Yesterday I went for a walk with Lucy over the fields, admired the crab apple tree, plenty of jelly this Autumn. The plants along the river side are growing like giant triffids, apparently there are shoals of brown trout in our river according to John.
We came to the end of the fields, normally I open the five bar gate and we would set off on the dangerous zig zag bend over the bridge and along the verge home. It did not work out that way, the farmer had mown the grass along the path and a large gap under the gate allowed Lucy out onto the road. Do you think she would come to me, she just checked that I was behind her and then set off for home.
Now I know she is deaf, but such blatant obstinancy made me cross, and as I tailed her, she was jumping in and out of the traffic, which thankfully slowed down for her. We made it home eventually, though I got really scared as a motorbike came up. Yes she is still alive and unrepentant for her waywardness, Paul said lead on all the time, should I get a whistle to break through her deafness or should I give up on obedience? She will be 11 years old this July.
What a worry for you - naughty dog! It sounds like it will have to be a case of lead on all the time if she can't hear you call her back. What a shame they don't do hearing aids for dogs!
ReplyDeleteGlad you will be able to make lots of crab apple jelly. The tree I used to use was cut down and roots grubbed up just to make the field tidy by someone who bought it a year or so ago for sheep. Why not just leave it there for shade?
She can be very self-willed sometimes Jennie, think it will be the lead all the time from now on. I notice this everywhere, people 'tidy' hedges and trees, apart from the slash and mutilate cutters on tractors, I suspect it is the 'suburbian' influence making everything tidy.
DeleteFor hers and everyone else's safety I would say lead all the time. Sad but deafness can be so dangerous (I know because I suffer from it and sometimes motor bikes terrify me.)
ReplyDeleteThey terrify me as well, as you know Pat, Yorkshire is the home of the holiday motor bikes as they roar past. I am always worried that I shall miss one when turning left onto a main road. And yes lead on all the time.
DeleteScary. Just like having a toddler!
ReplyDeleteExactly, though sometimes as owners we treat our animals as children!
DeleteMust have been so scary! I guess a lead is the only choice, a long retractable one might work.
ReplyDeleteThey can be difficult to operate for idiots like me though ;)
ReplyDeleteSuch experience as I have with dogs suggests that Lucy, in her comfortable elder years, is not going to become obedient--deafness or not. I use a retractable lead when I keep our neighbors dog for the day--once I remember to 'click' it while she is still in a controllable range, all goes well.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right Sharon, Lucy will not become obedient as she is quite old and set in her ways. The trouble with retractable leads is you have to keep her close to heel as the lanes are narrow and the cars close, I would hate to get it wrong on the click.
ReplyDelete