Pentland Pet Services Monthly Newsletter - September
With lodging and training still in demand September was another busy month.
Bailey returned for his second lodging experience during which time he made some new dog pals. On his first day whilst out walking we met Trixie, who joined us with her owner Barbara.
Trixie and Bailey had a wonderful time together and I was interested to see how Bailey, once his excitement had died down, watched intently as Trixie went about her doggy business and then followed suit. Young dogs learn so much from older dogs but it is worth bearing in mind that they can just as easily pick up other dogs bad habits as well as the good ones.
Having enjoyed their morning together, it was only fitting that Bailey invite Trixie back for water and biscuits, so while Barbara and I enjoyed a cup of tea Bailey showed Trixie around his favourite spots in the garden.
As Bailey approaches the final stages of his puppy training he is increasing his vocabulary of commands and daily puts into practice all he has learnt over the past six weeks.
As a further challenge Bailey has to distinguish commands between his human/pack and those of Louie the Parrot...
On one occasion, as Bailey was heading straight to me doing a perfect recall, he passed Louie’s cage and the next thing Louie was instructing “Bailey Come!”, “Bailey Come!”
For a split second Bailey was distracted but sorted himself out and took up his position right in front of me - well done Bailey! During the same training session Louie could be clearly heard shouting “What’s Wrong!”, “What’s Wrong!” as I summoned Bailey with a whistle.
I would like to say a big thank you to my lovely canine assistants - Trixie, Rowan, Milly and Tasha who helped with Bailey's social skills training.
With lodging and training still in demand September was another busy month.
Bailey returned for his second lodging experience during which time he made some new dog pals. On his first day whilst out walking we met Trixie, who joined us with her owner Barbara.
Trixie and Bailey had a wonderful time together and I was interested to see how Bailey, once his excitement had died down, watched intently as Trixie went about her doggy business and then followed suit. Young dogs learn so much from older dogs but it is worth bearing in mind that they can just as easily pick up other dogs bad habits as well as the good ones.
Having enjoyed their morning together, it was only fitting that Bailey invite Trixie back for water and biscuits, so while Barbara and I enjoyed a cup of tea Bailey showed Trixie around his favourite spots in the garden.
As Bailey approaches the final stages of his puppy training he is increasing his vocabulary of commands and daily puts into practice all he has learnt over the past six weeks.
As a further challenge Bailey has to distinguish commands between his human/pack and those of Louie the Parrot...
On one occasion, as Bailey was heading straight to me doing a perfect recall, he passed Louie’s cage and the next thing Louie was instructing “Bailey Come!”, “Bailey Come!”
For a split second Bailey was distracted but sorted himself out and took up his position right in front of me - well done Bailey! During the same training session Louie could be clearly heard shouting “What’s Wrong!”, “What’s Wrong!” as I summoned Bailey with a whistle.
I would like to say a big thank you to my lovely canine assistants - Trixie, Rowan, Milly and Tasha who helped with Bailey's social skills training.
Next to trot down the driveway was Rowan the Labrador who is a regular lodger.
Rowan is always a welcome guest and makes herself quite at home the minute she is through the door. She has a very calm nature, contented to while away the time between walks relaxing in the garden if the weather is nice, or spread out on her day bed having a refreshing snooze.
Midway through Rowan’s stay Milly the Labradoodle arrived for a few days.
Both dogs have that same calm nature and love the company of other dogs, so were delighted to spend time together. It was a joy to watch these two friends having such a wonderful time and a great lesson for us humans in 'being in the moment'. Whatever was happening at the time, whether it be a lead walk, a free run, a game of chase or time to rest and relax, they made the very best out of these moments together.
The weather wasn’t too bad during Milly and Rowan’s stay and we managed to avoid getting caught in any really bad downpours. Rowan would not have minded anyway as she is always keen to wade through any puddles she finds after a rainstorm. Milly on the other hand prefers to keep her paws dry and delicately circumnavigates any temporary lakes in the top fields.
Talking of fields – we have a Bin Liner at long last in the side field!
Still a lot of litter around sadly, but having a usable bin is a start and it is to be hoped people will be mindful of the dangers of litter to our dogs - not to mention the children using the play area.
Rowan is always a welcome guest and makes herself quite at home the minute she is through the door. She has a very calm nature, contented to while away the time between walks relaxing in the garden if the weather is nice, or spread out on her day bed having a refreshing snooze.
