DONALD BINKS

Nothing much is known about Bart's early life other than that he was born in the latter half of 2003. In early 2004 he found himself in a pet shop in Canterbury and it was here that he first came into contact with Donald.
Bart had spent some considerable period of time cooped up in a large flat box with glass sides and sawdust on the floor. He had had to share this box with a number of other West Highland puppies but they seemed to disappear just as he had made friends with them. He had only one other companion left when he saw Donald come into the shop.
Bart didn't know what to make of Donald, but he heard him talking to the pet shop owner and pointing in his direction. Eying Donald over he noticed that he was fat. Bart immediately thought this personage must know good sources of food - and that being so - he must be an interesting person to know.
Bart was not altogether displeased when he found himself in Donald's arms. It was a hot day, but he liked the warmth of Donald and was content to just rest there and be carried out of that pet shop. He was not sorry to leave, but he didn't really know where he was going.
Bart had his first ride in the front seat of a motor car that day. He had been in something that moved and made noises before, but he was in a box and couldn't make out what was happening. Now he was unrestrained and could see out. Gee, this is fun, thought Bart as he jumped up to look out of this clear wall thing (which he later learned was called a 'window'). He could see a lot of interesting territories pass by. Much better than being stuck in a pet shop.
Bart then spent the next six months in Donald's house in Richmond. He was only a little puppy then and every experience was new to him and there were lots of things to learn, such as having to go outside when needing to visit the lavatory. But there was no way he was going to sleep on his own. It was no good putting him in the laundry - even if there was a nice doggie style bed in there. Bart wanted to sleep on a proper human's bed.
Six months later, with a number of chewed up toilet rolls behind him, Bart shifted to the countryside and he has since made Schaanwald his much loved home.

BART'S FAVOURITE THINGS:
Eating,Thinking about eating, Dreaming about eating, Watching eating in progress, Inventing ways to do more eating, Sniffing, Advanced sniffing, Rolling around in kangaroo poo, Going for a walk, Going somewhere in the motor car.
WHAT BART DOESN'T LIKE:
Kookaburras, flies, baths, other animals in too close a proximity, humans who don't like dogs.
(PHOTOGRAPHED AT RIGHT AFTER BEING SHORN ONE SUMMER - BELOW RIGHT - READY AND WAITING TO TAKE SOMEONE FOR A WALK)
A TYPICAL DAY FOR BART:
8.30am Jump up on Donald in bed and lick his face as a signal for him to get out of bed
9.00am Go in to the bathroom and check up on how far Donald has progressed with his daily ablutions
10.00am Chase after Donald and remind him that it is time to get in the car and go to the Post Office.
11.00am Morning biscuit time
11.45am Play with an assortment of toys
12.30am Help Donald finish some bits of toast and vegemite/jam
1.00pm Race out on to the balcony to bark at some recalcitrant kookaburras.
2.00pm Dig up an old bone in the back yard
3.00pm Take Donald on a walk up the back of the property
4.00pm General patrolling duties
5.00pm The Highlight of the day - the evening meal
6.00pm Sit back and watch television with Donald
11.00pm Go to bed - with intermittent patrolling duties throughout the night.

DRIVING THE CAR	DOING HIS EMAILS			RELAXING WITH DONALD
SOME BARTISMS
August 2008
Bart initially didn't want me to tell any one, but then he changed his mind when he thought he might get something out of it. You see Bart turns 5 in August. Surprising isn't it? Seems only yesterday when he was a pup chewing my library to shreds. Now he is a fully grown doggie still full of rascality. Now Bart has said that whilst he doesn't mind all those cards and letters and congratulations - he would really rather a nice big bone...
May 2008
Tony came up for a lelacking couple of days and decided to have a sleep in, in the morning. Bart being the stern disciplinarian he is was going to have none of this. (Bart I think has had experience as an RSM). First of all he brought his ball into Tony's boudoir and tried to get it under his pillow. When this attempt at trying to get Tony up did not work, he later went and got his squeaky toy and brought that into the room and gave a long solo squeak performance. This was it. Tony finally gave in and got up.

April 2008
I don't know whether it is a comment on my playing ability or whether Bart wishes to pursue a musical career, but now every time I go to either the piano or the organ to finger the ivories I am before long accompanied by Bart on his squeaky toy. The first time he did it gave me a bit of a start and I nearly fell off the organ bench. I am used to it now but I do wish that Bart would at least get the tempo correct..
February 2008:
I had run out of Vegemite and this morning was obliged to layer the first two slices of toast with Honey (or "Hunny"as it is spelled by animals). Bart sniffed the first slivver I gave him as his portion of this repast. He then looked at me as if to say "This isn't Vegemite". I then had to explain to him that it was Hunny and that other animals such as Tigger and HeeHaw and various Heffalumps regaled in the delights of eating Hunny. This explanation seemed persuasive and Bart then proceeded to firstly lick the honey from the toast before devouring it. As jam was still on the menu, he was able to finish off breakfast without too much further interruption
February 2008:
Yesterday Wayne and Greg came to Schaanwald for morning coffee. They brought with them Bart's Christmas presents which he had left at their place. Included amongst them is the squeakiest toy in Christendom. I mean if you have heard a squeaky toy then this is the ultimate in squeak. It sounds like ten cats being strangled simultaneously. Needless to say, anything bound to give a tinge of annoyance has been taken up with utmost glee by Bart. His presence is now announced around the house by tumultuous squeaking, which at times can be quite amusing and other times quite annoying - particularly last night when Bart decided to accompany the news with a squeak concerto. Probably by Easter this toy will rendered devoid of squeak by Bart's determined wrecking actions.
February 2008:				I was reading the paper one Sunday and Bart was in his usual position on the sofa opposite me. Apparently he got a bit restless because he thought it must have been time for his walk and I wasn't paying any heed of him. Anyway he managed to get up to the side table and knock a book I had on it to the floor. This act then got my attention.
It is not commonly thought that dogs actually have possessions, however Bart has disproved this theory as over the years he seems to have acquired quite a few possessions which he keeps in his secret hiding place underneath my bed.

February 2008:
			Bart's personal stylist visited Schaanwald on Monday 25th February. Bart had a facial, massage, shampoo and set and a new late summer hairstyle.

February 2008:				cat was doing. Just as I was about 3 feet away, there was the sound of a jumbo jet and then a 'whoosh' as Bart hurtled at full throttle towards the cat. Next minute the cat had turned into a jaguar and was disappearing at about 90 miles an hour towards the neighbouring property. Bart has evidently decided that Schaanwald is a one pet property.
		This is a photograph of Bart's uncle "Eddy G". (it was sent to us from Bart's Auntie Leon)
		There is a ginger cat which visits Schaanwald occasionally. It lives somewhere in the vicinity. Anyway I was in my office when I saw out the window, this cat casually strolling along the verandah. Bart was upside down on the sofa asleep. Anyway I went outside to see what the