Way to go!

We received a new delivery of Who Gives A Crap bamboo toilet paper – all 48 rolls of it! So what do we do? A TP Challenge of course!

I jumped four rows high! Woohoo!

Remember our TP Challenge during lockdown in 2020?

Mum was surprised that I could jump three rows.

And she stopped there! Maybe I always could but she just never gave me the opportunity to prove myself. But then who really gives a crap how high I can jump! LOL!

P.S. Someone accused Mum of hoarding TP during lockdown. I guess that someone didn’t know Mum is obsessive about having TPs on hand at all times, always enough to last at least a month – just in case! And Who Gives A Crap bamboo toilet paper came in a box of 48!!! Mum’s happy. LOL!

May’s comment: This is a segue on how George has been since becoming the only dog. Many who have seen him lately mentioned how much calmer he is.

Maybe it is because he doesn’t have to be Alpha Male any more – since he has no one to show off to.

Maybe it’s because we spend most of our time together – and he feels more secure. Many a time I had left George with a friend, a neighbour when two dogs was just too difficult or not permitted. They all loved having him – he got all the cuddles, and loving.

When he is with me, he is calm. He still feels he has to bark at other dogs, trucks and motorbikes but he restrains himself. He still barks when he is with others walking him. But then these days he is hardly with others.

And really quite excellent recall! No longer the runner! He comes trotting back happily when called.

He’s definitely becoming a good poser! And knows the cue though he still hates the camera.

I guess what needed to be said is that I have never given George all my attention. Darcy had me all to herself the first three years and we travelled miles and miles. When George came along, it was easier to leave him behind as Darcy was more predictable and a seasoned traveller. Besides it’s her blog! LOL!

Now it’s just George and I. I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere without him. And he is learning fast.

Travelling is an amazing bonding experience. In new situations and environments, we are looking out for each other.

And so is trick training. I never thought George would go any higher than a Novice but he got to Advanced Level. Oh, he’ll never get to Expert, I said. Now we are working on it – slow and steady. He is definitely not as quick in perceiving my directions as Darcy was. He is focused on the treat rather than the directions. But we are working on it.

We have to date, one trick down and four more to go! Footsies and walking done! Better than none, right? 🙂

We started with agility. He is brave but a complete lunatic. When set free he just wants to run all over the field and it is a challenge to keep him focused. But when he is going through the course, he is the cutest thing jumping over hurdles and going up the A-frame without hesitation!

And amazingly, he even wins competitions! In the early years, I did enter competitions with Darcy but there were many things against her – she was a cockapoo (there was a breed snub), she was just a pretty, normal puppy without a sob story. So when I chose to support Goodwoof’s Chien Charmant competition, we participated with no expectations. It was with George after all! He has always been overlooked. He was just the small black, barky, mad street dog and was just a black blob in all the group photos. No expectations but what a big surprise when we won The Spirit of Goodwoof!!!! Little rascal, but we think we had some divine intervention.

Now, it is not all good reporting. George has been begging for food at tables now that Darcy is no longer around to do that.

In the past he would just let Darcy do the begging. Tsk! Tsk!

So when people ask me if I will get another dog. I used to think before I answered, “I don’t know.” Now I say, “I have George.” This is his time. And we are going to enjoy each other.

P.S. And yes, we have moved from Puppies-on-a-Roll TP to Who Gives A Crap. TP that is good for the world (plastic free, the highest standards of social and environmental impact), good for people (50% of profits go to helping build toilets for those who need them) and good for the bum (no inks, dyes or scents)!