Not a wolf after all ....

Has it ever occurred to you that the human species is not quite as bright as it's cracked up to be?

Well I could think of a multitude of examples to make my point (and no doubt you can too) but I'm just going to tell you about this new book that Gail's been reading this week.

'In Defence of Dogs". I think you'll agree that the title looks promising.

And as you know, this is a scientific household, so the fact that the book is by John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist* at Bristol University, and is claimed to "use science to advocate for a better life for companion dogs" is also in its favour.

But hang on a minute.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S TAKEN 20 YEARS RESEARCH FOR THIS BLOKE TO CONCLUDE THAT DOGS DO NOT BEHAVE THE SAME AS WOLVES??!!

He could have saved so much time by coming to stay with me for a few days. After all, what wolf:

• Goes to bed every night with a hot water bottle?
• Likes more than anything else to be picked up and cuddled by a human?
• Thinks everyone in the whole world will be his friend?
• Writes a blog?

Oh. Wait a minute. Gail is telling me maybe there's more to it than not being a wolf. The author is saying that dog behaviour is all about sociability and cooperation rather than strict hierarchies. So the idea that us dogs need to dominated by their human is quite wrong.

This is beginning to sound much more interesting.

I have to tell you that Gail is only about half the way through the book, so if she finds out anything else useful, I'll pass it on.

*Anthrozoologist: that's someone who studies the science of human-animal interactions

But Gail we don't have a hurricane here ...

Oh I am so disappointed today.

Gail had promised me that we would be going for another hill walk.  I had been hoping to bag my third Munro.

And now she's saying that maybe we'll just have a short outing to the nearby woods instead 'cos it's too windy.

What kind of a wimp is she?  I mean, there's all my blog friends battening down the hatches in the Eastern USA, where they are experiencing a properly terrifying and dangerous hurricane, and my wings are being clipped in the face of some normal Scottish August weather.

Look, I've found the Met Office mountain forecast for our area for today. It's not that bad:

Can you see (you may have to biggify) it says "No risk of strong sunlight". So what are you worrying about then Gail? That pale freckly skin of yours won't be going all pink today will it?

Oh this is boring. Why isn't everyone an optimist like me?

To all my friends confined to barracks in the face of Irene, I totally empathise.

Agility: progress report + Help for Horatio

SUBJECT	TRAINER'S COMMENT	DOG'S COMMENT
Attention levels	Bertie must learn that barking at the horses in the adjacent field is not the point of the exercise.	I like attention. Why do all the other dogs get more attention than me? Especially that Maddy, just ‘cos she’s so hopeless at the ‘wait’ bit.
Speed over obstacles	Bertie could move faster if he put his mind to it, as he shows when chasing fellow trainee Maddy.	Look, if you go quickly then your turn is over too soon and that’s no fun.
Accuracy over obstacles	So long as he actually tackles the jumps, rather than dashing across the field to try and join the more advanced dogs, Bertie usually does well.	“Does well”? Talk about faint praise. I’m brilliant. Have I ever knocked down a jump? Ever? No? I rest my case. Oh and, what do you mean "more advanced"?
General behaviour	Bertie is not the worst behaved of the young dogs we have come across, but his tendency to go AWOL half way round the circuit needs attention.	Hey give me a break. Remember that I am a terrier, and unlike all those swotty collies, naughtiness is my birthright.
Areas for improvement	Bertie is far too fond of the sound of his own voice. We are less so.	I have noticed that some of the other dogs have treats that smell much better than the ones Gail brings for me.
Issues with handler	For someone who claims to have a PhD, Gail’s ability to remember the order of the obstacles seems rather poor.	See comment above. Plus, why are you always so ready to praise the other dogs Gail, yet so critical of me?

Maddy the Manchester Terrier (she's FAST!)

Dawn - one of the many swotty collies

PS My little wire haired fox terrier friend Horatio in Edinburgh needs your help!

He has been attending puppy school this summer, and has apparently made a big impression with his sparkling personality. For the final class next week, he is expected to perform a party trick. His humans are in a panic over this. If you have any bright ideas about what he could do, please do go over to his blog and let him know.


PPS Below is a version of the report card which hopefully those of you who see a big blank higher up in this post can read.

Human Grandad remembered me!

Well of course, I hear you saying. A distinctive little chappie like me. Why wouldn't he?

Let me explain.

My bloggie pals may have noticed that I wasn't much in contact last week. You see I was s'posed to be going down to Nottingham with Gail to visit her parents. I would have been the star attraction, as you will already have realised. But sadly this time it wasn't be be - something about a favourite aunt's funeral in Sussex and it all getting too complicated. So anyway, I had to stay behind in Aberdeen.

Now I am sorry to have to tell you that human Grandad's memory is not so good as it once was. He finds it especially hard to recall names of places and people. And he gets rather confused about things in general these days.

But guess what! Gail came home last night and she told me that almost the first thing human Grandad said when he saw her was "How's Bertie?" And later, more than once, "I do hope Bertie is OK", and then, when they were setting off for a short walk down to the River Trent, "what a pity Bertie's not here to come with us". He only once said "Hamish' not 'Bertie'.

It will be human Grandad's 90th birthday in November. Gail has promised me that, absolutely come what may, I will go down to see him then, if not before.  Oh I do hope so. I know he's a bit unhappy at the moment, anxious 'cos he's aware his brain doesn't work as well as it used to. I'm sure I would cheer him up.