Diary of a Dog-Sitter

Summary

The article "Diary of a Dog-Sitter — Day Three" recounts the unique challenges and amusing experiences of an early morning dog-walker, who navigates cobwebs and churchyards with Betsy, a dog particularly fond of the graves of Arthur Dysonne and Margaret Mourneforde.

Abstract

In the third installment of the dog-sitting diary, the author humorously details the morning routine of walking Betsy, a dog with a penchant for dashing through cobwebs and exploring a local churchyard. The author, often the first dog-walker out in the mornings, contends with face-fulls of spider webs while Betsy drags him around gravestones, seemingly in search of long-deceased individuals' spots, which are rich with wildlife. The dog's enthusiasm for the churchyard is so great that she has worn a path around the church and inspects it diligently during their walks. Despite the occasional digging incident and the challenge of a rabbit that leads Betsy on a chase, the author and Betsy have a routine that is both comical and endearing, highlighting the joys and idiosyncrasies of dog-sitting.

Opinions

The author appears to find humor in being the tallest dog-walker and the only one collecting cobwebs in the morning.
There is a sense of affectionate exasperation towards Betsy's obsession with the churchyard and her habit of dragging the author through the yew trees.
The author seems amused by the idea that Betsy's vigorous sniffing could somehow raise the deceased from their graves.
The author values the connection Betsy has with the churchyard, recognizing it as a significant part of their daily routine.
There is a hint of frustration when the author mentions the rabbit that always eludes Betsy, leading to prolonged visits to the churchyard.

Cobwebs and Churchyards

Betsy’s favourite churchyard — © Simon Whaley

I’m not the only dog-walker round here, but I’m the first one out in the mornings. I know this because for the past two mornings, as Betsy has forged ahead at ninety miles an hour, dragging me behind in my half-awake state, my face is busy collecting the morning’s first cobwebs.

Either that, or I’m the only dog-walker round here who’s six foot one, and all the others are four-foot two. Or perhaps they all walk their dogs stooped over at right angles to dodge all the cobwebs!

It doesn’t matter which route we walk, Betsy is obsessed with the local church. Or rather, the local churchyard. So as I’m busy wiping my face clean of spider entrapment threads, Betsy is dragging me round gravestones, literally dripping in them.

She’s particularly fond of Arthur Dysonne, who died in 1872, and Margaret Mourneforde, who passed away in 1813.

Well, when I say she’s fond of them, I mean she’s fond of their spots, which are overgrown, and teeming with mice, moles and other interesting creatures.

It only takes a rustle, and Betsy pounces, her nose rootling through the vegetation, as she inhales so deeply, I swear Arthur and Margaret are slowly rising back up to the surface at the rate of two inches a day. After all, little can avoid the suction force of a Welsh Springer Spaniel inhaling. Based upon my calculations, if she carries on at this rate, Arthur and Margaret will make an appearance next Tuesday.

Although this morning, I feared they might show up sooner, when Betsy began digging! Suffice to say, I yelled at her to stop, loud enough to wake the entire churchyard.

After Arthur and Margaret, Betsy does a perimeter tour of the church building exterior. She’s created a well-worn path through the grass. With inspections taking place five times a day (when I said it didn’t matter which route we walked we always end up at the church, I meant it), she might as well be the churchwarden.

If only I could get the rabbit that always runs across the path in front of her, to run in the other direction, I might be able to get her out of the churchyard more quickly. But instead, I have to endure the being dragged through the yew trees.

Eventually, she gives in and decides it’s time to move on. But not until I’ve collected another face full of spiders’ web. They love that passage between the yew trees, just as much as the rabbit and Betsy!

Read Day Four’s Diary entry here:

Read yesterday’s Diary entry here:

Diary of a Dog-Sitter — Day Three

Cobwebs and Churchyards

Diary of a Dog-Sitter — Day Two

The joy of extendable dog leads

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