Kayaking

Oh yes!

For my birthday, b/f bought us both Kayaks...he loves it!  I am quite keen and its nice to have something we do together.  We have been out a few times by ourselves, but this weekend we thought Tommy should come with us - after all, we did buy him a buoyancy aid for that reason!

We set off quite late - the normal Saturday stuff had got in the way of an earlier start unfortunately.  We went off to Paglesham as we needed somewhere close.  Tommy was very excited as we loaded the Kayaks on the car.  He had seen us do this a few times now, and had been desperate to see where we take the 'heavy plastic that smells of stuff'.  He jumped in the car before we had finished loading - he wasn't missing out this time!

We arrived at the place where we were launching and started to unload.  Tommy was tail wagging and looking at us in an expectant manner.  We put his buoyancy aid on.  His tail went to a half wag.  And then we took everything towards the quay.  He was trotting along, looking all round and seemed happy enough.  Then we got to the slip way.  This had big gaps in between the wood which Tommy wasn't keen on walking on, but with some persuasion, we carried on.  Then the kayaks in the water.  Then b/f passed down Tommy to sit with me.  I paddled away from the quay and he seemed quite happy.

B/f followed soon after and Tommy decided to see what b/f kayak was like - he dove in and swam across.  The best bit about a dog buoyancy aid is they have a handy handle on the back to pull him out of the water with!  B/f kept Tommy with him for about 3 minutes, then Tommy swam back to me!  Then back to b/f and then back to me again!  I'm not sure if he was enjoying it or if it was to see if we were both insane for being in heavy smelly plastic!

Once he'd settled with me, we paddled along for a while.  No where far as it was Tommys' first outing. Tommy seemed quite desperate at times to go back to shore, but all in all, once he'd settled he seemed quite happy.  In fact, after we'd been out for about 3/4 of an hour, he curled up by my feet and went to sleep.

I think he would benefit from having somewhere dry to sit, without the spray decks, water does come into the kayak.  But the swimming between the kayaks must be great exercise for him!  I hope next time he is more settled.  He will be a 'all action' dog if it's the last thing we do.

Don't Do Dock Dogs

We had the Robin of Sherwood (!) country show on this weekend, they have a massive 'Discover Dogs' theme throughout as well as Mountain Bike displays, ferret racing and Falconry display. I've been a couple of years, but have never managed to get their early enough to try Tommy on the 'Dock Dogs'. This year would be different!

I got in the queue at about 2o'clock and waited for my turn. Typically, we'd turned up just as a competition was about to start - so annoying! So we waited. Whilst waiting, a couple of staffies joined the queue and I think the bitch was in heat - Tommy was desperate to say hello - so unusual for him as he normally ignores Staffies. When I was kneeling down he pulled me over to try and get to her! And he was play bowing and barking, he needed to smell this bitch! I tried to get him to sit, he even ignored the ham I waved under his nose!  The owner of the bitch seemed oblivious, or didn't care. One of the two.

Anyway, after about 1/2 hour, it was our turn. I thought this would be easy, throw the ball, Tommy would jump in after, win / win situation and we'd all go home happy. It was not to be. Tommy was very interested in the ball, just not interested enough to jump into the pool or be distracted from the Staffie. Squeaky toy, not interested. The guy running it said maybe we could try him on the slope - he still wasn't having any of it. All he wanted to do was escape and sniff the Staffie. Which he managed to do. So I had to go and claim him back.

I'm a bit surprised Tommy didn't want to jump and swim for the tennis ball - I'm even more surprised he wanted to sniff the Staffie! Sometimes I wish he would focus more on what I want him to do rather than his very focused terrier / male dog instinct to do sniff dogs on heat! I mean, it's not like he could do anything, he's had the chop! FFS

Black and Tan Walking

A special mention really needs to be made to ‘Black and Tan Dog Walking’ and especially to Terry. On the Friday night, Tommy stayed with Terry and he made our night out in Brighton allot more alcoholic!

I contacted Terry a couple of weeks before, after find his site through this site. I emailed and told him of our plans, and if taking Tommy (collecting from the Hotel and dropping back the following day) was the kind of thing he does.

Terry would much prefer to meet the dogs before he takes them in but we had a chat on the phone regarding my assessment of Tommys’ temperament and then I gave him Emmas’ number who also chatted to him. Because of this second independent reference, Terry was allot happier about taking Tommy.

He met us at the hotel on the Friday, at the allotted time. He gave Tommy another name tag, some chicken and off they went. He texted us later in the evening to say Tommy had settled well.

