Wordless Wednesday: Look what I stole from the shopping today

The dog's blog: All four paws in the air

This may be my last jump now that I have been diagnosed with arthritis.  I'm trying to get used to a quieter life!

Wordless Wednesday: The dog's blog: What I did mostly on holiday

The dog's blog: An update on my assessment

Hello again,
Lots of you were kind enough to wish me luck with my Pets as Therapy assessment last week (see this blog if you missed it) - thank you.  Well, I'm happy to report it went really well - I got top marks in everything except that right at the start I pulled a bit, which I always do when I'm excited because I'm in a new place.  Even when I was being brushed, I totally resisted the temptation to even try eating the brush!

Yawning!

Mummy and Daddy were so pleased with me that I was immediately taken to Pets at Home to get treats (and a little tug toy gift for my friend Buddy who kindly lent me his short lead for the assessment).  Then we went to the park for a lunchtime walk where I met another three friends, the retired guide dogs, who are always great fun to run around with. 

After all that activity, I was totally flaked for the afternoon! 

Now the forms have to go back to the Pets as Therapy office where they decide whether I'm suitable, which could take three months.  The whole thing was nearly off when Mummy discovered she had to include a photograph of herself with the application as she's totally phobic about having her photo taken.  Anyway, she's decided she can always wear a balaclava during the visits so as not to scare the patients!  Finding a photo of me was not a problem as the place is full of them.  I chose this one where I think I look calm and serene :-)

See you soon,
Lucca  x

The dog's blog: In training

This is me at the end of the Pennine Way in Scotland.

Just a quick blog from me - I've been in serious training since I got back from holiday for my assessment tomorrow and not had time to blog much.  I've never had an assessment before and tomorrow someone will decide if I'm suitable to be a Pets as Therapy dog - there's a link there if you've not heard of the charity which arranges for dogs (and cats) to visit hospitals, hospices and care homes.  Mum thinks I might be suitable, and that having a 'job' would be good stimulation for me.  I don't mind at all, especially if it involves more fussing and petting and lots more people giving me treats. 

So wish me luck.  I've been practising the tasks really hard and the only one I'm really struggling with is not mouthing my brush.  It would just be so much fun to get that brush in my mouth and run like the blazes away from mummy and have a really good chew of it...

Love Lucca  x

Worldless Wednesday: Such a good holiday

Here I am digging a moat for this great castle!

Wordless Wednesday: The dog blogs again

Just look at the size of this!

The dog's blog: At last I get to speak!

So, apparently now that I am three years old, I'm allowed to use my mum's blog occasionally to report important things in my canine life and speak to all you lovely dogs out there about things we find important.  At last!  I have so much to say.

Shall I introduce myself?  Mum says only briefly, because some of you know me already.  I'm Lucca, I'm a (dark) chocolate Labrador, a boy but now seperated from some of my boy bits!  I'm frequently told I'm the best dog in the world, most handsome dog in the world, best dog swimmer in the world, cleverest dog in the world (less often!) etc, etc.  Modesty forbids me from commenting.

I was born three years and 12 days ago on a working farm in the countryside.  My real mum and dad were both chocolate Labs too, and so were my 11 brothers and sisters.  I was torn from my real family at the age of 12 weeks and brought to this small but fairly comfortable house by 'mummy' and 'daddy'.  Obviously I miss the company of other dogs, but to be honest, the sofa, central heating and not having to compete with anyone for dog food beat the rather basic stable where I spent my first three months hands down. 

My only interest in crafts is when the occasional bead rolls off mum's table and finds its way into my mouth.  They are not very tasty at all so I usually spit them out.  So my bit of the blog will be a craft-free zone.  

Enough apparently - I could go on all day. Can I just say what I've been up to recently?  Here goes.

Lots of swimming - especially with my friend Bonnie, the retriever, who has been recovering from hip operations for a long time and has only just come back to join me on walks. Here I am playing one of my favourite games - recover the stick from the water then refuse to give it up to be thrown in again.

Here I am at the International Dog Agility Show at Kelmarsh Hall at the weekend. It was so tiring watching all those collies running and jumping over things that I just had to find a stick and take some time out.  (Wish mummy wouldn't take those pictures of me with my tongue peeking out a bit, it's so demeaning!) I had a go at agility but frankly I couldn't see the point.  And to be honest, my mummy is getting a bit old to be trying to run around alongside of me looking like a middle aged women struggling to keep up with a dog.  The man said I was probably better suited to chasing game, and that is true, I love a good game!

Of course, my life isn't all fun and games, walks and naps and eating (just 99% of it), I have some serious work to do too.  On a Sunday morning, one of my jobs is to carry the Travel section of the Sunday papers home.  Daddy likes it nice and wet and slobbered on apparently.  And I am so proud to serve my pack leader.  People smile a lot and pat me as I go past as well, which is always appreciated.

So, fellow dogs, what have you been up recently?  Let's get a canine conversation going!