Today I acquired my first dog walking injury.
Not bad seeing that I am very accident prone and tend to fall over at any given opportunity.
We were out on our way over to see Tony the horse when we met a fellow dog walker she informed me that Tony was being particularly frisky this morning and had chased after her and her dog, and that the farmer had moved cows into the fields we normally walk through.
So rather than run the gauntlet of an over amorous equine and a herd of unruly bovines I decided to walk through an adjacent field all went well at first, Jynx had great fun sniffing out the rabbits and generally running around, on the way back we walked passed a gap in the fence which lead over the stream so I thought we could take this route for a change.
Big mistake - huge. Everything went well until I slipped while crossing the stream I instinctively reached out to save myself but the only thing around was a thorny bush which also had razor wire wrapped around it - luckily the wounds are superficial but still very sore.
The worst thing was that when I slipped I yelled out in shock and it must have frightened Jynx cause she ran off, she came back but I think she was a bit shocked and I couldn't get hold of her for a bit so I was stood in the stream dripping blood trying to get her to come to me - good job no-one was passing!
Monday, 12 April 2010
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Another fun packed walk this morning Jynx has discovered the reservoir we walk around has birds floating on it.
I'm talking about a cygnet that has taken up residence on the water, he is the only one there so he must get lonely but he can fly so I'm sure he would leave if he was unhappy.
Anyway Jynx decided to have a little paddle this morning and ended up going a bit deeper than she intended the w
ater must have been freezing as she had a shocked look on her face as she bobbed up from her dunking. All the splashing must have caught the swans attention and he decided to swim over for a closer look. This encouraged Jynx to bound into the water again and what ensued was a game of tag with Jynx splashing in after the swan and him swimming away hissing madly.This continued
for a few minuets until I thought I'd better get Jynx home and dried off. At least I know she won't be water shy!
Training wise she is starting to sit on the whistle command occasionally and I have had to resort to putting her onto the extending lead when throwing her rabbit skin ball as she does not want to give it back when she gets it and runs off around the garden wanting to be chased! So we will keep practicing every day until we get it right!
I'm talking about a cygnet that has taken up residence on the water, he is the only one there so he must get lonely but he can fly so I'm sure he would leave if he was unhappy.
Anyway Jynx decided to have a little paddle this morning and ended up going a bit deeper than she intended the w
ater must have been freezing as she had a shocked look on her face as she bobbed up from her dunking. All the splashing must have caught the swans attention and he decided to swim over for a closer look. This encouraged Jynx to bound into the water again and what ensued was a game of tag with Jynx splashing in after the swan and him swimming away hissing madly.This continued
for a few minuets until I thought I'd better get Jynx home and dried off. At least I know she won't be water shy!Training wise she is starting to sit on the whistle command occasionally and I have had to resort to putting her onto the extending lead when throwing her rabbit skin ball as she does not want to give it back when she gets it and runs off around the garden wanting to be chased! So we will keep practicing every day until we get it right!
Monday, 5 April 2010
What a busy Bank Holiday weekend we have had!
Saturday was a quiet start and DH let me sleep in a bit and took Jynx out. We went to Ikea to look for bedroom furniture for number one son as his bedroom is next on the list for redecoration. Lucky for her Jynx got to stay behind and look after the house during this shopping trip.
On Sunday we all got up early me to take Jynx out for our walk and DH to cook a lovely breakfast that was waiting for me when I got home! We went to see Tony on our walk and he was lying down having a nice rest. Jynx has started to eat his poo if she gets the chance so I try to make sure we walk through his field as quickly as possible so she doesn't get the opportunity - dogs are so disgusting!
After a lovely breakfast we all (including Jynx, my sister and we met some friends and their children there) headed off to Castle Ashby for an Easter Egg Hunt which was brilliant the kids had a great time running around in the fresh air. Jynx also had great fun trying to help the kids collect the plastic eggs and she got to meet the Easter Bunny, she behaved beautifully although we didn't let her off the lead as it was muddy and she would have jumped up at everyone with dirty paws.
