Counter surfing and Garbage

I really enjoy reading Companion Animal Psychology as it pops up in my Facebook newsfeed, always food for thought. This time they shared a tongue-in-cheek blog posting titled Canine Criminality, which in my pre-tea morning fog, I understood to be about dogs scavenging in the garbage when unsupervised, and how, or how not to deal with it/ allow it in the first place. I found it most confusing, and wasn't sure what exactly the message was, but in a nutshell, it seems, as Candice Gray was kind enough to comment: "The primary method implied here is management - don't leave garbage anywhere the dog can get to it, or don't allow the dog to roam the house unsupervised."
I like my rescued setters roaming free in the house, and while we have crates (part of the rescue contract on getting the dog from CACI Gundog Rescue), I mainly have the dogs there for feeding and to use as their space at will, not as a place to cage them when I am out. Sherlock, when he came, completely freaks out in cages, seemingly panicked and claustrophobic, peeing wildly and barking uncontrollably, so again, the free roam part was a must with him. He's better now after eight months, it's his safe delicious feeding spot, albeit with the door comfortably open, haven't pushed his limits further for the time being- but that's another story.
Anyway, the not leaving garbage anywhere the dog can get to it...
I love the garbage hanging off my kitchen counter, two or three bags, so I can easily separate plastic recyclables, paper, bottles and rawer stuff.  A pain to keep up and down with it every time I leave the room. So, to my mind, the dogs had to learn to leave it, and they do, but I can't quite remember how  I achieved this. 
During walkies I was thinking about this and when I got home, I commented: 
"One thing that really worked for me, upon reflection, was declaring the kitchen counter and all things pertaining including the trash hanging there, as mine, by shoving my bootie in the dogs' noses when they got too close, or bumping them away with a sideswipe of my hips- picture me dancing back and forth along the counter like a typewriter head ready to do a bum's up at a moment's notice for a couple of weeks when they arrive. Can't remember whose fantastic tip this was....maybe Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.?" 
I couldn't keep Sherlock from biting open bags of kibble when I get a fresh stock, so there indeed I use the management technique with kibble in a flip lid plastic bin, and a tray upright against it to clatter and fall if he gets too close, and other unopened kibble in the broom closet and counter cabinets, which touch wood is working this last half year. However, the garbage, it seems, is MINE!

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year of the Nesting Hen, the Cockerel and the wee Cheeping Chickens...

a year to enjoy hatching our eggs and feathering the nest in ways that make us happy and fulfilled.

Sherlock Holmes, rescued by Gundog Rescue CACI, is now an integrated member of the family after eight months, enjoying walkies and good food, not to mention loving human-canine interaction.

Both of us a bit blinded by the brilliant sunlight in this new Year, but hoping it holds more great things in store for all of us, may peace and blessings abound.

Photos by Lelantos

Dog Cafe Anjin Renewal Open

Unfortunately for personal reasons the cafe is taking it slow in 2017, so if you plan on going you need to phone and consult about make a reservation at least 3 days in advance. Thank you for your consideration.

After a five year hiatus, my local dog cafe, Anjin,

 has reopened, and such a wonderful place it is to hang out with the dogs, especially if I didn't have time for a long afternoon walkies.

 

Below is a special L size doggie plate which I share between the setters, always seasonal and of course hand made with loving care. 

The owner has two dachshund babies of her own, and over the years they are quite friendly with my sweeties, so they all sit happily together to attention for extra treats. Since it was only us, I can let the dogs run free in the room, they know not to enter the kitchen. While there is ample space for three or four big dogs, there's also a verandah to space out and relax for bigger parties of big dogs too.

 Hard to guess which is the doggie plate and which is the human plate, right? No wonder the dogs always try to go even when it's just walkies.

 This is my favorite human dish so far, tomato salad with anchovies and Spanish bread, just plain delish. The spare rib meal looks scrumptious too and reasonable at the price..

So here's the flyer, and blip me on FB or Line if you're in the neighborhood, I'll be happy to come along too!

Setter blessings

 Sometimes you get so caught up in things, you forget to see the joy right in front of your nose...three dogs can be quite demanding at times...and you can't always see the beauty when you're walking them alone, because you're like a radar checking for cars, bicycles, people walking by, making sure we're all safe on the roads, or Mummy's safe and not dragged in the dirt on the chase for cats and squirrels...birds, on the other hand are a relief as we all go on point!

 Sherlock has been with us a full six months, and I am just beginning to reap the benefit of two weeks of uninterrupted sleep after months of strident guard barking three or four times a night- thank God we have triple glazing or I'd have had the neighbors up in arms. The secret ingredient? Sleeping with the man of the house, not guarding Mummy! I've also been adding half a capsule of amino-acid tryptophan to Sherlock's evening meal. 

 Even now the barking is an issue before meals and in the rush to get out for walkies, but fortunately the peewees is, touch wood, under control: Sherlock manages to hold it for the night now, and goes in the garden and on walkies nicely lately. The operant word is still touch wood, I don't want to jinx it...but all in all we are all getting into the swing of a three setter family again, and things are tentatively comfortable again...now I just need my body to get some real good restful sleep to boost my immune system and fight off another debilitating gum infection...all will be well. Setters rock, and each of my rescued babies is glowing with health and joie de vivre the way it should be, captured so splendidly in these pictures. 

Photos by Lelantos

Playtime

Photos by Lelantos

I know a bank...

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:

There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;

And there the snake throws her enamell’d skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in... 
Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream

Photos by Lelantos

Black Moon Rising

Photo by Lelantos