Christmas

Well my first Christmas passed at the Stickler household and I mainly behaved myself. I was so pleased to see freya back and I even got on with Connor letting him stroke me. The only food that was stolen was a bag of Brussel sprouts, which Franklin and I left on the floor. Freya congratulated us on the theft but as they could be peeled she still had to eat a couple with her lunch. I didn't open any of the presents under the tree but did seem to enjoy standing under it making the decorations fall off.

Left to my own devices outside I did managed to pull the snowman decoration off the door, which Ali had put up as she didn't have time to make a wreath. I got that snowman well and truly and even a few wooden father Christmas decorations on the trees off cuts of branches that were tied in a pot outside and decorated.

I did manage to wind everyone up in the end with my large rawhide chew. Franklin finished his Christmas day, I still have mine which makes Franklin bark cause he wants it. It's now hidden for a while.

We had a family walk around a lake but needed to go in the car to it. I got as far as the car park before throwing up, at least it wasn't over anyone but it was a bit chilly on the drive back with the windows open. Being rather windy the other day the gate blew open and out I popped, amazingly when Freya called me I came back, how good of me was that, Ali thinks it was a one off.

However I have been in the bad books I managed to get the half sachet of calf's feed, thankfully it didn't give me any more energy like its suppose to with the calf. Then today me and my partner in crime were left a  lot in the kitchen because of the cows needing lots of human time so we found the pork stock that was defrosting for the turkey pie for tea tonight. It was like eating a giant popsicle. I also weed on the quilt this evening so I need to be very quiet and good. Not sure why I did it but now Ali has 2 quilts to take to the laundrette as Fizz the cat weed on one the other night which Ali found after she got into bed, that really didn't go down well as it was very late and meant changing the bed while under the influence of drink.

The Grinch

She looks so cute.

But already we have had the brussels and left outside she attacked the snowman hanging on the door and eaten the wooden Father Christmas decorations. Bless her, only accompanied lounge visits only

as the presents rest under the tree..

Pumpkins - you just can't trust them

Now who would of thought a small green pumpkin would spook me out but it did, boy did I bark. Freya was back this weekend to visit me and everyone else.

This afternoon she laid out one of her paintings to re cut using two pumpkins and empty bottles to hold the edges down. As I went out side to see what she was up to I couldn't help give a cry. Now Ali and Freya thought it was the painting until I side stepped, barking, backing away  and finally edging nearer to the pumpkin. It kept still, which was good, still enough for me to give it a sniff. I must be the only dog scared of a pumpkin but you see its not usually on the floor and caught me off guard. Don't tell Ali but I don't think that collar she brought is working.

A trip to the vets

Yesterday I went for a drive with the boys to the vets to meet Huggie the vet. As I have nearly been adopted for five months Ali felt it was time to get me use to these visits, in the hope that I will be calm when I really need to be seen for some reason. Now I'm not to sure about this, I am very healthy thank you very much.

In anticipation as Ali knew the old boys needed to go for a health check she brought me a special collar, it's a Adaptil collar that gives off a replica of the pheromones my mum would of given off to help me feel happier. Its a bit pricey as it only last for four weeks to Ali is hoping to cram as much experiences in before the four weeks are up. So did it work? well I still managed to throw up there and back  in the car (it could be Ali's driving).

Now Ali has read as I don't like the car to make journeys positive and rewarding, like going for a walk when after a short drive so i will think the car gives good experiences - yeah right. So we had a bit of a walk before going into the vets. We had to wait outside for a while as there was already a couple of dogs waiting and Franklin being very vocal barks - a lot when he thinks his waited long enough for his appointment. A few coming and going people made me a little nervous but nothing like my flight response I usually show.

Inside the vets I was left to walk around the room, Huggie could see I was a little nervous so left me well alone this time and concentrated on Franklin and Tyser, Franklin had his tumour looked at and have his blood sugar level tested for his diabetes a small needle in his ear - boy did he complain. His lost a bit of weight and his ribs have expanded which means there may be another growth but Huggie was happy with his blood so his insulin has been reduced a bit. I will go back with him in a fortnight to have it checked again.