When we got home she played with number one son while number two son had his lunchtime nap, when he woke up we headed off to the pub to meet some friends. Jynx became the centre of attention which off course she thoroughly enjoyed. Someone even offered us 1000 quid for her, how serious they were I'm not sure. Not that we would ever sell her - not now anyway if they had offered that a couple of weeks ago I would have jumped at the chance (only joking!).
After an hour or so she became very subdued and could hardly keep her eyes open, her ears also felt very hot I must admit I was a bit worried about her but realised that she hadn't had her usual afternoon nap so was bound to be knackered.
On the walk home DH and even had a conversation about breeding from her (are we mad!!), this will only happen if she turns into an exceptional working dog otherwise we will probably buy another puppy (God help us).
This morning she was back to her normal self and we had a lovely walk although Tony scared me a bit by cantering (a lovely collected one by the way) from the opposite end of the field to greet us, and I must to my shame admit that I did that thing that old ladies do with their little handbag dogs (you know the type poodles, chihuahuas that sort of thing) and I picked Jynx up so she wouldn't get trampled on). Tony didn't get too close in the end, but I did laugh when I realised what I had done!
We then went to Kelmarsh Country Fair and had a great time watching the displays , shopping and eating. Jynx is now the proud owner of a hot pink slip lead - just because she a gundog doesn't mean she cant be girly, and a ball which has rabbit fur stuck to it. This is an attempt at getting her more interested in retrieving. DH wanted to get her a foxes tail (yes a pickled foxes tail!) But I drew the line there, though see did seem more interested in them than the ball. I've also got a new whistle so tomorrow morning we will be trying out a few of the techniques I witnessed today. The first thing we will work on is getting her to sit to a whistle command - I'll let you know how we get on.
Saturday was a quiet start and DH let me sleep in a bit and took Jynx out. We went to Ikea to look for bedroom furniture for number one son as his bedroom is next on the list for redecoration. Lucky for her Jynx got to stay behind and look after the house during this shopping trip.
On Sunday we all got up early me to take Jynx out for our walk and DH to cook a lovely breakfast that was waiting for me when I got home! We went to see Tony on our walk and he was lying down having a nice rest. Jynx has started to eat his poo if she gets the chance so I try to make sure we walk through his field as quickly as possible so she doesn't get the opportunity - dogs are so disgusting!
After a lovely breakfast we all (including Jynx, my sister and we met some friends and their children there) headed off to Castle Ashby for an Easter Egg Hunt which was brilliant the kids had a great time running around in the fresh air. Jynx also had great fun trying to help the kids collect the plastic eggs and she got to meet the Easter Bunny, she behaved beautifully although we didn't let her off the lead as it was muddy and she would have jumped up at everyone with dirty paws.
When we got home she played with number one son while number two son had his lunchtime nap, when he woke up we headed off to the pub to meet some friends. Jynx became the centre of attention which off course she thoroughly enjoyed. Someone even offered us 1000 quid for her, how serious they were I'm not sure. Not that we would ever sell her - not now anyway if they had offered that a couple of weeks ago I would have jumped at the chance (only joking!).
After an hour or so she became very subdued and could hardly keep her eyes open, her ears also felt very hot I must admit I was a bit worried about her but realised that she hadn't had her usual afternoon nap so was bound to be knackered.
On the walk home DH and even had a conversation about breeding from her (are we mad!!), this will only happen if she turns into an exceptional working dog otherwise we will probably buy another puppy (God help us).
This morning she was back to her normal self and we had a lovely walk although Tony scared me a bit by cantering (a lovely collected one by the way) from the opposite end of the field to greet us, and I must to my shame admit that I did that thing that old ladies do with their little handbag dogs (you know the type poodles, chihuahuas that sort of thing) and I picked Jynx up so she wouldn't get trampled on). Tony didn't get too close in the end, but I did laugh when I realised what I had done!
