Talos here, reporting on the walk as it happened today, 1 September 2015.
Much like any other day, we were harnessed and ran to the gate barking and chasing. Leashed up we took the Guinea fowl route, Kira's favourite. We barked at He-who-stares, and we sniffed the pee-mail tree on the corner. Kira tried to mark it 'read', there was a minor miscommunication and I got marked read instead. Oh well, nothing a nice roll in the grass won't fix!
Some person with no respect for my majestic fawnness did not stop at the corner to watch us pass. We crossed after they had left. Such indignation. Still, quite forgivable, given the wonderful aroma that awaited us on the other side.
Nina said something that sounded like 'fertiliser'. She's wrong... it's poop! Glorious, glorious poop! Kira wasted no time and rolled to her hearts' delight. I can tell you the flavour was most excellent. Just the right age, about a week old, with a distinctly grass-fed bovine air to it. Soft, crumbly and nicely moistened by the kind hearted people who placed it on the grass for us to enjoy.
I guess it's due to the distracting nature of finding such a prize that neither Kira nor I noticed how Nina had completely changed colour. Her normal pinkish brown was replaced by a yellowy green. How odd! I wonder if this is normal, but I suspect the only way to tell is with more observation. I wonder if it's because she completely refused to join us?
After we had had our fill of merde de vache we rounded the corner to spot the flock of Guinea fowl strutting about right in the road. Two cocks and many hens, and even more chicks! Of course, Nina waits for us to look at her and sit before we all run after them, but that's no problem at all! Even Kira gets this right... took her long enough to learn it though.
You know the best thing about those spotted birds? They leave bits of feathers all over the place. I picked up a nice big one to carry home.
... That might have been a mistake, though. You see, my lovely trophy attracted He-who-fetches, a labrador out on an evening stroll much like us. He-who-fetches took my feather, he was friendly but firm in this matter. That's still tolerable, I am a generous Queen. The trouble is in taking my feather, he sniffed my head, which as we all know clearly marks me 'read'. Like any good pee-mail user, he felt obligated to indicate that he had also read the message. But he is no Kira, his font is enormous, bold, underline and in 72p.
So, friends, this concludes my report on todays walk, that was otherwise uneventful.
Signing off from the bath, where I'm now on my second round of shampoo,
Talos
ps. Kira was bathed first. Something about building up the emotional fortitude to deal with a sopping wet pug? Humans can be quite strange.
Showing posts with label walk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walk. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Wildflower
Old Cabbage Tree was watching the sun set over the hill one night, when he heard a deep sigh coming from underneath him. He spotted a small black dog, hiding between the rocks that anchor his roots. He would have ignored the creature, many mammals seek shelter for the night near him, but when another sigh escaped the Little Black Dog's mouth, he found himself too distracted to ignore her.
Rustling it's leaves, the Old Cabbage Tree asked Little Black Dog what had made her sigh so sadly, and why she is hiding here in stead of home with her family.
She explained that early that morning, she had come upon the most beautiful flower, glistening with dew. It stood tall and proud above the grasses, a soft yellow with a dark center.
Now, quite confused, Old Cabbage Tree pointed out that seeing beautiful things are a reason to rejoice, not be sad. But the little black dog explained that she realised, as she looked at that flower, that she was the opposite of what she saw. She was neither light, nor delicate, nor tall. She does not stand proudly above the grasses, nor does the dew glisten in the morning sunlight on her fur.
"I am not beautiful, Old Cabbage Tree, and that makes me very sad."
Old Cabbage Tree took a moment to consider. He observed the little dog underneath him closely. Just as she was beginning to squirm under his scrutiny, he spoke up.
"It is true, Little Black Dog, that you are not like that flower."
His words made her shrink into herself.
"But, that does not mean you are not beautiful. Look here:"
He directed the wind around himself, gently parting a clump of grass. There, deep amongst the yellow shafts, was a small, bright red flower.
"Do you see that flower?" he asked her.
It was no bigger than her nostril, and she only noticed it when she had gotten up and inspected the parted clump closely.
"Is it not lovely?" he asked her.
She nodded, it was a beautiful little flower indeed.
Old Cabbage Tree explained. Some things are like the morning flower, tall and proud and easy to notice. Most everyone can tell that they are beautiful.
"That is fine and good, and I am glad to have such beauty in the world", he said, "but some things are not like that. Some things carry their beauty close to their heart, like a secret. It is not a fault of theirs that they are like this - they are still very beautiful, like that red flower there.
In stead of being cultivated beauties, like your dew-flower this morning, they are wildflowers. Because their beauty is harder to see, some overlook it. Sometimes, they even overlook it themselves."
He dropped a piece of bark pointedly near her.
"Remember, Little Black Dog, it's not their fault if others fail to see their beauty. That does not mean that it is not there, and that it is not truly wonderful".
Little Black Dog looked up at his leaves, watching the late sunlight filter through them.
"Thank you, Old Cabbage Tree." she said, and turned to depart, feeling much happier.
"A last secret, before you go, Little Dog."
She pricked an ear his way, listening intently.
"Some even prefer the hidden beauty of a wildflower. Like me"
She could not help but smile as she headed to her home.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Hiking with dogs - some important stuff to think about
I love taking my dogs and going for a hike. It's unlike a walk in two ways, it usually allows me to let them run off lead, and it is often 'out in nature' as much as I can get in a big city. I imagine that many people would enjoy this, and I always encourage people to get out there and walk more often, especially with dogs in tow. They need more exercise than we think, and more mental stimulation too, and a good hike meets both of those demands.