Midway through Rowan’s stay Milly the Labradoodle arrived for a few days.
Both dogs have that same calm nature and love the company of other dogs, so were delighted to spend time together. It was a joy to watch these two friends having such a wonderful time and a great lesson for us humans in 'being in the moment'. Whatever was happening at the time, whether it be a lead walk, a free run, a game of chase or time to rest and relax, they made the very best out of these moments together.
The weather wasn’t too bad during Milly and Rowan’s stay and we managed to avoid getting caught in any really bad downpours. Rowan would not have minded anyway as she is always keen to wade through any puddles she finds after a rainstorm. Milly on the other hand prefers to keep her paws dry and delicately circumnavigates any temporary lakes in the top fields.
Talking of fields – we have a Bin Liner at long last in the side field!
Still a lot of litter around sadly, but having a usable bin is a start and it is to be hoped people will be mindful of the dangers of litter to our dogs - not to mention the children using the play area.
It is with great sadness I pass on the news that Becky the lovely Lurcher passed away peacefully in September. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Julie and David at this time.
Ross and I spent another wonderful weekend on Arran towards the end of September, enjoying a few days of glorious autumn sunshine. On this trip we managed to catch up with our friends Alison and Roddy in Lamlash who very recently lost their own dog, Harry.
Harry was quite a character and has quite a story. 'Harry’s Tale' will be featured in next month's newsletter and I am planning to do a regular feature on a dog or cat with a tale to tell.
We begin this month with Lady and Kit’s story...
Lady was given to me as an unexpected gift early in 1977.
At the time the last thing I needed was a puppy, especially one with a bagful of 'issues'.
However I decided that as she was here to stay I better do everything I could to make it work.
It did not take long to realise that Lady and her issues needed addressed, so she and I enrolled in a local training class run by a wonderful lady called Hilda Vincent.
After several months Hilda approached me and told me that despite initial doubts that Lady would ever walk to heel, sit stay, etc. she was delighted at her progress but felt that she had reached her peak within the class. Hilda then went on to say in her own indomitable way "I like how you handle dogs, I’m going to train you as a trainer". Did I have a choice? I think not, Hilda had spoken.
So began a lifetime involvement in dog training and animal welfare right to the person you know today as Anne who runs Pentland Pet Services, all thanks to Lady.
Lady continued with her quaint ways but thanks to the training had become a much more confident dog and so life trundled on for us.
Within a couple of years my involvement in animal welfare had stepped up a pace or two and, along with some courageous friends, had formed the Inverclyde Animal Welfare and Advisory Group, (aka I WAG) rescuing and rehoming all sorts of critters.
We worked on a foster home basis with animals being cared for by an amazing group of volunteers while permanent homes were sought. Lady got used to my arriving home with various sized boxes emitting a variety of squeaks and proved to be a loving foster mum to many kittens.
However, neither she nor I realised how one such particular box would change both our lives...
At the time my paying job was in one of the Port Glasgow shipyards where, in between being at my desk in the Contracts Department and returning home, I was coming to the aid of many of the half feral cats in residence in the various workshops on the docks.
All of the workshops had a cat whose job it was to keep the vermin down which was much appreciated by the men and so would be rewarded by scraps of food and milk - hence the reason they were half feral.
Whiskey, the Carpenters' cat, had recently had a litter that was to be her last, as I had agreed with the Carpenters' that Whiskey would be dressed, the cost covered by I WAG and that homes would be found for the four kittens. However, before this could happen, disaster struck.
One morning as I arrived at my desk the phone was ringing and it was one of the Carpenter's saying "You better get down here Anne, but prepare yourself". Overnight, rats had attacked Whiskey and the kittens, killing three of them and leaving the fourth with a huge hole in his neck where he had been picked up and shaken. Whiskey had put up a valiant fight and although sustaining injuries herself, had managed to chase off the rats before they could kill her fourth kitten.
I rushed to the vet who was anything but reassuring, his words on examining the contents of the box being "Anne what on earth do you think I can do, this is a four week old kitten with terrible injuries". However I was determined that having been the sole survivor of this attack this little kitten had to be given every chance, so the vet agreed to pump him full of penicillin and keep his fingers crossed.
Kit (Cat) as he had been called arrived home with me that night and was introduced to Lady who immediately started to clean his wounds by gently licking them. So began a cat/dog friendship like no other I had seen.
These two little misfits, Lady with her neurosis and Kit who had no scruff and whose growth was stunted, were lifelong companions.