The following morning, he texted again to say he was 5 minutes away and dropped Tommy back to the hotel right on schedule after his morning walk. Tommy was pleased to see us, but I can’t help thinking he had enjoyed Terrys’ company (and the company of the other dogs!) as well.

A few days later, I received an email from Terry with some photos of Tommys walk and overnight stay. I would recommend this first class service to anyone in the Brighton area that needs to have their dogs looked after.

Snow time!

Life, in general, is very exciting when you are a JRT. Life becomes ‘fit to burst’ exciting when there is snow on the ground! Yes, the snow came and now that it’s nearly all gone, here is the JRT highlights…

The snow started last Monday night, in time for last walk. Tommy wasn’t that impressed with the wetness of the snow on his nose as he left the warmth of the flat, but was soon distracted by the white stuff that flies everywhere if you play bow it. From my perspective, it was a really nice change to see the street covered in white with the moons reflection making the night walk an almost summer affair because it was so light out. The bitter cold had also turned into something warmer.

By the morning, the roads were impassable and we had 6 inches of snow on the pavement. Tommy loved his (much shorter) morning walk and play was on the cards! He loves to chase the snow to try to catch it and seems bemused that it just disappears further into the blanket. The smells of chicken bones were covered so the sniffing was less and the walk enjoyable. By the time we got back, b/f needed to inspect the main roads to see if he could get into work. Definitely not, but Tommy loved the extra 5 minute walk to get up the road. B/f worked from home, and took Tommy round the block lunchtime. He was running around b/f on the end of his extender lead, we now call this ‘doing the helicopter’. It warms the heart to watch.

Getting Tommy out of the flat whilst the snow got thicker was still not a problem. Even when, by Friday, the snow was up to his shoulder he was still bounding along the pavements. Tommy’s eyes have been so bright and his tail held so high! We saw other dogs (obviously) out and about during our evening walks, and the owners, although through gritted teeth because of the cold, all commented on how much the dogs loved the snow! There were bounding, happy dogs all over the place. All excited by the strange white stuff on the pavements.

One night, whilst walking Tommy, I went through the underpass. Coming up the other way, there was a man with his SBT, scrabbling up on the ice, desperately holding onto the rail with one hand and his pulling dog on the other. His SBT was a growler. What is a girl to do in this situation? You know what we done! Carried on walking, telling Tommy to ‘leave it’ (which he did, thank goodness!) whilst the man looked on enviously at the well behaved JRT walking to heel and confident lady with very grippy soles on her shows out in the snow!

The garden had about 10-11 inches at its deepest. Watching Tommy bound his way around made standing out there more bearable. We have discovered that Tommy does the same route every time he gets let out (why we hadn’t realised this before, I don’t know!). Up to the summer house, sniff the shed, round the back of the summer house, sometimes a bark, across the garden to the bamboo, along the back fence to the summer house, round the back of the summer house again, maybe another bark just to be sure and along the path to the back door.

On Friday, I didn’t fancy the drive to Stambridge for Waggy Walkers, so brought Tommy into work. We walked, not because I couldn’t get my car out, but because it would do us both good to get some ‘proper’ exercise. It took 50 minutes to get in, but it was well worth it. We both came in with grins on our faces and I had rosy cheeks. Why had I not thought of walking to work before? He had a good day with lots of fuss and only barked at one delivery driver! Luckily he also has a JRT and ‘know what their like’. He stayed in the office for a few minutes till Tommy calmed down enough to stroke and then I gave him some garlic beef to give him (the delivery driver to Tommy, not the other way around). They are now firm friends.

The walk home was chilly, and something really spooked Tommy enroute. He screamed, like the time he was picked up by the head. I checked his paws but nothing there. I’m not sure what is was but we carried on.

By Saturday morning, the snow was typically melting big time. Tommy and I went to the park, but with only 2 inches of snow on the ground it wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped.

We’re now left with solid ice on a lot of the pavements. It makes for tricky walking, and the temperatures have dropped. The only thing that’s fun now is watching Tommy bemused as to why he cant get the chicken bone that’s frozen solid in the clear ice, but that’s nowhere near as much fun.

Rain does not stop play

As our boiler is now very spasmodic in its working (thanks b/f) I decided to take Tommy out on a long one last Thursday evening. There was no point staying in, as it was as cold in the house as it was out. It was only slightly raining, but nowhere near enough to keep me in.

I had been meaning to go down the seafront to have a look at how ‘City Beach’ is developing – I saw some pictures in the paper about the Lighting masts and I wanted to see how they have changed the feel of the seafront. So that’s where we went.