Plus, you get to take wonderful pictures.
Isn't she just beautiful? It was a cloudy day, that one, which makes for the most marvelous soft light.
I digress.
Picking up a lead and a collar, some poopie bags, and heading off on a neigbourhood walk is easy. There's very little preparation to be done. A hike, however, needs a little more thought. Let's look at some of those things:
1. Good dog kit.
A collar is mostly ok for neighbourhood walks, given that your dog is not much of a puller or not a type of dog susceptible to tracheal collapse. For a hike, though, you may need to hoist your dog bodily up a cliff, rapidly pick them up out of harm's way, or rescue them from a river. A good harness, one that is study, lightweight and neither chafes nor interferes with your dog's natural movement is the way to go. The Julius K9 harnesses are really neat (Talos is wearing one in the picture above), having a handle and space for some doggie back packs, but any sturdy H-harness works well too, though they do tend to wear away some hair at the very base of their rib cage. I've found, for the terrain we tend to hike through, that fabric harnesses pick up too many burrs and seeds and get scratchy very quickly (poor dogs!). This may well differ in your area. I don't much like step-in harnesses, they tend to catch my dog in the armpit which affects their gait.
In the picture above, you can see my preferred hiking kit - collar and leather h-harness. Having clearly marked and readable tags on your dog is a very, very good idea, and forms part of what I would consider good dog kit.
In colder climates, good dog kit may extend to include a coat or booties. Even mid winter it's never cold enough to warrant clothing on a dog while active, so I know pretty much nothing about what makes good active cold weather gear.
2. Good human kit.
Don't underestimate the value of a good, comfortable backpack that has enough space for all your things (in my case, this would include my camera) and a little spare, in case you need to pop a dog in there. Well, if you have bigger dogs, maybe not that last one. Additionally, take some time to think about your leads. You will want something that does not cause rope burn if you end up walking with dogs on lead for hours (you just might). Leather or soft rope leads are best, in my experience. A good hat, and some good, comfortable hiking boots with proper ankle support are good ideas too!
3. A good emergency plan.
If something happens in the suburbs or on a city block, you have many people around you that could help, and often, veterinary care nearby too. If something happens on a hill somewhere, though, it's not so easy. This teeny tiny emergency kit is a super idea:
Be Prepared: A Tiny First Aid Kit for Hiking With Dogs
Another thing to think about is what you'll do if your dog is so badly injured it needs carrying. Mostly this won't be an issue, unless you have a 50 kilogram plus big dog, or are physically unable to carry a pet. Having a working phone and someone to call for help is a very good idea, as is knowing where you are (or, more relevant, how others can get to your location).
4. Enough water.
This is perhaps less of an issue if you hike in an area with abundant clean water sources to drink from. In SA, though, it's hot and it's dry, and what water is available is usually not drinkable. Pack enough water for you and your dogs. In my case, an hour's walk in hot weather on a dry, dusty hillside sees me carrying about three liters of water. Half of that will go to me, and half to the dogs, more or less. I have a light plastic bowl for them to drink out of - collapsible silicone bowls are awesome for drinking water.
As an aside, knowing the signs of impending heatstroke is a good idea too.
This here pug is too hot, and needs to cool down. Shade, and water both to drink and to wet her with is called for. Look at that tongue - the bright pink, cup-shaped tongue is the key.
5. Pest control.
Where we walk, we encounter lots of ticks. Where you walk, it might be mosquitoes bearing heartworm, or snails bearing bilharzia, or leeches. Either way, you need to be ready. I apply some bug repellant to my legs, and both my dogs are treated with a topical spot-on treatment every four weeks.
6. A good recall.
Perhaps that's phrasing it a bit lightly. A really, really solid recall that will not let you down when your dog sees a zebra or a fieldmouse over there and wants to go eat it, but is likely to get killed if they try. This is the dealbreaker of off-lead hiking, if your dog does not come back, you will be without your dog very quickly, and very few dogs could survive on their own in the wilderness.
So practice, practice, practice. :)
Now go! Explore the wild places with your pooches!
Plus, you get to take wonderful pictures.
Isn't she just beautiful? It was a cloudy day, that one, which makes for the most marvelous soft light.
I digress.
Picking up a lead and a collar, some poopie bags, and heading off on a neigbourhood walk is easy. There's very little preparation to be done. A hike, however, needs a little more thought. Let's look at some of those things:
1. Good dog kit.
A collar is mostly ok for neighbourhood walks, given that your dog is not much of a puller or not a type of dog susceptible to tracheal collapse. For a hike, though, you may need to hoist your dog bodily up a cliff, rapidly pick them up out of harm's way, or rescue them from a river. A good harness, one that is study, lightweight and neither chafes nor interferes with your dog's natural movement is the way to go. The Julius K9 harnesses are really neat (Talos is wearing one in the picture above), having a handle and space for some doggie back packs, but any sturdy H-harness works well too, though they do tend to wear away some hair at the very base of their rib cage. I've found, for the terrain we tend to hike through, that fabric harnesses pick up too many burrs and seeds and get scratchy very quickly (poor dogs!). This may well differ in your area. I don't much like step-in harnesses, they tend to catch my dog in the armpit which affects their gait.
In colder climates, good dog kit may extend to include a coat or booties. Even mid winter it's never cold enough to warrant clothing on a dog while active, so I know pretty much nothing about what makes good active cold weather gear.
