oldius
Manchester City, dogs, family and food.
The North Wales coastal path, very close to Aber Falls - it's just beautiful.
Lu's Thread
- Thread starter George J
- Start date
It certainly is, thanks
George J
Herefordshire member
Dogs tend not to like heat, and so today was a really not good dog day.
I went to work slightly early, though not enough that it will make me any more profit, and it is at the place with loose chickens so Luna cannot yet have free rein. I tied her up under a sun shelter and she patiently watched my carrying beams of wood of at least a CWT each under the rapidly rising temperatures.
Suffice to say that I started at eight o'clock and finished at half past twelve drenched in sweat feeling almost dizzy. We did have several water breaks, but she was actually not even panting, unlike the owner's Lab and Spaniel, who were both bowled over by the heat, even though inside!
We got home in time for light lunch and chilling. It was 33 degrees outside but only 24 in my flat as I had the sense to shut the windows before work. Then a quick amble round the meadow where she met several other wilting dogs, but she was as spry as could be, unfortunately wanting to play and engage with dogs too hot to be bothered. She soon picked up on that and decided that I must be her victim for overheated games. I calmed her down and we went back in and she slept for England till about half-past six. The longest I have seen her quiet so far. By then the temperatures had equalised in and out so I opened the windows to allow a breeze, and we went for a quick trot out. This time she took a more sensible course and stuck to walking or trotting, and ignoring every one except me.
At nine we went for a proper run, and she was back to her energetic self, tormenting about seven "off the lead" others, having a great time baiting and weaving.
She is so gentle. Not quite a typical terrier. I am keen that she does not get the kill gene activated. She does not have this yet, and hence my great caution that she never kills poultry, let alone rats or other vermin.
On what might otherwise have been a quite unpleasant day for me who hates the heat, she brightened my day!
The day started early at half past four, when she woke me up to go out for toilet reasons. Such a brilliant person she is.
Best wishes from George
I went to work slightly early, though not enough that it will make me any more profit, and it is at the place with loose chickens so Luna cannot yet have free rein. I tied her up under a sun shelter and she patiently watched my carrying beams of wood of at least a CWT each under the rapidly rising temperatures.
Suffice to say that I started at eight o'clock and finished at half past twelve drenched in sweat feeling almost dizzy. We did have several water breaks, but she was actually not even panting, unlike the owner's Lab and Spaniel, who were both bowled over by the heat, even though inside!
We got home in time for light lunch and chilling. It was 33 degrees outside but only 24 in my flat as I had the sense to shut the windows before work. Then a quick amble round the meadow where she met several other wilting dogs, but she was as spry as could be, unfortunately wanting to play and engage with dogs too hot to be bothered. She soon picked up on that and decided that I must be her victim for overheated games. I calmed her down and we went back in and she slept for England till about half-past six. The longest I have seen her quiet so far. By then the temperatures had equalised in and out so I opened the windows to allow a breeze, and we went for a quick trot out. This time she took a more sensible course and stuck to walking or trotting, and ignoring every one except me.
At nine we went for a proper run, and she was back to her energetic self, tormenting about seven "off the lead" others, having a great time baiting and weaving.
She is so gentle. Not quite a typical terrier. I am keen that she does not get the kill gene activated. She does not have this yet, and hence my great caution that she never kills poultry, let alone rats or other vermin.
On what might otherwise have been a quite unpleasant day for me who hates the heat, she brightened my day!
The day started early at half past four, when she woke me up to go out for toilet reasons. Such a brilliant person she is.
Best wishes from George
George J
Herefordshire member
Luna is really settling in.
Most terriers have a playful streak if they are happy and have not been ruined with harshness. Luna has an idiosyncratic sense of fun. She absolutely has no retriever instinct, and throwing a ball is fine, but she chases it and then runs further away and drops it, expecting me to fetch it and throw it again. So a reverse retriever! She also has invented a funny game inside. Find a wine cork, pick it up, chew it a bit, and then lob it across the room for me to find and give it her back. Irresistible of course!
She also enjoys a bit of rough and tumble on the floor. The indicator that she wants to mess about is that she walks right into me, and bumps quite firmly. Then down to gentle roughing! She gets her teeth out catches a finger and licks! Amazingly gentle. I don't want her to learn the "terrier kill" thing, or start hunting vermin, and certainly she has to respect that chickens are for looking at only - not for chasing and what might follow.
