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Online Diary 2007 April |
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The online diary started life as a blog of my strange 'other life' with the dog. I wanted to record some of the experiences that I had as a first-time dog owner. To access the archive, click on the appropriate month. The most recent articles are listed separately. You are most welcome to send comments about any of the articles. Record your comments via the Contact Me page. HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
Beattie and I spent a few days exploring the Northern Fells this past week. We took full advantage of the weather, which was unseasonably good. I still have to be careful not to over walk Beattie as she is still a puppy, but she was happy to do a couple of hours out on the fells. She made it to the summit of her first 2000+ footer - Great Sca Fell (2131') (see photo in the gallery). This is not the more famous Scafell in the southern Lakes, which will be a challenge for her when she is older. The day we climbed Great Sca Fell the wind rather spoilt things making it feel ten degrees colder than it was! Some of these tops have wind shelters built on them, but, sadly, not Great Sca Fell. Consequently, we did not hang about for long, but pushed on to Brae Fell where we did find some shelter for lunch. Unfortunately for Beattie, she could not be let off her lead as she just loves to chase anything that moves, including sheep! Still, I feel sure that she enjoyed all her extended walks. At least it was peaceful in the evenings as she spent her time on the bed - doggo! Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse
THE WORLD'S WORST PICKPOCKET
Dogs have a hard life! They have to hang around at meal-times hoping that a nice treat might come their way. Beattie and I spent four days at The Mill Inn, Mungrisdale when A went off with her sister to Rome on a city break. It's worth staying there just for the food, which is wonderful. The Mill Inn is famous for its pies. They are all hand-made and you can even buy them online! Dogs are welcome to stay at The Mill Inn and are even allowed in the bar when food is being served. For Beattie, this meant being on her short lead while I ate my meal. She had her little ploys to try to get me to part with a titbit for her. First she would sit right next to me looking up with her big eyes willing me to give her something. It was as if she was thinking, 'Look at me, I'm so cute you can't resist me!' If that didn't elicit a response from me she would up the ante by lying down! Now she is notoriously bad at lying down to command. She will pretend she was going to lie down herself by going through a over-elaborate charade of pretending to have a good scratch of her ear and gradually overbalance and lie down! 'I was not being obedient, I just lost my balance, you see!' On this particular evening, neither Plan A or Plan B worked. The reason was that I was enjoying a Mill Inn pie, which was not suitable for her. The next thing that I felt was a shaking in the pocket of my body warmer and, looking down, saw that Beattie had her head in my pocket and was searching for the treats I sometimes kept there! The lady on the opposite table thought this was most amusing. I must admit I had to laugh at her. She didn't get her treat, though. Hard luck, Beattie! Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse
SWIMMING LESSONS
Bedlington Terriers hate water. I have heard this said on a number occasions in the last year. What a pity nobody told Beattie. She must be the exception that proves the rule. Yesterday, I took her to Somerleyton to walk the bank alongside the river. We go there most days and it is a good off-lead walk for Beattie as few people do this walk and, secondly, there is water on both sides of the bank so she cannot escape. At least, that is what I believed up until yesterday... Now I am not so sure. This is an 'out and back' walk. Walk along the bank as far as you can up to a free mooring site and then return. The only place where she can 'escape' on to the marshes is at an old drainage windmill, which is maintained by the County Council. Returning on our walk yesterday we had just passed the windmill when Beattie ran down the bank to the dyke that separates the bank from the marshes. She often runs along here to bark at the geese and ducks, who just cackle back at her in a sneering sort of way. It is as if the are telling her that she is only a dog that cannot swim or fly so it's pointless trying to intimidate them. The next thing I saw was Beattie jumping into the dyke and trying to 'run' on the water! Not content with this effort, she next ventured into deeper water and had to do one or two strokes of 'doggy paddle' before she thought better of it and sought the safety of the shore! When she reached dry land, she shook herself vigorously before running up the bank to tell me all about her adventure! Now I am wondering what will happen next time we are there. Will she be bolder and start to swim properly? If she starts that she will have to be put on her lead and she will not like that! Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse
