Oh No Not Another Dog Blog
Posted: Monday, 22 January 2007 |
I thought that the feline fraternity would like a little more competition from the Canine Corporation.
They say that Dog is a mans best friend , Well when people look at Hooch they dont know if they should run or stay. At 10 stone he is an imposing figure of a dog, with jaws and slobbering jowls, he might be mistaken for a small calf.
We acquired Hooch from an RSPCA rescue home that Mr B worked for in Essex. The kennel girls couldn't hang onto him when he was let out of the kennel he was too strong and pulled them across the compound wherever He wanted to go. Mr B fell in love with him and so did I when I saw him.
One small problem!
He hated cats and we had 2 at home.
We took Hooch home to Essex and introduced him (on a lead) to the cats!!!!
They flew under the sofa and the dog managed to lift the 3 seater sofa with me and my son on it in an effort to get to the cats. Plan B came into action we put up a stair gate and slowly introduced the cats to the dog. It became apparent that the cats were very clever to run under the stair gate and taunt the dog. After a short while the tollerance of both cats and dogs waned and they are now the best of friends.
When we moved to Orkney, Hooch had to contend with another cat ( Billy) that came with the house but Billy was used to dogs and gave Hooch the 2 fingers and ignored him.
Hooch is now at home with cats, chickens, ducks and even the postmen.
As for the cats they have commandeered his bed and even eat from his bowl and he just looks at me to say 'Mum do they have to do that'
He is our gentle giant
They say that Dog is a mans best friend , Well when people look at Hooch they dont know if they should run or stay. At 10 stone he is an imposing figure of a dog, with jaws and slobbering jowls, he might be mistaken for a small calf.
We acquired Hooch from an RSPCA rescue home that Mr B worked for in Essex. The kennel girls couldn't hang onto him when he was let out of the kennel he was too strong and pulled them across the compound wherever He wanted to go. Mr B fell in love with him and so did I when I saw him.
One small problem!
He hated cats and we had 2 at home.
We took Hooch home to Essex and introduced him (on a lead) to the cats!!!!
They flew under the sofa and the dog managed to lift the 3 seater sofa with me and my son on it in an effort to get to the cats. Plan B came into action we put up a stair gate and slowly introduced the cats to the dog. It became apparent that the cats were very clever to run under the stair gate and taunt the dog. After a short while the tollerance of both cats and dogs waned and they are now the best of friends.
When we moved to Orkney, Hooch had to contend with another cat ( Billy) that came with the house but Billy was used to dogs and gave Hooch the 2 fingers and ignored him.
Hooch is now at home with cats, chickens, ducks and even the postmen.
As for the cats they have commandeered his bed and even eat from his bowl and he just looks at me to say 'Mum do they have to do that'
He is our gentle giant
Comments
Hullo Barebraes: wish we had a Hooch in our neighborhood. Just a look at him would cheer up anyone who is downcast. Nice shots. What is on the couch in picture 8: stripey looking.
mjc from NM,USA
Thanks mjc I presume that you mean the other furry creature on the sofa , Thats Billy the Barebraes cat. He has more claim to Barebraes than anyone. Having been moved by two others before us he keeps coming back here, so here is where he stays.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
fantastic
carol chauveau from france
Huh! "What is on the couch in picture 8: stripey looking." mjc knows exactly what it is barebraes, and you indulged him by dignifying such disingenuousness with a reply. Grrrrrraaaaaarrrrr. It makes me shiver in my (stripey) fur to think of being so close to a d.o.g. *whimper* And Billy is such a sensibloe looking cat too......... I just can't understand it.
Flying Cat from a high bookshelf
Billy pays Hooch protection money to scare away other unwanted cats. I think this makes Billy the brains of the operation, Hooch is just a DOG after all. And apologies for playing into mjcs hands , I must have been having a senior moment. Carol I am glad that our Dogue de Bordeaux meets with your approval too. Ces't Bon
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Could have been a leopard on that couch. I thought Barebraes had only Pickle, but with three, she is certainly in one. Hooch does not look as if cat clearance is on his mind: probably just dreaming as to when he can get back to Mor Stein...
mjc from NM,USA
Heavens, I am getting more incoherent by the minute. The sight of too many cats on blogs, I fear. I meant to say " ... but with three cats and the pampered pooch, the need to finish that roof and extend living headquarters is getting more dire. I may have a hammer, Barebraes, but please go ahead with the furious construction pace, and don't wait on me. I promise to be on time to give it a good inspection (I am better with pen and paper than with a hammer, I fear). I also have a rather good palate, and will sit readily at table and provide constructive criticism after the meal. Thank you, thank you.
