Jake's Progress

All quiet here for a while. Before Christmas I was spending most weekends travelling to help my aunt, who lives about 100 miles away. I bailed out of a couple of agility shows because of that. And then just before Xmas we had heavy snowfall. It was the coldest snap in 30 years, and the most snow I’ve seen since I was a kid (when we had proper weather – listen to me, young’uns!). After four weeks we were thoroughly fed up – we’re not geared up to protracted snow; our street didn’t get gritted until 3 weeks in, for example. On the plus side, we had a very quiet snowed-in stay-at-home Christmas. Then I slipped on the ice, landed on my head and am only just getting back to rights.

At first Jake loved the snow. New snow is like sand you can eat, and short of it snowing actual ice cream I can’t imagine he’d have been any happier. There were crazy puppy antics, catching snowballs in mid-air, finding snowman’s noses (carrots) and blissfully sinking into soft snow to eat, eyes shut ...



With the temperature dropping to -10 C for a while, the canal and even the Water of Leith (usually a fast flowing river) froze. For a while Jake was simply fascinated, staring at the place that’s usually water. Then he realised that well-meaning people were throwing bread on for the birds – and he wandered onto the ice for a snack. He wasn’t the first - there were plenty of footprints of all species. Even so, after that, he was on the lead near water.



By the end of the freeze, Jake was just very fed up with
• the compacted ice – it’s nippy on the paws
• semi-frozen melting snow in the park - uneven to run on
• paw washes after every walk to remove grit & salt
• more frequent pedicures - it's pavement pounding that usually keeps his claws down.

Almost all the ice has melted now. I don’t know which of us is more relieved!

Labels: Park life, Scotland

The PDSA has a survey for pet owners about whether pets' moods and behaviour change in the winter months.

The survey makes some assumptions from the outset – that pets are less inclined to go out in the winter, that they eat more, that they are afraid of the dark.

Jake has never enjoyed being prised out of his nice warm bed on a dark morning. But once he’s yawned his way down the stairs (we live on 1st & 2nd floors) and has sniffed the air from the porch, he’s quite happy to trot out, even into the rain (and he hates getting wet). He's not bothered about night walks - they've always been a part of his life with us. It helps that Little Lord Fauntledog has all the gear.

But slowness in getting out of bed is about it in terms of a negative reaction to the winter months. Jake seems to do the opposite to what the PDSA is expecting. Jake is less happy in the summer. In warmer weather he is less active, less enthusiastic on walks and at agility, and grumpier with other dogs. Observation tells us he’s worse on days when pollen is high. On warmer days his black coat feels hot to the touch, and we have to plan to cool him down and avoid being out for too long in hot parts of the day. It struck me as I completed the survey that we should make him a dark den as a bolthole for the summer months (in Edinburgh in mid June it can be light between 4am and 11pm). I wonder if he misses sleeping in the dark – he does pull cushions and toys over his eyes to sleep.

Over the last few weeks, as is the case every autumn, Jake has a new spring in his step, is much more lively on his walks and noticeably more chilled around other dogs. He was almost puppy-cheerful in the woods yesterday.

Bring on the frosty mornings, that always makes him really perky.

He is an anti-SAD dog.

Labels: Health, Park life

Cherry petals fall
embroidering dew kissed grass.
With poo bag, I bend ...

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

There was no club meet this Sunday as our trainer was at a show. So I arranged to meet up with black lab Loki & his mum for a spot of practise. Between us we've got several portable jumps, two weaves and a wee tunnel - and it's always good to have someone tell you exactly where you're going wrong - a poor signal, not getting a command in ...

We set up in a park that's halfway between both of us. That always gets attention! To be honest we're used to it as our club sets up in all weathers on one of Edinburgh City Council's sports grounds. It makes for excellent distraction-proofing. Several people came over to chat, or just to watch. Some people are in other agility clubs, others want to know about where they can learn, others have just seen it on the telly. Some folk let their dogs run right over, others are a bit more sensitive ...

Jake and Loki started agility at about the same time, and each is a "first agility dog." They're at a similar standard, but they're like chalk and cheese! Viz. our distance work exercises. Jake will sit in a wait while I walk 4 jumps away and then call him over all four jumps. Loki's wait is less secure. (And I hasten to add that at a show Jake's wait is altogether less impressive...) But Loki can be sent forward over four jumps with never a backward glance at where his mum's standing - whereas Jake takes one jump then looks back to see where I am. It's great to have someone else to wave a toy at the far end - or to keep one finger in the collar - when you're practising those exercises.

