Appropriate material for shredding?

When Gail's New Scientist magazine arrived this week, she told me all about how, from a very young age, my predecessor Bouncing Bertie took a great interest in scientific matters, and she suggested perhaps I might like to follow suit. 

I noticed there was an article all about dogs in this issue and so I took a peep inside.

Well. I am embarrassed to tell you it was all about how my own species, both feral and fully domesticated strains, are considered a threat to biodiversity and in general a Bad Thing for the environment. 

As you can imagine, I was all for putting the magazine onto the pile for shredding (by me, of course). But then Gail pointed out there was a useful section on 'How to be an eco-friendly dog owner'. These rules for humans seem quite reasonable so I've decided to give this science business one more chance after all. 

Although whether Gail is successful in training me not to stray remains to be seen...

What else has been happening this week? 

Well the most exciting event by far was my first ever visit to Gail's cottage on Loch Torridon. I'll be giving you a full report on Friday, but here's a sneak preview. 

Long time readers of previous blogs will recognise the view from the garden so beloved by Hamish the Westie and Bouncing Bertie.

I made myself right at home inside too, 

And then found the perfect spot, right by the front door, to show off my rapidly lengthening legs.

I think this is a place where an (eco-friendly) dog could be very happy.
 

Puppy class going to plan...?

So I bet you've been wondering how I'm getting along at Puppy Class?

I think it's all going to plan, I really do. 

The best bit so far was when Gail squirted a great big dollop of Primula cheese*, straight from the tube and onto my snout. Apparently this is part of some elaborate (Gail says over-elaborate) routine to train me not to pull on the lead. 

I think I came top of the class, 'cos none of the other puppies got more than a wee morsel of cheese, and none of it smeared all over their face. 

And I won't even entertain the thought that Gail's approach to the exercise was somewhat cack-handed and the cheese was not supposed to end up in such a large quantity on my fuzzy phizog. No, absolutely not, that would be disloyal to Gail.

In the end I felt rather sorry for Chewy the Cairn Terrier, who walked so compliantly and incuriously beside his human that the tube of Primula was not even deployed. And bad luck too, to Ezra and Pointer and Pedro the Cockerpoo, who did get a portion of the gooey cheese, but none to take home with them in their beards. Not that Ezra has a beard, but you know what I mean....

*Gail considers Primula to be 'cheese' only in the loosest sense of the word...

A debate on the Nature of Nature Friday

Now that I am out and about and enjoying lots of short walks around my locality, I am of course bursting with ideas for my 'Nature Friday' posts. 

I am all excited at the thought of telling you about the interesting and exquisite aromas I have been encountering on my walks, ranging from 'Decomposing Seagull', through to 'Solid Excretions from Local Fox who has been Rummaging in the Bins'.

So Gail took me to the Duthie Park, and I am pleased to report on what I found:

Here I think my neighbour Angus the Black Lab has tried to claim some territory under the Berberis bush.

Now we have the sweet trace of a discarded 'joint' under the Lenten roses. Cool, man...

Here in front of the bed of pink 'Bellis' blooms I am distracted by a passing jogger, bearing the distinctive whiff of sweaty male human. Nice juicy looking calves too...

Hmmm. The marsh marigolds proliferate around the edge of the nicely stagnant pond water. I wonder if Gail will let me wade in there and take a sip. (She didn't). 

Next, a boringly well ordered bed of Primula. On the far side I see some crows are murdering a discarded fish supper, just out of shot. Interesting. 

Most of the daffodils in the park are a bit 'past it' by now. Unlike yours truly! 

To my mind the, best thing in the next picture is the nice crunchy snail I found under the geranium plant. 

But Gail (who removed the snail from between my clenched jaws) says I'm missing the point and I need to post a close up of the magnificent 'Crown Imperial' lily. 

Under the magnolia bush close to the entrance, one's nose is assaulted by a veritable deluge of messages left by canine visitors who have clearly been holding it all in until within the park boundary. 

Finally, on the way home, I think a C-A-T must have been prowling around near this cherry tree. 

Again, Gail says I am missing the point, and readers will want to see the glorious cherry blossom and not read about the cat pee... In fact, she claims I have still much to learn about 'appropriate' Nature Friday material and that I should focus next time on 'posing nicely' and describing all the pretty flowers.  

Happy Nature Friday to all my lovely friends - especially blog hop hosts the LLB Gang.

Proud Godmother or Proud Dogmother?

After a couple of trips to the park this week, Gail has pronounced that I am "Born Social".

'Born Social' happens also to be the name of a highly successful social media agency whose CEO is Gail's lovely godson Ben. 

Gail herself, I have noticed, is only social 'up to a point'. Which I guess will have to do. 

Photo taken by M in Johnston Gardens, Aberdeen

My Big Bro

It's very annoying, isn't it, when your big brother is allowed to do things but you are deemed too young.

So Gail took me along to the start of the monthly 'Aberdeen'n'shire Foxie Walk' on Sunday morning. 

Can you believe there were eleven of us wire fox terriers - a whole football team's worth - assembled in the Robert Gordon University car park. Including several relatives.

Closest of all the relatives was my big brother Rupert, a year senior to me - same breeder (Alex), same parents (Vikki and Jimbob).

Nobby and Big Bro Rupert

After the obligatory intros and much cooing over my adorableness, the pack set off on a walk through the campus and down to the river. 

I was getting along swimmingly with my foxie pals, and so was most perplexed when, after about ten minutes, Gail pulled me up short, saying "OK Nobby, that's quite enough excitement this morning for one so young. We need to go back to the car".

Let me tell you, I DID NOT NEED TO GO BACK TO THE CAR! 

I mean, I was learning so much from Big Bro Rupert. Like how he had once accompanied his human to the office and chewed right through the line manager's internet cable.... 

And Rupert was allowed to continue on the walk, but not me.  It's all so TOTALLY UNFAIR.