A New Year

Here we are already a week into 2011. It is still really hard to settle down to write anything and I am already late in sumitting my last open university assignment.
The snow is back; 3-4 inches last night and with it, the still raw memories of Jig were renewed with sadness as we walked the fields this morning with the last two members of our canine family.The most fascinating thing that has happened over the last ten days, (apart from England winning the Ashes), is the developing relationship between Flyn and Ghillie. Flyn has studiously ignored Ghillie's existence since the day we brought our wee munsty home 2 years and 2 months ago. Every evening, Flyn would disappear into the other room while Judo and Ghillie had their mad hour with the ball, kong, tuggie or anything else that came to hand. He has now started behaving like a 'proper collie', as he continually brings toys, demands to play, rounds up Ghillie and vocalises in a manner that Jig would have been proud of. He and Ghillie have started inter-reacting in a really positive way and are running and chasing each other when we are out which, is the most amazing thing of all, as Flyn has made a career out of hanging around our feet and trying to do permanent heelwork while the rest of the pack ran around like mad things. He is now exhibiting a turn of speed we didn't know he possessed as he chases after Ghillie, nipping at his heels. Both dogs are changing so fast that each day is becoming a revelation.

Long- Suffering Flyn with baby Ghillie

Ghillie and I are now getting down to some serious training. I'm really keen to continue with his working trials training, but I am ashamed to admit that obedience training needs a lot of work before we can advance any further down that route. To that end, I have set myself a goal to have him ready to compete at an obedience show by April, which means really knuckling down to some training. I have dusted off my Charlie Wyant's 'Heelaway' book, still in my opinion, the best common sense and down to earth advice around, and am now in the process of some serious 'back to basics' with a schedule of his hearth-rug tips.
I am under no illusions, I forsee some hard times ahead. Ghillie however now has what he has always craved, my whole-hearted and complete attention, so we shall just have to see what we can accomplish.

The early snows of 2010. A tribute to our black and white family who are now running together again over Rainbow Bridge.