Going on long walks!!!

I have been quite impressed at TG's behaviour this week. Twice he has managed to ignore a group of cows in a field leaving them alone to peacefully graze. (Pity he didn't do the same with a group of sheep that he did investigate a little bit - but as he wasn't with AF it doesn't count?)

AND THEN

as AF and TG went through another field that had two big, round, pink pigs in I did anticipate a bit of trouble - they are rather attractive to an innocent puppy. However, to TG's credit, he only showed a mild interest by dancing in front of them both and running round in circles for a little while before prancing off with a nonchalant air. (AF was jumping up and down whistling, at the end of the field, at the time!). So good dog!!!

By the end of the week however, he had had enough of being good and naughtiness took him over.

Part of the reason was the late hour that he gets his walk at the weekend. PL takes him at 11 am  rather than 9 am, so the devil makes work for idle (doggy) hands (paws) whilst TG is waiting.

As usual AF was multi-tasking so as well as gardening on Saturday she was also knitting an upside-down Cinderella Doll for the Youngest Granddaughter (YGdd). TG was out and about - doing a bit of gardening - in and out of the house - minding his own business - you get the picture?? After a while PL came into the garden to say to AF "When you have tidied up out here I suggest you go inside and sort out your knitting."

Shock, shock horror. TG had had a wonderful time tossing balls of wool about, weaving multi-coloured spiders' webs all around the house and unravelling the precious knitting. Needless to say AF was not happy and spent the rest of the day sorting it all out and rewinding wool.

The wool and knitting is now 'up high'.

What a bad dog? What a careless AF? 

AF was not really paying him back but she did skim the fur on his bottom a bit close with the shears tonight. It was very matted (!) and he wouldn't let me brush or comb it (!) so I attacked it a bit with the doggy grooming kit. Ooops!

TG won't come anywhere near AF at the moment so lots of bribing is going on to persuade TG to like AF again!!!

Catching up.

TG is convinced that he needs to catch up with all the dirty, messy, exciting 'stuff' that he would have done if he hadn't been enjoying himself on his holidays.

AF took him to the beach on Friday. Whilst my back was turned clearing up poo TG took off. He was out of sight. No amount of whistling and/or calling his name brought him back. AF eventually spied him down on the beach. TG, however, was not to be caught. So a bit of a chase ensued in which AF got close enough to call TG so TG ran further down the path. He was having a great time and was uncatchable until we met another dog. I know, I know that  the doggy books tell you not to chase as it becomes a game and it did, for 15 minutes, after which time he settled down and became an examplary dog. Coming when called, chasing a stick, running from the waves, digging in the pebbles, eating seaweed and whatever else dogs do on the beach.

At the weekend PL walks TG and he also had a lot of fun playing chase for a while until TG decided that he had had enough and was ready to be a good dog. It's very tiresome and time consuming. Hope he stops doing it soon.

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.