Beyond Adolescence - part 2

[SpanielsGalore]

No point banning coffee, as it didn't work last time. 🙄
Haven't had any cake updates from a while. @VanGoSunflowers Have you stopped baking already? You still had 8 cakes to go to make it economical.

Freezing here. No snow, but the pavements are white and the cars still have a thick layer of frost. Normally I love this weather, but right now I'm not enjoying it because it's hurting my sinuses. We might just take Brie on the fields, if the route down there isn't too slippy.

Glad you're safely home @TheHungryHungryLandsharks
I couldn't leave mine eating either - none of them would ever eat without me being there. And yes, I'd always have to announce that I'm going out and I won't be long. I have three medical appointments next week so that'll be a challenge for Brie after several weeks of not being left at all.

I'd have done the same as you @brushingboots and gone back for the lead. I'd begrudge someone too much to let it go.

Used to get properly snowed in like that when we lived in the eastern side of Cumbria @SpanielsGalore It feels like a different world, although I know it can be an almighty pain if you need anything.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks When I went out the first time it was -1 ‘feels like -10’ which was horrific – it’s now 2 ‘feels like -5’ but I am under a heated blanket and my LBC for the foreseeable with the TV on and my new book proposal to finish.

Pupsy is well ‘ard, as I am fond of saying ironically – bombproof in every sense!

To be fair @Silverbirchleaf @SpanielsGalore it is a very special lead that they don’t make anymore! It’s the holy grail of leather, brass and a D-ring. I’ve got one spare and have just offered on the only one for sale on Vinted! It would have eaten away at me if I hadn’t gone straight out again and like hell am I going up there in the dark on my own.

It was 13 in my snug when I got back. I’m glad that it’s dry because the humidity in the house is right down but I am in peak ‘will the car start?’ season now.

Very specific question which you may not know the answer to @SpanielsGalore but do you know what size that harness is that you kindly gave us? I want to buy another one but can’t get V to stand still long enough to measure him 🤣

Freezing here but no snow thankfully. I am thinking about that awful solid ice we had last year and may buy some of those Yaktrax things just in case.

@Silverbirchleafwe have that lead and it’s been one of my best dog related purchases!!

@YorkshireFelix Sorry, I don't. It's been a good few years since I bought it. Looking at the size chart, you only need the rib measurement. Can you lay the harness out flat and measure the width the chest straps are adjusted to? IYSWIM

@SpanielsGalore He has two irons!? Perhaps this Christmas he can buy you a replacement (if you want one, of course!)?

I know what you mean! When I did the lawn edging it was wonky, but after a while I just stopped noticing the fact it was wonky and was just proud that I had done it!

I'd get the food delivered. If you go out you'd have to see people and they might want to talk to you.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet sorry you're not feeling 100%. Did you take Brie out in the end? I usually love the frost and first snow layer, but when it freezes and then defrosts and re-freezes it gets too treacherous.

@brushingboots Yep. I definitely would not have gone out again! Ohh can you tell us what the new book might be on?

I know I wouldn't have done anything today, other than one dog walk this afternoon, but the not being able to get out is driving me crackers.

@YorkshireFelix i brought it originally to use in wet weather, as my hand used to slip on my lovely leather lead. Now none of the family don’t use anything else.

We've just returned from a surprisingly enjoyable walk @TheHungryHungryLandsharks . Once we were out, it wasn't as bad underfoot as we'd feared, so we ended up doing a circular route of just over an hour.

Yaktrax are definitely worth investing in @YorkshireFelix .

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I haven't ironed anything for at least three years, so DS was quite welcome to the iron.

I originally typed I was proud of myself for decorating, but thought people might think I was a bit up myself. But I am proud. Especially when it's been a tricky piece of paper to hang. I may be slow, but I have seen professionals do worse jobs.

