Page 31 - Absolute Final 13 Spring 2025 Newsletter

them. The pictures show some of have been a similar age because both
these friends, on the golf course and went down on their front legs with
in the woods, who I have known for bums in the air to say ‘hello’.
many years. Fortunately, the other owner was like
minded and we let them meet and
As we have two walks a day, one off have a bounce. How I would have
lead and one on lead, we have loved to see them run off the lead
encounters with other dogs on lead together, so different but with the
who are not always as sociable as same mind set of meeting and
mine, but some are. Last year I saw greeting.
a man across the road with a huge
German Shepherd. He looked at my So over the years we have had many,
two as if to say he wanted to play. many close encounters of the doggie
Bolt and Flo were quite happy to cross kind, and the key is to socialize them
over when I asked the man if he from a very early age off lead and not
would like to introduce his dog to to panic, like some dog owners do
them. The dog was only a youngster when they see other dogs
and was so pleased to say hello, as approaching, especially when they
was the young man who wanted to are very friendly, fluffy Keeshonds.
socialise his dog, but most people
would not allow their dogs to meet
him. There are others we meet
regularly on lead walks and again I
have got to know a lot of them very
well. We do encounter some with
very yappy dogs who create a lot
when they see mine coming. If safe,
I cross over the road, tell mine to
‘leave’ and they simply walk past.
Their reward for not barking is a small
titbit. Just occasionally Flo will tell
one off with a quick bark if they are
just going crazy, but Bolt still does
not bother.
Because my dogs go to ringcraft
training from a young age and then
to lots of shows, they tend to ignore
other dogs on leads at shows. But
Bolt has still made some friends.
There was the huge Dalmatian he met
at an open show and had a dance
with. This one was in the Keeshond
Calendar as it was snapped by a
student photographer who was
ringside. At another show we were
simply walking in an open area away
from the rings when Bolt saw a
beautiful Afghan Hound. They must
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