Dogs and Cavemen

It's been some time since I last updated the site and Archie is now approaching 6 months. In the last month he's been changing from puppy to pubescent teenager. His adult coat started to come in around 4-5 months and grooming was a daily activity. I decided to take him to the groomer for a trim as it was getting hard work. Most groomers had a waiting list, but we found a lady locally. We dropped Archie off and returned several hours later. As we approached the door, something resembling a sheep was jumping up and down at the back gate. We thought nothing of it and asked where Archie was. To our horror and slight amusement, the sheep was Archie. Our groomer didn't seem that experienced with Wheatens and Archie had gone from exceptionally hairy to shaun the sheep after a close shave. We've learnt our lesson and will find a new groomer next time. After 3 weeks, his hair has already gone back to it's soft fluffy self and grooming is so much easier on the up side.

As for being a teenager, he's started asserting himself with other dogs and now and again humiliates me in public my play chewing on a spaniel's ear. He's usually just playing, but it still doesn't look good. Apart from that, he's an angel most of the time and has learnt to sit, lie down and shake hands with his paw.

Anyway, on a walk the other day it came to me that growing dogs are much the same as boyfriends and husbands. They think like cavemen. If you shout at them in an attempt to get your own way, they pretty much dig their heels in and do as they please. If you box clever, smile sweetly, speak  in a pleasant voice and cook  a lovely meal by way of persuasion, it usually works in your favour...So I employed the same tactics with Archie. Now as he charges across fields, I call him in a happy voice trying to convince him I'm a better option and bribe him with frankfurter sausage pieces as a treat. I was amazed at the results.

Should you wish to have the same success rate with the TV remote when the football's on, I can advise Archie's tactic of burying your poo under your bedding so it can't be found for days!