The Spaniel Diaries: The continuing adventures of Billy

The Spaniel Diaries

Wow! it’s December already! Where has the time gone? Mum has only gone and got our coats out of their summer hibernation and is insisting we wear them when it’s cold and wet, not I hasten to add is she worried about us getting muddy and wet as we are weatherproof boys but she hates having to wash the floors and walls after we shake mud all over them! I think it’s hilarious and Mav, I have to say, is really good at it as his tail is longer than mine and wags furiously ensuring a really good pebbledash effect right up the wall!

The days are really short now so we do a lot of our exercise and training in the dark. We have our lovely flashing collars so mum can see us in the field at night and it’s been amazing going to the beach first thing – mum is loving the fact it’s empty of people and Mav is loving the

Only 1 Groom until Christmas!

Have you booked yours?

DOG GROOMING SERVICE DirtBags Grooming

IN THE HEART OF LOXWOOD 07478 349192

workshop@dirtbagsgrooming.co.uk Find me on Facebook and Instagram

fact it’s full of seagulls – mum isn’t loving that as she’s trying to stop Mav chasing them! I encourage him as much as I can just to make sure he gets in plenty of trouble; the best bit is when I manage to move some from behind a breakwater right in front of him so he takes off after them! He really should make a debut at a Greyhound race. Mum is talking about getting ready for Christmas. I love Christmas as I get steak for dinner and lots of yummy treats, as does mum. She spends the day filling her face with chocolate (which is strictly off limits to us spaniels) and has the cheek to call me fat! I shall be overseeing preparation and plating of the Christmas dinner as usual because I can use my absolute cuteness to claim a nice portion of delicious roast lamb (they are not turkey fans here!). Mav just sits out of the way as he’s a goody two shoes but I like to take up residence under the kitchen bench then point at the meat while staring with my best sad dog look – that always gets me a tasty morsel! The only thing I can’t understand about Christmas is how mum brings a whole tree in the house yet she won’t let me bring my favourite log indoors, using the excuse that it’s yucky and has been buried in the garden for ages.

We have been on some fantastic walks recently – even in the winter the countryside is beautiful and we have explored lots of new places. I have been on my best behaviour and that paid off because I got some sneaky treats from Mum’s pub lunch. We had such a long walk that day that Mav was really tired and just flaked on the way home, so I sat on him and used him as a cushion as he didn’t have the energy to object! Mum thought it was cute and I was reaffirming my place at the top of the heirachy!

I heard mum and dad talking about puppies the other day. I know Mav would be delighted to have one around the place, but I will make it known how much I disapprove if they attempt to bring one home! I really don’t want another carpet alligator hanging off my ear having clamped on with its needle teeth, I think I would rather go and live in the shed!

So another year almost gone, let’s look forward to the next one and hope it’s a happy one! Jeannette Douglas