And I agree with getting the food delivered. It was either an hour and a half of time and £4 in diesel, or stay home in the warm and get it delivered for free.
It's currently sat in my basket whilst I try to talk myself out of impulse buying a new dog bed for the kitchen. The current bed js brown. There is one in the sale that looks close to 'parrot flight', but is described as navy. Or should I go grey to match the carpet? Or do I stick with the brown one, as I don't really have money to spend on new dog beds when I already have 5 and only 3 dogs?

It's this bed if that helps. 😂
https://www.petsathome.com/product/3-peaks-nevis-water-resistant-scalloped-dog-bed-blue/P72134?

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Glad you've had a nice walk. We haven't been out today. Everytime I think it is brightening up so we can head out, it starts showering again. I wouldn't mind if it was just snow, but it's hailstones too and they bloody hurt when they whack you in the face!

I daren't even risk a quick walk down the sea front. I made that mistake yesterday. The weather was revolting and the dogs had a minor scrap over a dead sheep they found on the beach. 🤦‍♀️

@CoubousAndTourmaIet so glad it was a nice walk ❤Were there many others out?

@SpanielsGalore Ohh I say no to another dog bed and instead use the money on that fish and chips from the chippy you mentioned a while ago. Think how many portions you could get for that and it could be a 'celebration' for when the kitchen is finished 😀

Definitely be proud! I couldn't do it even if I had a professional stood next to me telling me what to do.

I'm glad it's not just my girls who get into scraps over things. I always fear it is as everyone seems to be at opposite ends of the spectrum; either their dogs are best friends who never fight, or they fight all the time. Mine obviously get on, but every now and then something will set them off. Satan is definitely the worst for starting fights for no reason, although I think part of that stems from her background. But, Clem isn't far behind her - deer poo is, apparently, her kryptonite and heaven forbid any of the others get between her and deer poo once she's spotted it. Think i'd take deer poo over a dead sheep though😩

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Now that's an idea! Although I could only get one fish supper as the large size bed is only £16. So maybe a fish supper with a couple of fishcakes on the side.

I think it's quite normal for multi dog house holds to have the odd 'handbags at dawn' type scraps. I fought with my siblings, so I don't see why dogs should be any different.

My first two boys had a few fallouts over the 14 years they lived together. I think most involved food. One was because the black one wasn't looking where he was going and jumped on the settee and landed on his sleeping brother, who wasn't very happy about it.
My sprocker and P didn't fight as such. But he attacked her when he was feeling especially poorly and she never fought back.

P and K have had two squabbles now. Once when P was in season and very grumpy. I think she was guarding a toy, that K tried to take off her. And yesterday K did not want P to share her feast. To be fair to P, I'm not sure she retaliated and it was perhaps just K attacking her. If she did, it was a split second instinctive response and then P defused it be sitting down sphinx like and K instantly stopped.

And I'd take deer poo over a dead animal of any kind. It's not fun trying to pull them out of the dog's mouth. My muzzled sprocker once managed to grab the end of a dead seal's hind flipper and was running round the beach with it. That was fun. 🙈

It was nice weather here though @SpanielsGalore @TheHungryHungryLandsharks Hovering just above 0, bright and sunny. I don't blame you for not getting out in ice and hailstorms.

Was it quiet? Yes and no; there was a gaggle of about 25 rambling pensioners, all very well togged up and clearly all hardened walkers. After that, just four dog walkers, so not too bad.

I'm also in awe of your decorating skills, SG. I'm not the most practical when it comes to house and garden maintenance. I'm more of a "faffer" 😁

Rose & Sylvie used to scrap a lot over nothing in particular, but just because they were polar opposites with regard to temperament. They didn't like each other much and poor Merlin used to run and hide when he sensed trouble brewing. R could be very, very annoying and S would snap. Yet another reason why I prefer boys 😉

Yes I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing this in the first place!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

We've had no snow at all so although it's very cold it's not really icy underfoot. Two lovely walks the past couple of days, lots of sunshine and bright blue skies although managed to forget to take leads two days on the trot! I've also spent a significant amount of time this afternoon extracting thorns from the pups.

