Everyone that knows me will know that it’s been a long road with my rescue springer Ruby from the whirlwind of destruction to the less than desirable behaviours. She loves people but especially loves children and playing water cannons over the fence with the four year-old next door has been our salvation during lockdown.
We’ve attended puppy classes which were actually weekly public humiliation sessions for me when we were permanently in a timeout when Ruby constantly mine swept every other dog’s treats. We’ve had a number of trainers none of which seemed to work for various reasons so it was pure luck when we met Ruby’s new best friend and awesome trainer, Gemma on a field one early morning when she was exercising her impeccably behaved detection dog Jackpot.
Ruby thinks detection work is the greatest game ever and gets to play it with her best friend plus she gets rewarded with her favourite thing in the world; a tennis ball. When I first saw the videos I couldn’t believe that was my dog in them and in fact, I wondered if she had been substituted by a stunt double. Of course, she’s never quite as well behaved when she’s with me; refusing point blank to get out of the river on her weekend jaunts preferring instead to sit there like Billy No Mates. Not to mention she’s more than a little partial to rolling in fox poo or worse!
In fact she takes her work so seriously that when we go out as I’m locking up and collecting all her paraphernalia (anyone notice when you take a dog out they generate as much stuff as a baby) she’s diving under the car unsolicited and checking my wheel arches for an incendiary device. Fortunately that’s not too much of a problem here in rural leafy Devon.
Ruby is a very much loved pet firstly and foremost a fact that I was painfully reminded of when I had the embarassing task of pulling the remnant of one of my socks out of her rear end; very much like a magician producing a string of handkerchiefs from his sleeve whilst all the passengers on the number eight bus looked on no doubt traumatised by the experience and many glad, unquestionably, that they weren’t dog owners. For me and Ruby though it was just another day in normal dog paradise.
Miss Stinkypants
What a great story and how lucky is Ruby to have found a mom like you who never gave up until you found the key! I’ve missed your posts!
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Hello! Ruby has been a trial, she’s eaten three car seat belts, destroyed a king size mattress amongst other things but as I originally fostered her I couldn’t give in easily as she could have ended up in a rescue or worse; so 3 years later here we are
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I wish more people were like you 🙂
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Btw a truly stunning profile pic; looking gawjus beautiful lady
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I was playing around and didn’t know it would come up all the time so thank you for mentioning it, I will now delete it! I don’t want to EVER give the impression that I’m a narcissist!!! 🙂
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It’s a lovely pic well worth postiing
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Thank you for your kindness, but it’s gone!
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Oh… that picture (with the purple ball)
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She should be in a dog food commercial
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Ruby is a “character” and “model”
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Bless you! Although this morning I wasn’t too chuffed when she wouldn’t come out of the river for me when her trainer can get her to do anything
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I was delighted to see your post come up in my reader this morning. You have been missed. Ruby looks adorable and yes, angelic! We were heading over your way this year – in fact this coming week and I was going to be in touch. Alas, our meeting will just be delayed… still planning to come.
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Was thinking of you this morning when I saw the clip of the Piper on Plymouth Hoe commemorating VJ Day & btw Ruby is definitely no angel we haven’t a blanket or throw that doesn’t have a set of her teethmarks on it
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Made my day to see a lovely new story from you. Too funny. Had a similar experience with a past cat and christmas tree tinsel. Sometimes it feels like animals are key to humans fully developing our sense of humor. Ruby is beautiful!
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She was no angel when she was rolling in fox poo (having sampled it first) at 6 this morning
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ROFL what a great post!! I used to follow you back in 2012 when you went to “Tinky Town”…lost track of you for a few years & found you again…
So Ruby sounds like quite the character…dogs & cats sure are amazing & sometimes frustrating. I am so happy you found Gemma & Jackpot. (FAB name!)
Ruby is gorgeous; those eyes & ears….I may be a ‘Cat Lady’ but I adore dogs too!
Sincerely, Sherri-Ellen & **purrss** BellaDharma
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Hello, nice to hear from you again. Ruby shares her home with two felines, Milo Fatcat and Fiesty Percy and there’s no doubt who rules the household and it isn’t Ruby.
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HAHAHA!! I suspect Milo Fatcat & Fiesty Percy are the Rulers of the Roost!!
I thought of getting a small dog but BellaDharma woudl ‘bully’ another 4 legged! she is a bit of a tyrant! 😉
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