And whereas Team Loki is very nifty and accurate with turns and pull-throughs, they are still getting to grips with a solid "left over" and "right over." On the other hand, Jake's left and right commands seem pretty solid, but dearie me, I am RUBBISH at pull-throughs. I'm in the wrong place - I don't give a command - I'm facing the wrong way ... back to practising with an imaginary dog when I think no-one's looking.

Jake wears characteristic sulky-can-we-get-on-with-things-now face while modelling his latest agility tuggy. (You should see the failed action shots from today's training - definitely need to bring along loved ones dedicated to camera duties).

Labels: Agility, Park life

"That's not a lurcher!" So say the lurcher police...

Everyone thinks a lurcher is a deerhoundy type of dog. But lurchers are a varied bunch, as you'd expect given they are sighthounds crossed with sheepdogs or terriers. We went looking for a lurcher as we thought the type would suit us. And Jake was in Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home with "lurcher type" on the door to his pen. He was very whippety at that stage - a skinny 18 kilos. He's now about 21.5 kg, and a bit older and broader.

We know Jake is on the outer reaches of lurcherdom. There's no denying that the older he gets, the less lurchery he looks. He's filled out, and has a very collie/terrier head (depending on whether you talk to a terrier or a collie owner). But he still behaves like a sighthound - the way he sprints, that zig-zag coursing action when he's in full flight, the way only greyhounds can outrun him. That love of sofas. A friend who grew up with whippets (in the family, I'm not talking Romulus and Remus) always sees the sighthound in Jake.

A lurcherman I met in the Meadows with his "classic lurcher" sucked his teeth a little when I said the Dogs Home had Jake pegged as a lurcher. Then pronounced Jake might be a collie-Jack Russell-whippet cross. Sounds good to me.

And aren't all lurchers mongrels, strictly speaking?

Labels: Park life

Ah-haaaaa

While we're setting up the equipment for our agility training we tether the dogs to avoid any scraps or er, dogs running up the A-frame while we try to erect it. Jake always bags the highest, most comfy spot. Anything to avoid putting his bum on the ground.

Labels: Park life

We got a call on Wednesday to say that two dogs at our agility club had come down with kennel cough. And like Jake, at least one of them had been vaccinated. The club is suspended for two weeks while we see who else picked up the bug.

So far Jake's shown no symptoms. Even so, we decided it was prudent to cancel his usual Friday daycare and we'll see where we are on Monday. I'm keeping him at a distance from other dogs in the park. As Jake in his maturity is pretty aloof, that's not so hard.

And who says you can't have fun when it's just a dog, his people and a ball?

Labels: Park life

It's a Saturday afternoon and miracle of miracles, it isn't raining. So Jake and I stroll to the park with some weaves and jumps. As it isn't at all windy I take the set of four jumps that made from PVC tubes - very wobbly in the wind, as they don't stick into the ground itself. (Even on a calm day they can list a bit on uneven ground.) Lots of good practise of pull-throughs, lefts and rights, a star and weaves from both sides and so on and so forth. There's lots to be done with four jumps and 6 weave poles.

BUT the notable thing was that we weren't the main point of interest. For once it wasn't us that the toddlers HAD to go and stare at. It wasn't us the other dogs ran at, barking.

It wasn't even the small four-pole marquee that someone had put up to protect their barbecue and 20 or so of their closest friends. No. The silliest thing in the park today was a bunch of women in inflatable sumo outfits, wrestling. Sorry not to go and take pictures. I was too busy enjoying the anonymity.

Labels: Agility, Park life

Jake & pal snuck in some practise between classes by the Water of Leith ...



For Wordless Wednesday.

Labels: Agility, Park life, Wordless Wednesday

(Dabbling in Wordless Wednesday)

Labels: Park life, Wordless Wednesday

It's hard to fully test this because the ducks very sensibly slide into the water as we walk past. But it looks as though we've reverted to the more usual duck-proof default. Sadly the new ducklings weren't around for the ultimate picture-op.

