April 1^st, 2007: Hi everyone…my name is Mai Tye <my tie> and this is my diary. My Momma Paige had a diary for us when we were little babies and she said many people didn’t want the story to end…I don’t know what story she was talking about  but I can tell you  what I know so far. 

I was born on January 4^th, 2007. I was the 8^th puppy born in a litter of 9. I had lots of brothers and sisters.  As we got older my brothers and sisters disappeared.  At first we didn’t notice they were gone…then all of a sudden it was just a few of us…I was really worried I was going disappear like my brothers and sisters, but my Momma said I wasn’t going no where. WHEW! I later found out my brothers and sisters had really important jobs to do. They had been assigned people to look after. So they went off to their new families to watch over their families. My Momma says they are all ok and in the future we will be able to visit them. I like that idea! 

My Momma Paige told me about my family history. We come from a long line of Field Spaniels that goes back for many many many generations.  My momma Paige is the 6^th generation girl in the Hall of Fame. That means all the girls going back to my great great great great grandmother have earned their place in the Hall of Fame.  I’m not sure what Fame is or why it’s in a hallway but Momma Paige says it show we are all hard workers. Now I have been practicing standing in the hallway so that one day I can stand in the Hall of Fame too and make everyone proud of me. Well that’s it for the introduction. I will up-date from time to time….but I is a busy girl so I can’t guarantee nothing.

April 4th 2007: Today we went on a really cool adventure. I got to go with Momma Paige to her lesson. First we rode in one car and then we got into a second car. The second car had these brown and white dogs in it. They look like us but they are bigger. Momma said they were Springers. I looked and I didn’t see any springs. So I think it’s because they must spring off the beds and furniture like I do. So I guess I am a Springer too.  I had to stay in the car as it was really cold, which was ok as I was sleepy.  Then Momma opens the door and said it was my turn. I wasn’t sure what this meant. I got to go meet a bunch of people. Then we were out in the field and I could smell something. I wasn’t sure what the smell was at first but then I found feathers.  The feathers were really fun to play with. I like lessons as everyone there is really nice and I got to play all sort of neat games! 

 May 7th, 2007: Over the weekend we went for another really long car ride. It was boring but then we got to Grandma and Poppa’s farm. It was fun there and they have ducks! Then came a cool surprise I got to play with my brother Blaze! He wasn’t lost after all but had gone off to live with his new mom and dad. He is a little bigger then me but I reminded him who the boss was! Then we got into the car and went to another house with Fields Spaniels in it. One was a funny color with orange on her face, but her name was Miranda and she was fun to play with. We then went to a dog show. I am not sure what that is all about. There were lots of dogs and they all had to get brushed. I got to roll in the mud instead. Then I got another surprise. My other brother Arthur showed up with his mom. I was SO happy to see him. The show was fun but I think I would rather be out chasing the birds.

 May 17^th 2007: I am going to get really super smart. I get to go to more classes. We go to this place called agility. There are lots of dogs there to play with. We get treats for running up and down this stuff. I have no idea why Mom thinks I need a treat when I jump over stuff or climb but I won’t complain. Luka gets to come to class too with Dad. So we all have fun together. There is another puppy just about my size. Her name is Sky and she is an Aussie. She has blue eyes and is what they call a blue marble. I thought marbles where rocks, but mom kept saying Merle but I think she meant marble.

Anyway my trainer says I am a natural!

 May 29^th 2007: Well I go to hunt training every week and this week the trainer said I was a natural at hunting! I don’t know what a natural is but that’s ok. Every time I see the bird guy I bark at him to let him know I am ready. He will then smile and say “We I guess you’re ready!” He offered to keep me but my Mom said no way! <WHEW>. Mom said this was a big compliment as the bird guy really likes his Springers. I like the bird guy!       

June 2nd 2007:  This past weekend I went to another dog show. I am not sure what all these dog shows are all about but I get to go see friends so it doesn't matter. I got to meet a new friend. His name is Nick and he is a Field Spaniel like me. He is younger then me but he is a big boy. I got to play with him. There were other people that were just hanging out as well and they all were really nice. I made sure I went up to each person and said hello so that no one would feel left out. Mom says soon I will be old enough to be entered in my first show. I think it will be fun, but I still rather be out hunting...... 

July 29th 2007:  I got to go to be in my first dog show this past weekend and it was fun. First we got to go visit Grandma and Grandpa on the farm. They have ducks....well and the ducks were in the pen so I chased them like I do the pigeons at hunt class. Grandma and Uncle Hank were yelling at me. I had no idea what they were yelling but I figured they wanted me to hurry up. Well there were about 7 ducks and they were big and I almost picked one up but Uncle Hank picked me up first. Sigh, I guess he just doesn't understand how hunt training is suppose to work. I am suppose to pick up the bird...not he pick up the puppy...maybe Mom can talk to him.

Well Dad came back that afternoon and off we went.  I was SOOO excited as my brothers and sister were coming too. The next morning was the BIG DAY. Tessa,  Arthur & Blaze were all there! It was Blaze's first show too and neither of us knew what to do. Arthur and Tessa said we just had to walk on a leash...well that was easy enough. I would trot on the leash and Mom would reward me with chicken! Although I didn't like having to get a bath nor that evil blow dryer... the show was still fun as I got lots of praise and chicken . There were lots of dogs all over the place...all shapes and sizes...Mom said we all did a great job and Blaze and I got our picture taken...Mom said it was because we won...I think its was because it was our first show! It was great day and the best part was seeing my family again!

