7 November 2012
I had certainly forgotten what puppies were all about, when four years ago I got a gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He is Black and Tan and was really not my type if pooch, oh how wrong was I. Well, well, well...to say that the house was turned upside down was an understatement. From the day when we brought him home on the bus, and when we got home how he climbed into my handbag and went to sleep, he was just over two months old. The first couple of days was just pee and pooh wherever I looked, or so it seemed. So training started ..... When one lives in a house with no fencing to speak of, trust me, you are in for serious running . Before we introduced him to a harness and leash I would have to take him outside to do his thing and once or twice he decided to run for it, explore so to speak, yep I had to almost rugby tackle him to get him to stop, all covered in grass I was and he was mighty quick. Short of teaching him to speak to me, Harry had to get my attention somehow , he would act up, whimper while sitting in front of me, sort of stamping his front paws , pulling on me and much more. At times he would jump up on me and try washing my face, then jump down and head for the door. Finally the penny would drop and my doggie language would take over, yes I have had to learn as well as Harry. Pretty soon he would not have to resort to trying to talk to me, but would get in front of me, make funny noises and dash away, I would follow and he would either be at his food and water bowls or at the door waiting to get out. Around 6 a.m. Every morning would be our time, out to do business then inside and Harry would curl up on my lap for another hour of sleep . A typical baby. Only difference now is that he is too big to fit on my lap for a further sleep session. Harry experienced so many new things in his four years, dogs barking at him, birds , aeroplanes flying over our house, cats, hedgehogs.... He would bark at things that had been moved around in the garden, which proved he had noticed the change and was querying it. It was fantastic to see how he looked up at an aeroplane, watching it disappear. When he was small, he would dash away to any dog to play, now he knows better after being bitten in the park, so he now stops short and tests the territory before approaching bigger dogs, which is good. Harry loves to chase butterflies for some reason, would only focus on them when walking, if he was off his leash , dash after them and not seem to hear me call him back. Harry loves meeting people and dogs on our walks, has learnt commands....sit, stay, this way, lets go, the word walk and park. So my latest word for walk is stroll, so if I want to take him out I tell him we are going to have a stroll and he is less excited. I am so grateful that I have this beautiful pooch, he truly is just great, my type of pooch. Needless to say he is very spoilt yet knows the word 'no'. Whoever thought that our dogs are just another pet, think again, if we take the time they are very intelligent. IF I COULD TALK TO THE ANIMALS, oh yes!!! Sit Stay
GOOD BOY
SIT....STAY • Opuss № I