I have decided Not to Shop for anything at all until AFTER the American Thanksgiving. This way I can avoid the Christmas Rush just a little longer. (They are already playing Christmas Carols). Thanksgiving is now Pre-Christmas. I think Thanksgiving is such an innocent and genuine celebration. Just food. Just people. What more could one possibly want. Why is Christmas already doing its dance?
Yesterday The Matriarch and I drove up to Chicago to collect the first of the Thanksgiving Visitors. On our arrival back home I found a package addressed to Nanny Boo. In the box was a new dog coat. A working dogs coat. Red. I loved it. But The Moment I put the coat on Boo he went very quiet. His ears went flat. And he stood still. His behaviour became incredibly good. Leaving me he went and stood beside John’s brother, (a complete stranger to the dog) put one big paw on the man’s shoe, sat down leaning on his leg and stared back at me. Still and silent in his beautiful red coat.
It was late .. about 9.30 m or something but I put my own coat on and the dogs and I went out to check the animals. Boo, still dressed in his coat, stuck so close to my side I could barely walk. He did not grab at sticks or chase Ton just walked right at my heel. Sitting when I stopped, pacing exactly at my heel. His good behaviour was unsettling.
I went in and checked the pigs, then came back out through the gate shutting it behind me. Boo always jumps through the gate. Ton and I were at the verandah already before we realised that Boo was not with us. I whistled and heard Boo crying. I turned the torch back on and walked back out to the pasture and there he was, on the wrong side of the gate, he would not jump over. I had to open it for him.
The jacket felt like a tether to him. So he could not jump. His personality was suddenly sedate and good. And scary.
I took the dog jacket off, it was all too much. A well behaved Nanny Boo was way too much for me to handle. 
We will try again today.
Love your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
43 responses to “No Title”
Other than your calendars, I haven’t started my shopping for Christmas! Poor Boo, maybe red isn’t his color. Elsie looks like she’s carrying her calf to the side like Daisy did…or is that what all cows do?
“Miss C, I do not like my Sunday best. May I have my dungarees? Please?”
Poor lad, he’s managed with his own coat so far, who needs a red one?! After looking after those kittens so well yesterday too!
Christine
Poor Boo – as RecyclerSA said, I think he feels like he’s being punished. However, he might appreciate the coat when it gets colder or when he gets older. The gift was a very kind thought though, regardless.
I was in Sainsbury’s today (Islington at midday) and was offered luxury Christmas Pudding and Muscat dessert wine – I accepted both most graciously, but it does seem terribly early (in the year not day) 😉
I’m with the “let him sleep on it and get used to it” brigade. Does he let you put a blanket on him on cold nights? Nice to see the two cows together. Aunty Del must love having a companion.
I know you said Elsie was bred but it didn’t really register until I saw that picture. So you literally bought two cows in one! (Unless it’s a bull calf, but you know what I mean.) Del is getting so big. She looks very square and cow-shaped in that shot, like she’s lost her calf-neck. I know the rest of Christendom is already embracing the Christmas season, but I, too, have a hard time before Thanksgiving. It just seems abnormal.
I was once disturbed about the overlay of Christmas selling with the Thanksgiving season too. But I just put it in the same perspective I have put big weeds in the summer. When they get out of hand and beyond my control I start calling them “jungle vegetation” and I can appreciate them in a whole new way. With the rushing Christmas problem I turn it around and call it an extended celebration – looking beyond the obvious consumer appeal – I hum along to the Christmas carols and enjoy the bright splashes of red and green. And I never buy a thing till after Thanksgiving! Way after Thanksgiving.
I know of a therapy dog who is very rambunctious most of the time, but when he gets his visiting clothes on, all that is forgotten and he’s all professional. It was a very kind gift, maybe he’ll come to appreciate it. Or not…
I’m with you on Thanksgiving. Growing up we didn’t do any Christmas stuff until after Thanksgiving. I was told that Walmart has had Christmas trees for sale since September! I’m a grinch until December then it’s on! 🙂
I believe I must get a coat for my Willis! He loves our daily walks through the neighborhood, but he dragged me down again yesterday. He has to be on leash when we walk but he’s just way too strong, and way too friendly. Every time he sees a “friend”, he can hardly contain himself.
My favorite holiday has always been Thanksgiving. It’s a shame what we have turned Christmas into – I can only handle one holiday at a time!
My cat did the same thing as Veronica’s, I put a Halloween hoodie on her and she fell over and just stared, like she was comatose, I took pictures, then took it off. That’s a cat though.
Boo might be embarrassed, dogs are funny like that.
Robin🐥
When i put a leash on my cat he gripped the sidewalk and wouldn’t get up. My Dobe in his red parka wouldn’t move. Maybe youcan save Boo’s lovely coat for him when he reaches Big Dog’s advanced age and maybe then he will appreciate it. Or until then, as Kate suggested, just let him use it to lie on.
I’m surprised Elsie is smaller than I imagined. Still beautiful however and so is Auntie Dell.
What Boo needs is a backpack to wear – it will add some warmth to him and give you a place to store your flashlight, bits of wire and string, batteries, and dog treats 🙂 Just don’t let him put a kitten in the panniers.
I had thought about that, especially when we walk in the summer.. . c
Service dogs/military dogs wear coats/vests when they are on duty and certain behavior/ close attention is necessary. The dogs shouldering great responsibility. Perhaps Boo doesn’t know what it expected of him when he has this on? Sees it as a “work” cue not a keep warm item. Sleeping on it might be good. Or talking as you put it on..they do understand a lot.
Molly detested her harness (and managed to instantly eat several – so fast, i can’t even explain how – turn your back for one second to open the door and it was too late.) She cannot wear normal collars for walking due to abuse to her neck and throat. Then somehow she connected going out to see friends with the harness and gladly stands for it. I say “Molly, time to go. I’ve got my coat/purse and you need your jewelry (as we call her harness) so we can go”
Somehow Boo need to make the connection to “I put on a coat and you need to put on a coat in cole weather”
But a young dog with heavy fur may just think it’s silly – who’s cold outside Boo wonders? Just run more! (Boo, it’s much too cold during parts of the winter!
Red is good!)
Celi, there is a product on the market called the Thundershirt. (http://www.thundershirt.com) It is purported to calm down dogs with jangled nerves (think thunder storms). Now I wonder about its effect on your dog. Is it really soothing or is it scaring your dog into submission? Hmmm…
As for Christmas, you asked: “Why is Christmas already doing its dance?” It is because of Madison avenue and its desire for the almighty dollar! More days to sell, more days to rake it in. We used to hate it when the Christmas season stole Thanksgiving’s moments, but heck, if you shop the big box and department stores it is now creeping into Halloween’s celebration.
We will now be wishing a Merryhallowthankmus to all!
~L