Tyser has lost another 1.5 Kg on his diet. Huggie felt his joints and pulled his back legs a bit as his finding it a bit difficult to get up and walks very stiffly plodding along. Sadly due to old age his joints are giving him pain, he has a dodgy hip and a bad back. Ali is increasing his rose hip dose and looking into alternative remedies as it could end up be a bit expensive with pills from the vet.

I was given a couple of treats, which i obligingly took from Huggie so I was a good girl and even better I was happy to wait in the waiting room while Ali paid, more can be said for Franklin who had to leave as he started barking then wanted to sniff the kitten there while Tyser sniffed the owner Ali put us all in the car before embarrassing things happened with the whole dog v cat hate thing.

A stranger came to visit

Just before the weekend there was so much busyness going on here it made me so tired. Starting Wednesday my friend Anita came to peel lots of food sadly it was only potatoes and onions so nothing exciting to eat. Then Ali went a bit bonkers and started stuffing bits of clothes with hay which she sewed together, resembling a big rag(ish) doll it didn't phase me as it sat outside. Not until we went for a walk past the drive and wow what was that in the field. I had to warn everyone barking like a banshee I kept on looking back as we past him, he was still there on our return, que barking.

All was forgotten until people arrived Friday evening, que barking. We had to stay inside but the rawhide chews made up for being left. It wasn't until we went out for our last night time wee when I saw the red fire in the field, now this really freaked me out,  it was the quickest wee ever just enough time not to wake the neighbours up from my barking. Why Franklin or Tyser were not phased I have no idea, I guess there just too laid back.

Windy day

Today has been really, really windy. All day the wind has blown. We went for a wind blown walk up to the plateau along the main road and down through the woods. My hair blew in all directions as did Ali's. She couldn't take any photos as trying to control one full of energy jumpy dog (me) and a slow old boy who keeps needing bribes to get him to walk (Franklin) on our flexi leads and at the same and time over seeing Tyser who seems to be going a bit senile in his old age while expecting a tree to land on us was too much.

Our walk was going well, considering  when the wind blows in makes us animals a little bit bonkers ( Ali says I can't get any more bonkers than I am already). As we progressed down through the track in the woods we all got a little bit faster as round the bend was our mate Blackie and his new mate who turned up at our neighbours and ended up being adopted by Blackies owners. She is a young collie pup who is full of energy, as is Blackie but his a lot bigger and stronger. Now the wind made us all a bit jumpy enough that leads got tangled with lots of running and jumping and Ali falling to the ground swiftly being jumped on by that young pup.

After we all calmed down we had to say good bye as we went down and they went up. It was defeanatly not a training day today as I just didn't seem to be able to hear instructions. Franklin was in trouble when the door to downstairs blew open which enabled him to go downstairs for a self service of dog with a bit of cat thrown in. He found the opened cat food tin took it up stairs,
managed to eat most of it including putting his teeth through the metal can a few times. Ali is amazed he didn't cut his gums. he would of finished it all if it hadn't rolled under the coffee table.

My faux pas this afternoon was finding a dead large mouse by the barn as we were dropping Franklin back from our walk (he didn't want to come any further). I proudly kept it in my grasp by holding its tail then just as we were about to go in the garden I dropped it Ali swiftly pulled me back picked it up by its tail and threw it up the bank what she didn't see was being a rubbish thrower it fell opposite the gate, where on our return I sniffed it out to snack on when inside the house. Only Fizz was waiting at the door and distracted me. The mouse is now in the bin so I had to make do with a raw hide chew.

chestnuts are tricky things

We had a lovely Autumnal walk this morning over the woods with our friend Anita, I'm getting quiet friendly with her now maybe its because we are both blonde.

The woods and roads are covered in chestnuts and their spiky shells. Franklin doesn't like walking where there are chestnut shells as they spike his feet but he does like eating them. This has rubbed off on me as I'm rather partial to a chestnut but would prefer it peeled first.

Ali and Freya collected lots of chestnuts to make soup for Bonfire night when we were on a walk the other day it was a bit of a pain really as I had to hang around by the chestnut tee but there was so many smells I needed to investigate it meant Ali didn't end up with  as many as she had hoped for.

As she hasn't made any soup yet the chestnuts are waiting to be eaten what she doesn't know is Franklin and I have been sneaking a chestnut or two from the pile of them although she did find out today when she caught me with one in my mouth which stayed there for longer than I thought it might. I walked from inside and out with it in my mouth for quiet a long half hour until Ali saw it and wondered why I wasn't eating it. it was impaled in my canine tooth that's why stuck there so I couldn't eat it if I tried.

