G’day everybody! Greetings from sunny, blisteringly hot, Australia!
I had an exciting time on the Big Flying Machine and an even more exciting time when I arrived!
My humans came to the airport to get me and they were very worried about me getting scared when the Freight people had to lift my crate (because I’m such a big doggie and grew so fast, I have hardly ever been lifted in my life)…
…but then when they saw me coming out, being carried by the forklift, I was just lying there languidly with my paws crossed, looking out of my crate, as if I was on a sightseeing tour! 
The Dogtainers Pet Travel Consultants had told my humans that I would probably be fine because I am a very placid, laid-back kind of dog and also, I have been socialised lots (and continuously) all my life, so I am quite used to meeting and adapting to new experiences. Of course, I got very excited when I heard my humans’ voices and couldn’t wait to get out of my crate!!
"And here we have the Airport Freight centre to your left..."
Hmm...the views are not bad from here...
Oh! What's that? I HEAR MY HUMANS!!!
Come on! This disembarkation process is just too slow...!
Yay! Freedom!
Can you believe they didn't serve me any inflight meals? You must make a complaint!
So HAPPY to be with my family again!
I was lucky that being a NZ doggie, I didn’t need to spend any time in Quarantine, although I did need to show that I had had all my vaccinations and flea & worming treatments.
Then it was time to head off to my new home! My humans had to rent a van especially to come and pick me up because my travel crate is just too huge to fit in a normal car – even an estate wagon!
When I got to my new home, it was very exciting because there were lots of new smells to sniff and corners to explore but – oh! Horror of horrors! The floor in my new home is just like that scary, slippery floor at that disaster Ceroc Party dog-dancing demo, when I was terrified and froze and could not do my dance routine at all! It’s all wooden and shiny and slippery – and my nails make strange clackety-clack noises when I walk on it.
I was really scared at first and just stood there, all hunched up, panting and whining…but my humans just ignored me acting scared – they didn’t comfort me or reassure me or make a big fuss about me being scared of the floor. Instead, they just went about doing their own things and after a bit, I tried to follow them around the house – and then slowly, I realised that walking on that slippery floor wasn’t so scary after all. Yes, it IS slippery and I do still skid and slide sometimes, especially if I try to run, but I’m getting used to it and I’m learning to cope with it! 
And you know what? Remember I told you that my humans gave my big beanbag bed away to the doggies at the Auckland SPCA? Well, they made me a new one! Yes, they bought some fabric and got the Tailor Human back in Auckland to make up the covers (outer washable cover and inner for the beans) and then brought those covers with them when they came over first on the Big Flying Machine (Hsin-Yi said they took up half her suitcase!) and then bought lots of new “beans” here and filled it up.
And can you believe it – this bed is even BIGGER bed than my old one! Hsin-Yi thought it would be nice if I had more space to stretch out (and thought this might stop me sleeping with my head hanging off one end…). It is so big and puffy that I can barely climb on by myself – hee! hee! But it is lovely once I’m on it – so soft and cushiony…
….aaaaaahhhh!
I was so exhausted from all the excitement of my trip on the Big Flying Machine and then seeing my humans again and exploring my new home that I jumped on my bed immediately and in 2 minutes, was fast asleep, snoring, with my new stuffie!
I know I haven’t visited any of your blogs for ages – so sorry! My humans have just been so busy with settling in stuff that they haven’t had time to do any of my blog stuff or help me answer my messages…but Hsin-Yi says that now things are “slowing down” a bit, she can start to help me visit my friends again. So I will be catching up on all your blogs in the next few days – it’ll probably take me a while to get around to everybody and my humans are still very busy – so please bear with me! 
By the way, I know it’s Christmas today – Merry Christmas! – I did plan a special Christmas post for today but since this one is late (my humans’ fault again!), I will have to do a belated Christmas post in a couple of days time!
Miss Honey,
That was one big adventure. Glad to see that you were such a good traveler and had nice people to take care of you along the way.
We have those slippery floors here too and it can be a dickens trying to get up from a resting pose sometimes, but you are most clever and will figure it out.
I am totally jelly of your nice new bed. Momma says she is going to rearrange the dog cave and maybe get me a bed upgrade. I sure hope so because mine is kind of flat and I can feel the cold floor through it.
Eat lots of ice cubes. I fear you have moved to the desert.
Slobbers,
Mango
Hi Honey,
I am so glad that you made it safely to Australia in the belly of the plane. You are quite the international traveller! I know that you were so glad to be with your people again. Love that bed! I can see why you jumped right on it.
Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas.
Your friend,
Niamh
Hiya Honey
Yay, yay -- you’re with your family! We’re SO pleased you made it okay -- how exciting for you! You were just SO cool coming out of the hanger, we’re in total awe….!
Happy Christmas to you and your humans! You know, we’re having SO much fun today we’re just about to crash out for a snooze on the sofa! We started our day early (like every day -- he he!), 7.00 am we met our pals at the park for a walk and the humans popped open a few bottles of bucks fizz to swig whilst TWELVE of us doggies romped around playing and chasing and having a GREAT time. We got home around 8.30 and opened some pressies, then played with our new toys. We had a few snacks around 11.00 and now we’re ready for a little sleep -- yawn!!
We hope you’re having as much fun as we’re having!! The humans are now preparing Christmas dinner so we thought we’d sneak on-line to see if any of our pals were about….and we were SO excited to see a post appear from you!!
We know what you mean about the slippery floor. We used to have nice carpet here when we first turned up but our humans changed to that hard, slippery flooring about 6 months ago. We didn’t like it at first and like you put up an instant protest -- which was immediately and completely ignored! The NERVE! But then we realised it’s not so bad and we now manage some quite spectacular skids -- he he!
We have figured out the exact point to stop running when we’re heading towards our humans -- we run, stop, sit down -- and slide neatly straight onto their feet, they think it’s hilarious and are hoping to post a video of us doing this soon!
Hey -- have a great day with your family today Honey. We’re SO happy you’re back home for Christmas day,
it’s such great news! And tell Hsin-Yi NOT TO WORRY about not commenting on any blogs -- we totally understand and blogging is supposed to be FUN and not make the humans feel guilty or bad -- but then she IS only human after all (he he he!!!) 
Big schnauzer snuggles -- JD and Max.
Wow, Honey, you’re part of the “jet set” crowd now!! Very cosmopolitan!
What a lovey Christmas present to all be together.
By the way, my mom said you can buy these little “gripper” things to stuck on your paw pads that won’t let you slide around on wood floors.
Here is a link where you can order them:
http://www.inthecompanyofdogs.com/itemdy00.asp?c=15&SKW=problem&SKW2=&TKW=&Scat=Y&GEN1=Dog+Problem+Solvers&OR=&parent=&T1=D71087+S&PageNo=1&pos=34
Happy Holidays to you and your family
Yay you are all together safe and sound! You are very brave, I am pretty sure Moose would freak out on a forklift but that is the good thing about your travel crate being just the right size. I bet that comforted you some. In the 2nd pic of you and paul in the freight area I can see you have your ‘happy ears’ on as I call them. Moose’s ears get like that when he is very happy!
I am glad you have gotten used to the floors, I but some throw rugs will appear in time. Moose knows how to avoid slippery areas and will be careful about running on them so bet you will do that too.
Your bed is beautiful! I will be interested to know if you still sleep with your hear hanging off though. Moose does that no matter how big the bed!
Anyway, Merry Christmas and welcome home!
Welcome to your new home, Big Honey Dog, and Merry Christmas!
Oh, Honey! Safe and sound! Home! Family! Christmas!
My mom has tears in her eyes! Christmas wouldn’t be the same without you!
This update is the best gift you could give to my Mom! My Mom loves you very much, and I understand why.
Thank you so much for the update. We know how busy your humans have been.
Looking forward to the next updates. ^^
Love, Kimba.
So happy and your family are together again!
Oh Happy Day!!!
Kit
yay, I am so happy to hear that you made it to be with your family for Christmas!!!! You are very brave with the crate, airplane, forklift, and slippery floors!
It’s so good to know you had a good time at the plane and that you love your new house!!
Merry Xmas, Honey and Family!
Love
Pipa
I’m so happy to hear you had a safe flight into Brisbane.
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to you and your humans!!!
Hi Honey,
Yay, it was a really exciting post!! I wonder what I would become like if I had to travel in a big flying machine like the one you travelled in. I would freak out and keep barking for sure!! What else can you expect me doing?
Thanks for your lovely comments on my training and dancing. You really are my great teacher no matter how far we are apart from each other.
Now I am looking forward to your Christmas post!!
Love,
Cinnamon
Merry Christmas Honey! Great to read that you landed safely and are back with your family.
Best wishes from us all
Clive and Murray
I’m so happy to hear you’ve made it to your new home safely! I wish it were hot here, although the snow was nice for a little bit. I’m just tired of being cold. Mommy takes me outside to pee, but as soon as I’m done I beg to be let back inside. Storm doesn’t seem to feel it. She’s crazy!!
