The day after yesterday

Blue's dawn walk this morning is to be extra special, for the wrong reasons.

Due to the unfortunate altercation with the stranger yesterday, Blue's first walk of today had greater significance, with the memory fresh from yesterdays conflict, (read in more detail yesterday's blog).

Would we meet up with the aggressive stranger a second time?

Before dropping off to sleep last night, in my mind we were going to take a different route to ensure their was no repetition of yesterdays events. Upon waking and getting ready my mind had changed.

I decided we would go out at the same time and walk the same route, and deal with whatever life has to throw at us. So with Blue and his Wainwright lead attached off we set, as we rounded the first bend in our street, Blue had already shown a slight reluctance and sheepishness in his walk, or was it my imagination. As we walked along Blue was aware of someone approaching from behind, looking back we saw a lady walking to work, we have seen her many times, so without fuss we made our way across the road, to give her room to pass and reduce the anxiety that Blue always has when people follow behind us. So relaxed was he, standing having a wee without even a sideways glance as she passed by.

Now we made our way onto the main road, the same time as yesterday, a few cars passing by but no sight of the bloke encountered yesterday. We did our walk up to the junction and returned with no repeat of yesterday.

Looking back on events, I do feel Blue was not his normal self, he was not on guard, he seemed less relaxed than before, and at times a little sheepish and clingy. Perhaps yesterday took its toll on him mentally.

German Shepherds are in the top breeds of intelligence, therefore they must have strong memories.

So today we exorcised any demons that may have been lurking, in both our minds, and enjoyed our return home to have breakfast, with a relieved wife who had been very apprehensive from yesterdays events.

Today we are stronger, to coin a phrase we got back on the horse from which we had fallen yesterday, and is if our bond was strong before, today the bond and trust between Blue and me seemed just a little stronger.

I hope this tale helps to inspire others, where things go against them, strength comes from within, and is not just physical.

Perils of an early morning walk

While out on his early morning walk Blue and I had a confrontation with a stranger, the episode only lasted a minute or so, but that is all it takes.

It is 5:45am and time to take Blue out for his morning walk, we ventured out on a damp and slightly misty morning, as per usual we left our road and headed along the main road.

Crossing the road, we see up in the distance, there was a solitary person walking along. As we were walking along, looking back, the figure was still a way off, so there was no further reason to take heed, as Blue is very protective, it is not always channelled in the right way, so I am always mindful of the presence of others.

Minding our own business, Blue did his business, which was duly collected and disposed of in the litter bin, just up the road. Our walk normally takes us up to a junction of traffic lights where we cross over and begin our return journey.

The solitary figure that was mentioned at the beginning was approaching on the other side of the road, thinking, this stranger was lost or in need of some advice,as he crossed over to our side of the road, I reined Blue in close to me, to subdue his protective instincts.

As if before my very eyes, this guy just turned. Impersonating the Incredible Hulk on steroids he was gesturing, shouting, swearing, and Blue wanted a piece of this.

F'ing this and f'ing that he was determined to have a confrontation with Blue, and Blue was up for it.

Now I am no expert, but this was not the behaviour of someone normal, and I was not going to allow Blue to either get hurt or hurt someone, and end up paying the ultimate price.

Shouting at both Blue and this lunatic, "just f'ing leave it!" I managed to bring a moment of order, shouting back at me the stranger told me "I was worse than his F'ing misses"

Distance was my main objective now, so we went our separate ways, continuing to hear the obscenities aimed at anyone who would listen.

Blue was calm, my heart had stopped racing and we finished our walk off in peace.

So you just do not know what is around the corner, it may have been friendly banter to begin with or he may have genuinely been out looking for a scuffle or confrontation, but today Blue and me were not going to join in whatever game he was playing.

Knowing this could have easily been my wife walking Blue, the end result could have been a different scenario, this guy was in excess of 6 feet, aggressive and very intimidating.

So was it a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time, or right place right time, as no one was hurt.

For those that read this and think, if it were me I would have let Blue bit him, just think on.

Blue is not bred to attack, so there may be no stopping him once started, he may also have got injured himself during the attack.

My greatest concern is that Blue would have been labelled an out of control aggressive and dangerous dog, taken from us and put to sleep. I honestly would not have cared for any damage inflicted on this guy, he would have got what he deserved.

The moral of this story is, even the small things in life that get you suspicious are not normally wrong, however you do not have control over the inevitable happening.

Thank you for reading this, me and my little friend, Blue, enjoyed a well earned breakfast, he is now sleeping as I get set to leave for a days work, feeling I have already done one.

Bank Holiday

Finally a Bank Holiday weekend which was dry and gave plenty of opportunity for Blue to enjoy the garden and great outdoors.

Blue loves it when we do the garden, he gets to play some of his favourite games, but one that he never tires of is his favourite, chase and catch the ball.

Games and the rules in the garden (According to Blue)

• Weeding; if it comes out of the ground and is green, it is a weed and must be removed
• If it does not come out of the ground easily, it must be dug out
• If flower beds are turned over, sample holes must be carried out as trial pits
• Any hand tools placed on the floor must be carried off to safety
• Work must not interrupt play time
• Work must cease when I am bored
• If you kneel on the ground, you are fair play for some rough and tumble
• Lush lawns must not be cut short, it is my bed which I allow you to care for
• Use of hose-pipes is forbidden until water sampling is carried out
• Security perimeter patrols maintained (No cats, squirrels or birds allowed)

The above list is not exhaustive but gives a flavour of the rules of the garden and games played in the eyes of Blue.

Like many German Shepherds, Blue has a big thing about water hoses. Once we use the outside tap, he will worry until it is turned on, if it isn't he will stand and stare at it.

One other strange game that Blue plays, holding the ball firmly in his teeth, he will beat his own sides in turn by shaking his head and twisting all in one movement.

Blue is back

After a bit of a break from his blogging, Blue is back.

Last time a blog was aired it was a chronicle of our holiday to the lake district. That story is still unfinished and I will do one more blog for the remainder of the holiday, there is still some fun stuff and great pictures to share.

Since then there have been many things going on, a bit of illness, which Blue has now fully recovered from, Christmas has been and gone and more recently we enjoyed two weeks in the Scottish Highlands. 

Blue still enjoys his swimming every week at Aquadoggies, though his favourite yellow ball has gone to meet it's maker, but the new pink one is just as good, and shows Blues feminine side, though not too much as he has a reputation to maintain.

Old favourite needs to be retired

Loving the new pink ball !

Morning walks are getting better now the lighter mornings are back, Blue has one week going out with me and the next with my wife Sue. So at least one of us gets to have a lie in, Blue still insists on rising about 5.15am each morning. Come rain shine or hail, a dog has got to do what a dog has got to do.

So apologies for the break in sharing the adventures and life experiences of Blue hope you enjoy the stories that follow.