The rain halted, the sun was shining, what better opportunity, to take three dogs for a much deserved walk on their favourite track.
There were no vehicles parked outside the entrance, which indicated, that, hopefully, no one else would be walking, so I could let them run free without worrying about them upsetting any other dog.
Bryson and Chelsea were soon off their harnessess and sniffing to the best of their ability. Binka the wayward cocker spaniel, was walking with me on the lead, becoming very excited at the fantails flying high above him. He is definitely a bird dog, anything he carries in his mouth, is held very softly, without any hint of grabbing with his teeth, even when letting go, the softness remains.
I don’t know what made me do it, perhaps it was the shock of the fine weather, I’m not sure. There were several thoughts, that very quickly, flitted through my head, but they did not linger for any more than a second.
Freedom…
He was off the lead, running with Chlesea, as fast as his legs would carry him, there was no hint of running away, as I had feared he would. He was so excited, at running and sniffing with the others, and was genuinely, enjoying this rare occurance. No one telling him to “wait’ or “sit” or “no”, bliss, absolute bliss.
Naturally, the thoughts gliding through my mind were, ” why had I denied him this freedom for so long”, when it is obvious, he is going to stay with the big dog, and she was doing an exceptional job of keeping him in line?
Just before the pylon, I had a bit of a scare, he disappeared for about five minutes, then the doubt started to creep in, just a tiny bit, he would come back, of course he would. We retraced our steps, and then he was racing up behind us, so off we set again, on the final homeward leg, which would be about half an hour of pleasant walking.
Around the corner, he was sniffing at the edge of the pine forest, then, GONE….
I called, to no avail. Five minutes, ten minutes, what to do.
The day I needed my mobile, I had left it at home, of all the stupid things to do.
I could hear Jamie in my head saying, ” I’ve told you not to let him off, he has no idea of what he is doing”. A beloved cocker we have owned since he was eight weeks old, a spaniel who came home in a cat box, who loves having a bath, being dried with the hair drier, who sleeps on his back with his feet sticking up, ramrod straight, who loves his beanbag, and his spaniel brother, but most of all, who loves to go in the car with Jamie, to her house, where he rules, regardless of the fact that the cat is Queen.
How was I going to tell her, I had lost her beloved dog, because I felt sorry for him, and had decided he should have some fun with his mates.
Should I take the other two home and come back for him, only a couple of hours until darkness, then it would be impossible to find him.
Walking on the pine needles, rotten wood crunching underneath my feet, trying to be as quiet as possible, calling, Binka, Binka.
There he is, head down, in his own world, sniffing, not hearing me, not wanting to. Ignores me completely, and wanders off again, then………
NOTHING.
Walk back toward the pylon, perhaps he has gone out on the track further down.
Back again to where he entered.
Let Chelsea off the lead, however, she was on the other side, so no chance of her being of any assistance.
Walk further up the track and back again. All the time, thoughts, tending toward panic, had to get back to the other dogs, and the office.
To stay or go.
Panic becoming a little more profound now, he really is lost. Cannot hear the chinking of his registration tags on his collar.
My worst nightmare has been realised, what a stupid woman, was about all I could say. I’m sure there would be more to come as the day progressed, and the situation deteriorated.
A wet, blue roan, cocker spaniel, suddenly appeared on the track, with no warning.
Quickly bend down, so as not to be too overpowering for him, and also, not to let him know I am on the verge of sheer panic.
He comes straight to me, which is most unlike Binks, even tolerates me re-attaching his harness.
At last, we can continue our walk, music on the ears, the other two dogs running free.
The first and last time, the spaniel Binka, will be EVER, allowed off the lead. I’m sure his intentions were honest, but the sheer frustration, which then leads to panic, is not worth any amount of free running.
Yikes, I know what that panic is like when the bassets went missing earlier in the week down in Tunnel Gully. They were there one minute and gone the next. Off with the smells. I was yelling and yelling and running where we had just walked but couldn’t find them. I retraced my steps and came back along the track until I reached the beginning of the loop track. As I was yelling I was getting more frightened but then I heard it – urua, urua, my favourite big basset impression of a seal calling back to me. Then they came running like steam trains almost flattening me in the process. Little basset yelped and yelped with excitement. It was such a relief. They are now attached to the leads at all times. I can’t bear the stress!
You won’t do that again. I remember the first time I let Angel of the lead she didn’t won’t to come back as she was having so much fun but the promise of a treat was enough to get her back.
Nicola: I did not even have a treat in my pocket, but doubt that would have made any difference. Selective hearing, (or cloth ears), it is called, and he certainly has it. You are fortunate Angel is very food orientated.
Obviously, the smells were just too much of a temptation. Karen
Julie: I’m surprised to hear the boys were in the same frame of mind, I would not have thought it of them.