Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Kev B]

Great picture Tom. Incredible how families lived in such small spaces. Agree, top names.

[RED-DOG]

Great picture Tom. Incredible how families lived in such small spaces. Agree, top names.

Gypsies tended to have big families back then. Usually the girls slept inside the wagon and the men either slept underneath or in a 'bender' tent.

Click to see full-size image.

[Kev B]

Great picture Tom. Incredible how families lived in such small spaces. Agree, top names.

Gypsies tended to have big families back then. Usually the girls slept inside the wagon and the men either slept underneath or in a 'bender' tent.

Click to see full-size image.

Must have been tough in Winter.

[RED-DOG]

Yes. My dad said they slept warm but in the mornings they had to thaw their boots by the fire until they were pliable enough to get on.

[doubleup]

As it cost a bit of money to buy film and develop photos people used to take a bit of care over photos.  Even dogs knew where the camera was.

[RED-DOG]

As it cost a bit of money to buy film and develop photos people used to take a bit of care over photos.  Even dogs knew where the camera was.

Great pic. Which one is you?


The next generation will be photograph rich. We have so few of our childhood.

Your right about them being well looked after. Photo viewing sessions were like special occasions. My Mam, the Guardian of the photo box, used to supervise ours.

[Rod Paradise]

Ah, was wondering as I kind of stick out at the class, big bald biker type in heavy metal t-shirts among retired teachers, the local minister etc.

I like knowing how things are done, but this is the first class I've taken that I've really taken to. There's a zen-like quality in that you can only work on one cut at a time, and you need to get it right, then get all pieces done before the work starts with each bit of lead, no shortcuts or jumping ahead will work.

I'm busy setting up a small workshop and have a panel for my mum's house designed & am designing one for above my front door.

Mum's Kitchen Door Window:

Click to see full-size image.

Above Door:

Click to see full-size image.

Really good, and they will last a thousand years. Great heirlooms

Click to see full-size image.

Glass all cut, I'm officially a nutter according to Fiona, the professional stained glass maker who takes the group. She saya I'm mad working with such small intricate cuts (89 pieces in that). Next stage is the hardest - joining them all together with lead. Since the pieces are so small I'll be using a lot of 3mm wide lead, which leaves very little margin for error in the glass.

[RED-DOG]

I think I agree with Fiona, you are a nutter, but the piece looks wonderful and with luck should outlast us all.

[Rod Paradise]

I think I agree with Fiona, you are a nutter, but the piece looks wonderful and with luck should outlast us all.

  Aye, the 2 of you are probably right (along with most people I know).

Got the workbench complete, it's the only neat bit in the room (regular sweeping for miniscule glass shards is needed).

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Well it gives the impression that you know what you're doing....

[Nakor]

I think I agree with Fiona, you are a nutter, but the piece looks wonderful and with luck should outlast us all.

  Aye, the 2 of you are probably right (along with most people I know).

Got the workbench complete, it's the only neat bit in the room (regular sweeping for miniscule glass shards is needed).

Click to see full-size image.

I would have to level that bench up

[RED-DOG]

I think I agree with Fiona, you are a nutter, but the piece looks wonderful and with luck should outlast us all.

  Aye, the 2 of you are probably right (along with most people I know).

Got the workbench complete, it's the only neat bit in the room (regular sweeping for miniscule glass shards is needed).

Click to see full-size image.

I would have to level that bench up

The bench is level. He just can't hold the camera straight.

[Rod Paradise]

I think I agree with Fiona, you are a nutter, but the piece looks wonderful and with luck should outlast us all.

  Aye, the 2 of you are probably right (along with most people I know).

Got the workbench complete, it's the only neat bit in the room (regular sweeping for miniscule glass shards is needed).

Click to see full-size image.

I would have to level that bench up

The bench is level. He just can't hold the camera straight.

 

[Omm]

Tom I am in desperate need of help and u may be the man that can either confirm my fear that there is nothing I can do or give me hope, you seem to know quite a lot about dogs, here is my issue:

I have two dogs, Starbuck 8 years old Lab and Dobby 2 year old yorkiepoo, I also have a 3 year old Lab bitch called Pippa. I can guarantee that dobby will roll in fox poo at least 2 times a week, Pippa every so often but Starbuck never.

So my question is, is there anything I can do to stop this behaviour?

Everything I have read online points to the fact that this is a natural behaviour coming from the insticnct to hunt hence masking their smell or protecting where there young live (all three are neutered, pippa had pups before we got her)

A few things I Have done to improve the situation

1) try not to walk where I either know there is fox poo or there is a chance (usually longer grass or wooded area)
2) dogs are always off the lead but I keep a constant eye on them and the slight chance of a roll I recall them, no issues with recall, although sometimes it's just to late.

Finally the temperament of Starbuck is such that he does not want to disappoint and will do anything I say and I've never ever had an issue with Fox Poo (had him since a puppy). Dobby is a typical terrier and can be quite head strong but usually does what he is told, Pippa is very submissive but jus seems to take the odd chance of a roll.

Am I doomed to washing the dog constantly or is there a chance of reprieve?

[RED-DOG]

It's not lmpossible to cure Omm, but it is bloody difficult, and most people are understandably reluctant to do what is necessary. That said, I'll tell you what I know and you can make your own mind up.

You've probably read about aversion therapy. Well it does work, but you have to make it so that from the dogs point of view, the downside of rolling in fox muck far out weighs the pleasure. You also, (and thus is absolutely crucial) have to make sure that the unpleasant part comes at exactly the right time. i.e. the very moment he makes contact with the poop.

There are a couple of ways of doing this, both require that you first locate some Fox poop to walk your dog near.

The first method is to booby trap the poop. This can take the forum of a short length of electric fence of the type they use for cattle and horses strung in such a way as to zap the dog when he's virtually on top of the poop, or you can rig a trigger mechanism up to a battery powered 'screamer' alarm. You can even buy laser beam or movement sensor triggers these days, photographers use them to trigger cameras.

In the old days dog trainers used to modify a gin trap by replacing the jaws with tin sheets that clanged together when the trap was sprung. With any luck, the dog would catch a clout from one of these too.

The other method is a corrective collar. These are collars capable of delivering anything from a mild to a severe electric shock to to the dog and can be remotely triggered by a key fob like device from several hundred yards away.

If you go down the corrective collar route, be sure to test the strength of the shock on yourself first and be super careful only to trigger it when you are absolutely positive that your dog is rolling, or about to roll in fox poop.

I have never had to use any of the above methods myself, but I do know dog men who have used them successfully.

I did once have a dog that used to roll in rotting carcasses at every opportunity. I cured him by giving him a good hiding with a well rotted chicken. (it didn't really hurt but it scared the bejesus out of him).

Good luck.