A walk along Stroud Water, Frome

Today we went for a walk along the Stroud Water, Frome River near our house. We walked down from Rodborough to Capel Mill and the river. We walked from there along the river to Cheapside in Stroud. From there we walked back up hill to Rodborough.

Snapper absolutely loves walking along the river. I worry one day he will fall or jump in. We've no idea if he can swim and we worry that even if he can that he will be swept away in the swift current of the river, which is quite deep in places.

What Snapper likes most is chasing the leaves floating down the river. He often runs into the water to snap at the leaves.

He didn't get more than his front feet wet on this occasion, but there have been times when he waded in and got quite wet. He's not afraid at all! Hence why I'm worried he will go in where it's deep with a swift current. Lucky he's pretty good at coming back when we call.

I think he was captivated by the swift moving water and the swirls of water in the river in the photo above.

Someone has been working on the footpath along the river, it's looking quite smart at the moment.

There's also a new play and explore area with picnic table and carved eels.

We had a lovely walk indeed! And it's just down from our house. We are very blessed with beauty and adventures where we live. Looking forward to many more walks along this bit of river. I'm sure Snapper is too!

All photos taken by me with my Huawei P9 mobile phone. :-)

We had a breakthrough today!

I had such an amazing walk with Snapper today and I didn't take any photos! No I don't have a fever and I'm not sick. We went walking with Caroline and her daughter and their white lab, Prince. Prince is such a lovely dog!! I love labs, they make the best companions.

Snapper is my lovely adopted rescue dog, he's nearly 4 years old and we've had him for 7 months now. He's a Yorkshire Terrier and might be mixed with a Jack Russel, that wasn't made clear. He came to us with social issues and a tendency to bite if he didn't know you and you reached for his head without warning. He's also not great with other dogs. We've been taking it slowly with him and taking the calm and reassuring approach. I'm happy to say it's paying off and he's a much happier and nicer dog today. Still away to go, but we are getting there. :-)

What was so amazing about today's walk? Well Snapper isn't very well socialized and we've been working with him. He doesn't like strangers in his face and will nip and even bite if surprised or rushed at. He's the same with dogs, he doesn't like them in his face and really doesn't like the hyper ones jumping at him. Prince is still like a puppy and bounces around a bit, which Snapper wasn't too keen on at first. First greeting was a bit shaky but Snapper soon calmed down and walked along side Prince, which was nice.

The best part was, after awhile when we were out in the woods, he let me put his muzzle on and he didn't completely shut down. He usually deactivates when we put it on, refusing to walk or even move with it on. But with Prince bouncing around he made an effort which was great! Great for me as I can relax and not worry about him biting Prince when Prince gets in his face. And as we were out on an area of land with the river on either side I took a chance and let Snapper off his lead. First time ever! And he was amazing! He ran around with Prince and if he got too far ahead I'd call out 'wait', and he'd stop and wait for me to catch up which was soooo amazing!

He stopped listening so much when we got close to town so I put the lead back on him. After goodbyes and we were on our way home, making our way up a field, I decided to try him off lead again, still with muzzle on. For a few minutes he stayed right with me, but then he saw some dogs up the hill and took off running. It would have to be UP hill wouldn't it?!! He didn't stop when I called this time. He was too distracted. Lucky he had his muzzle on so I didn't panic so much, but was embarrassed that he didn't stop. But he didn't bark or growl or anything at the other dogs, but was wagging his tail and greeted the other dogs happily which was amazing! Amazing for Snapper that is.

I hate having to muzzle him but I just can't take the chance of him biting. I'm so glad he has finally accepted the muzzle. I've been putting it on him every now and then trying to get him used to it, but he just deactivates when I put it on, refusing to move or even look up. Just yesterday he did this when I put it on him while out on our walk and he completely shut down, refusing to walk. But today was a breakthrough!

There are hundreds of different ways to train a dog, I know, I've googled it! Also, everyone you meet is an expert and gives you advice....a lot like when you have your first child. In the end I went with my instincts, after watching Snapper and how he reacted to things. I decided that the patient, gentle but firm route was the one to take with him. I felt like most of his acting out (what others call aggressiveness) was actually fear and not knowing how to react. I've no idea how he was treated in the past, and I don't want to guess or judge, but I don't think he was getting what he needed. Besides, I just don't believe that yelling, hitting and abusive behaviour will correct a bad or unwanted behaviour. Yes they need to know who's boss (Alpha), but you can do that without abusing them.

Here's a photo of my little buddy Snapper. I love having him around, he's such a sweetheart once you get to know him....about like me. ;-)

Just look at that face!

My Rescue Dog - Snapper

Snapper (March 2016)

This is my dog Snapper, we've had him nearly 7 months now, he's 3 years old and we adopted him from the RSPCA last summer. We found out about him through a friend who rescues dogs and runs a dog walking business in Stroud. He saw him advertised on one of those community Facebook pages for things for sale and free in the area and tried to put me in contact.