Five minutes into the walk and the rain started to get heavier. The wind also decided to show its colours and was thrashing the rain into my face. Tommy was still very much nose to the ground, more smells, maybe food and I’m out the house – hurrah!

We got to the seafront and the rain got heavier. I moved up a gear and Tommy didn’t seem to mind the faster pace. The masts weren’t obvious to see, with my hood up, face down against the rain with a bit of a march on. The pavement seemed to be more broken and cut up the further we walked (all I could see with my head down!), which was a bit depressing… and then I came to a barrier. And then I saw my first Lighting mast. They are big. Very big. And if the ‘Better Southend’ web site is to be believed will definitely be ‘a centrepiece of the project, helping to extend the day into the evening’. How long till they are vandalised is another question. And how I had walked past two of them makes me believe that they will not stand out too much against the rest of the seafront.

We crossed the road and carried on past the arcades. Tommy constantly sniffing for a dropped chip, or if hes lucky, a bit of saveloy. The seafront was pretty much deserted, but Tommy still enjoyed nosing through the windows at the arcades. The noises coming from them, as well as the lights, bring out his curious side.

The rain started to ease off as we carried on up Pier Hill. Tommy looked completely surprised when we came to the Royals. He looked at me as if to say ‘we’re here! But this is morning walk. Can we go straight home…I’m very wet’. No Tommy. We’re off up the High Street as I need to get milk. Past the Royals and we were just about to turn off when Tommy spotted a balloon. I was going to tell him to leave it so we could carry on but then I thought, the rain has almost stopped. Why not play! I picked the balloon up and for about 10 minutes, Tommy and I were playing with the balloon, in the high street, outside Costa. A few of the customers were looking out very amused, especially when the rain started to come down harder again. Rain did not stop play. The balloon must have been made from some super strength rubber because even with Tommy trying to kill it, me picking it up (and maybe squeezing it a little too hard), being bounced off benches and posts, the thing didn’t burst. Most of the people walking past looked at me like I was mad, some of them smiled, a couple even kicked the balloon back towards the center of the High Street. Still it would not burst and the rain continued to come down.

It was at least another 15 minutes before the balloon burst. I had to pick it up to move it away from the road. When I put it down, it burst. A couple of the people in Costa looked sad that the balloon had gone. It must have broke their day up seeing a happy JRT, playing with a balloon in the rain, in the High Street. It certainly cheered my day up!

New Walks

Tommy and I have finally sorted our morning walk. It took a while after the easiness of the graves, but now we have found (and appreciate) our morning walk. His 'off lead' time has diminished, but the walk itself is about 10 minutes longer.

We go down the dual carriageway, where Tommy sniffs, wees and poos. We then go through the graveyard and along to Royal Terrace. This is right in the heart of Southend, we see the Pier and the river every morning. He will go off lead here most mornings, as long as there is no rough sleepers or someone taking in the morning air (for some reason he's so suspicious of people sitting on benches). He often sees squirrels or foxes to chase. Then there is the random fish pond for me to look into. I just find it a bit wierd that there is a fish pond in this part of Southend. The pond often has old beer cans, chip wrappers and condoms floating in it, but the fish seem to survive.

We then go up the stairs, back towards the High Street. Tommy goes back on lead here, but to make the walk back home more interesting, we play catch with the tennis ball (this also stops him sniffing so much!). Five minuutes from home, I let him keep the tennis ball which he carries quite happily all the way back.

I love this area of Southend - I fall in love with it again every morning.

Play? or aggression??

Tommy came into the office with me yesterday and spent most of the day chasing flies and laying in the sun. At home time, I decided to take him to Victory Park – its normally one of my favourite walks…

When we got there, there were four other dogs in the middle being walked by three ladies and a girl. One dog was hastily picked up by one of the ladies, who was there with the girl and walked off. They called a Westie along and walked out of the park. I’m not sure what happened, but Tommy and I carried on round the outside of the park for a while and then I decided to cross over the middle of the park (something I never do!) to let Tommy play with the remaining two dogs.

