Willow and Barry

I never meant this blog to turn into a 'What Willow did next' waffle but it seems this is another post about her 🐾😆

As I type she is lying on my feet which although rather sweet is incredibly uncomfortable, however I would rather she did that than be curled up in a corner facing away. We've only had her three months and although there are still 'teething' problems she is settling in and finding her feet and her place in her new pack.

What triggered this post was a rather important appointment - although Willow would disagree.  She went for a pre-spey check up at her veterinary surgery. Oooh scary stuff.  Poor girl thought we were going for a walk when she threw herself at high speed into the car  however, when we obviously did not pull up at her FAVOURITE PLACE EVER (until the next favourite place - it changes....) but in a rather austere tarmac carpark her body language changed instantly.

Gone was that eager 'let me at 'em' look on her face as she immediately became a cringing scaredy little piece of red rag and could not get closer to my legs if she tried. I can not fault the kindness and gentle understanding by the staff as I explained about this little whimp and her rescue history. You never saw such relief on her face as we left and she could hurtle back into the car!

However, I did promise her we would go to the playing fields before we returned home and as soon as I parked up she squeaked with joy. We were there a lot later than our usual visit so the grounds were empty and it was just us. I decided no training today - too much for an already fried little Willow walnut brain and we went straight into play - you could see all the tension lift off her shoulders as she sprinted around in huge circles around me, blasting out all her pent up nervous energy and stress.

Just as we'd almost completed a rather whirlwind circuit of play and ball chase, one of Willow's little buddies and his dad landed. As we get to meet more folk with her, she is gently getting used to other dogs and people and we've had a very positive breakthrough with her making tentative steps to being interested in actually 'saying hello' to people. 

This particular pairing of dog and dad are rather sweet, both getting on in years and a bit rusty around the edges, the dog - who I have been told his name but each time I don't quite catch it is something like Tooby or Dobby or Scooby or Dooby or something like that and his dad is called Barry. Now, Barry has a life well lived face, with time and work etched on his skin and a gently rough northern voice. He chats quietly about his life - it seems he has spent it entirely in the village including his school days, living not that far from where I do and yet we have never met before. I now know he has a neighbour who is a musician and he can hear him practising whenever he is home. He has a small garden and loves it only breaking off to bring Scooby/Tooby/Dobby well you get the idea, up for his daily potter around the fields.

Today the dogs ran around us as we chatted, well... Willow trotted with a typical rangy collie trot while Tooby/Frooby etc barrelled along on little old Jack Russell legs as he tried to keep up.

Barry and Blobby/Tooby/Tubby/Toby (whatever) usually shuffle around half the field then return to the car, Today Willow tired out Booby/Moody/Jooby etc fairly quickly then we all wandered back to the cars. I was glad that Wills had already had a good stretching run and play and was ready to return. 

As we waved each other off Barry said 'See ya luv, good speakin' wi ya'  made me wonder if he doesn't always get the chance to chat to folk.... Willow and I shall keep an eye out for Barry and Booby/Pooby/Who-bee - I better find out what the dog is actually called!