A walks not a walk without squirrels

 A dog related tale or possibly tail (woof woof).  

Since George’s death Barney has been an only dog.  While he has missed George, he hasn't been pining.  In fact, he seems to be a more 'cheerful' dog as he gets longer walks now that we don't have to take George's arthritis into account.  He gets a long walk to the local park every day and is able to have a good run, off his lead, while there.  The real bonus is that he isn't barking at other dogs as George is no longer there to start him off.  Even better he has been playing with a few of them which wouldn't have been possible with George along.

Now that Barney can be allowed to roam free he has discovered the joy (and frustration) of squirrels!  It is a very mild autumn up here in Humberside and the squirrels in the park are still very active even in December.  Barney has taken to stalking them and then making a final mad dash over the last ten yards to try to catch the little grey devils.  To date he has been unsuccessful because of trees.  Squirrels climb them you know, and Barney considers this unsporting rodent behaviour.  This does not stop him trying though and he does seem to be considering tree climbing lessons as an option.

So, life goes on without George.  We miss his cheeky behaviour and the way he always came to greet us if we had been out, clutching something in his jaws with his little stumpy tail wagging ten to the dozen.  We don't miss his choice of things to bring to greet us with quite so much, I actually liked some of those cushions.  The local hedgehogs are sleeping more soundly as well, now that he isn't getting up in the wee small hours to chase them around the garden.  So to finish here are a few pictures of George in his last year, cheeky until the end 😛.

George (like Snoopy) considered the saddest sight in the world to be an empty dog dish

Faster my good women I must be at the park before 2.00pm

George hoping that there is food on the table

I have tagged this post under 'George and Barney' at some future point I suppose I will have to change that to something like 'Our dogs', but not just yet.