National Girlfriends Day!

Today is National Girlfriends Day, so send your girlfriend some roses and give a friend you haven't spoken to for ages a call and arrange to meet up.

Or join Pets Partners and Pals to make new pals and look for love!

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-girlfriends-day-august-1/

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one."  C.S Lewis

  

Who is your best friend?

65% of British people admit their dog is their best friend in the world!


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3486847/Dog-owners-spend-time-talking-pet-partner-according-new-study.html

Friendships

Friendships can always happen when you least expect them. As with these two!

This goat was meant to be dinner for this rare Amur tiger in a Pirmorsky Safari Park in Russia however, it never happened as the two became firm friends and now spend their lives together!

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

So last night I watched this film 'the truth about cats and dogs' with Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo and Ben Chaplin.  It's a really good film if you like a romcom with a pet or several thrown in - that's my sort of movie! I mean that's everyone's sort of movie right?  Anyway, it got me thinking about pets generally and what makes pets and romance get along so well.

The simple answer is that pets are great, all normal and decent people love us, we are a great talking point, we keep you fit and healthy, we rarely answer back, we are comparatively cheap, we are amusing, we are ... Ok, so I am going to stop there because I am pretty modest really and don't like to go on, but you get the point, or a brief selection of some of the points.

So you've got the pet which is all positive.  The next step is to get the romance which is all positive, I mean if the romance isn't all positive then it's not really much of a romance.  So how does the pet fit into all of this. Well I have the answers.  I have all the answers.  You must forgive some bias because I am a dog and I generally get on with dogs and nearly all other animals so I am going to say good things about dogs, but the fact is once you've got your pet (and let's assume your pet is a dog called Noodles) people will like you because they like me, not just because of that but I will help.

So where are we?  Right, so there's you and me and we're happy and people are happy to meet us.  You are a nice person and one of the reasons people know this is because you've got such a nice dog .... ME! So half the battle is over when people meet you.  Not only that, you get out more because of me, you get air into your lungs, you go places you wouldn't go without me, you see new things, experience new sensations, explore new avenues.  I know that sometimes the dog isn't enough and you might want a human companion - I mean I'm not sure I understand this, but I know I'm right here - call it Canine intuition.  I guess I like a bit of four-legged company myself sometimes so I'll give you a break on this one.  So what's the best way forward? Easy, find someone with a pet.  Why, because if it works so well for you it'll also work well for your new companion in  life.  I mean, who do you know who really loves their pet who's really yuck, horrible, untrustworthy and unfriendly?  Who do you know that really looks after their animals who doesn't have a heart?  Who do you know who really cares for their pet who isn't really caring?  There you are! Your own experience tells you that true animal lovers are the good guys and the good guys are the ones worth meeting up with to see if you (and, you never know, us pets) have something worth pursuing.  Give it a go, you never know!

That's the whole idea of PetsPartnersandPals and I believe in it.  I think you will too.  Just ask Becky and Richard who met through PetsPartners and are now husband and wife.  What a great feeling to know we've been a small part in helping them and many others get together and share their lives with one another.  And us pets! Well, use us to make the whole getting together thing easier.  Meet in parks and open countryside, in the grounds of beautiful country houses, by rivers, on beaches and walk and talk.  What a new and exciting way to meet - could be easier than being stuck in some bar.  Or find a pet friendly bar and take your own Noodles (the dog not the dish) along - what a great talking point to get things moving!  Yes, I know, for a small dog I'm full of pretty good ideas.  I'm also happy, delighted in fact, to share them with you, so go for it.
Make 2014 a great year and have the fun you deserve!

Car Trouble and Weddings

Despite my youthful good looks I can still remember those days when cars weren't quite as reliable as we're used to nowadays.  I mean gym membership wasn't required since you got all the exercise you needed pushing your car when it broke down and everyone could paint because every weekend you had to colour in those rust holes that kept popping up under blistering paintwork.  Oh yes, great days!

Anyway, a few weeks ago I noticed the temperature gauge on our car going up a bit too high for my liking.  I told the people I look after (Chris & Helen) but they pretty much ignored me.  Typical!  They turned the heat up and that drew heat off the engine and the temperature fell.  Well that's ok bit it didn't deal with the problem and boy they paid for it.

I may be a hardy terrier but I'm not keen on heat.  Even though Sue up the road gave me a cracking haircut the other day I still prefer things on the cool side rather than the blistering heat of the desert.  For that reason when Chris & Helen went out dressed in their finest the other evening I wasn't too upset because I knew they were in for a bad experience in that car.  And that's what they got.  It went pop after 20 minutes and they had to get a load of mineral water and fill up the radiator and then drive for nearly two hours with the heat full-on on what was already a warm summer's evening.

