Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Salty... Smelly Sea Dogs
Max as you are probably are aware has learnt to swim. He loves clambering in... no jumping in as yet and swimming for his stick or even more importantly his ball.
Jayne, Moose, Max & I ventured out for a walk and after doing a walk through our little park, then through past one of the pubs (no stopping for a drink this time), we headed up one of the many paths in Bursledon to the salt marshes. This is a big area of smelly mud that floods at high tide floods to some degree or other.
We went down there at high tide and after a gentle stroll across to the sea edge we started to throw sticks in to the water. Both the boys had a go at getting the sticks, then they both realised they could mug the other 1 for the stick and gain that stick... saving a swim.... very cute to watch.
Max continued to go for the sticks and Moose over saw this and saved his energy. Max soon got wise and took verious routes up on to the bank and ensured the stick was dropped at our feet to be thrown again. After a while of doing this we headed back along the dry bit of the marshes and up the path.
At this point Max & Moose were doing their locomotive train special hurtling around the path and surrounding marshes and down to the dirtiest smelliest water. A few times the boys hurtled back up to the path and we stood aside to watch them dash past.
Then....Max chasing Moose they hurtled down towards the smelliest water, I stupidly commented "I hope they don't fall in!" Guess what, next splosh and Max stops to panic as his mate disappears over thedge in to the smelly green water. Moose rose from the stench and came hurtling back with Max to continue his game, with a quick stop to show Mum how wet he was and to let us have 1st wiff of the his new perfume.
We carried on up the path and Max and Moose trotted on ahead, venturing off to smell and to try out new paths.... we came to the end of the path and the 2 dogs stood to have their leads put on. The smell from Mo was quite strong and pungent, Max had a more salty taint to his smell.
We walked back up the path and Marcus met us at the end of the road we use to get to the marshes. He saw how wet Max was and stepped out the way of a Max hug ( 2 paws plonked on his torso and a lick). Then saw Moose and we told him about the adventure. He said he knew we would be at the marshes and was sure Mo liked his new after shave... lol Moose did not look so sure. :)
We wandered home, the boys walking next to each other where ever possible and enjoyed a natter and a laugh about the gentle aroma of salt and marshes. Moose tail and bum waggling. Max's tail going and enjoying the company.
Max now loves water, Moose is one of Max's best mates. If Max goes up to the park he looks for Moose and if he sees Mo the other side of the park he hurtles off to see his mate and they meet in the middle of the park tails wagging.
By the time we got home Max was pretty dry, we wiped off his paws and dried his tail. I think Moose was going to be sponged down to remove some of the smell.
A good walk was had by all, maybe next time we will try to keep the boys on the path when the tide is high on the marshes. :)
Jayne, Moose, Max & I ventured out for a walk and after doing a walk through our little park, then through past one of the pubs (no stopping for a drink this time), we headed up one of the many paths in Bursledon to the salt marshes. This is a big area of smelly mud that floods at high tide floods to some degree or other.
We went down there at high tide and after a gentle stroll across to the sea edge we started to throw sticks in to the water. Both the boys had a go at getting the sticks, then they both realised they could mug the other 1 for the stick and gain that stick... saving a swim.... very cute to watch.
Max continued to go for the sticks and Moose over saw this and saved his energy. Max soon got wise and took verious routes up on to the bank and ensured the stick was dropped at our feet to be thrown again. After a while of doing this we headed back along the dry bit of the marshes and up the path.
At this point Max & Moose were doing their locomotive train special hurtling around the path and surrounding marshes and down to the dirtiest smelliest water. A few times the boys hurtled back up to the path and we stood aside to watch them dash past.
Then....Max chasing Moose they hurtled down towards the smelliest water, I stupidly commented "I hope they don't fall in!" Guess what, next splosh and Max stops to panic as his mate disappears over thedge in to the smelly green water. Moose rose from the stench and came hurtling back with Max to continue his game, with a quick stop to show Mum how wet he was and to let us have 1st wiff of the his new perfume.
We carried on up the path and Max and Moose trotted on ahead, venturing off to smell and to try out new paths.... we came to the end of the path and the 2 dogs stood to have their leads put on. The smell from Mo was quite strong and pungent, Max had a more salty taint to his smell.
We walked back up the path and Marcus met us at the end of the road we use to get to the marshes. He saw how wet Max was and stepped out the way of a Max hug ( 2 paws plonked on his torso and a lick). Then saw Moose and we told him about the adventure. He said he knew we would be at the marshes and was sure Mo liked his new after shave... lol Moose did not look so sure. :)
We wandered home, the boys walking next to each other where ever possible and enjoyed a natter and a laugh about the gentle aroma of salt and marshes. Moose tail and bum waggling. Max's tail going and enjoying the company.
Max now loves water, Moose is one of Max's best mates. If Max goes up to the park he looks for Moose and if he sees Mo the other side of the park he hurtles off to see his mate and they meet in the middle of the park tails wagging.
By the time we got home Max was pretty dry, we wiped off his paws and dried his tail. I think Moose was going to be sponged down to remove some of the smell.
A good walk was had by all, maybe next time we will try to keep the boys on the path when the tide is high on the marshes. :)
Labels: Marshes, Max, Salt, Sea, Swimming, Walks
Monday, April 16, 2007
Collie Colamity :)
Max is a collie and as such he is very quick and a bit too intelligent for his own good. LOL
He is known by the neighbours as a previous regular visitor. Jumping through 1 side just after we leave to raid their garden and say hello to Elaine, then back over to our other neighbours to eat the bread left out for the birds and say hello to anyone in the house by popping up to the patio doors and having a quick look in. ;D
He is now confined to his own garden by our new 6 ft close board fence and is quite content to open all the doors in the house, then snooze with the cat on our bed. They now have their own duvet with an old cover on it that we put on the bed when we go out.