2. Good human kit.
Don't underestimate the value of a good, comfortable backpack that has enough space for all your things (in my case, this would include my camera) and a little spare, in case you need to pop a dog in there. Well, if you have bigger dogs, maybe not that last one. Additionally, take some time to think about your leads. You will want something that does not cause rope burn if you end up walking with dogs on lead for hours (you just might). Leather or soft rope leads are best, in my experience. A good hat, and some good, comfortable hiking boots with proper ankle support are good ideas too!
3. A good emergency plan.
If something happens in the suburbs or on a city block, you have many people around you that could help, and often, veterinary care nearby too. If something happens on a hill somewhere, though, it's not so easy. This teeny tiny emergency kit is a super idea:
Be Prepared: A Tiny First Aid Kit for Hiking With Dogs
Another thing to think about is what you'll do if your dog is so badly injured it needs carrying. Mostly this won't be an issue, unless you have a 50 kilogram plus big dog, or are physically unable to carry a pet. Having a working phone and someone to call for help is a very good idea, as is knowing where you are (or, more relevant, how others can get to your location).
4. Enough water.
This is perhaps less of an issue if you hike in an area with abundant clean water sources to drink from. In SA, though, it's hot and it's dry, and what water is available is usually not drinkable. Pack enough water for you and your dogs. In my case, an hour's walk in hot weather on a dry, dusty hillside sees me carrying about three liters of water. Half of that will go to me, and half to the dogs, more or less. I have a light plastic bowl for them to drink out of - collapsible silicone bowls are awesome for drinking water.
As an aside, knowing the signs of impending heatstroke is a good idea too.
This here pug is too hot, and needs to cool down. Shade, and water both to drink and to wet her with is called for. Look at that tongue - the bright pink, cup-shaped tongue is the key.
5. Pest control.
Where we walk, we encounter lots of ticks. Where you walk, it might be mosquitoes bearing heartworm, or snails bearing bilharzia, or leeches. Either way, you need to be ready. I apply some bug repellant to my legs, and both my dogs are treated with a topical spot-on treatment every four weeks.
6. A good recall.
Perhaps that's phrasing it a bit lightly. A really, really solid recall that will not let you down when your dog sees a zebra or a fieldmouse over there and wants to go eat it, but is likely to get killed if they try. This is the dealbreaker of off-lead hiking, if your dog does not come back, you will be without your dog very quickly, and very few dogs could survive on their own in the wilderness.
So practice, practice, practice. :)
Now go! Explore the wild places with your pooches!
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Spotted... The South African Wild-Pug
Day 1
Today, we set off on the greatest adventure of our lives! We have set up camp out in Faerie Glen Nature reserve, in the capital city of South Africa, one of the few remaining natural areas where we might find the South African wild-pug. Pugs are by no measure endangered locally, but most are domesticated lap warmers and bed-pugs, bearing little resemblance to their wild cousins. Or so I've heard! I cannot wait to see one.
...
Day 14
A hair! We think we've found a pug hair. Just one, though, which is suspicious. We've sent it off to the lab for confirmation. Oh, how I hope!
...
Day 35
With it's wild ranges increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation that is so characteristic of developing countries, our odds of spotting the South African wild-pug was bleak from the start. The lure of warm houses with ready food supplies has decimated wild-pug numbers. But it's been more than a month, and so far, not even a hair has been found. Yes, the lab results are back... it was a cat hair. This is so disheartening. The wild-pug sheds profusely, using this abundance of hair to mark their territory. This is unique among wild domestic canids. Surely there should be some sign by now?
We will persevere, even though I am demotivated. At least our pug-sniffing hound, chosen for her curly tail, which should be a sign of solidarity to the wild pug, seems content.
These hills are made for the delight of small dogs, that much is obvious.
Day 36
We have changed tactics. We have decided, against our better moral judgement, that we shall use food to lure a wild pug to us. Yes, we are risking further reducing the wild population, but what choice do we have? We must study them somehow.
Day 36 - mid day
What a success! It had barely warmed up from the frosty winter morning when suddenly, we spotted it!
Approaching from the tall grass, cautiously. The majestic African Wild-Pug.
After scenting the food, it came running along the beaten down grass path where we set up camp.
It ate, and ate, and ate! You would not believe it! We got so close to it too! Close enough to see it's a female. We've decided to call it 'Specimen Alpha'.
When Specimen Alpha had eaten all the food, she took one look at us, peed on the boots of our expedition leader, and disappeared into the grass from where she came.
We will leave out food again tomorrow.
Day 37
Before we got a chance to set out food this morning, our pug-sniffing hound found her scent. Is it a risk to follow this trail? Will the wild-pug disappear if we come near its lair?
We followed, carrying food (the banana was eaten first yesterday, so we're taking extra of that). Hopefully, bearing gifts will put Specimen Alpha at ease.
Day 38
The trail is much longer than we anticipated. The wild-pug's speed and agility are noteworthy. We're still heading into the hills, pug-sniffing hound leading us as quickly as we can follow.
We are not small, agile dogs. We stomp along the rocky outcrop, we stumble on the loose rocks. We have none of the grace and poise of a wild pug.
Day 39
Just as we thought our pug-sniffing hound was leading us on a wild-goose chase, because yet another day what coming to an end, what appeared between the rocks but Specimen Alpha?!
She seems perfectly adapted to her environment. Even the light seems to converge to accentuate her best features.
Her legs are lean and long, her tail curled just like our pug-sniffer. Her teeth are white, her under-bite noticeable, and her eyes dark, like molten chocolate. Her ears are black, and seem to change form from moment to moment. She ate the bananas with great enthusiasm. She seems smaller and more timid than domesticated specimens.
