I love this time of year

[BiteyShark]

The ground is drying up so no mud bath. Walking boots, not wellies.

The sun is out but it's not too hot to worry about the dog running about.

And to top it off about 40 deer ran a few feet in front of me (BiteyDog was too busy pestering me to play ball that he didn't notice )

It makes walks really enjoyable.

The end of mud is a very welcome time of year!!

I agree. The mud is so depressing, not only for cleaning but it's so nice to be able to wander off the countryside paths without sinking and getting your foot stuck.

As a dog walker I LOVE the end of mud season! I've had dry, warm weather all week and it's been bliss

I am always very jealous of my dog walker for 3/4 of the year. But when winter hits I do think to myself that I am glad I have a desk job

@BiteyShark

I am always very jealous of my dog walker for 3/4 of the year. But when winter hits I do think to myself that I am glad I have a desk job

It can be pretty grim in the winter months especially when you have lots of long-haired dogs who love rolling in ALL the mud!

We said the same this morning, it was lovely out and we came back with clean wellies and the dogs (spaniels) only needed their paws washing instead of a shower. Result!!

My kitchen has been overtaken with dog towels this winter - I can't wait to put them away.

My car has been so muddy that despite a waterproof cover moisture has got underneath and I had to remove what looked like mold

Hurrah indeed!

The end of mud season is always welcomed warmly here - it really starts to get me down towards the end.

I can't wait for even the muddiest of fields to dry up. There are some lovely long walks I favour but they go right through ploughed fields (public footpaths) and it's still a bit too wet for that. The mud round here is clay and it all sticks to your boots.

But soon!

I splashed through an ankle-deep water meadow the other day.

But in general, the mud is much reduced, and the wild cherry trees are coming into bloom.

Me too! Is it just me who has a dog that seems to get a year or two younger when the warm weather hits? All of a sudden he's gambolling around like a lamb, having spent the winter trudging around like he's really suffering

Mine was bouncing around like a spring lamb

@AvocadosBeforeMortgages

Me too! Is it just me who has a dog that seems to get a year or two younger when the warm weather hits? All of a sudden he's gambolling around like a lamb, having spent the winter trudging around like he's really suffering

Might he have some sort of arthritis which could be exacerbated by bad weather?

@ErrolTheDragon It's a fair question, but he's only about 4.5 and he's done it ever since I've known him (3 springs now). He's also entirely capable of moving when he sees a squirrel!

I think that - like me - his mood just lifts when the weather gets warmer. He has always hated anything cold - even ice cream! A fair weather dog, you might day...

PS when I say "like he's suffering", I mean to say the sort of suffering that would suggest he's auditioning for a part in an RSPCA advert ("for just £2 a month...")

The sort of suffering a dog experiences when you've accidentally bought the flavour of luxury dog food they don't like...

I was thinking this on yesterday's walk, I'm not sure if I've just noticed it more this winter but the mud has been unbelievable!! It took me back to my early 20s trudging round Glastonbury festival.

Firmer ground is very much welcome as is a few rays of sunshine.

Waves to bitey! Think we were both on a puppy thread a year or so ago 🙂

Waves back. So glad the puppy days are firmly behind us

Not as nicer day today as the sun has only just broken through but so nice to be able to skirt around the swampy parts. And as PP said, only having to quickly rinse legs and belly of BiteyDog is much better.

And it’s getting so light at night too - roll on summer

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I think your right, I’ve put it down to every Tom dick and Harry taking their daily exercise when they usually be in the shops/softplay/pub etc

*you’re 😳

Bitey yes although I do miss my little puppy some times, I think it's a bit like having a baby you're so sleep deprived you forget the hard bits!! Has yours come out the other side of the terrible teens as well? Our ddog seems to be finally calming down and behaves himself some most of the time 😉

Puppy and now...

I still pop onto the puppy threads now and again for morale support for the new pup owners but it is starting to become a welcome distant memory

It's depressing when I realise that for 75% of the year my otherwise spotless kitchen (I wish) has towels on the floor to catch the worst of the wet paws. Are we going to get a wet summer?

Nooo don't mention a wet summer . I want a nice warm (but not sweltering hot) summer.

I completely agree. My dogs are so much bouncier (spaniels so don’t really care about weather), and so am I. Feels like there’s hope in the air now

Sorry for lowering the tone of the thread with talk of a wet summer --- I actually don't mind the rain and I've bought doggy bathrobes for the pair of them