Labels: Park life

There are no pictures with this post because the action all happened at dusk. Last night I took Jake out for his usual evening constitutional. A clear night in Edinburgh at this time of year - even with the dark moon it was still 10.30pm, and just enough light in the sky to make the world look velvety. As we walked along the waterside we saw bats dipping overhead and water voles scuttling across the path (to Jake's great joy). To my left on the verge I noticed some plump tortoise-shell textured stones. Even as I realised they were actually sleeping ducks and thought must call Jake to heel I heard a skittering of paws and Jake was staring up absolutely enchanted as the ducks took flight, honking furiously. Poor birds.

So I suspect I'm back to square one with my duck-proofing.

PS. We've had a fortnight off agility. Partly because I wanted to let Jake rest up after a very intensive period of training/shows, and partly because I had to go to London for work last week. So at this Tuesday night's class Jake was super-motivated and super-speedy. We're now easing back into training for a show the weekend after next.

Labels: Agility, Park life

With a show on Saturday, I had planned to use my afternoon off today to take the agility kit to the park and get some weave and jump/turn practice with Jakey-Boy. But it has been persisting it down for nearly 24 hours! I’m not risking any of our six ankles jumping and weaving on soggy, boggy grass.

I used to feel self-conscious at the start of summer when I first took the weave poles to the park. (We don’t have the sort of back garden for setting up equipment. It’s too full of washing on the line and overgrown bushes. And we don’t do lawn). We get crowds of kids, other dog walkers, the wife and its world stopping to watch. At first I though Jake would be somehow miffed not to have his usual park experience (mooch. Sniff. Raise leg. Chase pals if any are there at the same time. Mooch. Sniff. Play training games or fetch with human companion. Mooch. Sniff.). But the other week I caught him pawing at the bag with the weave poles in. He wants to weave. (He wants the ham he gets for weaving.)

There is a small element of triumph and yes, showing off. When we got Jake he was the park yob – boisterous adolescent leggy hound from hell. So now when he ignores the teenage collie that tries to entice him out of the weave into a game of chase I’m chuffed to bits. With the extra practice once or twice a week Jake’s weaving is getting pretty good. He’s pretty reliable entering the weave from both sides, accurate going through, and we’re working on speed.

I can’t quite believe that I now carry a sack of poles to the park once or twice a week. Jake of course doesn’t think there’s anything odd in it at all. Of course the world will revolve round me! Why wouldn’t it?

Labels: Agility, Park life

We are back from a holiday in Skye! In which we met hardly any other dogs at all. Perhaps it is because in the Highlands dog owners are expected to intercept dog crap before it hits the ground.

It was so beautiful! And so full of sheep and lambs. Even so we had a some great walks without incident, and Jake made the best of the one properly sandy beach we found. (Thanks to a tip from work chum to head to Glen Brittle). There were some fine shingle beaches and some fine seaweed-sludge traps (on day one, walk one, both Gus and Jake arrived back in the holiday cottage plastered in stinky BLACK oom-ska).

However there's a lot to be said for Portree -
The cute harbour ...

... the fine dining ...

... the opportunities to practice recall in heart-stopping situations, er scenery ...

And with one exception, every pub we went into was happy to have Jake in, even where food was being served, making the smooth transfer of left-overs to dog much easier. Particular kudos to the Stein Inn, the oldest pub on Skye to allow Jake to sit at our feet.

Labels: Family, Park life, Scotland, Whimsy

Just met a fellow dog walker who took a shine to Jake and asked what his name is. I told him and he looked a bit surprised. “That’s an unusual name,” he said. “Dyke, would you like a biscuit?”

At the time I burst out laughing at the poor man's Freudian slip (or duff ears) and put him right. Of course NOW I see that the best reply to this would have been: “No thanks, but my dog will have one.”

Ahhhh, l’esprit de l’escalier! Quelle frommage!

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

Who were those shadowy figures...?

Labels: Park life

It's lovely weather here at the moment and Jake has obviously had enough....we went to the door this morning after I'd stitched myself into my waterproof and fleece and hat (sadly no gloves which seem to have been eaten in the house move). Jake looks out, looks at me and legs it back into the house. I get him back with frank bribery and attach his lead, and then have to drag him out into the wind and the rain.

I stop at the car to get my training shoes (I assure you I am not barefoot at this point) and look for Jakes cute xmas coat. I find my shoes but not his coat. While I'm looking Jake decides he'd be drier in the car so hops in , making this the second time I have to drag him out into the wet and the wind in five minutes.

