The Life Of Riley

Nag, Nag......Sing Sing and more great escapes

2010-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all, sorry it's been so long, but I have been a very busy boy. I have been learning so much about life. One very important lesson I have learned is that if we all get together and nag mum long enough she takes us for a walk! You really should try it.

We have also learned to sing, although I have to admit it's not very tuneful. Mum has the radio on a lot and certain songs make us want to join in. Charlie always starts us off with a lovely deep bass awhooooo, Coco has problems with his throat so he kind of screeches which set me off (I, of course, have a wonderful voice) then Millie joins in...hee hee she is really high pitched and kind of goes oo oo oo oo oo o o o o I think it's at a level only dogs can hear. We do love a good sing, but mum spoils the fun and puts Classic FM on when they go out as this relaxes us and we don't join in with classical music, it's far too complicated!

The other thing I have been trying to learn is how to escape from our garden. Millie is fantastic at it!! Mum and dad are now on fence number three, and so far so good, she has stayed in the garden. Although it's not through lack of trying on her part, but mum and dad are being extra vigilant too. I have tried to escape but I am just too big to fit through the holes Millie makes. She loves it, she goes and explores next doors garden, they have a big trampoline and she likes to stand on that and have a good look around. If she is feeling really naughty she will go into the next garden and explore that too. It's very funny to see mum going to the neighbours and asking "Please may we have our dog back" and her with 'Dog Trainer' stickers on her car too, pah!. Mind you Millie is an adolescent now, she's one year old, so she is trying everything. I am 3 now and mum says I am a big grown up boy, but that doesn't make sense as Coco and Charlie are really, really old and they still act like puppies sometimes so that should mean I can too and I think I will!

I will let you know what I get up to soon

Riley

Cheese and Buscuits

2009-12-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

Guess what, I have learned to track buscuits, cheese, oh... and people. Mum and dad taught me by putting some cheese on a string and while mum held onto my long lead dad showed me the cheese, dragged it on the ground for a few steps then picked it up and walked away to hide from me. Ha! hide from me? I think not. My nose has super powers I can find dad easily. They even tried to make it more difficult by just using a glove to smell and find mum with, no problem for Super Riley I tell you.I think I should be one of those sniffer dogs. Well, most of the time, sometimes I find something else that smells more interesting so mum or dad just stop and wait for me to find the scent again before we move on.
I am very fast at this and like to do it at a running pace. The only problem with this is we could never sneak up on someone. Mum makes so much noise, giggling or moaning as she does what she calls grass skiing.
The other day I was finding dad and some ham, well I mainly searching for the ham but I wouldn't tell dad that. Anyway mum was following me with a long 3 metre lead attached to my harness when for no reason at all she fell over. I didn't notice, I was busy doing my job, so I just carried on. I dragged her through the mud and across a few bits of wood. Cor she made some noises that day, nothing my innocent ears should be hearing, I tell you. I couldn't see what the problem was myself, it was just a bit of mud on her knees and then on her bum, oh and her hands, and yes, there was some down her side and up her arm too. To me she looked and smelt wonderful. I don't think she was too chuffed having to get back to the car with people staring at her and dad laughing...and she had taken her car with her 'dog trainer' signs all over it!
I think I heard her saying something about it having to be dry to play that game from now on? Don't know why??

Some Dogs Do 'Av 'Em

2009-10-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

Hello, it's me again.
What adventures we have had since I last spoke to you. One day mum took me for a quiet walk, just the two of us, to our local park. We were wondering around together, I had my lovely posh harness on and a wonderful 3 meter lead. I like it when we have these times together, I get to sniff everything, and now and then mum points something out to me that she 'thinks' may be interesting to me and we sit together and watch the world go by. We generally have a lovely relaxing time.

Well, this day I was busy checking out some bushes and mum spotted a Guide dog, with all her stuff on, doing the same as me. Just wandering quietly sniffing around checking out who had been in the park recently. Mum seemed startled by this, she went all of a twitter (I'm on Twitter too you know!)
saying "oooh, oh, um, oh",which made no sense to me?? Then she asked me to come with her to find the dogs owner. Again, what's the problem, she was calm a just sniffing around, but mum seemed to think this was wrong for some reason. Then she spotted a lady tapping a white stick on the ground and walking along. I could see she was relaxed by her body language, but I don't think humans look at people the same way us dogs do, we are far better at understanding you than you realise, you know.
Anyway, off we go, straight up to this lady with my mum saying, "Excuse me, excuse me, have you lost your dog?" Well, I could have hidden in the bushes with embarrassment the woman really has NO idea does she!! The lady was very kind and only laughed a little when she said she was fine and had just let her dogs off to have a wander.
I really don't think it occurred to mum that all service dogs need time to sniff and relax, just like me. Sniffing and relaxing helps us to be calm and balanced. I worry how that poor woman gets by on a day to day basis, I really do.

