Man's best friend | Page 79 | Vital Football

Man's best friend

A bit unexpected, but I was paid a compliment today over what should be the most basic thing a dog owner does on the streets.

Lovely old chap, seen him a few times on the walks, but only ever exchanged pleasantries. He stopped today whilst I was conducting clean up duty to simply thank me for continuing to pick up their poop as he'd seen me do it before, and it disgusts him when others around here don't.

5/10 minutes later I'd learnt his annoyance came from his grandkid getting covered a few years back as she ran through grass, there was a lovely Irish lilt I'd never noticed before to his voice but it came out the more he spoke, and he was even more disgusted with those who picked the poop up, but then left the bag on the floor instead of putting it in the bin as he found that truly lazy and even more pointless.

I was in full agreement obviously, but it was one of the most bizarre and unexpected dog walk chats I've had in a while lol

But it made me smile and brightened my day, and he walked away with a smile on his face as well, and I fully expect he may now be another new 10 min chat I have on occasions when we pass in the future.

The thing I find daft now, with the eldest heading towards 15 and mobility issues rising, I have pared the walks back a little in terms of distance but tried to balance it by letting the youngest trot around more, when the eldest is taking a small breather. ie they haven't been on the same lead now for ages, two separate extended ones so one can go slower whilst the other does their own thing.

The walks now take longer lol
 
When it's right Trek, you'll know. It'll probably still feel too soon, but you'll get that click and pull that basically gives you no choice but to act.

That's how it was for me at any rate.

The Dog's Trust (frustratingly as they shouldn't have been there) had 5-7 I'd have happily had with more time, but as I've said before, we then hit these two and although the missus had been looking for a good while and I couldn't get over the 'not yet' line - I folded in the moment and jumped to justifying why I had to have them in my own head, even though I was saying we couldn't have two out loud.

Bizarre but the click was right, I knew it and I just had to play a stupid game to accept it.

You'll get your click mate, and it'll just be a new journey and new memories that remind you of old ones. But in the process another doggie gets the benefit of everything you can lovingly offer and will have a great life.
 
Update on my recent post about the pup getting a little bit braver. Out in the woods yesterday a gang of three terriers appeared, the pup barked once and stood still. She then took it upon herself to go and meet the advance guard from the pack. After exchanging pleasantries a second dog joined in before they and their owner walked past. The third dog however refused to walk past my pup,and it was only after I placed my pup at my side that the third dog plucked up his courage and sprinted past. Something has changed, and I don't know what it is. Still waiting for a nasty dog to appear and fuck it all up, but will enjoy it while it lasts.
 
Out with the pup today and a couple with a Lab and a Springer appeared on the track. Same two dogs she ran almost back to the car too get away from six weeks ago. Barked once today and trotted up and said hello, then calmly walked past. Long may this last.
 
Ha - the weather improved the dog walk for obvious reasons, although it would've been useful had I remembered it was warm in the sun and didn't go out with my coat and hat on. But this is me.

Random woman fell in love with them, and then relative newbies on the corner were out front and despite pleasantries in passing with the bloke (and I assume eldest son), I didn't know they had a dog.

A little gorgeous sausage who more barked himself to the gate (as opposed to wobbling or walking). Eldest couldn't care like normal, youngest stayed calm and nosed through gate and we had 10 seconds of silence as they sniffed.

Sausage then went little man syndrome, the wife started rushing over (naturally worrying given size difference, and I think part embarrassed as mine were so calm) and then my youngest backed away and when she looked at me, I'm convinced she was saying 'he's a nutter'.

I walked away giggling thinking 'it takes one to know one' given how excited she gets with new dogs usually.

Cute little bugger though. He's on the future fuss list.
 
Took a rare trip to the Co-op tonight, stumbled across a poodle who noticed me whilst taking a piss. Finished the natural urge and bolted for me, so hand went out for a fuss.

It surprised the owner who hadn't realised I was there, and she instantly started apologising, with her mate doing the same, even though I clearly wasn't bothered.

Anyway, long story short - the poodle had cupped their paws around my arm as I fussed their head and it wasn't letting go lol The more I attempted to move away, the more it stood up on two legs so it kept getting fussed.

Absolutely tickled me as I'm convinced I could've lifted it off the ground and the dog wouldn't have cared.

They really are easily amused daft bastards.

Looking back though, the stupidest thing of the encounter. Both me and youngest kid just came to a stop behind the dog whilst it was pissing (no discussion, we both just did it and carried on talking) - we were inadvertently queuing for a poodle? PMSL
 
Do you good folks remember how I described my aloof eldest who used to tolerate attention if food was being offered.

