She came to me just before Christmas on the eve of her first Birthday. During her first year She had been walked twice and had been tied up more and more over the nine months until she was tied up 24/7.
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| Poppy, now five years old and looking for mischief? |
When she arrived at my house Poppy was given the free run of it. At first she stayed in the front room not realising that she was free but then she was off, as she passed the washing machine she pushed the button and the washing got another washing and yet another. I thought it was my washing machine going wrong - I was wrong it was this skinny black and tan dog I called Poppy. I remembered that her previous owner said she liked watching washing going round!
Then she saw the stairs and made a dashed for them expecting to be stopped. She had never climbed stairs before. She tripped and slipped as she ran, half way up she met our ancient cat Tiddles who beat her back down the stairs slashing at her face. Pops slithered down whimpering. Undaunted she charged upstairs again to be slashed and scratched once more. I took Poppy back down stairs really cross with her for attacking Tiddles, but as I looked up the stairs I could see the blood dripping from the steps and oozing from Poppy's nose.
Christmas day I walked her to St JamesGreen Dog Park, an enclosed area safe for dogs to run and play. I let Poppy off the lead, she stood still and then she ran like the wind in and out of the trees round and round in circles. A pack of dogs was in the centre of the park and Poppy crawled on her belly to them. She had not been socialised with any dogs since she left her mum. The dogs gathered round her and she cowered submissively. A huge Husky, Geo, came over to her and gave her a lick and she slunk to his side. The other dogs backed off and she had made her first friend.
.She soon had a small band of friends Bruce a black Labrador adored her, Bessie a collie about the same age became a firm friend, and they would run in circles,chasing each other. Tess and Tia both terriers bossed her around but would keep rough dogs away from her. then there was Oscar, a tale for another day. I was so pleased for her. She learnt to play with them, and how to sniff for peemails, for foxes, squirrels and all the myriad of messages left by the living world. The squirrels baited her to chase them and would scramble up a tree before she caught them, pigeons and crows feeding in the park would fly away when she had almost reached them. She chased a rabbit into the hedge and there was a scream and Poppy tumbled out of hedge backwards. The rabbit had used its powerful back feet to kick her away.
I loved to see her enjoying herself but getting to the park was a different matter. Poppy is so unsure of people and wanst approval leapt up at people and tried to lick their nose. She also was afraid of cars, not for Pops cowering in fear at these monsters, no each one was given a twirl and a howl and then she would leap at them. A dog trainer showed me how to stops this by getting her to sit before a car passed and I had get her to look at me and I had to say "Leave it". then if she did not fling herself at the car say,"Good Girl." Living in an urban City even a short walk took a long time!. I spent of lot time bottom up in the street and often heard a chorus of "Leave it! Leave it!" from roofers and other builders.Fortunately she no longer leaps at people and only twirls and leaps at the occasional car.
Just after she arrived a builder started doing major work on my house, two months early and which took two months to complete. So Poppy and the cats never really got to bond as the cats were shut in one room and I was often shut in another with Pops. Happy Days oh sigh.
Pops sleeps for twelve hours, is awake and is active during the day for twelve hours.. At night she goes quite happily into the back room to sleep at at 8.30 pm At first she had a futon to sleep on until six weeks after she came one night she shredded the futon mattress and I walked into s sea of filling. The the birds appreciated the cotton stuffing to line their nest and my hanging baskets are lined with the remnants to this day. Now she has four blankets in winter wedged against the radiator and in summer pulled across the room to catch the morning light.
She loves her room and her toys, especially her football, which she has had for four years. Every morning we play football. Visitors are expected to play football after a few minutes of being in the house. She loves her food. . She came to us at Christmas so she was treated to many new tastes - slices of ham, chicken, beef, lamb and Turkey. When we fed her she would look warily at the treat offered and only when she was sure it was really for her, eat it with relish often running off into her room. (Our dinning room).
She always comes with me to the plot where she has a group of Poppy fans. Who come over to give her a cuddle and play with her. she barks at geese cyclist, sometimes at cars and always at my push pull grass mover. She has to be on a long lead but she is happy being fussed over, eating her treats, and getting cuddles from me as I take a break from working on my plot. On the way home we walk to St James Green so she can run free.
Poppy has wriggled her way into my heart, she is a loving, intelligent, dog. She hectic with a wild side but also gets scared very easily, she wont go into my shed and will bolt for the door in a local shop which has wooden panelling, If I pick up the broom and lift it off the ground she will flinch back, when it is on the floor she will attack it. She is a wreck if I use the vacuum cleaner.
I would not be without Poppy, my cats would love to be without her, but accept her with disdain. We have had many adventures together, a lot of fun. She is my beautiful dog Pops and I am so grateful to she came into my life.
With Reiki Blessing to all living creatures
and to you all
Merry B
I
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