Third letter home

Hi All,

Here is my third update, I hope you are all well. Big hello to everyone from me!

I am very well, having lots of fun and learning stacks of new things from Mouse & ‘Lord Gump’ (I call him ‘Lordy’ for short!) I have learnt to like venison now and now eat it minced on my biscuits. I also get to chew real bones!

Today is Thursday 24th, I spent the morning at Attingham Park with Mouse where I met a boy called Ben with Autism. Ben walked me on the lead and watched me sit & come to my whistle. He said I was lovely and liked my name ‘Poppy’. Walking me was a real treat, his mum was very pleased he could do this with me as he would like a dog of his own one day; they thanked me lots!

Apart from this little adventure, I have been on lots of outings, last Friday I was taken out for dinner to a dog friendly pub in Ludlow where I was treated to some gammon. On Saturday we went for a meal at a very ‘posh’ house where they don’t normally have any pets.  (not surprised, all the carpets are beautiful cream!) Everyone fell in love with me, I was on very best behaviour,  ‘new’ mummy was so impressed!

Mouse has taught me some of her cool stuff, I have learnt to sit on the left whenever we stop on a walk, this is reluctantly I must add!!!. She said gun dogs always work on the left! I am learning to walk to heel but it is a bit boring! I now have my very own whistle sound, its different to the one Mouse has. I do come back to it but not straight away; there is always one last thing I need to sniff! I have been told I must come back sooner as terriers are very bad for getting distracted! Snigger…..Tee hee. I am getting better each day and never run off so mummy & Chris are very pleased!

On Monday I had a very special trip, I was taken a big pet store in Shrewsbury where I chose another snugly bed. I already have two baskets and various other nice places to sleep but this one sits on ‘new’ mummy’s desk next to where she works. It is supposed to be a cat cave but it’s perfect for me. I jump up into my raised basket, then up onto the desk to climb in the cave and can peep out. I also sit on the window shelf, this is my viewing gallery and I bark at everything outside.

Here is a picture of my new bed! I am sulking in this picture because ‘new’ mummy was at work and I couldn’t go with her. Chris took this to send to her so she knew I was ok. She was only gone for the day and really missed me.

On Friday, ‘new’ mummy chain harrowed the field with Chris’s quad bike, I love going on the quad, my ears blow backwards in the wind. Chris made me go inside with him as he said ‘new’ mummy could get distracted with me sat in front. While he was changing his ‘wellies’, I ‘snook’ off back down the field and jumped straight back on the quad for another ride, it was great fun. Chris noticed I was missing and came back down to find me, when he saw me back on the quad, he was shaking his head and laughing!

On Sunday we went for a long walk, ‘Lordy’ stayed at home as he can’t walk very far, I said I would tell him about it when I came home. Mouse and I did lots of investigating and played chase along the tracks & in the fields. I met sheep for the first time. I barked lots at first, but realised Mouse wasn’t and felt a bit silly afterwards. They were bigger than us and quite scary! I was left behind at one point and didn’t know how to get round the sheep to catch up, I was so sacred and confused, ‘new’ mummy came to the rescue and signalled to run around. Luckily I was clever enough to work this out and ran up to her. Mouse said I was daft but reassured me that I had done the right thing as most girl sheep at the moment are either heavily pregnant or already have lambs, loose dogs are only ok if good round sheep. Very good lesson, one I will etch to memory.

I have just had my supper, I came into the office and did a huge belch after wiping my greasy whiskers & muzzle all over the carpet! Well I need to clean my face don’t I? Mouse always wipes her ‘whiskery beak’ on ‘new’ mummy’s trouser legs. Urgh at least I am not that rude! ‘New’ mummy calls it my thank-you dance, I have started doing this after meals and like to spend time rubbing my whole face and dragging my belly along with my legs out stretched behind like a frog. Satisfied that I am clean and adored, I have now settled in the cat cave to lick between my toes before having a snooze.  I hate dried mud between the toes!

I am being very good, ‘new’ mummy said she said she knows you miss me and that it would have been very hard for you to let me go. I hope my letter doesn’t make it any worse, you can come and see me any time. I just wanted to tell you that I really am fine and you shouldn’t be sad anymore, just happy that I am being spoilt. Truth be told, I am spoiled rotten and have everyone wrapped round my little claw!

Love Poppy x