I'm having some problems with 'ratio

[fenwoman]

I'm having some problems with 'ratio,
He thinks he's a puppy you see.
He curls up in a heap with the pups while they sleep,
and wakes up when they do, to pee.

He gallops about in the kitchen,
trying to trip me up.
Or hogging the front of the rayburn
he really does think he's a pup.

He follows the puppies wherever they go,
I'm surprised he don't play with their ball,
and while they are nice and gentle with him,
He ain't gentle with them at all.

He sleeps underneath thier warm bodies,
cos bottom heat really is best.
Then when he awakes and wants them to shift,
He bites their toes . What a pest!

So I'm having some problems with 'ratio,
but Horatio's having a ball,
when he runs with the pups he really believes
He isn't a tortoise at all.

To me and to you, he looks like a rock
but in his mind he's furry and black.
Not a plodding old thing who sleeps half the year,
But the leader of his pack!

This poem came to me after spending the last few weeks watching Horatio interact with the 5 pups I have in the house. Now 7 weeks old, they seem to regard him as one of them. They initiate play with him and he seems to want to be with them as he literally gallops around after them. The other day he awoke from a snooze and the pups weren't in their usual position of sleeping right on top of him, but had gone into the front room, to their bed and Horatio was very confused. He did 2 turns about the kitchen at literally lightening speed, before heading off into the front room and upon finding the puppies, he burrowed underneath their furry bodies and went back to sleep.I keep meaning to take a photo but never have the camera to hand.
I'm finding it fascinating to watch the interaction between them both. The pups have never made any attempt to play rought with him or bite or scratch him. Since they first opened their eyes, he was in the house so they've grown up with him. All of them, sleep in front of the nice warm rayburn all curled in a heap.
Seeing him so active, and so interested in the things which fill his daily life, and seeing how attached he is to the puppies and me.I think we humans really underestimate their intelligence.
Horatio is very attached to me and will follow me as I move about in the house, coming when I call him. When I had visitors the other week, he took a dislike to the husband and literally chased him all around the kitchen table trying to take chomps out of his feet which caused great hillarity to the wife and the children in the family but scared the pants off the bloke so that I actually had to shut Horatio in the living room.The poor chap was hopping and leaping, looking very much like a cowboy being made to 'dance' by someone firing at his feet.
When the weather is mild, Horatio takes himself off to the back door and wants to go outside which he does for an hour or so midday, but then makes his way back to the cottage again when it starts getting cool. He's showing no signs of wanting to hibernate yet.He's still eatting well of his daily pellets and some salad (there being little to no goodness in weeds outside at this time of year).
I think I have to conclude that for Horatio, and for me, being made to live in a small tortoise table as some kind of living display and not really getting to be as active and to interact with other living creatures, would not be a good way to live.
He may be a tortoise, but he isn't just something to be looked at on a table, he is, like any of my pets, an intelligent creature with which I interact and share my home and which actually has a personality just like any of my cats or dogs does.

Athraven, I thank you for letting me care for him.He seems to be having a ball

[AnythingWithAShell]

Brilliant poem fenwoman. Love it

[EVIEMAY]

That is great Pam - how about some pics.

[Reptilerescueden]

That's fab! xxx

[fenwoman]

if I have spare time tomorrow I'll see if I can get some photos.He spent 15 minutes this morning bumping my feet. And when my son came around this afternoon for a visit and a meal and to split a pile of logs for me, Horatio kept charging and smashing into his boots. He's showing no sign of slowing down at all the little hooligan.

[AnythingWithAShell]

Bless, Hooligan Horatio!

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by AnythingWithAShell

Bless, Hooligan Horatio!

I dunno how it happens. I start off with a normal, pretty boring old plodder of a tort' and within a year he has turned into a racing leaping creature who chases people around the kitchen table and plays tug of war with the puppies.
In front of the nice warm rayburn as I type lays a pile of gently snoring furry puppies, underneath which has burrowed one rather old and ugly tortoise. He and they will stay there until tomorrow when another day of running and leaping will go on. Sheesh. I'm exhausted watching them.

[ukphd]

brilliant poem! Gosh he reminds me of Wurtle!
I've just spent an hour negotiating Wurtle head-butts while trying to tidy up the garden! Someone really should tell him that it's winter!

[fenwoman]

Originally Posted by ukphd

brilliant poem! Gosh he reminds me of Wurtle!
I've just spent an hour negotiating Wurtle head-butts while trying to tidy up the garden! Someone really should tell him that it's winter!

Why do they do the butting thing? It's like he is imitating a bulldozer and it isn't gentle either. My poor feet. I walk about all the time barefoot (indoors and out), what with being an old hippy like, and he's either bashing my feet or chomping them.Little beast!!

[EVIEMAY]

Think of it as a sign of affection !!! - Lillie only ever bites my feet in the mornings when I am preparing their weeds.