We presumed that we have the answer as to why Tali has slowed down. Her vision is pretty poor, I guess you would slow down. At the beginning of the walk she grabs her toy and charges off as she always has done. But very quickly she slows down, sometimes eating mud and poo .. as you do, but sometimes just plodding along like an old dog behind me somewhere. Now this is no narrow cycle track or dangerous path with obstacles that she could bump into, this is acres and acres of open country side that she knows like the back of her paw, she has walked here since she was a pup. It's total freedom, a dogs paradise ... you would think!So why is it that when I put the dogs in the van, drive to the other side of the village or take them to the back of the mountain that Tali is a different dog? These walks we do less regularly but in similar terrain. Why here is Tali like a spring chicken? Yeah she still eats poo, digs the odd hole and spends time rolling in unmentionables; but when she's far behind she runs to catch up, passes me and carries on enjoying her walk. You would think that if her sight was the problem she would be slower, more cautious in these less familiar places, but she's not!
Is Tali bored with walking up the back? As ridiculous as it may sound, I would say so, but am I humanising here? None of my other oldies have ever become bored of walking in this wonderful place. Hundreds of thousands of dogs walk up a high street or round a park day in day out and they love it, but my word imagine the fun they could have with the freedom these get. We/they are beyond lucky.
So what is going on with Tali? Answers on a post card please ....
Both photo's taken near/in Llyn Cop - one of her favourite "new" places!
