Saturday 26 September 2015

A Fit of the Naughties!




Dusty has naughty days when he keeps gathering things up. Often he’ll come in from the garden with a stone, a leaf or a stick. Sometimes it’ll be one of Harley’s beds or a toy or a shoe. I took all these photos one afternoon after school when he got a fit of the naughties!

With Mr Potato Head's lips

With Mr Potato Head's nose

Hiding behind Harley, eating my poppies

With a lid from the toy tea set


He is extremely quick to learn (except when it comes to walking nicely on the lead) and I have inadvertently taught him that if he brings me something, I will exchange it for something tasty. He usually brings his finds and sits in front of me with them as if to say, “Where’s my treat?” 

Indy used to do the same when the children were playing. In his case, I think he just wanted to join in the fun. I think Dusty does too - the treats are an added bonus!

He finds things when we’re out. At the moment there are a lot of windfall apples to be found and we can have quite a lengthy game of fetch with one of those before it disintegrates.

Last weekend he saw this at the beach.



He approached warily, walked round it, cocked his leg up at it, then moved on. But I wanted a photo of him with it and the only way to get him back was to offer him a dog biscuit – so that face he’s pulling is his eating a biscuit face.


This lovely September warm spell has enticed him back into the water. He’s been doing a lot of swimming over the past few days. When the tide is out he swims in the creek, but it’s too dangerous to swim there when the tide is in. It’s very deep and very fast moving. 



Swimming in the creek


Swimming in the sea




28 comments:

  1. Charlie has a naughty day every day I think, at the moment. Flossie is ok though maybe I should have taught her to exchange the things she retrieves for a treat, long ago...great idea! Love the images of Mr Potato head's lips in Dusty's mouth. Caught Charlie with his ear the other day. The kitchen looks as though a sheep has been sheared in it this morning as he grew bored and chewed a good lump out of his bed. I need to refill his toy box! :-)

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    1. And then they grow up to be worth every bit of it don't they? Dusty is in the process of unstuffing his bed. It's getting flatter and flatter, but he's not bothered as he doesn't sleep in it. He loves cardboard tubes and has been known to empty a loo roll to get to the prize inside :-) xx

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  2. Looking after my daughter's two labradors and they are a joy now they are older - but oh when they were pups!!! Gorgeous pictures Teresa xx

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    1. Labradors are particularly naughty puppies so I've heard, Sue - but they are such lovely dogs aren't they. I am very fond of Labradors xx

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  3. Dusty is so photogenic when he knows he's being naughty, that I'm sure you can't be cross with him for long, Teresa. It's the expression in his eyes. :-)

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    1. That little face gets me every time, Carol! I can never be cross with him and usually end up blaming myself - I shouldn't have left my mobile phone wire where he could eat it, I should have put my shoes away, I should have made sure the chairs were tucked in so he couldn't climb on the table and eat everything..... :-) xx

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  4. I love these pictures of Dusty, especially with Mr Potato head's lips. He has a wonderful, knowing expression on his face. What a lovely time he has on his outings, especially with the swimming. He must bring you all so much pleasure. xxx

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    1. I'm so glad I got him, Joanna. I was so lost and sad and he made me smile again xx

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  5. I think he's getting you well trained!

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  6. Teresa, evidently Dusty thinks he's a human child...?

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  7. So cute! I went to pilates last week (at the instructor's house)and when I came out into the hall I could only find one shoe. Eventually we found it in the dog basket!

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    1. I'm sure the taking of shoes means they like you, Wendy. When I go out, Dusty takes one (or several) of my shoes and curls up with it xx

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  8. Windfall apples are a nightmare here, as Harvey will gorge himself until sick! Every day now we have to go on apple patrol, especially looking for the ones that might have hidden under a bush and gone brown, as those are the ones he likes best!

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    1. Too many apples aren't good are they - you have your work cut out trying to find them before Harvey! Dusty ate all the windfalls off my daughter's tree a while back. He's quite happy to have one to play with and he eats what remains of it after his walk xx

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  9. Adorable boy - and Harley's a sweetie, too. xx

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    1. They are lovely - even when they're up to no good :-) xx

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  10. I had to smile when reading this post, Teresa. Dusty sounds like one of the small children I used to teach (without the lifting of the leg). Into everything, picking up everything in sight and cramming other children's snacks into his own lunchbox - practically taking 'Learning about Our World' to the extreme. He was such a cutie, just like Dusty. Wonderful pictures, Teresa. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Oh yes, that is just what he's like, Nicola! Lovely description of taking learning about our world to the extreme :-) xx

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  11. Dusty is one cheeky character Teresa. I howled when I saw him with Mr Potato lips!

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    1. He certainly is cheeky.My oldest grandson said that he is 25% dog, 25% human and 50% cat - that was just after he tried to climb up on the highest platform on Harley's cat platform - and fell off!! xx

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  12. I think that's the best thing to do when approaching an unidentified object - cock one's leg! :-)
    He looks very sheepish with Mr.Potato lips, but quite dashing though.xx

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    1. He does sheepish very well, Deb - so far today he's appeared with stones out of the garden, a toy cat, a bit of his bed and a snail! xx

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  13. What a lovely happy family. Spaniels do love the water don't they? Great pictures.

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    1. Indy was the first spaniel I ever knew who didn't like the water, Maggie. He didn't even like to get wet and only went in the water if it was a really hot day. I can't keep Dusty out of it - any water will do, even the smallest puddle :-) xx

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