(Dogs 37)
The book goes on to say the Cairn is as "Scotch as whiskey" and "lively as corn in a popper." More than that, he has a great heart and stout courage, is rugged and studry. Ours is also very independent and a character.r
September 28, 2013
September 26, 2013
Short-haired Skye
(Dogs 36)
My dog book says until 1909 the Cairn was called a "Short-haired Skye" -- probably from the Isle of Skye, or Scotland mainland. Going back 300 years he is one of the oldest British working terriers. "Cairn" means "a heap of stones," meaning that for hundreds of years Scottish lairds kept a pack of these dogs to rout out fox, badgers, rats, otters from rocky places to keep them from destroying flocks of sheeep and poultry. The dogs would go in the animals' holes, rout them out for their masters to shoot.
My dog book says until 1909 the Cairn was called a "Short-haired Skye" -- probably from the Isle of Skye, or Scotland mainland. Going back 300 years he is one of the oldest British working terriers. "Cairn" means "a heap of stones," meaning that for hundreds of years Scottish lairds kept a pack of these dogs to rout out fox, badgers, rats, otters from rocky places to keep them from destroying flocks of sheeep and poultry. The dogs would go in the animals' holes, rout them out for their masters to shoot.
September 24, 2013
Toto Toto
(Dogs 35)
Do you know the Cairn? If you don't, just imagine a dog half as big as a Scotty, much the same in appearance, you will have the picture well enough. Dorothy of Oz had a Cairn, Toto, and in the Forsyth Saga it is a Cairn who follows Aunt Julie home from Central Park.
Do you know the Cairn? If you don't, just imagine a dog half as big as a Scotty, much the same in appearance, you will have the picture well enough. Dorothy of Oz had a Cairn, Toto, and in the Forsyth Saga it is a Cairn who follows Aunt Julie home from Central Park.
September 23, 2013
Whose dog he was
(Dogs 34)
And yet from the first, I think Mr. Dee knew whose dog he was. I know I did. Mary M. lovedhim too. And if she didn't drill him in his tricks, she knew how to show him off to visitors. And though she has left me, as have the rest, and he is 15, old for a dog, he and I are still keeping house, still putting up with each other.
And yet from the first, I think Mr. Dee knew whose dog he was. I know I did. Mary M. lovedhim too. And if she didn't drill him in his tricks, she knew how to show him off to visitors. And though she has left me, as have the rest, and he is 15, old for a dog, he and I are still keeping house, still putting up with each other.
September 21, 2013
Rapt happiness Rapt happiness
(Dogs 32)
We were riding home. It was happening all over again -- this rapt happiness in a new dog. We were bringing home someone new, someone warm and cuddly, someone as yet a stranger but soon to be a memboer of the family.
We were riding home. It was happening all over again -- this rapt happiness in a new dog. We were bringing home someone new, someone warm and cuddly, someone as yet a stranger but soon to be a memboer of the family.
September 19, 2013
Cairn terriers for sale
(Dogs. 31)
So on a Sunday afternoon family car ride we saw the sign with "Cairn Terriers for Sale." They were all brindle except ours, for he was ours the minute we saw him scaring the grasshoppers in the garden -- black, hairy, not very big, hrdy, and with a quizzical expression.
So on a Sunday afternoon family car ride we saw the sign with "Cairn Terriers for Sale." They were all brindle except ours, for he was ours the minute we saw him scaring the grasshoppers in the garden -- black, hairy, not very big, hrdy, and with a quizzical expression.
September 12, 2013
A new dog
(Dogs 30)
So then we had cats, one batch after the other from our queen, Fraidy Cat; and while they have their blandishments, they are not dogs. And now [in my memory] it is Mary Margaret who is begging for a dog. And really there is no reason why not. It must be rather a small one, it must have hair, and it must have personality.
So then we had cats, one batch after the other from our queen, Fraidy Cat; and while they have their blandishments, they are not dogs. And now [in my memory] it is Mary Margaret who is begging for a dog. And really there is no reason why not. It must be rather a small one, it must have hair, and it must have personality.
September 10, 2013
Mourning
(Dogs 28)
All of us mourned for Vica. It was a sad family which had her buried on a lot we had by the river. And it was a sad mother who wrote to her boy that night and an even sadder son who read the letter next day.
All of us mourned for Vica. It was a sad family which had her buried on a lot we had by the river. And it was a sad mother who wrote to her boy that night and an even sadder son who read the letter next day.
September 8, 2013
Discovery
(Dogs 27)
One winter afternoon I was in the kitchen ... baking cookies when someone banged on the door. Here were Skipper and Bobby Cutting, eyes bulging, horrified. They had been skating on the river and found Vica dead, frozen in the ice.
One winter afternoon I was in the kitchen ... baking cookies when someone banged on the door. Here were Skipper and Bobby Cutting, eyes bulging, horrified. They had been skating on the river and found Vica dead, frozen in the ice.
September 7, 2013
Disappearance
(Dogs26)
By this time we had moved to the West Side and Vica had more country freedom to run. Sometimes she was gone over night. We were anxious and did what we could. [Polly does not explain that just before Thanksgiving Vica failed to come home; she just disappeared.]
By this time we had moved to the West Side and Vica had more country freedom to run. Sometimes she was gone over night. We were anxious and did what we could. [Polly does not explain that just before Thanksgiving Vica failed to come home; she just disappeared.]
September 5, 2013
Cabin fever
(Dogs 25)
Alas, it couldn't last forever, and Vica had to go back home with us. The same apathy all over again. She took to walking around and around the kitchen, feeling the four walls with her shoulder as she went, blindly. We called the vet to come and we all watched her going round and around, never stopping. It was marked. He said he had never seen such a thing before. And there was nothing to be done.
Alas, it couldn't last forever, and Vica had to go back home with us. The same apathy all over again. She took to walking around and around the kitchen, feeling the four walls with her shoulder as she went, blindly. We called the vet to come and we all watched her going round and around, never stopping. It was marked. He said he had never seen such a thing before. And there was nothing to be done.
September 3, 2013
A happy reunion
(Dogs 24)
On one occasion when we went to Ripon [for Homecoming] we took Vica with us, a lifeless hunk on the back seat. But as soon as she got out and saw Skip, and smelled him, oh the difference! How she came to life! She ran in circles, her tongue nuzzling him -- what a happy reunion!
On one occasion when we went to Ripon [for Homecoming] we took Vica with us, a lifeless hunk on the back seat. But as soon as she got out and saw Skip, and smelled him, oh the difference! How she came to life! She ran in circles, her tongue nuzzling him -- what a happy reunion!
September 1, 2013
Regrets
(Dogs 23)
We understood each other, [Vica and I]. All of us worried. Regretting I complained about her before, I now tried to make it up for her by taking her for walks. But I wasn't her master.
We understood each other, [Vica and I]. All of us worried. Regretting I complained about her before, I now tried to make it up for her by taking her for walks. But I wasn't her master.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)