My name IS Tippi, , Bulldog psychology and"Fly my pretties fly...fly"



Hundreds of Starlings wait for their breakfast



I have been blaming the alarming lack of bird feed on the increased need of the domestic animals on the field due to the freezing weather! But yesterday one of the villagers pointed out that what seems like the whole population of village wild birds have now set up residence in the trees surrounding the hen houses on the field.

Now, every morning, hundreds of starlings wait patiently for an opportunity to stuff their fat beaks with anything edible along side the resident  population of collared doves and the troupe of 60 or so field sparrows.

I cannot do much about all of this. When I am pottering around the field, the wild birds of course keep their distance, but when I am in the cottage, down they sweep as though in the Hitchcock movie to gorge themselves like common people do on an all exclusive holiday.....When I finally notice the flocks descending then out I run,waving my arms hysterically like a somewhat fat and old Tippi Hendren, to drive the little buggers off; albeit for only a ten minute respite



Constance sulking post eye ointment administration!



When I am not frightening starlings, I have been working hard in encouraging Constance to start acting more like a "normal" dog. Bulldogs by nature are lazy characters, they prefer a warm bed rather than the great cold outdoors and this trait in Constance has been exaggerated by a long term "fear" of  traffic and unfamiliar surroundings.

Animals cannot be pushed into anything stressful. They need to be "encouraged" gently and with much patience.  so every day I have spent some time sitting next to the main road through the village with Constance sitting on my feet ( she needing physical contact with me as reassurance from the noisy traffic)..This daily dose of noise seems to be working.......when I was a psychiatric nurse, we used to work with agoraphobic patients in a similar vein

As for the dogs' usual four walks a day, I have left it up to her if she wants to join in.

After two weeks, I think the terriers' natural exuberance has had it's effect on her somewhat laissez-faire personality and when I call them all for their first and last walk of the day, Constance has now joined in the excitement and has lined up with the others by the door before we all go out.

Last night I took Constance to the vets for a check up and some eye ointment ( 35 quid for a 2 inch tube!!!!) and realised that car journeys have become a bit of a passion for her. With her little piggy eyes wide open and interested in the scenery, she seems to love the whole car experience ( especially if the car heater is on full blast) and I will use a daily trip out to build up her somewhat fragile confidence out in the community! 



Dan's new runners  see http://allthatcomeswithit.com/archives/2983

And finally.....I read with interest how Dan is coping with his new runners......My "mad as a box of frog" warning , I can see has not gone unheeded......he writes a good blog and I am flattered that he thought that I was a "good egg".........it's nice to see that some of my babies have now "flown" the coop and are happy in pastures new

Off to see a live production showing of the National Theatre's Hamlet tonight at the scala, which is a bit of a treat! I am not a lover of Shakespeare, but hey.....you grab culture when you can get it here in North Wales!