We then went to Kelmarsh Country Fair and had a great time watching the displays , shopping and eating. Jynx is now the proud owner of a hot pink slip lead - just because she a gundog doesn't mean she cant be girly, and a ball which has rabbit fur stuck to it. This is an attempt at getting her more interested in retrieving. DH wanted to get her a foxes tail (yes a pickled foxes tail!) But I drew the line there, though see did seem more interested in them than the ball. I've also got a new whistle so tomorrow morning we will be trying out a few of the techniques I witnessed today. The first thing we will work on is getting her to sit to a whistle command - I'll let you know how we get on.
Friday, 2 April 2010
Just got back from a traumatic outing with Jynx - she has had her first near death experience.
Training has not been going so well this week as Jynx seems to have reached her teens already and is behaving like a typical teenager and is ignoring us most of the time and chewing things the rest of the time. the garden is littered with various items that she has gotten out of the dustbin or stolen from the children, and these items have been chewed and mauled to varying degrees. Her recall has become very unreliable and if she sees a person or another dog out on a walk you have no chance of getting her back.
So I decided today after our previous success to take her out with me riding the bike to try and knacker her out so that she is too tired to be naughty.
All started well we make our way safely along the roads with her running on the pavement and me riding on the road, we slowed down for her to perform her ablutions and the continued on our way. I must mention at this point I am not the most confident bike rider so to get this far without falling off was, I felt, a major achievement so my confidence was staring to grow and I was also beginning to enjoy myself. We continued our outing Jynx also seemed to be enjoying herself and we met a few dogs which as she was on the lead did not cause too many problems.
Then it happened - Jynx for some reason suddenly decided to run in front of the bike and everything seemed to go in slow motion I saw her little body go under the front wheel and heard her yelping I had no alternative but to bale out the side door! Luckily (I think) there was a nice soft landing in a squashy pile of mud. So after a quick once over of Jynx to ensure that I hadn't ruptured anything important like her bladder, we got on our way again and I had to endure to knowing looks of many dog walkers as they cast their eyes over my muddied clothes.
So that was Jynx's near death experience and she survived with just a small graze to her abdomen, but my nerves have not yet recovered so I am now having a medicinal glass of wine in front of Ashes to Ashes and we will try again with the bike but it might be a few days before I can face it.
Training has not been going so well this week as Jynx seems to have reached her teens already and is behaving like a typical teenager and is ignoring us most of the time and chewing things the rest of the time. the garden is littered with various items that she has gotten out of the dustbin or stolen from the children, and these items have been chewed and mauled to varying degrees. Her recall has become very unreliable and if she sees a person or another dog out on a walk you have no chance of getting her back.
So I decided today after our previous success to take her out with me riding the bike to try and knacker her out so that she is too tired to be naughty.
All started well we make our way safely along the roads with her running on the pavement and me riding on the road, we slowed down for her to perform her ablutions and the continued on our way. I must mention at this point I am not the most confident bike rider so to get this far without falling off was, I felt, a major achievement so my confidence was staring to grow and I was also beginning to enjoy myself. We continued our outing Jynx also seemed to be enjoying herself and we met a few dogs which as she was on the lead did not cause too many problems.
Then it happened - Jynx for some reason suddenly decided to run in front of the bike and everything seemed to go in slow motion I saw her little body go under the front wheel and heard her yelping I had no alternative but to bale out the side door! Luckily (I think) there was a nice soft landing in a squashy pile of mud. So after a quick once over of Jynx to ensure that I hadn't ruptured anything important like her bladder, we got on our way again and I had to endure to knowing looks of many dog walkers as they cast their eyes over my muddied clothes.
So that was Jynx's near death experience and she survived with just a small graze to her abdomen, but my nerves have not yet recovered so I am now having a medicinal glass of wine in front of Ashes to Ashes and we will try again with the bike but it might be a few days before I can face it.
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