Yawn!
I hate Sundays, they are so boring. Far too much effort involved to make it intersting. I didn't get out of bed until 11am on Sunday. Even then it was only with some reluctance. Nothing is open on a sunday, so there is no opportunity for retail therapy and yet I didn't fancy spending the day loitering around the house especially as it was such a nice day.
The kids had a late breakfast/early dinner of bacon butty's as I lurked on my chair cuddling a coffee and a cigarette while trying not to throw up as the smell of bacon invaded my nostrils. I think I am the only person I know who suffers from perminent morning sickness. As the cafeine kicked in I began to feel more alive and I asked the kids what they wanted to do today. My son immedietly suggested going to the park. I figured it was a good idea as any but I didn't fancy sitting around watching the kids play on the swings while I got piles from sitting on a cold bench. After much discussion with Ian we agreed that the kids are now old enough to play in the play area without too much supervision so we decided we could kill two birds with one stone. The kids would play in the childrens area while Ian and I took the dogs for a run around the rest of the park.
Going to the park with 2 kids and 2 dogs should be a simple task, but in our house it takes a lot of planning, mostly because of the dogs. Kichi is a complete bitch on the lead so normally I prefer to walk the dogs close to the house where I don't need to be walked on a lead. Both my dogs are much better behaved off the lead than on it. Kichi hates the lead so much that she will howl and bark and pull herself hoarse until we get to a suitable location where she can be let off the lead. Once she's had a good run she is slightly better behaved on the lead. She still pulls, but not as so strongly that she makes her self wheeze, also she stops shouting.
When she is on the lead she has to wear a choker chain, not because she pulls, it has no effect on her pulling, but she has worked out a fantastic method of slipping any normal collar with a swift shake of her head. Since she has no road sense what so ever, this can be extremely dangerous, hence I prefer not to take her on walks that involve keeping her on a lead for more than a few minutes.
The other downside with my dogs is that they associate certain words and sounds with certain activities. The words "dogs", "walk", "park" and "cats" have to be spelled out. We have to use a code word in place of the word in place of the word "food" because they have learned how to spell it. The sound of a lead rattling, or even the sight of a lead will send them into a frenzy. Also the sight of my rucksack will send them loopy because it usually means a walk in the fields. In all taking the dogs out involves a lot of heavy planning because if someone mentions a "dog" word, the dogs go into a mad frenzy that doesn't disist until we set off and it makes a lot of hard work for everybody. The slightest movement will have a dog jumping on you in excitement and if anyone goes near the front door the dogs get tangled up between your legs in their urgency to get to the door before you. The fact that you can't open a door through a dog just doesn't compute as far as Gyp and Kichi are concerned. This is not a good thing if you don't plan to set off for an hour or so, or if you have to go somewhere that doesn't involve dogs first.
When planning an outing with the dogs a converstation runs something like this:
ME: I was thinking we could take the D.O.G.S to the P.A.R.K for a W.A.L.K
IAN: sounds like a good idea
ME: You organise the kids while I get the D.O.G.L.E.A.D.S
IAN: I missed that, can you spell it again
ME: D.O.G.L.E.A.D.S
IAN: nope, didn't catch the second bit. Give me it in phonetic
ME: Lemur, echo, alpha, delta, sierra
IAN: understood
MY SON: Are the dogs coming to the park with us?
GYPSY: (pricks her ears and wags her tail)
ME & IAN: shhhhhhhhhhhhh
MY SON: ooops!
So I go upstairs and gently retrieve the dog leads while trying very hard not to let them rattle or clink together. Then I realise they won't fit in my pocket so I sneak to the bottm of the stairs and call Ian who disappears out of the dogs and quietly slips the leads into his pocket out of sight. The kids are all coated up and Ian opens the front door. I let Ian and the kids out first as though we are going somewhere that doesn't involve dogs. Once they are out of the door I calmy invite the dogs along who jump up in suprise and quickly disappear out of the front door before they begin a few minutes mad frenzy.
