Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 17:01:41 GMT 1
And for my second chapter....
Tzigane was 12 years old in February this year. We got her through Andre and Therese (who seem to have a recurring influence on this place, even from Australia). The cobbler who rented the shop below their flat had a German shepherd who had mated with a Border Collie and produced a lot of puppies. He was having problems re homing them and had already had a number put down when Andre mentioned it to us. Sarah was here and implored Debbie not to let any more go the same way, so we agreed to have the 'one that looked most like a border collie'. She has turned out to be German Shepherd size though. She went through a painful nipping stage, which we were told to cure by ingnoring.....it was never going to work...In the end we solved it by getting a hug and comfort from each other and making 'hurt' noises when she nipped us. Worked in less than three days if I remember rightly. Tzig has always been afraid of loud noises and especially lightning storms which make her tremble and not leave your side. If there's one during the night I usually end up with a shivering dog lying on my head.
Toto is 8 this year. A happy, bouncy Breton spaniel/setter cross. His original owner June, bought him from a farmer who kept him in an outside run so small he had difficulty walking. He'd also developed a tumor on his jaw which was removed, though it has left a gap on one side so he has to take his time eating. We pet sat him a couple of times when June had to have treatment for a heart problem. Eventually she decided that she could no longer cope with walking him and we decided to take him on. He's absolutely no problem at all, has the most silky coat and is possibly the friendliest, most loving dog I've ever known.
Initially we had male and female pigmy goats, Bonbon and Espoir. Espoir was going to be delivered by the farmer who we bought her from but in the end he couldn't so we agreed to pick her up after collecting Bonbon. They got aquainted in the back of our Astra estate, there was no doubting Bonbon's virility right from the start. They subsequently produced a male (Magnus) who had his 'bits' done with a rubber band when he was very young and Bonbon was 'seen to' in the barn by our vet not long after. Sadly Espoir died quite suddenly just before Xmas a couple of years ago.
The geese were Sarah's fault really, having been swayed by the sight of fluffy goslings at the market. The two we got (Gandalf and Galadriel) were fairly friendly but when Glad laid and began sitting on eggs she turned distinctly nasty. After Sarah was pecked a few times she went off geese. The remaining one from her clutch was initially named Lucy (as in Goosey) but when no eggs were produced and he began to show all his mothers nasty and sneaky traits we added the 'fer' and he became Lucifer. I still treat him with a lot of respect and have the scars on my legs to remind me why. Gandy we looked after (along with the five cats) after a friend decided to move back to the UK. He was very gentle and would let you stroke him, but once he picked up Lucifers agressive habits he was 'turned to the dark side' as I've alluded to before.
I'll attach a few photo's....one of Andre, Therese, their two girls, myself and Sarah with her dog Pixie.
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Tzigane was 12 years old in February this year. We got her through Andre and Therese (who seem to have a recurring influence on this place, even from Australia). The cobbler who rented the shop below their flat had a German shepherd who had mated with a Border Collie and produced a lot of puppies. He was having problems re homing them and had already had a number put down when Andre mentioned it to us. Sarah was here and implored Debbie not to let any more go the same way, so we agreed to have the 'one that looked most like a border collie'. She has turned out to be German Shepherd size though. She went through a painful nipping stage, which we were told to cure by ingnoring.....it was never going to work...In the end we solved it by getting a hug and comfort from each other and making 'hurt' noises when she nipped us. Worked in less than three days if I remember rightly. Tzig has always been afraid of loud noises and especially lightning storms which make her tremble and not leave your side. If there's one during the night I usually end up with a shivering dog lying on my head.
Toto is 8 this year. A happy, bouncy Breton spaniel/setter cross. His original owner June, bought him from a farmer who kept him in an outside run so small he had difficulty walking. He'd also developed a tumor on his jaw which was removed, though it has left a gap on one side so he has to take his time eating. We pet sat him a couple of times when June had to have treatment for a heart problem. Eventually she decided that she could no longer cope with walking him and we decided to take him on. He's absolutely no problem at all, has the most silky coat and is possibly the friendliest, most loving dog I've ever known.
Initially we had male and female pigmy goats, Bonbon and Espoir. Espoir was going to be delivered by the farmer who we bought her from but in the end he couldn't so we agreed to pick her up after collecting Bonbon. They got aquainted in the back of our Astra estate, there was no doubting Bonbon's virility right from the start. They subsequently produced a male (Magnus) who had his 'bits' done with a rubber band when he was very young and Bonbon was 'seen to' in the barn by our vet not long after. Sadly Espoir died quite suddenly just before Xmas a couple of years ago.
The geese were Sarah's fault really, having been swayed by the sight of fluffy goslings at the market. The two we got (Gandalf and Galadriel) were fairly friendly but when Glad laid and began sitting on eggs she turned distinctly nasty. After Sarah was pecked a few times she went off geese. The remaining one from her clutch was initially named Lucy (as in Goosey) but when no eggs were produced and he began to show all his mothers nasty and sneaky traits we added the 'fer' and he became Lucifer. I still treat him with a lot of respect and have the scars on my legs to remind me why. Gandy we looked after (along with the five cats) after a friend decided to move back to the UK. He was very gentle and would let you stroke him, but once he picked up Lucifers agressive habits he was 'turned to the dark side' as I've alluded to before.
I'll attach a few photo's....one of Andre, Therese, their two girls, myself and Sarah with her dog Pixie.
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