It's a dog's life!

The washing machine has been working overtime today as I wade through the mountain of new linen and accessories brought yesterday.

The fact that when you buy something new you have to wash it before use, always seems an unnecessary step to me. Why can't the manufacturers package it ready for use? Why can't they leave out the fabric enhancers for a start? I understand that mould and insect attack are issues when storing fabrics; however, there must be other ways of dealing with this problem, other than the use of chemicals. Enough of my whinge!

Maybe dogs are smarter than humans? While we rush around buying, cleaning, and doing all the things necessary to live in a house, dogs relax and live in the moment, content that their pack is at home.

Major's exuberance needs more control

While living in Mitchell, Major walked well on a loose lead; a walk along the Maranoa River to the bridge and back.

But now, on Phillip Island, he's regressed to pulling badly on the lead, completely over-riding his haltie-lead. The problem is his exuberant nature and his impatience to get to the sea and go for a swim.

So, back to square one and clicker training in the house and yard -- and then continue the training on his walk too, of course.

Going down the steps of the boardwalk to the sea needs the most attention. Consequently, we've begun a Click, Sit and tiny food reward routine to begin and end each set of steps -- and slowness while descending and ascending.

Major is very intelligent and wants to please, but he's also a dominant, strong willed dog. Sometimes I think we'll never get there!

But then I look at the way Del (five years old) walks on a loose lead attached to her collar, and I remember that she was MUCH worse at Major's age.

At two years of age Major's a teenager who is pushing the limits and who's full of exuberant anticipation for the fun he's soon to have -- running free on the beach and swimming.

What a life!

Rabbits: the good and the bad

There's something about the long velvety ears of rabbits and the softness of their fur that make them quite irresistible. Yet, in the Australian environment rabbits are a serious pest, and on Phillip Island they're in plague numbers.

While we were living in Mitchell, in outback Queensland, wild rabbits had a lovely time living in our garden. There was nothing to disturb their peace. However, as soon as we let our two German shepherds out of the ute -- on our return to Phillip Island -- rabbits scampered in all directions, with the dogs in hot pursuit.

Here on the island, rabbits tend to live under bushes and buildings rather than dig burrows. Rainfall on the island has been plentiful throughout 2011, resulting in lush green grass and masses of tender shoots on bushes and trees. All this adds up to a rabbit paradise, especially since the Phillip Island Nature Park is serious about fox eradication -- the penguins and rabbits main predator.

Our two dogs have never caught a rabbit, therefore I believe that the rabbits living in our yard are relatively safe. Chasing rabbits is a sport, as far as our dogs are concerned; and from our point of view, rabbit chasing keeps our dogs well exercised. A family of rabbits live underneath an old caravan in our backyard. Major squeals in frustration after chasing a rabbit from the grass to beneath the caravan. He and Del sniff and snort with their noses only centimetres from the rabbits.

As I love all animals, including rabbits, I enjoy seeing them living in and around our garden, and I enjoy watching their interactions. Kitten rabbits are adorable and remind me of a pet rabbit I kept about 15 years ago. She was an English Butterfly rabbit and I called her Blackberry. She was large, and had soft white fur with a black butterfly marking on her face, and black ears.

Blackberry lived inside the house as one of the family, and I trained her to a litter tray. We had Irish setters at the time and she became close friends with them. She was one of the most lovable animal friends I've ever had -- placid, playful and affectionate. The only problem I had with Blackberry was that she chewed electrical cords and furniture. I solved this problem by covering some of the cords and providing pieces of bark covered wood for her to gnaw on.

From Island to Melbourne and back again

It's a 2 1/2 hour car trip from our part of Phillip Island to inner Melbourne -- add to that two medical appointments, some shopping and lots of waiting around and I'm exhausted. Doug is too, because the concentration required to drive in heavy city traffic is considerable.

The expertise I received from my two specialist doctors was, however, worth the trip.

In between appointments, I wandered along Glenferrie Road in Malvern -- a very trendy area. I felt a bit like a fish out of water. All those 'beautiful' people; the roar of traffic; all that 'stuff'. I found myself longing for outback Queensland -- -- -.

One of the best parts of today was a conversation I had with a woman I met in the Cabrini Hospital Cafeteria. We shared many interests and spent half an hour in easy, warm conversation.

After a day in Melbourne, our arrival back on the island was like stepping into another world -- that huge expanse of bridge; all those blues and greens; and finally, a wonderful welcome home from Major, Del and Katie

PS

Whenever we go out -- leaving the dogs at home for more than 20 minutes or so -- we give them each a huge juicy bone. Major settles on the grass to crunch and gnaw his bone, while Del sits close by guarding hers between her paws. However, Del doesn't eat her bone until we return.

The relationship between human and dog is unique

The relationship between human and dog is unique. Over a period of 14,000 years, humans have been selectively breeding dogs for particular strengths and skills -- moulding the dog's sociable nature and extraordinary senses to make a versatile, useful and indispensable companion.