Ross and I spent another wonderful weekend on Arran towards the end of September, enjoying a few days of glorious autumn sunshine. On this trip we managed to catch up with our friends Alison and Roddy in Lamlash who very recently lost their own dog, Harry.
Harry was quite a character and has quite a story. 'Harry’s Tale' will be featured in next month's newsletter and I am planning to do a regular feature on a dog or cat with a tale to tell.
We begin this month with Lady and Kit’s story...
Lady was given to me as an unexpected gift early in 1977.
At the time the last thing I needed was a puppy, especially one with a bagful of 'issues'.
However I decided that as she was here to stay I better do everything I could to make it work.
It did not take long to realise that Lady and her issues needed addressed, so she and I enrolled in a local training class run by a wonderful lady called Hilda Vincent.
After several months Hilda approached me and told me that despite initial doubts that Lady would ever walk to heel, sit stay, etc. she was delighted at her progress but felt that she had reached her peak within the class. Hilda then went on to say in her own indomitable way "I like how you handle dogs, I’m going to train you as a trainer". Did I have a choice? I think not, Hilda had spoken.
So began a lifetime involvement in dog training and animal welfare right to the person you know today as Anne who runs Pentland Pet Services, all thanks to Lady.
Lady continued with her quaint ways but thanks to the training had become a much more confident dog and so life trundled on for us.
Within a couple of years my involvement in animal welfare had stepped up a pace or two and, along with some courageous friends, had formed the Inverclyde Animal Welfare and Advisory Group, (aka I WAG) rescuing and rehoming all sorts of critters.
We worked on a foster home basis with animals being cared for by an amazing group of volunteers while permanent homes were sought. Lady got used to my arriving home with various sized boxes emitting a variety of squeaks and proved to be a loving foster mum to many kittens.
However, neither she nor I realised how one such particular box would change both our lives...
At the time my paying job was in one of the Port Glasgow shipyards where, in between being at my desk in the Contracts Department and returning home, I was coming to the aid of many of the half feral cats in residence in the various workshops on the docks.
All of the workshops had a cat whose job it was to keep the vermin down which was much appreciated by the men and so would be rewarded by scraps of food and milk - hence the reason they were half feral.
Whiskey, the Carpenters' cat, had recently had a litter that was to be her last, as I had agreed with the Carpenters' that Whiskey would be dressed, the cost covered by I WAG and that homes would be found for the four kittens. However, before this could happen, disaster struck.
One morning as I arrived at my desk the phone was ringing and it was one of the Carpenter's saying "You better get down here Anne, but prepare yourself". Overnight, rats had attacked Whiskey and the kittens, killing three of them and leaving the fourth with a huge hole in his neck where he had been picked up and shaken. Whiskey had put up a valiant fight and although sustaining injuries herself, had managed to chase off the rats before they could kill her fourth kitten.
I rushed to the vet who was anything but reassuring, his words on examining the contents of the box being "Anne what on earth do you think I can do, this is a four week old kitten with terrible injuries". However I was determined that having been the sole survivor of this attack this little kitten had to be given every chance, so the vet agreed to pump him full of penicillin and keep his fingers crossed.
Kit (Cat) as he had been called arrived home with me that night and was introduced to Lady who immediately started to clean his wounds by gently licking them. So began a cat/dog friendship like no other I had seen.
These two little misfits, Lady with her neurosis and Kit who had no scruff and whose growth was stunted, were lifelong companions.
When I moved to California Lady and Kit came with me. There were many times when I would watch Kit - having pinched a sausage from a neighbours barbecue - luxuriating in the California sunshine, tummy full of his ill gotten gains and think "well Kit, you certainly held on to some of your nine lives to be living like this".
Lady would watch such proceedings with a look on her face that said "You can take the boy out of Port Glasgow, but you can't take Port Glasgow out the boy..."
Lady and Kit both died in California and are buried together in the Napa Valley.
I think of them often and am full of gratitude for all the lessons they taught me, not least of all to never give up and be there when someone needs a friend.
Wishing you good health and much tail wagging!
Anne
Lady would watch such proceedings with a look on her face that said "You can take the boy out of Port Glasgow, but you can't take Port Glasgow out the boy..."
Lady and Kit both died in California and are buried together in the Napa Valley.
I think of them often and am full of gratitude for all the lessons they taught me, not least of all to never give up and be there when someone needs a friend.
Wishing you good health and much tail wagging!
Anne
