Thursday 28 January 2010

oh, bother.

Sam was remarkably docile on his morning walk today. usually he's full of beans and butterflies, charging ahead to snif at something, careening in front of me if something catches his eye. we're working on this. however, this morning it seemed like no work was needed -- he walked to heel like a lamb, or a sheepdog.

only when he started munching grass did i put that together with his smelly farts and realise he might be a bit under the weather. a bit later, i got solid evidence -- erh, in fact, liquid solid evidence.

when we got home he seemed happy enough sunning himself in the front yard. but he still refused my yoghurt treats and his meal. now he's curled up into a sad ball of doghood. hopefully, his tummy will become better soon, or it may be treatment time.

Monday 25 January 2010

Luath night

our scottish friends Martha and Bailey make the excellent point that while humans celebrate Robert Burns, dogs should glory in the memory of his sheepdog Luath.

He was a gash an' faithfu' tyke,
As ever lap a sheugh or dyke.
His honest, sonsie, baws'nt face
Aye gat him friends in ilka place;
His breast was white, his touzie back
Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black;
His gawsie tail, wi' upward curl,
Hung owre his hurdie's wi' a swirl.

from "The Twa Dogs"


Sam does no poetry, but i'm sure i can get him to sing a little and raise his paws for the bard of hounds... or the hound of the bard.

Sunday 24 January 2010

positive thinking

meeting another dog accompanied by Sam has always been interesting. he used to be scared, to the point of wanting to flee, whenever we met -- or even just saw -- another dog on our walks. once, faced with an enthusiastic free-running dog, he broke the lead and tore off -- fortunately down a cul-de-sac and not into the ill-fated big road.

he gradually calmed down enough to just lie down whenever he saw anything canine. he looked like a rather fetching furry rug, but was impossible to get up until the menace had passed... unless, that is, he unexpectedly LEAPT at the other dog, making it scamper.

so, scared or scary, Sam has been a far cry from the "polite" and "well-behaved" dog we'd like to see. in part because of this, he's often walked at unsociable hours, or in fairly deserted areas.

yesterday, the two of us took the road less travelled, a path next to a bird sanctuary which was even partially flooded. and... we met a dog. a happy black lab, which splashed through the water ahead of its owner, then came out of the brush to have a look at us.

now, usually i have Sam on a fairly tight leash when we're approached by other dogs. and yes, i do feel anxious about what he may unexpectedly do next. then, however, i just felt calm. i greeted the dog happily, and so did Sam. just a polite nose sniff -- no jostling, and absolutely no jumping. the lab's owner even praised him for being such a nice big dog.

i can't guarantee that the next time we meet a dog it will be in such a relaxed situation as this. but i hope so, and if it is, i'll be confident Sam will behave -- and he will.

Saturday 9 January 2010

below freezing

for those of you who have been distracted by the recent floods in Africa, i can tell you that Europe has had its share of dramatic weather too, stuck under a spell of cold, and ice, and snow.



Sam the Snowdog hasn't minded this course of climactic events one bit. he's spent many long, happy hours out in the garden, just Being with the snow. but best of all is a big, open field full of fresh, fluffy snow. watching him trying to sniff, eat and run in the snow at the same time is very entertaining.

on the day when i took him to the big stray as a real treat, i noticed with surprise that the river had just frozen. i then watched as Sam zipped joyously back and forth on the white expanse of fun.

then he zoomed past me and down the bank. he didn't come back straight away, so i followed, to see what he'd found. it turned out he'd discovered about ice. he was out on it. ouch.

i called on him and hurried down towards the river. as i passed a tree, the ice must have broken, for when i was past it he was in a big black hole of water. only his head was sticking out.

i held out the treat i'd planned to use to lure him off the ice, and called and called. Sam made a heroic effort, but only managed to make a bigger hole. he rested his head on the ice. now i was really worried. had he given up?

a passing dog walker on the other bank -- which Sam was closer to -- got hold of a life buoy, but it was not of much use, as Sam was still too far away, and neither of us could get to him. the man's little dog looked worried at Sam's head in the water. i told them to keep going, i'd call someone if Sam didn't get out on his own. i also promised that i wouldn't try to jump in after him.

somehow, i thought i'd have better luck from the other side, so i ran back into the park, across the old railway bridge, jumped down onto the road and crossed it. in the river i saw... an empty hole. ouch again.

but wait. there was a set of tracks leading towards the hole, and another one, which must surely be leading out of it? and who was that on the other side, who was happily responding to my calls? SAM! panic must have given him wings. or perhaps he hadn't put down his head in despair, but to rest, or test the ice.

he was bouncing anxiously, wanting to get to me. once again in a panic, i told him to stay, stay, i really don't want you to go back onto the ice, you know. and funnily enough, he was content not to test it again.

now i had to go the long route around some houses to get back across the bridge and fetch Sam. as i was leaving, i saw him heading towards the bridge himself -- perhaps he was coming to meet me? another worry, as a happy, bouncy dog on snowy roads where there are cars is not such a good thing, either.

but i got back over the bridge without meeting Sam. where was he now? once again i called, and now he came running right up to me for a joyous reunification. i clipped on his leash and we hurried home, where he was wiped with two towels until his thick fur was only a little bit damp.

and then he wanted to go out and play in the snow again.



how many lives does that dog have? hopefully, at least the same amount of lives as a cat, or he'll be in serious trouble soon with his luck.

Friday 1 January 2010

happy new year!


Sam is back from a most pleasant kennel stay, and has these new year's resolutions:
1. eat.
2. sleep.
3. finish off that blasted mattress so he can get a real dog bed.

oh, that Sam. always so ambitious!