I wrote this back in the summer and didn’t realise I hadn’t actually posted it. As it is of one of my favourite topics, I thought I would post it now.
Many of you will know of the love I have for my baby boy, Theodore.
Super Smiley
Of course, I refer to the big cinnamon floof, my Chow-Chow.
Back in 2017 I desperately wanted a dog in my life after helping to look after a friends dog, then my sister’s Cavalier King Charles, Billy.
As a child we always had dogs in the house; Alsatians, Papillon, Pekingese and Yorkshire Terriers. But as an adult we had never had a dog.
But I found myself wanting one, desperately.
Stately Floof
Baby Bear and Little Chick got onto the case, and like a lot of twins came up with exactly the same breeder and specific dog.
It looked like we had found our dream dog so went to visit and see what we thought. There was no intention to actually buy the puppy at this point, but to see it and then have a chat when we got back home again, before making such a big decision.
Of course we bought the puppy immediately!
The past six years with Theodore have been wonderful. He has given unconditional love as well as complete ignorance. He snores louder than a wind machine, and bounces like Tigger.
Laughing Cloud
He is a qualified mental health support dog (which also helps me immensely) and has helped many people.
AND he is a complete and utter nightmare!
Last weekend I was at Mum’s house which he has been visiting for the past 5 years. He has been living here for over 6 months and one of the biggest benefits is that it has a massive garden.
He loves being outside. Rain, Sun, Snow, you name it and he will lie out in it. Well, except windy days as he REALLY doesn’t like windy weather.
What a Poseur
Anyway, as the garden is completely fenced in, he has the run of the space, coming and going as he pleases. Lying in the garden from 7am onwards. It is an absolute nightmare trying to get him inside even when it is pitch black and I am yearning for my bed.
But he is the apple of my eye and I would be completely lost without him.
This is where the title of the story comes in to play.
Sulking!
Last Friday I was woken up by a knocking on the door and when I answered it, there was the local vicar, Patrick, holding on to Theodore who was attached to another dog’s rope lead.
“I think I may have found your dog” was the opening sentence.
Completely baffled, I wasn’t sure how he had managed to get out of the house or garden. I thanked the Vicar and took him inside.
My natural assumption was that someone in the house had left the door or gate ajar and he had made a dash for it. Sounds logical, right?
Snoozle Time
Less than 10 minutes later, a woman was knocking on the door to say that my dog had been trotting down the street on his own.
What the heck?
How was he getting out?
Well, a thorough investigation of the garden found a gap the size of a dinner plate. Surely that was not where he was getting out?
The presence of a LOT of his floofy fur was proof enough that this was his escape route. He had managed to push his way through rose branches and hedge to get out onto the main road.
Picture Perfect
Action Stations!
Out came the DIY kit and a large sheet of metal which Theodore would have no chance of moving and getting through the hole again.
Sitting in the sunny garden for the rest of the day, I was completely confident that he could not get out of the garden as the whole fence line had been checked and there was not a single inch that had a gap.
The Honey Tree
It was around 4pm when I spotted his rear end half way through the blocked in hole.
He looked like Winnie the Pooh stuck in the honey tree.
Rushing to grab him so he couldn’t get through the considerably smaller hole, it was clear that the DIY job hadn’t completely worked!
I am not sure what is more embarrassing, the fact that he had managed to find the hole in the first place OR that on both the two successful attempts he had ended up heading into a local pub, The Olde Victoria.
There is no doubt that had he got through on the third attempt, that was exactly where he would have ended up again. I put this down to the fact that there are always lots of people there to give him fuss and a large beer garden with lush green grass.
Tired Baba
Either that or he has developed a drinking problem I was not aware of!
Hopefully going forward, he will be content to take a slow walk up to the pub on his lead, and not go looking (or creating) more holes in the hedge.
