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The online diary
started life as a blog of my strange 'other life' with the dog. I
wanted to record some of the experiences that I had as a first-time dog
owner. To access the archive, click on the appropriate month.
The most recent articles are listed
separately.
You are most
welcome to send comments about any of the articles. Record your
comments via the Contact Me page.
GOOD CITIZEN – BRONZE AWARD
Sun 05 Sep 2009
Now that the
summer holidays are finally over, I must catch up with old news! A couple
of weeks before we departed for Lakeland,
Beattie and I presented
ourselves at Westhall Village Hall to complete the
Good Citizen Bronze Award. We should have taken the test last year, but
unfortunately we were away at the time. A few months ago,
AT checked out our holiday
dates so as not to clash with one of our trips ‘up north’!
Although I was
confident that Beattie would perform well in most aspects of the test I was
a little anxious about the grooming as she can make quite a fuss, especially
when her legs or tail are the objects of my close attention. She will
suddenly pull her leg away when you are brushing it with the slicker brush,
which can be quite painful when those metal prongs scrape across your
fingers! I am sure she is getting her own back! And she certainly knows
how to tuck that tail right in making it very difficult to brush
effectively.
The other
worry I had was whether she would be able to complete the controlled walk
amongst people and dogs without barking or pulling as she does frequently
when out for a walk, usually with dogs she does not know. And she would
have to behave whilst I talked to the examiner for one minute. Would she be
able to contain herself without jumping up in her usual friendly manner?
AT was able to
reassure me on both points. ‘Just bring a comb with you for grooming. Only
a light groom will be needed during the test. And put her in a down when
you are talking to the examiner. I am sure that she will behave herself
here – she usually does.’
Well, I need
not have worried. She behaved impeccably and passed all her tests with
flying colours. Mind you, at times I was not completely sure whether it was
the dog or owner that was being given the test! Responsible owners do
foster responsible dogs (well, that’s the theory)!
At
Dog Club the
following Tuesday, we were presented with our certificate and rosette.
Beattie was very laid back about it all, but underneath I could tell she was
very proud of herself!
Well, even if
she wasn’t, I was! Back
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Comment from
Anonymous
Another
certificate to add to the collection.
THE ODD COUPLE
Wed 09 Sep 2009
We were back
at dog training yesterday after the summer break. Actually, the class
started a week or two ago, but we had decamped to Somerset visiting
A’s sister.
Beattie always knows exactly
where she is and what is expected of her when she jumps out of the car on
training nights. She is a sociable dog and is very pleased to see both
humans and dogs at the class.
As we walked
through the door last night, Beattie set eyes on
N and instantly her legs turned
to jelly and she went all soppy!
It was love at
first sight as far as Beattie was concerned when she first met N a couple of
years ago. N is a regal Saluki who has been shown at Crufts on more than
one occasion, and what’s more, has actually won! A stranger combination of
star-struck lovers you cannot imagine, but I do believe that the feeling is
mutual!
N had not been
training for a while and Beattie was so excited she wet herself before
flopping down at N’s feet on her back with her quivering legs in the air
like the tart she is! I went to find a mop to clear up the mess whilst
Beattie got over the shock!
At least
during the evening, both Beattie and N managed to perform the required
exercises, but Beattie always had half an eye on N and had to have a goodbye
nuzzle before we departed!
It’s a good
job that Beattie has been spayed. I wonder what a Saluki/Bedlington cross
looks like? Back
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Comment from
sablonneuse
Congratulations on the award (previous
post) and I'm glad to see Beattie has a boyfriend at training class.
You'll have to invite him round for tea one of these days.
I would, but I don't want Beattie wetting herslf at home! derek
HEALTHY PET?
Wed 16 Sep 2009
Beattie has been causing us
some concern just lately. She had a ‘healthy pet’ blood test at the same
time as her annual injections and the vet rang me whilst I was on holiday to
say the Beattie had an abnormal reading for her liver function.
He was
concerned because, being a Bedlington, the breed is susceptible to copper
toxicosis, that is, a build up of copper in the liver, that can prove
fatal if left untreated. He recommended another test to check the results.
The good news was that there was no indication of liver damage.
On our return,
I took Beattie in for a BAST test (Bile Acid Stimulation Test). A couple of
days later the vet rang to say that the original test result had been
confirmed. There seemed to be four options: do nothing and hope, repeat
the BAST test in a couple of month’s time, do a liver biopsy, which would
involve surgery. The reason for the biopsy was that it would determine
whether there was a build up of copper in her liver. But surgery is always
to be avoided if possible.
The fourth
option was to conduct a DNA test to see if Beattie had the COMM D-1 gene,
thought to be responsible for the development of the condition. I had
already spoken to the breeder who owned the sire and that dog had been
checked and was clear. Beattie’s mother had not been checked, however. The
vet said that if Beattie were clear then there would be no need at this
stage to perform the liver biopsy.
That seemed to
be the preferred course of action, so earlier today, I took Beattie to the
vet, where he took swabs of Beattie’s cheeks, which, incidentally, she did
not enjoy in the least, and now all we can do is wait for the result from
the Animal Health Trust.
