Hi all, been off for a few weeks and to all of you that gave me comfort when I really needed it, once again, hugs and gratitude  ;)

Monsterman (2yrs 7 months) was just beginning to grow up and act like a proper gentleman when he suddenly found himself senior of the canine household. Now he has regressed to such a stage that it is difficult to tell him and 5 month old Callie apart :rolleyes: apart from of course, the distinct colour and size difference!

My day goes something like this. Wake up in the morning, he climbs on bed, muzzles me with his horrible beardy morning mouth and is not content until he gets under the quilt, winds me as he leaps off and then  gallops out of the bedroom, knocking every half awake family member over sees the door and attacks it to get out, once outside, he proceeds to rip up every plant and flower and only then will he water them. I'm scratching my head, as he's never done all of this before.

Comes back in to wait for his morning walk. Into the kitchen at break neck speed, steals the toast out of the toaster and then parades around kitchen teasing pup until she climbs on his back and physically takes it from him, he...............then .........he SULKS. They then have a tug of war with it, covering every available surface with crumbs. I turn my back to do school lunches and find both of them drinking my tea out of my cup that is on the table :rolleyes: Then 2 minutes later I hear a crunching noise, (every morning and still haven't learnt my lesson) and the 2 of them are in the bottom cupboard ripping the cereal boxes apart, recently the favourite is cocoa pops!!! :P

After school run is complete and I come back to shower to get ready for going into work, he has to get into the shower with me...........and I mean into the shower. Next part of routine, out for a walk, he steals the lead so I spend 10 minutes chasing him to get it, when I finally get it on, he decides that it's too wet today to go for a walk so spends 5 minutes sticking his nose out of the door trying to decide if he is going to chance it! He's missed his vocation in life, Michael Fish, eat yer heart out!

Finally, we're on the walk, I let him off in the woods and his lordship decides that he's going to roll in deer s**t! and then spend 20 minutes rubbing it off on the tree bark. Have you seen a fully grown Briards coat?? (those of you that have the pleasure of owning one are excused)  Finally time to go home and I get dragged there at 100mph as he is now desperate to have a drink and settle down for a good old doss.

Get in, unclip him and take Callie out for her half hour, where's the lead???? Let me guess, Monsterman is laying on it and will only give it up if Callie plays tug of war with him, Callie is now on her 6th lead. Take out Minimonster who cannot be trusted to be let off as she likes chasing all kinds of running feathery,furry, 4 legged, 2 legged, you name it. Her particular penchent for rolling in is bird s**t never realised how much it stank before I had the pleasure of her :P

Get back, go to work for a few hours, come home to be greeted by the contents of the fruit bowl from Monsterman. I now keep it fully stocked to accommodate him :rolleyes: Do a long walk, he's generally calmer at this time of night, feed them and then he's out for his last wee, what does he do? crawls under the fence to terrorise next doors grandmother, who is the grandmother from hell may I add. We live in a totally detached bungalow and next door is a fair distance away, across a hedgerow but he still manages to jump up at her annexe kitchen window and scratch about because she leaves bacon out for the friggin birds. She opens the window, smacks his head with a broomstick (I gest not) he bays at her and then comes tearing home like a scolded Briard :D :D :D :D Yes it's funny, but not that funny and YES I'm dealing with it.

And so to bed. 

Crikey HP - that makes my problems with Lennon seem soooo minor - he has now been sainted in your honour :) :D

Hmm - now you see just how much he relied upon Ella to keep him in order!!

I'm not sure whether you used a crate with him at first, but I think I would be inclined to use one for him now - otherwise, now that he's "top dog", he-'s going to lead your little one into all sorts of trouble by setting such a bad example

You do have my sympathy - before I was introduced to crates*, we've had al sorts of naughtiness - from the contents of the kitchen cupboard covering the floor, to the contents of the nappy bucket (anyone remember those??) being strewn across the whole house - and holes being left in the nappies themselves!

Hang on in there, my love, things will get better - and with your friends here on CD, you know you can have a good moan and get it all off your chest!

*edited, to say that no, I have never actually been placed in a crate myself - although I'm sure that at times my family would have preferred me behind bars :D :D

Margot

Hi Hairypooch, sounds like your busier then ever, these dog's have a sixth sense and maybe Monsterman has deciced that you need to be rushing around like this. Sounds like he and Callie are having a great time. Nice to see you back on the board with all the funny stories. Viv

I wonder if he's trying to get your attention. Reading the post makes me see you give him attention even playing up if not more so then. Nothing he is doing is bad just irritating :) I wonder as Margot says that the "power" of being top dog has really gone to his head and he thinks he is invincibe ;) try the crate and put the leads and cornflakes out of reach or put locks on the cupboards.
Other than that enjoy him - he sounds like fun - but fun in your house not mine ;) 

I sometimes wonder if Sal keeps the pup in order but I think she does. Sal does the thinking the pup the following.
Karen