Oops! It wasn’t my fault …

I think I had better start with the latest ‘incident’ that has occurred. I want it on record here – it wasn’t my fault … probably. You see, it all started with the car. Over the last few days I have been in the car every day (more on this later) and, as a treat afterwards, I get to take Alex for a walk when we get back. Well, today was no different. There I was, minding my own dreams, and out came the lead. “Ah,” I thought, “this is good, we’re going for a walk”. It was only when we got outside that I was bundled unceremoniously into the car. Anyway, we went for a drive and then, when we got back, I got to take Alex for a walk. It was raining slightly but I don’t mind that, so off we went. I decided we’d walk up Hilly Fields and out via Tylers Close. Claire from ‘Perfect for Pooches’ who I go to see sometimes stopped and let me across the road on Needles Bank. I’m going to see her tomorrow, but I’ll explain that in a moment or too. Clearly, in Hilly Fields itself I had to try and chase all the rabbits (there were loads today!) and I made a few attempts to run after crows (they can fly you know!). Anyway, eventually we went along The Hollow and then, when we reached the stile, I thought we would turn right along the little path to the huge field behind Tylers Close. Now, I should point out that this little path does get a bit muddy and slippery when it is wet, but you just walk straight through it, there is no problem.

Well, apparently there is. You see, it was like this. As we approached the stream that I am not really allowed to go in because of the razor wire (and because Alex is fed up of cleaning me up afterwards), I realised that the raindrops falling on it made it even more inviting than usual. I took a leap forwards and, just as I did, I heard this loud thump and Alex shouted a word that is not in my human/doggy dictionary and I’m a little reticent to ‘Doogle’. I turned around and I mean, I ask you, what a ridiculous place to sit down – right in the middle of the mud and a puddle. I mean, he isn’t that bright sometimes is he? The elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor, if you know what I mean! Anyway, would you believe it … he only tried to turn into my fault! Honestly, sometimes he really is the end! As he got up, he was muttering something about a “… dog” (I didn’t catch the first word, but I don’t think it was good). I mean, it was as much as I could do not to laugh my paws off! There he was, soaking wet (from the rain) and now with soaking wet trousers and a huge muddy patch on his bum! It was hilarious but he didn’t seem to see it that way so I didn’t push it.

We carried on along the path … him walking a little gingerly and with an odd kind of gait as he squelched along! Eventually we came to the big field behind Tylers Close and I had a good run backwards and forwards on my long line whilst he carried on squelching along. When we got into Tylers Close he was muttering again … something about hoping nobody would see him. Honestly, it was only a bit of mud! When we got home he took his trousers off as soon as he got inside and they went straight in the washing machine along with his jacket and pretty much everything else he was wearing!

Now, returning to where I left off last time, it seems like such a long time ago! It was actually Friday – I’m quite good at these human days now. Well, on Friday afternoon we went for a walk around Hilly Fields. I have discovered these fluffy balls of loveliness in Hilly Fields that are called rabbits. I absolutely love chasing them. I never catch them because they are far too quick and, anyway, I seem to always reach the end of my long line before I get to them. Anyway, along we went, through The Hollow and then the path to the big field behind Tylers Close. I have to be honest, I rather like this walk, I think it is one of my favourites. Alex says that the path between The Hollow and the big field always gets slippery when it is wet (as he found out today) but I don’t care about that and I have a great time.

When we got back I was, frankly, a bit bushed so I was thinking of pushing out a few ?s and was just trying to decide where to lie down when a thought occurred to me – why not go and lie down in my crate? So that’s what I did. I went and lay down in my crate. I don’t look desperately happy in the photo, but I can assure you I am. When I go and lie in my crate I get no interruptions, no orders, just peace and tranquility. I am really getting to like my crate!

Saturday was a busy day. Richard, Alex and I went out for a lovely walk in the morning around Bay Pond and round Leigh Place, then Alex went out at lunchtime. That meant that I got some ‘me time’ with Richard which was great! Richard was quite busy to begin with, but then we went out for a lovely walk all round the village and bay pond and places I have never been before. I like exploring with Richard and then I know where to take Alex when I take him out for a walk. When Alex came home he had a new harness for me. The ones he has been buying have got a bit screwed up and might rub under my arms, so he has gone for one recommended by Amanda from Happy Buddies but when it arrived it was too big, so he found a shop where he could go and buy one. He also had a few treats and another new toy for me. I was quite happy to see him when he came home, but I don’t mind him going out if he comes back with presents for me!

On Saturday evening we all went round to Bren and Cathy for dinner. It was lovely! Cathy always has a treat ready for me of some cheese – not your average cheese, but vintage cheddar! I was better behaved than on my last visit there, so Richard and Alex were quite pleased – although I didn’t got to sleep under the table when they had dinner which they thought was a shame. The real truth though is that there was just way too much for me to look at! We did have a lovely evening though and Bren and Cathy are so good to me really. When we went home I think Alex had definitely had a tipple or two. Actually, I know he had. Richard had some ice cream for dessert and asked Bren if he had some liqueur that he could pour over it (Richard rather likes this and has it quite a bit). Well, what a silly question to ask Bren! Bren produced bottle after bottle after bottle of liqueur and Richard and Alex sampled them. By the way they wobbled on the way home, I think they must have sampled every liqueur ever made! Chartreuse, Grand Marnier, Benedictine, Glava, to name just a few. There were loads more.

