After our morning visit to the beer and absinthe crowd at the cafe under the arcades we stop off at the greengrocers. Bob and Sophie have developed a passion for brussel sprouts. In fact there's nothing they enjoy more than a bowl of kibbles and sprouts. Thankfully, they're at an age where their digestive system works like its made of Teflon coated iron. Today, while they're waiting , the greengrocers wife gives them some small strips of carrot. These are gratefully received.
Home to find Madame Bay installed behind the breakfast table. Sandrine, her hairdresser daughter, is having a new plate glass door installed at the hair salon. '' Sandrines; THE place for hair " painted in large white letters above the door handle. Madame Bay beams and repeats this new slogan several times, the emphasis on the 'THE'. '' I'll go back after the workmen have finished. I don't want to get in their way " . We have a feeling Sandrine would agree.
Bob and Sophie spend their day charging around the garden. They dig, they chew palm fronds and they bark ferociously at unsuspecting pilgrims wandering past on the lane. They are completely deaf to all admonitions to be quiet or stop what they're doing. Miraculously, all you have to do is whisper the word '' lunch " and they instantly appear, bright eyed and bushy tiled, at the front door. How do they do it ?
14 comments:
We can hear the fridge opening from a long distance, too. Dog radar...
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
Angus, normally a great admirer of your use of language, I must query 'teflon coated' digestive systems. Doesn't that mean the food will run straight through? Or is this indeed what happens to the sprouts?
Cheers! Gail.
The joys of young dogs. Bob and Sophie's digestive systems are highly efficient and , thus far, largely wind free.
It's nice they can enjoy the sprouts while they can! Remy is a great fanof carrots, too.
I love brussel sprouts, so I'm with Bob and Sophie on this new found delight.
"Lunch" is understood by dogs of all nations.
I don't know how they do it either--It's the same way they know that you have 5 treats in your pocket and you've only given them 2.
I wonder if you think the ferocious barking might be followed through with a nip if they were allowed access to the passing pilgrims? Or are they just doing a very good job at protecting their flock? The reason I ask is that Merlin nipped a neighbour the other day (at the front door to his territory). I am mortified and rather worried at this development in his behaviour. Although he hasn't actually bitten anyone before this, he would have done so recently at the vets if he hadn't been muzzled. Having just read the article that you recommended, I am wondering what I have done wrong. He is a lovely boy when you get to know him, but has never liked strangers.
Teena & Merlin
I'm afraid this is a PON thing. They'll guard their family and home with their lives . It doesn't matter how much you socialize them - this is what they do. Must be something to do with herding sheep on the vast Polish plains. Our previous two , when young, would try to heard strangers and would engage in faux nipping. These latest two are so full off adrenalin that I'm not certain that we could count on the nipping being faux. The good news is that they calm down with age. If they get over excited a bucket of water always helps. Does Merlin sleep near the front door ? Sheepdogs are doubly protective of thresholds. We let workmen in through the backdoor, which doesn't seem to count as territory to be guarded.
PS. We've never muzzled ours. A piece of sausage whenever they sit down seems to deal with over excitement.
I've also wondered if one of the pilgrims, totally captivated by Bob and Sophie, might try to pet them and get a nip in return. Defending
their home, you know. They seem to
be all charm and wagging tails
when out with you.
Ah, the power of food. Whenever I
can't find one of my cats, all I need
to do is snap open a food can.
Magic!
They're fine in town. They're fine away from home. But when it comes to unannounced visitors on their own turf it's a different matter. Thankfully, most of the workmen are country folk and know that the best thing to do is ignore them. Where it goes wrong is if someone decides to make a fuss over them and bends down, or heaven forbid pats them on top of the head - that's seen as threat time !
He often sleeps near the front door or sometimes favours the top of the stairs. Both sentry points I am sure. I would usually advise anyone entering the house to completely ignore Merlin until he has offered his ball for a throw. Unfortunately my mother opened the door and the neighbour saw only a cute fluff ball to be fussed and their hands were going in for head pat before I could stop them. An isolated incident, I hope, where I was not in total control. It's reassuring to know in a way to know that these behaviours are to some extent PON
traits. Thank you Angus.
Oh LA LA
When I make myself a sandwich for lunch, I quietly open a ziplock bag of deli turkey. In that instant. both Stella and Zkhat are at my feet, asking for their share! It amazes me that they can hear that.
Jo
Post a Comment