Pets on the cut
Keep on running Alison Wilkerson finds that a dog and guinea pig make great mates.
WE OFTEN cruise past moored boats and very occasionally see the same boats moored at different locations both northbound and southbound on the Grand Union Canal.
One such boat was a mid-1970s 56ft, Harbour Marine built narrowboat, powered by a Lister SR 3 engine and owned by Hannah and Louie, who live aboard and have done so since purchasing from a private seller using Apollo Duck in 2015.
We had seen their boat many times but never actually met the owners, as they were never at home. This time they were, and were very welcoming, telling me they lived on their boat, which was their first boat and first home together.
They not only have a log burner but also central heating which they share with two grateful (in winter and on cold nights anyway) amazing pets, namely an extremely energetic fouryear-old dog called Ziggy and a five-year-old guinea pig called Marmite (I love both guinea pigs and Marmite).
I was advised that Ziggy was purchased from a breeder and all the puppies were greyhounds crossed with bulldogs. His name was obtained by simply going through the alphabet, although most people think of the late David Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust or the late Bob Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley when enquiring about his name.
As you would expect, Ziggy is an awesome sprinter and loves to run, especially with other dogs, but does appear to get pleasure from outrunning them – because he can, of course, and you can’t blame him.
He does tend to wander, but luckily around the vicinity of the boat and fellow boaters to ensure his safety. Apparently he has selective hearing especially where Louie is concerned.
He hates water though, canal water anyway, preferring to watch it from a safe distance, while sitting on the stern not only when cruising but also when moored. It’s possibly due to falling in when stepping off, as a puppy, which seems to be a common trait according to many dog owners I have met over the years.
Food-wise, Ziggy loves everything but actually eats dried food as opposed to wet. He does, however, get the odd treat and is very well behaved; even letting his lovely owners sleep in, which is a welcome consideration, especially in the winter months, with those very dark mornings.
All Ziggy wants to do is make friends with everyone, human and animal, including his little house mate, Marmite, who runs free on the boat – and believe it or not, he gets on fine with her and puts up with her running in the boat, although she’s not as fast as him!