Thankfully once it was pulled off my mouth felt much better, i did bite it a bit but I'm now thinking i may of gone of chestnuts a bit.

The great dog bake off

It was Fizz she's hiding under the chair

Ive been a bit busy the past few days. After Franklin got busted here I have thought about baking.  Ali promised to make some doggy biscuits but has been a bit busy with a poly tunnel so I took things into my small paws. First I got caught with the butter in my mouth, it was a slippery fight but Ali won and the butter landed on the floor minus about 50gramms (yes she did think could she get away with putting it back in the dish but there was a few too many hairs so it went in the bin).  The butter dish is now up high.

Then yesterday while we were left for a couple of hours I managed to find the hidden flour sac under the work bench, it was quiet hard pulling it out but i managed it notice the footprints left on the blanket they are just like the ones on the mat that doesn't fit under the door so is waiting for a home. Oh and it took ages to get that flour out of my beard, Now when are we going to get those biscuits.

A chilly morning walk

Its turned a bit chilly here in the Aveyron with the first morning of frost which made for a very noisy walk for me as there were so many smells. We took Ali's friend Anita in the car to the walk we made with Jamie the other day.

This time in Ali's car where Franklin fights for front seat I thought maybe I should try this as well as it might cure my car sickness and hey what it did - no throwing up. We did think about asking Anita if she would mind sitting in the back with Tyser but that wouldn't really be polite so we squashed Anita instead with Franklin whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

Tyser was in big trouble for running off and not returning, we had to go back a bit to see if he was waiting for us but he wasn't. We continued along the path and through a field where we caught sight of him running along. he came back for a short while before nipping off again. This time Ali said we were not waiting and he would have to find us. Of course she couldn't leave him so we boringly waited while he meandered through the woods popping out onto the road.

By the time we walked back the mist was clearing and the sunshine appearing. I managed to get front seat lap on Anita on the way back although I don't think she was impressed with my bedraggled looks and wet dog smell. She was lucky I didn't throw up on her, maybe I'm getting use to this car travel.

Rule no 3 -I must not go walking on my own

Me,not looking my best tonight

Ali was in big trouble on our evening walk. We went up the top of the road and along the field. This isn't Franklin's preferred walk so he stopped and said 'no', which he does quiet a lot these days, usually being coaxed into walking again with a treat but he really said 'no' tonight.

Franklin and his no stance

 So Ali gave his lead a tug and you can guess what happened his collar came off. As I was ahead on the end of my lead I was pulled  back to sort him out but I don't like going back once I have gone forward so I said 'no' too and Ali pulled my lead as she needed to get to Franklin. Well you may of guessed what happened next my harness came over my head and hey presto I was free. Now Ali had a dilemma does she go for the dog that has so many issues (me) or for the blind, diabetic dodgy legged old boy (Franklin). She went for Franklin figuring the odds were against him more and have been AWOL a couple of times and came back. Figuring I also have 99% scent hound in me I should be able to get back on my own so long as I don't cross the road.

Well I stood still for a few seconds then thought hey what's that smell and well I was off. At least heading in the right direction along the line of woods. By the time Ali, Franklin and good boy Tyser, who does what his told (most of the time) had got to the top of the slope I was not to be seen. They carried on along the way thinking I might smell them I hadn't got as far as them at that point as I was taking in all the smells so I didn't see the deer at the top. It did run off once seen leaving its scent. Ali saw me, called me and thought amazingly I was going to run to her, oh she was so wrong I past them and followed that deer. Off I went howling away with Tyser now following Into the woods between our fields and the one we were walking along. Ali thought this was OK as she could walk along the top and I could follow her scent as she could hear me in the woods. I caught up with them at one point then left again pretty quickly before I could be caught.

So rather than taking three dogs out she walked one. Tyser found them as they headed down into the woods but I preferred to stay in the amazing scent filled woods at the other end of them. Then Ali thought I had found the pigs as I made such a noise, Now they have a electric fence around them and I have been zapped once thank you very much and made a big noise that time so Ali only prayed I didn't freak the pigs out or end up being zapped again in bolting into their enclosures.