Today we have a dog breed to suit every conceivable need. There are dog breeds to suit most types of people living all sorts of lifestyles. We must remember, however, that no single breed suits everyone. Therefore, choice of breed is an important decision.

Over the years, we've enjoyed the companionship of Irish setters, Labradors, Great Danes and German shepherds. We've also bred and worked Border collies as sheep dogs. At this point in time, though, two German shepherds are our chosen breed.

German shepherds are an intelligent active breed that need a lot of exercise, and plenty of mental stimulation and companionship. A cardboard box full of toys gives hours and hours of pleasure. Of course, we enjoy the play too, frequently laughing and smiling at our dogs' antics. Major is greedy with his toys, snatching them from Del if he sees her with something he wants. Tugs of war usually see Major as the winner.

Major's favourite toys are his soft puppies, whereas Del's favourite is a tennis ball. Many years ago Del initiated a game whereby she threw the ball to me and I kicked it back to her. It's a game we have every day with her concentration lasting up to 10 minutes.

One of the first things that Doug and I found we had in common was a love of dogs. I knew I could never be truly content without the companionship of a dog, and Doug felt likewise. So we're grateful to be in a position where we can both enjoy their companionship -- Del for Doug, and Major for me!

Clicker training my German shepherd

Obedience training my two-year old German shepherd is my current challenge.

When a dog weighs as much as his handler (which is the case with Major and me), training for instant obedience becomes essential. Major disgraced himself two weeks ago by pulling free of my grasp and chasing a little dog back to his house. He didn't attack the dog but he did give it a scare. I was extremely disappointed and cross!

Therefore, instead of long walks along the river, we drive to the Mitchell Show Grounds and do lots of training on the oval. I'm trying a new method of training using a clicker and food rewards. So far it's working well. For example, I say, "Sit", click as he obeys, then give an instant food reward --with all of this happening in very quick succession.

Major was taught to sit, drop, stay, watch (look at my eyes), and come when called when he was a young pup. Consequently, most of the work is done, I just need to reinforce the commands with the clicker and sharpen up his obedience. Pulling on the lead while heeling is another problem area that needs more work.

German shepherds are intelligent, keen to learn and want to please. Therefore, the process of training is enjoyable and I feel we are making steady progress.

Cat up a tree overhanging river

Although I love cats -- especially Katie my 14-year-old Siamese -- I don't like the way feral cats and other people's cats kill native birds. Therefore, we allow our two German shepherds to chase any cat that steps into our garden.

For the last month or so a cat from up the road has been teasing Major and Del through the fence, causing our dogs to bark hysterically. This was becoming a problem, noise-wise; however, yesterday Del took the situation into her own hands and chased the cat down to the Maranoa River and out onto a branch overhanging the water. Here the cat stayed for at least an hour or so.

Today the cat has kept well clear of our place and hopefully will have learned not to tease our dogs.

Katie is an indoors cat and both our dogs adore her. As far as they are concerned Katie is not a cat! As I write, Katie is on my lap purring loudly and kneading my jacket like a kitten. She has never forgotten the fact she was the runt of a large litter and had to battle to get a feed. By 10 p.m. she'll be yowling to tell us to come to bed, where she sleeps between us, her head on my pillow.

The photos shows Katie in her favourite sun porch overlooking the Maranoa River, and Del the cat chaser relaxing in bed.

17 times more likely to talk to people

For the first time this year I've been able to do my loop walk along the Maranoa River to the bridge, over the river, up to the Major Mitchell Caravan Park, along the Yumba Trail (where the metal goanna sits, as shown in the photo), and then back over the river at the old crossing, where the water has previously been too deep to cross -- and back home.

Almost always I meet someone along the way and have an interesting conversation. Today it was two children from Sydney, and because the boy's name was Mitchell, he felt a strong connection to my German shepherd Major Mitchell -- and also to the township of Mitchell, and the famous Australian explorer Major Mitchell.

Two groups of local kids were fishing from the footbridge. They wanted to pat Major too. My shepherd is a great ambassador of the breed.

Research suggests that you are 17 times more likely to talk to people when walking your dog. I agree with the statement, one hundred per cent.

A cold spell in Mitchell keeps me indoors

Due to low temperatures and frequent showers of rain, today's been an inside day for me and the dogs.

I've been fully occupied doing the second last read-through of my book "Double Life". Every time I read it I find things to either improve or alter slightly. One day I'm going to have to say, "It's finished!". Meanwhile, my exercise bike, located in our living area, has kept me exercised; and socially, two lots of neighbours have called in.

Katie is content to sleep alongside my chair, and Del and Major to play with their many toys indoors.

Our two German shepherds have a cardboard box full of soft toys (some squeaky), balls and pieces of rope. Both dogs are content to play and entertain themselves -- much to our amusement.

Frequent runs outside to chase away feral cats, mice and crows have given the dogs sufficient exercise. This morning, each dog had a juicy bone to eat on the verandah, and now I'm just about to feed them their evening meal. Of course, they eat before us!