He's back!!

The Dog (TG) has been on 4 weeks holiday. We took him to a Pets at Home establishment where the dogs, up to four, live with the people and play with the other dogs all the time. He has had a large paddock and garden to run in and has come home exhausted.

The Pets at Home family thought he was lovely and every one who visited or dropped off their dog asked the inevitable question "What is he?"

Anyway back home with his boring owners he decided to liven things up a bit. Unfortunately for TG he doesn't cover his tracks very well so the chewed slipper on the grass, the hole dug in the flower bed and the chewed and empty sand filled door stop do rather give the game away. It was definitely a 'getting his own back' day.

PL took him out for a walk as usual. TG decided that as someone had picked up their dog's poo in a bag but had left it hanging, like a christmas bauble, in the hedge that he would do the honours and clear it up. Unfortunately this meant TG running round the field with it in his mouth with PL in hot pursuit. What's new??

TG had not forgotten about rolling in cowpats either so he came back dirty and smelly - just like old times - for a hose down and bath - just like old times!! It's as though we've/he's never been away.

At the moment TG is in the garden doing his 'meet and greet' routine. He sticks his through the fence and all his doggy buddies come and have a chat. He's a funny dog!!!

AF met a neighbour this morning and we discussed the merits of TG. He's a 'nice chap' said E. and I think that about sums TG up. He's a 'nice chap'.

All alone again!!

"Let me in!"

TG's best buddies the LS (Lovely Staffie) and the EGs (Eldest Grandson) have now left so we have had a very miserable dog all week. TG hasn't been really bad just a bit grumpy and upset.

EGs had been coverting three last pieces of special chocolate all week and looking forward to eating them on the journey back home. TG found them first, however, so only the empty wrapper was left. OH dear!! Unfortunately TG didn't suffer any ill effects from so much human chocolate.

This week TG has had 'the treatment'. Not only the worming tablets but also the anti tic and flea drops. AF skimmed off some of his coat and spent some time cleaning out his ears so no excuse when he ignores me on the field!!

Waiting for a chat with his mates.

TG has regular doggy callers at the garden that he has a chat with. Usually TG puts his head right through the fence whilst lying across my vegetable patch and the other dog pulls his/her owner over to meet and greet TG.

There's a delightful brown and white spaniel who has been a friend for a long time, a stunning flat haired retriever that is learning to like TG better as time goes by, a beautiful golden retriever with a devoted owner who also likes TG. TG's newest friend is an interesting lurcher who couldn't get on with our previous dog but likes TG a lot. TG has various other more casual callers too numerous to mention but they all have a quick chat through the fence before being hurried off by less than understanding owners.

The garden is once again taking on the appearance of a rather untidy and unloved public park. TG likes to chew, chase, run with and destroy empty plastic bottles. As fast as I clear them up he finds more to spread liberally around. AF feels a 'tip run' coming up for PL.

This morning we (AF and TG) had the beach to ourselves once again as the Summer visitors have all flown away. We had a splendid time - wind, rain and a rough sea. TG got wet and muddy as usual in the reed bed but he was very good at coming back to the whistle even when tempted by other dogs and stuff to roll in. He also really liked the treats I had - left over roast potatoes. Yummy.

Just like any other GBGV.

TG has a short term memory problem. He forgets that if he rolls in squishy mud, cow pats, fox/badger poo or any other delicious glutenous 'stuff' he gets the resulting indignity of baths, soapings and/or hosing down with cold water. Not a virtuous circle!

TG asleep with EGs.

The week for AF has been a bit of a blur. For TG it has been heaven as, not only his favourite friend EGs (Eldest Grandson) has come to visit, but also TG's favourite doggy buddy, an LS (Lovely Staffie), leading to lots of rollicking, rolling and chasing fun in the garden and house.

Watching TV.

.

On Sunday both TG and the LS competed in the local Dog Show leading to rosettes all round. What super dogs.

TG with his rosette.

TG really proud of the LS.

