With storm Ciarán on its way up the south coast, today saw us getting everything as ready as possible to reassure the dogs with us, and make sure we could limit our travels over the next few days.
A morning walk was very much about communication as chilled out red lab sulked at the disappearance over her owners. In season, we were being very careful to keep her away from any dogs that may have the urge, but at the same time we wanted to give her her usual freedom of being able to run around in the fields.
Sadly, red lab is also very aware that we are not her normal walkers, and any chance to escape from us, and run home, meant a lot of concern over managing our walks.
In the morning we began to build up trust, but just as we started to relax she realised she was close to home, and I got my morning run as I followed her a mile over the fields back to her front door. Catching up, out of breath, (me not lab) she sat by the door of her house looking sheepish at me – we tried again on the lead – and by the evening we appeared to have some good communication.
Bucketing down rain by the evening, meant a relaxed evening with dogs by the fire – tomorrow, another walk and more exploration awaits. Have to take hats off to the army training still tonight, the boom boom of the guns crisp against the heavy rain and gusting gales.
