Day 19 – by Spike

I’m not entirely sure why my humans have decided to live in this caravan but like most things in life, I don’t get much choice. I just go for the ride and try to make the best of things. This little bit of madness on their part has changed my routine enormously, but not altogether badly. 

In the mornings Justin takes me for a walk, at least that hasn’t changed. The big upside of these new walks is that instead of going up and down the Lane at the farm – don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice walk and I love it – now we have a different walk every day. Different smells, different sights, different traces of other dogs and weird creatures I will never know. Mostly he lets me walk off-lead, which is the best, but when we get near roads he puts me on a string. That’s OK. It means I have to move when he moves but if there is an especially important smell he lets me pause and inspect it. It also means I don’t have to worry about the cars. I hate those cars. They seem to be almost on top of us, fast and with little notice and I know that means danger, so I have to chase them and attack. I figure that’s my job. He doesn’t seem to quite understand that I’m just protecting us – my German Shepherd heritage right? Regrettably, he yells at me if I chase cars so when I’m on the string we can both relax. Being on the string is OK because it brings certainty to the walk and connects us to each other and I’m OK with that. The walk is also important because it gives me a chance to have a crap. We might be in the car for a fair time and crapping in the car or in the house is definitely not on. Disgusting, and the humans made it abundantly clear a long time ago that they won’t tolerate it.

When we get back from the walk and Anna has left on the bike – by the way, I have no idea why she is on that bike every day instead of being in the car with us, but whatever floats your boat I guess – anyway, when we get back Justin seems to feel the need to clean and tidy everything in the van. That’s another very weird thing about humans; they needlessly tidy and polish. What the hell? It will all be there where you left it and a bit of good honest dirt is good. I just watch this performance and stay outside the van, right out of it.

Cleaning done, we jump in the car and head off to find Anna at the next stop in this strange odyssey. I have a special spot in the back of the truck on the floor, where they have put a nice bed for me. It’s comfy so I just go to sleep there until we stop for a piss or arrive at the next location where Anna mysteriously shows up. They have a good sense of direction, humans.

Now, having just tidied everything up before we left, on arrival they start spreading all their junk out and making a mess again. I keep out of the way. Sometimes Justin takes me for another walk in the afternoon which is a big bonus.

About 3.30 or 4 I start giving him “the look” and he knows that means I’m hungry. Eventually he deigns to get my food – usually a chicken leg and some dog-nuts. I do love my food. Don’t think I’m greedy – I’ll take a treat or an unexpected snack any time it’s offered but I really only eat one meal a day and I do enjoy it.

When they eat their evening meal they usually give me a few bits and then I get to do what they call the pre-wash, where I lick out the saucepan and clean the plates for them. They eat a lot of fish these days. I’d definitely prefer they stick to meat but beggars can’t be choosers.

At the beginning of the evening when they are writing or watching TV I usually stay in the van. I have learned to stay very still when they walk around and they have learned not to stand on me. Then when they go to bed I usually stand by the door until they let me out. The nights are currently a bit cold here, not as bad as at the farm, but I sleep under the van, under where their beds are so that I’m close if needed. At about 4.00am Justin comes out for a piss and lets me back inside. Then the best part – he lifts me up onto his bed – my legs are not what they used to be and I can’t jump that high, in fact, truth be told, I can’t jump very high at all anymore.  Justin seems to get this, so he lifts me up and puts me on the end of his bed. Bliss. Comfy, warm and near my buddy. After he has settled down a bit I sneak up a bit closer to him and lie with my back against his back. He seems to quite like this too and we both share our warmth until the sun comes up and then the whole mysterious cycle starts all over again.