LOWDOWN Winter 2016 page 5
From the Club Chair ✍ Brian Malin
Perhaps the most pleasing facet of our Club spirit is the way everyone rallies round without any prompting.
Take "our" BBQ, where all are happy to bring something tasty to turn our basics into a feast. Frankly, it is obvious that, try as we will, Jill and I (especially me!) could not cope alone. Chris and Stewart (sorry if it's Stuart) efficiently took over much of the cooking; and many ladies banded together to wade through mountains of washing-up; and Chris and Jayne put all the chairs away thus enabling us to wind down in the evening.
The same spirit was evident at Fun Day - volunteer Judge Tony, with Chris and Sue stewarding for him, all being arranged at the last minute, Sue and Chris already having organised the games.
Again, it was our Sue who went to A&E with Jean and waited until she was finally admitted at 4am the next day and kept us informed of progress. Frankie and Tony also played their part in visiting and keeping in touch as did others. When this type of event is thrust upon us it is truly impossible to underestimate the value of such assistance and, happily, Jean is now safely back home recovering. SHE IS ONE TOUGH LADY!
As always, my personal thanks to all our Officers and Committee for their wholehearted support and, more importantly, friendship over the past year.
At Christmas there are always pauses for breath amidst the festivities and no doubt in those times we reflect on Christmases Past - remembering absent friends and family, and certainly old pets , in our case even the gerbils who bit through the wiring in the lounge! OUR HOUNDS EACH OF WHOM REST IN OUR HEARTS ARE WELL TO THE FORE.
This set me thinking.
Scientists (including papers by Darwin 1871, Sir John Lubbock 1889, and Pavlov 1936/1966) recognised that the dog is closest to us above all other creatures, and shares many of our social graces.They have been alongside us for longer than any other companion pet and the more they are part of our lifestyles the more they adapt to fit in - Danks Royal Canine's Veterinary expert.They interact with us and respond as can no other creature.They take note of our gestures, facial expression, moods and tone of voice - just say "good boy” really angrily if you can and they will back off. Conversely, say "bad boy" in a soft and enthusiastic manner and they will come with waggy tail.
Interacting with dogs delivers real health benefits for us."This can be seen,” says Lee, "in the simple act of taking your dog for a walk and making friends with fellow dog walkers".
From observations in the past, Jill and I know our hounds have indicated what has later turned out to be a medical problem in another of our hounds by persistent licking on a particular spot on the body. We couldn't find the problem, but at least it put us on the alert for prompt treatment. There have also been cases where dogs have made their owners aware of something amiss which needed attention.
As many members will have found, when one of their mates dies there is no doubt they are confused and search persistently for quite a while. Chevvy has this morning been following a path a few hundred yards away from the one the rest of us use in the hope of meeting a huge but gentle giant of a GSD called Blade, who died at least three weeks ago. Blade's owner noticed that Chevvy always greeted Blade before moving on to his owner for his treat. Quite touching really.
You may remember that this year a dog called Flash stayed loyally by the coffin of his master who was one of 291 people who perished in Italy's earthquake which destroyed his mountain village. Flash repeatedly clawed at the coffin, refusing to leave.
History famously recalls a Victorian Skye Terrier “Bobby" who held a graveside vigil from 1858 to 1872. I could go on, but have probably lost you by now and really I'm not telling you anything you don't know already from your own experiences. As our son says, Jill and I are Barking mad! We think it's a compliment.
Briefly, you all revel in Lowdown and the website, so as ever our huge thanks to Tony and Derek for another good year. Hopefully, the ever charming Frankie, who has just endured an operation on a hand, will not only be fully recovered but also feeling the benefit by the time this goes to press.
As usual, please help us to plan another year of fun for your hounds by paying your subscriptions fairly promptly.
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A BASSETFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
chairman@bassethoundowners.org.uk
Ed: I’m sorry to break this to readers, but a recent investigation into the case of Bobby’s graveside vigil, claims to have found evidence that when this loyal dog eventually died, other Bobbys were substituted in his place. Such was the interest shown by Victorian tourists that it was too good a money-making attraction to be allowed it to perish along with the original poor dog’s demise.
