22cnd December 2000
I've arrived! My name is Caesar, but I often answer to nicknames such as "My boy" and "My lad" to be honest, I'll answer to anything if my new Mum has got her hand in the left hand pocket of her jeans 'cos that's where she keeps my treats. I have been in my new home two whole weeks now, I've settled in very well and I love it here, although occasionally things happen that I would prefer to avoid, such as a visit to the vet. I didn't like having to wear my new jacket either, Mum says I can't go out working without it though because people won't understand that I'm working and might not let me into the shops and will distract me. I don't mind being distracted if the people are nice to me! I think I like my new Mum she has lots of jobs for me to do, and I love doing them...I can now empty the washing machine, find the keys, pick up lots of things that get dropped, fetch the newspaper and the post. I love fetching things. I have got some new toys and love to play with them, I take my Teddy to bed with me, I like him so much I have chewed his nose right off!
We have had lots of visitors here at my new home, I love it when people come to visit because they all make a fuss of me and say how well behaved I am, Mum sometimes calls me "Mister Softee" but I am just a sensitive boy.
I am looking forward to Xmas, I hope to get lots of new toys and on Xmas day I will be exactly 18 months old. My birthday was 25th June 1999.
I have been out for lots of walks with Mum, she either uses the wheelchair or scooter, I think I prefer the scooter 'cos I can run alongside then. There is a lovely heath at the back of my new home and it's tremendous fun running and exploring there...I don't go far from Mum though...it's too scary. I have been out in the car which I love, I often fall asleep 'cos it's so relaxing. I have been to the supermarket a couple of times and I also went to the hospital to meet Mums' doctor, he liked me too.
Since I came here my trainer Jo has come from Exeter to see me every working day, she tells Mum what to say if she wants me to do something. Sometimes Mum tells her if I have been naughty and Jo tells her what to do if I do it again...so I can't really get away with anything. Mum was angry with me once because I went outside late in the evening and burrowed two holes under the fence and came in very dirty, I accidentally brought a slug in which ended up on Mum...she wasn't angry with me for long though, I gave her one of my sorry looks and she can't resist that and it wasn't long before she gave me a kiss and said we were friends again.
At least here I don't have to share with any other dogs like I did at the kennels, I think I am going to like it here...I follow Mum everywhere...and she loves that.

28th December 2000
I had so many toys for Xmas I don't know which to play with, it has been very frosty lately, Mum said we might have some snow but we didn't. We had ice instead, I trod in a frozen puddle and it went craaaaaack, it was so scary I ran out of it again backwards.

1st January 2001
Wow! Last night was fun, I was allowed to stay up very late. I went in the garden after midnight when all the fireworks were going off, I wasn't at all scared although Mum thought I might be.

4th January 2001
Great fun today, went to a different post box then took the recycling to the bank, I thought you had to get money out of the bank, not put bottles in!! Anyway, there is a super wood just by the recycling bank and Mum took me there...I had great fun running around, I found a stream to lay down in and saw some of my relatives with their owners. Mum said I looked very dirty all the way home, but when we got there she gave me a nice shower with the hose...which was almost as much fun as running in the muddy puddles in the first place!

7th January 2001
Had a visit to the vet today, 'cos I have broken one of my teeth. Mum says I may have to have some treatment for my tooth and we are going to a special vet next week.

Caesar subsequently saw a specialist vetinary dentist and had root canal surgery on his fractured tooth. The operation went smoothly, and he continues to do well. It doesn't seem to have had any long tyerm effects upon him, and he now enjoys having his teeth brushed with poultry flavour doggie toothpaste each morning.