Tag Archives: Brighton

What a beautiful day! We’ve been told the weather’s ‘on the turn’ so it felt doubly important to make the most of the sunshine today. Brighton’s been basking in warm sunshine for around a week now, making up for the atrocious weather in August.

Within the first minute or two, Jessie had found a tennis ball in the long grass. I’ve stopped taking balls out with us now because they invariably cause trouble – another dog wants Jessie’s ball or vice versa. But if they find one, I usually turn a blind eye. She’s very happy with something in her mouth. She carries it for the whole walk – at least an hour – dropping it at my feet at steady intervals in the hope I’ll throw it for her. I try and ignore this demanding behaviour and ask her to drop it when I want to rather than when she wants to. When I’m just about to throw it, she watches with such intensity you’d thing her life depended on it – she’s such a sweetie.

The blackberry season is nearing the end. We’ve enjoyed several desserts from the fruit I’ve picked on this walk. The dogs love them too and are still pushing themselves into prickly bushes to get the sweet – but now sometimes downright putrid – berries. Most of the blackberries are shrivelled now but occasionally they’ll be some plump, ripe ones that no-one’s spotted. I’ll call the dogs back, make them sit, and give them one or two as a special treat. I’m sure Georgie sometimes thinks, “What, you called me all the way back here for one blackberry?!”

We almost had a fight today. A big German Shepherd came over – quite a young one I think but physically fully grown. He was in the mood to pull his weight around a bit. Georgie – rather a coward I’m afraid – took the biggest detour you can imagine managing to avoid any kind of confrontation – her speciality. Jessie on the other hand stood her ground as she usually does. She won’t pursue trouble but she won’t back down either. The German Shepherd probably wanted to play but didn’t quite have the canine social skills to express himself. His strategy was to harass, irritate and generally annoy until he got a reaction. And a reaction was what he got – Jessie bared her teeth, gave shark-like glares and tried a mild spot of fisty cuffs. I used my Pet Corrector Spray and the scuffle ended as quickly as it had started. The owner ran over, stuck a lead on the youngster and he was marched off in disgrace. It’s tough – especially when you look big and scary and you’re generally just misunderstood!

I’m taking Jessie on the train tomorrow for the very first time. I’ve been putting it off to tell you the truth but they’ll be a full report as soon as I get back.