Mum gave me an early Christmas present. She has “finally” found me an safe, and great, alternative to bone!! I am so happy!! Now I can chew to my hearts content without getting an upset tummy, and it isn’t “plastic”!!! It’s called an Antler chew. Man made out of healthy things which are good for me, it’s just like real bone!! It looks like an antler, hence the name. I was so happy, that when Mum gave it to me I spent 3 hours solid chewing on it!! I had so much pent up chew urge in me, it took ages to appease it!

We got it from some lovely people called Pure Dog. Their website is http://www.puredog.co.uk/

Because I have such a strong jaw (Mum reckons I have an ancestor which was a Rottie!!) it has taken some hunting over the past 5 years for Mum to find me something I can really (not) get my teeth into! Our friend Lara, who has lots of dogs, told us about these chews. We’re so grateful!

We would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas! Please enjoy the Jacquie Lawson card by clicking on the link below.

You can view your card here

See you in the New Year! xxx

We hadn’t been to The Pilot pub before, so Mum was a little worried, remembering the past couple of times we have not been made welcome in other pubs…. But we didn’t need to worry, they were lovely! http://www.thepilot.uk.com/

We even noticed that they have a collection box for stamps, they were collecting for Guide Dogs, but didn’t know that they aren’t using stamps anymore. So Mum explained that Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are using them. They said they will collect them for HDfDP now, so that is great! When Sue has sent us a poster we will go and “convert” the box so people know their stamps are being used to train more lovely dogs like moi!

You can see how you can help by collecting used stamps and in other different ways here:- http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/donate/Other+ways+to+donate

It’s such a great way to help, we know people don’t have a lot of money…

But, don’t forget, you can get nice things for Christmas from Hearing Dogs too! http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/online-shop/shop-online

Mum says she MUST get started with getting Christmas cards done… (She always leaves it too late!! One year she ‘will’ learn!!) She knows that Christmas will be here in a blink of an eye now! We have lots of things happening over the next few weeks, Christmas dinners, and other stuff!

Have a happy week. x

I hope their feet done ache too much, and thank I thank Hadrian, his wife, and Specsavers Hearing Aid service (where Hadrian is an audiologist) for their sponsoriship of him to enable him to do this for HDfDP.

Such wonderful people.

Well, the clocks have gone back, and now it’s dark so early!! But we have also begun the dreaded firework season with a BANG! I don’t like fireworks… I don’t get as frightened as I used to.. But… I have a “safe corner” in our house where I hide away on my bed, waiting for the noise to stop. Mum knows she can’t help me feel better, so makes me as comfy as she can in my corner. I’m best left alone…. Mum says it’s not right that Fireworks can go off at any time, she thinks there should be a law saying they can go off for things like Bonfire Night and New Year, with a day or two either side to make it flexible for people, but otherwise that should be “it”. We had more fireworks nearby last night! We’ve had them every night now since, and including, the 4th. She says she won’t be surprised to see me go to my corner tonight too at this rate…. But now Fireworks have been sold she knows people will be using them for all sorts of reasons now……. Ho hum… Roll on Spring.

We hope everyone is keeping warm, it’s certainly more chilly now…. Soon be time to get my winter jacket out of the cupboard.

30 people joined us to take part in various walks round Ightham Mote. We went on the short walk with my friend Tessa and her Mum.

We were also accompanied by Polly Evans, she talks on the TV (I thought I recognised her!). Mum said it’s a news programme she is on called BBC South East News. She is such a lovely person! And she walks faster than Mum!! lol! (As you will see in one of the photos!)

She came and said hello to me before the walks started, she liked me (of course!) and said how soft my fur is. (Everyone always says that!! ) She also said hello to the other Hearing Dogs there, including Echo and Tessa my two special friends.

It was organised by Aunty Sue, who works for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and tries to think of interesting ways to raise money. She works really hard, and we were pleased it turned out to be such lovely weather for her. She was helped by Uncle Brian and Aunty Margaret.

We hope there will be another walk like this, and hope even more people and dogs will come. The more there are, the more fun it is.

After the walks were finished we sat with Tessa and her Mum and had a break, Tessa and I enjoyed half a bonio each from Aunty Margaret. Then Mum said that as we were already there we may as well looked round the house and gardens. (Mum, sis and I are members of the National Trust). Tessa and I, and other Hearing Dogs, are so lucky. We get to go to so many interesting places with our humans, because we are registered assistance dogs. http://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/ All the National Trust people were so very nice! Tessa and I made lots and lots of new friends, including people who were visiting like us. One lady said how cute we were, and how nice to see that we are all different shapes and sizes.

I hope you like the photos Sis took on the day.

Organisers, Hearing Dogs and their humans, with Aunty Polly in the middle. (I'm just out of frame)

My special friend, Echo. (She's been attacked by big pet dogs twice in recent months..:( Mum says some people with pet dogs need to be more aware of what their own dogs will do.)

The lovely Tessa.

Me, sussing out new accomodation. Don't know where Mum would sleep though!!

The dog house was built in 1890 for a St Bernard named, Dido… I guess they must have been a little bigger than moi!! http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-ighthammote/

Thank you again, Aunty Polly, we can’t wait to see you again!

Have a nice rest of the week. xx

This photo doesn’t do the pictures justice.

