Bringing Up Brando

A Star is Born

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:22:00 +0000

Soooo, the big news is… Brando was on stage last night with Cesar Millan!

The Dog Whisperer Tour were looking for puppies to be include in the show and Brando was chosen.

We were on stage for about five minutes as Cesar showed the audience how to treat a puppy when greeting them, in order to contain their excitement. As you will see from the video clip (which I will add soon) this mostly meant ignoring little Brando’s pleas for attention.

When jumping at him failed, she went for the obligatory pee on the stage, which of course was an extremely proud moment!

We had a really great night and even got treated to a goody bag featuring: Pack Leader T-Shirt & Baseball Cap, Dog Whisperer Tour Programme and Mastering Leadership DVD.

Even Longer Time No Type!

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:38:03 +0000

Ok, I know I have been rubbish at the updating recently, but I have made a promise to myself (and Brando) to get on top of it, so I shall…

This will begin tomorrow with a major exciting piece of news…

Watch this space for details!

Long Time No Type

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:32:09 +0000

Firstly, I was really busy and had no time to do updates and then my internet connection broke - see pic below - I was attempting to get online by the power of Blu-Tack, tinfoil and a matchbox (which Brando later stole and then it was all over!).

So quite a bit has happened in the last while:

We have had our first visitor who stayed over. This meant Lisa and I slept in the living room with Brando. She cried quite a lot in her crate, so we let her out. She then cried quite a lot by the sofa bed (right in my ear) so we gave in and let her into bed with us. Needless to say she stopped crying and slept soundly.

The first and second puppy classes went amazingly. Brando behaved really well and has proven herself to be a quick study. I on the other hand have a lot to learn; for starters - I must not kiss her on the head when she has done well!

We took Brando to Camden Market, so she had her first trip on the tube and train. Again she was a really good girl and sat quietly on my knee. She is such a great traveller on all modes of transport so far. Next up a barge holiday methinks. She got tons of attention at the market, which of course she loved and she pooed out an ear plug!

And finally, perhaps the best news of all; the squeak on her ball has broken so it now just makes a kind of asthmatic wheeze. Well chuffed!

There Was a Young Puppy Who Swallowed a Spider

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:54:46 +0000

…and I love her even more for doing so!

Less Cagey

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:31:42 +0000

As Brando has been a good girl regarding her crate, she’s enjoying her newly acquired sofa-time.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:07:00 +0000

Still no return of the bright yellow earplugs; should I be worried?

Calm Submissive Behaviour

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We’ve met quite a few dogs on our walks so far and Brando has been well behaved and respectful. She’s even bowed her head and been quite submissive, it’s good that she is showing some manners. Saying that I’m sure she won’t be quite so polite at puppy class tomorrow night. Although the dogs aren’t allowed to mix with one another. Which is fair enough, I’m sure the instructor doesn’t want the evening to descend into some kind of anarchic puppy uprising!

Mystic Brando

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Hmm seems she was right about Olly, how verily spooky!

The X Factor

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:55:00 +0000

Brando doesn’t seem to be a fan of Olly Murs, she was howling and barking through his performance tonight. I think she definitely wants him to be in the bottom two tomorrow!

The Kindness of Strangers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:48:00 +0000

Brando’s outside walking is going really well. Although she really does want to talk to everyone who passes and runs up to them looking really happy and excited. This however, doesn’t work on everyone and she seems quite confused when they just walk on by.

Thankfully some old guy took a real liking to her and came over to tell her she was beautiful. This made her day and has helped to increase her already worrying amount of love for the geriatrics.

New Love

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:01:32 +0000

Brando has dreadful taste in women. First it was Kirsty Allsop and now it’s the shrill vocal stylings of Gillian McKeith that’s keeping Brando glued to the telly.

I’m hoping it’s just the Scottish accent she’s loving.

£44

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:49:50 +0000

That’s is how much it costs these days to dry clean a duvet and four pillows!

Dog Pee. Probably the most expensive piss in the world.

Or…

Get feather duvet dry cleaned… £20
Add four feather pillows… £24
Petrol to get there… £5
Snuggling up with puppy when shattered in the morning… Priceless

Butt Plug

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:04:05 +0000

Brando has just eaten two illuminous yellow earplugs. That’s all I have to say on the subject.

Walk the Dog

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:59:00 +0000

Brando’s first walk went brilliantly. She was really good on the lead and stayed walking along side me for the most part. She also made it obvious that she was tired, by just sitting down lol!

She seemed a little too interested in the elderly (who weren’t at all interested in her!) and she met her first dog up close and personal in the park (an Airedale Terrier I believe), she totally loved it.

She walked along with her head held high and her tail wagging. She totally crashed out when we got home!

Her night-time walk was even better, though it was just around the block and didn’t seem to have much impact on her.

Took the same short walk this morning, but it’s pretty windy in London today and she doesn’t seem to be too big a fan of being blown about.

Here’s our food/walk routine:

Morning
Short Walk (around block)
Breakfast

Afternoon
Longer Walk (to park)
Lunch

Evening
Short Walk (around block)
Dinner

Was thinking about throwing in another short walk later too. Will ask the guys on the Staffy Forum (my Bible) and see what they think :)

Just When You Thought it Was Safe to Go onto the Sofa...

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:36:00 +0000

Coming soon to a living room near you…Zombie Dog!

Barking Brando

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Brando is getting this outside toilet thing down!

Kind of.

She runs to the back door and barks if she wants a poo, which is great.

The pee thing is a bit backwards though… If we don’t see her sitting waiting at the door, she will just go ahead and wee, then she barks at the little puddle she’s made to let us know it’s there… Not quite right, but definitely on the right track!

Groundhog Day

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

This blog is becoming a bit repetitive. Once again Brando pee’d in my bed. Once again I know it’s my own fault.

But I do have an excuse.

I reckon it’s because she can still smell the pee on the duvet, so automatically thinks it’s ok to do it there. YES, I washed it, but only by hand, so I think that although humans can’t detect urine on it anymore, she still can.

I though I was being so clever too – only letting her under the duvet – but it appears she has legs and is able to climb on top of the duvet all by her self. Who knew?

Solution? Take duvet to dry cleaners!

Guilty

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:34:00 +0000

You may have noticed in the last anniversary post that I eluded to the fact Brando is now allowed back in my bed.

I am ashamed to say that is correct, she’s been having morning naps for the last few days…and even worse it’s now under the covers!

Shame on me.

I have attached the below cute picture in order to redeem myself.

Gimme the Bright Yellow Thing!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A duster obsession is forming. Every time the cupboard under the kitchen sink is opened, Brando appears from nowhere, steals a yellow duster and bolts back to her lair.

Pick a Book Any Book

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Self Obsessed? Brando absolutely knows her name and it appears she can read. I saw her sniffing around my bookshelf the other day and look which book she had been perusing (ok, pushing with her nose).