PET'S CORNER

[Stanley]

Jack is on the mend I think. Bright as a button and our first firm stool for three days yesterday. (These things are important!)

[Cathy]

Good news about Jack, relieve all round then...

[hartley353]

The disturbance caused to my two terriers by introducing Rabbits to the garden, is showing a little sign of abating.The constant whinging by charlie wanting to be left out has quietened. But during the night charlie wanted out twice, something he never does so probably rabbit driven. At least there is a promise that the novelty may wear off.

[Stanley]

You're right Cathy. Even more relief when daughter Susan called in and pronounced the house odour free apart from a very faint memory of disinfectant but she said she wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't asked.

[hartley353]

Due to extreme weather conditions the rabbit hutch was battened down, and a small tarp used to stop water being driven in. When the dogs were allowed out this morning both sat in front of the fencing with their noses pointing at the heavens. They were completely silent and you could almost read their thoughts, the image that formed in my mind was off two cartoon mutts sitting below a high table on which was resting a cooked chicken.

[Stanley]

The cat refuge under the bench in the back yard is getting popular. A local tabby was in residence yesterday and it remains to be seen what will happen of my usual lodger who is a bully, turns up and finds the tabby in his shelter!

[Cathy]

Stanley you will probably hear what happens rather than see what happens haha

[hartley353]

We uncovered the rabbit to allow him some sunshine, the dogs are there barking their heads off. the rabbit acts totally indifferent and just sits there eating his hay. Does he feel safe or maybe he doesn't see danger in dogs yet. Strong smell of cats this morning, they may now be treating the area below the hutch as shelter, this will have to be dealt with quickly.

[Stanley]

Jack has had a good morning! First he inspected the lodger cat in the back yard....



Then he met his mate Cass, a Ridgeback/Mastiff cross and as soft as a boiled turnip...



Then to complete his morning he had a play with Bob the Whippet bitch down at Briggs and Duxburys.



A busy morning and essential socialising. Show me a dog that isn't allowed to socialise and I'll show you a bored and often nasty dog.

[hartley353]

The male rabbit visited the vet yesterday to lose his jewels, we kept him in the house over night in his travel box. This morning he returned to his hutch it is as if nothing has happened, he is back to normality. Now he has a six week wait before his mate Willow can rejoin him in the hutch, I hope he wants her back after the estrangement.

[Stanley]

I'd noticed that since Jack had his upset gut his stool had changed and become much softer. (These things are important!) His ration is a slice of cooked mince that has gone solid in the fridge plus a small handful of good mixed biscuit. To make it easier to mix I have always given the meat a 30 second blast in the microwave but have stopped doing that and mix it cold. Stool back to normal. His gut must have changed slightly. We are both happy!

[hartley353]

I recently purchased a shepherds whistle, and for the last few days have been practicing with the dogs. Since both dogs were pups I have only had two whistle commands for them. A stop whistle and a recall whistle. When off the flat and working hard it is often difficult to whistle first time due to a dry mouth, and in the time to create a clear whistle they can cover a lot of ground, If this works I may have a solution. Just hope it doesn't work to well and I return home with a flock.

[Stanley]

Jack and his friends socialising in the sunshine yesterday on the Green. Essential activity!

[hartley353]

The shepherds whistle has attracted attention on my walks up the river. If everyone buys one there may be some confusion for the dogs, but possibly a commission cheque from the makers. Now I must get a lanyard for it, twice it has escaped my mouth and had to be washed in the river. Somewhere in the attic is some leather thonging, but it may be quicker to buy new.
This whistle is made from aircraft grade aluminium, but they are available in various materials including solid gold ( I was tempted ).

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[hartley353]

Lots of activity in the garden yesterday. The family has clubbed together to buy Mary a two storey rabbit hutch, she spent an hour assembling the flat pack mothers day gift. Half way through she came in to complain that bits were missing, but I put her back on the right path when I pointed out she had the side panels on upside down. The previous day she had dug the post holes for her perimeter fence, and cemented the posts in, after completing the hutch she continued with the compound fitting the mesh fencing. At the centre of the compound there is a young fruit tree, this Mary has trimmed back to a stump, she intends to use this as a center pole to hold up the netting cover for the compound. For those of you who think I should have done the manly thing and constructed this for her,I did offer but she insisted the design was in her head, and would be fluid as she built it, Mary gets huge satisfaction from doing things for herself,and a great sense of achievment when they are finished, I can appreciate that.

[Cathy]

Glad I read your post in full Hartley... you know what I was just about to do
Good on you Mary.
A pic would be nice.

[hartley353]

Mary has done a great job so far, and is presently working on a new gate for the compound. The first one proved to be a bit wonky, I will post a picture when it is complete. She is as pleased as punch with her build, and so she should be. The buck rabbit has discovered he can jump on top of the hutch, one more good jump and he will be out the net over the top will have to go on soon if they are to be left unattended.

[hartley353]

Mary was reading over my shoulder, she has given permission for a work in progress picture.

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[Cathy]

Wow, looks great, love all the colours too. Lucky little rabbits

[hartley353]

Cathy this is what the garden looked like before the rabbits, Mary will soon have the corner restored to flowers and greenery. The bamboo trellis is an attempt to Keep the dogs of the bedding plants, when they are playing with their balls. The garden shed is what was once my aviary for finches.

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[Stanley]

Happiness is a patch of sunshine and being close to your mate.....

[Cathy]

Reminds me of what my indoor cat does, she follows the sun from window to window thru-out the day. Cute and clever.

[Stanley]

No flies on Jack Cathy. He's a hardy dog but loves getting a bit of heat on his coat. I've noticed over my life that the hardiest dogs enjoy heat the most. My old cattle dog Fly used to lie that close to the fire it made him poorly! Many a time I have had to roll him away from the heat. Mind you, the same applied to me, I could stand the cold but enjoyed my fireside at night!

[Stanley]

Just had an interesting walk! I have been told I am to be reported for having Jack off the lead! There is a woman who walks her dog on a lead in Valley Gardens and as soon as she sees another dog she picks her dog up, I doubt if it's ever socialised in its life. This morning she saw Jack Batley's widow's dog which ran up and wanted to have a word with hers. She hadn't even seen Jack then, he was away on his business round the corner. After rounding the corner she shouted to me and said she was going to report me for having Jack off the lead. (he hadn't gone within 20 yards of her.) She said her dog was shaking. I told her she was welcome....
I get so angry with people who are cruel to their dogs in that they never let them socialise or even go near other dogs. In their heads, the people with normal happy dogs running round enjoying themselves are irresponsible dog owners with dangerous dogs. There should be an owner's licence!

[hartley353]

Totally irresponsible to walk your dog off the lead in an urban area. There are many people who are wary of dogs,and should not be put in fear, there are also many people who have had their pets attacked by loose dogs. Your ideas on dogs socialising are totally crackpot, if they wish to meet other dogs they can do it just as well on a lead, and should they fight can be easier controlled.