Saturday 25 Sunday 26 April

Saturday

Commiserations to Diana and Echo - not the success they had hoped for in the regional comp.

-Demo Derby lights at Waldronville

Sunday morning. Jubilee first up. The local dog walking community love this park - and like so many areas make every effort to pick up and keep things tidy. This is a mixed use sports field - there are many of these around town - and no one wants to jeopardize its future as a dog exercise area.

Meet Colin and Zoe, Brandy dog and Steve and Barkley. Busy morning.

Go out to Purakaunui Beach - we drive right down - get stuck in the process - low revs, 2nd gear(think of my grandfather who loved getting stuck) and were away.

Walk down to the inlet and around Pa site. Easterly swell but Goat Isl. isn't really breaking.

Waldronville fun again. Finally meet a 'Gun Club' member. Get it all explained to me - how they shoot, the set up, etc. I'm hoping to get an invite to club night.

Friday 24 -No rest

Ross Creek. Zack, Tina and Annie are the only dogs. All SPCAers. The newly acquired Darcy - a ten week old Jack Russell is having his first 'on lead' outing.

Bossdin(pictured)

Logan Park High School. One of the aims of the project is to acknowledge the diverse nature of the dog walking community and create an intergenerational event. The Logan park 'Film Club' are up for it and will create video works - some of the students are dog walkers - others I'm hoping will respond to the idea of the 'dogs perspective on the world', and explore the speed, the velocity and sense of risk that this proximity to the ground creates.


Tomahawk Fridays. meet up with the Tomahawk group. Tui and Patch are the new additions. Tippy misbehaves and I have to step in. Dee has Bossdin and Digby. These two are the best of mates - lookalikes except one(Digby) is the miniature version.


Anderson's Bay. Bayfield Park. meet George the truly giant Rotty. Then Sasha appears and its on! T and Sasha have a great run while Melanie and I talk dog. Top story about Sasha and the over inquisitive neighbourhood cat who lets herself into the Sasha residence. MELTDOWN! Cat survives. Good walk!

Thursday 23

Jubilee - a bit boring. Go to Rotary Park to change the board. Discussion topic is "Anthropomorphizing" - 'Do we attribute human characteristics to our dogs'. Definitely 'no' from from Rotary.
Poppy(photo)

Warrington to get the 'dog cam' vest.

Meet Paula and Hooch at St Clair. Discover that Sue of Sue and Molly fame are friends of Paula's. Always a good walk. We decide that yes, we can sample those ripe apples that are on private property. Bowjo (the giant Rottweiler) and owner are hanging out on the boardwalk. Big night at the Forbury Track tonight. The horse that Paula shod is running - so its a bet each way.

Off to Forrester to meet Val and Poppy. Val is an expert. She and her dogs are well traveled. Poppy makes hospital visits enriching the lives of the in-patients. I'm looking forward to getting to know Poppy and Val. Lots of stories and insights into the value of dogs to the community.

Waldronville because we have to.

Sunday 19 April Bob and Oscar

Its a St Clair morning - Tippy knows her way around now and steers us down past the surf club to the beach. The games are on! For such a subdued dog she can really go crazy - certain things spin her wheels.

Ive been thinking about the games we play with our dogs - and and the process of training - even to do the most basic things. I see people with great games - and very responsive dogs - how did they do this - what tricks and techniques did they come up with to engage their dog? Do you think dog training is creative or is it just patterning?

Walk along the beach - meet Frodo and owners but forget to get a photo.

Bob arrives in the car park with Oscar - a great little dog! Hes currently exercising himself while Bob waits for a new hip. But wont be long now apparently and they'll be back to there old ways. Bob is very well known in St Kilda - clearly has a many followers as people stop off to catch up - Oscar stays busy with the dogs.

Aramoana and then over to Murdering Beach - its covered in low cloud - the infamous easterly fog? - over the hill to Waititi - around to Drs Point and try to walk around to Purakaunui Beach - bit tricky so its to Warrington.

Sat 18 April

Ross Creek - quiet - new sign on the playing fields - no bikes, golf or dogs - the field is empty.

Meet 'Gabby dogs' owner - we collect all the old dog poo bags thrown down beside the track - for some reason owners are bagging their dogs poo then throwing it into the bush - I don't get it and so clamber around collecting the bags. Inspired by the Tomahawk group who care take their local park picking up rubbish, glass and more dog poo.


Forbury Cnr - great comments on the board. The question was "do dogs benefit the broader community? How?"

Beach trip. Meet Julian,family and Jesse the new Lab - a four year old re-homer.


Drop in at Green Island - Xena, Pooki and Milly dogs and owners. Again plenty of comments - the pens have gone but that's no problem - to be expected.

Waldronville - pick up 20 comets - the 'pucks' used for shooting practice by the gun club - these are the ones that got away!! They must fly for miles - Ive found some at least 300m from the club. There is no one around but realize later preparations are on for a big 'Gun Club Meet.'

Friday 17 - Big Day Out

Start the day with Darlene, Lynn Namo and Sadie. Darlene and Lynn are very generous collaborators on the project and great company. Namo a guide dog gets the morning off - well sort of as Sadie takes the opportunity to fully exploit Namos freedom for some serious games. (Evisceration, hamstringing, garroting - everyones favourites) Both love it - Tippy is the 3rd wheel. We make it to the top of Fraser's Gully - and from there apparently it is possible to go on - over the hill and down to Mosgiel. But we don't. Great walk.


