Latest news with #owner
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Tim Dowling: the dog is destroying the lawn, but I need to catch her red-pawed
Shortly after its first birthday, the new dog suddenly starts digging giant holes in the lawn. I don't know why I imagined a year would be a cut-off point for a dog developing new unwanted behaviours. Why shouldn't an adult dog find a hobby? Anyway, these giant holes represent one of the key challenges of canine training: encouragement is easy; discouragement is hard. It's easy to teach a dog that peeing outside is good. It takes a lot longer to teach it that peeing inside is bad. Discouragement requires, at the very least, the possibility of connecting any negative reinforcement to the bad thing in question, which in this case proves impossible. When I discover a new hole in the morning, I call the dog out to the garden. She arrives instantly, tail wagging. 'Is this you?' I say, indicating the fresh, football-sized crater. The dog looks at me in perplexity. 'I don't even know why I'm asking,' I say. 'Of course it's you.' The dog stares expectantly, as if something fun might be about to happen. 'I will catch you in the act one day,' I say. 'And there will be consequences.' No one who's seen my lawn would dare to suggest I'm precious about it. I cut it infrequently and never bother with edging. At this time of year it's mostly brown patches and spreading weeds, and I don't care. But the holes are deep enough to represent a hazard, so I fill each new one and sprinkle grass seed over it. If I don't have enough soil, I top them up with espresso grounds. It would be fair to say none of this is working. It's a difficult time of year in the garden all-round. Half the crops in my pretend farm have failed, while the others present a problematic success. My wife comes out to my office shed while I'm staring at my raised beds. 'I'm going to the supermarket,' she says. 'Do you know if we need anything?' 'Don't buy courgettes,' I say. 'We have, like, eight.' 'Don't worry, I won't,' she says. I poisoned my family with toxic courgettes four years ago and it put all of them off courgettes, possibly for life. But I still grow them because they're easy, resulting in an annual glut. 'This year's ones are fine,' I say. 'You've actually eaten some already, without knowing.' 'Anything else?' she says. 'We have shitloads of radicchio,' I say. 'And one cucumber. Otherwise, as far as I know, we're out of everything.' Soon after my wife leaves, I discover that the everything we're out of includes milk. Instead of texting her, I go to the nearest shop. 'I'll be back in 10 minutes,' I say to the dog. 'Don't dig.' On my return I run into the middle one, who stopped by on his way back from work and found no one home. 'I ate your cucumber,' he says. 'The whole thing?' I say. 'It was delicious,' he says. I spend the rest of the afternoon watching from my desk as the dog lies on the grass chewing on an outdoor cushion. It's bad behaviour, but it's not a hole. If I am to apply negative reinforcement to the correct crime, timing is everything. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion An email pings into my inbox. I turn to read it, and then, grudgingly, answer it. When I turn back the dog is gone and there's a new hole alongside the gutted cushion. I examine the hole carefully – it looks to be one I have already filled and re-seeded once – before calling the dog's name. The dog appears at the kitchen door, yawning and stretching. 'Come here,' I say. The dog walks across the lawn and sits at my feet. 'What's this?' I say, pointing to the hole. The dog looks at my outstretched finger, and then at me. 'Your new hobby is unacceptable,' I say. 'I'd only just filled it in yesterday.' The dog tilts its head slightly, as if to say: is this about the cushion? 'This is about the hole,' I say. 'Whatever it is you're looking for in life, you won't find it a foot under the lawn.' The oldest one, home from work, walks into the kitchen. The dog runs in to greet him. 'Hello,' he says. 'Why is your nose covered in dirt?' 'You in tonight?' I say. 'I think so,' he says. 'What's for supper?' 'Dunno,' I say. 'Whatever mum brings back, plus courgettes.' 'Ugh,' he says. 'It was four years ago!' I say. 'Four years of everyone rejecting my courgettes!' 'And yet,' he says, 'you persist.'
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Collections come in all shapes and sizes. This one is big
Calgary Watch An acreage owner just north of Springbank Airport has amassed 91 vintage tractors and is putting them up for auction to share them with others.
