Toby Too is very happy with his new life in the country.
He is loving and eager to please.
I love him, too.
The cats still prefer to live in the polytunnel, the log store and the gardens.
As long as they get fed and can assist us with the vegetable gardening
without 'that dog' being around,
they are content,
for the moment.
I am trying to broker peace between them
because
I like all my furry animals under the one roof at night.
The hens occasionally get a little more exercise than normal.
Sometimes Toby just can't resist giving chase.
I'm working on that.
Toby has taken an inexplicable dislike to my brother (Owl Wood).
Toby is not drawn to him, which is very unusual -
I assume he reminds him of someone in his past.
He growls, he barks.
So does Toby.
I'm working on that relationship too.
It is a long list!
I love him, too.
The cats still prefer to live in the polytunnel, the log store and the gardens.
As long as they get fed and can assist us with the vegetable gardening
without 'that dog' being around,
they are content,
for the moment.
I am trying to broker peace between them
because
I like all my furry animals under the one roof at night.
The hens occasionally get a little more exercise than normal.
Sometimes Toby just can't resist giving chase.
I'm working on that.
Toby has taken an inexplicable dislike to my brother (Owl Wood).
Toby is not drawn to him, which is very unusual -
I assume he reminds him of someone in his past.
He growls, he barks.
So does Toby.
I'm working on that relationship too.
It is a long list!
A few days ago we began some 'serious' training.
I say we, because I have as much to learn as Toby Too.
We are using reward based 'clicker' training.
He is responding very well and enjoys his training sessions,
so do I.
I know that the time and effort invested now will pay dividends for the rest of his life.
A friend in the village has agreed to train us.
She has over 20 years of experience in dog training and it shows
in the ease with which she 'shapes' the behaviour she wants from him.
Watching her instruct Toby is like watching a ballet, or reading poetry.
He recognises her authority and responds.
Our instructor has twice been asked to represent 'the South' with her agility dogs, at Crufts!
with a lot of success and placements.
with a lot of success and placements.
She knows her stuff.
Toby and I are putting in lots of homework.
We don't want to let her down.
The dog shows great promise, shame about his mama!
Wherever I go, Toby follows.
I enjoy gardening, so he enjoys gardening.
I enjoy gardening, so he enjoys gardening.
I love poppies - he says he does too.
Bennie, however, finds all this gardening exhausting.
Spinach and chard are growing well, beans and peas have begun to climb higher.
The gardener in chief is working dawn to dusk.
Problems with my laptop computer have meant that I am way behind on
reading your posts, commenting, etc.
Apologies!
I hope the problem has now been resolved, but if I go quiet....
I so enjoyed this. Happy Toby Too is settling in and meeting his dog training with hearty success . . . mum too . .
ReplyDeleteHello Lynne, Thank you. We've just completed another training session - Toby Too is stretched out asleep after all his hard work. He is such a good boy, most of the time!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous boy you have there... You'll have him trained in no time :) Your chief gardener is doing a bang up job - things look GREAT!
ReplyDeleteHello Little Home in the Country, Of course George couldn't manage the vegetable growing all on his own - Bennie's supervision is invaluable! The weather has been challenging, but we're getting there with the vegetables and salads. He thoroughly enjoyed reading your recent post - stored snippets for future reference.
DeleteGreat job on the post....I love it! It has covered everything, including your sense of humor!! Now I know what is wrong in my life, I need a "Gardner in Chief", like you have. I also find the wire covers interesting. Did George make these?
ReplyDeleteHello Meggie, You are absolutely right, the 'cages' were made by George. They are constructed from left-over fencing, cut and shaped to fit the beds. They do the job very nicely - in our early years here we lost a lot of leafy vegetables to hungry birds!
DeleteSo glad Toby Too is settling in and that you have a good training thing going on ... I've really liked following this thread. P.S. The gardens look great and I am intrigued by the 'cages' you're using for the spinach and chard! We need some of those to keep the deer away from our leafy greens!
ReplyDeleteHello Susan, Thank you! Toby Too is a delight, he is so similar in temperament to old Toby so he has slotted into our way of life much more easily than I expected. We have had a very occasional deer visit the Owl Wood, but our main problem is hungry pigeons and members of the crow family. These cages have really made a huge difference.
DeleteTT looks very much like a dog I know. He too is adorable. I wish I had access to your dog trainer though!
ReplyDeleteHello Cro, TT really does look very much like your lovely Bok! He is responding very well to training, but it does take a lot of repetition - walks are shorter but take longer because I have to make sure that we keep to the rules about no pulling on the lead. It will get easier.
DeleteSo glad to read that Toby Too is settling in. I'm sure that the cats will get used to him - especially when the weather gets colder! Jx
ReplyDeleteHello Jan, The cats don't really seem particularly bothered, as long as they get their regular food and lots of attention. I reckon they think they are at summer camp!
DeleteIt is really great to have a trainer on hand and that Toby too is responding well.
ReplyDeleteHello Doc, I really don't think I would be so calm and confident that I will succeed if it wasn't for her wonderful input. It is amazing how the tiniest changes in how things are done have made a difference!
DeleteToby Too looks like a sweetheart and I admire all your efforts. It will be worth it. As for Owl Wood, maybe he just doesn't trust vegans. (You can smell them, you know.) But, I'm sure he'll eventually win Toby over. The gardens look stunning!