Riley

Feng Shui Expert

2009-09-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

Hello my friends, I think I have found my calling in life!
The other day mum and dad bought a new lamp for the lounge. It's very tall with two lights on it, one pointing upwards and one pointing down. That's two huge bright eyeballs and I'm sure one of them was watching me! I don't like new things at the best of times especially if they stare at me.
Well, they put it in a corner of the room, I didn't like it, I stared at it for while, then, crouched down near the ground, maybe it wouldn't notice me or would know I was not a threat, and I left the room. It was not right you know!
Mum and dad called me and played and made funny noises in the room, it did sound like everyone was having a great time so I peeped round the door. They were all having fun playing with our favorite things, empty milk cartons (they are such fun and make great noises) but the monster was still in the corner. Had no one else noticed it? Were they all blind? You really couldn't miss it and it was definitely watching me!!
Well, I plucked up all my courage and went in the room, keeping low to the ground and moving very slowly to show the monster how nice and friendly and nonthreatening I can be, everyone carried on playing. Not me. I had to make sure this monster didn't attack my family. I watched it all day and all evening and the next day. In the end dad moved it into the dining room. Do you know it looks fine there and isn't scary at all.
Mum and dad said I must be a Feng Shui expert. I think that means I am an expert in being cute and lovable. That sound right to me :-)

Speak soon

Riley

Holidays

2009-08-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hello, guess what, we went on holiday! We went to stay with Nan and Granddad while mum & dad went somewhere hot. We had a great time as you will see by the copies of my emails to mum. She does worry so!! Here they are:
Dear mum and dad,

we thought it would be a good idea to let you know how we are

As you have gone on holiday without us!!

Well we are having a great time in Locking. Yesterday we went to the airfield for a walk and we really panicked because they had fenced it off and we thought we wouldn’t be able to have a run but then we found a gate so it was o.k.

Today we went for a walk round the village. It’s a nice place and everyone is very friendly and wanted to talk to us.

Millie is being very good – well – good for Millie and has only jumped out of the conservatory window twice and tried to jump back in once.

Coco is getting lots of cuddles from Nan so he’s happy and Charlie is just Charlie. Nan ’s typing this for me as my paws are too big for the keyboard but she should be getting our tea. It’s gone 4 o’clock and we are trying to convince her that it IS teatime but I don’t think she believes us!!

I – of course – am being really good and although Nan keeps trying to get me to sit on her lap – I don’t think so! However Granddad is another matter and I have managed a couple of times but not for long, but by the time you get home I’ll have him trained.

We all hope you have a lovely holiday. Don’t’ rush back cus we are enjoying ourselves too!!!

Lots of luv Riley.

P.S. Nan and Granddad send their luv too!

Then I sent this one:

Dear mum and dad, just a quick letter to keep you up to date
Everything is much the same as before - even the weather is good!
Now you know me, I'm not a snitch but..... well last night Millie was sitting on the chair
in the conservatory when Nan noticed she was eating something. So she went to have a look.
You should have seen the look on her face when she discovered it was a slug but even better when
she found it was half a slug and she had to get it out of Millie's mouth.
I had to leave the room before she saw me grinning. Anyway she's o.k. now (Nan I mean)
Millie couldn't see what all the fuss was about (bless her).

Lots of luv Riley

Well it turns out that mum & dad missed us so much they have promised to take us with them next year....Oh THAT will be fun!! :-)

Phewie That Was Hot!!!!