When Alex got up on Sunday morning he definitely looked like he needed a little fresh air! Always one to oblige, I took him out for a walk around Hilly Fields. We had a lovely walk and, apart from complaining that he was “knackered” when we got home, I think I made Alex feel a lot better. Now, I mentioned this car thing. They appear to have decided that they will take me out in the car every day to try to get me used to it. Actually, I think it is working because I haven’t felt sick once. We don’t go very far and then we return home. They haven’t attempted to actually go somewhere and get out of the car (they think I will refuse to get in again, which is probably right) but when we get back from our car journey we go straight out for a walk. It is quite fun. So, after our Sunday car journey we went out for a walk on a new route across the haul route and then across the fields and down North Park Lane.

As we were walking down North Park Lane, what should we happen across? Only the deepest muddiest puddle you’ve ever seen! I think I may have mentioned before that all puddles must be walked through, the muddier the better … its the law! So, I walked through the puddle – it was up to my armpits! Alex was trying hard to persuade me not to walk through it, but I was having none of it! So, there I was, up to my armpits in mud and water, trying to tow Alex through it too and having a whale of a time. Eventually I had to get out of the puddle and we carried on walking down North Park Lane and then along another new footpath. It was all very satisfactory!

Monday was another rainy day. We went out for our walk and who did we see? Not one person again. Not one dog, not one human, not one cat, just a couple of ducks, (I think there’s a rhyme about a couple of ducks – it starts with ‘One fat hen’ and then ‘A couple of Ducks’ … Doogle it, it’s a bit saucy!). As I surveyed Bay Pond I could see the rain drops hitting the surface. I quite enjoyed the walk, but there was the small matter of Angela’s doorstep first. As we passed her house, (I don’t think she was there) I decided to deliver her a little present (actually it was a two bagger!) and, as I was squatting to do my thing, Alex just stood there with his usual muttering, “Why? Why?”, (he does repeat himself sometimes), “Why here? What has Angela ever done to you?”. As he cleared it up he thanked goodness that Angela doesn’t read my blogs and find out just how often I try to leave her a delivery – I never do because Alex always clears it up. On Monday we had just seen Fran and Iain too, but they didn’t see me I don’t think.

Tuesday saw another trip in the car and then that was followed by a walk. We walked around via Hilly Fields and The Hollow which was actually what gave me the idea about a dip today. You see, we walked up through Hilly Fields and I did a lot of rabbit chasing. It was very warm and, when we got into The Hollow, Alex had got a bit hot, so he took his jumper off. As he did it, I distracted him and he thought he had put his glasses in his pocket but he missed. When we got up to the path between The Hollow and the big field behind Tylers Close, I decided that I fancied a dip, so I dived into the stream. It took Alex a while to get me out and he then went to take a photo of me with my rather attractive ‘wet and muddy’ look. It was then that he realised he had lost his glasses. He decided that we would have to walk back to where he had taken his jumper off, so we did. It was probably the first occasion I have ever missed a pair of glasses and not picked them up, but he found them eventually and then we retraced our steps. Well, retracing steps means doing what you did before so, when we got to the stream again, I dived in again. Alex wasn’t very pleased because Amanda from Happy Buddies was due soon and I was all wet and muddy again.

When I eventually got out we went on our way and through the big field into Tylers Close. I couldn’t resist having a little lie down and roll in the grass which was great. Then I thought a little game of ‘lie down and refuse to move’ might be in order. I didn’t make it last long but it was definitely contributing to his stress levels! We eventually got home just before Amanda arrived for my personal training session. Alex got me basically cleaned up and then Amanda arrived. We had a lovely session. Amanda showed Richard and Alex how to use a double ended lead (that wasn’t so good) but she did say that it wasn’t her preferred method of stopping me pulling. Fortunately, Alex has not bothered with it since and is still trying to teach me not to pull using treats which I prefer! Then we started to learn about ’emergency stops’ which seems like a bit of fun, so I’m happy with that. I demonstrated my crate work (I am getting to be an expert) and my ‘wait’ trick. It was all very good and we had a lovely time.

Today it has been very wet (as you know). This morning’s walk went largely without incident. I did deliver my usual outside Angela’s house, but not actually too close to her doorstep. It was very damp walking up Bay Pond and, as ever, we didn’t see a single person because it was wet. We walked around our usual route of Bay Pond, Church Lane, Green Lane, Ryders Way, Dewlands and Salisbury Road and didn’t see anyone at all. It was a nice walk though and, apart from the fact that we both got soaking wet in the rain, it was all very satisfactory. When we got home Alex dried my hair off as best he could but then he wasn’t banking on the little incident this afternoon! He says he has to go to France tomorrow (which I think is a long way away) so I am going to see Claire from Perfect for Pooches. She will bring me home when Richard gets home and Alex will be home a little bit later. He says he is going to see Charlie and will bring me a photo which will be nice. I think he is going to leave quite early in the morning because he says he has a lot to do when he gets there and is only going for the day. I guess I had better keep a low profile this evening so I think I’ll just lie down and push out a few ?s. So for now, must paws … ?