Well short term good news then an ‘I don’t know’. While I was out I got a text from Mary to say ‘Hades peut rester chez toi’, but then went on to say that Sharon was still full. She then said she would answer my email this afternoon. So all is suspense at the moment.
A rather alarming thing happened on the way back from Nontron. I diverted to the river field to give them a run and Hades raced in all directions comme d’hab.
But then I saw him racing at very high speed from the public, but unfenced area, towards the barbed wire fence dividing the latter from a field with cows in. I then realised that I did not have my whistle with me and could only shout but by this time he was through the fence (big relief, I couldn’t remember how high the lower of the 2 strands were) and started chasing a cow that had started to run. Content with that he answered my call but wandered near to another on the way but they ignored one another and he was soon back with me. I’ve heard of sheep worriers but never cow worriers before. Sometimes there are calves in that field and cows can be dangerous at such times, I will have to bear this in mind if he stays.
1 Like
I’ve still got my fingers crossed David. Our Airedale was fascinated by cows, the only other animal she wanted to play with, needless to say she wasn’t allowed to!
An email has arrived:
Bonjour David,
Me voici enfin.
J’ai bien reçu ton mail pour Hadès. C’est un très gentil chien, qui a beaucoup de qualités. Il a été bien éduqué.
Tu souhaites l’adopter ?
C’est vrai que Jules vieillit, il fêtera ses 11 ans le 1er novembre. C’est déjà un bel âge, je lui souhaite encore
quelques années avec toi. Il aime tous les autres chiens, comme Hadès. Ils s’entendent bien, c’est super.
Sharon me dit que tu aimes beaucoup Hadès. Si Jules doit partir, Hadès sera un réconfort pour toi, c’est certain.
Et comme tu le précises, s’il t’arrive quelque chose à toi, Hadès pourrait arriver en pension chez Sharon.
C’est bien réfléchi.
J’attends ta réponse pour savoir si tu souhaites adopter définitivement Hadès. Je t’enverrai les papiers ensuite.
Caresses pour les 2 toutous.
Amicalement.
Mary
I think that means yes. Hmmm, now what should I do? 
5 Likes
That’s a definate yes! I think you’ve made your decision, non? You have a back up plan if something happens to you, Jules is happy, you’re happy.
2 Likes
When you’ve signed the papers and run Hades near a few more cows to aee what happens, as you’ve met them why not ask if soneone can let the young couple know you also fell in love with Hades and are keeping him?
1 Like
The Universe has sent you a blessing. Just say thank you and kiss the dog’s nose.
2 Likes
I think that he’s your dog now.
Congratulations David, I think 2 is about to become a very happy 3, I love a good news story.
Delighted with your news David. You have a back up plan. Now is the time just to enjoy both of them and let the future look after itself. 
Thank you all for the good wishes and @KarenLot yes, I will send the news via a text to the couple who looked after him so well and would have kept him had circumstances allowed. I expect Mary will have told them already though.
As soon as I got that email from Mary yesterday I got straight onto Amazon and ordered a proper grill for the car to replace the hotch potch one I have mackled up so unsuccessfully. It will be here on Thursday and in the meantime we will carry on as best we can. It is not that I object to a dog beside me when driving but it is hardly safe for either of us and the situation at present is not at all suitable as he could well injure himself struggling into the front of the car.
6 Likes
He’s a handsome lad and looks in lovely condition.
1 Like
He has very white teeth.
Yes indeed, I am very envious of those teeth, but Jules at almost 11 has good ones too, I always keep offcuts of stale bread to give my dogs after each meal, it is a good way to clean them. If none are available I always have a bag of pain grille in stock. Haven’t met a dog that doesn’t like a good crunch after dinner yet. And such a smooth glossy coat as well, sleek is the word I think. 
I am very impressed with how quickly these two dogs have integrated. My habit with a new dog is to hold my arms out wide when about to give the crusts, so that the dogs are less likely to snatch each others. At first Hades took his to the garden to avoid theft, but now he stays and sometimes they are barely a foot or so apart.
4 Likes
And there are lots of SFers who are happy too!
8 Likes
First day at school today. After the walk for the 3 of us in the field and forest, and during which Hades flew like the wind in all directions once even leaping high at speed over the plodding Jules on the hill, we returned to the garden and, while Jules carried on to a well deserved rest in the house, I kept Hades with me in the ‘new’ forest which is ideal for my purpose there being lots of open ground there between the trees.
Walking to heel is first on the menu. For the first time today he was attached to a lead, a normal length one, not the 20 metre that he brought with him but doesn’t need anymore.
Positioning him next to my hip and holding the lead with a slight slack dip, we began to walk as I began to intone ‘a pieds, a pieds’. He naturally moved ahead now and again and each time I gave a light tug on the lead, always intoning the prayer like a monk at his devotions. He caught on very quickly and after only 10 minutes I declared school finished for the day and detached and parked the lead where it lives on the fence. Of course I lied, because now as we walked back towards the house, I continued the droneing chant as long as he was at my side. He did very well but then moved ahead but returned immediately when I called ‘vient’. We will do this every day ‘till perfect so one day if I want to walk with him in public on the lead, I won’t have my arm pulled out of its socket like some unfortunates I see.
Later we will tackle a more serious problem which has not been encountered yet but he did come with a warning. Panicing if left alone in the house. Of course that will be easier to overcome with Jules in the house as well but I have mentioned before of a dog called Enola, who I watched from the video I set up for the purpose, going absolutely ballistic in grief even though another dog was also there at the time. She was a foster and re-homed before I could get to grips with the problem and I can only hope that she has either calmed down or is never left alone.
Jules was never thus afflicted but on the rare occasions when I left him in the garden (the house is always open to the garden if there is a dog there) he would stand forlornly watching me drive away. No problems of destruction ensued but I knew I was winning when I began to see that, instead of watching me through the gate as I left, I saw him turn and walk slowly back to the house. In other words he was confident I would return in much the same way that now, Hades does no longer lie on my bed before I sleep. He sees me installed, then walks off the bed and returns to his own.
If the reports of his destructiveness alone are true, I will have to start with very short absences, 5 or 10 minutes at a time and gradually increasing it ‘till full confidence is achieved.
BTW a short series of sessions with a trainer when I first got Jules brought the advice from her to say quietly ‘j’arrive, j’arrive’ as I walked away leaving him. He was never a problem but it is possible that my following that simple advice did have the effect I mentioned above. We will see. 
2 Likes
My cat did have separation anxiety but now whenever he sees me saddle up the bike to go out there’a no panicking any more. I think the reason is that on my return, I always call him and immediately put out some of hia favourite catfood.
In fact I’d bet he’s glad to see me go out for a while now as he is confident this causes his favourite catfood to appear.
5 Likes
He’s got you sussed - clever boy! 
When our pups were very small we began a program of practice to leave them for small periods, slowly increasing. I always gave them a quick treat as we were at the door and left with no fuss and no delays. Having two sisters together may have helped. We installed a nannycam and checked up on them. Never had any problems 