Snapshots

Mum is busy with university work, and Claire sits close by bored as I type and think and scrabble around with my books...it's going to be another of those days, she sighs, dreaming of seagulls or pigeons or exciting dog cafes...

Fashion Show Claire

Handknit by a local grannie

Moth eaten Burberry with Harris Tweed patches

Tennocho Craftshop Handwoven Silk/Wool Scarf

Kasumi Suzuki student's hand-crocheted Victorian-style scarf

Tasmanian Beanie

Seagulls

I've been too busy to blog, a whirlwind of commitments and capers. After obedience training Claire and I stopped by at Vegie's house to pick up some clothes his Mum was handing down to me...beautiful fabrics and designs, lots to wear this autumn, I am really pleased. She was so kind as to make me lunch, too, and I admired her collection of bone china and venetian glass. Claire was after their cat in a quiet way, so we closed the door on the room with the cat and asked Vegie and Claire politely to sit under the table and on the rug by the door respectively- they were really good.

I was so busy talking and having fun I forgot to take pictures! So here are two from the obedience training, "Wait". Dodo sensei changed the venue to get Claire used to the idea of being obedient in various different locations, and not to get distracted.  I'm really proud of the increased separation distance and time she can wait. After asking her to wait when you're visible, you walk round behind the dog and finish up at her side: isn't she a good girl, in spite of the tantalizing view of the pigeon park.

And then today I am proudly wearing the striped top Vegie's Mum gave me, and off to the Bayside Marina to visit another friend. I let Claire run free on the boardwalk and she went hell for leather right up to the end and without my realizing must have jumped right in after the seagulls. I was chatting and naively didn't go with her, thinking there was nowhere for her to disappear to...and after a bit, I called...she didn't come back, even with two women tweeting and chirping after her, so I thought I'd go and reinforce "Here" with some owner presence...only to find her swimming in the sea! Aghast, I grabbed her lifejacket (thank God she had one on) and pulled her out, and she seemed quite unfazed by it all. I then had to wash her down with fresh water, and she continued to career wildly along  the gangplanks getting great exercise chasing the seagulls.

  

Pointing dog

"The basic rule of dog training is repetition, repetition, repetition, plus common sense. One nail at a time will build a house. Repetition will eventually produce a well trained dog....Bear in mind, too, that every dog being trained is looking for what I call an escape hatch. ...You have given your puppy a workout and are bringing him back to the car. Suddenly he circles the car, maybe giving you a quick look, and takes off to hunt some more....Dogs are like children. You tell your kids to go to bed. They start, but then decide that they need a glass of water, or something to eat, or to do their homework. That is their escape hatch. With dogs, as with children, firm insistence will bring recognition of the fact that it is your wishes, not theirs, that must be obeyed." Paul Long (2005) Training Pointing Dogs 2nd. ed. The Lyons Press
I guess I am a bit of an easy going parent, asking to be disobeyed! Training day today with Claire, and this week, contrary to the basic rule of dog training, I was sidetracked by this, that and the other instead of reinforcing our training targets every day...Ah well, as Long says: "Frankly, it's your dog. You bought him for your pleasure. If you are not successful, who cares except you?"- and so, since I do care, as he rightly divined, we will ask Dodo sensei to put us back on the right track again today. Tally ho!

Morning chew

 I've recently discovered new treats for Claire, horse tendons. She likes turkey tendons, but they're gone in a twinkling, and I had run out, so I popped by the pet shop on my way to work last week: they didn't have turkey, but they had horse, so I thought I'd give it a try. The Achilles tendons are long sticks, a bit like a shoe horn, and when she chews on it the tendon gets progressively softer and presumably more delicious. It's a fun social treat, and my son enjoys a moment lazing on the carpet helping her chew. Although it's rather expensive at 200 yen per stick, it lasts for about twenty minutes to half an hour, so it's worth it. 

Cobweb Hunter

I completely forgot it was a public holiday Monday, had my early walk, made breakfast and woke everyone, only to get resoundingly scolded by my irate family...then I sat down at the computer to prepare my courses, with Wednesday just around the corner. Around two I felt repentant about shortening Claire's morning walk to start work, and took a break, driving to the Shinrin Park - only this is Japan, and on public holidays every venue is overcrowded...when we got to the parking area it was full, and the attendant asked if I really wanted to queue, it might take around forty minutes to get in...but having got that far, with Claire getting excited with whiffs of the autumn air, I decided to wait, the two of us with windows wound down and Camila on loud in stereo sound.  

Fortunately the ten cars in front of us moved through the gate at a steady pace as people left the park, and finally it was our turn, after only twenty minutes or so. Claire knows the way, through the horse museum and down to the big park, and made a bee line for the lake...I didn't fancy letting her go wild in there with all the people around, so I coaxed her away, circling the pond to double back to the museum and go in the opposite direction.

 The park has a truly natural feel even though it's restored from land which was used as a racetrack. We skirted the perimeter, sticking to the small coppices rather than the paths, and I thought I would rename Claire Tree Winder, the many times she got the long leash wrapped around the trees, or Cobweb Hunter for the times I had to break through webs in her wake. Apparently there's a new spider silk fabric coming out sometime soon, but I know the feel already on my face! I was building up a sweat as we dashed around, and Claire was zinging in wide circles on the leash with wild excitement after she found a pigeon and it flew away. Claire's energy reminds me of fireworks, she soars higher and higher, getting more and more energy as she runs, and then for an incredible moment it stops, seems to disappear as she sets on the pigeon, and then explodes in a passionate burst of frenzied energy. I finally got tired and slipped, tumbling down the bank of wet, dark humus near the US army fence, and decided to call it a day. We slunk home, both of us muddy and exausted and intensely satisfied.

Mondays...

 I've had a really busy weekend, and been unable to be with Claire much, except for our morning walks, breakfast and hanging out the washing...so this morning Claire is extra smoochy, telling me she's missed me. She seldom offers me her belly to rub, but this morning things are different: she's draped across the floor in alluring poses and seducing me with loving looks. Meanwhile the backload of washing up, hoovering, water for the salamanders, taking out the trash and all the other chores that have piled up in my absence are waiting to be tackled, not to mention preparing for my Wednesday courses, so I skipped radio calisthenics, shortened our usual run, and now Claire is going to have to spend a morning sleeping on the carpet, I'm afraid.