August 6th 2007:  Would you believe we went to another show? and guess what? my brother Arthur was there too! He is bigger then me but I still can kick his butt! I was really excited as my friend Nick was there too. He is looking like a grizzly bear and has more hair then me. I told him he better not grow too much hair because then they take it off. Nick, Arthur and I all got to play in the motel room jumping from bed to bed.  Arthur must of walked the best at the show because he got his picture taken. Mom said it was because he won a major. I don't know what a major is...but i think he should win a bone or toy instead of a major! 

August 23, 2007: Something terrible happened today. I lost my family. I am not sure how it happened. We all got into the car and went for a ride. Well hours later we arrived at this strange place and there was a really nasty storm outside. Luckily we happen to be right outside Auntie Grace's house and she came out and saved us! We went inside and there was my brother Arthur. Well I found myself a nice bone and a brand new bed and laid down to chew. Well after a while I noticed my mom and dad were gone! Thank goodness my brother Arthur was there. Well over the next few days we had lots of fun. I got to go to a bar, walk in the city and I learned how to open the pantry door. I will say Arthur has really good kibble...and his mom had it on the pantry floor so I had a really good snack. Auntie Grace wasn't too happy with me but my belly was full and I was happy. I had a lot of fun hanging out with my brother!

 August 26, 2007: I is really worried. We went to Auntie Corkie's and Grace and Arthur left without me! I was really upset. I sat and cried for a whole hour. How was my mom going to find me? She knew I was at Auntie Grace's not Auntie Corkie.  Arthur isn't here either.  There are two other Fields here. One is named Miranda and I am not sure if I should tell her or not but she got stuff on her face. Journey says those are tan marks. I am not sure what tan marks are but that girl should stay out of her mom's make up! After a while I liked it at Auntie Corkie's. I got to play all the time and sleep on the bed. It was almost like home.

September 1, 2007: Today I went on another car trip. These trips get me worried as lately I keep ending up in a new location. However was I ever surprised as Auntie Corkie found my MOM! I was so happy to find her. She doesn't have a tag or nothing so its important I don't lose her. My momma Paige was in the van too...I was very happy to see her and daddy...WHEW...there is no place like HOME!   

November 4, 2007: My mom and dad took me and everyone else out for a long car ride. Then we had to wait and wait and wait...Finally Mom took me out and got my harness on. YEA! we were going tracking, but this time it was different because there were lots of people there. Well I wanted to impress all those people so I went really fast. My mom kept trying to slow me down but there was no way I was going to slow down. I did the entire track at my best speed ever of 4 mins. Mom was making funny noises behind me, but she seemed ok.   Everyone told me how cute I was and what a great tracking dog I am. I really liked them and the most fun was riding in a big pick up truck! It was fun and Mom says we can go do the same thing next week.

April 14, 2008: Well its been a while since I last wrote. Its been a really long winter, with lots of snow and my mom says it made it hard to do stuff. There were no agility classes and even at hunt training hardly any other dogs showed up and I missed my friends. So then my mom brought home this little thing she called a baby. HUH? Well I tried to play with him by putting the toys in his lap but he doesn't throw them. I keep trying to teach him but he doesn't get it. I guess babies are really slow learners and I will have to keep trying. Now that the snow melted mom brought out the jumps and weave poles again and we have been having fun practicing. I also still go hunting every week which is fun but they keep changing the rules on me. People are funny that way, do it one way then they change it and want it done another way. Go figure. I haven't been to any shows in a while which is ok as I have been fun playing in the mud...Mom says I am a muck hound...

May 27 2008: We went to a really big show with lots of Fields. I got to run in agility which was fun. I didn't get and Q's <not sure what those are> but that's ok it was lots of fun. In the show ring I got a ribbon in every class I was entered. But showing was kind of boring. Agility was a lot more fun.

June 1st, 2008: Well after a busy week at the Nationals I really hungry from all the showing and travel. I started to look around for some food and went downstairs. Jack pot. Mom had left me a 30 pound bag of kibble. I haven't seen this much kibble since Auntie Grace's place. So I decided to have a snack. Hmmm its nice to be able to eat as much as you want when you are hungry.

June 10, 2008: Lately its been harder to move around. Mom commented on how I have been filling out and I guess that is good? Then disaster happened. Mom went downstairs and saw that I have been eating the kibble she left for me. She then explained it was for emergencies. I told her IT was and emergency as my tummy was hungry. Mom wasn't so convinced and took away the last of my kibble. Sigh...well there was only a few cups left anyway...but NOW what am I going to do when I am hungry? 

June 14, 2008: Mom thought she would keep me on a strict diet but I was SO hungry that I decided I needed a little snack. Mom keeps all the dog cookies and kibble where I can't get to them. So I decided to look around for myself. I opened the cabinet and there was a strange package. I smelled it and I could smell a faint smell of sweetness. It took some effort to the package but Whoo Hoo turns out it was pecan sandie cookies. I was very good and only ate half the package. 15 cookies aren't Really a lot when you think about it....my tummy ached a little bit but maybe I need to learn to open the fridge next time to have milk with my cookies.

June 16, 2008: So far I have been able to survive on the limited rations. Today I found an un-opened box  of dog treats. Hmmmm they were tasty. Not a lot in there but they took the edge off the hunger.