Perhaps the most pleasing facet of our Club spirit is the way everyone rallies round without any prompting.
Take "our" BBQ, where all are happy to bring something tasty to turn our basics into a feast. Frankly, it is obvious that, try as we will, Jill and I (especially me!) could not cope alone. Chris and Stewart (sorry if it's Stuart) efficiently took over much of the cooking; and many ladies banded together to wade through mountains of washing-up; and Chris and Jayne put all the chairs away thus enabling us to wind down in the evening.
The same spirit was evident at Fun Day - volunteer Judge Tony, with Chris and Sue stewarding for him, all being arranged at the last minute, Sue and Chris already having organised the games.
Again, it was our Sue who went to A&E with Jean and waited until she was finally admitted at 4am the next day and kept us informed of progress. Frankie and Tony also played their part in visiting and keeping in touch as did others. When this type of event is thrust upon us it is truly impossible to underestimate the value of such assistance and, happily, Jean is now safely back home recovering. SHE IS ONE TOUGH LADY!
As always, my personal thanks to all our Officers and Committee for their wholehearted support and, more importantly, friendship over the past year.
At Christmas there are always pauses for breath amidst the festivities and no doubt in those times we reflect on Christmases Past - remembering absent friends and family, and certainly old pets , in our case even the gerbils who bit through the wiring in the lounge! OUR HOUNDS EACH OF WHOM REST IN OUR HEARTS ARE WELL TO THE FORE.
This set me thinking.
Scientists (including papers by Darwin 1871, Sir John Lubbock 1889, and Pavlov 1936/1966) recognised that the dog is closest to us above all other creatures, and shares many of our social graces.They have been alongside us for longer than any other companion pet and the more they are part of our lifestyles the more they adapt to fit in - Danks Royal Canine's Veterinary expert.They interact with us and respond as can no other creature.They take note of our gestures, facial expression, moods and tone of voice - just say "good boy” really angrily if you can and they will back off. Conversely, say "bad boy" in a soft and enthusiastic manner and they will come with waggy tail.
Interacting with dogs delivers real health benefits for us."This can be seen,” says Lee, "in the simple act of taking your dog for a walk and making friends with fellow dog walkers".
From observations in the past, Jill and I know our hounds have indicated what has later turned out to be a medical problem in another of our hounds by persistent licking on a particular spot on the body. We couldn't find the problem, but at least it put us on the alert for prompt treatment. There have also been cases where dogs have made their owners aware of something amiss which needed attention.
As many members will have found, when one of their mates dies there is no doubt they are confused and search persistently for quite a while. Chevvy has this morning been following a path a few hundred yards away from the one the rest of us use in the hope of meeting a huge but gentle giant of a GSD called Blade, who died at least three weeks ago. Blade's owner noticed that Chevvy always greeted Blade before moving on to his owner for his treat. Quite touching really.
You may remember that this year a dog called Flash stayed loyally by the coffin of his master who was one of 291 people who perished in Italy's earthquake which destroyed his mountain village. Flash repeatedly clawed at the coffin, refusing to leave.
History famously recalls a Victorian Skye Terrier “Bobby" who held a graveside vigil from 1858 to 1872. I could go on, but have probably lost you by now and really I'm not telling you anything you don't know already from your own experiences. As our son says, Jill and I are Barking mad! We think it's a compliment.
Briefly, you all revel in Lowdown and the website, so as ever our huge thanks to Tony and Derek for another good year. Hopefully, the ever charming Frankie, who has just endured an operation on a hand, will not only be fully recovered but also feeling the benefit by the time this goes to press.
As usual, please help us to plan another year of fun for your hounds by paying your subscriptions fairly promptly.
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A BASSETFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
chairman@bassethoundowners.org.uk
Ed: I’m sorry to break this to readers, but a recent investigation into the case of Bobby’s graveside vigil, claims to have found evidence that when this loyal dog eventually died, other Bobbys were substituted in his place. Such was the interest shown by Victorian tourists that it was too good a money-making attraction to be allowed it to perish along with the original poor dog’s demise.