News Hounds Ady & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz

When they said this job involved some overseas travel, I expected first class airplanes or swanky cruise liners.

Little did I know it would be salty sea air and seat-of-your-pants seafaring.

Flo Crusoe, or is it Friday?

I should have known something was up when the Boss started referring to himself as Crusoe and me as Friday.

The boss press-ganged me aboard with a promise of a cosy sheepskin under the saloon table and the occasional run along a pristine, isolated beach. What he didn't mention was life-threatening shark encounters and having to share my dinner with a bunch of psychopathic gannets.

We set sail from Whitianga. and the miles slipped by. Before long we arrived at an idyllic island and first priority for this seafaring mutt was to get ashore for R&R. Well getting in and out of the dinghy was a mission in itself.

The boss and I worked out a very clever plan. He'd throw me under one arm and jump in the dinghy, pulling the motor cord with the other. We'd get to the beach, jump out before the breakers ruined my perm, and leap out for some frolicking in the waves and sand. When it was time to get back in the dinghy, he'd throw a stick in there, and I'd be silly enough to jump after it, every time. I never did wise up to that trick, for the whole trip.

The downside of that was, we ended up with enough driftwood in the dinghy to build a small raft.

Never thought I'd see anything with a bigger bite than me!

Another day, we were busy reeling in dinner when Junior Jaws came along and chewed off the best bits. Clever bugger just left the head – with the hook. He must have been taking lessons from that cunning Chadwick down the driveway.

Each night I slept under the saloon table, gazing up through the hatch to the starry sky. Sometimes when the wind blew and the anchor warp was snubbing at the cleat, whatever that means, I'd get a bit scared and sneak my nose under the boss's quilt. Every morning though was wonderfully calm and warm, and I'd get up early and wake him with a sneaky lick to the face. I couldn't wait to get underway again to see what adventures would unfold during the day.

The voyaging was fun for a young pup and we saw lots of interesting places and met some amazing people. We even saw Seal. I've heard his music before but never realised that in real life, he is quite a blubbery layabout.

We saw lots of nice islands, some we could stop at and some we couldn't. Someone called Doc makes sure that the likes of me don't run ashore and create havoc, such as Dotterill Omelette.

Dunno who this guy Doc is, but I don't want to mess with him. So we charted a course well wide of Doc's favourite places but had a ball at some others. Till we lost the ball in the surf.

Such as Slipper, which I was very careful not to chew, because I've heard bad things about what happens to dogs that chew slippers. Same with Shoe… we won't go there.

Back home the boss was still unloading the boat when I crashed out in the beanbag. Boy it was a lot of fun, but it's good to be home.

Meanwhile, Wendy my trainer says The Dog Academy had a good response, thanks for the article in The Sun!

She's also starting K9KIDZ. It is for kids and their dogs. They will complete great feats to earn badges, learn all about how to look after their dog and how to walk, meet ‘n' greet and other doggie things. It is going to be fun and also held at Precious Paws.

Wow, sounds good. Now all I need is a kid!