Growing Up
It’s been a whole six months since I was given some humans of my own to train.
At first, I didn’t know what they would be like, so I decided to be really good and learn all about them. After that, we started training together and we’ve learnt A LOT.
One of the really important things that I’ve taught them is lead training. Being an Entlebucher, I always like my humans close by so that I can keep an eye on them. It’s really important that they keep an eye on me too, in case I want to change direction or there’s something important to see or sniff.
Anyone for Pulled Pork?
Of course, I understand the difference between them walking nicely and being pulled, but there’s a time an a place for both.
I’m allowed off the lead a lot. My human said that she thought it was important from my very first walk. When they let me off the lead they say to me ”go play” or ”be a dog” and that means I can do whatever I want to do. She often calls me back and I always come, because she’s trained to give me a treat if she wants to walk with me.
Recently, the humans have been doing this thing called ‘phase out’. They’re trying to phase out my treats. So you know what I say?
I say it’s time to ”phase out” my good behaviour *wag wag wag*
Horsing Around
I live in Kent, in England.
Kent means Fields. Fields mean Mud. Mud mean Farms. And Farms mean Animals.
Being a working dog, farm animals are something I really like. They live in the best place. They smell good and EVEN their poo tastes good.
My human is always very careful to make sure that I’m on the lead while she’s walking through the farms … ”just in case”.
We’ve met lots of animals on our walks. I’m always chasing pheasants, squirrels, mice and birds through the woods and the long grass. But there are bigger animals too.
Kiss?
It was nice to get up close to a Pony and have a good sniff. But it’s the big ones that I really want to sniff.
Can’t get close enough
There’s always a fence in between and I’m always on the lead … Until yesterday.
I had SUCH a PAWSOME experience and now I feel like a proper Entlebucher Mountain Dog. My brother Alfie said he thought I was REALLY brave. He also said he thought that my human was a bit stupid, but I shouldn’t worry … you can’t chose your humans.
Alfie had invited me over to his common for a bit of chase and fetch. He said it was wet and muddy so we could get ourselves covered in dirt and stink while we were there. He lives in London, so I wasn’t really expecting to see many animals.
We were running around, ”being a dog” when all of a sudden, Alfie’s human shouted …
ALFIE. COME.
And then she ran off into the bushes.
Alfie quickly sprung into Entlebucher action, always at the ready to protect the pack and, worried that there was an emergency and she needed help, he ran over to her to make sure that she was ok.
My human just stood there thinking … why did they both just run off?
I wasn’t confused. I saw it.
It was a giant horse and he was carrying a man too.
Then something happened inside me. I felt a big brave feeling in my belly. I felt my blood rush round and go to my feet and I felt the wind in my fur as I ran as fast as I could.
I don’t know what happened inside. All I know is that I HAD to make it move. I HAD to protect the pack. Alfie’s human saved my furry little life once. Now I had to save hers.
My hair went up all by itself and my legs started running. I ran as fast as I could and when I got as close as I could, I told it to move.
WOOF WOOF WOOF.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOF. WOOOOOOOOOOOF. WOOOOOOOOF.
Alfie said my human called ”OH SHIT” and then called ”BELLA – LEAVE IT”. And she started running as fast as she could too. He said it was the funniest thing he’d seen for a long time. Humans are NOT fast.
But I couldn’t hear her. I was busy.
I got close to the horse, and the park ranger who was riding the horse – and I told them..
MOVE. MOOOOOOOOVE. MOOOOOOOVE. MOVE MOVE MOVE.
And guess what! The horse started moving. It started dancing and it’s feet were going up and down, up and down.
It was REALLY exciting *wag wag wag*
So I said again.
MOVE. MOVE MOVE MOVE. MOOOOOOVE. I got near it’s back feet and went closer. I decided to aim my mouth at its back feet … MOVE MOVE MOVE.
Then I saw my human coming.
She didn’t look happy. She looked REALLY scared. Which made me bark even more, MOVE MOVE MOVE. YOU’RE SCARING MY HUMAN. MOVE.
She said that she was sorry to the ranger. At the same time as shouting ”Bella, come here … BELLA”
Do you know what the ranger told her? He told her ”GO AWAY and CALM DOWN”.
My human was making the horse dance even more! She could be an Entlebucher too! *wag wag wag*
My human knew that she needed to go in a different direction, but she didn’t want it too look like she was letting me bark at the horse.
She walked off and she let me carry on barking at the horse and making it dance about on the spot. I caught a whiff of her and she smelt VERY strange. I never smelt her like that before. Something was happening inside HER too.
After a little while, I realised that I couldn’t see my human. Or Alfie. Or Alfie’s human. So I legged it. The horse legged it too, in the other direction.
I legged it until I found them and I was very waggy, telling Alfie all about what I’d just done. He just stared at me, shook his head and said ‘Oh Bella! You are such a stupid puppy girl sometimes. You’ll learn one day’.
I think my human was pleased with me because she told me she loved me and that she never wanted anything to happen to me. And she mentioned something to Alfie’s human about recalls and disctractions.
But I wasn’t listening. I was looking for another horse to chase off.
Good job I was around to save everyone’s life, don’t you think?
