Walks in the Dark
a.k.a. How to guilt your Mother into taking you for a walk in the pouring rain
Today was another busy day. It feels like it’s been busy day after busy day this past month.
It started as normal, with a pre-work walk. I had about 30minutes off lead run around the local nature reserve that’s a couple minutes walk from work. Then as usual I was in my kennel for the morning. All was on track. Mother had a meeting at another clinic between consults. She only had one operation booked in, so she should have had time for the op, drive to the meeting, have the meeting, drive back, and still have time for a walk with me and lunch. However, like all the best laid plans, it all went to pot. One of the nursing staff was relocated to a different branch last minute as they were short staffed, and one of our other nurses was late arriving due to a doctors appointment. This meant there weren’t enough staff to get started with the procedure, a bitch spay (cute spaniel cross, all wirey coat and fluffy head of hair), quite as quickly as Mother would have preferred. This delay then just trickled over.
She finished the operation, changed her shoes, grabbed my lead and we were off. I was in the boot and we were driving to the other clinic. Mother left me in the car while she popped into the next clinic. I love the car boot, it’s my safe space. I settle really well in the car, thankfully. Probably the only place I do settle without barking. I’m better behaved in the car than the kennel, so for half an hour or so Mother would rather leave me in the car, then put me in a kennel. Thankfully it’s still winter so its an option, but in the summer obviously not ideal. Mother is very conscious that cars get hot, and while I’m not a brachycephalic breed (one with a shortened nose and muzzle) and can cope with short periods in mild warmth, it’s not something she wants to worry about. Mother thinks I’m adorable in the car. I like the pop my head over the back seats while she’s driving.
Anyway, Mother arrived at the second clinic, only to find the colleagues she needed for the meeting were still mid-procedure, and another animal still needed attending too. Mother sorted the second animal, then helped finish up the first animal. When they were all settled, Mother and the team rushed through the meeting.
Mother was back with me in no time at all. She apologised to me straight away and I knew immediately that I wasn’t getting a lunch time walk. We drove straight back to work. Mother let me out, I had a casual wee as you do, then I headed into the clinic. I knew Mother felt bad, and I am such a good boy, so I just went happy smile and waggy tail straight into my kennel. I settled into bed with some food, and proceeded to be very quiet for the rest of the afternoon. Normally, if I don’t get a lunch time walk I like to be noisy in the afternoon to make sure I’m not forgotten. So for me to be quiet, I knew Mother would appreciate it. Gemma, one of the nurses, sat with me during her break for ten minutes. We did some tricks and I got treats. I didn’t start barking until I heard the hoover come out, because I know that means it’s almost home time.
On the drive home, it started raining. It was dark and wet. Usually if I’ve not had a good lunch time walk (or one at all) Mother will take me for an evening walk, but sometimes, especially if Mother has had a bad day, and is feeling very tired, we go straight home. If we go straight home, my go to activity is a good hump. If you’ve never done it you’ve got to try it. There is nothing more exhilarating then gathering up all your beddings and pillows and fluffy toys into one large pile, then standing over the pile, and letting your hips pump away in a humping motion, while your Mother tries to scald you. Mother knows I only hump when I’ve not had enough physical or mental stimulation that day, so she can usually predict when I’m going to feel the need.
Today, Mother decided she didn’t want me to hump, so when we were about ten minutes from home, Mother last minute pulled into a car park for the local park with a golf course. Mother would one hundred percent prefer to have gone straight home and go to bed, but she knew I needed some kind of walk. Mother forgot to put my collar light on after my last bath, so she left my harness on for reflective surfaces, she got her headtorch on, donned her wellies and waterproof, and we were off. Mother and I used to do this route a lot last year, but less so recently. Mother used to like it in the evenings, especially in the winter when it’s dark, because there were no other dogs around. When I wasn’t very well behaved, when I was much younger, it was easier to avoid dogs than it was to walk in places busy. Now I’m better behaved Mother doesn’t need to walk me so much here anymore. It was pitch black along most of the course, so no was around. It was pouring down with rain. I got very wet.
When we got back to the car, I was a little bit naughty. I ran around the car when Mother called me to get in the boot, I wasn’t ready for the walk to end. Mother gave me five more minutes of just sniffing before she gave in and got me some food out to tempt me back into the car. Once I realised the food was there I happily jumped into the car.
We got home, both of us soggy and cold. Now I’m all curled up on the sofa ready for bed time. Not a single hump has been done. Good night everyone.