She has started to master the art of dealing with much larger dogs. She runs towards them tail right up and dodges at the last moment. Naturally the bigger dog chases her and she is remarkably agile and gets out of the way at the very last moment. She can give a mile's worth of walking exercise to a lab in five minutes! She is a frightful tease. With other terriers and one sausage dog, she plays very gently and goes at the pace of the other dog. She is firm friends with a terrier called Beau, and a sausage dog called Alice. It is great to see them messing about as if in dog paradise!
She is getting better at staying in the car while I pop into the Coop [etc], ands no longer howls the street down. She has realised that I always come back quite soon. Obviously not left in the heat, these last few days.
Her recall - even with the distraction of other dogs - is now perfect. Quite amazing rate of progress, and, for the occasional bit of terrier stubbornness, there is always reverse psychology ... start to walk away! She has no answer for that. But she is good without it now.
We are going off on an adventure today. A visit to Birmingham airport to collect my first Polish friend [since 2006] returning from his family home. His girlfriend has a Frenchie, so that IS going to be interesting. That little dog is also well socialised, but quite sedate, whereas Luna is a ball of playful energy!
Best wishes from George
Most terriers have a playful streak if they are happy and have not been ruined with harshness. Luna has an idiosyncratic sense of fun. She absolutely has no retriever instinct, and throwing a ball is fine, but she chases it and then runs further away and drops it, expecting me to fetch it and throw it again. So a reverse retriever! She also has invented a funny game inside. Find a wine cork, pick it up, chew it a bit, and then lob it across the room for me to find and give it her back. Irresistible of course!
She also enjoys a bit of rough and tumble on the floor. The indicator that she wants to mess about is that she walks right into me, and bumps quite firmly. Then down to gentle roughing! She gets her teeth out catches a finger and licks! Amazingly gentle. I don't want her to learn the "terrier kill" thing, or start hunting vermin, and certainly she has to respect that chickens are for looking at only - not for chasing and what might follow.
She has started to master the art of dealing with much larger dogs. She runs towards them tail right up and dodges at the last moment. Naturally the bigger dog chases her and she is remarkably agile and gets out of the way at the very last moment. She can give a mile's worth of walking exercise to a lab in five minutes! She is a frightful tease. With other terriers and one sausage dog, she plays very gently and goes at the pace of the other dog. She is firm friends with a terrier called Beau, and a sausage dog called Alice. It is great to see them messing about as if in dog paradise!
She is getting better at staying in the car while I pop into the Coop [etc], ands no longer howls the street down. She has realised that I always come back quite soon. Obviously not left in the heat, these last few days.
Her recall - even with the distraction of other dogs - is now perfect. Quite amazing rate of progress, and, for the occasional bit of terrier stubbornness, there is always reverse psychology ... start to walk away! She has no answer for that. But she is good without it now.
We are going off on an adventure today. A visit to Birmingham airport to collect my first Polish friend [since 2006] returning from his family home. His girlfriend has a Frenchie, so that IS going to be interesting. That little dog is also well socialised, but quite sedate, whereas Luna is a ball of playful energy!
Best wishes from George
George J
Herefordshire member
Queenie, the Franchie, completely ignored the entreaties of Luna to play, and Luna respected this. She is a rather polite little dog: "If you are not interested, never-mind." Typical terrier pragmatism.
She played with Justina and Pawel, and was furious that Pawel had the front seat coming back from BHX to a village two miles south of Worcester. She has a character that spreads so much beyond her footprint!
Best wishes from George
She played with Justina and Pawel, and was furious that Pawel had the front seat coming back from BHX to a village two miles south of Worcester. She has a character that spreads so much beyond her footprint!
Best wishes from George
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Our 6 month old Cavalier slipped her leash at a local cider brewery, we were sitting outside next to a busy road... lots of scurrying around chasing her, luckily the smell of food from a nearby food cart attracted her more that cars passing as usually she wants to chase anything that moved from butterflies to juggernaughts!
martin clark
pinko bodger
George
Your developing relationship, esp as reported in your usual sensitive & thoughtful way, remains a joy to read.
