viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44420&p=684389&hilit=dog#p684389
Well I thought I'd type up a quick update.
It's fair to say it has been a total upheaval for both me and the missus. Much, much more than we thought and I felt it last weekend when the missus was away for a few days. I mean she's walked three times a day and she comes back for more everytime. I think to add to it was the manky weather we had, what with the snow and the ice. You couldn't walk in the street around our way it was so treacherous (not for the dog - she has 4 paw drive.)
And you don't get to sleep much past 6am with a Collie dog.
And she can be a bit of a bugger when she sees another dog (she just wants to round everything up)
And with the colder weather and the dark nights well and truly here, it can be hard work motivating yourself to get out there.
And I slipped on my ass and cracked my head of the ground last Friday on the ice. Without the dog I wouldn't have been out at all (she was great btw. She turned around an immediately lay right beside me as I got my sh*t back together)
And the dog hair (although regular brushing helps here)
And the over exhuberant leaping on you - and the uncanny way her powerful back legs accurately connect with your genitals had high speed with amazing regularity.
And the 2 'accidents we've had in the house (my fault on both occasions 1. when she was just in the door and I shouted at her for something and 2. when I overslept last weekend. When your used to a house with just 2 adults in it, the mess (its not really a mess) can be unsettling -especially if its wet outside. But we can cope.
But.....
It's been great fun.
She's now set up as a private patient at the vets (worth it for the free consultations, the worming tablets and the tick treatments) and she has seperate pet insurance. She's actually remarkably easy to feed. Just a bowl full of 'working dog' dog food from Harbro a day. Plus a Bonio biscuit in the morning a dentastix at night and the odd treat here and there if she behaves - like pigs/cows ears. I thought they were just like a biscuit or something made to look like an ear. I was wrong.....
And I've been back exploring places I haven't been to since I was a kid. In the snow. The rain. The sunshine. In the dark. At dawn and at sunset. She's been to Parkrun with the missus. She's been to various woods, beaches, hills, the Speyside Way and loads of other places. I've seen sunrises that I only ever seen when I had to get up for a pish. I've been out wandering around the town with her after dinner when I'd normally be sinking my ass into my comfy arm chair.
The missus runs for miles off road and the dog is a willing 24/7 running partner. I normally take the van to the destination and walk back towards them. When she sees me she goes mental
I have done way over my step target every day since I got her. Most of it in sand dunes or hilly areas. I've running (yes, running!) with her. Ok. Its not really running in the purest sense of the word, it's just my interpretation.
She loves the van. She loves our friend's dogs. She's met all the neighbours and she's made me remodel part of my kitchen in to a 'dog area' (i.e. jackets, shoes, hats, gloves, utilty bag, plus 3 x 'Kenny's'*). She's met other dogs that she likes - notebly an 8 year old retired sheepdog collie called Gayle who she loves. He owner say she hasn't seen her running an playing like that for years.
I am told with a Collie the first 4 years are the worst and they calm down a lot from there on in. Well she's almost 3 now, so we'll enjoy the hyperactivity while we can.
I post the odd picture elsewhere on the Fool, so just 2 or 3 others for you to see
Cheers all!
'Kenny' = lead. As in Kenny Dog-leash. Scotland footballing legend. Well I though it was funny.
Thanks for that. 
