Not hell ... not really even purgatory, except for Satch

Things are gradually subsiding. I let Max and Satchmo play with Nina this afternoon. Satch jumped and skipped round his mother, playbowing and saying, "I love, love, love my Mum. She's so exciting to be with. Much more than usual. Let's play, play, play." Sweetie. He just doesn't get it, does he? Max knows Nina won't let him near her, so he mounts Satch instead. So, Satchmo is playbowing at his mum and wagging his tail and all of a sudden, Max is on his back end that he's inadvertently pointed skywards. You can see Satch thinking, "I don't know much about sex, but this isn't how I imagined it'd be."

Hormone hell - yet again

OK, so Nina's in season again and this time two sexually mature boys to keep away from her. As luck had it, I was already scheduled for 4 days away with friends, so I took the boys and got someone to house sit Nina. However, back yesterday and at least one dog whining all the time. Mostly Satchmo (typical boy), but both Max and Nina do join in regularly. (Short pause here while Satch tried to climb on my lap. Fey little look - what a poor boy I am, please cuddle me - and then belched in my face.) Max won't eat at all now, at least not dog food. Half a dozen sausages by hand and a pound of biscuits doesn't, of course, count as eating.

Anyway, Max now in kitchen barking and howling, Satch whining in my ear and Nina in the sitting room scratching my lovely oak door and whining. At least another week of this...

At night the two boys are in cages and Nina in the room with them. If I put Nina in the cage instead, Max pees on her. The joys of dog ownership.

Good day at SW Working and Pastoral

Satch was the only dog in Junior, so needless to say, got a first. I also took Nina, first proper show for about a year, and she won open bitch, which I was thrilled about. And then Satchmo won BOB. Very pleased, as he was up against four other dogs. Had to persuade one of the exhibitors whose dog Nina beat to handle her in the BOB line-up. He was very nice about it and complimentary about her. Long wait for the group judging and no placing in that, which is not surprising as Satch is still only 16 months and therefore still a bit immature. Good day out though.