SWIMMING LESSONS - PART 2
Emboldened by her first foray into the water ... Today on our walk, I let Beattie off the lead and immediately she was in the River Waveney, which is tidal at this point!!Luckily, for her (and me) she did not get out of her depth and was only splashing around in the water. When will she learn she is only a dog, not a duck... Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse Comment from Anonymous
STRANGER DANGER
Every youngster is taught about the perils of 'Stranger Danger'. Even puppies should understand this valuable life lesson. Some don't ... or won't! It was a cooler day today. Yesterday, I was in shorts and short sleeves for our walk. Today, it was back to trousers and jumper as there was a cool breeze blowing across the marshes. No aquatic adventures for Beattie today. Instead she decided to run off after a stranger with binoculars. We passed this chap on our way out and chatted about the weather (what else!). Beattie took a shine to this man and kept doing her 'I'm a cute dog 'routine for him. Naturally, he was completely taken in by this behaviour and reacted favourably. At least when we left him Beattie contrived to come with me (obediently). However, she was just biding her time, for when we arrived at the drainage mill, her nose stuck to the ground as is magnetised and she set off at a run. I called her back and she did stop briefly before heading off away from me and out of sight. I could see the stranger some way ahead, but the rest of the walk was ruined as I had to up the pace to fast walking in order to catch up with them both. Luckily for Beattie (and me) he was a friendly stranger and waited for me with the dog. Apparently, Beattie had startled him by barking behind his back when he was plugged into his MP3 player! I have come to the conclusion that she has no sense of personal danger at all, and nothing I try to do can change the situation. Meanwhile, I continue to tear my hair out! Back To post a comment click here Comment from Tracey Lilly
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from sablonneuse
A few years ago, a Government-sponsored leaflet for parents pictured two children happily making their way up the road of progress to that blissful state of complete education! There was no suggestion that children would falter or slip back on this journey through the education system. Of course it was not like the real world - with children... or dogs! AT announced at dog training that she was going to set up a Thursday afternoon training class outside where the dogs and handlers could practise 'in the ring'. Being retired, I could organise my Thursdays so that I could attend these sessions with Beattie. She had only done her training indoors, so it would be a new experience for her. What I had not realised was that Dog Shows all take place in the summer months outside. Most of the time the dogs train indoors on carpet. Being outside is a whole new ball-game, which throws up its own unique problems. I arrived late at the venue, the field behind the village hall. This was my fault as I had fallen asleep over lunch! This meant I had to drive like a maniac to get there 15 minutes late! There was only AT and one other club member there. I watched to begin with as J worked her dog in the ring. Immediately, I could see that she was having problems getting the dog to respond in a way that did not happen inside. There was an old chap with a motor mower cutting the field quite near the ring. The noise and movement was upsetting the dog. There were all the distractions of the new scents on the grass to be investigated. When it was Beattie's turn, I took her into the ring on her training lead and tried to get her to walk to heel. It was very hard work. She was not looking at me, she was distracted, she was slow. In fact, it was as if I had never trained her at all! AT told me to 'go back to basics' and reward her for just making eye contact. This was about the first exercise I had ever done with her, but at last she began to respond to her little sausage treats and she began to move and look up at me. Next I tried a recall. I took off her lead and put her in a 'sit' position before turning my back on her and walking away a few metres. Then I turned around and called her to me. Usually, she comes running, but today she ambled over with her head down and stopped about a metre from my feet and would not move any further. This was hopeless! She was supposed to be entering her first Show on Sunday week! What on earth was I to do? I left that training session very depressed as Beattie had failed to respond to me at all. Why was this? Was she trying to wind me up? Was it the new situation? Couldn't she cope with an outdoor ring? I did not sleep very well as I pondered what I could do. I resolved to start training her out in the garden from now on. Perhaps that way I could get her used to performing outside. In the morning I trained her in the back garden almost starting again as AT had advised. She was brilliant! She was keen, responsive and a joy to work with - the antithesis of the previous day. Why? I telephoned AT to ask her what was going on, and that I was extremely anxious about Sunday week. I was very surprised to hear AT's diagnosis of the situation. 