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| Love me love me |
Mabel has not really ingratiated herself with Chris.
Some of this stems from the fact that he is, in fact, a terrier fan, pure and simple.
But most of the time it is Mabel's slightly neurotic and rambunctious behaviours that leaves him shaking his head with a certain amount of resignation.
Terriers are quick, light footed and needy. They demand cuddles like well intentioned babies, and have a gentleness about them which everyone seems to enjoy.
Mabel on the other hand is overactive, totally uncoordinated and incredibly clumsy....she craves physical contact but cannot quite rein in the heavy breathing hysterics that always accompanies being made a fuss of...and 25 kilos of paw waving bulldog is a lot cope with sometimes in a cottage the size of a postage stamp.
It can be a little bit like being molested by a constantly bouncing fur covered fridge freezer.
Not easy when you are not in the mood for it!
Mabel requires consistency and firm handling, to control her desperate need for affection, and she needs a calm structured approach to deal with her nervousness, which , I think it the root of her excitable behaviour........we have not quite got there as yet, but we are close, and I have to smile to myself, for as I am typing this blog entry at the kitchen table, I can see her watching my every move with her big brown sad eyes never leaving my face, just waiting for that moment she can gallop forward like a steam train for a cuddle
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Weight Watchers weigh in this morning 14 stone 13lbs
Total weight loss since 2nd Jan 1 stone 1lb
Weight loss last week 1 lb......(a surprising result given those homemade sausages!!!)
What it is to be loved, plus you get lovely slobbery kisses as well, plus you get them from your doggy girl friend as well. Man, but you are the lucky one!
ReplyDeleteGive her a hug from me.
ReplyDeleteWell done on the weight loss.
For those of us on the other side of the pond what is a stone? Whatever it is congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCheers Peter
I thought she was very well-behaved when I visited...I think it's the terriers who are a bit "rambunctious", to use your expression...
ReplyDeleteBut then again, as you know I'm not a *huge* terrier fan...I mean, they're fine of course...'easy' dogs, if you know what I mean... but they wouldn't be my choice of breed to own...I like a stubborn, intelligent and perhaps slightly fickle dog.
For me, your bulldog bitch is a "proper" dog...I mean, look at your photograph...you could knead bread on her back..sturdy, smooth-haired and solid. Plus, she's very pretty (in bulldog terms).
I don't know about all the 'dog' psychology, but in my experience they just need rules, routine, strategies for boredom, constant 'conversation' and -most importantly - appropriate eye contact is EVERYTHING when it comes to dogs, in my opinion...
Nx
PS. Just dropped by. Interesting blog posts over the weekend...I have my own opinion (hey)...talk later this week...
PPS. Agree with Janet, lock the shed, and put a 'bulldog' sign on the door.
@Peter
ReplyDelete1 stone = about 6 kg
Nx
As I have gotten to know the people who own Scottish Terriers, I have found them to be different than those that I know that have Golden Retrievers. And from what I know of Chris, which of course is not much, he is smart, focused and loyal and isn't he also a bit independent--Just like a terrier?
ReplyDeleteNot sure which is worse - an affectionate steam train or the needy bundle of hypodermic needles that is our cat Fluffy.
ReplyDeleteDon't lose too much weight or Mabel will be able to knock you over!
I can do nothing but feel love for the adorable Mabel give her a cuddle from me! Weight loss very impressive.
ReplyDeleteIn order to see the world from Mabel's perspective perhaps Chris should get down on his hands and knees for few hours. No language and only a bowl filled with cooked chicken to eat. You could slip a collar round his neck and take him to see Aunt Gladys. He would have to learn how to slobber and fart like a bulldog or does he know how to do that already?
ReplyDeleteI stone = 14 pounds pete
ReplyDeleteand Monty = 40 Kgs. A full grown Elephant in the house!
ReplyDeleteAw, bless her!
ReplyDeleteOh, I've got Weight Watchers tonight and I'm afraid to go. They say when you get afraid you shouldn't just go to the meeting, you should RUN to the meeting. Well, I guess I'll waddle as fast as I can. Take the crap. Do better next week. Actually I haven't had that bad of a week... I had fries one night and I had Twizzlers at the movie theatre on Saturday. Other than that it's been the regular routine - exercise and boiled chicken breasts and 14 stone worth of bloody salads. Congrats on your weigh-in this week. I know how hard it is.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mabel, how could you not love those big, brown eyes and that overbite? I do see Chris's point. But Mabel is a sweetie with a sweet name and she'll win him over. Eventually.
Mabel with the beautiful soulful eyes.
ReplyDeleteHow could you not want to cuddle her.
Well done on your weight loss.
