Day Fourteen

A raccoon got into our garbage. I did not notice. Oh oh.

They are going to paint the front hall. They all like painting. And moving things around. I like things to stay where they were. Especially my family.

It is garbage day. Thevstreet is filled with lots of big garbage cans. I don't like garbage cans. Sometimes they roll away all by themselves. That is scary.

They didn't move my bed. They brought in another two for the basement. Maybe we collect beds. Emmet got a top hat. I thought all hats go on top.

Emmet sort of shaved. Maybe he was hot like I was before I got all my fur cut off. I bet he is embarrassed too.

I saw Jennifer and her dog last night. He was pulling too. I felt a bit better. Then another dog came by carrying his own leash and a ball. I pretended not to see.

I hope we will try the car again to day. That would be good.

Zita says I am going to get a new duvet. That is good. She said I chewed a hole in the old one. That is not good. Oh well.

The silly raccoon - Ollie and Maggie did not notice either. I feel better

Niamh says even though I don't have much of a tail - it is a very waggly tail.

Wagging my tail makes me happy. Being happy wags my tail. It is confusing being a dog sometimes.

Day Thirteen

No car rides today. It is very difficult to be so quiet no matter how hard I try.

Craig won't change the rules of Throw My Red Ball.

My new rules are he should throw it, I should catch it, chew on it for a while then leave it at the end of the yard. He thinks I should bring it back to him right away. I think my rules are better. It is hard being a dog.

I have been looking - no horses to be seen. That is good.

Emmet is having a shower and says I need one too. Baths are scary. The hair drying machine is even more scary.

Emmet's friends are coming over to move a bed. I hope it isn't mine.

Emmet has gone out with his friends for dinner - maybe they will forget about the bath.

That would be good.

Day Twelve

I don't like car racing. When it is on television Craig stays in bed and watches them. No matter how often I bring in my Red Ball or lie on the bed and cry. I don't like car racing at all.

It was very hot today so we went on our shady walk and not too far. When we got home I had some ice.

Last night the girls got home from their trip to Newfoundland. They named it after a dog. I am glad they are back. I ran around a lot but I did not jump up.

Had an accident last night wrestling with Craig. My paw slipped a bit and there was a bunch of blood on his arm. Craig said it was an accident but I hid down at the end of the room for a long time.

That shouldn't have happened I know.  I had bad dreams and woke everyone up running and barking in my sleep. Giant horses were eating all the lettuce in my garden.

They are moving all the furniture around in Niamh's room again. It is confusing me.

Day Eleven

Having a bad day. Went out for two walks and had to come home early both times because I was pulling too much. So I am a bit sad. Zita was sad too. That is not good.

Then I went for a run in the neighbour's garden and ran around and around until I was tired. Maybe that's what I needed.

I was asleep on the big bed and they called me to look out the window. I jumped off the bed so fast I missed the corner and slid across the hall into the den. It was embarrassing.

I ran to my watching windows and there were horses on my corner. Two horses. Horses smell funny and are very big. Way bigger than me, even though Zita sometimes says I am a horse... and I am not.

They went out for dinner at uncle Bill's house and left me alone for a long time.

Sometimes I worry that something bad will happen and they won't come back. Well I worry about that a lot.

If I was with them it would be OK but they don't stay together so I have to worry.

Sometimes Craig worries about things. He told me that. So I am not the only one worrying about my family. That is good.

I am going out for my evening walk. I am going to try to do better. I shall ignore the ducks.

I was perfect... didn't need the "It's going to choke me to death collar" at all. Zita was happy. So was I.

Day Ten

Went for two car rides yesterday. The second one was a success.

When I jump up on Niamh's high bed I can see all the way down the pond. It is a very nice pond. I am not allowed to swim in it. Zita says it is dirty. Other dogs swim in it.

There are very big fish in it. They chase the ducks. Niamh does not like fish at all.

Found my other Red Ball. It had fallen downstairs and was hidden. I think the man who fixed the sink hid it.

My night walk was not very good and I had to have the "Its going to choke me to death collar" on.

It was because we were walking with Jamie and Jamie always gets me into trouble. He is a nice dog but he gets me distracted.

Craig slept in this morning and I had to dig the covers off him before he got up to throw my Red Ball. Life is never easy.

Craig and Zita are having coffee and I am going to sleep. Catching a ball makes me sleepy.

