Monday 4 September 2023

A Walk by the River

 


The other evening after a computer filled day for us both, we decided to take the dogs for a walk along the river.  They both miss having grass, so going to the river or the park is a good way for them to enjoy a multitude of new smells and a different surface to walk on.

Mavis loves the freedom of being off the lead and is good at recall now, it only took us most of her little life to perfect the distance commands.  She was never a quick learner.

Unfortunately Suky mostly has to stay on her lead now, being completely deaf means that if something catches her attention and she dashes off to have a look, we have no means of shouting her back and her short-sightedness means she loses track of us very quickly.  In fact I've noticed that she now gets a sense of security from feeling one of us on the other end of her lead.


This is the time of year when Suky's arthritis starts to affect her and her medication has to be given daily.  On walks such as this when I notice her flagging I find a bench, and the two of us sit and watch the world go by while Alan takes Mavis on for a few more minutes to use up some of her extra energy, she doing well for an old terrier.

On this day we sat and watched as dog walkers passed by us and the young lads behind the fencing gathered on the cricket pitch for a town team training session.

All the while Suky was glancing into the distance for that first sighting of Dad and Mavis coming back.

Then it was back into the car for the five minute drive home and to settle down in their beds for an evening of snoozing and watching Dad closely for any signs of snacks being forthcoming.


Sue xx



22 comments:

  1. Looks like a really nice place for a walk! I hope there were snacks to make all that watching worth their while!

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    1. Oh there's always doggy (and cat) snacks over at Dad's house. :-)

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  2. Lovely green place for a walk and humans and dogs both enjoy the fresh air I’m sure. I have meetings 4 days this week so will have to make sure I leave time for some walking outdoors. Catriona

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    1. It's even more important to get fresh air after meetings isn't it, it helps you digest what gone on and clear your head nicely. I hope you manage it. xx

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  3. Looks a great place for a dog walk with lots of sniffs.We have a rescue Lhasa Apso, he has no clue what so ever about instructions or recall. Funny how little dogs are always on the look out for snacks :-)

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    1. They really are just snack-a-holics aren't they. I blame it all on Alan, I'm much firmer with them ... I have to be they would be like little barrels otherwise. :-)

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  4. What a beautiful place. The photos are so peaceful and gentle. xx

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    1. It is a lovely atmosphere down by the river, I'm glad we have the canal where we are now, because I did used to love living right by this river.

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  5. Looks like they both enjoyed the park. Lovely to have that on your doorstep.

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    1. It's nice to have the river running through our town and lots of access points to it. The dogs thoroughly enjoy time there.

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  6. I'm so glad to read this post :) Our little Banjo is going on about 13 years old and he has cataracts and can't hear like he used to. Thankfully we have a fenced in yard, but I always worry that if he got out somehow, he would never hear us calling for him. It will eventually get to the point where we need to walk outside with him, I guess.

    By the way, my blog address has changed. I'm not sure if you have to do anything to update the new address, or if this comment will lead you straight back to me. It went from a custom domain to the "milliescozycottagelife.blogspot.com.
    Let me know how it goes :)

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    1. You do learn a whole other way of coping with a deaf and short-sighted dog. Suky is good at the sign language that I started her on when she was a puppy ... I teach all my dogs sit, stay and come, with hand signs along with the verbal commands when they are first learning the words ... and we have added to her repertoire. It helps that Mavis is white and keen of ear as Suky tends to follow her lead with what's going on in the world.

      Clicking on your name on all comments takes us straight to your blog, don't worry ... we can still find you. And you asked do we only tend to clean our homes when company is coming ... not in my case, I don't seem to notice the dust until after they've gone. So my house tends to be sparkly clean AFTER I've had visitors. :-)

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  7. Watching a dog slow down is sad.

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    1. It's heart-breaking. We have just lost two dogs in our family both to age related problems, and another is fighting cancer, it's so sad.

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  8. First view out of the car and now only Alfie (friend's cocker) does a quick check to see if any duck feeding is underway, way past the 'waterworks' he is in the water to fetch his ball. Great place for dogs and saying Good Morning to the regulars. My Old Boy loved it there. Lesley

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    1. It's a great place for walking and dog socialising isn't it. Ours love it. xx

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    1. It's very peaceful for sure, we all love it. xx

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  10. Replies
    1. Having the countryside on our doorstep is one of the reasons we love living here. Beyond the river are fields and hills.

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  11. Interesting to read what you say about Suky on a lead. I noticed that with Daisy for much of her life - I think it was because she knew if we were physically tethered by a lead she could not "lose me". Unless we were on Sale Fell . . . she seemed to know she was safe there. 🐾 💚

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    1. At times Suky does love to have a mad little run around, in the park near my Mum's for instance, but mostly she prefers to be directly to heel ... she's the only dog that has ever walked to heel and through her own choosing, no training ever worked with her, well apart from sitting on command before eating. ;-)

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