Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3

1000 replies

SpanielsGalore · 07/01/2026 21:19

Not tagging anyone. I'm sure you'll all find your way here if you want to join in. 😁

OP posts:
Thread gallery
163
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 01/03/2026 12:01

Silverbirchleaf · 28/02/2026 16:33

Handsome boy.

What is ‘ground nesting season?’ Never heard of that before. Are you forbidden to let dogs of leads?

We have this, you’re not allowed on the marsh in front of (behind?) the beach from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day at all, dog or no dog.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 01/03/2026 12:02

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 01/03/2026 12:01

We have this, you’re not allowed on the marsh in front of (behind?) the beach from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day at all, dog or no dog.

Sorry Easter Sunday not New Year’s Day 🙈.

Silverbirchleaf · 01/03/2026 12:17

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 01/03/2026 12:01

We have this, you’re not allowed on the marsh in front of (behind?) the beach from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day at all, dog or no dog.

Thank you.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Warm? Yesterday there was a bitter wind here, and I had to wear hat and gloves, although it did improve throughout the day, and last night there was a lovely starry night. Today, damp again.

Anyone else finding its really difficult to know what wear? You’re either too hot or to cold.

Struckbylightning · 01/03/2026 12:59

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding That’s so funny about drinking out the toilet, but only after a flush. I suspect that would be too fresh for Merry. Only the dirtiest, slimiest puddle for her!

I agree about not knowing what to wear, I never seem to get it quite right these past few days. Today we walked along the river. When the sun was out I was sweating, but as soon as a cloud came over I was nithered. I don’t know why we live in this country sometimes. (Though we used to live in Doha, and I’m very grateful not to be there any more!)

We also have ground nesting bird season. Dogs must be on lead between March 1st to the end of July when on the Quantock Hills. Luckily there are lots of nice alternative places to walk. That has just reminded me… I remember once when in Suffolk we walked through part of a bird reserve and there were signs everywhere saying please keep your dog on the lead. We passed a couple whose black lab was off lead and bounding about in the rushes off the path. So I politely said to them that their dog should probably be on the lead. The man got right in my face and bellowed ‘fuck off!!’ I was so shocked I couldn’t do anything but laugh. Some people are so weird.

Silverbirchleaf · 01/03/2026 15:14

nithered - a regional (?) word I don’t know , but presumes means cold

tizwozliz · 01/03/2026 15:20

Ground nesting bird season in the place we were yesterday means dogs on leads 1st March - 31st August not a complete ban. Some other places nearby are 1st March - 31st July.

We're lucky to have plenty of other options but it's a lovely area so it was nice to get a good walk in whilst we still can. We'll go back in September when all the heather is out.

1st March and I had to flick an unattached tick off one of the pups this morning 😡

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 01/03/2026 15:21

@Silverbirchleaf only first thing in the morning - I am up and about at no later than 05:30 every day! Usually done the morning walk before 7 and already on my way back home. It's apparently cloudy at home right now, but not that wet. Hoping it stays that way

@tizwozliz sorry for your tick woes! I hate ticks.

The only ground nesting season I know is at Holkham from April - October. But that's only on the beach, and only in certain parts, not the beach path. Although it probably should include the beach path...

YorkshireFelix · 01/03/2026 15:48

We have ground nesting bird season on the moors up here too from today. I think it’s until the end of July.

I don’t know nithered either 😄 We say someone is ‘nesh’ where I’m from, but it’s more something you’d call someone who is always cold (aka me!!).

V is still off his food. It’s very weird as he otherwise seems completely fine now. He didn’t eat tea at all last night but then decided to eat half at midnight, then he didn’t want his breakfast and again ate half around lunch time. He’s usually sat by his bowl waiting then gobbles it up in 3 seconds flat so it’s unusual for him.

Struckbylightning · 01/03/2026 21:34

Sorry yes, nithered is one of my mother’s words. She is from County Durham and full of weird and wonderful words and phrases that no one else has ever heard of.

There can’t possibly be ticks around already. Surely they have all drowned..?!

Silverbirchleaf · 03/03/2026 13:12

I love how dogs find themselves a sunny patch to lay in. Squeezed into the sunny bit and avoiding the shadows.

Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3
MooseBeTimeForSnow · 03/03/2026 22:09

Enough of your warm weather!! It’s dropped to -30 with the wind chill again. Everyone here is done with this winter. We’ve not seen quite this much snow for a very long time.

