• Living Between the Lines

    We saw a dog…

    We saw a dog… Not a major event in most people’s lives but in Charlie’s? Well, put it this way, for the past few months, Charlie Brown has been undergoing intensive training to rid him of the panic he gets into when another dog approaches him while he is out on the lead. He has been getting progressively more anxious ever since he was set upon by three dogs, in the woods, when he was a pup. Well, could that be the reason? Maybe. Anyway, on a walk back in the Spring, we chanced to come face to face with two large dogs. Charlie immediately went into defence mode although…

  • Living Between the Lines

    Birthdays, training days and pond days

    As birthdays go mine starts well – some lovely presents and cards and the prospect of a day ‘doing as I please’ once the usual chores are done. I haven’t forgotten the training session I have booked for Flossie this morning but last week’s was so calm and easy I don’t give it much thought. The dog trainer is arriving at 10.30 a.m. I have time to nip into Bishops Waltham and pick up a few bits, post a few letters and be back in time for a cup of tea and a quiet read of the newspaper. Yes, this is going to be a wonderfully relaxing birthday… Neither dog…