The sun was setting, though, so we had to turn back much sooner than we would have liked. Our pug-sniffing hound seemed to know something before we did. She kept smiling at us.
We tried to say goodbye to Specimen Alpha, truly we did.
But she simply followed us.
So, we gave up. What can we learn from wild pug behaviour, other than a very large preference for human foods over what they can find in nature? Off we went into the sunset, now with one more member in our expedition. Was this the last wild pug? As she sleeps on my lap, I almost find myself hoping so. Truly, these dogs should be around humans. We are simply happier with them around.
Today, we set off on the greatest adventure of our lives! We have set up camp out in Faerie Glen Nature reserve, in the capital city of South Africa, one of the few remaining natural areas where we might find the South African wild-pug. Pugs are by no measure endangered locally, but most are domesticated lap warmers and bed-pugs, bearing little resemblance to their wild cousins. Or so I've heard! I cannot wait to see one.
...
Day 14
A hair! We think we've found a pug hair. Just one, though, which is suspicious. We've sent it off to the lab for confirmation. Oh, how I hope!
...
Day 35
With it's wild ranges increasingly threatened by rapid urbanisation that is so characteristic of developing countries, our odds of spotting the South African wild-pug was bleak from the start. The lure of warm houses with ready food supplies has decimated wild-pug numbers. But it's been more than a month, and so far, not even a hair has been found. Yes, the lab results are back... it was a cat hair. This is so disheartening. The wild-pug sheds profusely, using this abundance of hair to mark their territory. This is unique among wild domestic canids. Surely there should be some sign by now?
We will persevere, even though I am demotivated. At least our pug-sniffing hound, chosen for her curly tail, which should be a sign of solidarity to the wild pug, seems content.
These hills are made for the delight of small dogs, that much is obvious.
Day 36
We have changed tactics. We have decided, against our better moral judgement, that we shall use food to lure a wild pug to us. Yes, we are risking further reducing the wild population, but what choice do we have? We must study them somehow.
Day 36 - mid day
What a success! It had barely warmed up from the frosty winter morning when suddenly, we spotted it!
Approaching from the tall grass, cautiously. The majestic African Wild-Pug.
After scenting the food, it came running along the beaten down grass path where we set up camp.
It ate, and ate, and ate! You would not believe it! We got so close to it too! Close enough to see it's a female. We've decided to call it 'Specimen Alpha'.
When Specimen Alpha had eaten all the food, she took one look at us, peed on the boots of our expedition leader, and disappeared into the grass from where she came.
We will leave out food again tomorrow.
Day 37
Before we got a chance to set out food this morning, our pug-sniffing hound found her scent. Is it a risk to follow this trail? Will the wild-pug disappear if we come near its lair?
We followed, carrying food (the banana was eaten first yesterday, so we're taking extra of that). Hopefully, bearing gifts will put Specimen Alpha at ease.
Day 38
The trail is much longer than we anticipated. The wild-pug's speed and agility are noteworthy. We're still heading into the hills, pug-sniffing hound leading us as quickly as we can follow.
We are not small, agile dogs. We stomp along the rocky outcrop, we stumble on the loose rocks. We have none of the grace and poise of a wild pug.
Day 39
Just as we thought our pug-sniffing hound was leading us on a wild-goose chase, because yet another day what coming to an end, what appeared between the rocks but Specimen Alpha?!
She seems perfectly adapted to her environment. Even the light seems to converge to accentuate her best features.
Her legs are lean and long, her tail curled just like our pug-sniffer. Her teeth are white, her under-bite noticeable, and her eyes dark, like molten chocolate. Her ears are black, and seem to change form from moment to moment. She ate the bananas with great enthusiasm. She seems smaller and more timid than domesticated specimens.
The sun was setting, though, so we had to turn back much sooner than we would have liked. Our pug-sniffing hound seemed to know something before we did. She kept smiling at us.
We tried to say goodbye to Specimen Alpha, truly we did.
But she simply followed us.
So, we gave up. What can we learn from wild pug behaviour, other than a very large preference for human foods over what they can find in nature? Off we went into the sunset, now with one more member in our expedition. Was this the last wild pug? As she sleeps on my lap, I almost find myself hoping so. Truly, these dogs should be around humans. We are simply happier with them around.
Sunday, 15 June 2014
The Rain Bull - a Traditional Tale, adapted.
Once upon a curly tail, there was a beautiful fawn maiden.
While everyone admired her looks, her real worth lay in her heart, that was bigger than she was by far. If someone needed a courageous companion, it was to her that they came. She had a very good friend, a dusky lady from a distant land, that approached her in the very heart of winter.
"Will you help me, dear fawn maiden? I seem to have lost my herd of cattle" the dusky lady asked. "The day is short, and I have a lot of veld to search."
The fawn maiden knows that for the dusky lady and her people, cattle are incredibly important. They are their wealth, and they center their lives around them. They build their doghouses in circles, surrounding the kraal where the cattle are kept, both to protect them from the outside world and to mark their significance to their way of life.
"Of course I will help you search. Two noses are always better than one!"
To find the cattle, they divided the world into four parts. The sky, tall and blue, the desert, warm and unforgiving, the veld, with flowing waves of grass, and the koppies, where the spirits dwelt.
It was the dry season, so they set off, starting their search in the plains. The tall grass there offers good grazing, even in the driest of winters. It is a favourite place for the cattle, and a familiar one too. Dusky lady often brings them here to graze. They ran hard, and covered a lot of ground, but they did not find the cattle anywhere!
