The English Paysanne

Today was Sorrel's gotcha day, two years ago she came a traumatised dog today we still have a few issues we are working on but she has come on so much and such a character, I love her to bits. This would have been a much longer post of what she has been up to BUT I have been occupied with 4 lost guinea pigs. Farmer J is out tonight in Toulouse with our children at the bikini club (hopefully he won't be wearing a bikini) so I am in charge. I went to shut the rabbits and guinea pigs away to only find the rabbits, no pigs, no sign of being taken or of escaping so the only place they could be was under the hut. In charge of a  screwdriver (yes it took a while to sort out how to work it to get the screws out), I have managed to undo farmer J's what we thought was good pig proofing to find them having a party under the house, well think they were enjoying themselves as there was no sign of them coming out. For an hour I used a pole to place it on the ground and move it al...

I dug up the late potatoes today as it was overcast and the plants were looking pretty dried and dead so it only meant they were ready to feed the mice if I didn't dig them up first. I thought my fury helper might want to help but she didn't. Instead she ate the raspberries I picked before hand and had put up on top of the compost bin thinking they were safe. With a spot of relaxing Sorrel did find a few mouse holes but eventually found the plastic trough more interesting.

For a well socialised dog it would of been an amazing meet and greet week, how do you do, have you got anything for me week but were talking Sorrel here. The not socialised everyone is just scary dog. Not only have we had to face gite guests each week, the past seven days been especially busy. We've done seeing friends we love, especially when they bring treats for us. Meeting new female dogs, going for a walk with them then having to let them come in our garden and house, which was fine but we couldn't handle the jumpy up thing that she kept doing to the humans so Sorrel, the I'm a calm, polite dog that doesn't jump up (apart from at Miss F and Anita cause I really love them and am so excited when they visit) tried to show Pepper how to behave by nipping her. Then a tent went up. This I wasn't too happy about but once sniffed and barked at it was OK, however when Farmer J's little brother and his two boys turned up it all went a little difficult. ...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Ali threw my bestest frog toy on the roof as she is useless as throwing, she thinks the carrot is just as good - its not.

Today is Sorrel's  gotcha day, a year ago she came here unable to walk or eat for fear. Very slowly and boy has it taken a while she is becoming a dog who is enjoying life. Still incredibly scared of strangers we have overcome many of our fears and anxieties and had an event full year. Today I can wait for my special cake   A year ago I stole any food I could But I slowly felt at home With lots of cuddles And following my mate Sometimes wet Franklin showed me how to play Trying to make friends with Fizz was hard But my mate let me share his bed I went through my puppy stage Enjoyed being brushed And learnt to enjoy walks And chilling out Posing Having to find my own food Dressing for Christmas Bet you wish you had this one Bringing friends back after our walk Finding my safe place sniffing Gardening My best toy Action shot Out and about, t...

Just as we were on our last leg of our walk yesterday evening the thing that every dog owner dreads happened.(it was Friday 13th after all and the day had been event free) Sorrels lead snapped, had there not been a scent of a deer I may of been able to get her back but there was and off she went like a crazy banshee dog baking her head off down through the woods. I trundled home alone in the hope she would return I even went for a drive down our back road along the river up the other side of the woods passing our farm again to head down the main road to the river then back up our small road but its a bit like searching for a needle in a hay stack with so many woods and fields for her to trek over. So I waited at home, thinking it will be a poster on the bins and alerting chien perdu and various refuges but four hours later around 10.30pm I heard her medals on her collar jangling. She had managed to find her way back thankfully.Soaking wet and a bit hungry she settle on the se...

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Warning : Sorrel asks 'why is it dogs have to be cat friendly when there is no mention of cats being dog friendly in rescue centres? All cats should come with a warning' Poor Sorrel has been trying her hardest to get Fizz to be her friend, she was swiped on the eye and is now having TLC and eye drops. She may need a eye patch if she continues to keep it shut or a trip to the V.E.T 's.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie As quickly as the chickens are laying their eggs seem to disappear.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie  It's been six months since Sorrel arrived, she's slowly eating her way through the house.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Sorrel flour bombing - again!

So my surprise happened on Wednesday afternoon. No it wasn't a great big juicy bone, a long hike or a new toy to destroy. It was a dog trainer, a man, I don't think much of men they are too scary so I wasn't that impressed nor was Ali as he had already re scheduled this meeting and he eventually turned up 45 minutes late. The long and short of it was a discussion after he had left between Ali, farmer J and Miss F on professionalism, or rather the fact he didn't show any and we will not be signing up for his classes. Ali wasn't impressed that he left his Doberman puppy in a crate in his van for the three hour visit and probably the two before when he was travelling and seeing a client before hand (who's contract he tippexed over ((with our tippex)) as he didn't have anymore contract papers) Ali had to plug his phone in to charge and he asked Miss F for a beer while Ali was selling two chickens (dead tasty ones) to a customer. He didn't really have m...

So as I have paws and find it difficult with keys Ali said she would write this post for me. Yesterday was suppose to be a surprise day but it wasn't as the surprise has been rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon. Ali is a bit relieved as it meant a couple of more days to look my best, get rid of my new bout of fleas and perfected my sits and downs a bit more. So as there is no news of this surprise I am going to tell my side of living with the Sticklers so far. They seem to be a quirky family, with lots of animals around where I am sadly  not the center of attention. I am accepting this now with my anxiety of being left beginning to fade (a bit) as long as I am left with my best mates Franklin and Tyser, although Tyser can be a bit grumpy at times, Ali says this is cause his on a diet and beginning to feel his age. If I am left on my own I tend to get into mischief, so its best for everyone that I'm not. We have rules to follow, some of which I am finding very hard ...

INJA May 4, 2015   Dear Inja here is a Griffon/Labrit mix.  At two years old she is adorable but very timid, so a fenced in garden is a must here together with loving owners who have the patience to teach Inja that not all humans are despicable. That's the post that was put on Poorpaws blog which I read and it's all history now. When I picked her up this is where she had hidden herself. Scarred of human contact she didn't want to be touched,tail firmly between her legs she half walked half crawled as she was put in the car. Unused to travelling throwing up twice we got home and left her to settle. By the first sleepless night we figured out she had separation anxiety. It's now been almost four months shes been with us, renamed Sorrel each day has been a little challenging but it is getting better. Taking on a rescue dog with many issues of being mistreated, missing out on socialisation and in complete fear of everything is ...