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Online Diary 2007 July |
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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. BACK IN TRAINING
After Beattie had finished her season, I telephoned AT to ask whether she may resume her training at Dog Club. AT told me to give Beattie a shower and then spray some of A's perfume on her rear end to mask any 'seasonal odours' that might excite the male dogs! 'What perfume does A use?' enquired AT. 'I can't remember, I'll have a look,' I replied. I trotted through to the bedroom to find a bottle of Chanel No. 5 on the dressing table. 'Right, give her a squirt of that up her arse', AT ordered. 'That will mask any doggy scents!' Well, I always do what AT tells me when it comes to Beattie, so I obeyed her command. When A came home from work and I told her what AT had said, she nearly hit the roof! 'You are not spraying my expensive perfume on Beattie.' A was very firm about this. What a pity it was too late! Training went very well that evening despite the fact that I had done very little with her for the past few weeks due to her season and the fact that Beattie and I were in the Lake District. Only one of the dogs showed any interest in her, which showed that despite the expensive camouflage, the odour of 'I'm still interesting, come and get me' could beat anything I could find to fool the other canines. Now, why isn't that a surprise? Back To post a comment click here
Comment
from sablonneuse Comment
from Tracey Lilly
VISITING RELATIONS
We were very kindly invited by SH to accompany Beattie when she went round to play with her mum and big sister. P and R have been round ours to play and SH was returning the invitation. SH brings her dogs past at least twice a day and she says that her two always stop in the hope that they might see Beattie. It's always lovely to see them together. P seems to derive particular pleasure from seeing her 'little one' again - her whole body wags with delight! R has just been mated for the first time and it was very funny to watch her and Beattie together. R could not understand why Beattie was not taking any 'interest' in her. R kept jumping round to display her back end, but Beattie, of course, showed not the slightest interest apart from the normal 'sniffing' ritual that all dogs perform on meeting. The apparent 'rejection' made R even more frantic and it caused great amusement to observe her efforts to persuade Beattie to cooperate!! All this permissive behaviour left Beattie nonplussed and she soon tired of the attention and curled up on A's lap and went to sleep! Meanwhile, the adults enjoyed a BBQ and a bottle of wine before we took Beattie home for an early night. We were rather concerned that she might become even more of a tart than she already is! Back To post a comment click here
Comment
from sablonneuse
It doesn't take very much to wind up Beattie! Lately, the cat next door has been honing his skills of the perfect wind-up. Around ten o' clock in the evening, Beattie goes outside for the last time before bed. She is supposed to be relieving herself, but, of late, she has been having a fine time running around the garden barking madly! Of course, it is getting dark so it took a while to discover what was making her so excited. It was Billy, the next door cat, who lives an outdoor life, according to the neighbours. I spotted him last week walking very slowly and deliberately along the fence at the back of our garden. Beattie was jumping about following his stately progress getting very agitated because she was quite unable to reach the cat or do anything at all about her obvious taunting. We have a thick, prickly hawthorn hedge in front of the fence, which abuts farmland. Many years ago, I lined the fence with double thickness chicken wire to prevent the cat that we had then from bringing us the local rabbits as tokens of her affection! Consequently, for the dog, the back fence is as secure as Fort Knox! All of which she is finding very frustrating and Billy has learned that Beattie is completely helpless and that all the dog does is bark! Maximum enjoyment for very little effort! Back To post a comment click here Comment
from Tracey Lilly
Comment
from sablonneuse
FIRST ANNIVERSARY
It was a year ago today that Beattie arrived on the scene to change my life completely. Before she arrived, I had been very neutral about dogs - could take them or leave them - usually the latter. Beattie changed my perspective completely. In fact, I almost regret all the years of not owning a dog. Almost, but not quite as both A and I were in full-time, demanding workplaces and it would have been unfair to expect a dog to fit into this hectic schedule. Now I am retired and up to a year ago was quite happy to do some supply teaching whenever anyone asked. Now, the most I will do is a half-day as I need to get back to Beattie to spend 'quality time' with her. What a difference she has made! Everything I do has to fit in around Beattie and her needs. All has to be planned like a military operation. But the pay-off has been wonderful with a constant, faithful companion. She has made me go out and walk every day - which I love - but now there is a purpose to it. It's amazing how people will stop and talk when you have a dog by your side. And, of course, Beattie is perfect as she is so affectionate and greets strangers enthusiastically, which is a very endearing quality. Mind you, not all 'strangers' are keen on this canine interest. You have to exercise caution! It was all so different a year ago today. Then I was very nervous about accepting the responsibility of this helpless creature. But it did not take her very long to settle in and become part of our family. I kept a diary of those first few weeks. I dug it out yesterday and read about that first day again ... 'I collected Beattie from SH at 11.30 as arranged. Lesson One was for her to learn where to widdle! AT had said that I should decide where she should perform and take her to her 'spot' and wait. All very well in theory, but things did not quite work out that way. A and I had decided to train her on concrete as it would be easier to clear up and we would not get all those brown rings on the lawn! ... ... I carried her to the shed where I attached her collar and lead (with difficulty). She did not like these restraints at all and started to pull away. I had to bend down to reassure her and then I waited. And waited. It was a very hot day and stuck between the shed and garage, it was even hotter. At least Beattie was in the shade. At intervals she whined and tried to get free, but eventually, she resigned herself to her position and went to sleep! Obviously I was getting nowhere and decided to take her inside. I gave her some food and drink. She ate some of the food before walking over to the fridge to relieve herself! Well, that was not part of the plan! ...' A year on and how things have changed since those first tentative days. After the first few weeks, she settled down and now I really cannot imagine life without her. Every day is a joy! Back To post a comment click here
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from sablonneuse
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