We frequently meet the local elk herd. A wildlife fence was constructed. It was meant to keep them out. Instead, it seems to have closed them in! This guy was just by our communal dumpster ..

Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3
Silverbirchleaf · 04/03/2026 09:54

Stunning photograph, and appropriate for your name.

Silverbirchleaf · 04/03/2026 18:51

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Are you off to Crufts?

YorkshireFelix · 04/03/2026 20:46

Wow that is humongous @MooseBeTimeForSnow

V has been fairly ok the past few days after seeming unwell before the weekend, but last night he woke us up twice at 1.30 and 4am to do liquid poos. He even went in the yard the second time which is unheard of! He did eat some sour cream and chive dip I accidentally dropped on the floor yesterday so I think that might be the culprit rather than him being unwell. He’s way too quick so licked some up before dh could grab him.

I had a big third stage job interview today and I feel so worn out from it all. The weather is going to be lovely tomorrow so I’m looking forward to a nice walk with V and hopefully dd whilst I sit and wait a few days to find out the outcome. I think this sunshine has solved all my problems recently!

Silverbirchleaf · 04/03/2026 21:23

@YorkshireFelix Hope the interview went well.

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 05/03/2026 07:24

@Silverbirchleaf we arrived yesterday evening! Took a small (well, very large) surprise detour via Norfolk for two days together with DWS and Twatdog after the weekend - I thought we were going straight to where we were staying, and then he headed off the wrong way down the M25 and I nearly had heart failure.

DH and I will be up here until Monday, then drive back down again. DDs and the older girls are splitting the week between DH parents and mine, which means meringue and strawberries for breakfast and steak and chips for dinner every night for the humans, and unlimited cuddles for the dogs...think they got the better end of the deal😂

@YorkshireFelix Fingers crossed for your interview going well! When will you hear how you did!? I remember you saying a while ago you'd been out of work for a while, so really hope you get it.

Poor Vinny and all the others that have been a bit sickly recently. 😞

@SpanielsGalore how is P doing!?

@VanGoSunflowers Enjoying your time off, I hope!?

The only major news story from me, other than Crufts, is that the fosterer from last weekend and the dog bonded nearly instantly. When the fosterer left, the ol' boy was crying for him. Never seen a dog react so strongly to a human before at something like that. Dog should be in his new home by the end of next weekend (just one more meet to be 100% sure, in somewhere a bit more public) assuming all goes well. I'm a sucker for a happy ending 😊

YorkshireFelix · 05/03/2026 09:43

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks exciting! It sounds like everyone will have a fab time. What day are you showing?

They are interviewing the other 2 candidates on Friday so they said I’ll hear after the weekend. I actually think it went well! It was a huge amount of work as I had to work on a live design/marketing brief and present to them, but I think I did a good job so we will see. My contact ended at the end of Dec for my other job but I’ve been lucky to have some freelance work to keep things ticking over. So it’s not the end of the world if it’s a no…

He woke me up again last night with the runs so I’m going to call the vets today. He was off his food again last night so I wonder if he’s got a bug of some sort 🙁 He seems completely fine otherwise.

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 05/03/2026 14:27

@YorkshireFelix not until Sunday morning! We just got here a few days early so we can get DWS used to the people/crowds and so we could decompress from the drive. We'll pop in tomorrow to socialise her a bit, but otherwise just taking it as a bit of a mini holiday.

Ohh poor Vinny 🙁Let us know what the vet says, fingers crossed he's just been a grubby bastard in the garden and managed to find something nasty to eat! It's always so worrying when they're sick as they can't actually tell us what's wrong...

That's so odd to interview you so early and the others so late. Will keep my fingers crossed (and pop up on Friday to bother you for an update) it's a 'yes.'

Silverbirchleaf · 05/03/2026 14:37

As @MooseBeTimeForSnow had a moose picture, tried to get a ‘Silverbirchleaf’ (minus leaf, not out yet) picture.

Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3
Silverbirchleaf · 05/03/2026 15:10

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks wishing you all the best at Crufts. Will be watching on tv later.

Hope V and P are better now, and the vet trip went well.

