Educating Tobermory

I’ve decided it’s time to step up Tobermory’s education.  He’s becoming quite accomplished at the ancient art of sofa restraint but if he’s ever going to be of help to me with security he has a lot to learn.

Going for neighborhood sniffs is an important part of any dog’s life.  It’s when we get to exercise our humans and check our surroundings for potential threats.  Tobermory is definitely into the sniffing but needs to work on his human handling.  I had to explain that you can’t just move at your own pace.  Humans are not very sure footed so it’s important to watch them.

As we get bigger and get more juice to stop us from getting sick, dogs are allowed to go on adventures without sitting in a bag and yesterday, since Tobermory’s first neighborhood sniff went well I thought we should take him out for a treat to sample bread at a local human feeding station.  It was bright outside so we took the motorized dog carrier with no roof which was a real treat for him.  He couldn’t believe how many good smells he could jam up his nose.

It’s always good to see regulars like Hogie and Sierra Belle and it would have been nice if Tobermory had not embarrassed me in front of them, but oh no.  He had to slip his harness and taunt the humans into playing a game of tag.  This is the height of bad manners while humans are eating and Hogie was kind enough to give me a few words of advice on teaching the correct etiquette for the outdoor feeding of humans.  I just copied Bowmore but Tobermory seems to be a little more of a free spirit.

What I don’t understand is why after this appalling behavior, he got to sit on a chair next to Mummy while I politely sat where I was told.

Talisker

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Keeping Tobermory occupied is really quite a challenge.  He likes to pretend he’s a bear hunter but gets bored of that pretty quickly and then bugs me while I’m on security duty.  In an effort to exhaust him so that I can get on with my work, I thought it would be a good idea to teach him to play crocodiles.  Bowmore used to play it with me occasionally when I was a puppy and it was one of my favorites but Tobermory has become quite obsessed by it.  Humans use a saying, “let sleeping dogs lie” and I now understand what they mean. The only relief I get from that fierce little dude is when he’s asleep.

Talisker

Family Ties

One thing I admire about our humans is that they are very good at staying in contact with their litter mates despite their living in faraway lands and having to travel on flying metal tubes to play with each other.

I lost touch with all my litter mates but luckily for Tobermory his litter mate, Kihei is taking care of a family of humans that ours know. His Daddy used to have a floating human carrier and our Daddy helped him chase other floating human carriers around a big lake called San Francisco Bay.  The things that humans do to amuse themselves never ceases to amaze me.

Kihei came to visit this weekend and watching the kids catch up was a real joy.  For me, having grown up with a mentor, it was very interesting to learn how he is honing his security skills without guidance.  One of the more important things to master for this job is the correct use of teeth.  Bowmore was my instructor and kindly offered his ears and nose for me to practice on and I in turn am doing the same for Tobermory.  Not having this resource, Kihei assumed that small humans wouldn’t mind if he practiced on their noses but apparently they don’t understand how important it is to perfect this skill and make loud squeaky noises and run away.

The kids spent all afternoon wrestling and Kihei’s Daddy took some great pictures of them with a really big picture box.  Our Daddy has always told us that size doesn’t matter but Mummy says it does if you’re taking pictures at the time.

I’m going to make sure I arrange more of these family reunions.  Not only do my ears and nose get a break, but the kids completely wear themselves out so I can get some time off from my babysitting duties.

Talisker

To Lil and Turbo

DEer Mom an Dad
My bIg bruver, TaliSker helPt me wok the riting bocks so I cood tel you Im fyn.  He ses AuNt P wil pars this to u.

MY nu kenel waS skary at fist but I lyk it now.  Talisker is teechin me lods of Nu stuf.  There R byg TAll beds cald sofas that lyk to run away so hes bin teechin me to HOld them dOun.  He ses i hav good teCHnik.

mY nu Mumy has rEd claws.  She maks kool sQeeky noses weN i bYt them.  she also has long fir On HEr hed that is fun to pool.

Yestada my nU dady took ME to a plase ware he drinks fALing ova Juce.  i sAt in a Speshial dog bag.  TALisker staid outside.  He SES hes too grone up to sit in bags.   I thingc he’s misiNG out coz it was prity cumfy an i got to CUdel Dady an lots of hoomans let me Lik thare noz.  thay wiR tasti.

giv Aunt P an Uncle R a LIK on the noz fRom me.

ByG liks,

Tobermory

Sleep Deprivation

Yesterday we took the motorized dog carrier for a ride on the piece of floating road to bring my little brother, Tobermory home to our kennel.  So far he’s showing some good potential for the security profession.  He follows our humans around the whole time and is particularly vocal when he can’t see them.  Man, can that kid yell although he does need to learn when it’s just not cool to express his opinions so loudly.  Little guys are hard work to keep occupied so I need all the shut eye I can get and didn’t appreciate the early morning ruckus that went on today.

Puppy’s come with lots of new toys.  Now, I mastered the correct technique for dismantling them pretty early on and Tobermory is going to need some help in this field.  However, for the moment I am concentrating on the basics of the art of sofa restraint.  There’s only so much you can expect a new security intern to absorb on his first day at a new kennel and at the very least, this lesson allows me to catch up on a little sleep.

Talisker