Pentland Pet Services Monthly Newsletter - June
I hope everyone has dried off after the wettest June I can remember (ah, the aroma of wet dog was ever present during the month).
Lodgers for June were Jake the Border Collie, Bailey the Retriever, Sophie the little Westie and Max the Shih Tzu (who was later joined by Tootsie the cross Bichon, Lhaso Apso, Pomeranian).
Jake was delighted to see his people back and I am delighted to say he is a much less anxious boy than he was last year. He now is quite happy to pop into Pentland Drive for the odd visit and Linda tells me he actually leads the way down the driveway, tail wagging.
Bailey is such a cheerful dog, full of enthusiasm in whatever he is doing.
Sometimes this enthusiasm gets him into situations and he requires a reminder of the “do’s and dont's” of canine etiquette. With his sweet nature he is a big favourite around the fields and is definitely a dog with a big grin.
Following a recent ear infection, Sophie has been left without hearing which causes her to become a little anxious when her people are out of sight. She is a very youthful eleven year old and enjoyed herself in the top fields where she scuttled about in the longer grass and managed (I am pleased to say) to avoid the majority of mud puddles left by the frequent rain.
I hope everyone has dried off after the wettest June I can remember (ah, the aroma of wet dog was ever present during the month).
Lodgers for June were Jake the Border Collie, Bailey the Retriever, Sophie the little Westie and Max the Shih Tzu (who was later joined by Tootsie the cross Bichon, Lhaso Apso, Pomeranian).
Jake was delighted to see his people back and I am delighted to say he is a much less anxious boy than he was last year. He now is quite happy to pop into Pentland Drive for the odd visit and Linda tells me he actually leads the way down the driveway, tail wagging.
Bailey is such a cheerful dog, full of enthusiasm in whatever he is doing.
Sometimes this enthusiasm gets him into situations and he requires a reminder of the “do’s and dont's” of canine etiquette. With his sweet nature he is a big favourite around the fields and is definitely a dog with a big grin.
Following a recent ear infection, Sophie has been left without hearing which causes her to become a little anxious when her people are out of sight. She is a very youthful eleven year old and enjoyed herself in the top fields where she scuttled about in the longer grass and managed (I am pleased to say) to avoid the majority of mud puddles left by the frequent rain.
Max is a little dog with a huge character and this being his first lodging I did wonder if he would try to make his way back to his own house, given the opportunity (he lives close to Pentland Drive, but on the other side of the field).
Ian had told me that Max had very definite routes when out walking and said that if he was going to take himself home he would use the lane across from the play area.
On our first couple of walks I successfully distracted Max when approaching the lane, however on the third or fourth walk Max disappeared over the mound and when I got to the top there was no sign of him.
I set off down the lane fully expecting to find Max back at his own front door, but no...
As I reached the end of the lane I caught sight of Max excavating a garden in order to bury the ball he had been chasing!
I called him over, which he did quite happily, put his leash back on then attempted to fill in the hole having retrieved the ball.
It was a very sulky Max who returned to Pentland Drive after that particular walk.
Ian had told me that Max had very definite routes when out walking and said that if he was going to take himself home he would use the lane across from the play area.
On our first couple of walks I successfully distracted Max when approaching the lane, however on the third or fourth walk Max disappeared over the mound and when I got to the top there was no sign of him.
I set off down the lane fully expecting to find Max back at his own front door, but no...
As I reached the end of the lane I caught sight of Max excavating a garden in order to bury the ball he had been chasing!
I called him over, which he did quite happily, put his leash back on then attempted to fill in the hole having retrieved the ball.
It was a very sulky Max who returned to Pentland Drive after that particular walk.
Halfway through Max’s lodging, right at the end of the month, he was joined by Tootsie, the two having had an initial meeting earlier to establish compatibility.
They were thrilled to have each other for company and get up to twice the mischief to keep me on my toes.
As this lodging carries on into July I have no doubt that the next Newsletter will be reporting some of the antics of this dynamic duo...
They were thrilled to have each other for company and get up to twice the mischief to keep me on my toes.
