Movie Star

I had so much fun over the Christmas break that I also thought you should see me live in action - have a look at this video with my friend Zak!

Just Chillin'

Hi everybody - well, it's been about 2 months since I last wrote! So what have I been up to? In October, Karen had to go away for work so I was home alone with Eric and we made the most of it! He took me to the beach every weekend as the weather was great for swimming in the bay! I love it now! And Eric also let me in the house a lot - also on a nighttime. When Karen came back I really had to behave again and the bed is strictly off limits again... although I still manage to get up there every now and then! November was really quiet as both Eric and Karen were very busy with work! But I still managed to get heaps of walks in the evenings! Now it is getting to Christmas again and summer seems to be starting slowly - that means that I can laze my days away again on the sunloungers on the verandah!

Just chillin' on my lounger!

The bed... strictly off limits (except when I am tired)

Play in the Bay

Time for another update - it has been a while... Last weekend, Karen and Eric took me to the beach at Altona to have another go at me and water! Last year they tried to teach me to swim but as I was still so little and the waves a bit too rough I didn't like it much. But I have been getting used to the water whilst playing in the Merri Creek with Casey that I was not as scared this time! It also helped that there were other dogs to play with so I had a really good time! I chased the other dogs and also the sea gulls... but I got so excited one time that I forgot to stop and fell in a deep bit of water... so it was straight back to the shallow bit after that! But, I am sure that this summer I will be able to become a really good swimmer so I can have a play in the Bay on all the hot summer days!

A pose before play!

First splashes!

Full throttle!

5th Gear!

Having a rest!

Let The Games Begin

Well, you all will be in the spirit of the Olympic Games by now, but I have been playing lots of games in the past couple of weeks - maybe you can call it training camp to keep fit! A couple of weeks ago I visited Zak and Jake again! Jake still doesn't like me much but Zak and I are best friends nowadays! We had a great run around the garden at Colin and Marilyn's and played until we were both exhausted! Yesterday I stayed closer to home but had another play date - this time with my friend Casey from puppy pre-school! Wow - he had grown a lot and he is a bit darker than I am... I looked like a pale skinny dog next to him! But that didn't matter - we had the best run around in the park in Coburg! I am sure that with all my running I would win Gold at the Olympics - maybe that is also why they call me a Golden Retriever!

When Harry Met Riley

Hello all... well, here is my first post as a 1 year old - I had a fairly low key birthday on the 9th of July! Maybe also, because there have been some exciting other arrivals in the family! Karen and Eric welcomed Maxx (the new Mazda) into their life and more importantly, Connor arrived into our lives on the 5th of July! He is the son of Aunty Lisa and Uncle Steve! Today, I also met Harry, the son of Chris and Jo, and he is almost the same age as me! He turned 1 not long ago as well! So, it was nice to meet someone of similar age! You could tell we had an immediate bond and the only thing separating us was the glass window of the backdoor!

P.S. Also Happy belated Birthday to my four legged brother Harry - and thank you for your best wishes! I hope we get to meet one day, when Eric and Karen have time to take me out to come and meet you somewhere!

Riley checking Harry out!

Harry checking Riley out!

Saying hello to each other!

Orange Retriever!

Last Saturday morning, Eric and I got up really early at 4.30am to watch Holland play in the EURO 2008 European Championships against France! And Holland was doing so well, that I really wish I was an Orange Retriever! Just like all the Dutch soccer fans I dressed up to show my support for the Dutch soccer team! What do you think of my outfit?

Woof Holland Woof!

Baked Potato or Couch Potato?

Hi everyone! As it is winter at the moment, Eric and Karen are having me a lot more inside so I don't have to stay out in the cold! I have even slept inside a couple of times - in my basket in their bedroom! My basket is really my domain and also in the living room I like to curl up in my basket in front of the fire place! That is so nice and warm! The couch is still reserved for Eric and Karen only and is strictly off limits for me... but sometimes I give it a try and make it onto the couch! Going from baked potato in front of the fire to couch potato in front of the television! Most of the time it doesn't last long... so than it is back on the floor in front of the television! Well, as long as they let me stay inside - I am really hooked on some of those TV shows now!

Baked potato in front of the fire place!

Making my way onto the couch - move over Karen!

A real couch potato!

Back on the floor - glued to the telly!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!

Hello... thought I'd post another couple of pictures (in addition to the previous post about my adventures at Colin and Marilyn)... at the end of the weekend, when we got back home at Karen and Eric's I was so tired that I curled up in front of their fireplace on the rug! I think Karen and Eric must have wanted to make sure that I definitely wasn't cold - well, as you can see from the pictures - I was as snug as a bug in a rug!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....

Sleeping beauty!

Guess Who's Back?