They quiten down long enough to get their leads on and immedietly Kichi starts pulling hell for leather on hers. She starts with a low whimper that slowly rises to an excited yelp followed by persistent barking. We didn't get to the top of the road before I got fed up with her so we decided to take her onto a back street where it was quiet so she ccould let off a bit of steam. We found a skip down one of the back streets, and the kids were pleased to find that this one contained some toys. Five minutes later we set off again and Kichi, though still being a bit of a cow, wasn't quite as frenzied with it. She quietened down, but still pulled like mad. Without Ian to hold her I doubt I would be able to walk her on a lead at all.
We got to the park and let the dogs off the lead and they set off on a mad run while the kids headed straight for the swings. We had to call the kids back to tell them where to find us if there was any problems and they quickly dashed off again.
The dogs had a wonderful time playing with other dogs at the park. The played with a labrador, then later an Italian greyhound, some cairn terriers and various cross-breeds. I'm funny which dogs I let mine play with because some dogs can be funny with others. Gypsy for a start doesn't like Alsations so we have to be very careful if one approaches her. Also other people's dogs can be funny so I generally watch the dog owners response to their own dogs before I allow mine to go play with them. I wouldn't let them play with the rottweiller simply because the owners appeared "twitchy" everytime it took an interest in somebody's dog!
We spent a good half hour playing "My stick" with Gypsy and "Your stick" with Kichi. "My stick" involves throwing a stick and Gypsy will retrieve it, she will fetch it back to you and sometimes even drop it at your feet, but when you try to touch it she will run off with it again. Before my ankle injury, this game would also involve trying to get the stick of Gypsy by chasing and/or pouncing on her. It's a game of wits and cunning and she loves it. Kichi prefers playing "your stick" this involves throwing her a stick and she will chase after it. Once she reaches the stick she sniffs it then looses interest!
The dogs had a great time at the park, and the kids enjoyed themsleves on the swings. Even more so I think because we allowed them a little bit of independence. My son will be 9 years old this year and I find it so hard not to be over protective. Since the age of 7 he's been asking me to let him go to the shop on his own, but the idea terrifies me even though the shop is literally just across the road from us. The road has a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights. I've only recently allowed him to visit my friend on his own and she lives on the same street as us! My poor kids aren't even allowed to play out on their own except in the back yard. Am I being over protective?
The kids had a late breakfast/early dinner of bacon butty's as I lurked on my chair cuddling a coffee and a cigarette while trying not to throw up as the smell of bacon invaded my nostrils. I think I am the only person I know who suffers from perminent morning sickness. As the cafeine kicked in I began to feel more alive and I asked the kids what they wanted to do today. My son immedietly suggested going to the park. I figured it was a good idea as any but I didn't fancy sitting around watching the kids play on the swings while I got piles from sitting on a cold bench. After much discussion with Ian we agreed that the kids are now old enough to play in the play area without too much supervision so we decided we could kill two birds with one stone. The kids would play in the childrens area while Ian and I took the dogs for a run around the rest of the park.
Going to the park with 2 kids and 2 dogs should be a simple task, but in our house it takes a lot of planning, mostly because of the dogs. Kichi is a complete bitch on the lead so normally I prefer to walk the dogs close to the house where I don't need to be walked on a lead. Both my dogs are much better behaved off the lead than on it. Kichi hates the lead so much that she will howl and bark and pull herself hoarse until we get to a suitable location where she can be let off the lead. Once she's had a good run she is slightly better behaved on the lead. She still pulls, but not as so strongly that she makes her self wheeze, also she stops shouting.
When she is on the lead she has to wear a choker chain, not because she pulls, it has no effect on her pulling, but she has worked out a fantastic method of slipping any normal collar with a swift shake of her head. Since she has no road sense what so ever, this can be extremely dangerous, hence I prefer not to take her on walks that involve keeping her on a lead for more than a few minutes.
