Toastie Dog

I often wonder what it is that gets Peanut some pretty heavy attention when we go out for walks. Children will stop and shout to their parents, "Come and see this cute puppy!", or some other stomach churning shout of adulation. What's so cute about her? I remember the days that I was considered the cute one and was given this sort of attention, but between Peanut and Archie, I feel kind of left out these days.

The RW says that this is because I'm always at least 100 yards to the rear of the walking party, but that's a conscious decision. By coming across as an orphan or a stray I pray that someone else will take me! I try hard enough!

Meanwhile, I heard that Tony Blair is charging good money to have a photo taken with him. £180 it seems. For two dog biscuits and a chew I allowed Peanut to be photographed with me. Bit of a bargain? Yes, but that's the sort of guy I am!

Today, at the park, I achieved my best protest yet! I decided I was going to stay at the gate to welcome fellow canines as they entered and left the park. The Special One and Peanut had their usual silly romp, but I stood my ground and said "hello" and "cheerio" to all the dogs coming and going for a full 45 minutes. Of course I was available when the other two returned to jump back into the car.

Another strike for my new-found independence and a bitter blow to the LSR who thought he had me under control.

I'm now creeping up to sit in his chair with him in the evenings. One in the eye for the SO!

Over the past few days I've been developing the non-cooperation "gig". I spoiled a perfectly good walk on Sunday, going AWOL when everyone else was going to the waterside. Played hide-an-seek for a while then reappeared just as it was time to go back to the car!

The LSR and the RW had a long conversation about the situation, and it was agreed that the Special One should spend some time in the other sitting room in the evening so that I can be fussed over and made to feel more loved. One nil Toastie!

However, this has led to the discovery of one or two tangles in my ears, and the brush is inevitably brought out. Oh! How I hate to get brushed! Worse than getting no attention at all.

It's dilemma time for me, so I'm reconsidering my position. Anyone fancy a cute KCS, who doesn't eat a lot, has loads of love, in good health? My only negative is honking breath, but love overcomes all things!

I am so fed up these days, having been knocked off my perch as "Top Dog". The Special One is such a bully, and I can't take it much more. Peanut adores him, looks lovingly at this Golden Retriever as if he were Superdog, and I sit somewhere in the middle dreaming of the times when I was THE one!

It's time that I was noticed again. Time for the fuss and attention that rightly belongs to me, so I have adopted an attitude of non-cooperation. When I am called, I ignore the calling. I will start and finish walks in my own time and will not be seen as one of three any more. There are two dogs, then there is Toastie! I WILL get respect back and start a new fan club that ignores the "cute" puppy, and the slavering retriever.

There are so many ways to assert authority. I've begun waking up my humans at 6.15am even at weekends when they don't have to be up so early. That'll teach them who is TD!

Now we've reached the turn of the year, and it's dark by 5pm, the daily romp is taken over completely by the LSR. This doesn't please him, because I seemingly wander off when he has something "important" in his diary. He favours Levengrove Park rather than Balloch, and this causes the SO to come home black having rolled in the muddy puddles!

However, Levengrove is good for him, even with the wind off The Clyde and the incessant rain or sleet. He meets half the Parish in this park, all exercising my favourite friends. Lots of missionary work to be done here too, as we come across hoards of disaffected Church of Scotland members!

He looks at the weather forecast expectantly, and checks the diary. We are raring to go!

You never know with these guys! Take a look at this insanity!

Yesterday's walk. Elderly lady walking along, full of the joys, swinging her walking stick. Archie thinks it's a stick for throwing. Tug-of-war ensues.

I'm now finding that the RW is getting wise to my escape attempts. I'm on the lead most of the time these past two walks! Free the Dumbarton One!

Tried to escape with another family on four occasions yesterday. Thwarted every time! Meanwhile it emerges that the Special One has tangles in his coat too! His turn for the "nit comb" and the scissors!