We then had a lovely (aka miserable, damp trudge) walk in the park with some desultory ball chasing and then we dripped our way back home where it took me ten minutes to dry the dog and the dog many more minutes to dry himself on the new carpet and the sofa and my trousers fab!

Labels: Park life

Someone call the SSPCA. There's a dog in Edinburgh being woken up when it's still dark outside to go for walks in the cold and wet. Look how he hates the lights being turned on when it's still dark outside. He covers his eyes with his cushion.










This is the Jake-approved solution. Note serene blissed out expression on a Sunday morning. In er, our bed.

Labels: Family, Park life

Bike light technology has increased mightily – or come down in price - since last winter. Suddenly we’re meeting a lot of cycles in the dark with fierce blue front lights. Jake ain’t so keen on these, even tho' he usually doesn’t give a toss about passing cyclists. The hurty-eye lights are making him twitch. And this morning someone had a hurty-eye torch in the park … end result: Jakey ran up BARKING at a bewildered dog walker who was only trying to pick her dog's shite off the park in the dark. Ger-woof woOF WOOF.

We may need Sandy’s bike lights to desensitise him. Tho’ we don’t want him rushing up to every passing bike thinking it’s her (terrified cyclist swerves, splash! in the canal).

Labels: Park life

Immutable laws of the park :
The one thing more exciting than your own ball is another dog's ball.
The one thing more exciting than another dog's ball is finding a stick.
The only thing more exciting than finding a stick is FINDING A FOOTBALL!
But remember...
The park giveth and the park taketh away.

Labels: Park life

Finally! Jake is posed in front of stupendous Edinburgh view! It’s an iconic pic for the website. Jake! Look at me! Turn round! Ignore the rabbits! Oh never mind.

Labels: Park life, Scotland, Whimsy

The festivals are over, and in the Meadows there's a lot of long grass where the LadyBoys of Bangkok & the Moscow State Circus were pitched. And in the long grass, something foxy for Jake to roll in. Mmmm-mmm.

Go to bath. Go directly to BATH.

Labels: Park life

Jake spots a possible evening out.

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

Jake's new greyhound pal Steve Austen has ripped a claw off in hot pursuit of a rabbit. He needs special greyhound boots (no kidding!). Therapaw are recommended by the Greyhound Awareness League. (What's with all these sighthound leagues? GAL, the Lurcher Agility League... I'm going to form a League of Lurcher Leagues). Anyway:

See how the greyhound's back legs are pointing a different direction to the dog? A very familiar stance by a certain lurcher I could mention.

Labels: Park life

So Jake & I are walking along the canal on the crack o' dawn shift. I'm congratulating myself because every day this week he's turned round, come back to me and then walked to heel past the nesting swans and signets - instead of what he used to do (and still would, given the chance) - galluphing up to the swans, barking enthusiastically. What a good boy! What a training triumph!
And then...
he spots a cat further up the towpath and he's off, at full pelt, suddenly deaf, scattering other walkers as he goes. The cat escapes to the floating walkways where the canal boats are tethered. I'm running, and still miles behind, collecting outraged looks from passersby. What a badly trained dog! Has she no control over him?

We need a stunt cat to resolve the ongoing issue of running up to cats and barking at them. Is this a job for FagPuss?

Labels: Park life

Lurchers! Are you sick of always having to carry your ball back in your mouth? Why not wear your ball instead!

So chic. So practical. So now.

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

The otterhound and the curse of the seven retrievers
It looked like the rain had stopped so Jake & I went up Blackford Hill. Every dog we met was a golden retriever, all seven of them, out with different people. And indeed this was a bad omen, as when we were exactly as far as we could be from the car park, round the exposed side of the hill, the rain turned on again, monster drops so big they were white. Jake tried a brief spell at dachshund level, then tried to hide between my legs - pointless, they were as wet as he was. By this time he looked like an otter and I was soaked through. I fed him pity-biscuits. Then he threw himself into the experience and took off like a loony, racing around like he was on a track, tearing through the long wet grass (as high as he is) and obviously getting off on the sensation.

After I'd driven us home, the car seat was soaking from my sodden jeans. We are now both very sleepy on the sofa.