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Interlink Commerce Revolutionizes ASN Creation with New Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface
Franklin, MA July 15, 2025 --( )-- Interlink Commerce Revolutionizes ASN Creation with New Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface New visual designer empowers users to build complex Advanced Ship Notices effortlessly, reducing errors and saving significant time. Interlink Commerce, a leader in supply chain integration solutions, today announced a groundbreaking enhancement to its user interface that enables users to automatically create complex and compliant Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs) with unprecedented ease. The new feature introduces an intuitive, drag-and-drop visual designer, transforming one of the most challenging aspects of shipping and logistics into a simple, error-free process. The creation of detailed ASNs is a critical, yet often time-consuming and error-prone task for suppliers. The new Interlink Commerce interface directly addresses this challenge. By providing a visual workflow, the system allows users to effortlessly build ASN structures, including complex nested and multi-level packaging hierarchies. The drag-and-drop functionality simplifies the process of assigning items to specific cartons and pallets, providing a clear, real-time visual representation of the shipment. 'We listened to our customers who struggled with the complexities of meeting diverse ASN requirements for different trading partners,' said the owner of Interlink Commerce. 'Our goal was to demystify the process. With this new visual ASN builder, we've replaced tedious manual data entry with an elegant drag-and-drop system. Users can now build a perfect, compliant ASN in a fraction of the time, allowing them to focus on getting their products out the door faster and with greater accuracy.' Key features of the new ASN enhancement include: Intuitive Visual Designer: A clear, graphical interface that allows users to see the structure of their shipment as they build it. Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Simply drag items and packages to build cartons, place cartons on pallets, and construct entire shipments with ease. Automated Complexity Management: The system automatically handles the complex requirements for hierarchical structures (e.g., Pack-Ship, Pick-and-Pack) required by major retailers and distributors. Reduced Errors: By visualizing the ASN, users can easily spot and correct errors before transmission, preventing costly chargebacks and shipping delays. This enhancement is designed to benefit both new and experienced logistics professionals by reducing training time and increasing overall operational efficiency. The feature is now available to all Interlink Commerce customers. About Interlink Commerce Interlink Commerce provides innovative and powerful solutions that streamline supply chain processes. Specializing in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and B2B integration, Interlink Commerce helps businesses of all sizes connect with their trading partners, automate document exchange, and optimize their logistics operations for greater efficiency and profitability. Media Contact: Ryan Charles [email protected] 800 432-6115 Contact Information: Interlink Commerce, Inc. Ryan Charles 800-432-6115 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Interlink Commerce Revolutionizes ASN Creation with New Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface Press Release Distributed by
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Is it reasonable to pay a Kos villa owner in cash?
Q I have booked a villa in Kos for September. Unusually, the owner wants to be paid in cash when I turn up. I am somewhat wary of taking bundles of euros with me. In your view, would it be reasonable to rely on extracting cash from ATMs? Ian Robins A Both your destination and your timing are excellent; the Greek islands are at their best in September. However, first you will need to pay for the stay. I recommend that you take the euros you need to pay for the villa, and then a bundle more for your holiday spending. Yes, there is some attendant risk, but I believe it is tolerable (last year I had to take $10,000 in cash to Nepal to pay for a group trekking trip, and that worked). Crime levels in Crete are low; take extra care going through transport locations in the UK and on arrival. There are several reasons against relying on ATMs. The first: in my experience, electronic banking is not to be relied upon in the Greek islands, whether you are seeking to pay for a restaurant meal or hotel bill, or withdraw money from a cash machine. Next, all the ATMs I have checked out recently in Greece have applied substantial charges – upwards of €5 – for withdrawals. This reflects the costs of providing and maintaining the machines, and appears to be spreading across Europe. Most significantly, though, my bank limits daily withdrawals to £500 or the equivalent (in this case, about €575). Even if there are two of you, each able to withdraw this sum, I imagine it would take a couple of days to generate sufficient cash – awkward for you and the property owner. If you are persuaded to take euros with you, the next question is: how to procure them in the UK at the most advantageous rate? Ordering in advance at a decent rate and picking them up at your departure airport may be easiest. High street providers may be competitive, if you are buying a large quantity. Or, if you plan to be in London between now and September, try a bureau de change such as Currency Online Group or Thomas Exchange Group – the companies I tend to use because of their reliably keen rates. Q Like many thousands of people, I received the news that ELO had cancelled their Sunday gig in Hyde Park just 24 hours before the concert was due to take place. We had already travelled to London and had booked a hotel for two nights, plus car parking, plus putting our dog into the kennel for two nights. The only recompense we will receive is our ticket money. Our travel insurance does not cover this either, as