2009-07-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hello all, well hasn't it been hot. We have spent most of our days lying around doing nothing much. Mum and dad made sure we had lots of water and we even had bone ice lollies straight from the freezer, they were REALLY YUMMY :-))
We didn't go for walks everyday though because it was so hot but we really didn't mind, it was more fun to play in our paddling pool in the garden and hunt out some treats when it was cooler in the evenings. We did go for a couple of walks but they were only when it was very late and cool. Mum and dad were worried about us burning our paws or getting over heated.
We have all been to the groomers for our summer hair cuts...we look very posh and smell like big girls blouses! Millie came with us, just to watch and have a little bath, so that in future when she does need a trim she doesn't get scared. She enjoyed her bath and the attention and cuddles she got from our lovely groomers. We like going there.
Oh yes, Millie snores louder than the rest of us put together, and that includes mum!! she woke me up the other day because she was snoring so loudly. She also dreams a lot and makes yipping and barking noises, she looks likes she is trying to run on her side too, it's very funny. Mum says we have to let her dream and not wake her up as it is her way of learning and coping with new things. That can be quite difficult when she is making a lot of noise and squirming around. She also get hiccups a lot too, mum says all puppies get hiccups a lot, so I must be a big boy as I don't get them anymore!
Must go and play...byeeeeee
Riley

Partners in Crime

2009-05-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hello again, guess what....mum & dad went to Newport and came back with a puppy, amazing what you can get now days isn't it!
She is a Springer Spaniel and is called Millie 'the minx'
When she first arrived I was very unsure about her. What was she? Was she gong to eat me with those amazingly sharp teeth? I felt quite sure she was.
At least mum & dad took her upstairs with them at night for the first couple of nights. It gave her time to settle in and us time to get used to her.
Anyway, it turns out she is great fun!! She is so easy to encourage, all I have to do is pull something out she shouldn't have and she just can't resist and them mum or dad have to swap it for something she should have, like one of her toys. It's great fun, they havn't sat down since she got here...hee!..hee!
I heard them saying they had forgotten how much fun and how much hard work a puppy is. I am sure I was never that much trouble.
Millie has great attitude, she is very brave and sometimes tries to hang from my beard. She sleeps a lot though, but we all know we have to leave her alone when she is in her bed or asleep anywhere.
She has had a couple of accidents in the house, but no big deal, usually when she is over excited. Mum & dad take her out when she wakes up and when she has eaten, oh she really loves her food and she gets 3 meals a day. Cor it's alright for some eh, we only get two. Anyway they don't make a fuss when she has had an accident, they just clear it up and get on with life, it's all very calm, which I remember really helped me not to worry about things and therefore learn faaster when I was a young puppy too.
I'm off to bed now, I am so tired after all this play. I will let you know what trouble me and my partner in crime get up to soon. Wish us luck :-)

Riley
x

Mmmmm Muddy Puddles

2009-04-23T02:40:00.000-07:00

So, we went for a lovely walk in our local park. We played chase and fetch with our balls for a while (these are balls on the end of a long piece of string, we don't have any of the other kind!)
and then we just wandered and enjoyed all the wonderful smells our park has.
Well, mum then said she felt it was time to go home, something about having to go to work, I don't know what work is, but mum & dad go out to do it so we get peace and quiet then.
We all headed for the car. We are so lucky, our park has a car park right in the middle. I got in first, I am always first in as I am such a good boy, then Charlie got in, then mum picked up Coco and put him in (he is old now and finds jumping too tiring after a walk) then it was Bryn's turn. He decided he hadn't finished his walk yet so ran off. Mum asked us to stay, and ran off in the other direction, she was waving her arms around and making lots of silly noises (I do worry about her sometimes!) anyway, it turned out to be a cunning plan, Bryn saw her having such a fun time and couldn't resist running to her. She looked very smug. However, when he got near her he turned and ran back off. Not so smug now eh!?? He ran straight to a very big and deep muddy puddle and flopped down in it. Mum's face was a picture, she stomped across the park but as soon as she got near to Bryn he ran off. He spotted a lovely dog and went to play with her.The other dogs dad had been watching Bryn and mum and laughing at the fun they were having. He helped mum and kept Bryn with him until she could get to him. She then marched him back to the car.
Oh he did not want to get in. She opened the side door to get him in and he just stood there. So she lifted his two front soggy and very muddy paws and put them in the car. She then tried to lift his back legs, he moved his front legs either side of the door, she pushed and made some type of groaning noise, Bryn didn't budge. He looked like that ginger cat Garfield you see stuck to things with all four legs around the door. She pushed and shoved again, still groaning and huffing and puffing. Finally Bryn decided enough was enough, he had had his fun and climbed in quite happily. Mum then got in the car mumbling something about adolescent dogs with attitude......what a wonderful walk
I will speak to you soon about our adventures.
Bye for now
Riley