Watch this
space … Back
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Comment from
Anonymous
Poor
Beattie. Is there any treatment if the test is positive?
Are you covered by insurance?
The treatment is either changing her
diet or medication. derek
Comment from
Anonymous
Poor Beattie. Are
you covered by pet insurance?
She does have insurance, but I haven't investigated whether this
condition is fully covered. derek
Comment from
sablonneuse
So sorry to hear
Beattie has a problem health-wise. Hope it doesn't prove to be
serious. Give her a pat and a hug from me please.
Thanks, Sandy Beatiie always has a lot of hugs! I'll make sure
she gets an extra one from you!! derek
FAMOUS
Wed 23 Sep 2009
I had another
of those weird encounters with strangers when out and about with
Beattie, last Friday.
A and I were off to the Lakes
for a Wainwright
Society weekend involving a walk and a meal with some of the members.
We were travelling up to Doncaster on Friday evening and we had stopped at a
Little Chef on the A17 for a bite to eat.
As we were
about to leave, I decided to take Beattie out for a toilet break. At the
same time as she jumped out of her crate, a car with two lady passengers was
drawing up in the car park. I could tell by the body language that these
two were ‘doggy people’. Beattie must have sensed it as well as she ran up
to greet the two ladies enthusiastically.
‘Hello, Little
Bedlington,’ one of the two said to Beattie.
The other
enquired, ‘Who is this?’
‘This is
Beattie,’ I replied.
‘BEATTIE?’ the
lady exclaimed, in capital letters.
‘Yes,’ I
replied, somewhat bemused by her reaction.
‘BEATTIE OF
BLUNDESTON?’ It was if she could not believe the first answer I had given
her and just wanted confirmation. Clearly, this lady knew of Beattie, but
who on earth was she? Must be somebody who has logged on to the website.
But, no. I had not revealed the name of the village before. Who then? All
was about to be revealed.
‘I am
Pe’s mum,’ the lady continued.
The mist cleared after a moment as the information sunk in. This was
Viv Rainsbury, dog
breeder and an authority on the Bedlington terrier! In fact, we had been in
touch with her only the previous week about Beattie’s health concerns. She
had given us a lot of useful information and advice (See
Healthy Pet?).
It was lovely
to finally meet a lady I had heard a lot about. But what an unusual place
to meet?
As Viv patted
Beattie, she told her, ‘You’re a famous dog.’
Beattie took
all this adulation in her stride. I don’t think that fame will spoil her in
the least! Back
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Comment from
sablonneuse
Of course
she's famous - and I bet she knows it too. Well,
maybe only very slightly famous!! derek
EXCITED
Mon 28 Sep 2009
We had
just finished our dinner last Saturday evening and I was washing up
when Beattie asked to go
out. She usually does this by sitting or lying at the back door
very patiently until somebody realises she wants the door opened!
I
dried my hands and let her out. All was quiet for about a minute
and I had resumed my task, when there came from the garden, a
frenzied, excited barking that just went on and on. After a short
while, in which Beattie did not let up her noise, but, if anything,
the decibel limit had been raised and the barking became more
frantic, I opened the door to see what all the fuss was about.
I say,
see, but it was pitch black out in the garden by this time and
Beattie was on the far side of the building. I walked around to the
other side of the conservatory, but I could not see anything at
all. What on earth could be causing her so much excitement?
I
would soon find out as I walked back into the kitchen and collected
a torch. It was the only practical way of solving the mystery.
Besides, I must stop her barking as she was perilously close to my
neighbour’s back door and the row that Beattie was making was
threatening to disturb the peace.
Armed with a
light, I strode back outside and the beam of the torch solved the mystery.
A hedgehog was curled up in a tight ball next to the gate and Beattie was
barking down its ear! It was enough to terrify any living animal.
I picked up
Beattie intent on getting her away from the petrified animal. She was
unceremoniously dumped in the kitchen before returning to the hedgehog. I
decided the best thing to do would be to leave well alone and let the
hedgehog recover, naturally. No doubt the poor creature was in shock.
Despite
removing Beattie, the hedgehog continued to give concern with its rapid,
noisy breathing. There was no way out of the garden, so
A moved the hedgehog, opened
the gate and deposited the animal outside. At least Beattie could not go
back for a second instalment!
Now the
hedgehog could recover in its own time and escape!
The following
morning, the hedgehog was nowhere to be seen. I hoped that it was now safe
and that it had not come to grief! I think that A might have felt
quite guilty if there was a flat hedgehog on the road out there!
Back
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Comment from
Little Old Me
Perhaps she thought it was hoping to move
in, ha-ha. She sounds a real sweetie. One dog is
more than enough for me! derek
Comment from
Gary
Hi Derek - we've had the same problem with
Tim on a couple of occasions in our garden. The first time he came
across a hedgehog he decided to see if it was edible and tried to
bite it! He ended up with a rather badly scratched face for his
troubles. He now just barks at them! Learning from
experience, Gary? derek
Comment from
Anonymous
How on
earth did she know it was there when the door was shut? Sixth sense
or an acute sense of smell? One of life's little
mysteries! derek
Comment from AT
I'd check her
over for fleas....hedgehogs carry a load of them!
What a good idea! derek
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