Jim, on the day I met him.  (Soon to be known as Snapper) (19 August 2015)

The Facebook post was taken down before I could manage to see it, but I had the lady's name, so I found her and sent her a message. Turns out she'd just dropped him off at the RSPCA that day. She told me that she'd had him from a puppy but that she also had small children and that he didn't get along well with them and would bite and snap at them. She loved him but couldn't handle him anymore. She gave me the phone number to the Stroud branch of the RSPCA where she had taken him and said I could call and ask about him. So I did.

I was told that Jim, that was his name, was under observation and evaluation and after that time I could go meet him. In the mean time they were reserving him for me. Before I could adopt him though I'd have to fill out some paperwork and they'd send someone around to inspect where Jim's potential home would be, to make sure it was suitable. The usual type things like making sure we lived in our own home where pets were allowed and had a decent secure garden and that all was safe for a little dog.

Well I went to meet little Jim and of course fell quickly in love with him. He seemed so scared and excited to be outside. He was kept inside and I suspect in a cage. I took him for a nice little walk and he was a perfect gentleman. He even gave me a little kiss before I left. It was so hard to leave him there, but I knew he'd be coming home with me soon.

Snapper comes home, loves his new tweed bed. (21 August 2015)

He bonded with me quite quickly and he's been my little buddy every since. He didn't respond to his name Jim very well so I took the opportunity to change his name. We went with Snapper, for a couple of reason. First off, I'm a photographer, Snapper, get it? :-D  Secondly, if you surprise him or get in his face he will snap at you and might even bite you. So he became Snapper, and he loves it when you call out his name and will come running. :-)

Snapper (21 August 2015)

Snapper is an amazing little fella and he has so much joy and love to give, it's hard to imagine anyone not wanting him. It's also hard to imagine that he will bite you, but he will if he doesn't know you and you don't give him his space. We've no idea what sort of past he's had, but he's not fond of small boys or larger older men. He is mostly OK with girls and women but you still need to take it slow with him. But once he properly meets you he loves you and will hop up in your lap and give you kisses. :-)

Snapper loves bubbles! (22 August 2015)

Snapper really loves chasing bubbles! 

He's the same with with other dogs, he will growl and snap at other dogs if they get in his face, but if we go for a walk together and he gets used to the other dog then he can be trusted to be friends with them. But for that first initial meeting you have to be patient, give him space and give him a chance to figure out that the other dog just wants to be friends.

What happens when you eat too many bubbles.

So, besides being leery of meeting new people and dogs, he's an absolute wonderful little guy and a joy to be around. He's my little buddy and we really enjoy our play time and walks together.

My husband, Peter, and Snapper walking on Rodborough Common. (22 August 2015)

Snapper posing for me (21 September 2015)

He's a great companion for me and keeps me on my toes and gets me out of the house every day. I can't imagine him not being around.

Snapper helping me with my editing. 

Snapper down by the canal in Stroud. (23 October 2015)

We are very lucky living in the area that we do, there are so many lovely places to go for walks. There are also lots of dog friendly pubs and cafes as well.

Snapper in Stratford Park in Stroud. (28 October 2015)

Snapper by the canal near Capel Mill, Stroud. (22 November 2015)

Snapper by the canal lock at Wallbridge, Stroud. (6 January 2016)

He's such a little poser! But not good enough to let me balance a hat on his head while holding a pipe in his snout. So yea, I photoshopped those. ;-)

Snapper Rocking the Cotswolds up on Rodborough Common (18 January 2016)

The other day I was walking Snapper in town and we went into his favourite shop, which happens to be a pet store, and we met a lovely young man who was visiting the shop. He asked about Snapper and he got down on the floor to say hi to Snapper. He didn't approach Snapper but allowed Snapper to approach him. He said that he was a dog trainer and had experience with being bitten by several dogs and that the small dog bites were the worst! So he's always extra cautious with the little ones and tries not to frighten them. By this time Snapper was enjoying ear scratching and tail wagging.

The young man, I so wish I'd gotten his name, told me that he'd done some work with the RSPCA and said that I most surely saved Snapper's life. He said that the RSPCA (and indeed all the other dog rescues as well) receive so many unwanted pets every day that they just can't keep up. So they have this check list and if the animal gets any checks on this list then they are put to sleep, usually within 48 hours of them being brought in, and never put up for adoption. Snapper most definitely checked the biting box and would have been put to sleep as he wasn't rehomable. Which he said was such a shame as Snapper is obviously such a lovely little fella.

It's heart breaking to think of all the animals put to sleep every day, not just here in the UK but also in America and most surely in other countries as well. So please, if you are thinking of getting a pet for your family, think it through first. Do you have the funds? Do you have the proper space? Do you have the time to care for the animal? Does your desired pet suit your life style? Remember a lot of dogs can't be left alone for long periods of time and most dogs shouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time.

Please also consider looking for your new pet at your local rescue centre, give an abandoned pet a new chance at life. Be it a dog or a cat or a rabbit or any other pet.

Save a life, adopt from a rescue centre. Most of them are there due to no fault of their own and just need a loving home.

Snapper enjoying a nap in his new forever home. (Not spoiled at all!)

Here's a handy link to the local Animal Rescue Centres around Gloucestershire on Google Maps.

Here's a link to an update made on 1 April 2016 [We had a breakthrough today!]