The PTA

Just back from a meeting of the PTA, which I chair. Somehow the role of organising the school fete's and doing lots of the work for them falls to the chair at this school. Not sure how it has turned out that way as usually one would expect the chair to manage the work to be done but not do it herself! So I'm delighted to say that I asked if anyone would like to take on the role of leading the summer fair, and I had a volunteer. So no spreadsheets for me, no getting anxious about signage, and worrying about the logistics of all the tables and where to put them, let alone how to get enough people to run them. Yay-hey! Just need to make it clear to all it is voluntary, so no haranguing people who don't want to, or can't get involved then can just do the dull agenda' and minutes and bits that I like.

In other news, the dog has taken over chewing the shoe basket as her number one naughty task. And she still does not obey to leave it. Will have to get more treats out as part of training I think. I've been doing my homework, and as well as reading the puppy training book have been watching a very entertaining yet informative programme entitled; 'It's me or the Dog'. Quite posh British woman is the dog trainer and she does it all with treats. Quite small ones too.

Little spotty funny face

We've got a dog; a cross Spaniel and Jack Russell, no please no more comments about what a 'lively untrainable mix' this is, I didn't know OK. She is called Lily, and is really nice sometimes. Other times she runs manically around the house trying to bite ankles, steal shoes to eat, get at the crisps, bark and have wees. When she's nice though, she is very very nice - cuddling up to the whole family, wagging her tail, playing with her toys, saying hello to other dogs and so on.

Lily is 18 weeks old, her first family couldn't manage her, their kitten and year old baby in a flat without a garden. She'd been crate trained there, but I can't bring myself to do that so she's a bit more free range at ours. Hence the need to train her to 'Leave it'. If I'm honest, there are times, when I'm fancying a bit of peace and do wish there was a way to get her to get in her bed for a rest and stay there for more than a minute.

I'm actually thinking having a puppy is harder than an over-active toddler, because (mostly) toddlers don't nip, are not so loud and wear nappies. Lily has settled down slowly since we got her though so do have faith in her ability to be trained. Well I do most of the time.

Off to dog training classes next week. Hoping trainer not too strict with owners as I did read something worrying in puppy book whereby the author said she could tell how well behaved a puppy would turn out to be by looking at the owner's children!