As oe of the trainers pointed out on Dog's Borstal collies are very intelligent and when you live with one you see how intelligent and quick they are.
Great dogs to have, with such a responsive gentle nature and a dog that as far as I have found is always thinking about something.
Collies are not dogs that need hours of walking and acres of space. All they need is to be walked twice a day... we try to do 30 mins in the morning and an hour in the evening and longer at weekends. They need a secure garden, a place to snooze and lots of input in the form of training. I would also recommend investment in some boredom toys for any dogs left for a few hours at a time. Fill the toy with dry kibble (their breakfast or tea) and leave them to work out how to get it out of the bone, cube, ball or molecule.
He is known by the neighbours as a previous regular visitor. Jumping through 1 side just after we leave to raid their garden and say hello to Elaine, then back over to our other neighbours to eat the bread left out for the birds and say hello to anyone in the house by popping up to the patio doors and having a quick look in. ;D
He is now confined to his own garden by our new 6 ft close board fence and is quite content to open all the doors in the house, then snooze with the cat on our bed. They now have their own duvet with an old cover on it that we put on the bed when we go out.
As oe of the trainers pointed out on Dog's Borstal collies are very intelligent and when you live with one you see how intelligent and quick they are.
Great dogs to have, with such a responsive gentle nature and a dog that as far as I have found is always thinking about something.
Collies are not dogs that need hours of walking and acres of space. All they need is to be walked twice a day... we try to do 30 mins in the morning and an hour in the evening and longer at weekends. They need a secure garden, a place to snooze and lots of input in the form of training. I would also recommend investment in some boredom toys for any dogs left for a few hours at a time. Fill the toy with dry kibble (their breakfast or tea) and leave them to work out how to get it out of the bone, cube, ball or molecule.
Doggie Paddle
Before I got a dog I thought that a dog was like a duck... they found water jumped in and swam. This is not the case. Many dogs are scared of water, most dogs need to be carefully introduced to the experience of swimming or even paddling.
Max was one of the dogs that for him swimming and paddling took a lot of thought and forsaking all our gentle attempts he would only waide in to kneck deep to retrieve his ball.
I must say thank you to friends' dogs and one lady in particular we met at Queen Victoria Country Park (Netley). Her 2 dogs saved us loosing yet another ball to the will of the tide... thank you :)
Anyway, on with the story.
We went out with Tina, Nigel and Levi (the dog) for a walk and headed down to a lovely stretch of river where Levi proceeding to head straight in to the water with Max running along the river bank... wanting to go in but not knowing how to take the first steps.
After kajolling from all of us and a gentle encouraging push or 2 as well. Max did not want to go out of his depth. Levi was doing an admirable job collecting the sticks before they headed down stream and crunching them, bringing some back to be rethrown. :)
Eventually after a few tentative gos at getting in the water the boys decided that they would try getting in the water and waiding with the dogs. So, Nigel & Marcus entered the water with Levi ad after a bit of a think Max joined them.
Max went after sticks and ran through the water, he even swam a little.
Now, this does not sound a lot, but to dog owners who live on the South coast a dog scared of water and who you are not sure can swim is a niggling concern. We are concerned no more.
Thanks to Tina, Nigel & Levi we now have a dog getting more an more happy to dive in and out of the water. This means we can walk by water without worry and also that we can have fun throwing balls and sticks in to the water for Max to chase and hopefully retrieve.
So in a year Max is now happy to walk on a lead, go in cars, sleep on a bed (preferrably ours), be left for a few hours on his own and enter water to chase sticks.
Yippee!!
Max was one of the dogs that for him swimming and paddling took a lot of thought and forsaking all our gentle attempts he would only waide in to kneck deep to retrieve his ball.
I must say thank you to friends' dogs and one lady in particular we met at Queen Victoria Country Park (Netley). Her 2 dogs saved us loosing yet another ball to the will of the tide... thank you :)
Anyway, on with the story.
We went out with Tina, Nigel and Levi (the dog) for a walk and headed down to a lovely stretch of river where Levi proceeding to head straight in to the water with Max running along the river bank... wanting to go in but not knowing how to take the first steps.
After kajolling from all of us and a gentle encouraging push or 2 as well. Max did not want to go out of his depth. Levi was doing an admirable job collecting the sticks before they headed down stream and crunching them, bringing some back to be rethrown. :)
Eventually after a few tentative gos at getting in the water the boys decided that they would try getting in the water and waiding with the dogs. So, Nigel & Marcus entered the water with Levi ad after a bit of a think Max joined them.
Max went after sticks and ran through the water, he even swam a little.
Now, this does not sound a lot, but to dog owners who live on the South coast a dog scared of water and who you are not sure can swim is a niggling concern. We are concerned no more.
Thanks to Tina, Nigel & Levi we now have a dog getting more an more happy to dive in and out of the water. This means we can walk by water without worry and also that we can have fun throwing balls and sticks in to the water for Max to chase and hopefully retrieve.
So in a year Max is now happy to walk on a lead, go in cars, sleep on a bed (preferrably ours), be left for a few hours on his own and enter water to chase sticks.
Yippee!!
