Over the years, Ollie has sadly lost many of the original canine companions on our dog-walks.
More recently, both Oban the Labrador and Rocky the Newfoundland have died, and then we heard that Bruno the Pug has gone too. He was sixteen though, a good age.
Slowly but surely, new friends are appearing on Beetley Meadows. There is Zen, the tiny Chihuahua who thinks he’s a Lion. Freddy, the pure white Labradoodle who always gets upset when Ollie won’t play with him. Another potential playmate ignored by Ollie is Teddy, a young Alsatian who barks noisily when his attempts to play are treated with disdain.
The couple who lost Rocky have now just acquired a puppy. He is a rust-coloured Retriever/Poodle cross called (appropriately) Rusty. His fur is beautifully soft, and at thirteen weeks old, all he wants to do is play. Naturally Ollie ignores that, and just sniffs him instead, letting him know who’s the boss.
Little Hattie the curly black Shih Tzu has finally decided she likes Ollie, and is now happy to walk around with us for a while.
Then today, the lady who lost Bruno the Pug appeared. She has decided not to get another dog, but misses the walk and the company. So she has started to walk around with us again, just like old times.
Ollie might have to get used to a new gang, but at least he still has one.
I feel so bad about Ollie’s friends, hope they are in a safer and better place now. He will get around with his new friends soon. Do take some sweet pics for us🤗🤗💖.
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I will take photos once the weather improves, dear Suzan.
Best wishes, Pete.xx
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I hope you can share some photos of Ollie’s new pals. I am especially curious about Rusty.
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I mght have to wait until they are out for longer in better weather. The dark afternoons are not good for photos at the moment. I will try to get some phone videos in due course.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good.
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I am sorry for Ollies loss, but similar to us humans. Thats life! But isnt it a funny thing for him, meeting a Chihuahua thinking he’s a lion?;-) There seem to be a coming and going at Beetley Meadows, more than in daily London.;-)
I have to apologize for the long delay, Pete! But now i am back, and will also enjoy the chapters of the serial i have missed. Michael
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Thanks, Michael. Some tiny dogs like to pretend to be fierce. I presume it is a defence mechanism for them. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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For sure, Pete! As smaller, as more they have to establish their beeing. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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Ollie has his ‘posse’….he should be tankful that so many like to be around him….he is a lucky dog. chuq
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There are a few dedicated ‘enemies’ too. We have to avoid those dogs! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know what you mean…there are a couple around MoMo track as well chuq
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Just like a preschool class! Love to Ollie and his many friends. Best to you, Pete.
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Thanks, Jennie. Ollie likes to believe he is in charge. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Haha! Best to you, Pete.
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Does everyone know the names of the dogs before they learn each other’s names? When I had dogs and walked in the park in Blackburn I talked to people on a regular basis whose names I never knew – but I knew the names of the dogs 🙂 I can just see Ollie becoming the new gang leader.
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Now you mention that I realised the same. I can remember many past walking friends dogs names, not so much the people 🙂
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There are many dog-walkers I have known for years without ever asking their names. We tend to know each other by the names of the dogs. I probably know the first names of around 25% of the regular people. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ah, I hope Ollie settles in with the new gang,,,,
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As long as they accept he’s the boss, Sue. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😄😄😄😳
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That sounds like a happy bunch of doggies, good for Ollie to have some pals.
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He’s being stand-offish at the moment, but I’m sure he will start rounding them up soon. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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He’s so gangster! 🤣
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In the past 2 years, I’ve lost so many – I feel very lucky to have my blogging friends!
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I know what you mean, GP. My blogging friends are the same as family to me. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for sharing this Pete…always tough to lose a close furry friend…the worst part of owning a pet is they are not destined to stay with us for as long as we wish…but what great companions while they are with us!
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You cannot fault a dog like Ollie for 24/7 companionship, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I miss walking my dog and meeting up with all the others. That is community. We have a dog park here and I try and walk there, without a dog. Still miss my Skid.
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I am sure you do miss your beloved dog, Lara.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Is it just on walks Ollie and the gang get together, or do you have a leash-free dog park like is in our vicinity?
PS: The woman without a dog anymore but still goes along on the dog walks…
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It is Beetley Meadows, Don. No dog leashes, just dogs having fun in a very large traffic-free area with a small river too. I have posted a lot of photos showing it. This is from a very snowy 2018.
The lady still going on the dog-walks with no dog is elderly, and she is very dear to me. I am so pleased to see her come back.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am somewhat envious of their ability to socialize without much of a care.
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Yes, they don’t know what social distancing is, Maggie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dot has her gang too and today we learned that the golden retriever, Lopo has passed away. He was 13 years old but seemed much younger. Always so sad.
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They definitely notice when they lose one of their regular ‘gang’, Darlene. Ollie was walking around behind the lady this afternoon, looking for Bruno the Pug.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The lady who lost Bruno the Pug reminds me of something my father said after my younger sister moved out and started college. “I never seem to go anyplace anymore.” We told him what the lady who lost Bruno the Pug figured out. “So you don’t have anyone to take, go anyway.” Warmest regards, Theo
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She has made a good decision I think, Theo. And it was nice to know that she missed us. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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So good to hear this. I imagine he goes through a quiet stage of mourning as well, when old friends are gone. It’s great that he will have new friends and already know their owners.
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He does still look for those departed friends, Ron. He stands and stares at the spots where they would enter the Meadows. It will take some time for him to get used to this new gang. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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(1) “Ollie, in good time….”
(2) Don’t horse around. Walk your dog Gangnam style.
(3) There is Zen, who thinks he is a Lion. And Teddy, who thinks he is a Bear.
(4) Freddy, the Labradoodle, was taken to the veterinary laboratory. That’s where Freddy got fingered.
(5) Was Bruno pugnacious?
(6) Did they feed Oban sesame seeds?
(7) I’ve never been to Newfoundland. But I’ve been to Balboa Island in California. I wonder if anyone there has a dog named Rocky?
(8) If Little Hattie ever passes gas, Ollie will be gone with the wind.
(9) Rusty thinks Ollie needs to iron out the wrinkles.
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Oban was named after the town in Scotland. His owner is Scottish of course. 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oban
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love how dogs bring people together. C
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Most of our small group would never have known about each other, if not for our dogs.
Thanks, Cheryl.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Happy to hear it. New friends are good for all of us. 😊
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He is dutifully ignoring them at the moment, but I have a feeling a new ‘gang’ has been formed, with Ollie as the ‘senior man’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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While it’s hard to lose old friends, it’s always lovely to make new ones. Sounds like Ollie is going to be Top Dog.
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He is certainly trying to be. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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