it is not cut short by one of our party being ill. Had we been informed earlier, we would have been able to cancel our hotel and the kennel. Is it worth taking this further with the organisers? D South A The pop legends ELO have been on a final tour, branded Over and Out. The last performance of Jeff Lynne 's ensemble was due to end the BST season at Hyde Park in London. Ticket holders were told about 24 hours ahead: 'Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show.' The organisers said he had been 'battling a systemic infection' and that doctors had told him neither performing nor rescheduling was possible. We all wish Jeff Lynne a swift and complete recovery. Nine pretty solid support acts were ready to perform, including fellow 1970s sensations the Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood. Yet the whole sold-out event was called off. I think this decision will be much-discussed over the coming weeks, as disappointed fans get their tickets refunded. From a travel perspective, though, I am afraid that the tightly written terms of the promoter, AEG, make it clear that a claim will not be entertained: 'To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither we nor any other party shall have any liability to you beyond the face value of the ticket.' Even if a legal claim were mounted, I believe a defence that you enjoyed the benefit of a short break in London might be accepted. Could you insure for future gigs? Insurance for cancelled events is aimed at organisers, not ticket holders. I know of no policies that cover the costs of travel and hotels when the gig is called off. Q My two boys (aged 10 and six) and I are heading from Dover to see friends in Cornwall. We all have bikes and would like to build in a couple of days of cycling along with doing most of the travelling by rail. Can you suggest a stretch that would be safe, fun and not too demanding? Stephanie S A National Cycle Network route 1 starts beside the ferry port at Dover and runs all the way to John O'Groats in northern Scotland. The first stretch, from Dover around the coast to Sandwich and then inland to Canterbury, could be just what you need – a little hilly, but fun, and 12 miles/20km for each portion. Two relaxing days or one really challenging one. If hills are not what you need, then allow me to direct you to the Kennet and Avon Canal Cycle Route. This connects Reading with Bath – a distance of 82 miles/133km, but it can be sliced and diced. However, rail access is patchy. Devizes would be the ideal place to start, except that the station closed in 1966. So instead I recommend Trowbridge. An advantage of this Wiltshire town is that you can access it by rail without the need to navigate London with youngsters and bikes in tow. Take a train from Dover to Waterloo East in the capital, walk across the link bridge to the main Waterloo station and board the fast(-ish) train to Salisbury. Change again, and you can be in Trowbridge about five hours after leaving Dover. You will need to cycle a mile or so north to the canal, but from then on it should be an easy 13-mile/21km ride through beautiful Bradford on Avon to Bath. You could overnight in the spa city and then tackle the quite different – but safe and rewarding – Bristol and Bath railway path. This is another largely flat and traffic-free route that includes an exciting stretch in a tunnel. You will be taken close to Bristol Temple Meads station, from which there are plenty of trains in the direction of Cornwall – though you may need to change at Plymouth.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Your Daily DogScope for July 14, 2025
Life is ruff when you're four-legged and furry with a completely clueless human. Fortunately, our daily Dogscope can brighten those boneless days with a little encouragement and a helping paw. Working well in groups has paid off for you. You and your inner circle are the aristocrats of the pack, the creme de la creme. You know fur has nothing to do with it, but your owner just doesn't get it. You and your owner aren't exactly two peas in a pod today. In fact, you might be more like Mutt and Jeff. But even if one of you is radical and the other conservative, you just won't rub each other the wrong way. Sometimes all it takes is learning one new trick and your whole brain expands. Is it really that easy to become radically changed or is the feeling an illusion? Try it and find out. How can your owner remain so aloof in the face of all your slobber? It's a mystery, but one you'll never unravel. In the mean time, find a different way to get the goods. It seems like there are nothing but clashes at the dog park. Like most relationship issues, egos play a big part. Find a different approach. Put your puppy love out front instead. Are you compatible? Reveal your Compatibility Score now! Your regular way of doing things may be different. Instead of barking at the mailman, you may find your tail wagging. Be open minded to a whole new world view. Why does your owner speak gibberish? You can understand some commands but not others. Figure out a way to have fun with it all. If you hear heel, sit. And if you hear stay, roll over. You may not have learned this lesson yet, but the major drawback of a new couch is, you're not welcome on it. So when your owner starts getting the urge to redecorate, drag them out for a walk instead. Don't miss circle time at the dog park. The pow wow is as much an exchange of ideas as it is of scents. So keep an open mind and try to connect. Plans for a radically different kind of walk won't go well, so don't bother pulling hard in an unusual direction. But if you keep it all subtle, you and your owner will both be in for a pleasant surprise. High energy and lots of excitement -- that's nothing new. But your vision of what to do with it all is. Try to communicate it to your owners. They'll listen today. Be careful with your feelings. The whole day could get sucked into a vortex of loneliness if you let it. Dreaming about other dogs may be second best but it's better than nothing. Get even more insights for the month ahead with your premium Monthly Horoscope.
