First Day

My name is Archie and I am a sinner.


The Nippy Wee Wifie came to see me again at the dog home yesterday.
I had met her twice before.

First time we met I had been feeling totally crap - having come down with a bout of kennel cough.
Undaunted, Nippy Wee Wifie checked me over, lifted me up, poked at my ribs and looked at my teeth. I couldn't be bothered with all the attention but I was feeling so rough I just let her get on with it.

I saw her again on Tuesday when I was feeling a lot better. More poking and prodding - hey ho, it's a dogs life when you're a dog pound pup.
That time she took me into the play yard for a game of fetch with a ball.

Or so I thought.

Jeezus, she was full of her orders.
Sit, wait, down, sit, fetch, come here. sit, LEAVE IT !

Then it was into the office with the comfy chairs for more of the same.
Up on the chair I went.
Nippy Wee Wifie pointed a finger.

OFF !

Okay, okay. Sheesh what a bossy wee wummin she is.

She said she'd be back.
And back she came yesterday.

I recognised her this time and gave her my best behaviour tail wags. I didn't fancy having to go through yet another exhuastive obedience test so after a quick sniff around I lay quietly at her feet.

She shook her head as she listened to the Dog home staff telling her again about the multitude of misdemeanours that I have been guilty of.

Straying, snarling, snapping, biting, something called "dominance issues".
Five homes at least that they knew of.
Yeah, that's me they were talking about. Archie the Sinner. Look at me, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth.

If Nippy Wee Wifie took me away it would be home number six.

And so I found myself up in the Dog Home office going through the check out process once more. Yet another new home.

The journey back to her house was a long one with frequent stops to pick up dog crates and get petrol. She pretty much ignored me most of the time so I contented myself with a sleep.

Just as well I saved my energy.

When we got to her house I sniffed about for a while and then lay in front of the fire while she had some tea and toast.
Me - I got nada, nowt, zilch, not even a crumb. Just a drink of water and some dog biscuits out of her pocket - and I had to work for them.
Sit, lie down, come here, sit....sigh.....

Twenty minutes later and we were off again. Back in the car and a short trip to the village.

We got out of the car at the top of the village and walked up a pitch black country lane. Nippy Wee Wifie was OK - she had a head torch. I had to navigate by smell.
After a while we stopped at a big metal gate. Nippy Wee Wifie picked me up and dropped me over the other side then followed me over. We walked up the wettest, muddiest track in the world and then I was heaved over another gate.

The Gate To Terrier Heaven.

The smells in the yard were intoxicating.
Cow, sheep, horse, duck, geese, chicken, dog, fox, rabbit, mouse and rat.

Lights went on I found myself in an adventure playground of hay bales, log piles, baskets and bins.

I couldn't help myself, honest I was so excited. I threw myself into a puddle of horse pee and ROLLED for all I was worth.
A quick tug at the leash brought me to my senses and I dried myself off on the straw bed in the stable. It was GREAT !

Nippy Wee Wifie tied me up and left me to my own devices for a minute and then reappeared with the biggest THING I've ever seen in my life.

Honest, this THING was HUGE and it just walked beside her, all well behaved, calm and obedient. Apparently it's called a horse.
Nippy Wee Wifie went up a notch in my estimation.

Some other people arrived and they had a Border Terrier with them. No-one freaked out and everybody ignored me so I wagged my tail at the Border and said hello.

Border just snarled, told me to get lost and went grinning over to Nippy Wee Wifie to get his back scratched. He looked real smug about it too.

Another horse came in and I watched it respectfully but I had to jump up at the stable doors to look at the other ones. Another tug on the leash and I was halted mid flight and ended up on my back in the stoor.
The people busied themselves with buckets and big smelly blankets. I wanted to get close to the strange big creatures called horses but I wasn't allowed.
Then it was lights off, back down the dark track and over the gates again.
Border and I walked in peace. Not quite chummy but not enemies either.

We parted ways in the village and then it was back to Nippy Wee Wifie's house.
The fire was stoked, a crate was made up and some blankets put in.

Nippy Wee Wifie got comfy on the sofa. I joined her.
She didn't even look at me.

OFF !

And so I curled up in front of the fire pondering about my strange and eventful day.

Nippy Wee Wifie fell asleep on the settee and stayed there all night.

The fire grew cold and I crept into the crate and spent the night there.

This morning I awakened early and Nippy Wee Wifie took me out in the dark and rain for a pee.

I'm feeling a wee bit strange. I don't know what lies in front of me with this new owner. I've got the feeling that I won't get away with any nonsense with her.

But you know what. She doesn't mind me being wet, muddy and smelling of horse pee. She doesn't think I'm the centre of her universe and expect me to entertain her. That's a bit of a relief for a start.
She doesn't really expect anything of me right now but she's making a few of her boundaries clear.

Will I overstep these boundaries. Will I make mistakes and fall from grace.

Who knows. The settling in period over the next few days will be interesting. I'll write about them here and let you know.

Yeah, that's me up there.

My name is Archie and I am a Sinner.