Tommy has four leads. Too many? I think not!
Normal lead – its black and white. It’s made of rope. It does what it says on the tin.
Extension lead – a 5mtr tape extension lead. I’m not keen on this one, but use it for when we go round the small park in case there are picnickers there and Tommy can’t be let off. B/f uses it a lot and I just don’t think you have particularly good ‘control’ over the dog. We did use the cord ones for a while. Tommy’s lead rages as I like to call them soon destroyed them!
Pub lead – This has two clips on it – I think they are used if your dog has a head collar? Anyway, as this is doubled up, I can put the lead round my waist when having a beer and not have to hold it, or tie Tommy to the table. He has been know to pull tables over to try and get to another dog / wandering cat. Its also handy if I’m at an ‘outside’ event and have a burger to try to demolish! It can be very hard with a dog pulling to make the most of a burger!
Waggy Walkers lead – Tommy sometimes has to go into the back of the van when he’s with Emma. Now, because Tommy is quite a nervous dog, he will chew his lead when he’s in crates. I will take his lead off when he’s in the crate in my car, but Emma leaves it on. So, he has his special ‘ Waggy Walkers’ lead that is half chewed, but still safe enough for purpose.
On Friday when I went to pick Tommy up, Emma said that she had a present for me and produced a lead that she had found over the woods. She said that Tommy could do with a new lead. I didn’t have the heart to say he has three others and he only wears the nibbled one because you leave it on him! I took the lead gracefully, and threw his chewed one away when I got home. Five leads…now that is too many!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Buses and cars
I like to take Tommy on public transport, and on Saturday I decided to take the bus to Priory Park. The bus stop is about 10 minutes walk from our house, and the park is only 3 stops away. Depending on how long we have to wait for a bus (never more than 5 minutes on a Saturday), it can be just as quick to walk there but I think it does Tommy good to be amongst other people as well as the different smells on the bus.
We waited at the bus stop; Tommy had a small wag going on and enjoyed sniffing the air. There were other people waiting and you could see them smiling at Tommy. The bus pulled in and Tommy got very excited. His tail was wagging more as we walked towards the door. I had to hold him back to let the other passengers on! He is so rude… The bus was quite busy but we found somewhere to stand, near the front amongst the older ladies and their shopping trolleys. Tommy was enjoying the smells and the fuss. I made sure he stayed close and was sitting, focusing on me when the bus stopped – this ensures he’s not startled or scared by the people getting on and off. We got off our 3 stops later and was off to the park. It was quite busy, with a couple of groups having picnics, so he stayed on lead for a lot of the time. We did have an off lead romp round by the wildlife garden and I threw some sticks for him (forgot his tennis ball). He got stuck on a smell at the bridge so I carried on walking. What I didn’t realise was there was an event going on on the football pitches, so I headed towards the priory rather than round that field. When Tommy finished with his smell he went running towards the field and try as I might to call him, he couldn’t see me so off he went up the field into the crowd. I kept calling him so he came charging back again. Even though I was waving my arms like a mad woman, he still couldn’t spot me so off he went again into the crowd. Nothing else for it, off I go to stop him panicking. When he spotted me his whole body language changed to the ‘there’s my mom, must dash’ – ears fully back, full sprint towards me, little jump when he arrives and then sitting for his treat. He went back on lead then and we left the park to catch the bus back home. He laid down on the way back, in the sun. The people boarding and leaving the bus didn’t distract him…he was tired. Ah bless.
On Sunday there was a classic car show along the seafront, excellent dog socialisation. We set off at about 3:00 and headed towards the Seaways car park, about ¾ hour walk away. It was a nice day for walking, quite warm but with a breeze. When we got there it was full of Fords! Not quite the classic show I was expecting so we walked along the seafront towards Westcliff. It must be around somewhere! We enjoyed the walk. Tommy wanted to go on the beach, but he’s not allowed this time of year so he had to make do with play bowing the beach and stealing chips at every available opportunity. We stopped at Adventure Island for a while. Tommy likes to smell the people going on the rides (is it the adrenaline he can smell?) and then play bowing the rides! He’s so funny. We stayed there for about 10 minutes watching the rides and the people and then carried on. Dropped melted ice cream, saying hello to a few dogs and a very wary walk on one of the wooden quays later, we find the car show. Up the other end of the seafront, by the cliffs, about a 15-20 minute walk from the house rather than the hour and half walk it had taken us! There was some lovely looking cars there, but to be honest, that’s not what its all about. It’s more to do with walking Tommy in a crowded area with lots of unfamiliar smells and noises. People stopping in front of him so he pays more attention to where he’s going than to the floor. Me setting a very slow pace looking round all the cars so he focuses on where I’m going. Accepting some children will want to stroke and pet him and letting them (I always make sure they do not lean over him as he hates that, and they don’t stay stroking for too long as it makes him nervous. If he’s good with them and there parents let him, then I’ll get them give him a bit of garlic sausage). When we started to head back, there were some motorcyclists revving up by the zebra crossing. Then one back fired and kept doing so. Tommy was not impressed and the flight thing happened that I hadn’t experienced since November. He pulled me up that hill and didn’t really calm down until we got to the little park. It was a shame to end the day on such a scary note. We’d had an (almost) pleasant 2½ hours.
