Weekend wrap-up!

JD - Hi everyone - just a quick update today as we've been very busy working on Shelby's auction page - please do go over and have a nose around if you haven't already done so!

Max - We've got some great stuff coming in for it - we're very excited! We're also going to have a raffle - prize to be announced! - which will be picked out of a hat. Everyone who becomes a follower of Shelby's Auction Page will be entered into the raffle so make sure you become a follower!

JD - It's taking us a bit longer than we thought it would (like most things!) to get the page set up, what with having to link e-mails and add PayPal buttons and that sort of thing but we think we've got a layout that works now! We just need to drop in all auction items now, so please keep your generous contributions coming in!

Max - Also, we've been a bit pre-occupied because JD had his stitches out and his cone off on Friday - we had the GREATEST walk ever straight afterwards, but sadly JD started limping again on Saturday. FH and MH took him straight back to the Vets who couldn't find anything wrong with him. They were told that we might have overdone it with playing like maniacs straight after the removal of the cone and the stitches!

JD - I still can't walk very well - my paw is very sore but I'm not sure why. I just hope I don't have another seed in it that's going to fester and flare up. The humans can't see anything wrong on any part of my leg or paw and neither can I...

Max - ....I can't either and I've checked your paw a few times!

JD - I just know it hurts and I wish it would stop 'cos I wanna play zoomies and bitey face again. It was SO much fun playing with you again on Friday! Here is a photo of us playing 'mad bitey-face' around FH's legs, he he he! We often play around her feet as it's our way of inviting her to join in, although strangely she never takes us up on the offer.

JD - "Take that Max, bwahahahaha!" Max - "Come on FH - join in!"

Max - It was wonderful! We were so fast we were a BLUR! I miss bitey face - sigh....!

JD - Me too Max. The humans know I'm not faking the limp as they've seen me do it on puppycam (the indoor security camera they use to tune in on us whenever they have to abandon us to do un-puppy-related activity!)

Max - Before we leave we wanted to show you a photo of the type of horrible grass seeds that we get here that cause huge problems for us puppies.

These particular grass seeds are like darts and they're barbed too so once they've pierced the skin they can burry deep -ouch!

JD - Apparently, removing grass seeds is what pays the Vets mortgages during the summer in the UK, it's SUCH a common problem! They get in paws, noses, ears, armpits - it's horrible!

These seeds can be very large, as FH demonstrates here! They're particularly dangerous when they've become crispy in the sun as they are so dry they become as sharp as needles.

Max - Finally, here is a photo of a jellyfish we found on the beach on Friday, before JD started limping again.

JD - FH kept shouting as us to stay away from it. Well, considering it looked like something she' just sneezed up we were VERY happy to oblige!

"Atishoo! Bless you FH!! He he he!!"

Max - Yeah - as if I was going to put my nose into THAT! Sheesh - humans!!

Paw Update!

JD - Hi everyone! Thanks for all your well wishes about my paw. I really think it helped speed me to recovery as I'm now able to put my weight on it and I didn't even need to go back to the vet today! I'm still hopping a bit - um, mainly today when FH told me off for being naughty so she kinda saw straight through me, he he he! Well, I've rather got used to being spoiled now!

Max - I'm glad your paw is getting better JD - it was SO boring not being able to play zoomies with you!

JD - Yeah, but don't those humans make a huge fuss and nonsense about these things?! I'm pretty sure FH was practically burying me on Friday as she was so convinced I'd never walk again and that I'd just slip quietly away......gosh, humans sure do PANIC!!

Max - Oh you're so right JD! It's about time humans learnt to be a little more like us doggies, just living in the moment.

JD - Wise words bro'! Anyhoo, now that my paw is officially on the mend I thought I'd tell you the tale of how I ended up with a grass seed in it in the first place! Fishing out grass seeds is a very common problem in the UK at the moment - we reckon it's the number one doggie ailment at the vets at this time of year!