I’m proud of being a herder. *wag wag wag*
Oh my, that looks like a lot of trouble and good times.
I try to make sure my human is not getting in trouble, but she can’t help it sometimes *wag wag wag*
Wow Bella, you are so brave!
I came face to face with a horse once and my mummy got scared too. Silly humans BOL
They are so silly, fancy being scared. *wag wag wag*
I use to chase the horses mainly because I wanted to see if peeps was on them and after just for fun. Peeps cried with laughter the time i got zapped by the electric fence. Taught me. Have a marvelous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
My human thought that was very funny. She won’t stop giggling. Bet that was a shock *wag wag wag*
Roooo Bella – you were mighty brave little sis. When I was your age I chased off the same big old horse as well, and my human smelled funny after that too, just like yours. They are so easily scared *waggy tail*
Now she knows that as soon as my Entlebucher nose has been turned towards a horse its too late to stop me so she starts running the opposite direction before she thinks I’ve seen the horse.
Of course I always smell the horses before she sees them, but dont tell her that, I love to see her short little legs run as fast as they can carry her *waggy tail*
I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to make it move. My body told me to! I didn’t feel very brave when I realised you were all hiding in the bushes from it. I got a bit scared then! *wag wag wag*
Wow, what an adventure… but fortunately we have a happy end – or a happy Entlebucher ;o) and I agree: “Humans are NOT fast.”
Humans are VERY slow and I was VERY happy with myself. *wag wag wag*
Hey Bella, Jet here.
Thank heavens all of you are ok. Wow, what a tale… yes, watching humans run (or their version of it) is quite amusing. Your instincts are sure intact. Sounds like you and your human will be training a bunch more. I’m part herder, too, so I find your concern for the pack highly admirable.
Thanks Jet, A herder’s gotta do what a herder’s gotta do *wag wag wag*
REALLY feel for you !!! Something similar happened with Bertie and a stupid motorbike thing which was in the field and all he wanted to do was run TOWARDS it – I was SO scared. He so totally wasn’t going to listen to me !! So I RAN!!!!! I RAN sooooo hard in the opposite direction as if I didn’t care, calling out “BYE Bertie” in an “I don’t care voice” (but I think it sounded a bit panicky) – and guess what……..after heart stopping moments where I could only hear my own feet pounding and i was getting miles away, I heard the thunder of small paws behind me and the thud of a Bertie body against my legs…..and then I was soooooo relieved and had to make it such a “good” thing he had followed me even though I was FURIOUSLY scared !!! lol ! XX
I can’t believe you were going to leave my brother to fight the motorbike all by himself. You humans are mean. Poor Bertie *wag wag wag*
Hiya Bella…You are our first Entlebucher dawg…Mom looked it up online and we read about your breed…I get to go off lead a lot too, but I never got that close to a horse…some cows once but they didn’t dance with me…*snoogles*
Wow that was a really fun adventure! You’re so lucky to live with all those other animals and in open spaces – so much to sniff and so many new friends to meet! We love the picture of you saying hello to that adorable pony!
They DO smell funny. Nice funny, like grassy poo. *wag wag wag*
Woof! Woof! Love your photo with the pony. Love farm animals too. Happy MM. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
I’m going to see if we can get one so I can practise on it. *Wag wag wag*
So much to explore!!!You lucky pup you! I love outings where there is a local fair/event going on where I canbring my little guy aswell.”Bella you awes sooo brave! I saw a horsey once, butit was sooooooo big I decided barking and cowering between ma’s legs was da best way to go!”
Where we live is REALLY doggy friendly. We can go everywhere. There aren’t many doggy rules *wag wag wag*
That is the best! My street doesn’t have a lot of dogs to play with, but theres always the dog park!”
What a good human trainer you are. But the horses might me a problem.
It’s definitely going to be harder to train the horses than the humans. Humans fall for all the simple tricks *wag wag wag*
What an adventure!
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
It was pawsome! *wag wag wag*
Holy Moly Bella! Thank goodness you didn’t get hurt by that horsie! You are one brave girl, but you’ve got to stay away from the big mammals and listen to your Momma.
People say I could have got hurt, but the horse should have moved and it would have been fine! *wag wag wag*
That sounds like lots of fun and a whole bunch of mischief Bella!
It was fun! I know, Alfie’s human was REALLY mischevious running off like that *wag wag wag*
Hey Bella
You had me all scared reading about your encounter with the Horse, I think you’re braver than me! And obviously braver than Alfie – Tee Hee
I’m glad you’re not approving the ‘phase out’ of the treats nonsense – what are they thinking?
Big wags
Your pal Snoopy
Braver than Alfie! *wag wag wag* Pawsome, can’t wait to tell him!
See, that’s why I had to bark at it. If anyone in my pack is scared then I have to protect them, right?
Roooooo I was so *NOT* scared. But the human was scared so she ran. I just had to make sure she was safe first, I was planning to join you afterwards and we could have chased off that big old horse together *Waggy tail*
So glad you didn’t get hurt Bella! That sounds like so much fun:) We just stay cooped up in our backyard. We would like to get out like you sometimes but our peoples don’t take us out much:(
You are soooooo brave!
We don’t love our horses. You are braver than us! Lee and Phod