Shadow has a very strong chase instinct, which we work on all the time. He does really well day to day now, but certain things are still a challenge, specifically critters that run off in front of him. We've had a rare opportunity to practice with these this evening. As some of you may know, we've bought a run-down farm in Spain and we're slowly renovating it, but we're basically camping in the shell of the building at the moment, albeit we now have a bed, a sofa and some other basic furniture, whoop! We also have, in addition to our two Labs and two ferrets, two very recent additions to the family. These are Bert and Ernie, the wild geckoes that have moved in and are now residing in our living room. They've been incredibly active this evening, running around the walls and catching moths. Bert has been a naughty gecko, chasing poor Ernie and hissing at him. Who knew that geckoes hissed? I certainly didn't! They also do a very hypnotic wave of their tail when they're stalking prey. Well, Ernie does. Bert seems to have lost his tail somewhere along the way. Maybe I should have called him Dexter! So, Bert and Ernie scampering over the walls all evening has been massively exciting for Shadow. I took it as a training opportunity, though, and now Shadow is relaxed on the sofa, watching them do their little dance, but without any attempts to eat them. Which is nice. I'm quite happy to have them stick around and eat any flies and moths that are attracted in by the light
Ha ha ha,yes you should! I've been told they grow back? We get them here and I encourage them too to keep all the creepies at bay,I didn't know they hissed though! Dexter stalks flies,I mean really! He's pretty rubbish at it though !
Oh yes, I love geckos too! Good that Shadow will get the chance to become desensitised to runny things ...
One of these days you will come in from hours digging a square inch outside, whilst looking for B&E will find Shadow doing an impression of the wide mouthed frog...."what geckos mum?"
Ah Joy,they don't bother you ,I'm terrified of spiders but I can cope with geckos no problem,they do always make me jump though because they are fast when they run x
Stop it,I've just died .....I cannot tell you how many yells,scream and whimpers I let out when I was staying in England...the cottage was horrific ,there were places in it I wouldn't even venture .....
And you've just bought a caravan (ish-not-really-more-like-a-country-estate)! Caravans are the worst for spiders!
No,no you're wrong ,you're wrong! It is going to be completely spider proofed to replicate out house here ! The carpet is currently white .....but is getting lifted and we are tiling .......NO DARK CORNERS will exist when I've finished!!!!! The sofas are being replaced with ones that are up off the floor .........things will get moved around ALL THE TIME so nothing can 'settle' the toilet is being replaced so nothing can get round the back....had too many heart attacks Thankyou very much this Summer from THAT particular area! What else? Oh I've got 4 of those sonic spider deterrents that you plug in .... Mum's keeping conkers for me...apparently spiders hate conkers and from previous similar conversations I've been told you can buy conker oil ,apparently they don't like peppermint oil either.......you see I'm not just scared I really am phobic !!!
@Dexter, it really isn't that bad in England! Just wait until the daddy longlegs start hatching from the ground (though guess you probably won't be over here at that time!) and I keep having a Hornet come into my bedroom virtually every night The big spider time is about now when they start coming out and once I had a spider (small) in my ear, doc had to get it out and then we rescued it and put it outside. But apart from that it is OK
The nut of the horse chestnut tree. Best used for playing conkers - a game designed solely to inflict pain.
The seed( fruit? ) of the horsechesnut tree ..... As kids we used to throw a stick up at the tree and knock them down then drill a whole through them to attach string and 'play conkers' with them.Younhave to hit your opponents conker until one of your conkers splits...intact conker is the winner So sorry Fiona,totally derailed your post xxxx
