Posting days: Sunday and Wednesday and, sometimes, maybe, extra bits in between.

Sunday May 12th 2019

I’ve not seen my friend T. for two years, but last weekend  she   officiates at two obedience shows, one in Rugby and the other in Leicester, and she comes to stay with us for five days.

It’s good to catch up, and very interesting to hear her observations about Isis.

Isis spends most of her time with us in the front room. I explain that now she usually braves the light in this south facing room so she can be with the humans.

“That’s good”, says T., “She’s so much calmer, too. I hardly saw anything of her when I last came. She stayed in the back room on her own all the time.

I’m surprised. Was that only two years ago?

One day T. watches me waking up Isis in the morning. “It’s lovely to see her tail wagging”, she comments.

Yes, I reflect, wagging is a relatively recent phenomenon.

After the first day, by the time I get up in the morning, Isis is already relaxing with T. in the front room.

“She’s so much calmer”, comments the visitor.

In the same week, when Bev. and I walk with the dogs in Highbury, Isis begins sitting at her feet and waiting for a treat.

I also notice that when we stroll up towards the woodland walk, instead of dashing off into the trees, she waits to find out which path we’re taking, then follows.

And she stays with the group more consistently than she used to, only trotting off through her favourite short cut when we are about to leave the woods.

She is at ease with Rufus and Nancy, even daring to rebuff Rufus when he pushes his nose into her face a little too vigorously.

I will go so far as to say that she appears to enjoy walking with them.

I think she quite likes having a visitor for a few days, too.

Ah, my little dog is becoming much more tolerant, much less afraid than she used to be, I think, as I wave off T., on Tuesday evening.

Isis and I stretch out on the day bed.

I take off my socks and prepare to warm my feet.

It’s all very cosy ………

but not for long. Human has gone a step too far. Within seconds, Hairy One  leaps up with a cross nyaff!

I may be more laid back, she tells me very clearly, but not that laid back. Gerroff!

*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.co.uk