Do you then remember me saying she had significantly melted....wanted fusses, would now lie between feet - ergo - now a completely different dog.

Anyway, given her weight and the fact she's slowed down, we have long cut denta sticks to every other day.

We kind of broke that rule tonight, because the cute bugger walked in unannounced and put both her paw and her head on my youngest's leg and would not move.

My youngest begged for permission until I relented giggling like a school girl at the whole thing. What tickled me most is she'd already tried with us, but she has developed the brains to now try and use the kids, and they fold!

She will soon turn 15, I have to admire the game play in the old girl. Credit where it's due.
 
Good doggy day today.

Made a change tonight, eldest spent longer saying hello to a little bulldog who ran to the gate to meet (I didn't know that house had a dog!). Rare for her to be interested, but was nice to see. She was actually more miffed when I finally walked on than the youngest was, although I was left saying goodbye (on behalf of the dogs) to a five year old who said 'bye bye doggies' about 10 times in 10 seconds lol

Today was also the youngest's first groom with our new lad as posted about earlier. The bath didn't go well. I think she got more water on him than he managed to get on her as in his words as relayed by the missus 'she got bouncy and playful' and he was soaked.

He still spent 2 1/2 hours with her, and bare in mind the other named shop did them both in 2 hrs. Chalk and cheese on care and attention. We've now balanced the next groom so he does them both and it saves him two trips.

His answer to what we thought might be a favour to him on petrol was 'I won't book anyone else that day'.

Top man, and then the night was finished off after the walk, they were both hot and knackered and we were longer than usual, so it meant we timed our return with the old man coming over for a coffee and chat. Dad was chatting to neighbour as he was gardening with his daughter (he's always been wary of their size, look and my ability to control them) but he's melted the last year. His kids let their kids fuss them, and it's swung him onside I think.

Anyway, despite being knackered and hot they saw my old man and started bouncing to him, and I just heard a loveable 'aaaawwwwww that's cute' from his daughter as she saw their excitement at meeting my dad again (they saw him yesterday FFS lol).

The whole day just tickled me with them again. I wish I'd have got them younger so we'd have longer.
 
mike_field said:
Good doggy day today.

Made a change tonight, eldest spent longer saying hello to a little bulldog who ran to the gate to meet (I didn't know that house had a dog!). Rare for her to be interested, but was nice to see. She was actually more miffed when I finally walked on than the youngest was, although I was left saying goodbye (on behalf of the dogs) to a five year old who said 'bye bye doggies' about 10 times in 10 seconds lol

Today was also the youngest's first groom with our new lad as posted about earlier. The bath didn't go well. I think she got more water on him than he managed to get on her as in his words as relayed by the missus 'she got bouncy and playful' and he was soaked.

He still spent 2 1/2 hours with her, and bare in mind the other named shop did them both in 2 hrs. Chalk and cheese on care and attention. We've now balanced the next groom so he does them both and it saves him two trips.

His answer to what we thought might be a favour to him on petrol was 'I won't book anyone else that day'.

Top man, and then the night was finished off after the walk, they were both hot and knackered and we were longer than usual, so it meant we timed our return with the old man coming over for a coffee and chat. Dad was chatting to neighbour as he was gardening with his daughter (he's always been wary of their size, look and my ability to control them) but he's melted the last year. His kids let their kids fuss them, and it's swung him onside I think.

Anyway, despite being knackered and hot they saw my old man and started bouncing to him, and I just heard a loveable 'aaaawwwwww that's cute' from his daughter as she saw their excitement at meeting my dad again (they saw him yesterday FFS lol).

The whole day just tickled me with them again. I wish I'd have got them younger so we'd have longer.
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Ours is in season, so it's going to be a long three weeks or so. Very quiet where we walk, so don't have too fight off too many randy gits. She had a lovely swim in the river yesterday as the weather has warmed up. I usually avoid the river like the plague. It's beautiful and clear but her being in the river always seems too involve me getting soaked one way or another.
 
Much better and more enjoyable in this weather isn't it, and at least from your side a swim suits a purpose, especially if it's a nicer body of water and if you do get drenched, at least you dry out a little quicker lol
 
Does amuse me when I encounter the old owner shitting themselves in blind panic as their dog isn’t trained/badly behaved when they see another dog and owner in the distance . Two times tonight I have been given a wide berth or a I’ll crush the dog against the wall to let me pass down this narrow alley . Seriously the first owner walked into the middle of the corn field to avoid me.