Due to the fact that I was saved from two hours of heat-induced dribbling in unrelentingly arid conditions I feel I can forgive Amy & Lloyd for not inviting me to their wedding reception, especially since we are not talking about a one-way journey here for Chris & Helen.  They had to come back too and by the time they arrived and I'd run downstairs to say howdy I thought they'd had their faces painted red at a kid's birthday party or been on the losing team on a paintballing weekend.  Either way I made soothing sounds and they cooled off, eventually.

They then started telling me about where they had been, how great the stately home was where the reception was held, the perfect grounds, the balmy evening, the pleasant company, the fabulous band ... well I got fed up and went to bed.  I tell you, you can go off people! I mean it was ok when hearing about the heat-related disaster parts of the evening but not the good bits.  After all, I should have been there if there were good bits.  And that's the lesson here I think.  First, listen to your dog because your dog knows things.  Secondly, act on it because that way you'll never have to boil alive in a car like you did in the 70s.  Thirdly, keeping a car well-serviced and cool means there will always be a place for your dog in the back for those trips that are worth going on.  And let's face it, that's pretty much all of them.

Life Outdoors

As far as I'm concerned the more time I can spend outside the better, but it's not always as easy as it might be.  I mean I get to go on a few walks every day and weekend which is great but there's a few tips and tricks that I'd like to pass on to my fellow four-legged friends out there if you don't think you're getting as much leg-stretching time as you deserve.

Straight Lines

Never walk in straight lines.  Think about it - if you meander down any path from left to right and back again you can stretch out even the shortest of walks, not just in terms of how far you travel but also in time.  I reckon that a basic two mile stroll can probably be stretched to three using this method and 40 minutes can be eked out to an hour or even more.  It has the added bonus of discovering things which you might not otherwise notice in the undergrowth, so from a nature study point of view it's also a winner.

Discovering Interesting Things

Some walks are more interesting than others.  If you find a regular walk is getting a bit dull simply plant your paws and walk in the other direction.  Just in case this is misconstrued as a wish to return home you might have to turn again and run for some distance with enthusiasm.  Normally, though, it allows you to take control of your walk.  Once you have turned around just make sure you meander off in a new direction when you are still a while from home.  A great way of discovering great new walks, new places and interesting things.

Rolling In It

I am regularly criticised for the state I return in after a good walk.  The fact is, finding something revolting to roll in has two real plus points.  First, I love it and if it's a foul-smelling thing that I can get all over me it makes a dog feel good.  It's somehow empowering, know what I mean? Secondly, the more gruesome the smell the less chance of getting back early because every attempt will be made to find a stream or other water source to let you wash down.  This in itself can be a bonus, especially if the weather is fine.  It's also a good laugh if you've gone out in the car to clamber back in and feel that special aroma fill the air around you. OK, I know, there can be a downside - the shower or bucket of water when you get home.  This is simply Newton's laws applied in practice, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so sometimes you have to grin and bear it.  It's a science thing.

Enthusiasm in All Things

Enthusiasm in all things pays dividends. Rolling, jumping, lolloping, speeding around with a big smile always goes down well and can get you out for a walk when you need one.  Of course, barking can also help but is best saved for when it's hugely required to enforce a point you need to get across.  We all know that humans can be a little slow on the uptake so sometimes you need to give them the benefit of the doubt, but not that often.  If in doubt, try a gentle nose nudge when they least expect it and a doleful look.  Take it from me, this works!

Keep Your Ears Open

All of you will know what I mean here - sometimes a human will try to sneak out of the house hoping you won't hear them.  Haha, like that's gonna happen!  We have been blessed with serious hearing precisely to deal with sneaking out issues like these, so when it happens wake up and leap up enthusiastically (read more about enthusiasm in all things above).  This should do the trick and get you taken out too.  If it doesn't work then go into instant depression.  Look up with wide eyes and walk off, remembering to turn your head back for a quick glance as you do to let them know you are deeply wounded.  This should work.  If not try cute.  This means drop to the floor and both paws over your nose.  Keep doing this cos humans love it.  I know this.  I've used it quite a few times myself to great effect.  You should hear 'Aaahhh' and then you will be picked up and taken out wherever they are going.  Job done.  You see, a few little tricks can make all the difference to getting outdoors, staying outdoors and having a seriously good time when you're there.

It's so good when someone waits for you to come home!