Tommy saw the dogs and ran over to them, greeting a (what looked like) beagle JRT x, (intact male I’ll add here) with bounds of energy and a ‘chase me’ stance. From where I was standing, about 90 mtrs away, they looked like they were playing and having fun. A bit of chase, some boxing, and rolling around on the floor, but the owners body language told me otherwise. I sped up my walk across the park. ‘Is he being mouthy?’ I said. ‘He’s aggressive and shouldn’t be allowed off lead’. Humm, I thought. I called Tommy to me, he was having fun and not really interested (the other dog didn’t look too bothered either if truth be told!). The dogs were running round; both play biting, and bumping shoulders. I called Tommy but he was having way too much fun to notice I was even there. I launched myself at Tommy when he was on a return run, slipped on the wet grass, which made Tommy look. I called him again, with my finger in the ‘wait’ position, which he did. Lead goes back on. The other dog then starts circling Tommy, running off, coming back and play bowing. ‘I’ve owned dogs all my life and your dog is just nasty, if I see him off lead again I’m going to report him’. She was trying to get her dog back, so she ‘could look for bite marks’. I said ‘can you call him back then please, I’m not leaving this park until I know your dog is ok’ (I knew he would be!). The dog was having a whale of a time playing tease with her, not wanting to come back. He came several times back to Tommy though! I was making sure Tommy wasn’t looking at the dog, and I held Tommy’s muzzle. There was no way I was going to let Tommy sniff this dog again. The lady walking the other dog said ‘I don’t know what’s up with him today, it must be the weather’. I decided silence was golden; besides, I was fighting back the tears.

After the lady had caught her dog and said ‘no he’s fine’ I said ‘that’s good’ and carried on walking Tommy, on lead towards the other end of the park. Walking along the fence was the old lady with her aged collie and cocker spaniel bitch. I walked along with them. Tommy being excellent on lead and not even pulling towards the bitch. I felt so sad, but I managed to get home before I burst into tears.

Emma of Waggy Walkers fame asked how the move was today. I said good, flat is lovely but it took Tommy until Wednesday to really settle in’. ‘He’s such a sensitive soul’ said Emma. ‘Well, yesterday I got told he’s really aggressive and if he’s ever seen off lead again in this park he’s going to be reported’. ‘Really, what park?’ said Emma. ‘Victory, near Sutton Road’. ‘Oh I don’t go to that one' 'The other dog didn’t seem that bothered though’. ‘The dogs never are. It’s a more common thing this reporting to the authorities. (sigh) Next time you should say ‘he's goes to a behavourist every week. Talk to her about dog behavour’. We talked a bit more about how hated the dog world now is and went our separate ways. It made me feel a bit better (or maybe justified) talking to Emma, but I still feel sad about Tommy not being able to go to Victory off lead anymore.

Westerham

Today we went down to Westerham to meet up the Jack Russell Terrier forum for a walk and (more importantly??) a pub lunch.

We drove down to Kent with no problems really – Tommy has always travelled well – but being held up on the M25 meant I was 25 minutes late. I called ahead and was told ‘its ok, we’re just quieting the dogs down at the moment, they’re quite excited’ – they’re jacks, they've have had a long drive and they're somewhere else.. of course they’re excited! Westerham is a very pretty village but I was too late for the market. We went for a walk round some woods and through some fields. The dogs were all very well behaved which was nice to see. George and Arnie didn’t go off lead but Whiskey was. When Whiskey was off, so was Tommy, well, most of the time! Lyn let George off when we were heading back to the village. Tommy was so excited and really wanted to play bitey face with George, but Lyn decided that George should really go back on lead…I put Tommy on instead as George had been on lead for most of the walk – he still wanted to play with his new friends though!

When we got back to the village, we went to the pub for food. George and Arnie were put back in the car whilst Whiskey and Tommy came to the pub. Whiskey was very well behaved, but Tommy was more interested in a stray tennis ball to lie down nicely. And then he nearly knocked the vase over….

We stayed in the pub for a couple of hours, chatting about the dogs and their characteristics (or should that be problems??!!) and another short walk before sitting on the common.

On the common, a short distance away was an English Bull Terrier with its male owner and his daughter. The EBT was very interested in our four, which made us slightly nervous. The last thing we needed was 4 defensive Jack Russell’s going for one EBT! Of course, the girl dropped the dogs’ lead who came running up to us at full speed! Tommy was the only one who managed to get a growl in before the EBT was lead away... We headed home shortly afterwards.

It was a really relaxing day meeting other JRT owners and sharing a common interest. I’m looking forward to the next meet.

Roll call - Tommy, Whiskey, George and Arnie.

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!

Snow and Priory Park...

