I have a black Labrador staying - who has been here many times - but she is so like my Lab I keep getting them mixed up! The boarder is the classic type with thick rudder like tail, whilst my girl is the field trial type with slim head and body.
She loves walks with my two and dives into the river like a large black otter, so that my house permanently now smells like the river and wet dog! My terrier is always taking his chances by getting onto the sofa with me - and now the Lab boarder gets up too! So I am always saying 'get down!' arggghhh drives me mad.
I found the chicken escape mystery - they had scratched a hole under the wire. I buried the thick wire underground, but the thinner chicken wire just met the ground. They discovered that scratching away enabled them to squeeze out through the large squared wire. So I blocked this off - and now they pace back and forwards eyeing up opportunities for their next great escape!
Monday, 30 August 2010
Thursday, 26 August 2010
It's a doggy life!
No boarders at the moment and a sigh of relief - as last week was rather doggy. It's always a bit sad to send them home, but they are so happy to see their owners. Dogs adapt so well to living in a different household - I think we need to give them more credit for how they accept being in another house as long as they are given love, fuss, feed and walks.
My dogs are currently tucking into a treat each of sterilized bones - for being so good and allowing invaders into their territory. They just look resigned to each visitor and when it's back to them - my Labrador particularly comes up for a fuss and lays on my feet and just needs that extra fuss.
It is of course raining - and I am to walk my favourite TerrierX - and it is always raining when I walk him! He looks out the front door, looks at me - then seems to brace himself and goes out the door. Poor lad - then its the rubbing down with the towel afterwards. He now does not try to run away or play tug with the towel as the Borg say "resistance is futile" and I gently but firmly always get MY way!
He skips off to roll around on the carpet, after the goodbye treat and the sad "you're not leaving?" eyes. Then it's back to my dogs.
A little problem with my chickens - I built a run around the pen - they got out. So this summer built a dog proof double layer 7' high fencing - and yesterday, there they were pecking around outside! I put them back in - then found them once again rootling around my shrubs. I know they only get out when I am not looking - so I have to still work out how to stop them.
"The chickens are revolting!" to quote chicken run!
My dogs are currently tucking into a treat each of sterilized bones - for being so good and allowing invaders into their territory. They just look resigned to each visitor and when it's back to them - my Labrador particularly comes up for a fuss and lays on my feet and just needs that extra fuss.
It is of course raining - and I am to walk my favourite TerrierX - and it is always raining when I walk him! He looks out the front door, looks at me - then seems to brace himself and goes out the door. Poor lad - then its the rubbing down with the towel afterwards. He now does not try to run away or play tug with the towel as the Borg say "resistance is futile" and I gently but firmly always get MY way!
He skips off to roll around on the carpet, after the goodbye treat and the sad "you're not leaving?" eyes. Then it's back to my dogs.
A little problem with my chickens - I built a run around the pen - they got out. So this summer built a dog proof double layer 7' high fencing - and yesterday, there they were pecking around outside! I put them back in - then found them once again rootling around my shrubs. I know they only get out when I am not looking - so I have to still work out how to stop them.
"The chickens are revolting!" to quote chicken run!
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Dogs and life
The red setter is doing well staying with us - such a lovely coloured coat and a gentle temperament. It was lovely to see her runny around the Washlands today with her nose to the ground following a scent. There are enough rabbits scurrying around to keep her busy!
My two dogs were in and out the river, and the setter initially worried about the water follows them in! But she paddles around and watches my black Labrador swim.
The only downside is the grooming needed to upkeep her coat - I had to buy a new brush that was fine enough to de-tangle the burrs she had collected from the weeds along the river.
We have her for another week yet, and she is fast getting used to the routine of walks and feed times and at the moment she is flat out on the living room floor snoring away, together with my other dogs!
My two dogs were in and out the river, and the setter initially worried about the water follows them in! But she paddles around and watches my black Labrador swim.
The only downside is the grooming needed to upkeep her coat - I had to buy a new brush that was fine enough to de-tangle the burrs she had collected from the weeds along the river.
We have her for another week yet, and she is fast getting used to the routine of walks and feed times and at the moment she is flat out on the living room floor snoring away, together with my other dogs!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
New blog!
I have decided to keep a blog and record some of the things that happen in the pet sitting and dog walking business. I am trying to write this a new dog boarder arrived half an hour ago - he has only just lay down and stopped stressing out. I am keeping calm and quiet until he realises that no harm is going to happen to him.
It can be stressful for dogs to arrive at a strange place and be left there - but within a few hours he will be more relaxed. Updating my website and its taking some time!
It can be stressful for dogs to arrive at a strange place and be left there - but within a few hours he will be more relaxed. Updating my website and its taking some time!
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