You were very brave with that fork lift thingie. That would scare me probably! I can’t wait to hear more about your new home.
My mom hasn’t made a special Christmas post yet. I’m hoping to get out of having to pose for any pictures or anything like that. Merry Christmas!!
Jackal
Hi Honey,
were so glad to hear you have arrived safe and sound in our beautiful country, and that you are back with your humans again.
We hope you had a lovely christmas.
our mum says your new bed looks lovely and comfy, we got new beds for christmas too. lucky danes arent we getting new beds.
Licks and leans
Stripe & Nitro
From my family to yours,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We WISH you a Merry CHRISTMAS,
and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Licks,
Kylie
(And Mom & Dad)
PS: So glad to see you made it safe and sound to your new home!! ENJOY!!
Sooooo glad to see you arrived safely and are settling into your new home. You lead such an exciting life!
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Yay Honey is Home!!!!!!
I bet not too many dogs have been carried around by a forklift. What a unique experience for you.
Glad to hear you arrived safely and are settling in to your new home.
Merry Christmas.
merry chrismas
we so glad that you are save at your new home
enjoy and see you
next year :p (you will reed at our blog why)
icey kissslobbers
El’bow & Hauwii
Hi, Honey!
I can see how happy you were to see your humans again!
Glad everything went well!
Happy Holidays!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Lukhky fur me, I just khame in from sitting in my snow seat whilst the rain soaked into my khoat!
OR I’D BE SWEATING TOO!
Happy HOWLidays to ALL of WOO!
It is so nice to see woo made it to Brisbane!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Yay! I’m so pleased you had a good trip, Honey -- and welcome to Australia!
Now, make sure you stay in the shade and eat plenty of ice cubes! And remember, the best and coolest place to sit is right between your humans and the fan.
Puppy kisses
Sasha
What a wonderful Christmas you’re having!
Welcome home!!
XXoooXooXOOXOoxOoo
honey i am so glad to hear you got to your new home safe and sound. i was so worried. i’m moving again too. i moved to florida in february into a beautiful house but my mommy found mold and the lanfdlord wont fix it so she found us a new house to live in before we both get sick. its only down the road and its even closer to pop pop and granny plus its bigger and has a more giant yard so mommy says i will be a happy boy there too. merry christmas!!!
Welcome Home, Honey! I’m so happy you made it to Austrailia safe and sound. I wondered how you’d do on the plane ride over without your humans but it I see you did just fine!
Thank you for sharing your adventures. I loved seeing all the pictures. My favorite is the one of you getting out of your crate & being reunited with your humans again. It made me smile!
You sure got a nice big bed! My chihuahuas are itty bitty compared to you so they sleep in my bed with me at night. They do have a bed they can lay in during the day but it’s filled with all of their toys so it doesn’t get much use as a bed.
Merry Christmas to you and your humans! The best present of all was the three of you just getting to be together, I’m sure.
So happy to hear you got to Brisbane with no troubles and got to spend Christmas with your family! Hope your Christmas was very merry!
Hi Honey and family,
I was worried about you since I had not seen your arrival in Australia post. But I see now that you arrived safe and sound in your new home. You looked so happy when you saw your humans from your crate.
Do you have any carpeting in your new home? I hope so cuz even though we are getting older us danes still get the zoomies once in a while and I’d hate to see you hurt yourself on that slippery wood floor. We have wood floors in some areas of the house so mom has strategically placed rubber backed rugs in some parts of that area to help me get around. If I get too excited on the wood floors I do have issues.
Enjoy the warm weather (I wish we had that here--brrrr it’s cold and snowy here). Don’t burn your butt sitting on that hot pavement! Glad to see you back blogging.
AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane
We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥ We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ … and A Happy New Year! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
The happy look on your face when your Papa greeted you made us smile, Honey! I’m so glad you are safe and sound with your parents in Brisbane. Our very best wishes to you all in your new home. Can’t wait for you to share all your new adventures in this new chapter of your life.
Love and kisses.xoxo
Chef
Merry Christmas Honey! What a great flier you are! I know there are lots of nooks, crannies and places to smell in and around your new digs, but won’t that be fun??? Love your big bed and that picture of you with that pawsome stuffie!!! Don’t worry about your blog -- get moved in, girl! Enjoy the new place! Look forward to hearing about your adventures there!
Happy Boxing Day!
