Tommy and I normally go to Southchurch Park on a Sunday before training, mainly so he can get rid of some of his excess 'terrier energy' and hopefully concentrate for more than two minutes. We meet up with other dogs and he plays. Not always nicely, but he’s know over there now. I’m also a lot more observant of other people and put him back on lead if other dog owners send out that ‘vibe’. He often plays with an American Bull dog called Lulu. She is big, muscular and only 10 months old! But not a bad bone in her body.
This week, Lulu was already playing with a JRT called Duncan. Duncan’s owner was the typical apologetic owner. She had extending lead in one hand, and muzzle in the other. I let Tommy join in the fun for a while but continued round the park when poor Lulu was stuck in between the two JRTs just barking at her!
Whilst going over the field, throwing Tommy’s tennis ball, Duncan came running over at full speed and beat Tommy to his ball. They started playing in that typical JRT style. All teeth, growls and play bows. It was lovely to see. Duncan’s owner walked with me round the park and started saying how Duncan is a little b*****d. Always trying to bite, dominate etc. Watching Duncan play with Tommy, I didn’t really see this. I saw two JRTs playing bitey face, me on top/you on top and other general dog games, albeit very vocal. I'm not saying Duncan isn't a little b*****d, maybe he just clicked with Tommy, either way, I was quite happy to let them play.
She also said she has been told off many a time by other dog owners. She has now learnt to keep Duncan close, always apologise for his behaviour and move on. I know exactly how she felt. She said several times ‘its lovely to see Duncan play so well with another dog, oh, look at them play’.
As we got closer to the gate, the dogs still playing as dogs do, I said we’re often over here on Sunday morning so if you like we can meet and let the dogs play. She was thrilled, and I’m sure she was close to tears.
So Tommy has a new friend, whether he likes it or not!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Lessons we could learn from dogs…
o Live simply.
o Love generously.
o When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
o Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
o Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
o Take naps.
o Stretch before rising.
o Run, romp, and play daily.
o Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
o Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
o On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
o On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
o When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
o Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
o Be loyal.
o Never pretend to be something you're not.
o If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
o When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Swiped from this site. It's been a busy few weeks...
o Love generously.
o When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
o Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
o Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
o Take naps.
o Stretch before rising.
o Run, romp, and play daily.
o Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
o Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
o On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
o On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
o When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
o Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
o Be loyal.
o Never pretend to be something you're not.
o If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
o When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Swiped from this site. It's been a busy few weeks...
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Upstairs
Where we lived before, we always had upstairs neighbours. Tommy was used to the sound of their door closing, people walking up the stairs and walking around overhead, as well as general background noise associated with having an ‘upstairs’. Since we moved into our new flat we haven’t had any upstairs neighbours. Until last week.
It all started on Monday evening of last week, when we heard the door opening and closing a few times, with the footsteps on the stairs, general walking around etc… The door to upstairs is right by our door, so to start with, it was very confusing for Tommy to hear the door open and close without anyone walking in our hall! He would get up from his bed, (a miracle in itself sometimes!) and bark in the hall towards the door. It didn’t help matters that we had forgotten how to placate Tommy with a ‘thank you Tommy’ and ignore him – we would moan and shout ‘shut up’ which to Tommy, made him think we were joining in.
The next few days, more people turned up to move in. We have 5 adults living upstairs now. That is a lot of footfall on the stairs! We remembered by Wednesday what it was we originally said to Tommy and it has worked. By Friday he had started it ignore the upstairs door opening and closing.
On our last walk Saturday night, he saw a cat, which never fails to ‘pump him up’. Then on the walk back down the road, there were two people standing by their car having a cigarette. They were talking loudly and waving their arms around. This also ‘stimulated’ Tommy and he had a couple of barks. I told him it was nothing to do with him and to walk on. He was still ears and tail up but had come down from ‘defcon 1’. When we got in I settled him down in the kitchen, but he was still quite alert. It was about 2:30am. Then upstairs came in. The door opening and closing was just too much for Tommy who started on a big barking session only to have me come out of the bedroom to tell him off. He gruffed but went back to bed. Then someone else came in. Tommy went a bit gruffy but not enough to warrant getting out of bed again. Then the door opened for a third time! This time boyfriend got up and shut Tommy in the kitchen. This is something we never do, although it worked and from 3:30am he slept.
We have now found out that most of upstairs works at the casino. We’re hoping that Tommy will get used to the door opening, shutting and footfall on the stairs very quickly otherwise I have no idea when we’ll sleep again!
It all started on Monday evening of last week, when we heard the door opening and closing a few times, with the footsteps on the stairs, general walking around etc… The door to upstairs is right by our door, so to start with, it was very confusing for Tommy to hear the door open and close without anyone walking in our hall! He would get up from his bed, (a miracle in itself sometimes!) and bark in the hall towards the door. It didn’t help matters that we had forgotten how to placate Tommy with a ‘thank you Tommy’ and ignore him – we would moan and shout ‘shut up’ which to Tommy, made him think we were joining in.
The next few days, more people turned up to move in. We have 5 adults living upstairs now. That is a lot of footfall on the stairs! We remembered by Wednesday what it was we originally said to Tommy and it has worked. By Friday he had started it ignore the upstairs door opening and closing.
On our last walk Saturday night, he saw a cat, which never fails to ‘pump him up’. Then on the walk back down the road, there were two people standing by their car having a cigarette. They were talking loudly and waving their arms around. This also ‘stimulated’ Tommy and he had a couple of barks. I told him it was nothing to do with him and to walk on. He was still ears and tail up but had come down from ‘defcon 1’. When we got in I settled him down in the kitchen, but he was still quite alert. It was about 2:30am. Then upstairs came in. The door opening and closing was just too much for Tommy who started on a big barking session only to have me come out of the bedroom to tell him off. He gruffed but went back to bed. Then someone else came in. Tommy went a bit gruffy but not enough to warrant getting out of bed again. Then the door opened for a third time! This time boyfriend got up and shut Tommy in the kitchen. This is something we never do, although it worked and from 3:30am he slept.
We have now found out that most of upstairs works at the casino. We’re hoping that Tommy will get used to the door opening, shutting and footfall on the stairs very quickly otherwise I have no idea when we’ll sleep again!
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