They had to search elsewhere. The blue sky had no clouds behind which the cattle could be hiding. The desert shimmered with heat. The sand was so hot that their paws burned when they tried to go there.
"Surely this would burn your cattle's hooves too?" asked the fawn maiden.
The dusky lady agreed, but this left them with no other option. They would have to search the koppies. There is little by way of foothold for cattle there, and even less to graze. It is a dangerous place to go to. It is all too easy to get lost between the tall boulders that jut out of the ground, jagged and weather worn. Leopard hides there, his spotted coat making it all too easy for him to disappear completely. By far the worst, though, was the spirits. They hid in the shadows, and would gladly tease you into stepping clear off a cliff. They whispered witchcraft from behind, turning you around and around, making it impossible to ever get out.
"Why would my cattle come here?" wondered the dusky maiden out loud. More of a mystery was why the cattle left her care in the first place. She was a tenacious herder and an efficient protector. Her white, flashing teeth led them swiftly to the sweetest grass and the coolest water, and kept anything unwelcome well at bay. In return, the cattle gave blood and milk for food and dung for building floors and huts. Since her people were very clever, they used these gifts wisely, and the cattle never felt exploited.
"Careful, dusky lady! The rocks are loose here!" warned the fawn maiden. Indeed, they nearly stumbled. The dusky lady was ready to turn back, and she saw her uncertainty reflected back at her in the fawn maiden's eyes. Her keen nose had picked up their scent, though, and fawn maiden had spotted a trail, so further into the koppies they went.
It was a difficult path. Fawn maiden nearly vanished into the shadows, but the spirits could not hold on to her silken fur.
The boulders were large, and very uneven. The scent of the cattle was sometimes clear, but sometimes, they had to sniff long and hard to pick it up again.
They walked along rocky ridges, in the deep shadow, where a cold, dry wind blew. They did not give up.
They climbed over tricky rocky outcroppings which were hard on their paws. They did not give up.
They made their way up steep hills even though they were getting tired.
They made their way down steep hills, knowing that they would have to come this way again to return home.
They did not give up. They could not give up.
"My cattle is everything to me! They are my life, and the life of my people. But I am tired, fawn maiden, and I am afraid. I feel leopard's eyes on me everywhere we step" said the dusky lady. The fawn maiden suggested they rest for a time, stood over her to give her some shade. "I am no bigger than you are, my dusky lady, but together we have many teeth, and many paws. We need not fear the leopard while we are two".
Soon the dusky lady's courage had returned, and they kept going. Still the koppies tested their endurance. Finally, they crested the second tallest koppie in the whole world.
The fawn maiden was startled by the dusky lady's piercing bark.
"Finally!" she barked.
"Finally!" a bright and clear sound.
"Look, my fawn maiden, look, there on the ridge of the tallest koppie!"
The fawn maiden looked, with all her might, and finally saw them, like rocks clinging to the hillside.
They were too late, though. The cattle were being led by an immense bull, that dusky lady had never seen before, straight into the sunset. One by one they stepped off the koppie into the sky, walking along the sunbeams into the light.
"My cattle!" the dusky lady wailed.
The fawn maiden wanted to comfort her friend, but knew there was little she could do.
"Let us make camp here" she suggested. It is too dark to risk these koppies, and perhaps, in the morning, we can climb the tallest koppie ourselves and see what happened.
They curled up seperately but near each other, neither very comfortable on the hard rock.
The morning found them poorly rested, tired, and downtrodden.
"We should return to my kraal" suggested the dusky lady. "I must tell my people".
"I will come with you" said the fawn maiden. "I can confirm your tale, and tell them you did everything in your power."
Sighing, they set off. They did not go two steps before the dusky lady's keen nose picked up an unmistakable scent.
"Rain! I smell it as clearly as a veldmouse!" she said.
"That's all we need. Wet fur"
They looked up to the sky together as deep rainclouds gathered overhead. It was going to be a big storm, and it was too sudden for them to take shelter.
The water poured out of the sky like heaven's floodgates had been fully opened.
They did not get wet, though. In stead, the water changed as it hit the ground, gathering and collecting until nothing other than the missing cattle stood before them!
A small white calf, young enough that it had not yet forgotten how to speak, approached the dogs.
"We were called by the rain bull, the great spirit of the sky! He needed our strong backs to push the sun further up into the sky. If the sun does not rise higher, the water will never come from the sky. It will never rain again, and will always be winter.
He wanted to keep us, but he saw how you did not give up coming to get us. He sees that you are a good keeper, and will care for us well"
The dusky maiden was well pleased with the explanation, as her cattle would need the rain to refresh the grass in springtime.
Joyfully, they herded them home. From then on, year after year, the dusky lady and her people would, in the very heart of winter, call on the dusky lady to take her cattle into the hills, over the rocks, through the shadows and up the very tallest koppie to the rain bull. She would never give up, and the cattle would always come home.
They lived happily ever after.
Monday, 5 May 2014
Distraction techniques
Today was a pretty stressful day - a big job interview that I really, really wanted to go well... and while that is definitely part of today's blogging adventure, it is not what I want to talk about at all.
Over the weekend, as I was increasingly getting wound up over said interview, I decided it's time to go for a walk. A long walk, to get those worries out of my system. Besides, I have doggies who need the exercise, and it was the most beautiful Saturday afternoon. I headed to Hedianga farm - I'll put their facebook page at the end.