We waited at the bus stop; Tommy had a small wag going on and enjoyed sniffing the air. There were other people waiting and you could see them smiling at Tommy. The bus pulled in and Tommy got very excited. His tail was wagging more as we walked towards the door. I had to hold him back to let the other passengers on! He is so rude… The bus was quite busy but we found somewhere to stand, near the front amongst the older ladies and their shopping trolleys. Tommy was enjoying the smells and the fuss. I made sure he stayed close and was sitting, focusing on me when the bus stopped – this ensures he’s not startled or scared by the people getting on and off. We got off our 3 stops later and was off to the park. It was quite busy, with a couple of groups having picnics, so he stayed on lead for a lot of the time. We did have an off lead romp round by the wildlife garden and I threw some sticks for him (forgot his tennis ball). He got stuck on a smell at the bridge so I carried on walking. What I didn’t realise was there was an event going on on the football pitches, so I headed towards the priory rather than round that field. When Tommy finished with his smell he went running towards the field and try as I might to call him, he couldn’t see me so off he went up the field into the crowd. I kept calling him so he came charging back again. Even though I was waving my arms like a mad woman, he still couldn’t spot me so off he went again into the crowd. Nothing else for it, off I go to stop him panicking. When he spotted me his whole body language changed to the ‘there’s my mom, must dash’ – ears fully back, full sprint towards me, little jump when he arrives and then sitting for his treat. He went back on lead then and we left the park to catch the bus back home. He laid down on the way back, in the sun. The people boarding and leaving the bus didn’t distract him…he was tired. Ah bless.
On Sunday there was a classic car show along the seafront, excellent dog socialisation. We set off at about 3:00 and headed towards the Seaways car park, about ¾ hour walk away. It was a nice day for walking, quite warm but with a breeze. When we got there it was full of Fords! Not quite the classic show I was expecting so we walked along the seafront towards Westcliff. It must be around somewhere! We enjoyed the walk. Tommy wanted to go on the beach, but he’s not allowed this time of year so he had to make do with play bowing the beach and stealing chips at every available opportunity. We stopped at Adventure Island for a while. Tommy likes to smell the people going on the rides (is it the adrenaline he can smell?) and then play bowing the rides! He’s so funny. We stayed there for about 10 minutes watching the rides and the people and then carried on. Dropped melted ice cream, saying hello to a few dogs and a very wary walk on one of the wooden quays later, we find the car show. Up the other end of the seafront, by the cliffs, about a 15-20 minute walk from the house rather than the hour and half walk it had taken us! There was some lovely looking cars there, but to be honest, that’s not what its all about. It’s more to do with walking Tommy in a crowded area with lots of unfamiliar smells and noises. People stopping in front of him so he pays more attention to where he’s going than to the floor. Me setting a very slow pace looking round all the cars so he focuses on where I’m going. Accepting some children will want to stroke and pet him and letting them (I always make sure they do not lean over him as he hates that, and they don’t stay stroking for too long as it makes him nervous. If he’s good with them and there parents let him, then I’ll get them give him a bit of garlic sausage). When we started to head back, there were some motorcyclists revving up by the zebra crossing. Then one back fired and kept doing so. Tommy was not impressed and the flight thing happened that I hadn’t experienced since November. He pulled me up that hill and didn’t really calm down until we got to the little park. It was a shame to end the day on such a scary note. We’d had an (almost) pleasant 2½ hours.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Dinner
Dinner
B/f and I went out to dinner earlier, under the arches. That’s it really…
Only kidding! When b/f came in from work he said ‘I’d like to take you out to dinner’ and as normal I pulled my pained expression, the one that says ‘but Tommy has been home all day and I don’t want to leave him tonight as well’. B/f then added ‘we could go under the arches, Tommy can come too then’. So that’s what we done. 15 minute walk with a very excited Tommy (wow! The whole pack is out tonight!) and we arrive. We went to one called the Estuary and sat inside because it was very windy and looked like rain.
I quite like the arches, looking out on the joggers, (especially as I’d already been for a run) especially when the weather is bad, it all looks very atmospheric, as long as the gas works don’t get in your view!
We both had the mixed fish with pancakes for desert. Tommy was a very good boy and laid quietly under my chair looking out at the pavement or chewing his nylabone while we ate – the waitress even commented on it!