Day Nine

We had a party here last night. Lots of Zita's lady friends came over. Because I am a lady I was invited too.

There was lots of cheese. Different kinds of cheese. Cheeses I had never smelt before. It smell like  Mr. Nacastro's store. I just lay there and sniffed. It was very good.

I only had to be "Talked to..." once which was very good. There were piles of cheese on plates all over, some on the floor and they were very hard to ignore. I got leftovers. That was good.

The lady from Moralla's sit and drink coffee store was there.  Emmet came up to tell her how much he liked her lemon cookies. He said he bet his uncle Bill would have liked to be there too.

Sue said she was glad I had a car ride. That was nice.

I have to tell the truth because Niamh said Dogs always tell the truth even though it might be embarrassing.

Yesterday I saw the squirrels on my trees and jumped on the fence to get them, my paw got caught in the fence and it hurt and I yelped.

Niamh had to come out and help me.

The squirrels laughed at me and ran into the other yard. They can do that because Maggie and Ollie are at the cottage.

They can't do that when Maggie is home. Maggie hates squirrels more than I do.

When I jump up onto the couch in the den I can look out my window and guard Zita's garden from the Squirrels and Rabbits.

They steal our vegetables. I like lettuce and French beans (Emmet says it because I am nearly French)

The Rabbits are sneaky. They come late at night when I am asleep. Some times I hear them and race into the den to bark at them. Craig and Zita say that is not always so good. I get sad.  Oh well.

I can't find one of my Red Balls. If you see it tell Zita please.

Day Eight

Emmet's room nearly finished. He says it is orange.

I told him I sniffed Chris very carefully and he did not smell of silverware. Emmet was pleased. (but he did smell of paint - I don't think they were careful painters..)

They were talking about me and said that when Craig went out to throw my Red Ball I run round and round his chair until he throws it. They are right. I wonder why I do it? It is the right thing to do I know... just like when they are out with me I need to keep them altogether..

It is like Emmet when he goes out for his walks he has to come back with a big bottle of Ice Tea. I wonder if he know why?

It is hard to understand them even when I sit in front of them and move my head from side to side. I don't really always understand what they say, and I don't think they always understand what I tell them - otherwise they would stay together more often.

Breakfast was good and Craig threw my Red Ball before he went to the office.

When we went out yesterday in the CAR!... we went to Home Hardware. That is a good place. More smells than you would believe and if you are a good listener they have treats for us where you pay. We should go there more often.

Niamh's bedroom is finished so it is much quieter here ... that is good.

Day Seven

We had a very loud thunder storm. I was not scared at all.

Emmet's friends are going to help paint his room. I can not help. It is in the basement and the stairs are very scary. Emmet says I should stay upstairs to make sure Chris doesn't steal the silverware - that is silly Chris is a nice boy. I will guard all of the upstairs just in case. I have hidden my Big Purple Ball.

Emmet gives me ice cubes when I am hot. I like ice cubes.

Zita is putting a desk on the window wall for Niamh. It is very loud.

I shall try another car ride today... maybe today I will be better..

There are frogs in my front yard and they ignore me. They may be friends of the Squirrels, or the Black dog with the while tail.

I have two beds but I like Zita's pillow the best.

I went for a car ride this afternoon. We went to the hardware store. I was perfect and got cheese for a treat when I got home.  I really like cheese.

I did so well we went out again and again I was perfect... more cheese!

Day Six

They forgot to feed me last night.

I sat there and starred at them sending "hungry" messages all evening but they were too busy with the birthday party and didn't remember until 9 o'clock. I almost starved to death ... but then they remembered... fortunately I had still enough strength left to eat.

Craig threw the ball for me today even before he was awake... ha!

Went for another car ride. I had to come home. I really tried but..

Other words I don't like "Not just now..." and "But Poppy it is pouring rain.."

Lots of thunder. I don't like thunder but they tell me it is all right and give me hugs so it is not too bad... 

I have a big purple ball just like one of the walls in Niamh's room.

Craig got out his his chair and folded it all up. I don't like things to change - its scary if you don't know what is going to happen next... especially when I am responsible for them all.

Emmet is going to paint his room too and that is why all his stuff is in the hall in front of the stairs. I knew I would find out if I just lay there and listened.

