You know when you think something is a good idea, you kind of get rose tinted glasses about it - we had a dog in the Uk, we decided it was better to leave him with friends rather than bring him (9yrs old,skin cancer, bone fusion etc). We got Molly   (5month old Blue Heeler) a few weeks ago and I`ve started to remember what hard work a pup is (I guess it`s like childbirth - the pain fades and the memories get hazy). Trouble is our old dog was very lovable but gormless, Molly is lovable but smart - a dangerous combination.

I wage a daily war with her over digging the garden - I try to convince her it`s my job, she on the other hand thinks that Im stupid wanting to dig in the flower beds and we really need new flowerbeds in the middle of the lawn, nowhere in particular, just where she fancies at that particular moment.

Tonight she decided that she would bury her chew bone under the sofa cushion - boy can she move! She heard me coming and shot off the couch and was sitting in her bed looking completely innocent, if it hadn`t been for the cushion being half up the arm of the couch, half covering her mouldy old chew bone  I would have swore she`d never moved off her bed.

We are trying to teach her to come when called, she does it when in the house but when she`s in the garden she is a bit more stubborn. I stood there calling her today and she actually lay down and yawned at me, blatantly smirking at me!! So I went outside and had to carry her in,. We had the same thing again later on - this time though, when I got tired of standing like a loon, slapping my knee,talking a stupid voice, trying to convince her I really am interesting enough for her to come to me, I walked towards her ready to pick her up and carry her in and she ran off round the garden like a bloody greyhound!!  I gave up and left her to it. Just wait til the dog training classes start  - I will have my revenge!!

Is it all worth it........yes, I wouldn`t swap her for the world ..... stupid bloody dog.