We walked back up the cliffs and Tommy got to have an off lead dash around. I felt a bit bad because I didn’t have his Frisbee or tennis ball with me and that’s what we normally play with on the cliffs.
B/f and I went out to dinner earlier, under the arches. That’s it really…
Only kidding! When b/f came in from work he said ‘I’d like to take you out to dinner’ and as normal I pulled my pained expression, the one that says ‘but Tommy has been home all day and I don’t want to leave him tonight as well’. B/f then added ‘we could go under the arches, Tommy can come too then’. So that’s what we done. 15 minute walk with a very excited Tommy (wow! The whole pack is out tonight!) and we arrive. We went to one called the Estuary and sat inside because it was very windy and looked like rain.
I quite like the arches, looking out on the joggers, (especially as I’d already been for a run) especially when the weather is bad, it all looks very atmospheric, as long as the gas works don’t get in your view!
We both had the mixed fish with pancakes for desert. Tommy was a very good boy and laid quietly under my chair looking out at the pavement or chewing his nylabone while we ate – the waitress even commented on it!
We walked back up the cliffs and Tommy got to have an off lead dash around. I felt a bit bad because I didn’t have his Frisbee or tennis ball with me and that’s what we normally play with on the cliffs.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Paddling
In my constant effort of ‘doing new things with the dog to make him a go anywhere – do anything dog’ and my b/f obsession with kayaking, I took Tommy down to the paddling pool between Chalkwell and Leigh stations, along the cinder path to practice his swimming. It had been hot all day and the water was very warm. Luckily there was no one else around so I got the tennis ball out and threw it a few times on the sand to get Tommy’s interest (like the thought of the tennis ball isn’t enough!). I then paddled out to half calf height and he followed me (who am I trying to kid, he was after the ball). Then a bit further, and a bit further, and deeper still until he was swimming. I gave him a break often for a charge around chasing the ball so he didn’t get bored. He did obviously find some food on the beach – a scotch egg – so every time he chased the ball he ended up in the same spot eating the Scotch egg! Eventually I had him jumping into the water and swimming to get his ball. It was great fun and am looking forward to bringing a picnic down there one evening with b/f so we can all play – what a break from the working week that would be!
Writtle Fete
It was the Writtle Fete last Saturday and Duke and Tommy were both entering the Dog Show. It was a fun (!) event with silly categories such as ‘dog most like its owner’ ‘waggiest tail’ ‘prettiest bitch’, well, you get the idea.
The competition was on between Tommy and Duke, both of them entering the same 4 categories, with very little chance of either of them winning. Dad kept saying ‘come on Tommy, we need a win’, my sister then piped up ‘oi! What about Duke?’ Dad then said ‘come on Duke, we need second place too’. Tommy won nothing! Duke came 4th in the ‘dog that the judge would most like to take home’; this was after he’d snotted all over the judges’ glasses. Dad said it was a fix and they didn’t want us ‘out of towners’ winning…
It was still a good day. We loafed around the green for a while and settled in some shade for all our sakes. Tommy and I soon had to move as it was next to a stall handing out balloons! He kept play bowing and trying to get them off of the children. He enjoyed watching the Morris Dancers, his tail didn’t stop wagging. Tommy had lots of fuss from Sarah’s girls and we all went back to Maggie’s for the afternoon of lying around. Tommy obviously barked ferociously at the cats, but was very good with everyone else letting them stroke and pet him. He followed the girls around, he’d worked out they are the most likely to drop food! Duke just sulked in his kennel. He’d been got by the water pistols and wasn’t too impressed. Tommy enjoyed them at all in that heat – he was trying to catch the spray!
The competition was on between Tommy and Duke, both of them entering the same 4 categories, with very little chance of either of them winning. Dad kept saying ‘come on Tommy, we need a win’, my sister then piped up ‘oi! What about Duke?’ Dad then said ‘come on Duke, we need second place too’. Tommy won nothing! Duke came 4th in the ‘dog that the judge would most like to take home’; this was after he’d snotted all over the judges’ glasses. Dad said it was a fix and they didn’t want us ‘out of towners’ winning…
It was still a good day. We loafed around the green for a while and settled in some shade for all our sakes. Tommy and I soon had to move as it was next to a stall handing out balloons! He kept play bowing and trying to get them off of the children. He enjoyed watching the Morris Dancers, his tail didn’t stop wagging. Tommy had lots of fuss from Sarah’s girls and we all went back to Maggie’s for the afternoon of lying around. Tommy obviously barked ferociously at the cats, but was very good with everyone else letting them stroke and pet him. He followed the girls around, he’d worked out they are the most likely to drop food! Duke just sulked in his kennel. He’d been got by the water pistols and wasn’t too impressed. Tommy enjoyed them at all in that heat – he was trying to catch the spray!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)