Please keep us updated - it's a vicarious pleasure to the rest of us. I'm sure I'm not the only one the stories so far have made smile.
ATB.
Your developing relationship, esp as reported in your usual sensitive & thoughtful way, remains a joy to read.
Please keep us updated - it's a vicarious pleasure to the rest of us. I'm sure I'm not the only one the stories so far have made smile.
ATB.
George J
Herefordshire member
Very funny Terrier activity!
Luna is getting very soft and affectionate, though she has definitely decided that I am fairly much the only interesting human adult. She does not impose on anyone, but all the same is very good with children, but still not forcing herself on them. She likes to play with dogs her own size, and is rapidly learning to ignore heavier ones. That is all good. She does have a very peculiar little habit. She steals my socks! And my hat! She does not chew them up, but takes them to sleep on!
I have never seen a dog do that before. I assume it is a scent thing, but it is new on me. My old Collie used to nick clothing and chew it to pieces!
Best wishes from George
Luna is getting very soft and affectionate, though she has definitely decided that I am fairly much the only interesting human adult. She does not impose on anyone, but all the same is very good with children, but still not forcing herself on them. She likes to play with dogs her own size, and is rapidly learning to ignore heavier ones. That is all good. She does have a very peculiar little habit. She steals my socks! And my hat! She does not chew them up, but takes them to sleep on!
I have never seen a dog do that before. I assume it is a scent thing, but it is new on me. My old Collie used to nick clothing and chew it to pieces!
Best wishes from George
Really nice that she's got excellent dog manners -we inherited our most recent dog when her owner had to move to the Vet's home because of Alzheimer's and she's also a "I'll play with you if you want to play " and gets it if a dog doesn't want to. Lot less drama which is good.You can't help but wonder why they develop odd phobias too . Had two Irish Water Spaniels -born on different continents -never knew each other or were part of the same pack -BOTH-had a thing about fireflies ? Growling and barking and generally carrying on -first one I finally sat out in the neighbors field with him long enough that he went from wake the town at midnight to growling. But every time he's see one he'd growl.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
Luna has definitely landed on her paws with you, George. Sounds like she deserves it, in fact I think you deserve each other.
George J
Herefordshire member
Luna has been making the most amazing progress, even to the point of ignoring chickens running loose. Unfortunately not yet perfect regarding refrain, but getting better ...
She also took great delight in rousting up some Alpacas - animals that I am not particularly inspired to like after one of them kicked me in the jock-strap region when we where loading them in a stock-trailer last Autumn. Apparently they are happy to kill a dog by stomping on it, but they have never met a canine so agile and quick witted as a Patterdale Terrier. She reads them and torments them by simply going near and running off and dodging the onslaught! The Alpacas' owner is more concerned for Luna, as even a Terrier is going to struggle to hurt an Alpaca!
She now delights in running four times the distance of any walk, and even then does not seem to tire. Well there is never going to another late rise from bed as she insists that getting up time is when the sun comes up. Out for a run and then what would normally be evening chill time happens before work. That is fine by me. It is so quiet first thing. We went for an ambulation about quarter to six this morning and then a real long ramble about half nine, followed by groceries from Bromyard. Now she is Sunday morning chilling:
Unfortunately I am still rubbish at posting pictures, so here is my FLICKR page ... top left picture.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146183770@N06/?
Edit, thanks to Marchbanks:
As her confidence has come back, she has become playful, relaxed, and very much enjoying TLC. She tells me quite easily either too carry on or not. She just goes to sleep!
Such a happy and kind little dog.
Best wishes from George
PS: Note how glossy her coat is now, and she has also become extremely fit, and though tiny can go as fast as dogs several times her size. Also she now trots up stairs, which is hard to imagine. You would think this impossible for such a tiny dog, but she trots with a huge bounce! Also note the wine cork on her bed. She is not interested in fluffy toys or tennis balls, but loves to play and chew up wine corks. I have a stock of them kept for over ten years, so should last a while ...
