Big Dog Blog

Owning a dog has so many benefits.  On top of the great enjoyment I've had from Laddie's company, taking him for walks has also led to my making human as well as canine friends.  It's great to be out in the country on a lovely morning with a bunch of nice people, watching the dogs play.  They naturally form a pack and get on with enjoying life together.  This morning one new owner remarked that someone had got grumpy with him because the new owner's dog was friendly and the other guy's dog wasn't.  Well!  Like dog, like owner.  I have only once met a dog with a questionable temperament which had a pleasant owner. Almost always an anti-social dog has learned his behaviour from his anti-social owner.  Where the owners are sociable, so are the dogs.

I remember first meeting someone walking a Newfoundland.  Wow, that's a big dog.  Now I know several people who have them, all friendly. So I thought it would be fun to get all 5 dogs and their owners together on a bright morning, in front of Bonnie's camera.  I suppose I thought they might actually line up and pose, which was a daft idea.  The tripod was soon dispensed with, and replace by action shots of big dogs having fun.  One owner was indisposed, so her dog also missed the party, but as those there want to do it again there will be another chance for her.

Shaun and Sue brought Winston and Molly.  Molly is not so big as one might expect for a Newfie, but she makes up for it in energy and enthusiasm. Winston, recently rehomed from rescue, is dedicated to enjoying his new lease of life and throws himself into everything with abandon.

Mel and Julie brought the massive Darcy - 88kg, 194lbs, 13st 12lbs - who is 2, and their 7 month old puppy Bella.  Bella is a typical puppy, apart from her size, and into everything. Darcy is laid back and rarely runs.  But he has a very determined saunter, and can take some keeping up with.

It hadn't actually occured to me, until this morning, that the dogs might not get on when they met.  But I needn't have worried, even briefly. They simply got to know each other and began to play together. The owners socialised just as well.  Thankfully their introductory ritual does not involve sniffing rear ends.  But dog owners always have a common interest to talk about.

And in such a popular dog-walking spot as Twywell Hills and Dales, there were lots of other walkers and dogs about.  Most came across to inspect the massive bundle of play at close quarters.  One or two of the passing dogs were momentarily put off by the sheer size of the Newfies, but a few friendly sniffs and licks and they joined in easily enough.  One little boy out with his family and their Spaniel proved too interesting to Bella, who licked him in a way she knew to be friendly he was less sure about. And one passer-by asked how old Bella was. "7 months" came the reply. The inquirer was astonished and her response was very brief, with few enough letters for the fingers of one hand.

It was great fun.  Bonnie took nearly 50 photos, which I have put, unedited, on Picasaweb.  We'll do it again before too long.