I never go anywhere without my Breoghan, so yes, I suppose so. As long as we aren’t actually inside the truck. She protects any vehicle we’re in with the passion of a thousand suns, so it’s not so much fun when she assumes the aspect of Gojira in her fierce defense of territory, while I’m simultaneously apologizing and assuring said hoomans she won’t actually kill them. Maybe not always the best first impression, unless they’re one of us, in which case they understand. Actually a pretty great way to separate the wheat from the chaff 😉
"The passion of a thousand suns.." what a glorious description. Also utterly apt when it comes to a beloved canine protecting her space. Makes a gal feel so safe and confident. Beryl looks more fierce than she actually is, and she almost never barks, so I'm sometimes curious what she would actually DO should someone she doesn't know decide to check out our vehicle...
Isn’t it interesting, how quiet our canine friends are? Breoghan so rarely barks (except truck defense!) that you can bet that I give her my COMPLETE attention when she does. INVASION IMMINENT! Srsly though, she’s so quiet and thoughtful, we have a whole language of clicks and snaps and paws and looks.
I just had this convo yesterday about FluentPet (yknow, the buttons?). I tried them once with B. She immediately figured out what was up, and looked at me like, “are you (expletive deleted) serious right now?” And I was all, “yeah! It’ll be fun! See? You mash these buttons to talk to me!” And she just looks at me, paws folded. “oh. What a dumbass.” Why on earth would she ever want to expend all that energy to learn a bunch of new stuff to walk into another room and mash buttons which run out of batteries to say the 8 things she’s already VERY WELL trained me she cares about (in order): sheep, barn, outside, breakfast, dinner, bath, scritches, bed? So I returned the buttons and we carried on with our perfectly functional communication.
I’ve got thoughts on those buttons, as a person with a linguistics degree. I’ve watched a lot of those YouTube videos, and thought about it a lot in terms of what we know about early childhood language acquisition and canine psychology, and especially when combined with performance pressures of social media I think the buttons can lead dogs to a dark and neurotic place. Imho
Again, the inspiration! Thank you. You have inspired yet another project that is in my head… and my one day off this week and I have to deal with constant rain.
The good news, I have progress. I am healing and finally, driving locally. So my country drive for supplies is still on the books. I had an idea of retting some rose stems and seeing if I can get some fiber from them. I have no idea why they are still in my garden as I prefer a functional garden but if I prune the long branches, possibilities are endless and if I can’t get cellulose, I can make more crochet hooks
Retting Rose stems! I'm so so intrigued. I know Blackberries have wondrous fiber under the outer bark -- but rose. Oh my. I have LOTS of those I could experiment with. And they could definitely do with a prune-back. I agree with you about the functional garden, though have come to see the tangled, wild(ish) and unkempt corners full of plants I don't actively use (ie unfinished or ignored tidying projects), as bird habitat, which helps. But rose bast.... hmmm...
I am glad you found a Milkweed heaven, and you got to experiment with it to find the optimal outcome. How often do you get to do that?! And that picture of you and Rebecca is great! I smile to myself thinking of the fun your visit with her...and dogs...must have been! Your trip must have been so fun! 😀
So lovely to see your face in a photo.
I never go anywhere without my Breoghan, so yes, I suppose so. As long as we aren’t actually inside the truck. She protects any vehicle we’re in with the passion of a thousand suns, so it’s not so much fun when she assumes the aspect of Gojira in her fierce defense of territory, while I’m simultaneously apologizing and assuring said hoomans she won’t actually kill them. Maybe not always the best first impression, unless they’re one of us, in which case they understand. Actually a pretty great way to separate the wheat from the chaff 😉
"The passion of a thousand suns.." what a glorious description. Also utterly apt when it comes to a beloved canine protecting her space. Makes a gal feel so safe and confident. Beryl looks more fierce than she actually is, and she almost never barks, so I'm sometimes curious what she would actually DO should someone she doesn't know decide to check out our vehicle...
Isn’t it interesting, how quiet our canine friends are? Breoghan so rarely barks (except truck defense!) that you can bet that I give her my COMPLETE attention when she does. INVASION IMMINENT! Srsly though, she’s so quiet and thoughtful, we have a whole language of clicks and snaps and paws and looks.
I just had this convo yesterday about FluentPet (yknow, the buttons?). I tried them once with B. She immediately figured out what was up, and looked at me like, “are you (expletive deleted) serious right now?” And I was all, “yeah! It’ll be fun! See? You mash these buttons to talk to me!” And she just looks at me, paws folded. “oh. What a dumbass.” Why on earth would she ever want to expend all that energy to learn a bunch of new stuff to walk into another room and mash buttons which run out of batteries to say the 8 things she’s already VERY WELL trained me she cares about (in order): sheep, barn, outside, breakfast, dinner, bath, scritches, bed? So I returned the buttons and we carried on with our perfectly functional communication.
I’ve got thoughts on those buttons, as a person with a linguistics degree. I’ve watched a lot of those YouTube videos, and thought about it a lot in terms of what we know about early childhood language acquisition and canine psychology, and especially when combined with performance pressures of social media I think the buttons can lead dogs to a dark and neurotic place. Imho
You went to Hovenweep!! Hooray!
Again, the inspiration! Thank you. You have inspired yet another project that is in my head… and my one day off this week and I have to deal with constant rain.
The good news, I have progress. I am healing and finally, driving locally. So my country drive for supplies is still on the books. I had an idea of retting some rose stems and seeing if I can get some fiber from them. I have no idea why they are still in my garden as I prefer a functional garden but if I prune the long branches, possibilities are endless and if I can’t get cellulose, I can make more crochet hooks
Retting Rose stems! I'm so so intrigued. I know Blackberries have wondrous fiber under the outer bark -- but rose. Oh my. I have LOTS of those I could experiment with. And they could definitely do with a prune-back. I agree with you about the functional garden, though have come to see the tangled, wild(ish) and unkempt corners full of plants I don't actively use (ie unfinished or ignored tidying projects), as bird habitat, which helps. But rose bast.... hmmm...
That photo of Beryl ... almost enough to make me think I'd like to live with a dog. Such a beauty.
Gosh thanks! Maybe there is a somewhat magical fictional dog in your future?
I dither. But it would only be if I were living on my own. Not in the foreseeable.
The last time I was at Hovenweep was 45 years ago - beautiful place. As I remember there was a Tower and nobody around to guard it.
Pretty much the same now. It was deliciously low key. Not that we were there in high season (mid September on a week day morning). But still. amazing.
I’m so glad you went to hovenweep.
Me too. It's a mind-opener in so many ways.
I am glad you found a Milkweed heaven, and you got to experiment with it to find the optimal outcome. How often do you get to do that?! And that picture of you and Rebecca is great! I smile to myself thinking of the fun your visit with her...and dogs...must have been! Your trip must have been so fun! 😀