Hugs xo
Sammie
How exciting that you went for a ride in the big flying masheen, and then for a ride on the forklift masheen, and you were such a good girl.
Yer pal,
Luda
Hey Honey. Thanks for stopping by. I’m feeling much better. I did eat something naughty but I was trying to keep mom from finding out. Unfortunately she did. It was sunflower seeds, hull and all.
And they were so good. Can’t wait to see pictures of Australia. I’ve never been anywhere so cool.
Jackal
I love your smile when you found your humans! Welcome to your new home, Honey, and I hope you had a delightful Christmas.
I have some carpet and some slippery floors, and we big doggies can learn to deal with the slippery floors. Of course, it’s harder to sneak up on your humans that way. That’s a great new bed you have, and a nice toy, too. Enjoy your new home!
drools,
Thor
Glad you’re safe and sound in Australia Honey. Don’t worry about those slippery floors , as long as your Mum doesn’t do your dance practise on them you’ll be fine. We have them here too and we only go for a skid if we get so excited and have to race outta the cat door to chase a bird or get the next door neighbours cat away from OUR cat. You shouldn’t have that to worry about.
High Tail Wags
Bodie & Goo
Honey, that sucks about the in-flight meal service. And did you get your frequent flyer points? Glad to hear you have made it here safely. We are back in Brisbane and hope to see you soon. x
Hi Honey,
Wow! You’ve actually moved home! That’s some major change! We’re glad you got to Brissie fine and have settled in fine -- don’t worry about missing in flight meal … it’s nothing to woof home about :p
WIshing you and your family a very happy christmas and a Happy New Year!
licks and wags
The Dog WOods Pack
Honey! I’m so happy you could visit my blog! Thank you for your comment there.
I am still with that allergy, using a spray and that horrible collar. My vet is not sure what caused that, she said it could be from cleaning products… It’s getting better though.
It’s been very hot here lately, around 33 C, and raining a lot. Mom said our weather is very similar to Australia’s. Hopefully you’ll get used to it soon.
Dad uses this to make the cards: http://www.picnik.com
Our Christmas was not so fun this year, but I was happy that I could stay with my family all the time, which is the most important thing for me. Dad is making a short video right now and I’ll post it as soon as I can.
How was your Christmas? I bet being with your humans was your best gift! And theirs too!
Love, Kimba.
P.S. Thanks for your friendship and happy 2010!
Woo, Honey! Knowing you’re safe and sound in Brisbane is the BEST Christmas pressie! Even better than the blizzard Santa brought us!
Woooooo!
Luv,
Dave
Hiya Honey!
That sounds like a awesome adventure you had and we are glad that you were together with your hoomans for Christmas!
But I can’t believe that they didn’t serve inflight snacks for you!!! Did the built in snack-bar work at least?!
You also look quite cool next to the roos! You are probably as big as thy are…
I hope it isn’t too hot for you over here?!
Slobbers Teal’c
Wow! what an exciting read! I’m so glad you had a pleasent trip (except for that not getting an inflight meal thingie…)
i know i’m going to have to go through that soon too!
~wags-n-wiggles~
wild dingo
So glad you arrived safe!
What in the world are those scary things on two legs you are sitting next to? They are huge and not hooman!
You are brave!
woof -- Tucker
Glad you arrived safe and happy!
Hi Honey
Just wondering if you’ve been sleeping with your head off the side of your giant new bed?
Puppy kisses
Sasha
BARK! What a big trip honey. You are such a good girl. I dont know if I would have done so well. We too have those slippery floors. I got used to them rather quickly, but mommy has rugs around too. Those clicky nails will help you mommy know when you are up and ready to be fed or go potty. The sounds become useful. BARK! Sasha the Princess
I’m so-o glad everything went well. You make it sound matter-of-fact in the report, but I’ll bet it was a worrying time for everyone. But you are all together now!
hey finally found where I can read about your trip.So pleased honey it didnt prove to be scarey for you, and even more pleased your humans have found a nice place quickly so you join hten for Xmas. love th ebig bean bag!!!! hope hteres lots of room in your lounge for it.
missing you all, jan moss and onny
Wow! What an adventure! I am so happy to see you reunited with your humans! I love your bean bag! You are very lucky to have such adoring humans! Love, Dino
Oh Honey, you look so sweet on your new bed with your new stuffie!
Hello, I was wondering where I could order a big Pillow Bed like that for my Duke? it looks so comfortable.
Thank you
If you actually read the post, you’ll see where/how we got the bed