On Mogwai's and mud

If you’ve been reading the Dogsey blog you'll know that the dogs have been very bad while I’ve been very busy.

The weather hasn’t helped, first freezing cold then monsoon wet. The frozen dragon back on the muddy bridle path was a bit of a shock (I love this website of colouring in pages and dragon pictures), but I think I prefer that to the squelchy slip-sliding path of this morning.

And between these two extremes, the weather has been awful for dog-walking. Yesterday, I was surprised to see two other crazy dog walkers. I was a bit worried about Polo hurtling towards us; I didn’t think he would stop and we would all end up in the mud. At the last second he veered off onto another path – phew.

I wrapped the dogs in a big towel each in the back of the car (I always think they look like Mogwai’s when all wrapped up) and we made our way home, dreading having to go out again for the Village Carol singing. Madness.

I settled the boys down and off I went to collect the neighbours – hat, check, coat, check, wind-up torch, check. How do I look? Absolutely fine. Are you warm and dry? Yes, good. Let’s go. We arrived in a bedraggled group and there were others there already. Get tuned up, grab a Carol book, we’re off to the first stop. Five stops later and we were enjoying mulled wine and nibbles, shoes off, singing again. We must have done the entire repertoire of the recorder players at least twice.

Mulled wine downed, quick grab the right shoes, off home and out for dinner. It’s just that time of year, boys. Come Saturday, everything will be quiet and calm. We’ll all be with our families waiting for the feasting to start, looking forward to the Big Day. Love this time of year.

Happy Christmas!

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STUFF MY DOG RUINED!

OK, I have to credit the Daily Mail here. Brilliant! I have one of those mad dogs who quietly chews things. Last week I had to throw the butter away, because he licked it. The grown-ups weren't paying attention and when I looked again, he was drooling over it.

Then, he ate Grandpa's Christmas present. Not the whole thing, just nibbled the corner off and left the pieces on the bed in case it can be fixed! It can't, and there are none left in stock either so Grandpa is getting a dog-chewed present.

And tonight, I brought in the logs for the fire and couldn't believe it - the dog had helped himself to the kindling and had chewed it in his bed.

I have thought about whether he is lacking something in his diet; I hope not because my pampered pooches only eat Hill's Science Plan. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to the chewing either. He is well exercised. And he wasn't like this as a puppy. I have checked his gums too in case he has a problem with his mouth - it all looks good in there.

So I can only conclude that it is my fault. You see, I give them a treat box every day when I leave the house. They have to open the box to get to the treats. The boxes are old margarine and butter tubs! He probably thinks I'm such a good Mummy providing all these wonderful, exciting and new treats.

I knew it, he's not a bad dog, I am a bad owner. Must do better.

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