Finding the way there is a pleasant trip away (due East) from the hustle and bustle of the Menlyn park area, into affluent Olympus. This is a fairly new development, and tall walls, imposing security gates and bored looking security men means that you can't see a thing inside of it, but there is a golf course, horses, palatial houses and more topiary than in most manicured parks.
Don't get me wrong, it's not easy to put that interview out of my mind. A well kept topiary is pretty distracting, but as I drive, I'm listing some of the most notable theorists in medical anthropology to myself. Paul Farmer, Nancy Scheper-Huges, Margaret Locke ... heroes of mine, names I have written deeply in my internal library of reference works.
Of course, I nearly miss the well marked, clearly visible and nearly unmissable entrance. But, no one is around to see my generous turn, and after paying my entrance fee, we're off on the 5 km route.
4 pm this time of year is the loveliest time of day. Long shadows as the sun dips low over the horison. It's not cold, not hot, just right. Just right for those two as well, sniffing away. As they sniff, I think about my teaching statement, how I cheekily called UNISA an open-distance e-learning university, and not simply an open distance learning one. That little e is pretty significant, I have it on good authority they want to be fully online by 2015/2016, and I'm banking a lot of my application on the fact that they'd appreciate someone who is both comfortable and capable in an online setting.
We missed the turn off on to the path we were following. They're all clearly marked with arrows, red, yellow and green, one for each route. There's a 5, 10 and a 15 km route - it's a large farm for how close to the city it is! Ah, well, the sun sets at about 6, it's only 5 kms, no problem to stop and take a picture as the doggies come running when I call them back to get on the right path.
Why should UNISA hire me, I wonder? They're going to ask - after all, that's the whole point of an interview. Saying "because I meet your job criteria as set out in your advertisement" isn't really going to cut it. I am terrible at this sort of thing. It's a skill, you can practice and get better ... so, perhaps what I should point out is that I am hardworking, diligent, motivated to do research and to publish in my field. Er... Look at that pretty aloe!
They're just starting to bloom, and they're everywhere. There were sunbirds too, in their winter browns already. The flora that really caught my attention was the baboontail plants, though.
Heh, excuse the slightly corny 'solar flare' - it's honestly got. What impressed me is that some of these plants (they were all over the hill) were actually big enough to use as a broom. I think these are the biggest ones I've seen in such quantities yet.
Of course, I can't really let my mind wander too far from that interview. I have to be as well prepared as I can. UNISA has dedicated themselves to what they call the 11C's +1. 11 Key terms (like cooperation and communication, conservation and conversation) and the +1, courage. I have a mind to memorise them, but I am not sure if that will really make any difference. Security in lists, maybe? Something about structure and order that makes me feel more secure.
Like this pylon, one of a series that passes through the farm.
Pretty in the late afternoon, isn't it? I've always found them rather attractive, especially when the light comes in at an angle making dark shadows and bright highlights. Miniature Eiffel towers, each one. They're also the lifeblood of our world. None of our everyday conveniences would be possible without the electricity these structures make possible. They may yet cause cancer, but then, most radiation in some form or another would, and we're surrounded, so I'm not going to be too concerned. Except in the sense that only a select few of our citizens can afford cancer treatment, and that as a medical anthropologist, this sort of thing is something you can help change.
Which, of course, segues right back into worrying about Monday. An interview room is not my natural environment - a fairly ironic statement for an anthropologist. I guess it's more fun on the other side of the table. Speaking of natural environment, Kira blossoms on these walks.
In her heart, she's a jackal. The veld, the rocky hills with their small creatures and long grasses, is her home. She runs, bounces, chases, hops and just in general delights in the freedom. She doesn't go too far, and her recall is solid, so I love watching her run and play.
Talos enjoys the hiking too, but she sticks much, much closer. She has a lovely smile.
Unless, of course, there's mud. She loves mud. She runs and splashes, makes a massive mess of herself. We found a muddy stream at the far end of the farm. We also found that it was by then, nearly six. Surely we'll be back to the car soon? Either way, we'll hurry. Run a bit, walk a bit, run a bit ...
Why is the path just continuing?
At the entrance of the farm, there is a sign indicating the colour arrow that each route is marked in. Green, yellow and red. 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km. We wanted to take the 5 km route - which somehow, in my mind, was the red arrow.
It was pitch dark when I got back to the car, after a truly kind gate guard came and walked the last bit with me. 15 kilometers in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Talos, my thoughts exactly.
Hedianga's details are all on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hedianga.farm
Over the weekend, as I was increasingly getting wound up over said interview, I decided it's time to go for a walk. A long walk, to get those worries out of my system. Besides, I have doggies who need the exercise, and it was the most beautiful Saturday afternoon. I headed to Hedianga farm - I'll put their facebook page at the end.
Finding the way there is a pleasant trip away (due East) from the hustle and bustle of the Menlyn park area, into affluent Olympus. This is a fairly new development, and tall walls, imposing security gates and bored looking security men means that you can't see a thing inside of it, but there is a golf course, horses, palatial houses and more topiary than in most manicured parks.
Don't get me wrong, it's not easy to put that interview out of my mind. A well kept topiary is pretty distracting, but as I drive, I'm listing some of the most notable theorists in medical anthropology to myself. Paul Farmer, Nancy Scheper-Huges, Margaret Locke ... heroes of mine, names I have written deeply in my internal library of reference works.
Of course, I nearly miss the well marked, clearly visible and nearly unmissable entrance. But, no one is around to see my generous turn, and after paying my entrance fee, we're off on the 5 km route.