We met another Long Legged GBGV (Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeen) at the Dog Show so instead of the usual discussion around 'What is he?' we compared notes and discussed  the various 'attributes and foibles' of the breed and our dogs in particular. It was good to learn that their dog has the same naughty habits as ours but that, like TG, their dog is living up to the 'happy breed' tag. 

......another day, another puddle, another bath, same WHITE dog.

TG is having a whale of a time at the moment. Finally released from the lampshade he is 'GETTING VERY DIRTY' - I should point out that this was before the rain that will bring it's own crop of muddy puddles for a dog to play in.

AF walked him early and brought him back with a muddy muzzle. Washed this off and all was well.

A self-cleaning dog. The tongue was a great help!!

Later in the day PL took him for a walk and foolishly let TG off the lead in the cows' field. TG started in the cow pats then progressed to the water trough area. Lots of mud.

"No, no, not the hosepipe. Anything but the hosepipe."



AF decided that a bath was probably the best way forward. The colour of the resulting bath water says it all.

Once again our lovely white dog.

TG's shoe fetish has reached cross making proportions. He found a very nice brown leather sandal belonging to AF that had been carelessly left on the floor of the back porch close to the feeding station of TG. This was clearly too much of an enticement for a dog on the look out for mischief so he took it outside and demolished it. Not his fault that it was there looking delicious and tempting.

Note to self: ALL FOOTWEAR IS NOW TO BE STORED IN A CUPBOARD OR UP VERY HIGH. 

Developing a shoe fetish.

Because TG has had a large lampshade round his neck for the past week he has been around the house and garden rather more than usual so the mischief has been close to home.

TG has taken a fancy to footwear - it must be the lovely smell!! As we had Third Eldest Daughter (TED) visiting at the weekend he had a ball. The TED's strappy roman sandals were his favourite, followed closely by the stunningly beautiful black high heels.

TG goes about his business as a Shoe Thief very stealthily, pouncing on the desired shoe/sandal with great cunning then disappearing quickly and quietly. TG doesn't actually chew the shoe just mouths it leaving lots of doggy saliva behind.

He really wants TED, AF and PL to chase him for it.

Now, as every dog owner knows, chasing any dog to retrieve any desirable object is REALLY BAD NEWS. It's 'Game On' for a happy session of hide and seek around the garden for a while. TG taunts human with object, human is allowed to very nearly catch dog, there is a last minute burst of energy by dog that the human is not able to match and so on and so on. Human collapses, dog is the winner.

At the moment TG is playing out this little game repeatedly until all the shoes/sandals are 'up high'.

TED says he thinks all shoes/sandals are fair game as AF gave him an old slipper to play with??? 

As a famous comedien would say "GOOD GAME! GOOD GAME!"

The lampshade is off this week.

I'm pleased to report that TG has recovered fully from the 'other dog' incident. The stiched up

wound has healed beautifully, all the pills are finished and TG once again wants TO PLAY in the evening. Back to destroying toys and getting dirty in the fields. It's a dog's life.

Having some life experiences.

Walk One.....



Waiting for the "Off you go."



Dashing ahead.

 ......was great.

AF and The Dog (TG) went for a pleasant stroll down a leafy lane. TG did what dogs do. Sniffing here and there. Marking his territory. Running ahead - hanging back. We had a lovely time and came back nice and clean!!!! 

A bit boring if you're a dog. 





Trying out his 'scent' nose. 



Hanging back.





During the last few days we have visitors so TG has had to be on his best behaviour. The 'squirty water on the muzzle' approach has stopped him jumping up at people so that is good news and has stopped him being a nuisance. Result!!

Walk Two.

AF and the visitors took TG for a long walk over the fields. TG was having a lovely time - running ahead - coming back to the whistle - not jumping up!! Up ahead I saw a man with his dog standing very still, looking horrified, watching something????

It was TG that he was giving a VERY WIDE BERTH as he (TG) was wallowing in a very muddy puddle. He lay in it; he threw grimy water over his head using his muzzle and ears as tools; he ran through it repeatedly; he had a super, wonderful doggy time getting very, very wet and filthy. He looked like the monster from the deep - green, slimy and dripping.