She also took great delight in rousting up some Alpacas - animals that I am not particularly inspired to like after one of them kicked me in the jock-strap region when we where loading them in a stock-trailer last Autumn. Apparently they are happy to kill a dog by stomping on it, but they have never met a canine so agile and quick witted as a Patterdale Terrier. She reads them and torments them by simply going near and running off and dodging the onslaught! The Alpacas' owner is more concerned for Luna, as even a Terrier is going to struggle to hurt an Alpaca!
She now delights in running four times the distance of any walk, and even then does not seem to tire. Well there is never going to another late rise from bed as she insists that getting up time is when the sun comes up. Out for a run and then what would normally be evening chill time happens before work. That is fine by me. It is so quiet first thing. We went for an ambulation about quarter to six this morning and then a real long ramble about half nine, followed by groceries from Bromyard. Now she is Sunday morning chilling:
Unfortunately I am still rubbish at posting pictures, so here is my FLICKR page ... top left picture.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/146183770@N06/?
Edit, thanks to Marchbanks:
As her confidence has come back, she has become playful, relaxed, and very much enjoying TLC. She tells me quite easily either too carry on or not. She just goes to sleep!
Such a happy and kind little dog.
Best wishes from George
PS: Note how glossy her coat is now, and she has also become extremely fit, and though tiny can go as fast as dogs several times her size. Also she now trots up stairs, which is hard to imagine. You would think this impossible for such a tiny dog, but she trots with a huge bounce! Also note the wine cork on her bed. She is not interested in fluffy toys or tennis balls, but loves to play and chew up wine corks. I have a stock of them kept for over ten years, so should last a while ...
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gintonic
50 shades of grey pussy cats
please be cautious around Alpacas. My friends Jack Russel was killed by stomping. He said the same about Jax as do you about Luna. Alpacas can be unpredictable, and the first blow may only injure, but the subsequent trampling will kill, and you won't be around to prevent. is it worth the risk?
Marchbanks
Hat and Beard member
George,
Copy the line of text below into your post, putting img in square brackets before it and /img in square brackets after.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52253637120_8fc021148c_z.jpg
That should give you your picture, and I can delete this!
Great picture, BTW!
Copy the line of text below into your post, putting img in square brackets before it and /img in square brackets after.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52253637120_8fc021148c_z.jpg
That should give you your picture, and I can delete this!
Great picture, BTW!
SteveG
pfm Member
Our 2nd rescue is stuck there as well. The rescue place are trying to find a loophole to get the dogs over here, but are saying it could now be September before they get here.
George J
Herefordshire member
Dear G&T,
I have to curb this, of course. She only did it once, yesterday, but she got the Terrier "red mist" moment. I soon caught her, by walking away and she came to me "molto presto." There is always a risk with a Terrier, as they are fearless, but protecting them from themselves does involve serious discipline. Fortunately she is a quick learner, and entirely tolerant of verbal telling off. Dogs like absolute limits. It is mistake to indulge unacceptable behaviour.
Best wishes from George
I have to curb this, of course. She only did it once, yesterday, but she got the Terrier "red mist" moment. I soon caught her, by walking away and she came to me "molto presto." There is always a risk with a Terrier, as they are fearless, but protecting them from themselves does involve serious discipline. Fortunately she is a quick learner, and entirely tolerant of verbal telling off. Dogs like absolute limits. It is mistake to indulge unacceptable behaviour.
Best wishes from George
George J
Herefordshire member
George,
Copy the line of text below into your post, putting img in square brackets before it and /img in square brackets after.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52253637120_8fc021148c_z.jpg
That should give you your picture, and I can delete this!
Great picture, BTW!
Thanks for that. I inserted the picture in the original post. No need to delete your post. It was entirely helpful and in keeping with the Terrier nature of the whole thread.
Best wishes from George
George J
Herefordshire member
Just back from a two hour ramble. I used to do that each Sunday when I had Fred the Welsh Collie after he retired from farm work aged only four and a half. He lived to thirteen so a few miles covered!
Luna is every bit as good a dog as Fred was. I never thought that I would be partner to a dog as good as Fred. I am blest.
Best wishes from George
Luna is every bit as good a dog as Fred was. I never thought that I would be partner to a dog as good as Fred. I am blest.
Best wishes from George
I am strictly forbidden to leave wine corks lying around where our dogs might get them, dogs can
choke on them!
Hopefully Luna has more sense than to try and eat them, can't say the same for ours!