Teg the Dog

'Well if I am getting wet!' - Teg shares...

2009-02-15T19:34:00.003Z

Better Teg than me! There was still snow on the ground and the water looked pretty darn chilly today, but with a little bit of coaxing she was soon swimming across the River Dun between Nora and myself, adding a bit more excitement to our walks!

Teg is a generous dog though and likes to be up close and personal for the shaking off the water!

Teg goes swimming

2008-08-29T15:28:00.002+01:00

Teg, as we have mentioned before, would rather drink a puddle dry than get her paws wet! That makes our progress getting her to get considerably wetter than that all the more triumphant in recent days.

It started on Monday when we took her on to Freeman's Marsh and after much wussing and whining she eventually followed me into the very shallow (not as deep as my wellies) water. Back and forth she went gradually gaining confidence.

Further one she managed to swim across the river between Diane and myself on numerous occasions, although she preferred the long way round via a bridge more than once!

Today we were back on the marsh and Teg while still a little hesistant, proved herself a water friendly hound as the photo above and the video below will reveal!

Giant fungus highlight on morning yomp!

2008-08-07T19:28:00.000+01:00

When Teg found this mushroom, which she quite possibly thought was the chance discovery of a football, she was bewildered enough to sound a confused bark of alarm for me to come and investigate.

Rather like a solid puffball it was a fair size and warranted much sniffing before Teg was ready to resume her morning walk.

Teg meets her first hedgehog

2008-07-29T18:41:00.000+01:00

Teg met her very first hedgehog on the way back from the Common this evening. Curious and gentle as ever she sniffed and nudged what was clearly a baby one; amazingly it must have been the hedgehog's first encounter too for it showed no fear and did not curl up into the characteristic ball.

Teg takes to her new basket from an old friend

2008-07-26T19:13:00.002+01:00

One of Teg's canine friends was Fritz and he sadly had to be put to sleep the other day; we are sure that Teg recognised the smell of her old friend on this basket even though it had been washed for she sniffed it for ages before adopting it as her own, giving her somewhere comfy to curl up next to her master's desk.

Not prone to whining, Teg discovers wine agrees with her

2008-06-05T10:31:00.000+01:00

Teg doesn't pinch food or drink, but when this emptied wine bottle was placed next to the sofa last night she was quick to declare it her own and clearly found the taste of a 2006 Chardonnay most agreeable.

Exploring the flooding

2008-06-03T18:48:00.002+01:00

Teg has never been one for getting her feet wet unless unavoidable, indeed she would rather drink a puddle dry than walk through it, so the flooding that has followed the relentless rain earlier today has presented quite the challenge for her.

The photo above might look like one of those puddles, but it is actually a deep pit on Hungerford Common that had filled up and stretches about 50 feet in diameter and is probably about 15 feet deep at the middle - well just look at the scale photo below with Teg dwarfed by the lake!

She circiled it and sniffed it lots, clearly aware that it was not normally there - more common is to use the pit for some more interesting retrieval work!

Crop circles

2008-05-16T19:36:00.000+01:00

The wheat growing alongside one of the footpaths we regularly walk along has just reached Teg height and now holds a host of unseen attractions for the a small border collie; Teg bounds, pounces, leaps and charges after creatures unseen but clearly heard rustling. Just the mental and physical stimulation she needs!

Frosty February

2008-02-14T19:23:00.000Z

We've been having some beautiful walks this month. It is light just that bit earlier and the frost makes our favourite walks crisp beneath your feat and the light is beautiful. Quite whether Teg appreciates the beauty, not least her own, is not clear, but she definitely enjoys herself!

Teg Plays 'Find It!'

2007-09-30T20:08:00.000+01:00

It has been a while since we posted on Teg's blog and my how it shows in just how much our puppy has grown up! Gone is the fluffy dog and in comes the rough coated beauty she is growing into.

Here Teg is playing one of the brain games we have devised that keep our energetic collie's mind busy. We play similar versions indoors in the evenings with her Kong.

Notice (there is a subtitle to help) how on the second run to 'Find It' she goes to the pot where the ball had been previously! She is even quite baffled that it is not there and double checks inside the pot!

