Our huntaway, Sable, whom readers of the Trilogy know as Audi, can be a right brat at times. Huntaway’s are very intelligent dogs and this shows in their personality. In New Zealand they’re usually breed just for farm dogs because of their innate desire to work. They want to work and they LOVE it. Not the best choice for a pet unless you intend on taking up agility training or something else equally demanding (Search and rescue? Got chickens you want herded?). We did have two dogs, but our gorgeous staffy had to be put to sleep in Oct 11. We were worried  about how Sable would handle being an ‘only’ child but we shouldn’t have—the little brat loves it *grin*.
(Stealing my seat)
Onto the bedtime drama!Every evening Sable ditches our company in lieu of hanging out on my seat in the conservatory. When bedtime comes around I head on in there and call her out, ushering her to my writing room, where she and Griffon (the cat) sleep. Normally it’s an easy call, and she’s up and at my side. Lately however this hasn’t happened. I think it may be due to when I was sick and she played being ‘sick’ and slept on the bed with me till Glenn came in. Apparently the three-seater couch with the comfy, fleecy dog bed on top isn’t cutting it anymore…The routine now goes like this.‘Sable, come!’ —Dog doesn’t budge.‘Come on, bedtime!’ —Nope. Still not budging.‘Sable, COME!’ —Not happening, not even a flicker.At which point I grumble, stomp over to the seat and pry her reluctant body from it onto the floor.And this is where she gets sneaky.The moment her feet hit the floor she dashes for the dog bed in the conservatory (where she’s actually meant to be—rather than on my seat) and drops. Goes fully, ragdoll floppy. Another bunch of growled orders from me get completely ignored. With much grumbling I reach down and haul the heavy ass up (25 kilos of unrepentant dog) and sort of half carry/half drag her out the room into the hallway. Usually at this point she very begrudgingly gathers to her feet.Then fervently looks for an escape.If I haven’t shut the door to the lounge, bedroom, and any room in the house other than my room, she promptly dashes through the open door and repeats the ragdoll routine. Accompanied by a strangled shriek of frustration from me.Then when I do finally get her into my room, she refuses to climb on her bed. Instead she flops to the floor with a long suffering sigh and a pointed look that plainly says ‘animal abuser’. (playing 'sick')I’m hoping this wee performance won’t last too long, and I can’t even blame it on adolescence (yep, dogs go through it too) as she’s nine and a half now.Perhaps it’s old age… ;p
If you’re not having fun, then you’re doing it wrong!
Nic
Need a break from vamps, werewolves and teeth grindingly frustrating love triangles? Try The Arrival, four non-oversexed friends (according to a reviewer) creating chaos on a whole new planet after dabbling in the arcane…
The BirthRight Trilogy — screw being the damsel in distress!

The Arrival, is currently available for FREE at at Amazon : AmazonUK : Barnes & Noble : iTunes US : iTunes UK : Kobo : Smashwords : Sony