AF put TG on the lead. The man continued on his walk with his clean dog.

After a while AF let TG off the lead again. This was probably a BIG mistake as TG discovered the soft, slushy, green stuff that is at the heart of a hard, crusty cowpat. Wowww!! 

TG rolled in it, snuffled it, ate it, stuck it to his side. He treasured that cowpat to bits.

AF had a four way coloured GBGV to walk home through the town, to the joy and delight of other dog owners and some sympathetic smiles.

Here he is having a good wash in the garden, paying for his pleasures.

Walk Three.....

....has brought the dog trouble of a different kind and with it a learning experience that he will not forget.

AF and TG were having a pleasant walk, minding our own business, as usual, when TG spotted another dog coming the other way. His experience of 'other dogs' has been brilliant to date. They have recognised him as a 'Playful Puppy' and either ignored his advances or played riotously with him. This dog, however, decided to grab a mouthful of TG's doggy backside in his mouth leaving two, bleeding, puncture marks.

Naturally TG squealed loudly and when released from the biting jaws took off like a rocket the way he and AF had come, chased by the offending other dog.

AF and the other dog owner set of in hot pursuit as both dogs were heading for a main road. Fortunately a gate was barring the way so AF put TG back on his lead and carried on back towards the other dog owner. Her response to events was to tell TG that he was "Quite a rascal" for enticing her dog into bad ways (running away). AF was a bit amazed but as it's all in a dog's life chose not to argue with this assertion.

Not sure yet whether I'll still be as sanguine when we get the vet's bill.

The vet discovered an inch long tear close to his testicles that needed stitches so the poor dog has really been in the wars today. Still waiting for the bill.

He's into adolescent mode.

The pretty flower in better times.

Maybe 9am on a Monday is when all the grumpy old men are walking their dogs at my favourite iron age fort. There were certainly lots of them about the last time AF took the dog for a walk there. AF came away feeling quite dispirited after all the adverse comments about him. He came a very poor second at discipline when compared to an 8 month old whippet and AF was severely criticized for running after the dog instead of waiting for him to come back to her. There was more.

So sorry there has not been a blog since that disastrous walk but AF and PL have been busy trying to make the dog a better, gooder dog.

Has it worked?

Well he is getting better at coming back to the whistle but jumping up at people is still a bit of a problem. He also continues to:-

• dig great big holes in the garden
• roll in horse, cow, fox or badger poo when the opportunity arises.
• eat his own poo even though we wash his mouth out when we smell his breath.
• race through swampy ground until he has transferred the mud to his tummy and legs.

He is also having a great time destroying all his toys.

The sad remains of the dog's toys.

The cockerel went first, then the red pulley, followed by the pink ring, three tennis balls, the pretty flower and last of all his pheasant. There is nothing left of the green pulley with the hot dog in the middle. Absolute slaughter. He won't get any more until Christmas.

The dog got lost the other day. PL had him out for his afternoon walk when the dog saw, (but PL didn't), his doggy friend. The dog took off and disappeared from sight. PL rang AF to go round one way whilst PL set off looking for him the other, hoping to cut him off at the pass. Not too long after a sad, repentant (?) dog was brought back by a friendly dog owner so all was well. We are walking him much more on the lead now until this phase is out of his system. It could be a long time!!

He had his first successful experience of going into kennells. Only for a day, but he won over the hearts of the people who looked after him. We have always been cautious of putting our rescue dogs into kennels fearing that they would feel abandoned all over again. No such problems with our super confident dog. He bounced in and bounced out again after a lovely day.

PL likes to pick fresh raspberries from the garden for his breakfast. He has learnt to be quick or the dog gets there first. The dog likes to pick and eat, without washing, both raspberries and strawberries. The mulberries are ripening at the moment so he will be fighting off the blackbirds (and me) to get his share.

That's all for now folks!