My Second Holiday

I knew something was going on Thursday night. Mum kept wandering around putting stuff in boxes instead of sitting in the living room with us. Actually it was great fun as it meant George and I got to sniff all the different boxes and bags, and George even tried to take some things out and back to his bed. After that Mum made us wait out in the garden with a bone each, which wasn’t too bad.

On Friday afternoon we didn’t go for our usual long walk when Mum got in at lunchtime, but instead all got in the back of the van with loads of duvets and blankets which I guess Mum had put in while we were out in the garden.

We then drove a long way and I was very happy. After about an hour Jack and George got up and started whining, but Mum turned the radio up, and I just snoozed.

Eventually we stopped and it smelt like the beach that we went to once before, except that this was a different place. We went through a gate into a large garden that opened straight out onto the beach. We all rushed around barking and chasing each other, and all of a sudden two of our lurcher friends Jack and Oscar came rushing into the garden. We were all so excited when we realized we were going to be staying together that there was lots of pointless barking and silly prancing until we were all exhausted and lay down in the garden for a rest.

After a rest, we all set of on a walk on a wide grassy field next to the beach. Jack and Jack had peeing and barking competitions, George went and said hello to lots of people, Oscar ran around, and I just trotted along enjoying the sunshine and sea air.

Dinner that night was fun because there were so many of us to feed we all got to eat in the garden. Another good thing about five dogs in one house means there are lots of different beds to try out.

Mum and Auntie Caroline spent the evening playing games and laughing at each other, and Auntie C seemed upset that Mum was so good at something called Monopoly. By the time they moved on to Operation it was hard to tell what was going on.

Mum slept downstairs on the sofa with all us dogs, and luckily there was a lot of space, so I wandered around a fair bit. Mum got up a few times and came and sat with me to try and get me to settle, but once she got back on the sofa I liked to wander over and stare at her until she woke up again. Then she would get up and come and sit with me in my bed, and George would get up and go and get on Mum’s bed on the sofa! It was so much fun.

The next morning we all walked on the beach which was great. It was quite windy but very sunny and I explored lots of rock pools and paddled in the sea. The other four ran around a lot barking and chasing each other, but I preferred a slightly slower pace. We then spent most of the day out in the garden having our pictures taken, being groomed and being fussed.

That night I was too tired to go for a walk with the others, so Mum and I stayed at the beach house on our own. I also wasn’t very hungry, and this is when I found out something fantastic. If you don’t eat your dinner and look a bit sad then you get lots of treats. I discovered saveloys and fish from the chip shop, chocolate biscuits, cream cheese, sliced ham, pasta, and sardines. What was even better was that Mum came and sat next to me to feed me all these things and made all the other dogs leave the room. I felt very special. She also spent a lot of time sitting in the hall with me while Auntie Caroline watched the TV.

I slept a little better than last night, though I still got up several times to wander about. I feel tired and ache a lot these days, and find it difficult to settle, but no matter how many times I get Mum up she still just takes me back to my bed and sits quietly chatting to me until I go back to sleep.

The next morning we all ran on the beach again, and I was very happy. It was less windy than the previous day and the sun was shining and I managed to walk quite a long way. I was disappointed not to find any rotting fish in the rock pools, but I had fun looking. I wasn’t very hungry when we got back, and spent most of the morning lying in the sun in the garden. It was fun to watch the other dogs, because as soon as one of them leapt up and started barking, all the rest would do the same, even though it was obvious they had no idea why they were barking. Around lunchtime Mum got up and started to pack the van. Jack and George stayed out in the garden so they didn’t miss the opportunity to bark at people walking on the beach, but I went and lay in the hall so I could make sure the van didn’t leave without me.

Auntie C gave us all huge hugs goodbye and we got back in the van on our duvets. We were all exhausted and no one stood up at all for the entire trip home. It was a good weekend away, but it was nice to be back in my own home with Mum and Dad again.

Back to Jerry's Page

Information contained herein is provided 'as is'. No warranty is given or implied. It is based on my personal experience, and that of others to which I can personally attest. However, dogs are individuals, and what works for one may not work for another.

© 2000-2008, Fiona Moore. Please feel free to copy and distribute for personal and non-profit use, but please acknowledge the authorship and source. If this information is to be published on a web site, please include a link to this site. Thank you.

The proper address of this site for acknowledgements and links is http://www.fionas-fastdogs.com/

The original location of this page was http://www.truffy.com/fastdogs/mydogs/jerry/2nd_holiday.php