Chapter VII - Gypsy, trials, new doggie friends and a make-over
Well, do you think Gypsy and we boys had some fun when we met up! We got down on to the beach and Gypsy recognised us from way over the other side. She raced over as fast as she could! Our special people talked and talked and talked – but that was ok as we were walking and playing all the time too!
Since then I have been training and I had my 1st trial on 28th April. I didn’t get a pass as I sort of got a bit confused with all those people in the ring with me. There was Annie, the lady Judge and a steward.
The Judge was very nice and gave me a pat as I went into the ring, so I naturally thought she might want to give me some more pats, maybe even a tummy rub....but no, she wouldn’t even talk to me after the 1st pat....strange.
Annie was quite happy with me though as I did my stand for examination and got full marks and I did a really good recall and got full marks for that too and I did my stays without fidgeting or giving everyone a running commentary! I tell you that Judge was a bit odd though, first she wants to pat me, then she doesn’t want to know me, then she wants to stroke me again....very confusing.
We have met up with some of the other dogs from dogzonline and their people too! They are all very nice and I am looking forward to a play date with Jenny’s dogs some time soon! Jenny has a retired Greyhound called Lilly and 2 other rescue dogs as well.
Over the last couple of weeks we had a friend of Bob’s visiting. Doug was not nice to me, he hit me on the nose and Annie was livid. Luckily he has gone away again now or I think Annie may well have hit him on the nose back. Even Bob doesn’t want him to come again, so he probably won’t.
The play date at Marlow’s Lagoon was fun but Jen’s dogs are a bit small to play with me, still we all said ‘hallo’ and had a bit of a run around.
Annie is just about to join NACA so as I can do some more trials, I have been learning my lessons well she says! I enjoy learning new stuff it is fun and there are always lots of treats.
Annie thinks that if I am very good she may take me on holiday in 2008 and trial in SA or Victoria.
But at the moment we cannot go anywhere in our HoW as it is being re-built, completely. It has a new floor and nearly has a new place for that all important ‘fridge and cooker. After that the new cupboards go in, then the bed – then we can go places again, yippee! I love being in my HoW!
On 14th September I had my 2nd trial but again I did not like all these people in the ring following, nay, stalking us, it was very unnerving – then I had to walk in circles around 2 other people, one of whom was a man I did not know, that was a bit scary too. I am not too keen on men at present as I find them to be a bit unreliable.
Bob has hurt me once or twice when picking me up, although I don’t think he means to and he sometimes talks very gruff at me too, like he is growling. He is only joking as if he sees I am upset he immediately picks me up and gives me a cuddle.
Annie said never too mind and that she knows how to try and get me through my little fears and that we will go and do some training at the shopping centre now and then where there are lots more people around.
We do not have any more trials on until next year now though so I will get too have a lot of practice time.
I have become a Snow Dog, I know Whippets are not really Snow Dogs but the Snow Dogs up here in Darwin have a regular social walking group and we have been allowed to join them! They are quite a nice crowd and very friendly.
This morning on the beach I met 2 new to Darwin Whippets – Molly and Phoebe. They have come up from Euroa in Victoria and are big strapping hunt bred Whippets. I went bounding over to play ‘whippet rips’ with them but they stopped playing and just wanted to sniff my boy bits....! Still they are both rather nice girls and I hope I get to meet them again soon.
One of the joys of living in an out of the way place like Darwin is that you get to see some unusual things from time to time. Now Darwin is a City, but not like the other Cities I have visited, such as Melbourne, Adelaide, or Perth. This morning we were out on our Sunday walk and we went along a bush track not far from home and all of about 20 minutes through the suburbs from the central business district of Darwin.
We were having a lovely run and had turned to head back for home when Annie got one of those ‘flashes’ and put us both on our leads. Just as well really as about 10 steps more and we pulled up and had to be very, very quiet while a pack of some 7 – 12 Dingo’s walked right across our path, luckily we were so surprised and were being so quiet they didn’t even look at us.
Annie was a little sad that she didn’t have her camera with her but she was also worried they might double back behind us – dingo packs have killed (gulp gulp) some pet dogs quite near here in the past.
I am sure you will agree that things like that do not happen every day in other Cities!
I you would like to contact me please email me, » pawsaroundoz@hotmail.com