Nige
ReplyDeleteyou are right...generally sh'es doing very well... but when "off" so to speak, she finds it hard to follow rules...mind you , on the lead and out with the others she's a real star!
Oh Mabel Mabel Mabel....I adore her...I'd like to beam in and give her huge slobbery,hugs and pats.....
ReplyDeleteAnd you......mr. Lean........wow...well done ...not easy ..not easy at all....
She's the one to take with you on a walk in a high wind. She'll keep you grounded. Good for you on the weight loss.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you weight yourself pounds and the pets in kilos? And what is 25 kilos to an English reader?
ReplyDeleteAnd the stones keep rolling off ya John...not so much with me...I'm 11st 8lbs...don't think I'm ever going to get below 160 (well I might if I'd exercise)! Mabel is a dear...steam roller and all! When I worked for a veterinarian the terriers were terrors...most would bite you as soon as look at ya...and one did, middle finger, clear to the bone. Give me a nice neurotic Collie or a stubborn as heck Dachshund any day of the week...I do respect Chris' love of terriers though! (Well sort of!)
ReplyDeleteoh bel... once a critic always a critic....
ReplyDeletekilos stick in my mind with mabel cos the vet weighed her
Look at that face. She's the one that would save you from a burning building. C'mon Chris give her a cuddle. I'm sure she loves both of you. What's not to love.
ReplyDeleteGive her an extra hug from me.
What's with all these people hugging dogs? I'm with Lucy Van Pelt: "I've been kissed by a dog! I HAVE DOG GERMS!!!!!!!"
ReplyDeleteAnd what is 25k for us old people?
You're not throwing the weight that you've lost over here are you, because my scales seem to be going in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteA big hug from me to Mabel.
I looooooooove Mabel. And congrats on the weight loss!
ReplyDeleteGive her a hug from us! Well done on the weight loss, even if I don`t know what a stone is. =)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Chris -- give me terriers every times, as long as they're not the tiny, yappy type.
ReplyDeleteDogs are so funny, but then again I guess not so much. They are like humans everyone has their own personality. Just from a looks stand point, you know those little pushed in faces get me every time :O), but I must say those teddy bear ones are awful cute too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weight loss!
Well done on the weight loss!
ReplyDeleteNext time take off the other boot too haha!x
She's a sweetheart. How could anyone not love that face. Congratulations on your weight loss! I've only lost 1 lb this past week...if I could only control my snacking urge!!! Good luck for next week ;)
ReplyDeleteHang on in there John. There is nothing in the world quite so rewarding as the undying love of a bulldog.
ReplyDeleteaww those big brown eyes--and unconditional love..what's not to like? Even if she's built like a small tank!
ReplyDeleteWell done on the weight loss.
Re-read your post and substitute my name where ever you have Mabel. Yep! That's me :-) No wonder I am so found of her - my soul sister!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have a "stone" curiosity. Do the scales actually announce weight in stones and left over pounds, or must you divide the pounds by 14 to get stones and left over pounds. And, well done.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice calm day....
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrier person, though not *all* terriers - for some reason Borders leave me cold. Even so, I'd have snapped up Mabel, she obviously aches to please. Behaving beautifully on a lead is not to be sneezed at - wasn't she a breeding bitch from kennels? She has a lot to learn about being a housedog then, I'm sure she'll get there in time :-)
ReplyDeleteGood job on the weight loss!
ReplyDeleteWhile Mabel's face is adorable, I definitely remain a terrier fan (but like all dogs). I like your description of terriers and would like to add independent and not always obedient.
Love your description of Mabel. LOLOL! And kudos on the weight loss, young man.
ReplyDeleteShe is just too cute, and who wouldn't love that face or could say no to it? I sure would have a hard time. Cuddles for Mabel from me. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a small world! Discovered your blog via Two Men and a Little Farm, we live in Gwespyr, just down the road!
ReplyDeleteHannah
www.ittybittyfarm.co.uk
Mabel sounds like just the sort of dog I would adore. Maybe if ya really want to calm her down, you need to bring her a Melvin counterpart to waddle around the yard and ... er... hold paws with.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with dogs and loved nearly all i met, even one of the two that bit me (friend's dog, small, hyperactive type).
ReplyDeleteSome tugged and do tug at my heart more than others. I do hope Chris can come to appreciate that Mabel is doing her best to be loving and affable, even if it's not in a terrier way.
Excellent going on the weight loss!
megan
I have heard the term "stone" before. I guess being from America, we like big numbers in addition to everything else big; so 100lbs looks better than 9 or 10 'stones' :o
ReplyDeleteJust noticed you are on a diet. Guess I better catch up here and see how you're doing it. We'll be in Boston all next week, eating lobster and bisque, etc., so I'll be gaining as you're loosing. Phooey!
ReplyDelete