Becoming French

Bailey has taken a couple more steps towards becoming wholly French lately. 

For months I marveled at all the off-leash dogs we would encounter walking around the Citadel. They all seemed to know what they were supposed to do and how to behave. Some were with walkers or runners and they would always keep their person in sight. Yesterday we encountered an older couple with two dogs. One was a border collie who would run ahead but then hop up on a log and wait for his people to catch up. The other was a smaller dog who would scurry back and forth in the woods, often bringing back a stick that no one asked for, but he was never more than twenty feet from his people. It's also common to see people running or even biking with a dog running along with them. Sometimes they may venture away for a bit but they never lose sight of their person. 

Bailey's off-leash behavior is better than I ever expected. She loves the freedom to run into the woods or down to the water's edge, but she always knows where I am and if I get too far away she comes running, whether I call for her or not. If we were still walking the trails at Pleasant Grove in Virginia, I doubt that I would ever have let her off the leash, although there were plenty of folks around there who did. 

I have much less concern about dogs we meet here than I did back in Virginia. They are just better socialized. Coming from a busy foster home, Bailey had a lot of exposure to new dogs and that is serving her well here whether on- or off-leash. The most typical behavior when we pass other leashed dogs is for both dogs to pretty much ignore the other and just go on their way. If the other dog seems interested and the person on the other end of the leash seems open to it, we may stop and let the dogs meet. They sniff and circle and then we go on our way. If we are in an open area and the dogs want to play, we may turn them loose. Typically they run big circles around us but always stay nearby. 

When Bailey is off-leash and we encounter other dogs, Bailey will run up to them and do the greeting on her own. I think she can handle herself and she also reads them very well. On the rare occasion that we encounter a dog who isn't good with others, she just backs off and moves on to find someone who wants to have fun. That seems to be how most of the dogs act and react to others on walks.

Today it was raining today and I put a raincoat on her for the morning walk. That's also very French but it was at lunch today that she really showed us how French she was becoming by finishing off a few pieces of brie. 

A cormorant and a coot

Meeting a beagle friend that we know from the playing field while walking.

"Up" is her best trick. If I say the word she looks around for something to jump on.

With friends on the playing field.

The front entrance of the Citadel at twilight.

When she issues a play invitation, it's very obvious.

We've met another Mal who also has one ear up and one ear down. They play together nicely.

I got her another coat when we were back in Virginia a couple weeks ago but she hasn't worn it yet.

As always, FUCK TRUMP, FUCK ICE, FUCK THEIR CONGRESSIONAL ENABLERS, AND EVERYONE WHO VOTES FOR ANY OF THEM.

More out and about in Lille

Bailey is loving the off-leash walking at the Citadel and she's doing real well with it, sticking close and/or coming when I call. Shaking the little container of duck treats works even better than me calling her, it always gets her to come running to me.

This fallen tree is about four feet off the ground, but she jumps up easily.

A pair of mallards on one of the canals around the Citadel.

One of the things she really likes about being off leash is being able to go to the water's edge.

She doesn't like to get wet so she won't go in, thankfully.

We encounter a lot of dogs on our walks who are wet and muddy.

I selfishly hope her aversion to getting wet continues.

It was dark by the time we finished our walk Monday evening.

My phone camera does a good job in low light because it was darker than it appears in this picture.

Tuesday morning on the same stump.

Monday evening was one of our best walks ever. We found no one at the big field although we made three passes by that area. However, walking the trails and pathways we encountered four different dogs who made excellent playmates. She got in some good runs with each of them, so much so that with the fourth dog I really didn't think she would play much, just because she was tired. I was wrong. That one was a young, male Malinois and the two of them took to playing immediately. The male dog was wearing a gentle leader, which I've rarely seen here, and was on a long line. The non-English speaking owner instantly dropped the long line and we just let the two dogs run. They ran, they wrestled, they ran some more. I don't think he spoke any more English than I do French, maybe even less, but he did manage to ask if Bailey was capable of having babies. I think he was looking for a breeding partner for his dog. With a combination of hand signals, headshakes, and an emphatic "no" I let him know that that wasn't going to happen. I do hope we run into them again, however, because they were perfectly matched in size, temperament, and play styles.

Bailey and I had our usual morning walk on Wednesday but then she had nap time while Clay and I went off to tour another historic building in Lille. The Palais Rameau was built as a monument to horticulture and was home to the local horticultural society for many years. It is built in a cruciform shape, much like a church, but it was basically a big green house or conservatory. It is currently occupied by a local university that has built internal rooms or pods without altering the exterior. In fact they have restored the exterior and the alterations they have done inside are completely removable if, at some point, someone wants to restore the building to its original form. It was an interesting tour.

The main building is an impressive structure, but this separate building (above and below), the "gardener's cottage" gave me historical occupational envy. I would have loved to work and live here. 

As always, FUCK TRUMP, FUCK ICE, FUCK ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR HIM, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO ENABLE HIM, THAT MEANS EVERY ELECTED REPUBLICAN!

Walkabouts in Lille

Here's some pictures I've taken on recent walks around Lille, with Bailey in the park and without her in the city. 

She had a really good, hard run with another dog at the field yesterday, with another female Mal. It seems that she's just more selective about who she plays with now. Bailey is really loving the off-leash walks through the woods. She's doing very well with everyone she encounters, both human and canine, and is very good about coming when I call (or shake her can of treats). 

Rowers on the Doule

Grey heron, a cormorant, and a coot in one frame.

There's a big park here in town with a massive iron fence around it for some reason.

The Porte de Paris

The Porte de Paris from the town side.

The last Christmas pic for this year. I believe this all comes down starting tomorrow.

These are actually the interior steps in our house. Our apartment is upstairs and to the right.

As always: FUCK TRUMP, FUCK ICE, FUCK THE GOP!