mjc from NM,USA
to misquote somewhat - ' behind every good dog, there's an even better cat'
mia from purrondering in front of a fire
" ... just a DOG after all." Barebraes. # You would deserve it if, upon hearing such comments, Hooch would drool AND shake his head at the same time, thereby splattering the stuff on the ceiling. Is it true, Barebraes, what the neighbors say - that, when Hooch is in the house, you can always be seen with a rag and a small ladder handy (to reach the ceiling with)? May I suggest made in the USA stilts?
mjc from NM,USA
...."there's an even better cat", but preferably not downwind. And before anyone says anything....CAT'S DO NOT F**T!!!!!!
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
well, i was envisioning it more as a reverse fox hunt, the dog for a change being the one hunted, it only seems fair.
mia from a cheshire grin
FC, they most certainly do!! # Interesting idea, Mia, but hunting Hooch on horseback would be like going after moose (that's moose, not mouse, for crying out loud!) with binoculars and a grenade launcher: not quite sporting, really. # By the way, where can I get that video of foxes on the scent? Is it being put out by the game keeper at Windsor? Are they being trained on Corgis?
mjc from NM,USA
since when was fox hunting 'sporting' ????
mia from looking quizzical
It was "sporting" when I last checked Debrett's ages ago (checking on my ancestry no doubt: if it cannot be traced to Attila the Hun, it must be to the Henry of many wives and his own Church). I do know that none of my ancestors are mentioned in the Orkneyinge Saga (rampant but non-transparent censorship, doubtless). Back to brackets, I fear.
mjc from NM,USA
FC, such mendacity. Cats do, and usually in silent mode. I know whereof I speak.
Hyper-Borean from Flatuland
You wouldn't want to hold a candle near Hooch when he goes into silent mode.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
I am sure the northern isles quadrupeds say "excuse me!" when they go whoosh (and I am not referring to Nike's logo, either!). Don't they?
mjc from NM,USA
Hi there, came across your images on a google search, i also have a "hooch", which almost looks indentical to yours, you come across some french mastiffs which are of a very light brown colour, but mines quite dark. Looks like yours has a very good life on your sofa and your bed, Haha, Unfortunately my hooch has developed arthritis and hip dysplacia over the years so finds it very hard jumping into the car and onto her favourite place "The sofa" nowerdays, But she still lives a good life. x x x
Kim from Surrey, England
Hi Kim Yes Hooch too has a few stiff back legs occasionally, we are hoping that it doesnt lead to arthritis etc but i I think the breed is vunerable to this. Glad to hear from another slobberry dog lover though and if you visit Shapinsay then pop in.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
'a few stiff back legs...' Crivvens! How many legs does that Hooch have? Is he a biological curiosity?
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Of course Pooch is a curiosity. What I want to know is how much he eats, and whether Barebraes has a special deal with the butcher ... # As for stiff legs and hip dysplasia, I would not buy labs and certainly mastiffs without making sure both parents are OFA certified for both knees and hips [of course, in Pooch's case, he was in "temporary housing" before taking over Barebraes's household]. I would not buy a horse without looking into its mouth either [not that I would know what to look for, but that is a different matter altogether].
mjc from NM,USA
Did you read the posting to the end, FC? I could not believe it. Barebraes has invited some Kim from foreign Surrey to drop by Shapinsay, presumably with Hooch 2 (though her formulation was rather imprecise). I guess, if you can't run with the big dogs, poor you - FC, you'll have to stay on Orkney Mainland. There goes my duck, black pud and haggis ... Enough to make an old geezer cry.
mjc from NM,USA
Wow! Are you the old geezer in Jellystone Park? Neither cat nor d.o.g. could compete with that sort of 'whoosh'.
Flying Cat from the bear necesseties
I understand that Nike's logo is not called a "whoosh" but a "swoosh' - just shows how utterly out of the fashion world I am. # Jellystone Park: never been to one. Do you have to wear Nike to get in?
mjc from NM,USA
No, but a fur coat and a moist nose would be good. Did I do a boo-boo?
Flying Cat from a yogic strip
We moved here in September 05 and have met many good friends. What more could you want from life.
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