Day Five

My name is Poppy because I am a Bouvier Des Flandres, and Poppies grow in Flanders. Craig told me when I was very small.

I have other names. Emmet calls me Miss Poppy Taylor. Zita says I am Poppy Bigpaws. It is confusing sometimes.

Sometimes Emmet picks me up and carries me around the room. I like that. When he does he just calls me Miss Poppy. I like that too.

Craig says I am a Rascal Dog. I don't know what that is, but he smiles and laughs when he says it so it's OK. He says I am so stubborn that I fit right in to the rest of them. I like to fit in.

I found my other Red Ball under the couch in the den... now they can throw the ball twice as often...

That is good.

Zita and Niamh have gone to the beach. I could not go because sometimes I get distracted and might get very lost. That would be bad.

Emmet and his friends have gone out to see a batman. They like loud movies Zita says.

Craig and I are here to guard the house against the squirrels.

I am going to get up on the bed and have a nap.

I went for a car ride... but I barked too much and I had to come home. It is very had not to bark at all those cars racing by. I will try harder ... I really like car rides.

Day Four

I was a bit rambunctious on this morning's walk and I had to have the "But it will kill me.." collar put on...  Oh well.

Ran out the side door so fast this morning that I slipped and fell.  The squirrels laughed. I will remember. Squirrel sushi...

Emmet was rambunctious too.  I looked down the stairs - I don't like stairs - and all his stuff was at the bottom of the stairs his room must be empty.. that does not look good to me..

Something is going on. Nobody told me.  How can I do my job when I don't know what is going on I ask you?

It is Saturday morning and they are all away so I get to sleep on the cool floor in the kitchen...

I saw Jake walking by. Jake never pulls on his leash... that can't be much fun..

I have my own duvet... I bet Jake doesn't have his own duvet..

We are painting Niamh's bedroom... I have purple spots now....

Day Three

I am in big trouble. The squirrels attacked my house very early in the morning and I had to bark them away. Oh well.

Craig stayed home today because his shoulder does not work too well, I am afraid it might be his throwing arm. That would be sad..

I don't like the word "later".  I like the words "do you want to...."

People aren't as smart as they think they are.  I can sit with my ball at my feet and stare at it and at Craig and then at the ball.  And he still does not come out to throw the ball.

Sometimes I have to pull him by the hand until he will play tug.  He always gives me a last bit of toast or peanut butter sandwich. I really like peanut butter.

They are all home and that is good. I don't like it when I can not find them all in the house.

What might happen if I am not there to take care of them?

There is a black dog with a white tail. He is possessed - I can smell it. That's why I warn them when he comes by my house but they do not understand.

It is hard being a dog in this house.

Day Two..

I found my Red Ball under my kitchen bed. I dropped it in front of the bathroom door while Craig washed his face. I had to drop it several times before he opened the door.

I wait for him each morning at the bathroom door with my ball. I think he forgets what he is supposed to do with the ball.

Perhaps he is getting old.

Today he remembered and threw the ball before he went off to his office in the little car.

There are squirrels all around so I could not go back to sleep. They are awful squirrels.

There was a skunk here last night. Zita says we should get near them. They would make me very smelly she says. Oh well.

Red Balls are bouncier than other balls. It is true. Car rides are even more fun than catching ball but I bark too much so I don't go very often.

Day One - The Count down

My friend Craig is retiring very soon. He will not go to his office. In the very big building way downtown anymore.

Zita said he will be home all day and we can play Throw My Red Ball all the time.

That is nice news - I like to play with my Red Ball. I do not like the awful squirrels.

I am Miss Poppy The Dog. I just live here with my family. Four People. And me.


I have been here for as long as I can remember. Even back when I had to stand up to see out my watching window.

We live on a corner across from the park where the ducks live. They are not nasty ducks. But they are not so brave. Whenever I go near them they run all away. Into the pond.

Zita says I have to leave them alone. She says that about a lot of things - mostly I understand.

She always listens to me. We go for our nice walks every day. Twice.

When the scary garbage cans chase me she always catches them. So they can not catch me.

Then I jump up and kiss her.

She said I shouldn't jump up on people. But how do I kiss her then. Rules are confusing....

Now there are people on the corner. I have to watch them.

I have lost my favourite Red Ball. Maybe the squirrels took it. Maybe.

I hate squirrels.