So this is Christmas

Hmmmm.....look what happened last week. The humans got the tree thing from the loft and fixed it together, then they hung bobbles on it (I think they called them bobbles).

Then they found a bag with antlers on headbands and the human who feeds me put one on her head and one on MINE! Then she took a photo of me. I usually get a bit excited when I see a photo op coming up but this time I was a bit grumpy because I had this thing on my head.

To her credit, she took it off straight away after I'd posed and it's not been seen since. Thank goodness.

And of course, we had all that wet white stuff they call snow and it was blooming cold out, slippery too. They put on my warm fleecy onesie coat when we went out for walks, and they took walking poles with them as the snow had frozen and it was icy. My paws held up OK but it was nice to get back in the warm.

They took me to the Heath, which looked very white. There were other dogs there in the snow too, so that made it more interesting to run about in.

Then they went away to somewhere called Lincoln to see some family but they didn't take me as they were going to sing carils in the caffeedroll and stay overnight in a hotel. What are carils? The radio keeps playing these carils songs and yesterday I got pretty excited because the caril song said holly and I thought it was about Holly the Cat who lives near my house and sometimes comes into my garden [Ed. "The first tree in the green wood it was the holly..." was the carol and it had  

I went to stay with my Fan Club across the road, where the girls who love me live. Sometimes they come to my house for a play date and they like to groom me, so the human who feeds me packed my grooming brush and comb so they could do this while I stayed there.

I watched while their mum wrapped up presents then they played with me and we all watched something called football. No idea what it was about but people kept running about after a ball and I liked seeing them moving around in a big field. 

It was almost as good as Dog TV.

Hunkering down

I don't know about you, but this chilly weather and these dark days, I'm not very keen to leave my cosy cushion, or bed, or sofa, or lap to go out very much or very far. The humans make me go out every blooming day for a walk - seems like it's at leaaaast 5 times every day [Ed. it's not].

I have to admit that today's walk wasn't too bad. That's because they took me in the car and I didn't have to walk to the park, and of course, I really like the park - it's called Tattern or something [Ed. Tatton Park, National Trust] and we can walk there from my house, but it's a looong walk if we do that and then walk around the park and back home again. I like it best when we go in the car, not that I'm lazy or a wimp or anything. Perish the thought.

Anyway, it was all dark and gloomy and grey outside today but I did enjoy my walk and saw a few deer (got steered away from them though). It was good to go out because it's been pretty busy at my house with visitors coming to stay. All week.

The human's daughter, who I adore, came to stay with some person called a boyfriend. He made a real fuss of me and to be honest, I rather liked sitting on his lap and being walked by him. The adorable daughter was a bit miffed because I didn't give her so much attention. Must make it up to her next time she visits.

They went home and then another visitor came, a friend of the human who does school with me. He liked me and played with me and talked a lot to my humans. He seemed to have known them for a long time and they talked about things they did a long time ago at something called a yooneeversity. No idea what that is but it sounded like a lot went on there.

Now it's back to just me and my humans and keeping warm and snuggling down. Oh yes, one thing I really like at the moment is dog TV, which they put on for me to watch for a while before they watch a human TV thing. Although I have noticed they both watch the cats and dogs on dog TV too and seem to like it.

Humans are a bit odd at times, but where would we, or I, be without them?

 

Dog meets dog

Phew, it was all go when I went to stay with my human's daughter for a few days at her house. I love her to bits so it's no probem going there as I'm spoilt something rotten....although she does get a bit strict with me at times, especially when that CAT is about! But on the whole, I have a great time, plenty of fuss and new walks. I also get to visit new people, and one of them had a dog.

Brodie is a Miniature Dachshund and he's a similar size to me. Well, we met up at his house and I soon realised that we're both wimps! [Ed. as described by said daughter]

Now, I didn't know what that word meant and it doesn't sound very flattering, but as I see it, it has to mean we have good manners (like me) and that we're reserved and don't rush into leaping all over other dogs or people when we first meet them (like me) and that we generally behave ourselves. Well, I do have excellent taste and I can always detect a pocket of treats when I smell one on people we meet.

I can be a bit reserved when I meet new dogs when I'm out walking, and if they come on too strong then I'll give them a warning bark, get them to back off and then we'll proceed at my speed. Or maybe not at all if I don't like the look or smell of them.

It was all very civilised with Brodie and we kept to our own space and blankets while our humans chatted. I think he looks a bit nervous in this photo and he probably didn't like me being in his house, which is why I stuck to the rug.

Oh Brodie, I hope we can meet again and have a bit more fun when we know each other better. You're kind of like my kind of dog.

 

What's in a name?

 

2019 was the last time I went to France with my humans in my campervan - you know why, it was this virus thing that's messed life up quite a lot. And then there is that brackset thing they did so I can't use my Pet Passport anymore. I feel a growl coming on, so don't get me started.

Anyway, names. In 2019 I had to go to a vet in France before we came home. He was very nice and it was OK apart from him popping a pill down my throat when I wasn't expecting it. I just gulped in surprise and it was gone.

One of my humans picked up a card in the waiting room (I was busy keeping an eye on a cat in its carrier across the room) and would you believe it, they have  ideas for pet's names each year in France! How strange. I don't think you have to choose one of the names if you don't want to, and I'm really quite relieved.

I mean, had I been born in 2019 in France when it was "P" year, I might have been called Pongo or Pancake. Horror of horrors!!! I was born in 2018, so my name might have begun with "O".....hmmmm....Oswald, Ollie, Orlando, Oregano???

 

The first photo of me taken by the human who feeds me. I climbed up her leg and said "ooow-wooow" (hello) then the humans took me to live with them at their house, and decided on my name on the way.

All of this got me thinking about my name and the names of some of the dogs I know. I was named Bosworth after the village where I was born - Husband's Bosworth. People sometimes say "Oh yes, the Battle of Bosworth" when they hear my name. (What's a battle?)

The first friend I met when I was a puppy is called Woody, he's a lot older than me and a bit bigger too (Ed. a Border terrier). Dolly the Dachsund lives across the road and we have playful romps together. Murphy, also across the road, always says hello, and Rusty, a few doors away, wags and is pleased to see me. Well, he can hardly see and he's lost an eye but he uses his nose and knows it's me.

Then there's Daisy and Dougal who are quite new dogs on the block, but they're very friendly and their names bring the score for "D" up to 3. There are 3 Jacks who live nearby and I know them all - old brown Jack who's rather elderly, small brown and white Jack (Ed. a Jack Russell) and black and white Jack.

I've overheard my humans talking about the name they chose for me. They rejected all the early suggestions lined up - Bracken (I rather like that one), Magnus (hahaha - joke - it means "big" and I'm quite small), Jasper (because my colour is termed "red"), and - heaven forbid, Banjo (wouldn't have suited my personality at all).

If there are any dogs out there reading this (or their humans) please let me know what your name is. I'd love to hear what you're called, and why.