Creative writing submission from the Rest Less community – submit your entry here.
I’m beginning to think that when I’m out walking with my dogs, Willow and Bear, I should walk around with a giant placard saying: ‘They’re rescues – they’re friendly, just gobby!’ I say this because although completely harmless, Willow will insist upon charging up to people shouting loudly and even jumping up, as if she’s going to nip. She doesn’t, in fact, if she does catch you it’s with an anteater-type lick, but I understand…it is scary and very off-putting. Add to this the fact that they’re both up in other dogs’ faces shouting loudly, and I think we can both agree, their social skills are sorely lacking!
This is a difficult one to manage and retraining is problematic because they’re off away from you, but I’m trying to focus on prevention rather than cure. I do this by using a loud whistle and treats, encouraging them to come back to me before they ever reach their assigned target. It’s working, but, at this stage, it’s still not consistent.
Of course, they’ve made some friends; two other little sausages and a wonderful, kind, red Spaniel who takes it all in his stride. I’m thrilled when I see him as he gets it, he gets them. He’s a kindly dog who realises that they mean no harm. He simply stands still and greets their vocal onslaughts with calm, non-threatening tail wagging which immediately calms them down, making them behave themselves.
What I’ve realised though, is that, in Willow’s case, she actually wants them to chase her. She’s trying to initiate a game of mutual ‘tag’, with each taking turns to chase each other round and round in circles. But it’s only the younger dogs who read the signals correctly and immediately join in.
I sometimes forget that both Willow and Bear are so young, little more than puppies themselves really. They’re just two, but have already been through so much. Willow in particular must’ve had her puppies as little more than a pup herself, meaning that they’ve both had to grow up and face losses well before their time.
Though actually sweet-natured and friendly, they’re completely lacking in the basics. This is evident in their extreme nervousness and lack of social skills when confronted by both people and dogs. Like their Spaniel friend, I also understand them and recognise that they’re harmless, but find myself constantly explaining and making excuses for them, which is difficult and sad.
Another thing I’m having to get to grips with is pooping! Sorry, stop reading now if you’re not up for a poo story! Apart from the fact that I need glasses to even see their poos, so tiny are they, but Willow is a poo enigma! Bear is easy, you can set your watch by his pooping and he’ll happily poo right in front of you in the middle of the garden where you can see it, bag it, and avoid stepping in it.
On the other hand, Willow has sneaky ninja tendencies. She hides her pooping, leaving deposits in the oddest places out of sight and never at obvious times (like first thing in the morning or last thing at night), meaning that it’s hard to catch her. I’ve found a poo up in a plant pot, under the log cover, between the gate and its post (how she squeezed her bottom through the gap I’ll never know), and sequestered between plant pots! This means that you can get nasty surprises if you’re not careful.
Also, unlike her brother who just empties conveniently in one hit, she has a habit of depositing little nuggets in a variety of places, peppered around the garden and designed to catch you out. There’ll be a pattern…I just need to work it out and learn it.
I’ve been spoiled over the last 15 years. My previous dogs were Shiba Inu, and Shiba poops, though not Leonberger sized, were easy to spot and, not really happy to poop on their own territory, given a safe place, would always poop in the same spot. Dachshunds are different and there are lessons still to be learned.
At home, my two little beasties have come on in leaps and bounds. They no longer woof or create noise unnecessarily. And when there is a reason, like someone coming to the front door or coming down the lane at night, once they’ve alerted me and I’ve acknowledged their warning and taken over, their shouting is very short-lived and they quickly shut up.
When my friend Kate and I first went and collected them, I noticed that every time someone went past the house or was out on the street, they kicked off and were left to their own devices, to stop when they were ready to.
I’ve worked hard on teaching them that whilst it’s their job to announce strangers and people at my door, they should accept and ignore regular, routine sounds. They no longer bark when my neighbour goes to work in the early hours, when the gate goes, or when another neighbour comes in late in the evening. They can tell me, that’s fine, but once I tell them I’ll take over, that they can stop and relax, they do.
In truth, for Dachshunds, I’m amazed and thrilled at how quickly they’ve learned this and adapted, becoming so much quieter – indeed totally silent 99% of the time. For me, this is a sign that they now feel safe and that they can trust me. I’m still having some issues when I go out and leave them, but even that is negligible in comparison.
They’re left in a crate together for their safety and comfort, recorded so I know what’s happening, and played the ‘Classical for Pets’ playlist to help keep them calm and quiet. Is there the odd flurry of howling still? Yes, particularly if someone comes to my door, but they’re always fast asleep and totally silent when I get home.
If I’m out for more than a couple of hours, I arrange for a neighbour to come in, let them out for a pee, and spend some time with them. But, in all honesty, I’m at home 98% of every week and of that 2% when I’m out, half of that time they’re actually with me, so I’m not worried. Plus, it’s still very early days.
So, an albatross? Not at all if I’m honest. A few things still to iron out of course, but every day is a new day and not once, even for a second, have I regretted taking them on. They’re a part of my life now and an absolute joy…even the ninja poos!
Are you feeling creative? We are proud to have a hugely talented community on Rest Less, which is why we’re so excited to open up a section of the site dedicated to showcasing the wonderful and diverse writing of our members. If you have a piece of creative writing that you’d like to share with the Rest Less community – you can do so here.