It wisnae me!

Further to Monday's post...

Surely it doesn't take a forensics expect to deduce that the dog who, yesterday morning, left this mark on Gail's hitherto pristine new coat, has much bigger paws than any fox terrier we've ever met. 

Beyond doubt the culprit was Fergus, the exuberant ten month old Labrador whom we meet in the park most mornings. He is a VERY NAUGHTY DOG.

Living dangerously...?

So Gail has bought herself a cosy new winter coat, and her ten year old dirt-coloured dog walking jacket has been consigned to the Oxfam pile. 

She tells me all her friends have been complimenting her on the purchase, saying what a nice cheery colour orange it is. 

Well I must say I was a bit surprised when I saw she'd made the 'brave' decision to wear this coat for the Aberdeen'n'shire monthly fox terrier walk yesterday. 

It struck me as a high risk strategy but I kept my thoughts to myself. The planned walk was along the muddy riverside track leading to the ruins of Fetternear Bishop's Palace. Maybe Gail would be lucky and none of us fox terriers would run through the puddles and then leap up and leave pawprints on her still pristine outerwear. 

In the event, we foxies (Agatha, Rupert, Merin, Jinx, tall newcomer Otis and myself) were all having such fun rampaging around and jumping all over each other that we more or less let the humans alone.

And the bright new coat remains miraculously pawprint free. For now, at least...

Nobby the future agility champion...

Today, we are taking part in YAM-aunty's Final Friday Feature, with a special piece in which broader questions about achievement are examined with respect to my progress in my weekly dog agility training sessions. 

Clockwise from left: Einstein, Churchill, Darwin, Rowling

Can you believe that my owner Gail is beginning to doubt I might ever be agility championship winning material?

The accusation is that I am ill-disciplined and lacking in focus during the Tuesday evening training sessions. Clever, yes. Agile, most definitely. Creative in my approach. Too much so, apparently.

Well I guess I am not the first to have their genius go unrecognised in their earlier years. 

Have you heard of the physicist who revolutionised our understanding of space-time but, like me, had 'issues' with school discipline? Yes, that's right, Albert Einstein.

How about the great wartime leader who was said by his school teachers to have a keen mind but a spirit not suited to regimentation. Sir Winston Churchill, of course. Although the description could perfectly be applied to yours truly.

Then there's Charles Darwin, he of theory of evolution by natural selection fame, whose father once said to him, "You care for nothing but dogs, shooting, and rat catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family". Surely, it's obvious that an interest in rat-catching correlates strongly with excellence in other areas of endeavour?

Did you know that J.K.Rowling, world famous and phenomenally wealthy Harry Potter author, was at university considered just an 'average' student who prioritised social life over studies? Well I am also renowned for prioritising my social life, I want to point out. 

I could go on, but I think I've made a compelling case. I simply cannot understand why Gail is still wearing her 'deeply sceptical' expression and suggesting how about I just concentrate on actually trying to follow instructions about weaving through the weave poles and not be forever racing off to 'socialise' with my fellow trainees, and then we might actually make progress at agility class..... 

Oh it's hard to be so misunderstood.

THIS WEEK AT AGILITY

While teacher's pet Harrison masters the weave poles...

 ....Nobby and his training pal Breeze focus on scoring yet more treats...

Gail says she might call her next dog Breeze. She thinks 'Gail and Breeze' would make a good pairing. (A joke that works better spoken than when written down...)

Asleep on the job?

 

"What kind of a guard dog are you Nobby?"

That's what Gail asked yesterday when she returned from coffee with her friend Sheila. 

Where to even begin with the unfairness of this implied criticism?

Well first of all, why was I not invited to the café rather than being left home alone. Gail's excuse, that the only nearby eaterie open on a Monday is not dog-friendly, seems to me a poor one.

Then there's the deeper question of my role in life. Guard dog indeed!  Who said? That strikes me as a distinctly lower class occupation (one might as well say 'bouncer'). I think 'privileged companion' better describes my position in our household. And if you want to call me 'high maintenance', well I see nothing wrong with that, at all.

But even if we accept the contention that I should be keeping an eye out for intruders, then I most certainly want to refute any idea that I was "asleep on the job". Surely we all know by now that, whatever my apparent state of rest, it only takes the sound of distant footsteps moving towards the biscuit tin and I am instantly on high WFT alert.  

I can't believe any of my friends have ever been accused of dereliction of duty with so little justification. 

The November Swimsuit Edition...

 Stonehaven, 17/11/2023

I asked Gail why she did not join these ladies, who were evidently enjoying their dip in Stonehaven harbour. 

She says she does not have the physique for swimming in the North Sea at latitude 57ºN in mid November. 

Frankly, neither do I. (Although if Gail upped the treats supply, perhaps I might?)