Bertie goes to Manchester, bonding with human pups, Easter foodables, cardboard chewing and an award!

JD - Hi everyone - we've got LOADS to tell you about!

Max - We sure have! First up is that our humans abandoned us AGAIN, to go to yet ANOTHER concert - sigh.....

JD - Oh, we didn't mind really did we Max? After all, we got to have a night away at the kennels, where we always get fussed loads!

Max - Shhhh - don't let the humans know that! I thought we could sulk for a bit to possibly elect sympathy and foodables.....

JD - Oh, right - good plan bro', he he he!

Max - Anyway, we WERE slightly miffed because our humans got to visit cousin Ronnie and cousin Carol in Manchester. We were due to visit them just after Christmas, but because of the really bad weather in the UK it had to be called off.

JD - We were very sad as we really want to meet them ourselves, knowing how much our humans love them! So because we couldn't go this time either we did the next best thing and sent Bertie, our minniature schnauzer stuffie, to meet them instead!!

Bertie snuggles up with Carol as all the humans say cheese!

Bertie continues enjoying Carol's attentions as the female humans pose together!

Max - Carol is a bit of a celebrity in Manchester! We don't think there's anyone she doesn't know - one of the reasons why Bertie wanted 'in' on the photos with her, he he he!

JD - For instance, here she is with Sir Alex Ferguson!! (We apologise for the picture quality - it's a picture of a picture).....

Carol with Sir Alex - look at those other hangers on, all wanting their photo taken with Carol too (he he he!)

Max - We could go on listing a whole realm of famous people Carol and Ronnie know, but we don't want to turn this post into a 'who's who' - plus, Carol and Ronnie know these people because they like them, not because they're famous, so we thought we'd respect that by not going starry eyed and ga-ga about it (although we would like to mention that FH does sometimes gets a bit excitedly tongue-tied about it all!)

JD - Carol and Ronnie both do so much good work just to make the world a better place for all of us. They're prolific fund raisers as well as being personally involved with dyslexia awareness and Carol really enjoys her theatre involvement - please do take the time to check out Celebrity Pigs (FH recommends everyone watch the film 'Flesh and Blood').

Max - So we wanted to personally say 'hi cousin Ronnie and hi cousin Carol!' on our blog - we can't wait until we get to meet you in pupson!

JD - Next up on our list of news is our ongoing training with human pups.

Max - Hmmmm, I'm always a bit suspicious of human pups - they usually move really quickly and are incredibly LOUD!

JD - Oooh, no - I simply LOVE human pups!

Max - Sigh - I know bro', I know! But then you are a lot more laid back than me!

JD - As we don't live with human pups FH is very keen that we nevertheless get used to them so that we can be as comfortable as possible in any given human-pup scenario! So, at least once a week FH takes us on a walk to the local supermarket. Not to shop, but to wait outside for about 20 minutes.

Max - At first we thought she was completely mental! Supermarkets are crazy - there are so many people everywhere, cars and motorbikes revving up, shopping trolleys trundling past making strange noises, children running around screaming or whooshing past on roller skates or skateboards, lots of people shouting into their mobile phones - seriously, you humans are so NOISY!

JD - But after a few weeks we got used to it and now we're really relaxed about it.

Max - And the best thing is that whilst we're patiently waiting around FH is usually approached several times by a hassled looking parent with children, asking if they can 'pet the doggies'.

JD - I LOVE this part - my tail nearly wags off! I let the human pups do whatever they want with me - they can pull my ears and tug my tail and shriek as loud as they want, I remain gentle and happy.

Max - I'm not quite so keen - I usually hang back whilst JD gets the initial attention. But then I get a bit jealous so I move in for some fussing myself!

JD - FH will always tell the human pups how to interact with us and how NOT to approach a doggie, so even if they started by pulling my ears they soon stop. But I don't mind at all - those human pups can do anything they want to me without me getting grumpy....

Max - ....unlike me! But this is why these sessions are so good, as the human pups learn and I'm get more confident each time.

JD - Mind you, there is one human pup who we both adore - meet N, the granddaughter of one of our puppy sitters....

Max enjoys a back rub from N - mmmm, nice!


JD settles down for an afternoon of delightful ear scritches!


We love N - and we're such lucky boys because she loves us too!

Max - Now, we know Easter is over but we want to quickly show you the yummies that our humans let us have!

A scrummy Easter egg and bunny chewie each - mmmmm!


JD waits patiently for his treat, like the good boy that he is....


....whilst Max just can't help himself and leans in for crafty nibble!

"Mmmmm - super scrummy!"

JD - One other photo we wanted to quickly share with you is one of us having a good old chomp on some cardboard!

Max - When Honey mentioned recently that Hsin-Yi used to save up cardboard tubes for her to have a chew on we had to laugh because that's exactly what FH does for us!

JD - "Okay Max, assume the position - then rip that baby to shreds!!"

Max - "Hey JD, you look like you're chomping on a cigar, he he he!"

JD - Now, before we go we just want to show off our latest award! We have to apologise as FH has been dreadful at posting our awards over the past few months - sob!

Max - But we were SO proud of this award that we had very stern words with FH to ensure she posted it for us!

Thank you so much Tessa!

JD - Not only is Tessa a real cutie she's also a really amazing and inspirational doggie. At a tiny 5lbs she nevertheless appears huge in our eyes, as she's a medical assistance doggie for her mom.

Max - Thank you so much for this award Tessa - we are delighted to accept it and we're displaying it with immense pride! There is nothing to "do" for this lovely award - Tessa passed it onto us for being 'kind and wonderful' - *blush!*

JD - Thank you SO much Tessa and your mom - you rock!