Once the others were walked back Ali came to look for me in the top field, I did really good hiding so she wondered back down the field passing the sows and poly tunnel where I was running along the road to home. She was really pleased when she called me to come. I thought I better oblige this time and ran to her. Apparently work needs to be done on my recall.

A Sunday afternoon walk

Yesterday afternoon before we had tea (so I hopefully wouldn't be sick in the car ) we went for a walk near where the cattle are by the fields that are being rented. This was fabemazing as all dogs know new smells are amazing. Apparently it is really good for us to go to different places as although walking is good for us so to is using our senses and boy did we use ours.

The only draw back was we had to go five minutes down the road in the Land Rover. But what was really good was I didn't throw up, i did get a very wet beard from salivating a lot, which is part of being scared but Ali was so pleased she didn't have to clear up after me.

We walked down the track with Jamie, the first time since I have been here he came for a walk with us showing the way as this is the route he takes to check on the cattle each day, not meeting a sole we made a circle back to the car. Oh the smells were great, of course it took lots of sniffing time up to see who had passed. At one point I smelt the scent of what Ali thinks was a deer as these do seem to send me of on a barking lets go fast run which broke the sleepy Sunday silence around us.

We will definitely be going back on that walk, no cars for Tyser to walk towards, flat ground for Franklin to walk on and no people for me to meet.

Blackie

This is Blackie, he lives on the plateau road up the top from us. We pass his house quiet a lot and often see him, or rather his mistress and his lead when we go for a walk over the woods. His a rescue Labrador cross (if he was a full Labrador I bet he wouldn't go AWOL on walks) at around 2 years old he is very bouncy where his legs and brain don't seem to coordinate and often ends up on top of either Franklin, Ali or Freya and if I'm not hiding me. Which i am now OK about as I have got use to him and his not at all barky or aggressive. he just is very friendly. He does however ignore Tyser, I think he has learnt that he is a grumpy old man.

So coming towards the end of our woods walk this morning as we past through the difficult to get through with two leads and a dangling pack a mac for Ali barbed wire fence as we reached the bottom of our field who should come bounding up on his own but Blackie. So he came to our house and inside where he got really hissed at by Fizz (he was non phased by this act) and continued to sniff everything until Ali sent him outside so I thought I better sniff him out, seeing as he was on out turf now. Then as no one had leads on he started to jump all over Franklin and as Franklin has a very poorly leg it was time to take him home. He had a lift back just in time for his mistress to emerge from the top of the woods. I think she was grateful to see him maybe not as much as Franklin was to see him leave.

Guests

This weekend Ali had her cousin and her husband visiting from England, staying in the gite the last time they saw each other was eighteen years ago at her wedding. Now I'm not good with strangers and had to show this by doing lots of barking at them which did stop them in their tracks but Ali told them to ignore me and not look at me. So I was ignored and finally went to my bed inside as they sat outside drinking tea, this was OK as there was a door between us but that evening they came inside. Again I showed my concerns by barking as my pack mates lapped up attention. Once again I was ignored so it was up to me to be brave and venture in to where the nibbles were and guests.

I sat by Ali being a good girl and quiet and hey by the end of the evening I even checked out these two humans giving them the once over sniff AND decided they were no threat so laid on the floor in front of them. Being not allowed out as they left I kept quiet.

Of course I had forgotten them by the next day so had to do the barky rushing around the thing that I am getting good at (but have been told has to stop). I had to go to my bed to calm down as this is unacceptable behaviour as before I was scared so just run inside to hide but now being a bit bolder Ali has got to get the books out to read up on why and how this behaviour can be stopped.

I did get use to them as they had a meal with us Friday evening and watched the rugby last night while I slept on Alis lap maybe it just means more visitors coming for me to suss them out.

Rule no 2 - I must not steal food

Bolognese sauce stains your beard

I am a food forager and gourmet if it is left unattended I believe it is mine, apparently this theory of mine is untrue. The humans would call me a thief. This evening I didn't get any dinner and I am in the dog house for eating the cooked liver out of the saucepan that was going to go into our K9 biscuits followed by the cooked peaches that were going to top Alis granola and yogurt for breakfast this week. Both were quiet tasty I must say.

