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Moss is being a nightmare. Everything I thought she’d learnt she seems to have forgotten. Recall – out the window especially if there’s another dog about. Eating poo – she roars around nose down trying to find it as though she’s never been fed. On the lead – pulling like a train. Walks are a calamity, I return knackered and gasping for coffee.
Just walking the dog – my foot! This is exhausting.
What’s going on?
It’s supposed to be fun! Hasn’t she read the book? Humans and dogs … the special relationship?
My dream is this: I want to wear long skirts and lace up boots, maybe a cummerbund. I want Moss to walk by my side, occasionally looking up at me with adoring eyes. I want the lead to hang like a washing line between us, no tension. I want the wind to blow lightly on my face as we stroll down the river bank watching the birds, breathing in fresh air and feeling at one with nature.
Dream on! Moss is wired, every time a dog approaches she flattens herself on the ground ready to pounce. Her eyes are wide with hyper alertness as she pulls and lurches.
And the cure for this behaviour? For me to remain calm. She’s going through adolescence. She’s a dog for god’s sake, I don’t remember all this grief with other dogs … ? According to Captain Calm, the dog-trainer, just like us dogs go through adolescence, nobody told me that before! Apparently, it usually occurs from 18 months until about two years and it varies in intensity.
The embarrassing fact is that I’ve chosen to write about it, this feels like the humiliation of a smarty pants. Sorry dear reader if I’ve ever patronised you in any way whatsoever.
Having a dog is hard work.
I guess at least I don’t have to watch her play netball matches.
… got that off my chest.
Photo – Disappearing down the tunnel of Moss’s adolescence.
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