Itchy Paws

I never do anything by halves. It’s a failing of mine. Once I’ve made my mind up about something, I tend to jump out of the proverbial plane without checking the parachute and immediately have doubts about the decision. However, since my resolution to start life afresh elsewhere, I haven’t regretted any of the last weeks events. Well, mostly.

Patience is a virtue I’m told but it’s one I’ve never had much of. Unfortunately for me and despite my itchy feet ( if the dogs could talk they would say itchy paws), there’s nothing I can do that will make the next few months go any quicker. In a somewhat heated meeting with my business partners, I suggested it might be better for them if they removed my details from the website as I would be leaving at the end of the year. Well, they did. The next day. And suddenly I felt completely adrift. After 22 years with Dog Hollow, I was wiped off the face of dog training just like that as if I never existed. Of course I had a twinge of hurt, I did think I might get a send-off of sorts but I made the jump and frankly, perhaps I needed the push. One less thing to worry about.

The wonderful thing about sharing my life with Arry, Alice, Danny Boy, Simi, Yogi Bear, Neo, Mo, Coco, Gizmo and Evee is their ability to make me focus on why itchy paws are a good thing. And thanks to a couple of equally excited friends and their daily web links to gorgeous (and hopefully affordable) country properties, I can dream happily of wellies and happy woofers in the not too distant future. Walking in the local park a couple of days ago, I watched as my little Neo chased a ball even though he couldn’t pick it up. The reason? He’s worn a muzzle in public for the last 6 years (most of his life) as he has a aversion to joggers or passers-by thinking he’s a really sweet looking dog. For him, space to run freely would be the biggest dream of all.

“To a dog the whole world is a smell” (Anon)