Contains Nuts (but not for long!)

Now that we are having better weather it has given us the opportunity to spend more time in the garden and up the allotment, although I always seem to find a reasonably good excuse not to go so any hard work on the plot is predominantly that of my Husband, not me, if the truth be told!

Max is always watching.....

Max is, as is a puppy's lot in life, full to the brim with seemingly endless amounts of energy and it doesn't matter the time of day or night, if you show him his tennis ball he WILL play and will long outlast you!

Play. With. Me. NOW. Daddy!

It's crazy the amount of money we have spent on toys/chews/bones, etc, etc but all he can think of is his tennis ball!!!! As well as the allotment, we're now spending much more time in the garden, pottering around and generally beautifying the borders.....and Max likes to "help"....!

Max "helping" to lay turf!

During the winter months the Girls get the run of the entire garden and generally decimate every plant they come into contact with, including the lawn. So, we decided to re-turf the back garden for the summer before the Girls are let out to free range again and Max thought it his right to get stuck in and 'help'. I think even he was happy to have some lawn under his paws as opposed to the 'mud' that was there for the past few months!

Daddy, this Paeony is simply divine!

As I type, Max and Dad No. 1 are busy in the back garden in the marvellous sunshine playing with his tennis ball while the Girls are all sun bathing in their run (apart from Tallulah who wants to be broody!!!). I think I say it every year, but this year I think the garden is going to look super when everything is in bloom!

Max needed to cool down!!!

A week tomorrow Max's Dads are off on holiday to Italy with Aunty Bella and Uncle Muffin for a week of sun and relaxation, so Max will be looked after by Granny Celia (Dad No. 2's Mum) who arrives on Thursday......the very same Thursday that sees Max taken to the vet by Aunty Kay so that his boy bits can be snipped off!

Does my nose look big in this?

Aunty Kay is the lady who brought Max into our lives (Thank you!!!) and used to work for Dad No. 1 at the Zoo. Kay now works for Lewisham Animal Welfare (I think I got that right) and visits Max on a regular basis to see how he's getting on. Only last night Kay and her man, Jim were here for dinner and Max is always very, VERY happy to see her, so much so that he turned into a wee fountain and soaked Kay's leg!!! (the embarrassment!!!)

Camouflage bandana courtesy of Aunty Kay!!!

Max now has a proper little group of friends up the park - Freddy, Buddy, Sol and Stella and they enjoy a good run about and a play when they see each other. Max is the youngest of the group but by the way he carries on you'd think he was the Boss of them....we're going to try "Terrier Racing" in the summer.....Max is like a flash of lightning so we have high hopes for victory...fingers crossed!

Dog and owner at one with each other...or....a rare moment of stillness for Max!!!

I'll try to cram in an update next weekend when Granny Celia is here.....

2010 Election Special

VOTE Max!

The ONLY candidate with the MAX Factor!

Max Meets Nana (and other adventures....)

What a busy time it has been in Puppington World!!!!

Max sticks his tongue out at Dad!

Max has been very busy; not only having adventures, but also “helping” Dad No. 1 in the garden (if you can call trampling over the trays of seedlings helping!!!) and making sure that when in the garden he’s on guard and the hens are being looked after (he lays in the sun and sleeps but he’s definitely guarding them in his mind!).

Max likes to think this is Chicken Guarding

The first adventure since the last chapter was Bath Time. Unfortunately Dad No. 2 was not around when this momentous occasion took place (probably a good thing!) and so no ‘action shots’ were taken, however Dad No. 1 assures me that all went relatively well…..Max got wet and Dad No. 1 got wetter! Max needed a doggy sausage roll afterwards to help him recover from the experience and Dad No. 1 probably needed a Gin & Tonic I should imagine!!!