We missed the turn off on to the path we were following. They're all clearly marked with arrows, red, yellow and green, one for each route. There's a 5, 10 and a 15 km route - it's a large farm for how close to the city it is! Ah, well, the sun sets at about 6, it's only 5 kms, no problem to stop and take a picture as the doggies come running when I call them back to get on the right path.
Of course, I can't really let my mind wander too far from that interview. I have to be as well prepared as I can. UNISA has dedicated themselves to what they call the 11C's +1. 11 Key terms (like cooperation and communication, conservation and conversation) and the +1, courage. I have a mind to memorise them, but I am not sure if that will really make any difference. Security in lists, maybe? Something about structure and order that makes me feel more secure.
Like this pylon, one of a series that passes through the farm.
Which, of course, segues right back into worrying about Monday. An interview room is not my natural environment - a fairly ironic statement for an anthropologist. I guess it's more fun on the other side of the table. Speaking of natural environment, Kira blossoms on these walks.
Talos enjoys the hiking too, but she sticks much, much closer. She has a lovely smile.
Why is the path just continuing?
At the entrance of the farm, there is a sign indicating the colour arrow that each route is marked in. Green, yellow and red. 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km. We wanted to take the 5 km route - which somehow, in my mind, was the red arrow.
It was pitch dark when I got back to the car, after a truly kind gate guard came and walked the last bit with me. 15 kilometers in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
 |
| Zzzzz..... |
Hedianga's details are all on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hedianga.farm
Friday, 20 September 2013
Leash walking
How on earth do you get your dog to not pull?
This question plagues many people, and keeps many, all too many dogs from being walked. There are techniques and tools that are very worth trying, but before we get to that, a note on dog training in general:
Behaviour has three parts. The thing that happens before, the behaviour itself, and what happens afterwards. So, looking at a pulling dog, often, what happens is the collar is applied, the dog begins to pull like a loon, and this leads to forward motion. This forward motion is something the dog likes a lot. Sometimes, the pleasure of pulling as an act in itself is what the dog likes a lot. Either way, if you want to decrease a behaviour, you can tackle it in two ways - change what happens before the behaviour, thus preventing the behaviour entirely (this would include not walking your dog, ever, but that's not what we're after here!).
The other way is to change what happens after the behaviour - if what comes after a behaviour is nice, odds are that behaviour will happen more frequently. If what happens after is not very nice, odds are it will decrease.
All training effectively works on this principle - either make the result you want super nice, so it will happen more, or make the result you don't want not very nice, so it will happen less. To make good training plans out of this you need to know a bit more about dogs than just that, but this is where it all starts.
Without further ado - on to techniques:
1. Wait it out.
The leash or harness is on the dog, you're ready to set off, and Fido is pulling with all their might. Stand still. Dead still. Don't move at all. Let Fido pull, pull, pull. Eventually (sometimes 30 seconds, sometimes ten minutes or more) Fido will realise this is not working so well, and will calm down, stop pulling, maybe even sit. This is what you're waiting for. The moment you get no more pulling, take a step. Be ready, the pulling is likely to resume. Stand still again. Wait for no more pulling. Take a deep breath, keep calm. Repeat until your dog figures out that pulling gets it nowhere, but walking near you gets it in motion. This may well mean that you walk only ten steps for the first couple of walks, but it will get there. Depending on your dog (and how riled up praise gets it), it would be fantastic if you could praise, perhaps even feed a small treat, if your dog does not pull.
Do not do this if your dog is too strong for you to control. Do not do this with a head halter, a prong collar or a choke chain, especially if the head halter/chain/prong does not change the amount your dog pulls at all - it's a good way to injure your dog. Do not do this if you cannot stay calm, patient and content during the initial part of training.
2. Enhance the mistake
Start walking. As soon as Fido pulls, head off in the opposite direction as quickly and as deliberately as you can. If Fido dashes ahead and pulls again, just turn once more. Is Fido pulling off to one side? Head off in the opposite direction. Praise, treat, sing, dance, whatever makes your dog happy when they're walking with you, not pulling. If Fido is walking too quickly for you, slow down massively. If Fido is too slow, speed up. This can be a great game if done happily and energetically. It is a good 'next step' if waiting it out did not work for you after a week of good, honest trying. It can be a good starting point if you don't have the patience for waiting it out.
Do not do this if you are using a head halter, choke chain or a prong collar. The jerking of the collar when you change direction can sometimes be rather violent, with a prong/choke chain you need a different approach.
3. Back to basics
If you have a puppy, or a large yard, it is also possible to learn leash walking by starting with getting the puppy/dog to follow you. Puppies are naturally inclined to follow, dogs are very likely to follow a potential treat. Call them to you as you go. If they run ahead, change direction. If they stay near you (for one step, then two steps, and so on, gradually increase), toss a treat on to the ground to reset the exercise, walk away calling them, and if they stay near you for x number of steps, treat and repeat. Keep sessions short - 5 minutes to 15 minutes is good. Increase slowly! Also, don't increase until your previous goal has been met. If your puppy/dog is failing, go a few steps shorter for a bit, then build up again.
Once the puppy/dog stays near you, and immediately comes to your side after a treat toss, add in a leash. Don't pick it up, let it drag (keep an eye on it for safety). Mentally remind yourself, nothing has changed, and keep at it. A few sessions after the leash has been introduced, pick it up. Again, nothing has changed. If you feel yourself getting tense, tie it to your pants. That way, no tension can do down the lead. Resume as before. If the previous steps were done right, the puppy/dog stayed right with you even with the dragging lead, and now stays with you even though you're holding the lead. It's time to hit the road! Pick a quiet time for the first walk or two, start in the yard like all the previous times, just head outside like it's all part of the session, and head right back in. Increase the distance gradually.
