Domingo/Sunday/Sonntag/Zondag/Dimanche 10.02.2013

Dear friends,

If you accompanied me during our walk in Orba from last Sunday, you might remember I was speaking about a message I received from Jenny in Cape Town.

Here is what she writes about her relationship with her dog:

Hi Bruno

Thank you for your many interesting and informative emails.

I would like to wish you and your family an awesome 2013. Here is Cape Town it is the height of summer.  Xmas was an extremely busy time for C.T. with many overseas visitors many of whom are still here and enjoying themselves.

I love the long summer days where the sun only sets at 8 in the evening. The early morning and early evening is my time on the beach with Casey...... special times indeed.

Referring to your "Chet" email. ...... Casey has become so in tune with my actions and body language that very often I need only show a finger in a certain direction and he knows what I am "saying" or if I hold my finger up in front of him, he knows to stop immediately.

The two of us learn from each other every day and what a privilege it is

Take care

Love

Jenny

Underneath you will find a copy of another letter I received from Terry-Ann in South Africa. I highlighted a few words in order to make it clear that readers in other continents can have the same experiences with their dogs as we have here in Europe.
Believe me: the cross between a Great Dane and a St Bernard is a HUGE dog.

hI Bruno,

An interesting article.

Makes sense of the situation I experienced a few  months ago.

We live on a farm, so our dogs dont know other dogs.

I have made good strides with them, I have 6, and now can walk off lead with all of them freely in the valley, through the vineyards.  I used to be so nervous of meeting other people, - now, they understand I am calm, I dont find the strangers interesting, and they give a bark, sniff and move on with me.

I still never know who and what I will encounter, labourers, (sometimes with their dogs), mountain bikers, joggers , drunk farm workers....

This particular time I was heading home around the dam, and did not see the worker and his child and 2 dogs coming towards me (the reeds were high).

My huge great-dane X st Bernard male took off after the dogs, and there was chaeos. He had the little dog in his paws, mouth over him, I shouted NO! And headed in the opposite direction as if nothing had happened. He sniffed the screeching terrified dog (which was sitting down) as you mentioned in your mail, which makes sense about submissive position. 

I see one of the dogs I recently adopted, she is a small (boerboel, type) and very submissive.  She is definitely bottom of the rankings , and often when approaching the others, she tucks her bottom in, towards the ground to show submission.  She never looks for a fight and the others know she is not challenging their positions.

Thanks for interesting articles always.

My big male – I just show him my open hand held outwards and he sits, he is very perceptive and strangely enough, easily controllable on my walks.

Terry-Ann

THIS COMING SUNDAY

This coming Sunday 10.02.2013 I will take you along for a walk we have never done together in Alcalali.
We will meet as usual behind the library building in Jalon at 9.45 for 10.00.

DIESEN KOMMENDEN SONNTAG 10.02.2013

lade ich sie ein fuer einen Spaziergang in Alcalali ein, wo wir noch nie zusammen gewandert haben. 
Wir treffen uns wie immer um 9.45 fuer 10.00 an der Bibliothek in Jalon.

Un abrazo de Bruno