They say you should do the worst things first and today I had to buckle down and do something I was dreading. As a dog groomer I have a minimum quarterly agreement with my pups that they have a bath (Mabel rolls in poo so has far more). Last time I tried to bath Ernest it was an absolute nightmare and I still have the scars to prove it…so today a new approach.
Knowing Jasper would behave I took him to the ladies shower room and he sat like an angel while I scrubbed him in warm bubbly water using gorgeous Earthbath mango shampoo. Towel dry, doggy dressing gown on and off he trots receiving compliments for being gorgeous. Repeat with Mabel, no problem. (Don’t worry mum I left the shower room spotless)
Then screamy guts Ernest. There was no way I can hold him and keep him in the shower cubicle without a massive scene, so I roped Mark into helping and it was off to the outdoor drained yard for a very swift hosepipe bath. The kids on the campsite found it funny, but in fairness he was much better this time. I wasn’t dragged across the floor, I’m not bleeding, there was minimal screaming and he was bathed in under 5 mins so despite his propensity for weeing on himself he no longer smells of piss. Plus he looks adorable in his drying coat that is now slightly too small for him. I have a clean van, 3 clean dogs and 2 clean humans…I’m calling it a win 😄🤣
As we are being spoilt by the weather we took them straight out for a long walk to help us all dry (Mark and I had got wet washing Ernest). Within 20 minutes both Mabel and Jasper had rolled…one in sand, the other in grass. So yep, there is now sand in the van…but my typical furmum response is at least it wasn’t poo.
Mark and I then caught the tram into the city for a walk around the City Park and Margaret’s Island. At the former we were a bit confused that Google showed a large lake in front of the church and castle but its actually just concrete…we are guessing they turn in into an ice rink in winter 🤔 Also the timewheel – a huge sand timer that only needs to be turned once a year, had been boarded off as part of a building site.
So for leisurely mooching Margaret Island is definitely preferable. Also unlike a lot of city centre parks you can’t hear the traffic so much, so it really doesn’t feel like your in a big city. A huge perk for us was a dog group were working with a photographer for a project, which meant they had a gang of 15+ dogs of all shapes and sizes for us to meet and cuddle…my idea of heaven.
On the food front, it was naughty pizza and a great vegan bakery called Fill Good which sold my favourite Bratislavan pastry. They weren’t as good as the original but such a nice find!
This evening we decided to walk the pups to the pet shop as Ernest snapped his collar. He is a little muscle house, ridiculously strong and excitable. This is his 4th collar in 10 months, but I think he has largely stopped growing.
If you take a puppy into a pet shop you have to have hawk eyes in the back of your head. As I was talking to Mark about dog food, Ernest had his head in the open box of bones and so I ended up having to buy them as he’d had his shuffle chops all over them. Add to this the senior dog food and lots more training treats, and we are spending more on the dogs than on ourselves 🤣.
We go through training treats at a rate of knots as Mabel and Jasper respond to anything I ask Ernest to do, and obviously expect a reward (they are both 8 and passed their doggy exams years ago 🤣). Ernest will only sit if I have sweets; the bugger knows the command but can smell if I have sweets on me and ignores me if I dont…and they say Bulldogs are dumb! Anyone got some magical advice?
Ah I wouldn’t change them, I love my motley crew of loveable muts….especially when they are asleep, as they are now 🐶❤🐾
SofaWolves 