I just serenely walk past with Melon Pooch off the lead nicely walking next to me and we put our noses in the air as if to say ….losers …..to the owner and pooch.

Seriously though, can’t be much fun having to be so aware and take exaggerated avoiding action .
 
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Melon Donkey said:
Does amuse me when I encounter the old owner shitting themselves in blind panic as their dog isn’t trained/badly behaved when they see another dog and owner in the distance . Two times tonight I have been given a wide berth or a I’ll crush the dog against the wall to let me pass down this narrow alley . Seriously the first owner walked into the middle of the corn field to avoid me.

I just serenely walk past with Melon Pooch off the lead nicely walking next to me and we out put our noses in the air as if to say ….losers …..to the owner and pooch.

Seriously though, can’t be much fun having to be so aware and take exaggerated avoiding action .
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I'm that aware based on other dog owners to be fair (not the dogs!). Given the size of my two I (probably wrongly) feel the need to be on guard even though I trust them 100%.

I know it'll be different off lead, and I don't trust them that much as I didn't train them, but had one tonight, little schnauzer I'd never met before. I noticed the hand action from the owner as we came round a half blind corner, so I held my two up and let them sniff longer, so he could pass and realise my greeting meant big dogs.

He obliged, changed course to go round a car, so I walked on with them. Blinded by the 4x4 I didn't realise he'd come to a stop and was acting like he wanted his dog to meet - his face was telling a different story though and he froze.

Upon realising I instructed mine to walk on and they did, but he didn't move and his yapped, so youngest snapped round and into 'can we meet' mode and then he seemed to have a quiet upset that my youngest bolted for his dog.

Why did you stop? Why wind mine up by not letting yours come and say hello and make me hold her back?

I let these meet 3 yr olds who are interested because I trust them, let them be dogs. Humans are the problem.

Fucking does my head in.
 
God it never ends. Can people remember I prefer dogs to humans.

Couple of days back I hear 'fluffy' and a 5 inch kid wraps his arms around both of them from behind before I can even react. His parent passes a lung as he catches up. My two 'what the fuck, oh hello, new friend'.

Parent rightly, calmly, bollocked (wrong word) the kid with an explanation, and then showed them how to meet new dogs properly.

Then, two lads digging up a drive the next day. I just suddenly hear 'oh my God they are gorgeous' 'God they are young and bouncy'. I offer a fuss if interested, and youngest howls, so tools are downed instantly and 10 minutes later I know one of them really wants a first dog, and the other had two Akita's who had food guarding issues.

The one who wants a dog was entertaining Dog's Trust by the end of it when he learned their ages and saw how lively they were.

I then get a lad on a mobility scooter who falls for them today, and youngest tries to jump on the handle bars. Good chat, dog's are great again, he loves it and gets fusses and kisses.

I'm knackered - and if then scripted, an absolute bellend tonight also sees them and obviously crosses the road for safety PMSL.

Can I have a day off tomorrow?
 
mike_field said:
God it never ends. Can people remember I prefer dogs to humans.

Couple of days back I hear 'fluffy' and a 5 inch kid wraps his arms around both of them from behind before I can even react. His parent passes a lung as he catches up. My two 'what the fuck, oh hello, new friend'.

Parent rightly, calmly, bollocked (wrong word) the kid with an explanation, and then showed them how to meet new dogs properly.

Then, two lads digging up a drive the next day. I just suddenly hear 'oh my God they are gorgeous' 'God they are young and bouncy'. I offer a fuss if interested, and youngest howls, so tools are downed instantly and 10 minutes later I know one of them really wants a first dog, and the other had two Akita's who had food guarding issues.

The one who wants a dog was entertaining Dog's Trust by the end of it when he learned their ages and saw how lively they were.

I then get a lad on a mobility scooter who falls for them today, and youngest tries to jump on the handle bars. Good chat, dog's are great again, he loves it and gets fusses and kisses.

I'm knackered - and if then scripted, an absolute bellend tonight also sees them and obviously crosses the road for safety PMSL.

Can I have a day off tomorrow?
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Dogs really polarize opinions now don't they. I read this yesterday and it's hard too believe that anyone would want these fuckin things anywhere near them.
www.dailymail.co.uk

Dramatic moment devastated Welsh farmer shoots dead two XL Bully dogs

David Hughes, 27, shot the two dogs after they had run rampant around his farm shortly before lambing season and gone into his barn to kill the sheep 'for fun'.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk
They were his own dogs that killed his own sheep. What on earth was his motive for having a killing machine around his livestock. I'm sure some will defend the dogs, but there's enough breeds out there to avoid buying these bloody things.
 
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