ReplyDeleteHello Mitch, You are so right, Toby Too is a sweetheart, he only ever wants to please...there is just an edge of mischief which gets him into scrapes! I am so lucky to have found him, he has really helped me to come to terms with losing my sweet old Toby. I'm sure you are right, Toby Too and Owl will soon settle their difference.
DeleteJust look at that dog! Does he sleep? If he does, I'll bet he sleeps as hard as he lives.
ReplyDeleteHello Joanne, You've got it in one. He sleeps very soundly - and very frequently. Doesn't snore though.
DeleteToby Too looks a picture of health and happiness. My O/H once had a dog who was generally fine when people called, except one neighbour and she (the dog) would growl ferociously until the poor man went back up the road again. Never did find out why. PS your veggie deep beds are looking great.
ReplyDeleteHello Molly, The beds are coming along nicely now - the soil has really improved thanks to George's hard work. I think he probably gets as much enjoyment from seeing how good the soil is, as I get from harvesting the veg. He is a lovely dog, and so eager to learn our routines, I think he will soon work things out.
DeleteHe's a real delightful looking dog
ReplyDeleteHello John, Thank you! He is bursting with health and vitality - a happy dog.
DeleteThat is a lot of gardening going on there! One of the saddest things about losing an old pet is missing all the ways your lives meshed. Starting over with a new pet takes a lot of adjustments and it sounds like you're really working on that. I hope Toby Too will come around and settle into his environment. He must have had a deprived puppyhood with no cats or chickens or "uncle".
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Sparrow, You are right, my darling Toby knew our routines and fitted in with everything; he could tell from the clothes we were wearing when we were going out without him, or going for walkies. Toby Too is a quick learner and amazingly similar in so many ways. I was incredibly fortunate to find him, he is healing my heart and I hope I am giving him a lot of love too. He is getting much better with Owl - their latest meeting was very amiable!
DeleteSounds like the patience I've had to show our 9 year old cat we got after Bailey passed. Toby Two looks eager to learn and I'm loving those poppies. XOXO
ReplyDeleteHello Susan, All the time and love we invest in them will be repaid in so many ways; I feel that old Toby definitely approves. The poppies are a fleeting delight which I eagerly anticipate each summer. The field poppies have also begun to bloom - I love those too! xx
Deletehe looks like a beautiful boy... I shall swing by to visit one day soon. I think it's lovely you've given him a new home... Your garden is looking stunning by the way... this strange weather seems to be working wonders on the veg!
ReplyDeleteHello Dom, You'll be most welcome. I bet your cookery demonstrations are well attended at the Lincolnshire Show! Perhaps we should get you to do one at the village show as well... All the vegetables have been very slow to get growing, but at last they are getting a move on.
Deleteoh and tell Ian to stop bothering the dog, and go and have a haircut... i'm scared of him!
ReplyDeleteI reckon it's the pith helmet that does it!
DeleteHow could anyone, man or beast not like OW Esquire? Toby, will come round I'm sure, once he learns to read Owl Wood's blog. Is he still two-timing us bloggers by twittering or whatever it's called? He's such a tart... Bakewell of course.
ReplyDeleteThe gardener-in-chief is obviously a disciple of the Uniformity is a Fine Thing School of Gardening. Well that, and the fact he favours 'those' wellies as seen on Helen Yemm's tootsies. There really is no hope I'm afraid, no ointment, no horse liniment, not even single malt... although?
Sneakily envious, I must say; where are all the weeds?
LLX
Hello LL, Don't worry, they are beginning to accommodate one another...well, they are learning to ignore one another, at any rate. Owl has been very busy - puts a lot of time and effort into scaring little old ladies, I believe.
DeleteMy beloved gardener likes all his vegetables to be in neatly regimented rows, inspects them every day, I reckon it takes him back to his days in the Royal Marines. As to the wellies, they are de rigueur around here, horse poop, chicken poop and mud, lots of mud!
I love the updates on Toby Too. He looks so happy and in beautiful health. He reminds me very much of our old rescue black lab, Bessie. She always seemed very grateful and appreciative of every bit of love and attention we gave her. The only time she ever growled at anyone was when we were out walking one day and she saw an Island woman. Since we got Bessie from the pound and she had been picked up as a badly malnourished stray and quite timid, we wondered whether the woman reminded Bessie of someone in her past who had mistreated her.
ReplyDeleteOur cats took months to come around to suddenly having a dog in the house, and while they never became friends they did eventually settle into peaceful co-habitation :-)
Hello Lynne, How wonderful that Bessie found her forever home with you after her dreadful start in life. I am thrilled with the way Toby has settled down - a completely new way of life to learn about, new people, new rules. I really look forward to the day when the cats and Toby reach an agreement. They used to curl up and snooze with my old Toby, I don't expect that to happen - but it would be great if they could be under the same roof. I'll keep you posted.
DeleteSuch a beautiful boy. I'm so glad that he is helping to heal your heart. You really were meant to find him. Love x
ReplyDeleteHello Scarlet, Toby Too and I have just had another session with our trainer, he is sleeping soundly - he worked hard, and thoroughly enjoyed himself, so did I - but I don't get to have a nap! I could never have imagined how quickly he would work his way into my heart; he is so like my old Toby - and yet so much himself too. I was so lucky to find him. x
DeleteHe looks great, handsome with that mischievous glint in his eye
ReplyDeleteHello Viking, I am so pleased that Toby Too has come into our lives. He is wonderful. Of course he is young, and still has to mellow a little, but I am so happy to have him.x
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