Ho Ho Ho

As you can see, I'm getting into the festive spirit!

My family have been buying lots of Christmas presents and have raised a few £££s for Foal Farm by shopping online via www.easyfundraiser.org.uk. Also changing the search engine to http://foalfarm.easysearch.org.uk/ raises money. It's really easy to do and doesn't cost us anything.

I had great fun at the Christmas party at my training classes, although my mum made me wear this outfit which was a bit embarrassing (but at least she left my shoes off as the floor was too slippery to wear them). I did really well at all the party games. I even got to take home a party bag.

We popped in at Foal Farm last week to drop off a little box of goodies for all the dogs that will be there over Christmas. It was lovely to see everyone and have them make such a fuss of me!

I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope 2009 brings lots of happy homes for all the animals that need them.

Love and licks

Buster

xx

Buster's holiday

I've been on my hols to Devon. I went with my friend Nedley (a big black labrador) and our families. We had a lovely week. We stayed on a working farm and spent our time walking and playing on the beach. The beaches were very big and there were lots of friendly dogs to play with. I had a brief holiday romance with a pretty yorkie-poo puppy. She was just the right size for me!

All that playing was very tiring though, and I spent my evenings laid out on cushions in front of the fire.

It took a long time to get to Devon in the car but I managed to sleep for most of it. My family worried I might get car sick but I was fine. I even managed to keep down the tuna roll I stole from the packed lunch when everybody was busy packing up the car.

I was quite sad when we had to come home. I liked it in Devon and I wanted to stay there. My family have promised they will take me on holiday again with them soon.

Buster's great achievement!

I am very proud to say I have passed my Good Citizen Puppy Foundation Assessment. Here I am showing off my rosette.

I can now (with sufficient bribery) perform lots of commands such as sit, stand, down and stay down. I can walk on a lead without pulling. I can even come back when called (as long as there's something in it for me). Obviously I don't always choose to do these things - well, I have to keep these humans on their toes don't I? Not good to let them think they are in charge! However on the day of the assessment I decided I would behave perfectly. I've done so well that I'm now starting my Bronze Award training.

I've settled in really well in my new home now. It feels like I've been there forever. My new family are starting to understand what I want and we are all getting along great. They still insist on this silly "getting out of bed before lunchtime" thing, but other than that I have no complaints.

I had a little visit back to Foal Farm a few weeks ago and it was lovely to see all my friends there. I hope to come and see you all again soon.

Lots of Licks

Buster xx

I'm Buster and I came to Foal Farm in summer 2008. I wasn't there for long before some people came along and begged for me to come home with them. So I said goodbye to my friends at Foal Farm and off I went.

My new family brought me home and introduced me to their cats. To say I didn't get a warm reception is putting it mildly! Honestly, these cats have no manners whatsoever. But being the brave little guy that I am, I took it all in my stride. There are also some chickens in the garden and they look like great fun. I'm desparate to go and play with them but I'm not allowed. Just because I make them squawk and flap about. Some people have no sense of fun.

The children in the family seem to enjoy having me around. They like to play with my toys although they are not good at sharing, because when I try to play with their toys they take them away.

For some odd reason, everybody likes to get up early in the morning and go for a walk. And they make me come too! I'd much rather stay in bed (especially when it's raining) but they always insist.

All in all, my new family aren't doing too badly and they are gradually coming round to my ways of thinking. They just need to learn that I don't need my own special food (what they eat or what they give the cats will be fine with me), that I don't need my own bed (one of theirs will be fine), and that there really is no need to get up quite so early in the morning. I am taking them to training classes this week so fingers crossed these points will be covered there.

I hope to come back and visit you all at Foal Farm soon.

Lots of love to all my friends there!

Buster
xx

Hi All
Welcome to the Foal Farm Dog Blog.
If you are a dog lover and would like to be a contributor to the blog, please email us at info@foalfarm.org.uk.
We look forward to your comments.
Lisa