Might put Socks in the Lure Coursing Trial later this year.

Dependson cost—not the $25 entry fee but think have to join the Tassie Kennel Club (or whatever it is called) and $90 is a bit much—will be alright when trialling in obedience etc as well as lure coursing.

Well, went to the fun run but it was crap.

HUGE delay before starting, I was pissed off, Socks was pissed off.

Mediocre run before lunch (for people not dogs!) after lunch during her run I heard “Slow the bags” which NEVER had to be said for Socks before!


Ah well, having travelled all that way I drove a bit further and bought some incredibly good raspberry jam and lovely tart raspberry syrup, then onto Bunnings for a heap of stuff then home again.

Think everything could have been managed better and I include me and Socks in that.



Ah well, better run. next time!

Booby REALLY liked reading the above post on dog farts.

Meantime, I am expecting an important phone call so told Socks we weren’t going for a walk.

She is now in her bed, sulking, her back firmly towards me. No difficulty conveying that she is pissed.

Eating a late second breakfast or brunch—asparagus spears wrapped in prosciutto—and dropped a bit of asparagus onto the floor. Live in floor cleaner aka Socks sprang into action, gulp and the sparrowsguts was gone. Ummm is asparagus good for dogs?

American Kennel Club—COOKED asparagus is fine, raw is too rough.

Then the interesting bit since I want to grow a fair bit of asparagus: dogs should not eat asparagus fern, the leafy bit above the spear. OK, work out where the hell to plant it—Tassie a bit cold for it—and maybe have it in the poly tunnel or a separate cloche? Protect the asparagus from the cold and the dog from the fern at the same time.

Socks is not 100% happy with me—she is on a diet.

Thinking of other things I had not noticed that intestinal worms no longer ate some of her food—she had put on a nice coat over her ribs. So I am slowly causing her to lose that coat.

Since she loves running really fast letting her get too fat would be cruel.

From 28.7Kg she is down to 27.7Kg, bit more to go yet.

Well done Socks!

Today had made an appointment at the vet for Socks’ annual checkup and vaccinations. Got there in time to toilet walk the mutt up and down the street and report in in plenty of time.

Socks weighs about 26.6Kg, a good weight.

I mentioned sometimes dark stools (could be blood in the alimentary canal) and golden urine—too dark. I agreed to the cost of a blood test and the consult together—$300.

So Socks got taken out of the room and blood got taken. I did not hear the tiniest whimper from my lovely dog! Not one!

Vets don’t know dog breeds too well, asked if I was sure she was a staghound not a greyhound—explained a (pure breed) staghound was 50% greyhound, so no worries.

Eventually Socks is returned to me—rather excited and restless, bits of loud barking.

She got the heartworm vaxx orally then the three year parvo vaxx via injection—not a whimper from Socks! Proud of her!

Heh, I described Demi objecting violently to the heartworm vaxx injection, being muzzled then eating treats THROUGH the muzzle while being injected and not caring—there was FOOD!

Also mentioned my dainty chi Tiffany: some stupid vet just stuck a needle in her side, didn’t ask me for help first, didn’t do it into a fold of skin between her shoulders. Well, he got a mouthful of needles—not hard, just enough to register a protest. Next year this former rugby-playing young guy starts muzzling Tiffy in yards of fabric. I jeered openly at him—this big man muzzling the tiny dog!


Heh, I am sure the vets could have told me stories—but the next patient was there. The vets were sure impressed with Socks’ sweet nature, stoicism and beauty.

Wow! The bitch is still in her bed nearly 20 minutes after her usual breakfast time! Dogs are devoted to their stomachs so she must really need some extra sleep!

Was in Launceston this morning—Harvest Farmers’ Market. After my marketing I drove to a dog park I had looked up—was even on the way home. TomTom got me to the dog park no probs.

Slightly disconcerting—a warning sign about snakes. Ummm {Gulp} OK.

Through the gate, take the lead off Socks, ZZZOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!! off she goes. Get into the park proper—a bull mastiff cross American Staffy is there, starts chasing Socks. I relax and chat with the 3-4 other dog owners there (numbers change, some leave, some arrive.) No concern about Socks—no lumbering mastiff is going to catch her and the dogs are just having fun anyway—no growling or snarling, just dogs having fun playing chasey.

There is a rather overweight Jack Russell there, a really sweet dog, just wants cuddles, pats and scratches just above the tail—I am happy to oblige.

Then Socks discovers the river—the dog park is on one bank of the North Esk River. She *** LOVES *** running through water, as long as it is not too deep.

At the end I see my girl panting deeply—had a lot of fun, had to catch up the oxygen deficit. Great training for the coursing meet next Saturday. Will go back there Wed I think, 3.30–4.30PM roughly, be more dogs there then and Socks needs to run to prep for the meet Saturday. Might go to the Good Guys prior and buy a chest freezer—buy a big one of those for less than a smaller upright freezer! Quite the round trip—like $40 petrol minimum—so need to pack in the benefits. Will also visit BBQs Galore, organise a bigger smoker than the tiny one I have now. Two shopping events justifying the dog park excursion.