For so many years our neighbours were people we waved at briefly whilst we scuttled from into the house.  Nowadays we know our neighbours a little better and we tend to all look out for each other.  It’s not a hot bed of neighbourly social events but rather a comradery about country living, sharing of eggs and meat and most importantly an openess to look after our respective menageries on the odd occasion.

Abbie is staying with us whilst her owners are away on holiday.  She’s been here before and a regular visitor since she comes down to help with the chickens when we go away.  But last time she stayed we was pretty much confined as she had a poorly leg and needed rest.  This time she’s fighting fit and giving the bassets plenty to get excited about.

It’s been interesting to watch them all play together although it’s clear that the bassets see themselves very much as a tight unit where dogs who are twice as tall as them are not really part of their pack.  Or perhaps it’s just they don’t like girls joining their gang.  I’m afraid that there hasn’t been much gentlemanly behaviour but a determination to keep Abbie in her place in the visitors lounge.

We managed a walk out together today.  It takes some getting used to having a dog that walks out front rather than having to drag behind you.  Abbie was totally obedient too which was a pleasure to behold.  I did point out to the bassets that this was raising my expectations of them.  They simply dragged their heels lower and sniffed even longer as if to prove their point of independence even further.

Abbie doesn’t seem to care about their dog politics and is happiest when she can run and run.  She certainly leaves the bassets on their starting blocks. But they don’t care – they’re just as content to carry on in their usual ways.  Bringing up the rear!

Back home Abbie was content to sit patiently and pose for her picture.  The bassets were being much more territorial and making it clear that they would prefer to get settled down on a nice comfy blanket for a snooze.