I went to a BBQ last Saturday night at my friend Harry's place. Harry's a cute little black poodle.

There was lot's of great food - so I'm told. I didn't seem to get any of it.

This is Harry with Ximena and Hernan.

Harry also lives with a cat! So I spent a goodly part of the evening staring at the cat and the place where the cat had been... just in case he came back. This made Kay nervous, so I also spent a goodly part of the evening tied to a tree.

Then it was time for photos, but Harry just wouldn't sit still for very long. I struck up my best pose, but he distracted me by sniffing my ear. Hmmph. Harry, stop that! Anyway, a good time was had by all (except maybe the cat).

Here's a mystery for you. How can their be two balls...and yet only one ball??

I'm pretty smart at most things, but this has me baffled. My nose says one ball...but my eyes say two! Sure wish I could find that other ball.

Here I am at my post - on duty - watching the empty spot across the road. I sit here for hours... waiting... just waiting... just in case HE should appear.

When HE does, I make an enormous racket and gallop up the hallway to let everyone know about it too. They are supposed to get up and quickly open the door so I can chase HIM, but they never seem to figure this bit out.

This is HE for whom I wait.

Once, when Neil was not paying enough attention, I raced out the gate and chased that devilish black critter clear around his apartment block! Ha, that was great.


There are quite a few other cats in this neighbourhood too. I have to be on full alert to spot them all as they loll about, thinking they own the place.

Here's the one just two doors down. He's oh so smug - doesn't realise how dangerous and dedicated us Airedales are. You just wait, cat... one day I might get lucky.

Kay makes me practice my heeling up and down past him and the others. She thinks I should stay focused on her! Not likely.

But she sometimes pivots around so quickly, that I don't notice. She's a bit tricky like that, so I do have to pay attention so as not to get a rude surprise.

She calls it distraction training and it truly does drive me to distraction.

Neil and I had an airedog practice this arvo. We had three frisbees and he thought that I would just go mad over them - but he didn't know that the yellow spongy one is my all time favourite.

I didn't want to let go of it - but it is impossible to catch another one, when your mouth is full.

Take my word on this, I tried.




But we had good fun and lot's of exercise. I didn't so much as jump over his leg, as climb up the front of him to try and get one.

I might need to study up on the finer points of airedog - my hero, the amazing Ludwig from Poland does it really well. See his video from youtube.

Phew, a southerly came through last night and cooled things down. It's lovely and cool now.

Went out and did a bit of training tonight - obedience training starts next Sunday and Kay thought a bit of warming up would be a good thing. It involves food, I'm all for it.

There's another Airedale at my training club - his name is Selby.
Here's a photo of us together one club day.

This is another mate, Billy. We were at the Airedale NSW fun day. We get to dress up which is fun. I'm admiring his costume... I think he is suppposed to be an Advent calendar...?

Hey look at me - I just got a new haircut for the hot weather. I'm looking rather smart, if I do say so myself.

It wasn't always this way. When I was young pup, I went off to a grooming salon for my first clip.

When Neil picked me up, he was so horrified that he yelled at the woman "What have you done to my dog?!"

It was pretty bad - made me look like a pinhead.

I never went back. Kay went out and bought some clippers and with regular practice is doing a pretty good job.

Either way, a new haircut sure makes my ears look big!

I'm on a diet these days - once my winter curls got cut off, there was no denying that I had been eating a bit too well over the last few months. It's all the treats I get when training, and we've been doing a lot of training!

Hopefully over the next month or so, you will see me turn into a slimmer, svelte version of myself. Probably for the best, it will be easier to clear those jumps without the extra weight.

Happy New Year to all my new friends on this blog! I hope everyone had a good day and that we all have a great 2009.

It was sooo hot here yesterday. We didn't do anything all day - just lay around and nursed our sore heads.

Here's me and Neil on the cool kitchen tiles.