Monday 5 July 2010

What does a working dog do when it's not shooting season?

I'm glad you asked.

Working dogs are compelled to work. It's in their genes. The springers - Jazz, Dulcie, Hazel - are purely shoot day dogs. They work hard in the winter. Some dogs, like Podge, work hard in the summer months and help out in shoot season. Dakota works year round on guard duty. And of course there are young dogs like Spud who are still finding out what they're best at, and retired dogs like Nell, who do as they please.

Then there's Pip. Pip's main job is in the shoot season with the springers. Out of season, she finds other jobs to keep her busy. She's wants you to know how versatile she is.

Besides retrieving pheasants, she helps me by retrieving my ball of wool when I'm knitting and it gets away from me --
I'll get it!

Here you go...

Pip is also a footwarmer --


And when moved onto the floor doubles as a throw rug / speed bump --

Don't disturb me, I'm working...

Pip has a recycling function --

mmmm...pea pods and asparagus stalks...

Pip works not just at home, but 'on the go' too --


--as truck ballast. And maybe a wheel arch decoration.

Pip is also the self-appointed bathroom monitor --

I need a hand towel and a tip cup...

When you have a labrador, you're never alone. Even when you want to be.

Pip also does impressions --



Very scary indeed, Pip.

All these skills and talents, and all the dogs ask in return is a pat on the head and some of this --

Boiled lamb offal, collected from Peggy my butchery teacher.

How do I know when the offal is ready? I have an official taster on standby --


These dogs love their work.

8 comments:

Paula said...

I'm so jealous that you have so many and I have none right now. Those are great pictures and Pip reminds me of my Tank (long gone) who followed me all over the house. She was my furry, red shadow.

I really enjoyed this post a lot.

Jennifer Montero said...

Paula - I think this post is for dog lovers. Tank is a fabulous name for a dog - I'm assuming he was a lab too? Is there a picture of him on your blog?

Great dogs stay with us forever. If you mention Molly to my husband he will tear up, regardless of where he is and what he's doing. He also accepts that I love the dogs just a little bit more than I love him.

I'm glad the post reminded you of Tank.

Colette said...

What a wonderful post. Yep, I'm the same as Mike if you mention Daz. Though Lil is coming up a great second. I thought today, when we were out walking, correction I was walking, she, swimming just how much I really love her and enjoy her company. Even though she stole a LB of raisins and had a luck escape not to end up on a drip. Did you know they are poisonous to dogs??

Jennifer Montero said...

Colette - raisins, onions, macadamia nuts...the vet has given us a list since our lot are bin raiders and counter surfers.

Colette said...

She sitll went on to steal scones with more raisins int. least with the onions she steals it is only used to play ball!!

Paula said...

I loved this post. I thought I'd commented earlier but don't see it, so I hope it was my ineptitude and not something wrong at your end!

I love that Pip retrieves your knitting ball- that's great!

Give all the dogs a good butt scratching for me.

Terry Scoville said...

What a fabulous series of Pip pics! Great captions and I especially like her "impressions" pic, priceless. It has been said many times before that I prefer being in the company of a dog over a human, for obvious reasons. Please give them all a pat on their pointy little heads for.

Tamar@StarvingofftheLand said...

A silly, funny post about dogs gets me every time! Especially since I'm in the middle of writing a dull, earnest post about potatoes.

Thanks for lightening the mood.