Just one more day before I have to juggle walks and work again :-(

That's a gorgeous colour @SpanielsGalore, and if it helps, I have at least four dog beds plus sofa cushions strategically placed on the floor, and another three or four beds that are now too small, for ONE dog, so actually you clearly need more.

(ETA he actually sleeps in my bed)

Is this a good time to say Brie doesn't have a bed at all? 😬 Possibly not...😳

@Bupster That's the sort of encouragement I was looking for. 💖 And a large is only £16 if I use my vouchers. Be rude not to buy it really. 😁

@CoubousAndTourmaIet My vets have just got some massive donut beds in stock that would accommodate Brie. 😉

To be fair to my dogs, they do use all of the beds. There are two in the living room. One in the dining room, plus a padded cushion in the window. And one in the kitchen. They also have a choice of three sofas and the carpeted floors.
At night, N sleeps on a big duvet. K sleeps on my bed. P sleeps in a dog bed in my room or on the double bed in the spare room.

They also have a canvas raised bed in the garden. That one was a waste of money. I think DS lay on it to sunbathe more than the dogs have used it.

Dog doesn’t have a cosy one like the one pictured. He has a vet bed and fleece in the crate, and a flat mat in the lounge. Mostly he sleeps on the sofa, or sneaks up onto our bed (and if he’s lucky, is allowed to stay there all night. Ie, can’t he bothered to bring him back downstairs).

Incidently, does anyone else’s dog scratch on the sofa? We’ve tried putting covers on at night, which has helped, but sometimes he still manages to get behind them, and scratch

@SpanielsGalore fish supper and fishcakes it is then!! Fish dinners > spare dog beds in this house!

I think it's quite normal for multi dog house holds to have the odd 'handbags at dawn' type scraps. I fought with my siblings, so I don't see why dogs should be any different.
@SpanielsGalore @CoubousAndTourmaIet it's interesting isn't it? I think @tizwozliz is the only other poster here with multiple dogs so she may also have experience. I guess when most people think 'dog fight' or 'scrap' they think something terrible whereas I've always found it to be very restrained, if slightly loud....none of mine have ever hurt each other, but they've definitely made some rather odd noises.

@SpanielsGalore the idea of a dog running around with a dead animal in it's mouth that isn't part of it's 'work' makes me feel very queazy for some reason!

@Bupster I see you posting about beds...but I do not believe these beds exist unless proof of Bill in them is shown😁

@tizwozliz I feel your pain on going back to work! I really don't want to go back either 😫But DH and I have both failed to win the lottery and on premium bonds...so back we go

Let sleeping dog lie.

I really should get her a bed @SpanielsGalore but Algy had two and never used either. They were so blimmin big they took up half the kitchen...Truthfully I don't know where I'd put a Brie bed.

She does this on the sofa @Silverbirchleaf 🙄 She is more than slightly bonkers, my pup. But yes, she ratches and flings cushions.

I'd forgotten about the raised bed. Bill has five beds, none of which he sleeps in.

Oh god. My snark came out @TheHungryHungryLandsharks 😬I've been trying so hard to be good 😭
I think it's that whole thing of being a little old lady with a small garden and knowing that if someone else like a behaviourist ~shudder~ were to choose me a dog, they would likely suggest a Westie, a Tibetan Terrier or a miniature poodle 😢
But I still don't see how a stranger can choose the right dog for someone.

Fast asleep in what was once my bed. Somehow he manages to steal all the covers despite refusing to sleep under any.

@Silverbirchleaf that photo on the bed is lovely - such soulful eyes!

@Bupster I hope you don't mind me saying so...but Bill looks mightily smug and self-satisfied in that photo😂He really is a handsome devil.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet I don't think anyone can! Best bet is, and always will be, speaking to someone knowledgable! It's how I know I am 100% not suited to Spaniel ownership (and thus why I have no shame in creepy on KPN and Pupsy, and Vinny).😁