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

Choc lab B is using his superior weight. Referee rottie D has taken her eye off the ball for a crucial minute.

Sorry for shite quality, was taken at 1030pm last week. Horrendous midgie bites followed.

Labels: Park life

Stuff of park nightmares: a man is lying on his front in his shorts, reading, headphones on. Jake trots up to him and puts cold wet nose on man's bare leg. Man jumps a mile. Bad dog owner, not anticipating. Bad dog. No, my fault cos I should have called to me sooner.

Labels: Park life

Just to report that Molly is back on form, and both lurchers are knackered after their walks together. Hurrah!

Labels: Park life

Lurchers in the the spring
1. Why do they have to poo in the clumps of crocus flowers?
2. Will smelly wet dogs be banned from pubs in Scotland for polluting the atmosphere?
3. Canine voices were raised in the pub as the non-smoking drinking dog people of EH11 all congregated on the bar with hounds in tow. Near rumble averted...

Labels: Park life, Whimsy

From Sunday's blizzard...
I think it's time to go home now, please

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Labels: Park life

Just put Anthony & the Johnsons on the stereo for the first time. Enter Jake in the doorway, aroof, aroof, pausing only to stare at the speakers with head cocked on one side in utter puzzlement. He's never reacted to music like that before. Obviously Anthony speaks to his doggy soul like no other. For today I am a dog...

Labels: Family, Park life, Whimsy

A rare picture of Jake's favourite game, only played with the chosen few. He looks alarmed here becaue he is just about to lose to his chum's superior weight.

Labels: Park life

Och, the nights are fair drawing in… Jake has been kitted out with a new Polybrite collar & and a flashing ball for those late night playtimes. Very impressed with the service from Training lines in Fraserburgh – only 48 hours after I ordered the goods online, Jake was bouncing round the park looking like a reindeer gone AWOL from an outside Christmas lights display.

Labels: Park life

Ferrets loose in Harrison Park! Thanks to the friend who we passed jogging along the canal, who mentioned the coupls walking their ferrets. We got Jake on the lead in time, and thank God we did, as the ferrets were rippling over the grass, and judging by his reaction Jake thought he had seen a fabulous beast, part rabbit, part squirrel... I know lurchers and ferrets are in theory part of the whole countryside world, but erk - he so wanted to chase them.

The ferrets were gorgeous. Kudos to Elspeth for preventing an incident.

Labels: Park life

We took Jake to Portobello as the park was a bog. Though Edinburgh's Seaside was littered with dead birds - we counted two puffins - and countless starfish. Jake picked up one starfish and brought it back, thinking it was a toy. And he only picked up one dead bird.

All a far call from yesterday's romps in the snow!

Labels: Park life

The snow went as fast as it came... late last night we were in a light, bright winter wonderland, throwing snowballs for Jake to catch, watching him bark at snowmen and prance like a fool. Snow is the new sand. By this morning, it was melting, and by the lunchtime walk it was all but gone. Do dogs feel disappointed? Jake looked it.

Labels: Park life

Jake & I are now settled at each end of the sofa. I'm on the wireless & he's in the land of nod, coiled in one of those lurcher knots. We set off for our walk in glorious crisp winter sunshine, and by the time we got home from Craiglockhart Dell, we were slit-eyed against the sleet. Jake had a brief new look as a negative dalmatian.

In Craiglockhart Dell Jake met a collie and a spaniel who he enticed into chasing him round a tree eight times at top speed.

Labels: Park life

Jake’s last day at Dog School this year. No notable end of term delinquency, just endless thwarted play fighting with Ria the Staffie pup when not trotting between bollards. We’ll be back in January for the clicker training class.

And then on to the park, where Sam the black mongrel was as bouncy as ever. His owner got him on the lead… he did a runner after Jake & I … I got Sam to sit for me while his owner caught us up… Jake promptly grabbed his lead and tried to take Sam for a walk… Didn’t know whether to laugh or scold. Bring on the clicks.

Labels: Park life, Training

I can report that Jake appears to have sustained no serious psychological
harm from being left this morning. He's all talk and no trousers.

Where were all the dog walkers this afternoon? Was it the driving rain &
gale force winds that put them off? Jake & I had a happy walk down the
canal, followed by an eye-popping walk into the wind on the way back,
watching the swans rocking on the choppy water.

Labels: Park life