Slug Farting Competitions

2009-03-27T03:53:00.000-07:00

One night Bryn started barking, it was the middle of the night. I couldn't hear anything and neither could Coco or Charlie so we didn't bark.
Mum & dad called down and thanked Bryn for being such a good guard dog "Good boy, Bryn, thank you" they said. They always thank us when we are letting them know something is going on that is out of the ordinary, we are very good at our job!
Anyway, Bryn kept barking so dad got up and looked out of the window, he couldn't see anything either, it was all very odd. He thanked Bryn again for doing a great job of hearing something none of us could. Bryn barked a couple of times more, he likes to get the last word in does our Bryn (mind you, so does mum!) and then we all settled down for the rest of the night.
In the morning I heard mum & dad talking about Bryn barking in the night, they seemed to know what it was. They said there must have been a slug farting competition going on.

Can you hear the slugs farting three doors away?........Bryn can.

Riley

The Great Escape

2008-12-04T00:46:00.000-08:00

Well as Christmas is coming and I don't know if the film will be on the telly, bet you 2 biscuits it will though. I thought I would tell you about Charlie's great escape yesterday.
Yesterday morning next doors cat sat in the middle of our garden pulling faces and swaggering around like he owned the place. Well, you can imagine what we thought of that! We all ran out into the garden and he ran off into his own garden through a small hole in the fence and the hedge. Charlie tracked him through the hole, it must have taken some effort to get through such a small gap but he made it. We cheered him on!!
When mum & dad noticed only 3 of us had come back in they went looking for him. "Charlie, Charlie come" they called...no Charlie. They eventually realised he had sneaked through the gap, I sometimes wonder how they get by on a day to day basis, I really do! Dad called Charlie through the gap, but he didn't come, he told me he was having far too much fun exploring a whole new world. Mum then went upstairs to look out of the window, she looked and looked but couldn't see him, so she called him too. He saw her upstairs but couldn't get to her, he stood by the fence crying. (big nesh nelly, I wouldn't have cried I would be a brave adventurer, given half the chance) Dad started to call him then, but he was so busy panicking he wasn't listening, mum says that dogs are just like people and don't listen when they are panicking about something. So our man had to make a significantly larger hole in the fence and hedge and climb through. He stood in next doors garden (our neighbours had gone out or they would have helped Charlie, luckily for us they are nice neighbours) and he called Charlie. Charlie was still panicking at the fence and wasn't listening, in the end dad had to go and get him and take him to the end of the garden with the rather large hole in. As he let Charlie go, to go through the fence, the daft boy ran back down the other end again and stood there crying at the fence. Poor exasperated dad had to go down again and this time he carried him back up the garden and popped him through the hole. Which he then had to hastily repair or we would all have had an great adventure too.
Charlie is fine now, he is a bit clingy, but we are all pretending nothing happened , he will soon be fine again and trying to start a new adventure.

What a day.
Riley
www.the-dog-lady.co.uk

Please Allow Me To Indrocduce Myself....

2008-11-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

Hello my name is Riley, I am a Springer x Collie. My family took me in when I was very young, they are the fourth family I have lived with , but I have been with them now for two years and am happy here. They call me "Riley Parker" I also live with two Cocker Spaniels, Coco aka "Coco Pops" (he is a chocolate doggie) who is nearly 12 years old, Charlie aka "Charlie Bear" I have to admit he does look a bit like a bear, he has very big paws for such a small dog . We also lived with Bryn aka "Pooh" or "Brynie The Pooh" a very very big German Shepherd for 18 months while my family helped him to learn how to relax, enjoy life and be a polite family member. Mum used to call me and Bryn 'Kevin & Perry' as she says we can be just like stroppy teenagers some days :-)

My mum is a dog behviourist, I am so lucky that I was brought up by someone who understands me. She loves me for who I am and accepts that all dogs, just like humans, have different personalities and limitations. I have been able to learn at my pace without any pressure.

As I am such a clever boy, I thought I would write a blog today to tell you about us and the things we get up to.

Speak to you soon

Riley
www.the-dog-lady.co.uk