my trainers are very clever - they have devised a way to dress the dummy like a bird - with wings and everything. That way I can get used to these feathered friends gradually. I even have a big furry dummy that's dressed like a bunny. What will they think of next?

Happy Easter

In search of the Easter Bunny...


Did someone say Easter Bunny?


Easter bunny eggs but no Easter bunny...


Here's another Easter bunny egg. I wonder what's inside...


Doggie treats but no Easter Bunny...


Gotcha!

Piece of Cake

The whole thing was really quite fun!

Sitting and staying...

Points-off for sniffing the judge for doggie treats...

This is my official diploma.

Officially Obedient

I passed my obedience test, with flying colors! It went very well and I enjoyed the excitement of seeing all the other retriever doggies. The weather was beautiful, though it was pouring rain when we left the house. All my persons came along for moral support. And, there were a few training colleagues who were there to cheer me on. Congratulations to Barny - who also passed his test today. All I want to do now is take a nap.

Arthur, Luca and Me

Arthur and I go way back. We met at puppy training.


This is Luca - looking very dapper in his green jacket.

Forest Friends

I am in the Beginner Retriever class with many other doggies. The doggies that I like to train with are Arthur and Luca. Arthur and I have trained together since we were 12 weeks old. He's a hunting dog - but don't hold that against him! He's a nice doggie and likes to stir things up.

Luca is a show dog. He is 3 years old and has won many prizes for being such a pretty doggie. He's quite the gentleman as you can see in the photo. He likes to wear his fine jacket while he waits to do his retriever-thing. They say it helps prevent "cold tail" syndrome! He is very easy-going and never gets bothered about anything.

Sit. Stay.

Do I get the doggie treat now or later?


What's going on over there?


Looks interesting...

Oh yeah, I better pay attention...

How long do I have to sit here and wait...

Practice makes perfect

I am busy practicing my sit and stay trick. It's hard but I can do it!

The Look

This is my indirect, let's-not-be-too-pushy look.


This look says, pleease take me for a walk!


This is more of a stare than a look - with a slight touch of melancholy

Actions speak louder than words (or barking)
Doggies like me can't talk like people but we do have our ways of communicating and getting what we want. One way that works for me is to give my person the look. For example, this evening I managed to get my person up from her warm chair and take me for a walk in the cold, dark night and the blowing rain and sleet - without any problem at all. The secret is patience and persistance. It also helps to sit as close as possible to your person's chair so she can't possibly avoid you. Don't be discouraged if your person tries to coax you out in the yard by yourself. They will always try this but it doesn't work. Just turn around and come right back inside and give them your look. It works every time.

On the Beach

There's nothing like a nose full of sand!


It was windy but mild and sunny...



I'm not too fond of sandy dummies.

Sandy Dog
Today my person and I drove to the beach. Yes, I know - it's January! But you wouldn't know it - it's mild, sunny and a perfect day for a walk on the beach. I wasn't the only doggie on the beach. There were others. One ran around with a big flat flounder in his mouth and I stole it from him! I was proud and tried as fast as I could to eat it - but my person stopped me. She mumbled something about fish bones and doggie doctor bills....

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a great 2007

The Big Guy

Herluf weighs about 120 pounds and is very tall


He's a really big doggie!

A new friend
Meet Herluf -- an Irish Wolfhound we've met on our walks a few times the past few weeks. He is big and very friendly. His person tells us that at home, when Herluf begs for food, he doesn't beg under the table -- he lays his head ON the table! He doesn't eat that much more food than regular-sized doggies but he needs a lot of water -- drinking many gallons per day. He is very sweet-tempered and easy-going. And, he's a good watchdog. According to his person, there were some thieves on their way into the house when they must have seen Herluf and then took off. They broke in but didn't steal anything.

Happy Holidays

I still remember all my tricks


Up and running again
After a long break I am now back. This week I am enjoying the holidays with my persons -- sleeping late and long walks. I am over my stomach problems. I even ate a few pieces of roasted duck for Christmas dinner.

Feeling Better

A Happy Birthday
I am slowly getting back on track. I missed out on all the festivities yesterday but was a happy puppy in the evening observing my person's new birthday present - a Swedish-made yarn swift and yarn winder. I don't understand what all the fuss is about but I thought it was quite interesting to watch it go round and round. The best present was the doggie in the snow-globe - who looks a lot like me!

Down and Out

Still groggy...


At least the color goes well with my suit

Like a Light
That's what I did - went out like a light. The doggie doctor wasted no time with his sleeping needle. I went out and he did his thing - removed my torn toe nail - OUCH! No fun. And it still hurts even after the dirty deed is done. Now I have to wear this red bandage.

Nothing Special

Taking a break from it all...


When you see Jack-o-lanterns in Tivoli


You know that Halloween has come to Denmark

Hard Work

Here I am taking a break from flying dummies


This is my sister, Fie, watching for flying dummies


Other doggies watching for flying dummies


When I'm not watching for flying dummies I like to visit with these two fellows

If dummies could fly
Today we learned how to watch for flying dummies. It's hard work for young doggies like me. Not only do we have to sit still and watch for them we have to remember where they fall, run out, find them and return them again. And, some of the dummies have fur on them - they are big and hard to carry. I would have liked to chew on one but we were not allowed.

Training Update

This big fellow has won lots of awards for prettiest doggie and most obedient and he's barely two years old!


Other black doggies waiting their turn to do their thing


Practice, practice, practice...

Smoothing out the rough spots
My training is going well. I can now sit, stay, come, heel, and retrieve my dummy and deliver to my person's hand sitting down and without dropping it! It won't be long before I can take the big obedience test ,and if I pass this test, then I will be a certified 100% "good" doggie (as if I'm not already!). I might even be allowed to join the retriever class starting up this fall!

Soup Bones

There's nothin' like 'em
Need I say more?