The other downside with my dogs is that they associate certain words and sounds with certain activities. The words "dogs", "walk", "park" and "cats" have to be spelled out. We have to use a code word in place of the word in place of the word "food" because they have learned how to spell it. The sound of a lead rattling, or even the sight of a lead will send them into a frenzy. Also the sight of my rucksack will send them loopy because it usually means a walk in the fields. In all taking the dogs out involves a lot of heavy planning because if someone mentions a "dog" word, the dogs go into a mad frenzy that doesn't disist until we set off and it makes a lot of hard work for everybody. The slightest movement will have a dog jumping on you in excitement and if anyone goes near the front door the dogs get tangled up between your legs in their urgency to get to the door before you. The fact that you can't open a door through a dog just doesn't compute as far as Gyp and Kichi are concerned. This is not a good thing if you don't plan to set off for an hour or so, or if you have to go somewhere that doesn't involve dogs first.
When planning an outing with the dogs a converstation runs something like this:
ME: I was thinking we could take the D.O.G.S to the P.A.R.K for a W.A.L.K
IAN: sounds like a good idea
ME: You organise the kids while I get the D.O.G.L.E.A.D.S
IAN: I missed that, can you spell it again
ME: D.O.G.L.E.A.D.S
IAN: nope, didn't catch the second bit. Give me it in phonetic
ME: Lemur, echo, alpha, delta, sierra
IAN: understood
MY SON: Are the dogs coming to the park with us?
GYPSY: (pricks her ears and wags her tail)
ME & IAN: shhhhhhhhhhhhh
MY SON: ooops!
So I go upstairs and gently retrieve the dog leads while trying very hard not to let them rattle or clink together. Then I realise they won't fit in my pocket so I sneak to the bottm of the stairs and call Ian who disappears out of the dogs and quietly slips the leads into his pocket out of sight. The kids are all coated up and Ian opens the front door. I let Ian and the kids out first as though we are going somewhere that doesn't involve dogs. Once they are out of the door I calmy invite the dogs along who jump up in suprise and quickly disappear out of the front door before they begin a few minutes mad frenzy.
They quiten down long enough to get their leads on and immedietly Kichi starts pulling hell for leather on hers. She starts with a low whimper that slowly rises to an excited yelp followed by persistent barking. We didn't get to the top of the road before I got fed up with her so we decided to take her onto a back street where it was quiet so she ccould let off a bit of steam. We found a skip down one of the back streets, and the kids were pleased to find that this one contained some toys. Five minutes later we set off again and Kichi, though still being a bit of a cow, wasn't quite as frenzied with it. She quietened down, but still pulled like mad. Without Ian to hold her I doubt I would be able to walk her on a lead at all.
We got to the park and let the dogs off the lead and they set off on a mad run while the kids headed straight for the swings. We had to call the kids back to tell them where to find us if there was any problems and they quickly dashed off again.
The dogs had a wonderful time playing with other dogs at the park. The played with a labrador, then later an Italian greyhound, some cairn terriers and various cross-breeds. I'm funny which dogs I let mine play with because some dogs can be funny with others. Gypsy for a start doesn't like Alsations so we have to be very careful if one approaches her. Also other people's dogs can be funny so I generally watch the dog owners response to their own dogs before I allow mine to go play with them. I wouldn't let them play with the rottweiller simply because the owners appeared "twitchy" everytime it took an interest in somebody's dog!
We spent a good half hour playing "My stick" with Gypsy and "Your stick" with Kichi. "My stick" involves throwing a stick and Gypsy will retrieve it, she will fetch it back to you and sometimes even drop it at your feet, but when you try to touch it she will run off with it again. Before my ankle injury, this game would also involve trying to get the stick of Gypsy by chasing and/or pouncing on her. It's a game of wits and cunning and she loves it. Kichi prefers playing "your stick" this involves throwing her a stick and she will chase after it. Once she reaches the stick she sniffs it then looses interest!
The dogs had a great time at the park, and the kids enjoyed themsleves on the swings. Even more so I think because we allowed them a little bit of independence. My son will be 9 years old this year and I find it so hard not to be over protective. Since the age of 7 he's been asking me to let him go to the shop on his own, but the idea terrifies me even though the shop is literally just across the road from us. The road has a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights. I've only recently allowed him to visit my friend on his own and she lives on the same street as us! My poor kids aren't even allowed to play out on their own except in the back yard. Am I being over protective?