Saturday 18 September 2010

Home Check

Look who came to call last night. After we completed the Home Check paperwork and my formal application to adopt her, the foster carer and I took this lovely girl for a long walk through Jesmond Dene.


Tosca remained at home. She had done as much walking today as was advisable for her little legs and damaged ligament, so we took the new dog out of the van without Tosca spotting us, and sneaked round the corner to get to the park. I forgot my camera.

We played on the hill, threw a ball, galloped in all directions, new dog filled with the energy and exuberance that comes with youth but is likely to last for years. I was reminded painfully of several things: my feeble ball-throwing technique (note to self: get one of those ball-chucker things!), my easily-pulled back, and my age - by the time this dog is an old lady, I will be too, or nearly. A sobering thought.

She comes back when called, but that's all she does to order. Her leash discipline is non-existent - this is the bit that had worried me, and I was right to worry, as she pulls like a train. My neck and back were painful afterwards with the effort of controlling her. Walking on a leash is our first area of formal training, and we will experiment with types that will reduce her fancy that she is pulling 16 railway carriages behind her.

But the leash was only needed on the street, and once in the Dene, we had a lovely, lively, joyful walk. Runners gearing up for Sunday's Great North Run were ignored, to our relief.

When we and one wet dog came home, the team came to have another look.


New dog sat damply next to Tosca's kitchen basket and photos were taken. You may supply your own captions....




And then she went away, till next time. Before then, I must decide on a name for her (no, please don't help me here - I struggle to choose from two, let alone dozens!), shop for a bed, some toys, food and a great deal more, and prepare myself for the great adventure ahead.

What larks!


Well, for some of us, at any rate.

24 comments:

jabblog said...

I'm so pleased the adoption is progressing. Pups and young dogs are such a joy. We have a harness for our very strong one-year-old boy; we found it in Pets at Home and it's saved me from being pulled over.
Poor Tosca, she looks rather alarmed but she'll be fine.
Wet Labrador is such a seductive scent, isn't it?

the veg artist said...

Just think of the extra cake you will be able to eat with these longer walks! Cats peeping through, and "the small dog" look adorable, as always.

Linens and Royals said...

Oh Dear! That little dog does look worried, as do the cats with their heads through the railings. I'm sure it will all work out for the best when you have your new country house. Good luck with your house sale.

Lucille said...

Oh but please let us guess the name! Maybe you could furnish us with daily clues until someone gets it. Then there could be pwizes. Look - I need distracting. My first guess is Freya.

Gretel said...

She looks totally ecstatic to be with you, what a happy girl! Nothing like shared disgruntlement for creating solidarity.

rachel said...

Sheesh..... what is it about naming anything that gets everyone involved? I'll do a separate post on the name issue. Meantime, how about everyone guessing the weight of the dog instead? Or the volume of drool produced in one ball-throwing session? That won't muddle my poor brain any more than necessary......

Lucille said...

So not Freya then?

rachel said...

Freya is a little girl I know, the one who was born terribly prematurely, and looks about 2 years younger than she is. And she is a formidable child, so I suppose Freya would be a good name for a strong dog. But no......

SusanFrances said...

Gorgeous dog...looking forward to finding out her chosen name. Re the " pulling".....I would recommend trying a harness, my dog was a changed boy on walks after I got one!

Friko said...

O how lovely, another dog re-homed.
She looks gorgeous and I am sure she'll learn to obey you very quickly. Labradors are so very keen to please their owners that they respond to proper training like a duck to water.

Tell us all about her and how she fits into her new home.

Good luck to all of you.

Susan said...

This post made me smile as big and wide a grin as possible. Oh the tiny dog, she is so sweet and the size and character comparison - so perfect. Eager "life is indeed a party" lab smile and nervous, shy perhaps, tiny sweetness. Love it !!

You, Rachel of NuT, have just made my day!!
merci & xo's, les Gang

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Gorgeous dog, looks a lot like my son's lab (Flora if you are interested! or not) and as Friko says she is very keen to please. Not sure the older residents look pleased in any way, but they'll get used to it!

flwrjane said...

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Def yes on the harness. Our lab weighs in at 70, about 40 lbs. less than me. Once we switched to a harness I had more control, she had more fun and visits to my chiropractor went way down.

Enjoy, we'll enjoy right along with you.

xo Jane

Around My Kitchen Table said...

She's a beauty and so lucky to be adopted into such a furry family! I just love your pictures, especially where the two cats are peeping through the bars.

BumbleVee said...

awwww.... poor little Tosca.....

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Humph ! I've lost interest now I can't try to pick a name . Not that anyone ever likes any I choose , so I'll spare you .
Amount of drool ? Puhlease ! You're talking to a snot/drool/squashed banana expert par excellence . I work with the best , after all . So ... less than the average toddler , more than the average budgie .
Anyway , she's lovely , drool and all !
Sonata .

Anonymous said...

Glad it's all going well. A friend of mine added a length of bungee cord to her dog's lead - not so much for the constant pulling, but to lessen the impact of sudden sharp jerks. Our spaniel pulled constantly - we bought one of those training leads - when the dog pulls, it tightens round the dog's neck ..... it had no effect on her!!

Sue said...

Glad you are getting along well together. Looks like Tosca might need some convincing though!

Fran Hill said...

That picture of the cats looking down through the banisters is very funny! They definitely keep an eye on what's going on, don't they?

mountainear said...

I go a way for a while and you get up to all sorts of things! How exciting - what a lovely looking dog. Tosca looks ever so slightly peeved - or is that putting it mildly?

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

Tosca and the cats don't look overjoyed about the prospect of another family member. Give them time and they will learn to love her. She is such a sweet, happy dog.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

what a fantastic post.
Glad to learn and know about you.

Rattling On said...

Good luck...my 12yo lab still manages to pull and she has trouble getting up the front steps!! It's usually just been keenness to get out and play, the way back is easier! SHe looks fantastic and I'm sure Tosca will soon get over it. Or not, but labs don't notice anyway.

Lesley said...

My poor, poor, Tosca. She does look put out!

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