'Beattie's anxious', she told me. The new situation had made her behave as she did. A slow, lethargic dog is a classic symptom of anxiety. Well, if that was the problem, then what was the solution. AT said that outdoor training to get her used to this environment was the only way to cure her anxieties. She said that was why she had set up the Thursday group. She also said that it would be helpful if Beattie and I attended a few Dog Shows without taking part so I could see what was involved and she could have some informal training in a competitive atmosphere. I found my diary and pencilled in a couple of dates. Dogs like children do not always react favourably to new situations! Neither do the handlers! Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse
Dogs are contrary creatures. Somehow, they contrive to do the opposite of what you want! It has been a busy week trying to prepare Beattie for her first Dog Show this coming Sunday. We have been training in the garden most days and there has been some improvement. When we went training on Thursday in the ring, she did respond far better than last week. I want her to look her best, so have been paying extra special attention to her grooming. After one long session of brushing and nail clipping, I decided to take her for a 'dry' walk across the fields, instead of our usual river walk. The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry for weeks now and the paths are bone-dry. We had a fine walk of several miles, but on our return we passed one place where a tractor had left a deep rut during a wet spell and there was still water in the bottom. Water, wherever it is, attracts Beattie like a magnet, and before I knew it she was paddling about in the muddy rut undoing all the hard work I had put in on her appearance, the ruddy mutt! Back To post a comment click here Comment from Tracey Lilly
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from sablonneuse
DOG SHOW - BEFORE LUNCH
The big day finally arrived. I was up at 5.30 a.m. so I could tart Beattie up for the Show! After I had used the shower, it was her turn. I had bought special 'doggy' shampoo to clean her up and to try and make her look especially appealing. Even if she did nothing in the obedience ring, I was determined she would look her best! Besides, she was going to be entered in some of the 'Novelty' classes, where she might have a good chance of scooping a rosette or two. She emerged from the shower a cleaner, sweeter-smelling dog and after a good workout with the grooming brushes, I thought she was looking just champion! We arrived at the village hall early as we were helping AT with the final setting up of the Show rings. By nine o' clock everything was set up and we were tucking into our breakfast of hot dogs and coffee! The Show was not due to begin until 11, but we had to register Beattie in her various classes. Against my better judgement, I allowed AT to persuade me that Beattie should enter the pedigree puppy class. 'Showing' a dog involves knowing about the different facets of 'ringcraft', something I knew nothing about. When I walk Beattie around a ring I want her to walk to heel, and the opposite is true in the show ring. Here, the object is to show the dog off to the judge, who wants to see how well the dog moves. Consequently, I did not think this was very good preparation for her obedience work. Besides this, showing involves the judge handling the dog and Beattie did not take kindly to this stranger opening her mouth to examine her. The vet was one thing, but not this strange woman who said to me, 'Dear me, she's not very keen on this , is she?' I knew then we were doomed, so was not surprised when we not 'shortlisted' and, rather gratefully, we left the ring. Another complication to the day was that I was 'stewarding' in one of the obedience rings. This involves assisting the judge by directing the competitor through the series of exercises. AT had 'volunteered me for this a few weeks ago, saying it would be good for me! I had to learn the round and the commands that had to be given - each has its own particular wording, which you have to learn as well. I had to fit Beattie's round into all this activity when there was a lull in my ring. There was not a fixed order for competitors, who just turned up at the ring to compete. None of this was ideal preparation and I only had about two minutes notice