Ali is kicking herself as she has been trained and is trying to train  everyone else to hide the food, put it out of my reach or in a container I can not open. But this afternoon when it was time for pig feeding the weather outside was sunny, we were asleep sunbathing Alis guard was down she walked out of the kitchen leaving the lid on the saucepan on top of the cooker with the peaches in a container with the lid not quiet on and me outside. What could I do as I follow my nose and climb on the counter tops (when no one is looking of course).

I am a little quiet tonight I think I may of eaten too richer food for my tummy - Ali is not looking forward to the consequences of my serve yourself adventure and there's going to be no biscuits too.

I must be nice to people when they come walking with us

Rather than a rabid banshee dog.

I really enjoy my morning and late afternoon walks. I'm now so confident with my tail wagging in the air and nose to the ground where the smells along the way are amazing when we are on our own. I can walk past cars, sit when a car passes us and a cyclist  is OK now. People I don't know on foot are still frightening to me but at least I can now kind of pass them where as before I use to freeze, lower myself to the ground and then try to flee. It's all about Ali carrying on as normal and not passing any stress on to me which I can feel, which in turn gets me anxious and worried.

 Alis friend, Anita, has come on a few walks. I see her most weeks and now can let her touch me to giving me a stroke. This has been a real break through so it was thought time she could tag along (Ali cant see why she would want to come in the rain with us four, five when Freya is around but she is a keen walker like me so we let her come) Now this week she had her aunt staying with her, a doggie owner too so she tagged along as well. This I was not impressed with this AT ALL at first as when they arrived I showed my new confidence of barking at strangers at the gate. Then they came in.Well I couldn't cope with this and showed everyone by running around and up to this aunt barking like a bonkers dog. I had to continue this behaviour up the road a bit, She ignored me and didn't give me eye contact, which Ali had already said I cant do at the moment with anyone out of my pack.  I found she was no threat but did keep my distance and allowed our walk to go ahead in a normal walking fashion, which at the moment is lots of waiting for and coaxing Franklin to come along.

It was a good walk, we meet no people but did see our two mates who I feel really confident around now. They live in a hamlet we pass through for a very quiet circular walk. Lots of doggy greeting and sniffing of bottoms the two come for a stroll with us to the end of an unmade path before turning back for important dog stuff.

Anita has now gone away for a fortnight so we will probably have to go through the meeting and greeting all over again with her although I don't think she will be sniffing my bottom.

Rule no 1 - No jumping on the bed

Us three dogs each have a Tuffies bed cushion. These were brought when Franklin and Milo man were young pups chewing there way through many cushions these were a lot stronger and washable so more no smelly dog beds when they got wet and soggy after rainy day walks. although they are not indestructible and at the time a little expensive they are very comfortable and have lasted ten years without a tooth mark in them.

Being able to hose them down they haven't got that snugly feeling so we have a fleece blanket laid on top for when the weather gets cooler now I'm not complaining as when my bed is made is it quiet snugly but I do like a proper bed to really roll around on and unmake.

However I am not allowed on the beds, especially when I am wet but it is my greatest ambition to spend a bit of time on one without anyone catching me, pretty hard now as bedroom doors have to be shut and locked as I was in really big trouble for weeing on Freya's bed. No ones really knows why I did it, it just happened, Ali is reading up on why I might of done it but it must not happen again as it means quilt needs to go to the really big washing machine at the supermarket and the cost may come out of my treat allowance which is really not on as I think I only wanted the bed to smell of me.

Hello

my nose isn't really as big as it looks here

My name is Sorrel, I am a rescue dog and have been given my own blog to record the goings on of my life in my forever home. My mistress, Ali thought there might be a bit of Sorrel overload on her blog The English Paysanne

So a little about me as I am the most important with the humans and my co mates following. I was rescued by Danielle who runs la mere aux betes before staying with Danielle I had been staying at the local dog pound being taken there after wondering the streets for a while due to me being dumped by travellers. Danielle works with Sue at Poorpaws which is where Ali saw the post about me (and fell in love). I was called Inja then and you can still see me on the previous adopted and happy ending pages.

my digs at la mere aux betes

As I had no socialisation skills, was completely scared of everything and hadn't lived in a house before everything was all a little challenging when I was brought to my new home.

It has now been four months since that day I arrived after throwing up in Ali's car a few times, I still do not 'do' cars but I do a lot more than four months ago and will tell you very soon.

love Sorrel