I may look a little intimidating if you come to my front door and I’m barking and jumping around, but there is another side to me. Mumma calls it the big marshmallow me.

(It’s Beary by the way).

Grandma arrived at our house a few minutes before mumma was due home with bubba. I knew something was going on because mumma didn’t change straight away from her corporate clothes into something comfy. This usually means she’s going out again. And with grandma being here, that’s a good sign. It means she’s probably going to stay with us and give us scratchies and cuddles and brush us while bubba sleeps and mumma goes somewhere.

But now I’m not too sure. Mumma just gave bubba a bath and now grandma is playing with bubba. That means she’s not going to sleep straight away, so no scratchies for me just yet. I might have to nudge grandma’s arm and remind her I’m here just in case.

While I was nudging grandma’s arm, mumma took Bella out to where our beds are in her office (not that we sleep there of course – we sleep on mumma’s bed!) and gave her a treat. No, make that two treats.

Then she came scooting through the loungeroom, gave grandma and bubba a kiss and hurried down the hallway. Now I’m confused. You see, I look confused, don’t I?

“Beary come” I heard her call. Woo hoo – I hope this means she’s got the lead and we’re going out together. What a treat, we hardly ever get to go out just the two of us any more. By the time I got to the front door and my thoughts were confirmed, I could barely stay still long enough for her to put my lead on. Then she opened the gate. Yay, out into the big wide world together, just the two of us. This will be fun! I am kind of wondering though if we’re going for a walk why she’s still wearing her work stuff? Surely she’d be more comfortable in sneakers – or even flip flops? Oh well, I’m not going to worry about it – I’m sure she has a plan.

We’re getting in the car. Oh joy, oh joy – maybe we’re going to that great park by the Harbour where we used to go to run and run and run? Probably not, considering the dress she’s wearing.

We didn’t drive very far before she stopped the car. Out I jumped with lots of enthusiasm. Then my snout started to twitch. I can smell lots of other dogs. And I mean LOTS. But we’re not at the park, we’re in front of a building. It smells really good. When mumma opened the door, there was even another dog there.

A border collie. Oh no, she’s going to forget all about me now.

The border collie’s name was Tiger and he was 16! That’s very old in dog years. He certainly didn’t look 16, but his dad said that he had something called arthritis so it isn’t too easy for him to walk. Doesn’t matter though, because Tiger swims every day and loves it. Good for him. I’m not too sure about swimming. Mumma got to oooh and aaah at him and tell him what a lovely friend he is (how does she know that?) and then she asked me to get on the scales! What? I know you’re having a nice time mumma, but what about me? And what’s that other funny smell? I’m just going to check over here. Um, mumma, do you realise there’s a cat in this place?

And now you want me to sit quietly with you, when there are all of these shelves with treats and dog food? Okay, but I’m only going to do it if you give me lots of scratchies, and don’t mind if I remind you every so often that we haven’t been to the park yet, and that we left Bella and bubba at home with grandma and I miss them so we better go back soon.

Then a nice lady came to get us and we went into her little room. Mumma said this is the vet, Jo. Jo usually sees Bella and I usually see the other vet – not for any particular reason, that’s just how it has happened. Hang on a minute. We’re at the VET? REALLY? WHY?

I’m just going to be over in this corner sitting with my bottom pressed against the wall. Because I KNOW what happens when you come to the vet. It’s not all ‘lovely Beary’ and treats you know. Even though this was just my yearly check-up, other than giving you tummy rubs and checking your heart with a cold thing, they want to take your temperature.

If you’re not a dog, you probably won’t understand, but you can take it from me: having your temperature taken when you are a dog is no fun. No fun at all.

Can we go home now? No? Okay, just hurry and get it over with.

Yeah, yeah, I’m handsome.

Yeah, yeah, I’ve got a lovely nature. Quit with the stalling tactics.

Yeah, I am a little nervy in fact. You hit the nail on the head there sister. Wouldn’t you be?

I’m just going to close my eyes and look the other way. Done. And my temperature’s just perfect? I could have told you that if you’d only asked.

Then Jo said she was going to get the nurse. I wonder why? Mumma says it’s because they’re going to clip my nails. Sounds like fun. Didn’t mumma used to go to a salon for that? Before bubba was born and she ran out of time for things like that?

The nurse wants to cuddle me while Jo cuts my nails. Oh, that’s nice.

WAIT A MINUTE. THAT’S NOT NICE. I DON’T LIKE IT ONE LITTLE BIT. MUMMA, MAKE THEM STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP. I DON’T LIKE THEM HOLDING MY PAWS AND I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIKE THE NOISE THAT THING IS MAKING. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE TO DO EVERY PAW?

Oh dear. I’m just going to sit here and be sad. Mumma must have thought I looked sad, because she sat on the floor in her pretty dress and gave me a million kisses and kept telling me how brave I was.

Then it was over, and I got treats and we could go home. Thank goodness.

Next time, I’m not leaving the house with her unless she has non-work clothes on.

Because I’m not really that tough. I’m a big marshmallow. Mumma knows that.