No car day

It was the air show this weekend and because of where we live, if the cars aren't parked home by 10:30, you can bet your life that you won’t be able to get a parking place within a mile for the rest of the day because of the day trippers.

The first item on the agenda was walking Tommy. We cycled to the park. It’s the first time I’ve actually cycled anywhere with him! He ran nicely alongside the bike once he realised that we weren’t going to stop and sniff every few minutes. It’s only one kilometre to the park and only cycled at his jogging pace so he was still full of beans and able to play with Duncan when we got there. I put him in my rucksack for the ride home as I didn’t want him too tired for training. I had allot of ‘oh look at that dog – how cool’ from the people we rode past. I’m not sure if Tommy thought it was cool, but he seemed unfazed when we got in – and I could ride faster!

We caught the train to training. It arrived with two minutes to spare before the start of training. Unfortunately, I left his training treats on the train and Tommy was looking at me in a ‘huh, forget it. You’re by yourself today love’ attitude. Spice’s dad spotted this and gave me some cheese. I’m forever in his debt.

I didn’t catch the train home after training. With all the trippers going into Southend, I thought it unwise, so we walked. It was nice to start, once we got off the main road. Along a path and through some fields. Once we’d crossed the busy road again, we walked by Prittle Brook. Tommy was hot so he had a drink and a swim before we carried on into Southend.

I took a wrong turn over the fields and ended up walking along the busy road again. It wasn’t really the nice walk I’d envisaged so when I spotted a lady standing at the bus stop I asked her how long until the bus was due. About 5 minutes. We waited and then caught the bus the remaining mile home. Tommy, as ever, was good on the bus. He sat for a while taking it all in, but soon laid down with his eyes half closed.

After such a busy day for a JRT he snoozed in the garden while I dead headed roses. Until the planes got too noisy that is! Then he went to his safe place, under the sideboard.

RIP Pam

Tommy's dog trainer, Pam, lost her battle with cancer on 16-05-11.

She was a lovely lady - firm but fair. She filled me with enough confidence to believe that I can train Tommy to do anything I wish.

It was her funeral today. She requested that 'her dogs' were there. We were. Over 55 handlers turned up - some had left their dogs at home, but there were still over 30 dogs there. We lined the crematorium road where the horse drawn carriage came in. Some of the handlers didn't stay for the service. For those that did, there was someone in the carpark to keep an eye on the dogs, so we left windows and boots open on the cars so we could celebrate Pam's life. Her funeral song was 'Easy Like Sunday Morning'...

Her trip to Rainbow Bridge will be welcomed by all the dogs that went before her - she will wait there for the rest.

I will miss her.

Rest In Peace, Pam.
x

The Ladies

I had some friends over on Saturday, not particular dog people and knowing what Tommy is like, I was stressing a bit about it. We don't have enough visitors to train Tommy what is the correct 'thing' to do when we have visitors, ie not jumping up, barking and trying to get these intruders out of the home. Lets face it, I'm not confident enough - I worry so much that he will bite someone that I try to avoid anyone touching him - which is a shame for both of us.

I had prepared them all, saying ignore Tommy when you come in - no look, no touch, no talk - but I was still uneasy about people coming round. I decided to muzzle him - I really didn't want to - but I thought it would save me worrying - which I hoped would save him worrying.

The first lady turned up, completely ignored Tommy whilst he jumped up and seemed happish. His tail was wagging and he was just barking, not aggressively I'll add. She knelt down next to Tommy who started to moan a bit, I told him no and wished my friend would stop, but luckily the door went - friend no 2. She was excellent, ignored him totally, even folded her arms! I made them both tea and settled them in the garden. Tommy sniffed them, walked round them and all the time his tail was wagging. Lady no 3 turned up, Tommy barked a bit but soon gave up - it was much more fun to sniff these people! Then lady no 4. By this time, he had given up being the big bad dog and was allot more interested in smelling these people.

We sat in the garden for another 15 minutes before I took Tommy's muzzle off and he was fine with the ladies. They all fussed him and even gave him treats! I was a bit nervous about them putting their faces too close to his, but once I mentioned it, they stopped. I was pleased I had chosen the correct thing to do. I felt more relaxed which in turn must have made Tommy feel more relaxed. If I have non dog - or even some dog - people over again, I will not hesitate to put his muzzle on.

Blue Tits

We saw a blue tit on our morning walk today. When I say saw, I nearly trod on it! A baby chick had fallen out of its nest, but was still alive. Tommy sniffed and was very curious about this ‘thing’ that didn’t immediately bolt when he came near – more because it couldn’t rather than not wanting to I feel. Unsure of the protocol about blue tit chicks fallen out of their nest, I carried on my way.

On the way back through the grave yard we passed the chick again. It had died. Tommy still wanted to sniff, which I let him. He looked at me with his tail doing a half wag. I’m not sure what that meant, but I picked up the dead chick and moved it off the path onto the grass near some graves. We carried on the way home.