Slavenka has posted a link to a lovely photo of dogs in Rome jumping into the Tiber in a beach that is just for dogs!
Wow! Lucky dogs!
Monday, 31 August 2009
persuading a dog to eat raw fish
The other night we had another try at broadening Penny's raw feeding diet to include fish.
What was this weird stuff her bowl? Hmm...she carried it over to her eating mat to examine it.
And then the human tried to convince her it was fun...it would be a good reward for obedience...it was worth guarding from food-thieves.
No luck.
In desperation, determined not to waste it, the human popped it into a saucepan with some hot water, lightly cooked it, and, hey presto! It must have tasted good.
What was this weird stuff her bowl? Hmm...she carried it over to her eating mat to examine it.
And then the human tried to convince her it was fun...it would be a good reward for obedience...it was worth guarding from food-thieves.
No luck.
In desperation, determined not to waste it, the human popped it into a saucepan with some hot water, lightly cooked it, and, hey presto! It must have tasted good.
Friday, 28 August 2009
woman with dog refuses to be airlifted from the bushfire
There's an article today in TheAge newspaper that has me wondering what I would have done if an inferno of flames was approaching my property, I was being airlifted out with my dog in my arms, and the dog jumped back down to the ground.
In Kinglake West, during the tragic February bushfires, Juliet Moore was attached to a police helicopter's winch, when her dog, Poncho, jumped out of her arms. Ms Moore asked to be released from the winch.
Eventually the police helicopter had to leave when it became unstable because of low oxygen levels in the air, and the police officer who was on the ground took a convoy of cars to try to reach safety. Ms Moore had a passenger in her car, and the passenger leaned out the window and led a horse by the halter.
The next car towed a horse float with two horses.
And the convoy was joined for part of the way by deer, koalas, kangaroos and lizards, all running alongside the cars.
When I read this story, I hoped and prayed I'll never be in this terrifying situation. It made me think about the fact that we are just one species of the many that share this one planet, but we are in a better position to influence what happens to our climate and our environment.
It's a big responsibility.
In Kinglake West, during the tragic February bushfires, Juliet Moore was attached to a police helicopter's winch, when her dog, Poncho, jumped out of her arms. Ms Moore asked to be released from the winch.
Eventually the police helicopter had to leave when it became unstable because of low oxygen levels in the air, and the police officer who was on the ground took a convoy of cars to try to reach safety. Ms Moore had a passenger in her car, and the passenger leaned out the window and led a horse by the halter.
The next car towed a horse float with two horses.
And the convoy was joined for part of the way by deer, koalas, kangaroos and lizards, all running alongside the cars.
When I read this story, I hoped and prayed I'll never be in this terrifying situation. It made me think about the fact that we are just one species of the many that share this one planet, but we are in a better position to influence what happens to our climate and our environment.
It's a big responsibility.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
free beauty treatment for dogs in Darebin Parklands
Penny took the mud treatment in Darebin Parklands today and I suppose her skin must be soft and lovely.
Of course, we don't really want to get close enough to check, because...she smells.
First she approached the treatment parlour.
Then she coated herself.
Then she took a grass massage.
Next, a hair treatment - just a hint of colour around the ears.
Followed by a quick dip in the filthy creek to smooth the treatment into her skin.
Of course, we don't really want to get close enough to check, because...she smells.
First she approached the treatment parlour.
Then she coated herself.
Then she took a grass massage.
Next, a hair treatment - just a hint of colour around the ears.
Followed by a quick dip in the filthy creek to smooth the treatment into her skin.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
a dog teaches her human to meditate
JD and Max commented recently that dogs teach us to be in the moment. I totally agree. But sometimes I get so tied up in my own thoughts that I forget to listen to Penny's wisdom.
So today we went for a walk in windy Darebin Parklands to look for an object from nature that could serve as a focus for a meditation session. Penny was on the lookout for all sorts of things, but I didn't feel all that much drawn to contemplating rabbit poo, dog poo, wet muddy puddles or strands of tasty grass.
We met the ranger, Peter, and he told us to stay in the open today, because the Parklands were taking the brunt of the brutal winds we've had over the last few days, and trees were dropping branches.
However, we were still surprised to come across a whole tree that had keeled over. Only the other day we had looked at its beautiful dead symmetry against the sky, but today it lay shattered into pieces on the grass.
During the walk we did find some bits of bark, a dead stick and a pine cone that were beautiful, so I brought them home.
So today we went for a walk in windy Darebin Parklands to look for an object from nature that could serve as a focus for a meditation session. Penny was on the lookout for all sorts of things, but I didn't feel all that much drawn to contemplating rabbit poo, dog poo, wet muddy puddles or strands of tasty grass.
We met the ranger, Peter, and he told us to stay in the open today, because the Parklands were taking the brunt of the brutal winds we've had over the last few days, and trees were dropping branches.
However, we were still surprised to come across a whole tree that had keeled over. Only the other day we had looked at its beautiful dead symmetry against the sky, but today it lay shattered into pieces on the grass.
During the walk we did find some bits of bark, a dead stick and a pine cone that were beautiful, so I brought them home.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
an old dog learns to be happy
Scruffy, who visited us for the first time on 14th July, after he lost his best canine friend, came again today. His human loves to see him happy, but said to me, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Well, that was an immediate challenge, and I said I could teach him to 'sit' within one minute.
Here he is after a couple of minutes. (He's the fluffy white dog.)
The lovely little even older dog is Bonnie, our regular visitor.
Here he is after a couple of minutes. (He's the fluffy white dog.)
The lovely little even older dog is Bonnie, our regular visitor.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
the snakes are out already
I know, I know. Snakes were here first. Snakes have a right to live. Snakes are protected by law.
But I still don't like walking where there are deadly snakes. And one of the local papers has an article this week saying the first snakes have been seen sunning themselves near here. Two sightings have reported them out along the Merri Creek.
Whatever happened to the old days when we had a proper winter?
But I still don't like walking where there are deadly snakes. And one of the local papers has an article this week saying the first snakes have been seen sunning themselves near here. Two sightings have reported them out along the Merri Creek.
Whatever happened to the old days when we had a proper winter?
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