Then, in addition to these techniques, there are tools that you can use that can help:
1. Specialised collars
Choke chains and prong collars and perhaps even electric collars can help to teach your dog to walk, but I would strongly discourage you from using these without the guidance of a trainer. If used correctly, each can be humane, but it is all too easy to use them wrongly. Find a trainer that emphasises positive training techniques - these are learnt skills for which some guidance is very, very helpful!
2. No-pull harnesses
These harnesses have a back part made of rope. If your dog should pull, it will tighten around their chest giving an uncomfortable sensation. This very often stops them from pulling. This is a great option for brachycephalic dogs where collars and tension are a bad, bad mix. Remember that a tool is a means to an end - you still need to praise, treat, play or otherwise reward your dog when they're doing the right thing - the idea is that eventually, you'd be able to put your dog in anything, harness, collar, dainty diamante chain or even ribbon, and there won't be pulling.
3. Head halters
There are a selection of head halters out there. They look a bit like bridles, with the idea that if the dog should pull, the head will be turned towards the person. Since the body is likely to follow where the head goes, this stops pulling. Use with care, they can injure a dog's neck and spine if the dog still pulls. Again, see it as a means to an end. These also have the downside of looking a bit like muzzles, which may cause trouble should someone decide you have a dangerous dog.
4. The Suitcase leash
A DIY no-pull setup, you take your dog's leash along their back, once around their tummy, as close to their back legs as you can get it, and underneath itself. Here's a picture:
 |
| From http://www.pugvillage.com/forum/pug-training/108805-how-do-suitcase-leash-kind-way-correct-pulling-dog-pics.html, where a much better description of how to do it can be found as well. |
This is by no means an exhaustive list of techniques or tools to help with this. But, I hope this inspires you to get out there and get walking.
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Walking with Talos
One of my great pleasures is walking, specifically walking in places that make me forget I'm in a city. By some great stroke of luck, walking, especially in 'wild' places, happens to be one of a little puggy-lady's favourite things as well. Neither of us are super energetic, athletic beings, but neither of us are true couch potatoes either. Long walks suit us perfectly, and so, last week, to celebrate the removal of her stitches, we took to a smallish nature reserve in the city of Pretoria.
The walk starts off amongst long, dry grasses. It's winter now, so everything is a dusty brown, with a blue sky overhead.
The walk starts off amongst long, dry grasses. It's winter now, so everything is a dusty brown, with a blue sky overhead.
The hill shows off the natural foliage of the Pretoria region very nicely. Grassland on the flatter areas, switching out for shrubs and small, stubby trees (not even up to my shoulder) as you climb. The rocks, for those interested, are volcanic in nature, mostly granite (pinkish in colour, often seen in kitchens), with some quarts seams as you climb higher.
It does not go up the hill in the background immediately, but in stead winds through a small shaded area along a stream.
The water is so polluted that no frogs can survive in it any more, and no insects hang around either. No swimming for dogs or people. Sadly, a great many people rely on this stream as their only source of water, more and more so as publicly accessible taps become a thing of the past. The counterpoint to this is that you are warned to not walk alone or with any valuables, as the park can easily be entered by hopping a fence (to avoid paying the nominal entrance fee). As a teenager, a friend and I did this often.
The park is well used, especially on weekends, which leads to erosion.
This is especially troublesome so near the stream, but it makes for a happy puggy who can bounce and climb as we go along.
My pictures show nothing of the foliage, but it is mostly an invasive creeper heavily covering wild fig, black wattle (another invasive species) and bushwillows.
Soon enough the path winds us up the hill, or perhaps I should call it by it's proper name, one outcropping of the Magaliesberg (Magalies mountains). They hardly warrant that name, being but a hundred meters or so of steep uphill to the top. The city center is nestled between two rows of these 'mountains', and both of these rows are mostly nature reserve. The suburbs and slums have swallowed the surrounding area for many kilometers, but here, near the city, wildness remains.
Talos and I climb upwards. She enjoys the loose footing quite a bit more than I do...
... I, in turn, enjoy the scenery more than she does.
The granite here is old. These are fold mountains, creases in the earth from when the continents separated. Even such a very durable stone shows its age.
The path walks you along the crest of the hill, and here, an old friend sits and waits for us in a red bushwillow bush:
A female grey hornbill, birds that have been in gardens, in wild places, everywhere throughout my life. Zazu, from Lion King fame, is a yellow-billed hornbill.
Talos must be the only dog to know a 'shush' command that means stop making panty snorty noises, not stop barking. I often need her still and quiet, to observe a bird or small creature near me, and if luck is with me, to take a picture. It is a hobby and a vain ambition to one day have my own picture of every species of bird in South Africa.
On the way down, in the shade of a bush, we take a last break before the three odd mile path concludes its roundabout trip and lands us back at the gate. I can confide anything to my dog, and she listens, patiently and attentively. I often don't even have to speak to her to manage to feel like I've shared my innermost thoughts with her. We found ourselves in such a meaningful silence in our patchy shade.
As I've said, winter is brown. But in it's own way, this is quite beautiful. The brown has such varied textures, and everywhere there are flowers. Yellow ones, nearly the same colour as the dry grass, and tiny purple flowers.
It feels like this dog and I have been together for many years, but the calendar tells me it's just a few months, approaching half a year. It's amazing how they creep into your soul.
I love walking with Talos :)
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