Hi all... guess who is back... back again! Yes, it is me... hope you all have not forgotten about me! I thought it was about time I posted another update as even my friend Casey was getting worried and was wondering what I was up to! (Thanks for the comment, Casey!). Well, I have been busy as usual, but since Karen and Eric were even busier, it has been quiet on my blog (I have to admit that I always need Eric's help to post my latest adventures). Eric and Karen got married in February and after that went on honeymoon! So no posts on here, but I got to meet so many people around their wedding time... lots of family and friends came over from Europe and they all had a play with me (some even asked for my phone number - I can't believe they believed the phone in my cubby house actually works)! And when Eric and Karen went away I was very well looked after by Diane who slept over at my place for 3 weeks - so I didn't have to leave my place! Of course I was very happy when Karen and Eric came back and they have been taking me on walks and runs at the park - I even bring back the ball they throw me sometimes these days! Yesterday we went to Colin and Marilyn and I had another good run around! I thought I'd post some pictures as well, so you can all see how much I have grown since the last time!

On my way in the car to Pakenham Upper!

Meeting some new friends!

Stop staring at me!

Hey, can anyone tell me the name of this big "dog"?

Resting at Colin and Marilyn's!

Happy New Year!

Hi everybody - Happy New Year!

Wow, December has been such a busy month! You can read all about it in the next 4 posts ('New Year's Eve', 'My Own Bathroom', 'Christmas with the Family' and 'A Walk in the Park... with Casey')! Let's hope 2008 is going to be such a great year as 2007 was!

A special Happy New Year to all my new friends; Casey, Charlie, Oskar, Zak and Jake! And also to Harry and Toby - my brothers who posted comments on my blog - maybe we will get to meet this year! (I don't have your contact details Harry)!

And last but not least - Happy New Year to you, (breeder) mum Denise! And my mum (Vee) and dad (Bobby Dazzler)!

Riley!

New Year's Eve!

New Year's Eve was yet another exciting time in my life so far! Colin, Marilyn and Steve and Lisa came to us to celebrate New Year's Eve! And Lisa and Steve had another exciting surprise for me - they brought my cousins Charlie and Oskar! I had already met them once on their turf, but now they came to see me! They are a handful and in the beginning I wasn't too sure - but they are so good natured - and probably even more energetic than I am! We managed to stop playing for a while though and I squeezed in for the family photo! When bedtime came around Charlie and Oskar slept in my 'room'! It was like a real New Year's Eve party - we stayed up all night!

Smile!!!!!

Oskar, Charlie and me... yes, we will go straight to sleep... NOT!

My Own Bathroom

I almost forgot to tell you - guess what Santa brought me (and Karen and Eric) as well! My very own bathroom! Well, not really a real bathroom, but with me growing so fast it is better that I don't use Eric and Karen's bathroom anymore! So Santa bought me my own bath! After Christmas I had my first bath in it - it was great!

Being a good boy!

Hey, stop taking pictures whilst I am bathing!

Are we done yet?

Christmas with the Family

The end of December was of course a time to celebrate - not only because it was Christmas, but also because I had my first big sleep over, or should I say mini holiday! Karen and Eric took me to Colin and Marilyn and we stayed with them for 5 nights! In the beginning they kept me inside and much of my days was spent hanging around in my basket! But luckily I received lots of cuddles and silly Aunty Lisa even took me for a stroll through the garden when she was there! Have a look at the pictures - it was great fun!

Aunty Lisa and me having fun!

Strolling around the garden!

At Christmas time Santa came around and he even brought some presents for me! The wrapping paper was no problem for me at all - it was gone in no time and I got some delicious treats!

Marilyn and me!

Am I a good boy, Santa?

I am waiting for my presents!

Got my present - yippie!

I also met my cousins Jake and Zak, two border collies! Jake is a grumpy old boy so he didn't like me much. But Zak - after some hesitation the first couple of days - realised that all I wanted to do was play! And so, we ended up playing like we had been the best of friends forever! We even posed for a picture together!

Zak and me!

A Walk in the Park... with Casey!

Hi everybody! Well, looks like I am being slack with updating my blog, but I tell you what; December has been such a busy and exciting month! It all started off early December when Karen and Eric took me to a nearby reserve to meet up with my friend Casey from puppy class! Jeez, he had grown a lot as well since I saw him the last time! Together with his family we walked through the park and Casey and I had the best fun - chasing each other and even trying our paws at having a swim - well, we didn't get any further than feeling how cold the water was! I am still not a good swimmer! The park was great though and hope that Karen and Eric will take me there in the future as well - it was so great to catch up with Casey!

Casey and me (I am the little white one)

Trying my paws at the water

Casey and his family!

Casey and I "having a swim"

Great views over Melbourne from the park