Post bath time treat

Our little boy is growing up so quickly! He gets walks to the park/cemetery and the allotment and regularly stops, sniffs and has a little pee. However, he has now started cocking his leg. Personally, when you’re the canine version of a Guinea Pig I don’t really see the point, but he does it and does it well and it’s very cute…Daddy is so proud!!! He’s also losing his puppy teeth, not as quickly as he should do or we would like but they’re eventually coming out. Any ‘puppy fangs’ that are still in when he has “the chop” will be taken out at the same time – heaven help us when that happens!

Max perfects his "Death Stare"

The BIG adventure was Cheshire….oh what fun (and mischief!) Max had over the May Bank Holiday weekend with us and Nana Joyce, but not before we all spent 5 hours in the car trying to get there on Friday night, a horrendous journey I have to say! 

Max likes to travel in comfort

First and foremost, he met Miss Penelope Ellis (Penny), Nana Joyce’s gorgeous Jack Russell for whom I have always had a soft spot. Penny is 12 years old and not as sprightly as she once was instead preferring the sedate, quiet life and therefore, I think it came as a bit of a shock when this cheeky black and tan flash appeared and basically turned her world upside down for 3 days. Penny did, however get her own back by playing with Max’s favourite toy and giving him hell when he tried to get it back!

Penny & Max take a break

Whilst in Cheshire we took Stella (one of The Girls) to Sue Feild, a chicken breeder friend who we got Stella from as a fertile egg - you can read more about this story on Hens In The City. Being around a couple of hundred chickens was just too much for Max and he was uber excited to say the least. While we were all having a cup of tea Max wandered around the lounge and didn't notice the danger from behind the sofa and was set upon by a cat. The poor dog yelped and shot across the room, nearly taking Dad No. 2 and his cup of tea with him!

Sue's Gold Laced Orpington Bantams.....I want, I want, I want!!!

A short walk from Nana Joyce’s house is Tilstone Lock (where Nana Joyce was born) which you get to by a lovely walk down by the canal from Bunbury Lock…..Max LOVED it down there, he’s definitely in his element in the country (isn’t any dog?!).

Max & Penny play by the canal (Is that a smile on Max's face?!)

As well as meeting Nana Joyce, Max met Rhys, Dad No.1’s young nephew who couldn’t get over how small Max was and also Uncle Richard and Aunty Kate (the Buckley-Ellis’s). As usual, Max turned on the ‘puppy charm’ and everyone he met fell in love with him, but it was Max’s turn to be captivated when he met Kai, the Italian Spinone! It has to be said, when Max picks them, he picks them well. 

Max thinks he owns Tilstone Lock!

Kai is a gorgeous, huge, fluffy, rough haired, lolloping beauty of a dog who towers over Max - he couldn’t take his eyes off her and when he saw her down the canal on our walk, he shot off and gave her a marvellous greeting, it was very, very cute. Kai lives 2 doors down from Nana Joyce and back at the house Max tried to let himself in to Kai’s house so that he could see her! (Dad No. 2 is wondering how we can fit an Italian Spinone in our house and could it get in and out of the dog flap!).

Max poses for the camera

Max’s next big adventure will be the first week of June when Grandma Celia comes to look after him and the Girls while his Dads go to Italy on holiday with Aunty Bella and Uncle Muffin (who own Max’s friends - Finley the Scottish Terrier and Archie the West Highland Terrier). Max has already met Grandma Celia and she adores him, so I am pretty sure that Max is going to be spoilt rotten and will no doubt get away with murder – note to Grandma Celia……..Be Strict!!

Look Daddy, I can fly!

As previously mentioned, check out Hens In The City to see how the flock are getting on (Dad No. 2 should really think about charging Dad No. 1 for all this advertising – has Max ever been featured in Hens In The City???? Methinks not!).

A gratuitous Big Cock shot!

I hope you’re all enjoying the blog and please keep checking for updates between now and June…..

I am Max, hear me roar

In other news, Dad No. 2 has just bought a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner and is very excited……how sad is that?!?!?!