News Hound Ady & Flo

The boss and I have been having a little ‘R and R' lately.
Well he has, I have been kept busy trying to keep my worldly possessions from being torn to shreds by my off-sider Flo; a canine equivalent of a mobile disposal unit.

She is turning out to be one hell of a mate, but unfortunately my teaching skills are not that great – having her following me around in the wild, searching out the scent of ducks, purple chickens and black swans is not going that well.

Taking a dip in the pool, with Flo hot on my paws.

She is proving to be just the ticket fetching sticks and swimming in warm lakes, but the real test begins in a few months when she has to earn her keep by jumping into ice cold water to retrieve downed game that may, or may not, fall out of the sky.

I should not be too hard on her, as she is only six months old and it has taken me three years to get the hang of it. The boss says I still havn't picked up the entire concept properly, as apparently when I retrieve things I am supposed to drop them at the boss's warm feet, not rip all and sundry to bits!

The four-legged team takes a break.

Just recently, my two-legged family had to go to Tania and Andy's wedding in that place up the road where ‘jaffas' come from and stress levels know no bounds.

We were not invited to the nuptials for some reason – I cannot understand why they couldn't see the merits of having a huntaway cross (perpetual motion) a silver labrador (cake devourer) and a GSP (German precision, well I had to say that) at the party.

Just because of Flo having a near miss with Auntie Katie's chocolate mud cake during Christmas, Rosie's unhealthy interest in long flowing robes, and my predilection for sniffing out anything I can chase, it was decided the three bitches were not included on the invitation.

Who in their right mind wants to spend a weekend in Auckland anyway when they can get booked into ‘Absolutely Precious Paws' – the new five star hotel in Tauranga.

Flo being the youngest got to share a room with me, and Rosie, the energiser bunny, had a room of her own – thank goodness for small mercies as she is worse than Winston Peters at jumping from the sniff of one scandal to another.

Our ‘hostess with the mostest' Lisa, soon had us settled in and with breakfast in bed, it proved to be an educational night's stay – especially when the choir started practising at 3am. Led by the inspirational Rosie. Flo was just bemused and I, well I just don't sing.

This hotel is really five star for canines; jumps, a tennis ball machine, swing ball, skateboards, sandpits and even internet cameras so our people can check up on us! There are treadmills, televisions and songs to make dogs happy. Bow wow. Apparently you two-leggers can keep an eye on what we are doing via Facebook too. It's a total waste of time telling my boss that, being the technological retard he is.

A very special thanks to the Precious Paws team for looking after us so well. Make sure you give your beloved dog a treat if you are having a few days away and book them into Precious Paws too.

Pipi the Jack Russel feeding her seven puppies.

Flo and I then went out to visit a mate who has just given the world some more puppies. We were pleased when we arrived to see Pipi was breastfeeding her new brood, mind you with seven pups hanging onto your under carriage, why would you not reach for a bottle or two? Possibly of Jack Daniels or Valium. The boss says females have never been the same since the fun police banned Valium. I don't not know what he means.

One girl and six boys.

Pipi and her brood are doing well and soon enough Sarah and Scott, Pipi's two-leggers, will have to look at reducing the menace of having eight Jack Russels in the house. So have a look at the pictures and if you would like a canine that can jump a metre off the ground from a four paw start or chase the postie or just to be a wonderful friend – get in touch with Sarah at The Weekend Sun.

See you all next week. Flo and I will have a story to tell about our first tag team hunting venture; yep, we are off to chase the Easter Bunny.