bloody dogs!

[misdee]

arrrgh.

bad day for mugs today.

2 smashed and its only just past lunch.

i need to buy new mugs.
anyone elses dogs tea-addicts?

i usually put the mugs where they cant reach or remove dogs from the room if i have to leave. but had two 'jump up and deal with it immediantly' emergencies today and the pups snuck in to raid the mugs

i have a big muddy pawprint above my sofa today. from last night when i left dh in charge of the dogs and kids for 30mins. seems he cant keep an eye on things very well.

There was a letter in the paper yesterday about a lab going up a stepladder which owner had been using to pick damsons from, and helping himself from the tree!

My labs are terrible thieves and I've got used to putting everything up and away but occasionally forget. They are particularly partial to banana skins and egg shells from the compost bowl (when it hasn't been taken out), but really anything will do, and it doesn't have to be what we consider edible - lightbulbs, sunglasses, radiator caps - you name it they like it!

Do any of you have toddlers as well as dogs? My daughter will be 2 at Xmas, and I have 2 Jack Russels (aged 3 and 4). I'm finding it really hard to walk the dogs with my little girl as she doesn't tolerate the buggy very well now and wants to walk all the time. But having 2 dogs off the lead and a toddler running aorund is a nightmare!

Since having my daughter I feel guilty that my dogs don't get good walks anymore. I could never re-home my dogs as I love them way too much, but I'm finding a toddler and dogs a very stressful mix! They're fine together at home, it's just the walking issue that's the problem.

Any suggestions from you dog lovers!

Georgie, possibly the answer is in your question - it sounds a nightmare if they are OFF the lead, so why not keep them on the lead. I'd recommend a class if you need to brush up on lead technique and this will also be helpful when your DD is a bit older, as you will then be able to let her take a dog without being towed. I would also consider doing the walk with the dogs separately from your daughter, or you could even consider doing a run with the dogs ? On weekends with more time, can you go somewhere like a beach or a really good country park where the dogs can play safely off lead while you and your daughter potter along at toddler pace? Can you also make sure you play with the dogs a lot each day to help keep them busy? JRTs have loads of energy and need to be stimulated lots or they can turn into nightmares.

Thanks for your advice. I have managed to do some walks without my toddler, and it is a lot easier of course. Or if my husband's with me it's fine too. But I think lead training is a good idea. Will definitely look into it. Thanks for your help Scuttlebutter.

One of our dogs has just eaten an entire pot of face cream. He got up onto the worktop, sniffed it out, opened it and ate it. He has also eaten my pot of Nivea and lip stuff.

My dog's been picking and eating blackcurrants on the common during the last few days - emerges from the bushes with leaves sticking out of her mouth, looking pleased

Georgie, recall training for your DD too, with a packet of smarties. Did the trick for my DD!

And one of my dogs when he was a pup jumped up and stole the bacon out of the sarnie my friend was lifting up to eat. Left the roll...Friend hadn't noticed and was quite confused.