Six month report.

The dog is now 6 months old. Still growing and really testing us out. Not yet a teenager but certainly a terrible toddler. Won't do what we want: Still eating horrible things in the fields and garden: Sits in the house and ignores us: Destroying the garden.

This is his 6 month report.

1. Has he met the required standard?  10/10.
2. General behaviour. 10/10.
3. Quick to learn. 10/10
4. Taking part in group activities. 10/10.
5. Enjoys playing with others. 10/10.
6. Exceeding our expectations. 10/10
7. Fun to have around. 10/10

An exemplary dog exhibiting the right qualities and attributes that will take him to the top of his class. PL and AF.

 Sherlock Dog.

The dog and I, AF, were having a great walk in the fields. As we approached the next stile the dog spotted a lady in white who disappeared from our sight as we watched. She saw us coming but hurried away from us through the next field not acknowledging our presence.

At the next turn in the path she was still there but had quickened her pace and made for the woods. We continued to follow.

The dog was following her scent with his nose close to the ground. He stopped frequently to look for her, head, body, nose and ears alert. All his doggy hunting instincts in evidence.

Who was she, where was she going and why didn't she have a dog with her?

We caught fleeting glimpses of the lady in white between the trees and hedges as she continued down the hill. She frequently glanced back as if checking out where we were.

Through the ponies field and the next gate we went, the gap between us and the mysterious lady in white widening as we followed her down the hill. 

Eventually we came out from the wooded fields to see her still ahead of us on the country lane.

The dog was still alert to her movements and we continued to walk behind her into the town.

But as suddenly as we had come upon her high up in the hills she vanished and we never saw the lady in white again...... Sherlock Dog had lost the scent.

Why is it that.......?

Why is it that....

• There's a permanent smell of wet dog in the house?

• Dogs won't go into the garden to pee in the rain but will insist that you take them for a 'walk' in the very same rain?

• The dog only drinks from the fishpond despite all efforts to persuade him that the tap or rainbut water is really nice?

• Poo appears as if by magic in the garden just after I have done a 'poo patrol'?

• The dog finds the important mail delicious yet leaves the junk mail untasted?

 

Actions and consequences for the dog.

The dog enjoys rolling in 'stuff' in the fields but doesn't like the cleaning off acticity back home.

He is getting cleverer though and after a good roll and wallow in mud or manure he jumps into the stream to clean himself off.

This is not good enough for PL, however, who still hoses him down, then applies the dreaded hairdryer.





The dog with his new squeaky.

The dog loves this new squeaky so much I couldn't get the lable off before he started to walk it round and round the garden.

It 's a rooster so says 'cock-a-doodle-doo' every time he squeaks it.

I'm not regretting the purchase yet!!










Actions and consequences for dog owners.

The new larger crate arrived and is brilliant. The dog has plenty of room to stretch and scratch. Problem solved we thought. Not quite.

The crate is too big to move into the kitchen at night so we are leaving him in the hallway with the door fastened. The dog is OK with this but he now keeps us awake fiddling with his bedding that is too hot. (He liked to lay on the ceramic floor tiles in the kitchen.)

We are going to try to position the crate so that the door opens into the kitchen so he can get onto the tiles. Problem solved???  Watch this space.

Hiding in the bamboo ready to jump on the squirrel.

He now treats the garden as his own fiefdom; Chasing the squirrel and blackbirds out; Barking at the neighbours when he hears them over the fence.

I've ordered the bigger crate!!



He thinks it's funny.

 The dog is getting too big for his crate so I have ordered the next size up - large. I am just hoping that we don't need the one called Giant.

We had guests in for a BBQ. All was going well until I went into the kitchen to retrieve the pudding, Dorset Apple Cake, only to discover that most of it had disappeared into the dog. We learnt the hard way that he can reach quite a long way onto the kitchen worksurfaces with his tongue.


He is digging three escape tunnels in the garden. (Probably called Tom, Dick and Harry.)

I know where they are because of all the spoil spread round the entrance.

He doesn't know about getting rid of it down his trouser legs.

Looking innocent working out his next move.



He's a very patient dog and will sit for a long time sizing up a situation before taking any action. This can be in the middle of a field, walking on a footpath or crossing the road.

Can be a bit of a nuisance if there is a need for speed.

Is he the thinking dog's dog or just slow on the uptake?

He jumped onto my lap last night with such enthusiasm that my Gin and Tonic went flying all over the settee and my trousers. No more cuddles for him. No more Gin and Tonic for me??

Two wannabe comedians told me  'He's too big for you to handle.' I just gritted my teeth and made sure the dog sat until they'd gone.

A kinder and more intelligent man said that he's a 'love sponge'.

Another called him a 'lunatic on a rope'.

Ready for a walk with the PL.