Pack Sleeping

It’s taken me a long sleep to recover enough to lift my paws. I have had the busiest weekend ever. Mostly I’ve had three children in my house to herd. While the three children were here two more came and visited so sometimes I had four. I had to guard a HUGE kennel all night as well. It’s been really tiring. In fact – I missed two (yes, I know!! TWO!) walks on Sunday!

I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve learnt that small humans are really really fun to herd. Two is easy, three is really hard and I’ll have to wait until I’m bigger and faster for four. I’ve learnt that when you manage to get two of them into the back corner of the garden and you bark at them to celebrate your good job, they make funny noises to celebrate too! The only thing I don’t understand is that when we’re all celebrating my humans would come and stop us. It doesn’t make sense, I’m an Entlebucher … herding is just what I do. Another thing that I’ve learnt is that when you’re tired from all the herding, little humans don’t let you sleep. Some want to cuddle, some want to play and some want to throw things at me. This is ok for a while … I’m a puppy, I love cuddles, playing and chasing things in the air … but after a time it’s exhausting! I got a little sleep when the humans went out of the house for a while but there were a lot of new smells around to investigate, move and chew up make safe – a working dog’s life never stops!

When they came home, my human had some news. She said that the annual camping trip is coming up and the girls of the house were having a practise. It would be the first time for me and the first time for the smallest girl. If we were good and behaved ourselves then we could both come too. I learnt two big rules of camping. First important rule is ”You don’t leave the tent without waking up Auntie Sarah” (I don’t understand that one) and the second important rule is ”no biting”. I understand that one but it’s hard to remember, especially when there are wiggly toes in sleeping bags. I don’t know what we were practising and what camping means but she came into the garden and put up the biggest kennel I have ever seen. It’s a kennel for humans. There were human beds in there and all sorts. I LOVE kennels.

In the night, when it was time for bed, the boys of the house went to bed in the room that my humans normally sleep in and the girls went to sleep in the kennel. I was ready to sleep after my day of herding and was looking forward to curling up with my human in her bed. The little ones were asleep and my human and I were just about to drop off ourselves, I was enjoying a nice ear rub and massage when all of a sudden we heard this sniffing sound right by our heads. It made us both sit up quickly. We were really quiet… listening for the sound again …. then we heard it! My human looked at me in the eyes … I could tell that she didn’t know what to do so I took matters into my own paws and let out the warning bark. It was a fox. I heard it running away and climbing the fence at the back of the garden. I’d managed to guard the girls. I lay down again to sleep but I knew I’d have to leave my nose awake just in case it happened again. I was right. Sure enough it happened twice more in the night. Both times I managed just fine. I think it’s probably a good job that the foxes can’t see me – otherwise they wouldn’t be so scared!

All in all, camping IS fun. I can’t wait to sleep in the kennel in the garden for a second time. I just have to remember to get lots of sleep before we do it again!

Alfie Initiation – Part 2

I promised my big brother, Alfie, that I’d keep him up to date with our plans. I’ve been waiting for my moment just as he told me.  I didn’t even need to try hard for this one. It was easy peasy.

My humans have been leaving me alone in the house for longer and longer. The worst thing is that I heard them say they don’t even need to – they’re just doing it so that I get used to it. I told you they’re mean!! This week they did it for a WHOLE DAY! They left for work and I’d had a big walk so I was happy to be left alone for some peace and quiet. At lunch time I was starting to get hungry and someone I knew turned up for food and a love. We were supposed to go for a walk but it was really hot outside and I managed to convince her otherwise (I needed to save my energy of course!). It was lovely to have some company but I really wanted to know where my pack had got to. We hung out together for a while and then I was left on my own again. This time I was BORED.

Then, my big brother’s words echoed in my head.  He said I have to do whatever it takes, whatever I need to do, to show the humans that whatever happens some things are not acceptable. A good pack never EVER splits up.  The humans have moved the recycling now …