Jubilee - quick stop - no sign of Tumai or Bailey

Wakari . Meet Tina and Syd(Dogga) - he loves to run so we plan a video of his exploits. The park is full of kids and dogs. Brilliant.

This is a day of new places, people and dogs. Tomahawk. Meet Dee Margaret and Jill with Maisie,Boston and Digby - Jesse and Julian visit. The Tomahawkers are an inspiration - great caretakers for the local area - picking up rubbish - always being around must make the area safe and friendly for others. I think that the presence of dog walkers is an efficient neighbourhood watch.

Happy dogs - Digby quickly sorts us all out, puts me on ball duty. Jill is on stray ball retrieval. Margaret gets to supervise - Dee has got the mic and gives the call.

Tippy is unsure -another group to adjust too - her herding tactics don't go down too well.

Chardonnay is required for the next adjournment.

Srange day - Wed 15th April - made good by Colin the Champion

No rhythm today - Ross Creek early on - its OK and T is happy enough. Put up the final discussion board at Rotary Park - meet Renee - her two boys and dogs Royce and Reiko. The park seems well used - they're up from St Leonard's where there are apparently very few walking spots.

Forbury Cnr - changing the board topic or attempting to - the pens are gone - to be expected.

However Derick shows up with Eddy - and they both prove to be excellent company. Katherine arrives with Tiwa - more good stuff - funny story about the man who hopes his young dogs wont 'live' too long. Disappointed to discover dogs live for 12 - 15 years apparently. Bit late to be finding out the minor details.

Waldronville at 5pm.

The highlight of the day - the great and most unassuming champion Colin stakes his claim for immortality - takes out numerous dog club challenges - still no gold trophy or ribbon though. Glenda offers encouragement and guidance but really its all Colin.

Still having photo download problems - they are coming.

Tuesday April 13 - Zae, Madeleine, Midnight and Diana

Tuesday afternoon Diana shows me, Max,Echo and Tippy round the tracks of Bethunes Gully. It would be easy to get lost - we encounter 2 mountain bikers - and that's it - Echo knows the way - Diana is a great guide - loves the dogs and is clear about their role and influence on the community. Echo dog is a champ - shes off to sit the 'big test' next week so we are barracking for her.

Earlier in the day we start at St Clair - meet the lovely Zae and her dog Milly - fabulous. Zae loves a party and will always dress up.

Then get halfway down the beach and meet Madeleine - and her dog?? Cant believe Ive forgotten. She has a lovely and slightly mad dog. We double back and record a short interview.

The 3 legged 'Midnight' appears - I would say an established St Clair regular - brilliant - his surrogate owner is doing a great job meeting his every need - Id say Midnight was having the time of his life.

Saturday - Pineapple Track, St Clair with P

Easter Saturday - meet with Neville and his two dogs - great trip up the Pineapple Track. N has an amazing knowledge of plants - which he generously shares - and is keenly observant of how plants thrive in a natural environment. Then off to meet with Paula and Hooch - very funny walk - surfs good too - Blackhead at the end of the day. A demanding day for Tippy dog - has had to deal with many new situations and dogs - coped brilliantly.

Friday 10th April - am I getting enough oxytocin?

Quick trip to Jubilee, then down to St Kilda - no sign of Oscar dog. Aim to change topic on the discussion board at Forbury Cnr - but dont make it. Instead go up to Wakari dog Park - Max and Cosmo. Its black dog day. New topic - "what do you like the most about walking your dog? " Later go up Signal Hill - meet up with the owner of Annie and Zack at Opoho. Meet J and Otis - very nice walk up Frasers Gully. Good stuff. Trip to Brighton - gun club at Waldronville on the way back - meet Kahn - a beauty SPCA special - plan a locals walk day. Stop in at Forbury finally only to find that the discussion topic has been removed - oh well - meet Shadow and Nahnuk(?) - its big dog night.

Oxytocin is a hormone asociated with bonding, social recognition and trust - and its release is triggered by our interaction with animals.

Big day - Huriawa Pa, Karitane, Warrington on dusk,Forbury Cnr and St Clair with S, Gemma and Murphy ,

Start the day at St Kilda - T and I meet Oscar dog and his lovely owner - soon to be rebuilt with a new hip - bump into S from OCTC and her dogs - Murphy and Gemma - quick trip to put up discussion boards at Forbury Cnr. Meet Tazz dog - a new re-homer. Darly also. Later we drive up to Karitane via the coast - and check out Huriawa Pa - which is really interesting - could do with a bit more historical info - its blowing and cold - stop in at Warrington on the way home.

Speedway - Wed 8 April

Chilly morning - Ross Creek early on - meet up with Team A again and the pup J - some rogue rabbits have to be attended too along the golf course edge. Coffee then a quick trip to Jubilee and we meet up with Timai and Bailey - nice

Later its a trip around the Green Island Speedway and Gun Club - no shooting tonight - and as its freezing there's no one about -

Finally some training up at the OCTC - Forster Park - a very friendly club - great instructors - Saffy, Ivy, Colin and a couple of other dogs we are yet to meet. Colin wins the 'quick down' comp and comes away with an Easter egg. Better than one of those calf club ribbons I say.

Pics to come .