Went to Priory Park today for a frolic in the snow. The sun was out which made for striking scene’s but the snow is showing no sign of melting, and its been trod on so much its loosing its virgin beauty.
I was picking my way across the icy paths and Tommy had run off somewhere. I started to call him when I got past the pond as I hadn’t’ seen him for a while. I couldn’t hear his collar clicking so I turned back and picked my way across the icy path. And then I spotted him, poor Tommy! As the pond had frozen over, he’d decided to say hello to the ducks and had fallen in! He was looking very sorry for himself, pushed up against some reeds, dripping wet and freezing. He was very pleased to see me. We made our way back to the car where I dried him off as best I could and then home to warm up slowly in front of the radiator.
It wasn’t until later that the feeling of dread came over me when I realised I could have lost Tommy today. If he hadn’t have been able to pull himself out of the pond, or had got lost under the ice, he could have died. I felt so bad, what if I’d lost my little fella? I gave him some chicken with his dinner, to make up for my stupid ness and have made two quiet vows to myself. 1. Priory Park is a bogey park and to be avoided at all costs. 2. Tommy is not Khan who would follow me round the park nicely and come back when called. He is a very inquisitive JRT who needs constant supervision to keep him out of trouble.

Snow pt 2

The snow hasn’t been thawing at all. We haven’t had much more, but at 4-6 inches deep, it’s deep enough for Tommy! The novelty still hasn’t warn off and because the boss can’t get into work, Tommy has been coming in all week. It’s been weird on the industrial estate. I haven’t seen so many grown men play snowballs ever. Tommy pulled me over one day in the week on our lunchtime walk – I wasn’t impressed…We went for a walk along the Cliffs today and there were people out sledging. Tommy loves to chase the sledges – and he barks at them (the sledges) as people pull them along! Everyone seems happy outside at the moment, it’s really nice that winter fun hasn’t been completely replaced by Wii’s and X-Boxes.

Snow

Its been snowing! Not normally something I’d celebrate at all. I quite like walking in the snow, but being constantly bombarded with snowballs is not something I appreciate. But now, I have a Tommy dog. He has never seen snow and its so much fun! B/f and I went over the graves this morning (a rarity in itself…we don’t normally both walk Tommy) and played over there for ages! We think it’s the first time he’s seen snow, he was so distracted out and about when we first got him, the idea that he knew what snow was is pretty inconceivable. We threw snowballs for Tommy to chase (and to try and get each other with) and digging in the cold stuff. Let alone trying to figure out where all the grass had gone! It was good fun and then up to the butchers for sausages and bacon for breakfast.

Staffies

Met the man with the Arsenal staffies this morning. Tommy did have fun! I can remember when I first got Tommy and his bitey face play used to really worry me – it doesn’t anymore, I know it’s all in play, but sometimes I worry about the other dog owners. Most are ok and can see Tommy has no malice, and that their dogs do the same. Some people though you can see that they want me to put him back on lead. It’s a shame more people don’t understand dog language, and when it’s ok to step back and let them be dogs and when you should interfere because it is getting aggressive. I suppose, like everyone else, I am more worried about staffies, (I could watch two jacks all day with no problems), but I am more comfortable than what I was before I started to read the staffies website. Now, although I am wary, I will always look to the staffies owner for guidance on how their dog behaves around other dogs, rather than immediately assume that the staffies will attack. I feel better for it, and just hope that the owner is in control!

Training and Hockley Woods

Training at Rochford. He seems to be coming along well. I got a well done for my choice of grooming product and Tommy got a well done for rolling on his back for ages! Hockley woods after where we saw Masie (after we got lost of course!). A great run round with teeth and growling! They had fun and he slept for most of the evening with us, in his bed, in the front room.

Play time

Had a lovely walk today. Caught the train to Leigh and walked back along the cinder path and beach. Tommy was off lead when we got to Chalkwell and had a much needed ‘dash’ around the beach. He said hello to a Setter that couldn’t keep up, and a JRTx. His owner did not appreciate the mouthy / growly thing Tommy does (although the JRTx didn’t seem to mind!). Back on lead for another 50mtrs till Tommy has forgotten about that dog. We then saw a Newfoundland puppy. Big as a house and ready to play! Oh it’s so nice when owners let their dogs just have fun.

Play date!

Went up to Maggie’s (my sister) after training for a play date with Duke. Now that was fun. Poor Duke is my sisters’ old boxer dog and Tommy was very excited! Unfortunately the bitey face was all over poor Dukes jowls. He is such a polite dog and didn’t tell Tommy off once.

Settling down

Tommy barked for the first time this morning! Took me by surprise really. It was at some leaflets coming through the door, but he soon decided it wasn’t worth worrying about. Then I took Tommy to meet mom and dad. Oh he had fun! He was charging around the garden and playing with his toys. He kept a very close eye on what I was up to but still had a good run. It was lovely to see. Bonnie actually turned up to get the paperwork sorted. Tommy barked at her a lot and humped her leg! He goes in for neutering, vacs, worming, and nails tomorrow. It will still be another 14 days after before he can have any real ‘dog’ action. It’s just not how I planned.


I need to get my life organised though. Showering and eating are so low on my priorities at the moment.