Enjoy!

Early One Morning on Hungerford Common

2007-07-08T16:12:00.000+01:00

Teg on the Ball

2007-06-11T16:10:00.000+01:00

Teg has taken a shine to a wayward football that landed in our garden...

That Friday Feeling

2007-06-08T14:38:00.000+01:00

A nice way to break up the working day is to head out on to the Common with Teg - and as it is a Friday and Di finishes early, she was able to capture the event on camera.

Teg is getting ever better at walking and each day seems less bothered by the bovine beasties. She still erupts with affection at the mere prospect of another being, and the children and Beth through the fence at school were a severe test to her willpower and Di's grip on the lead.

Pool Party

2007-06-02T18:18:00.000+01:00

The sun shone today and out came the paddling pool... Teg did take the plunge but quickly decided the water was too cold and leapt out again - having fun with Bethie who was untroubled by the temperature seemed much more fun!

Teg Meets Fritz

2007-05-30T19:38:00.000+01:00

Teg made the trip to Lambourn today to meet her first real dog - the elderly and potentially grumpy minature Daschund that our three month old pup is already bigger than!

Fritz (and his owner, my Mum!) was patient in the face of Teg exhuberant approach and was remarkable mild manner as the approach pictured above turned into the bounce festival captured in the video below!

However, once inside it was as if having a young female pup around sparked something long forgotten by an elderly Fritz and his tail started wagging like a demented metronome and Fritz got fruity!

I do not think our little girl understood quite why Fritz was so excited - otherwise she might not have led him on with the sloppy kiss pictured below!

On Common Ground - in the Heavy Rain

2007-05-28T11:23:00.000+01:00

There was no prospect of the clouds relenting in their downpour, so appropriately dressed I took Teg to the wilds of the common today - and seemed to be one of only a few dog owners mad enough to do so.

Cars remain a source of concern for Teg, but she is sitting on command at each crossing - and looking at me as if to say 'but there are no noisy cars things?'.

She stayed on the lead, and just as well for we rounded a copse of trees, and wandered into a steamy cluster of cows trying to shelter! Teg did a Scooby Doo double take and started walking backwards. She sat and watched for a while, but was clearly awestruck by these big beasts.

Teg's Big Adventure - China and India

2007-05-26T23:15:00.000+01:00

Our good friend Nick visited this weekend and we laid down a bigger patio which will be where Teg's occasional kennel will reside. Teg was more than happy to help but needed to be reminded to behave - at one stage she was clearly thinking of tackling the slab laden wheelbarrow.

However, let's not forget that Teg is now allowed out into the world - it began this morning when Beth and I went to the shop and she and Teg waited outside.

Cars are a bit scary and anyone passing by obviously wants to make a fuss. Sadly they do, which makes it a bit tricky!

However, it was this evening when Nick and I ventured out in the rain for takeaway - him Indian, while I went a little further for Chinese, that Teg ventured much further. There is an element of sensory overload for a young pup - so many smells, sights and sounds. She switched from bold to bewildered to timid - and back again - every few minutes.

But she was pretty good and did not pull on the lead, so a rather splendid first few outings.

Tunnel of Love

2007-05-25T22:28:00.000+01:00

Good old Lidl, the less than super supermarket came up trumps this week with a £14.99 children's play set with a wigwam and tent connected by a tunnel... much less expensive than tunnels specifically for dogs and certainly something that will suffice while Teg gets used to the idea.

It is just a bit of fun at the moment and it took Teg a little while to pluck up the courage, but rewarded by effusive praise she began to like dashing through.

Rest assured pictures will be taken soon!

Just a Little Pin Prick

2007-05-23T15:05:00.000+01:00

Teg was back at the vets today for her second jab and a worming pill - she was just as thrilled to see Pip Pocock again and promptly peed all over his table - again, but on balance was really rather well behaved.

The good news is that she is free to roam this weekend - the bad news is the forecast, which predicts weather more suited to dogs than ducks!

Rounding Up Chickens

2007-05-20T19:53:00.000+01:00

Watching Teg watch the chickens leaves us in no doubt of this little dog's heritage. You can take the Collie out of the farm...