of my round. In this time I had to get the dog out of the car and 'motivate' her to perform. This meant getting sounding terribly enthusiastic and asking her to perform little tricks she could do easily like touching my hand with her nose or doing a 'twisty'. I was rather nervous when I entered the ring. I had banned A from being too near the ring unless Beattie caught sight of her and was distracted. This was a pity as A was dying to cheer her on like a mother at a school football match! The first exercise was heel work. She sat next to me in the correct position and she was even looking at me when V, the steward, asked whether I was ready. I said I was and then we were off. For the first five seconds everything went swimmingly as Beattie walked to heel perfectly, but as we made our first turn she 'lost it' and her attention was gone. From then on it was me just tugging on her lead as I struggled to keep her in position. On the command, 'Halt', she was supposed to sit at heel, but she just stood disinterestedly until in desperation, I pushed her rear end to the floor muttering, 'Sit, dog'! Well, that was a disaster. The next exercise was a recall where the dog has to come when you call. I was not hopeful that she would do this. In the 'Starters' class this exercise is performed on the lead so you are only really standing in front of the dog. In the garden, she will come running to me from several metres distance, but what would happen here? I commanded her to wait and walked around in front of her before commanding her to come. Nerves got the better of me and I inadvertently tugged on the lead, which would lose me marks, but at least she moved and sat perfectly in front of me. What a relief! However, the damage had been done during the nonexistent heel work for which she lost seven marks. She lost one for the recall making a total of eight. It was the end of the round and B, the judge, murmured a few pleasantries to me about how much Beattie had improved since she had last seen her! From the score sheet, I could see that a number of dogs had already done better than us. She still had a one minute 'stay' to do, which all the dogs did together after lunch. Happily, she did not break her stay, although the minute seemed interminable to me as I waited with my back to her waiting nervously for the steward to call 'Time', which would mean she had moved! In the end we came fifteenth out of twenty-nine entries. I was disappointed, but AT thought she had done well. Back To post a comment click here
DOG SHOW - AFTER LUNCH
After a short break for lunch, I took Beattie into the ring for her stay exercise, which she performed perfectly. I was busy with stewarding for most of the afternoon, so A had to show Beattie in her Novelty classes as follows; 'Prettiest Bitch', 'Dog and handler never having entered a dog show' and 'Dog or Bitch the Judge would like to take home'. Just before the first class, I hopped over to perform grooming duties as A told me she was covered in grass, which she was from the legs down! Shortly after I left to return to the obedience ring, I could see out of the corner of my eye a frantic waving and A was coming my way. I was trying to concentrate on the job in hand, but thought that good news might be on the way. It was. Beattie had been placed first in 'Prettiest Bitch'! Naturally, I was really pleased she had won something. A had said to AT that she was only coming to the Show to see Beattie win a rosette! Things got even better when she won the next class as well - 'Dog and handler never having entered a dog show'. Two firsts! What an afternoon we were having. By this time my job as steward was over and I was able to show Beattie in the last class of the day. This involved the judge taking each dog by the lead and saying, Do you want to come home with me?' Well, she had all sorts of reactions to this invitation. Some dogs went reluctantly, others refused to move, but Beattie skipped away and jumped up in her most appealing manner as if to say, 'Please take me away from this Show, I've had enough now!' Of all the dogs, I thought Beattie was the most enthusiastic and as we waited expectantly for the result and the judge finally said, 'It's very hard to choose, but it's got to be the Bedlington Terrier.' We were ushered towards the centre of the ring to receive the red rosette and third identical pot plant of the afternoon. Beattie had won every class she had entered! I think I would have swapped these rosettes for any place in the obedience competition, but perhaps I was being too optimistic in expecting her to do well in her first Show. At least A had her rosettes and they were all red! They are now proudly on display in the kitchen. How sad is that? Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse Comment from Tracey Lilly
Photographs taken with a
Fuji MX-2900 Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D |
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