Beta Torrent

This is BETA TORRENT our West Highland White Terrier who came to live with us on 5 February 2008. He was born on 27 September 2007 in Australia. This slightly late post is for his birthday as he is now a year old.

Papa came up with the name because BETA means NOT ALPHA and also something about beta versions of software being the first version. TORRENT because he comes at us like a torrent of energy! He is called Torrent or Torri for short. So far, we have received some incredulous looks and queries about his name, but this is what happens when you get a computer tech guy to name a dog.

Do not be deceived by his sweetie-pie or cutie-pie looks – HE CAN BE QUITE HORRIBLE. Torrent harasses Junior non-stop till he is tired and goes off to sleep. Torrent has boundless energy till we are tired. Junior now seeks refuge from the torrent of energy by getting onto the sofa or hurrying to our bed. He also looks at us desperately to put Torrent into the play pen so that we can all get some peace.

Torrent gets along with the cats – Fat Boy, Bandit and Easter. Fat Boy is extremely tolerant and will indulge his attacks. But Fat Boy also has his limits too and will slap Torrent when he is fed-up. Bandit maintains her distance and has only hissed and raised her fur in anger. She spends a lot of time eye-balling him from her lofty perch on top of the furniture. Torrent is smart to keep out of the way till she can accept his invasion of her apartment and spaces. Easter has raised her heckles, smacked him and now walks around ignoring his advances and requests for play.

In his first year (or 9 months or so with us), he has learnt more than basic obedience and can be quite well behaved, although he has his lapses. He goes to the training ground and has plenty of fun running around, chasing his squeak toy and making friends with other dogs. Torrent is sometimes used as a demo dog at training to show what a small doggie should be able to do. BTW, he has never been to formal dog training school - totally home schooled by us. This is so unlike Junior who now has a PhD in obedience by doing the conventional dog training school thing.

Torrie is totally food driven and will do anything for his dinner, treats and snacks. He will sit, shake hands, down, wait, drool and then attack his dinner with gusto. After he is scoffed his meal, he will disturb Junior for what's left in the bowl - NOTHING!!

Torrent sleeps with us on the bed too - he will sleep next to me, rest his head on my foot or some part of my body. He will also sleep between us with his four legs in the air on the pillow. Sometimes, he heads for the top of the bed at the pillows where he cozies with FatBoy. He is a noisy dog for sleeping - he grunts, groans and SNORES in his sleep. He wakes up when he hears the radio, and starts his grunting and strange howling and licking our faces for his breakfast.

Yes, I do think Torrent is adding to the fun at home.

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