For instance is I go into the pen to make a still fruitless check for eggs, Teg will rush to the other side to try and drive the chickens back towards me!

Of course, sometimes it helps to have an accomplice in your chicken watching and Beth is a willing accessory in this activity.

The first picture on today's entry is perhaps the most 'adult' looking picture I have taken of Teg. Closely cropped it is near impossible to work out her age. But she is still very much the pup - spot the leaf protruding from her mouth in this shot and it explains her questioning look: "Is he going to take this away from me?"

Tegevision

2007-05-13T20:01:00.000+01:00

Teg does enjoy spending time in the sitting room with us in the evening and will alternate from sitting moderately quietly to dashing around as if some rather ferocious hounds of hell were in pursuit.

However, recently she has taken to watching the television - never for more than a few moments, but it does catch her eye - and in this picture, taken during an episode of The Dog Whisperer, you can probably tell why!

Teg Meets Rosie

2007-05-06T18:11:00.000+01:00

Teg met Rosie today. Rosie is the rather life-like toy collie Beth got for Christmas and to begin with it certainly had Teg fooled and she gave the staring dog a wide berth.

Gradually she got bolder, and eventually asserted herself - well you can see here:

Mmm... I Think That Camera Looks Tasty!

2007-05-04T14:18:00.000+01:00

Teg is a puppy so naturally just about everything has to be tasted - or more specifically nibbled and if no objection is heard - chewed relentlessly!

Now she has a couple of Kong chew toys that she is learning are only to be chewed in the crate of puppy pen outside - any chewing outside is a absolute no and she is learning - slowly.

Tonight we were after some more video footage for this blog... and she took a real shine to the camera - as you'll see below:

Exploring the Wilderness on the Doorstep

2007-05-03T16:27:00.000+01:00

Another glorious sunny day has seen Teg exploring the garden and getting used the the big camera - the one that hides the pack leader's face and can seem a little scary at first!

That said, Teg is a clever one and has quickly worked out that the lens is nothing to worry about - the quiet little beeping though - that needs investigating!

Below: Teg is quick to sniff out anything unusual and if in doubt taste it!

Teg listens as much as she watches.

The most fun to be had is at full speed!

It Probably Always Happens to a Vet

2007-05-02T16:43:00.000+01:00

Teg has her first jab today without so much as a whimper of discontent - mind you she was probably still feeling smug about peeing all over the vet's table and even the vet himself!

She was confident and friendly - peeing excepted! And she was content to have her teetm, paws, joints and ears podded and probed.

She then sat in her crate in the boot of the car mugging affection from everyone visiting the surgery while I was settling up for the services.

So a few more week and then it will be jab number two and then early June it will be a wide and bug free world that awaits our Teg.

Teg's First Recall

2007-05-01T17:11:00.000+01:00

Teg is proving adept at running between us and with a little bit of careful timing on the commands she is now doing it on command - watch it and see!

The Morning After...

2007-04-30T18:49:00.000+01:00

A very quiet night before!

Seriously, Teg had a very quiet - that is we never heard he whimper or whine once - and a very dry night! A few accidents this morning, but throughout the day she has preferred her pen outside for such activities.

She is definitely a thinker! This morning she watched me push down the pedal on the bin to lift the lid and drop a teabag... moments later she is pawing at the same pedal and looking up towards the lid.

Mornings are already taking on an air of routine - chickens and Teg come first and there is plenty of time for a play and goodbye before Beth heads off to school.

Teg Arrives at Her New Home

2007-04-30T02:26:00.000+01:00

Meet Teg. The newest member of our family - a cheeky bundle of Border Collie fluff and mischief all the way from a talented breeder (check out www.kamarda.co.uk for more info) in the wilds of Suffolk.

Teg - Welsh for 'Beautiful' is also known by her Kennel Club name Kamarda Pole Dancer, which also hints at the mischief that surely awaits!

She travelled home on my lap and was quiet and dry for the near four hour journey and is now busy making herself comfortable in the crate that is her own bit of space in our home.