The delight of an summer's evening walk #30DaysWild

Since the addition of certain furry creature to our family, our day have developed a new routine - 'the dog walk'.

 Let me introduce to you (the more eagle-eyed will have already noticed ... Jayne!) a rather large eared, wet nosed and long legged creature of the canine variety.

Meet Miss Moss (Moss to her friends) a rather scatty border collie. A super-intelligent and super-sensitive soul that just needs a firm hand to guide her and love and food to help ground her. We have only had her one week and the improvements has been hundred fold however we have a long way to go.

Lesson one
Cats are superior beings (well that's what they keep telling us!)

Lesson two
Settees are not for sitting on unless you are a cat (and if you are lucky - a human).

Lesson three
There will be three meals a day until you fatten up so there is no need to stash biscuits all around the back yard to forage later.

Lesson four
Hysterical barking will not be tolerated, a gentle squeak or whine will get our attention just a quickly.

Lesson five
Leads and collars = walks and fun days out and NOT being tied up.

Lesson six
Waving and patting and tickling behind ears = love and rewards and NOT being hit.

Lesson seven
Walks are for pleasure, sniffing is allowed and happily jumping in and out of water just for the hell of it is to be encouraged!

Lesson eight
Shutting of curtains is just that - shutting of curtains, it is not the sliding of barn doors and you are not being shut in a barn.

Lesson nine
When Himself blows his nose, it does not mean he is about to hit you - he is just blowing nose (granted it is a noisy blow).

Lesson ten
Restless circles around and around and around and around the table will not be tolerated - we'd much rather you came and sat down with us (this little foible soon stopped thank goodness, once we discovered that if we 'anchor' her with a command, a rawhide chew and a comfy bed - then she relaxes and so can we!)

Oh there are many more of these, like I say, she has issues, but she is switched on enough and we are aware that we have to make concessions, to guide and show her that by being calm and gentle, life can be rather good!

The rewards will certainly outweigh the issues - she is such a sweet mixed up dog and she learns fast!

However, we are all benefiting for her love of the evening walk - especially at the moment with the wonderful weather we are experiencing at the moment.

This evening was no exception - the misty hazy sunset was a gentle end to a lovely hot day :)