The artist’s name is Roger Burnay. He has his own website with lots of other very pretty dogs on, just like me! http://www.pets-portraitartist.com/

Tomorrow we are off to Ightham Mote to “go walkies” with other Hearing and pet dogs. We hope there will be lots of people, because then it will be lots of fun! And hopefully we will raise lots of money for Hearing Dogs.

Have a great weekend.

On Sunday I am going to meet up with lots of friends, two and four legged. We are going on a walk at Ightham Mote to raise funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf people. We hope the weather will be kind……

If you would like details please click on this link and email my friend Sue Pellow for details on how to register. http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/in-your-area/volunteering-opportunities/sponsor-a-dog-walk

There’s 3 or 4 walk routes, one is suitable for wheel users. If you find it too easy  you can always go round twice!

Sis is on half term next week, a week of lie ins… heaven!

Have a good week.

We had a lovely day when we went to the Paws in the Park event in Detling recently. The weather was a bit “iffy” (Mum says that means it wasn’t sunny, and it wasnt wet….. ) We met up with our friends Brian and his wife Maggie, at their Hearing Dogs for Deaf People stall. We hang out with them most of the time. They don’t have a hearing dog, but are passionate about the work we do for our humans so have worked at fundraising for many years.

We occasionally went and had a look at other stalls, Mum likes to give little donations to other assistance dog charity stalls too. We bumped into our friend Tina, and her assistance dog Arkadash (which is Turkish for “Friend”). Arkadash was trained by the charity Support Dogs, and he helps by opening doors, and handing over Tina’s purse to buy things and other things. Really clever. When he was younger he used to get a bit barky when he saw me around, but now we are great friends and I can see he has worked hard to turn into a great assistance dog. We just sniff each others nose, and settle down while our Mum’s chat.

While at the event Mum found an artist to draw me. We’re waiting and excited to see how it turns out…….. Mum has been on the look out at doggy events ever since she and I were paired, for an artist. But this is the first one who’s work she has really liked. He is ‘doing me’ in colour pencils, he said they would be best for my colouring and texture. He also said I was very pretty…. and “no” I don’t think he said it just because he wants the business!! We saw him working in pencil on some pictures while we were there, and we were both very impressed. So, can’t wait!! Watch this space as they say!

We hope you enjoy this extra bit of lovely weather we are having at the moment.

I’m OK, been on steriods again because I had another bad allergy flare up. Was scratching so much I was injuring myself, and I was hardly sleeping too.. Mum could see how tired I was all the time. But the steriods have helped, I’m tip top again! And Mum now has a steam cleaner to nuke those house dust mites! She does her best to keep things clean, but the vet thinks they are hanging around in the only mats we have (in front of the front door to catch wet shoes and paws as they come in….) Also as I am also allergic to food storage mites the vet has suggested buying it in smaller bulk. I have dry food, which I like, so Mum doesn’t want to change it. She’s bought a new storage container too, and we hope that by putting a whole bag’s worth in an air tight container it will reduce my flare ups too, as I tend to get it when Mum gets to the bottom of the big bag….. It’s all trial and error Mum says.. She does her best, bless her. <3

Well, the weather is – not – nice! Even I don’t want to go out!! It’s been so very windy for days!! But while we have had odd days of sun, those in between have been wet, or cloudy and dark….. Oh well, can’t expect anything else really….. Autumn on its way.

But, on a positive side, the beach will soon be all ours! As time goes on there are less tourists here. And in October all the beach will be dog friendly until March, not just our bit outside this holiday park.

I’ve met some good friends over the summer again this year, they like to watch me play outside on the grass. One day when we were going to the car, a family stopped and asked if I was friendly, well, what could I do?? I threw myself on my back before Mum could even say “yes”!!! I had a lovely tummy rub from 4 kids! Heaven!

We had some news, Hadrian, who is doing all those Marathons, only has one more to go!! Please see a couple of posts down for details about his walks.

Hope you are well…..

We went to Scotney Castle yesterday. Mum has rejoined the National Trust so we can get out and about and see some lovely places. Me, Sis and Mum went yesterday, after finding Sissinghurst Castle was closed (Wednesdays and Thursdays). I had a lovely time walking round their lovely gardens, I also enjoyed looking round the house too. The people there were really nice, and I think they liked me a lot too.

Me, Lady of the manor at Scotney Castle.

Sis was looking through our NT 2011 Handbook and found me and Mum in a photo on page 105!! It is of when we went to Bodiam Castle a few years back, NT invited us and other Hearing Dog partnerships to take part in a promotional photo shoot, we got to have our very own private guided viewing of the castle grounds. Really nice.

If you feel you can support him please visit his Justgiving page on this link: www.justgiving.com/Hadrian-Harris0

Hadrian running a marathon for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Please share the link with friends you know who might be interested in supporting Hardrian. Thank you.

We hope no one blinked and missed the sun we had recently!! I had a day with Nan and Grandad yesterday, Mum and Sis went to Drusillas Park Zoo. Mum says I’d be OK with the animals, but they might not like me and know I wouldn’t want to eat them!! So I got to chill with Nan and Grandad.

Mum said they had such a great time! http://www.drusillas.co.uk/default.aspx It’s a great place for little kids, and big ones like Mum!!

Life’s pretty chilled at the moment, as Sis is off school. It’s nice not to have to be up early to get her to the bus.

We hope everyone is OK.