As this lodging carries on into July I have no doubt that the next Newsletter will be reporting some of the antics of this dynamic duo...
Poppy the young Border Collie has been continuing with her training and making steady progress.
It is so important to establish rules, boundaries and limitations as soon as you welcome a dog into your family/pack as a way of communicating pack leadership (that would be the human, by the way!) and creating a dynamic that will continue throughout your dog’s life.
Keep up the good work Poppy, Brian and Karen.
I would also like to thank Tasha for her assistance in training Poppy.
It is so important to establish rules, boundaries and limitations as soon as you welcome a dog into your family/pack as a way of communicating pack leadership (that would be the human, by the way!) and creating a dynamic that will continue throughout your dog’s life.
Keep up the good work Poppy, Brian and Karen.
I would also like to thank Tasha for her assistance in training Poppy.
Word was received from our dear friend Don in California telling us Reiko, the last remaining Shiba, had died at the grand old age of eighteen.
Reiko was a wonderful lady who kept a matriarchal eye on all the Shibas and Akitas during her life with Jan and Don.
When Jan died six years ago Reiko helped Don deal with his loss and was his ever present companion during a difficult time.
We saw Reiko three years ago when we were staying with Don and enjoyed watching her as she busied herself in true Shiba fashion, belying her age even then.
Always remembered, Reiko. A legend.
Two quite worrying canine incidents that occurred in the area recently have been brought to my attention.
One was in the top fields when an off-leash Dalmatian made an unprovoked attack on Mac, the new puppy of Donald and Helen.
Thankfully Mac was not injured but he has been left traumatised and is now very defensive in his approach to other dogs.
Such a shame when he was just beginning to feel confident around other dogs.
The second was in the early hours of the morning when a dog fight was heard in Semple Road. This involved a Husky type dog that had escaped and was roaming free, and two dogs being walked by their owner.
It is unclear if the owner of the two dogs was attacked by the Husky, but the person who witnessed the scuffle said that both the owner and the dog were on the ground, so it is possible the owner had made an effort to protect his dogs by restraining the Husky.
Police and Dog Warden were called but, to the best of my knowledge, by the time they arrived the man had left the scene and the Husky continued to roam.
It was seen roaming free later in the day so it would appear he or she had escaped from a garden on to Semple Road.
With hopefully some warm weather now that July is here remember to have water on hand for your thirsty dog. And of course always have ventilation when they are in the car.
Here’s to a tail-waggingly happy July.
Anne and Ross
Reiko was a wonderful lady who kept a matriarchal eye on all the Shibas and Akitas during her life with Jan and Don.
When Jan died six years ago Reiko helped Don deal with his loss and was his ever present companion during a difficult time.
We saw Reiko three years ago when we were staying with Don and enjoyed watching her as she busied herself in true Shiba fashion, belying her age even then.
Always remembered, Reiko. A legend.
Two quite worrying canine incidents that occurred in the area recently have been brought to my attention.
One was in the top fields when an off-leash Dalmatian made an unprovoked attack on Mac, the new puppy of Donald and Helen.
Thankfully Mac was not injured but he has been left traumatised and is now very defensive in his approach to other dogs.
Such a shame when he was just beginning to feel confident around other dogs.
The second was in the early hours of the morning when a dog fight was heard in Semple Road. This involved a Husky type dog that had escaped and was roaming free, and two dogs being walked by their owner.
It is unclear if the owner of the two dogs was attacked by the Husky, but the person who witnessed the scuffle said that both the owner and the dog were on the ground, so it is possible the owner had made an effort to protect his dogs by restraining the Husky.
Police and Dog Warden were called but, to the best of my knowledge, by the time they arrived the man had left the scene and the Husky continued to roam.
It was seen roaming free later in the day so it would appear he or she had escaped from a garden on to Semple Road.
With hopefully some warm weather now that July is here remember to have water on hand for your thirsty dog. And of course always have ventilation when they are in the car.
Here’s to a tail-waggingly happy July.
Anne and Ross
