Just turned the heat off under the stock, decant it tomorrow morning. Smells fine.

Ah—weighed the breakfastless mutt, 26.1Kg. Pretty good.

Did a short walk with Socks, just the PO and home via slightly roundabout route—had planned a longer one but the sky looked awfully grey so home we went.

Despite the short walk—Socks knew we were headed home, knows the area well because I have walked her over all of it—yet. . .she did the dance! Bless her!

Anybody else have a dog? Activities? Problems?

Just back from a walk with the mutt.

A delight. Socks walks to heel, no pulling on the lead, fighting as to which direction to go—not like a walk with Demi pre obedience training 

To have much of a walk I have to leave the village and walk on more rural roads: specifically roads between fields where there might be sheep in the fields. Socks VERY interested in sheep.

Me—I don’t want to pay for sheep my dog has killed and I would really hate to have to bury Socks after the sheep owner shot her. Some family crap I will not go into means that living quietly in Tasmania with my lovely dog is what I need right now. Socks is not an official assistance dog but to me is a bit more than a normal pet.

But we walked past fields containing sheep without much hassle. There were more fields with horses but horses are big enough to look after themselves and Socks is, I hope, clever enough not to be brained by a horse lashing out with its back legs kicking.

The paddocks have been empty for the last couple of years but we have had dry winters the last two years. This year has not been really wet but seems the rain has been OK so far and sheep are returning to some paddocks.

I did have a chat with someone who keeps sheep. A dog would not be shot unless it was killing sheep or clearly about to kill some. I will make sure Socks does not come near to sheep. This means that if most of the paddocks have sheep the walks will cease and I will try to bring Socks to fenced dog off lead areas and maybe walk Socks along the railway line here.

Geez, just as I thought the weather would be great for tomorrow’s fun run—rained today. Ross has showers forecast, hopefully can get at least one run in. The season is coming to an end, only 6-7 weeks of it left.

Perfect weather,  sunny but cool. No sign of the promised rain.

Socks—Run of the Day in her first run. Almost grabbed the lure again, lucky she didn’t.

Where the course has a long sharp V the dogs take a few metres to slow and turn around while the lure zips rapidly away. Without a high prey drive the dog would be discouraged. Comment on Socks’ first run “Socks never gives up” and she doesn’t. A VERY high prey drive is part of that I suppose.

Someone came past with two whippets. I patted them a bit—less fur than Socks. Tropical dog 

Nice day. Not many rocked up so all finished just after 12pm.

Drove to Launceston for dog obedience training.

She is getting better, much better BUT

Recall test. Leave dog telling her STAY with voice, hand and stepping out with right foot first. Ten paces, turn around, look at dog. On instruction from the instructor call the dog with voice and hand signal. Dog is supposed to trot briskly to the handler then sit just in front of him.

Socks is different: on call, takes off like a canine rocket and races past me, races around the field a minute then comes to me and sits. Hilarity all round.

Apart from that, all pretty good.

Took her to a large field. Let her run etc. Then called her and we did obedience exercises, heeling off lead including right about turns, the terror of trialling with Demi: in a right about turn you turn your back on your dog (dog is on your left, remember.) Socks turned like a champion, no problem. OK, recall: sit the dog, tell it stay, walked ten paces, turned around, waited, got Socks’ attention then told her “Come!” while throwing my arms in the air.*

Blow me down, Socks trotts to me, sits down and I walk down her left side, around her and up her right side. Socks sits unmoving, like a champion!

Did a bit more, let Socks run around as she wanted, recalled her, put the lead on, walked her a bit, took the lead off, we walked around a different area, suddenly Socks sees something black, I thought a bird but it doesn’t fly, both racing, Socks catching up—she really can run you know—when it zooms sideways into reeds on the bank of the little river and Socks stops. If that was a rat glad she didn’t catch it—rat bites are dirty!

Back to the other side of the river and the car. Home.


* Dogs’ sight is not its strongest sense. In trials, especially evening trials we dress to, not impress, be visible! Dark jumper, white shirt, pull the jumper sleeves up, dog sees the white sleeves move in commands like heel, stay, drop etc. Similarly, dark pants, white sneakers. Little things, just trying to load the communication channel from handler to dog. We did it, every bit helps.

Ummm a problem has arisen with the recall: Socks does not do the recall outside of the lessons.

Need treats I think.