Max - Those pesky grass seeds can be tricky little suckers - if our humans don't notice them they can fester and even sprout inside our paws and cause all sorts of problems - YUK!

JD - FH usually tries to avoid walking us in the fields for a few months in the summer, preferring instead to stick to the beaches and the lanes. However, for a few days at the end of last week our weather switched from being unbearably hot to gale force winds!

Max - It was great to be a bit cooler! But it was VERY windy - the MET office even issued gale warnings for our part of England. If you don't believe us let us show you....

JD looks directly into the wind - and starts to resemble a mouse!

The boys demonstrate the difficult sport of synchronised ear-flapping

JD and Max were NOT happy with their woozle comb-overs!!

JD - FH was walking us along the beach at the nature reserve but the loose sand that was being blown into her face was becoming very painful, and we were starting to have a bit of trouble with it blowing in our eyes....

Max - .....so, because the fields had been freshly cut and gathered just a few days ago she thought she'd take the chance and take us there instead as it's a lot more sheltered.

JD - We LOVE the fields! They're great fun for zoomies! Because it was still hot - even though it so windy - I headed straight for an old drinking trough that is in the corner of the field. FH immediately started shouting at me - something about dirty water and if I wanted a drink I could have one from the bottle she always carries with her. She's so BORING!!

JD - "Aww, c'mon FH, let me have a slurp! Those 'scuzzy' bits floating on the top of the water look MOST delicious!!"

Max - And then I saw it!! A huge, scary, metal beast, lurking in the corner of the field!

JD - I was SO excited! I ran STRAIGHT over to investigate!!

JD - "Oh wow, oh wow, oh WOW - I've gotta get a closer look!!"

Max - JD, as usual, went running over without a second thought for carrying out the proper security detail! No wonder he usually ends up in trouble - sigh!!

JD - The big, metallic monster was SO cool! It was HUGE! FH told us that it's a big scoopy machine for scooping all the goo out of the river to clear it.

Max - I didn't trust it at ALL! It looked VERY suspicious to me!

JD - I thought it was GREAT and insisted FH get a photo of us next to the scoopy bucket!

JD - "This is BRILLIANT!! Hey Max - if we ask real nice d'you think the farmer will let us drive this thing?
Max - "Pipe down JD - I need to keep my wits about me in case this metal beast makes any sudden moves! How can you SIT at a time like this?! Are you CRAZY??!!"

JD - "Whilst Max is carrying out a perimeter check I thought I'd pose for another photo - I love this big, metal scoopy beast thingy!"

Max - After I'd FINALLY managed to evacuate my dopey brother and our hapless FH to safety out of the area we stopped for short breather and a drink - it was SO hot!

Max - "A chilled beverage if you please FH!"

JD - "Can we go back to that big, metal scoopy thing yet FH?!!"

JD - We really enjoyed our walkies that day! It was very exciting and we hadn't had a romp in the fields for a while. PLUS we met the gorgeous blond Miss Abby on our way back home and had a really great wrestle with her!!

JD - "Oh Miss Abby - you are so pretty! Please chase me, tee hee!!"
Max - "Miss Abby, I love your beautiful ears - may I chew them during bitey-face please?!"

Max - Unfortunately we had lots of grass seeds in our fur when we got home so FH and MH spent ages picking them out and brushing us. We find this process very soothing - we both roll onto our backs and go to sleep whilst our slaves - er, we mean our humans - ensure we are seed free!

JD - However, two days after this walk I started to limp. FH is convinced it was during this walk that I picked up the seed. It's difficult, but sometimes when us doggies are having fun we end up in a bit of a pickle!

Max - It's usually JD that ends up in trouble to be honest with you, he he he! Still, we're glad that FH and MH don't stop us from doing things we enjoy. Sure, they keep an eye on us but sometimes things happen and we'd rather have the odd grass-seed-incident from time to time than to not have any fun at all!

JD - Very true Max! I actually think I did well to go for as long as I did without picking up a grass seed!