Winter Walkies

Keeping a Border Collie as a household pet is not the route for a lazy dog-owner. Collies are renowned for their intelligence, and Cupar is up there at MENSA-level. It is a well known fact that Collies train their owners, and Cupar is no exception to this rule. Oh yes, he'll 'sit' on command, and wait for a biscuit placed on the floor until he is told he can have it, but this is simple stuff, and just part of being 'cute'. No - his true finesse is in managing our 'walkies'.

We go out together four times a day. Not having a fenced garden means we either walk him on a lead or take him somewhere where it is safe for him to run free. Cupar can, of course, tell the time. He knows precisely when it is time for the next outing, and will appear at the regulation moment - usually with the 'cute dog' expression on his face - and talk to us with little quiet yappy barks. There's not a lot of point in looking out of the widow, and, seeing horizontal driving drizzle, suggest that maybe we'll skip this walk. No, the yappy barking becomes more insistent, and so out we go. (Just occasionally, Cupar does not get his own way, and is popped into the back of the van for a while. He understands this part of the routine as well, and sits in there quiet and content until Sue or I appear, up to the eyes in waterproofs and with lead in hand).

Of course, we  humans don't mind our walkies. We possibly live in the best place on the planet for the quality of the air and the beauty of the scenery, and there is no doubt at all, that all the regular exercise is not just good for dogs...!

Yesterday evening, I took Cupar to one of our favourite places on the shore of Loch Dunvegan. I glanced at the heavy sky and approaching snow shower with a little anxiety, but judged that it might miss us, so off we went. As it tuned out, I was right, and only a light flurry of snow fell on us during our walk. And by the time we were back home, both Coops and I had matching happy grins on our faces, and we were both ready for tea!

The snow shower approaches...

Looking cute