Thursday

Isis has definitely become a real dog. She declares it to the world. Instead of merely pausing arbitrarily for a pee, she sniffs with great care at a stain on the path then, very deliberately, pees on it. She’s arrived. She’s left a note. Kings Heath park is her territory too.

When she first met Gr. and he tried to touch her back, she bit him. But he persevered and is the first park friend she allows to pet her. Often now she will stand still for a minute or two while he rubs her back and underside. She lets Be. pet her too, and is increasingly responsive to J.

She recognises the smell of Gr., Be. and J. She knows that she can expect a treat and does her own version of begging. She stands very close to her potential benefactor, nose raised towards him or her. Yes, I know that begging isn’t good – and we don’t do it at home – but seeing her growing confidence and ‘normal’ dog behaviour is wonderful.

Today I ask her treat givers to require her to sit for her treats and, most times, she obliges.

News flash

The bad news: Isis chews a large hole in a pillow case.

The good news: it matches the one she chewed a large hole in a while ago.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.com