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 05/03/2026 17:54

@Silverbirchleaf such a handsome chap ❤

And thank you! I really don't have high hopes, but it's good for DWS to get out and about and be fawned over. Ironically her colouring, which is why judges don't tend to like my dogs, is what attracts people to them.

YorkshireFelix · 05/03/2026 21:08

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks ohhh I forgot to comment on the foster thing! Do you get a lot which end up being foster with a view to adopt or is it strictly fostering? It must be lovely when they immediately warm to them. Also tell us if you see Claudia Winkleman 😄

Vets didn’t seem overly concerned and he’s got a 6 month health check up booked in after the weekend anyway so I’ve decided to keep an eye on him until then, but will obviously take him in if anything changes. I gave him a bit of sweet potato with his dinner to see if it helps.

We went somewhere different for our walk today and it reminded me why I always go the same places!! He was absolutely insane. Ironically the area is a man made park/nature reserve type place built on the grounds of where used to be a Victorian Lunatic Asylum. Quite fitting for V I think 🤪

Beyond Adolescence and General Chit Chat - part 3
Silverbirchleaf · 05/03/2026 21:42

Lovely picture of V. He looks so happy there.

I’ve just been watching Crufts as well.

Do ‘Reserve Best in Show’ usually return for a second go at winning? Felt a bit cheeky to re-enter me.

None of my predicted winners were placed, so I’d not be a good Crufts judge. I remember when I went a few years back, and watched the labs being judged, the one I least liked won the class!

YorkshireFelix · 05/03/2026 21:45

Silverbirchleaf · 05/03/2026 21:42

Lovely picture of V. He looks so happy there.

I’ve just been watching Crufts as well.

Do ‘Reserve Best in Show’ usually return for a second go at winning? Felt a bit cheeky to re-enter me.

None of my predicted winners were placed, so I’d not be a good Crufts judge. I remember when I went a few years back, and watched the labs being judged, the one I least liked won the class!

We always joke that every single second of the day he’s thinking ‘this is the best day of my life’ 😄

I am watching too on catch up. I’d not be a good judge either!

TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 06/03/2026 07:49

@YorkshireFelix in my sleep lacking addled state I should 'potential adopterer' nor fosterer! Clearly I need to re-read what I type. So it was the potential adopter who the dog loved instantly (she's been in foster for a few weeks and seems fine but not 'happy' iyswim). We'll do another meeting between the three of us just to check all is fine, and then he (the adopter) can take the dog if he still wants to proceed 😊But it is lovely when they find homes. I'm particularly a sucker for when old dogs get new homes. This girl is 11, so no spring chicken and I always worry no one will want the older ones!

But to answer the question, foster fails aren't uncommon in re-homing but we tend to manage to avoid it - lots of our fosterers do it to help...whereas I think for a lot of charities the fosterers use it to try and wiggle around the adoption system!

Glad the vet wasn't too worried. Maybe V just likes to keep you on your toes...

I must say, every time I see a photo of V he seems to get more and more handsome. I agree with SilverBirch that he does seem incredibly happy and his coat is in such a nice condition.

@Silverbirchleaf I was really angry last year when that Mastiff came 2nd overall. I was furious he'd even won their group, let alone placed. When Clare Balding approached it behind the scenes, it growled at her (live on camera) and it was reportedly quite aggressive to other dogs from what people there at the time reported. Which I sort of get - it's in the breed to be territorial - but equally, if your dog is exhibiting those sorts of traits it shouldn't be in the show ring and absolutely should not be winning or placing. I ranted on MN (on the first iteration of this thread, I think) for weeks and could probably rant again this year!

It's not necessarily bad form to re-enter, but equally lots of us don't do it - in part because the assumption really is that your dog will almost certainly never do better than it did before, unless it's a very rare breed where there is less competition. For most of the breeders I know who show, once their dog has their JW or a couple of big wins/places under their belt, that's enough. It's only the 'big' kennels who continue. I'm practically a part timer - I usually duck out after they get their Show Gundog Working Certificate and/or their Junior Warrant as to do anymore is just to time-consuming.

I picked the Rottie/Doberman/Great Dane to do well and I still think they should have placed higher than the Tibetan Mastiff. Lovely examples of their breed. I've never seen such a beautiful Great Dane. Almost made me want one 😂

Wish me luck today - trying to wrangle DH, Twatdog and DWS is going to leave me with grey hairs. 😃

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.