no need for cats at my place

WOOF! Great news! I caught them. Two in two consecutive days.

They've been annoying the hell out of me for weeks. Sometimes, when I go for a walk with the Boss, or Graham or with flip and his Boss, when I get back home, some of my dry food has disappeared.

When I'm chilling about in the back yard, every now and then, I catch them out of the corner of my eye, working their way through the garden - trying to be as quiet as a church mouse. There ain't no church going mice in this house! Perhaps some field mice. Anyway, I caught them. Let's hope there's no more, but I think with the weather getting cooler, they're likely to bring their mates back to my place.

When the Boss came home, I presented him with my catch and He gave me lots of praise, a hug, and the extra-special yummy organic treats that I like. It was fun catching the mice, too. I watched them for a long time, studied their hid out in the back shed, and reached out my big paw and went 'whack'. I think that's why their eyes are all red.

Can't wait 'til winter sets in and the rats start coming looking for food! WOOF!

taking the chill out of flight or fight

There are only three things that make me afraid:
1. belvedere (the Great Dane that has balls)
2. fireworks and
3. thunder

I'm slowly learning to deal with belvedere. The Boss has been encouraging me by making barking sounds at him and I've gone within a few metres of belvedere - but I've only developed the confidence to approach him from behind. I haven't got the courage to bark at his snout.... belvedere drools, as well - and it's pretty yucky drool, so I'm careful not to get any of his drool on me. Normally, when belvedere comes into the park I take my ball and leave. This is 'flight'.

Fireworks only happens rarely, but because the Boss' house is not far away from the Harbour, whenever there are big celebrations - like New Year, Australia Day, Mardi Gras, or even a passenger liner arriving or leaving the Harbour - I'm able to hear the fireworks and it makes my ears pop. I like to jump up on the neighbours tin roof and make lots of noise so that the fireworks goes away. It does eventually, so I think my theory works. This is 'fight'.

Now thunder is the one that really gets me. I can usually feel it building, the smell, the pressure in my ears and then the bang. It happens often and sometimes for hours on end. This afternoon and tonight is one of those nights. I find that I can never rest easy. Often the Boss gets me to come inside and tells me to "chill" which I find really difficult to do when the thunder is around. Sometimes I try and do the same thing as what I do with fireworks by jumping on the tin roof - but then I get all wet - and the Boss doesn't allow me inside. So, I tend to stay inside but I'm always on high alert.

The Boss completely ignores me. I've heard him say "ignore bad behaviour, reward good behaviour". So, he ignores me. I try to adopt the fight approach - but it doesn't work with thunder. I'm at a loss on what to do.. and it makes my ears go pop. Perhaps I should try 'flight' - and run away and hide - or alternatievely, perhaps learn to chill and ignore it.