You win some, you lose some...

 So Gail told me she'd ordered me a present online, to make up (her words) for my recent 'loss'.

I'll leave to my readers to decide what could possibly be appropriate compensation for a male dog forced to undergo 'The Snip'. Given my owner's woeful record on gift purchasing, I moderated my expectations, but I was still a bit annoyed and frustrated when we missed the delivery two days running, and so I  took up watch duty at the front window to make sure it was third time lucky. 

My vigilance paid off and I was impatient to find out what was in the package. 

A brand new bed! Well I must say it is very comfy, and stylish too. 

But you won't be surprised to learn that after over a week of on-lead restrictions, spending more time inside and lying down was not the first thing on my mind.

I'm pleased to report I finally regained my freedom on Sunday. The weather was mild and partly sunny and I enjoyed a lovely walk - well run, actually - in the woods at Ballogie Estate.

I had been hoping we'd be joined by our regular companions M and J, and was sorry to learn that M, so nimble and intrepid when out and about on our Aberdeenshire walks, had apparently stumbled over at home in the living room on Saturday night and had broken her arm. J called Gail from the Accident and Emergency Department to tell her the bad news. 

Gail and I send M our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Macro mania in Ballogie Woods

When we went for a walk this week in the woods and Gail got out her phone, I naturally assumed that it would be me she wanted to photograph. 

After all it usually is.

But for once, I was wrong. It seems my owner has recently discovered her phone camera's 'macro' function (for taking close-ups), and so every few yards she would stop, kneel on the ground and zoom in on the pretty but mostly rather small wildflowers in bloom just now.

Chickweed wintergreen

Tormentil

Bugle

Mouse ear

Crane's bill

You already know that I am generally a Good Boy when Gail starts coming over all botanical, and for the most part I waited patiently when she found yet more different species to photograph.

Twinflower

Lousewort

Yellow pimpernel

Milkwort

Bitter-vetch

But I'm sure you'll understand that the forbearance of a young WFT does have its limits...

Happy Nature Friday friends. I'm off!

'Lively mind' or 'attention span of a gnat'

Last week's lesson at the Awesome Paws Academy was all about 'focus'. Apparently. Or so Gail told me later. In truth I wasn't paying much attention at the time.

I did later overhear Gail discussing the whole puppy class thing when we were out walking with her friends M and J. She was bemoaning my lack of concentration and poor school performance in general. 

Phrases like "attention span of a gnat" were being bandied about. 

Well, what is the point of having your own blog if you can't use it to put the record straight? 

So throughout last Wednesday's hour long class I was in fact focussing intently on fellow students Pedro, Kelvin, Chewy, Ezra and their humans. Also on any stray treats scattered about the place. And noises coming from outside. And so forth. 

Gail's complaint seems to be that I was "all over the place" and not paying any attention to her. 

To which there is only one possible response. 

GAIL, IT'S TIME TO LEARN IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!

And while we're at it, what about some praise for my lively and and enquiring mind?

I'm pleased to report we did have a lovely outing to Ballogie Estate with M and J on Saturday and, apart from the small matter of me sprinting after two mountain bikers at the start of the walk, I put on a compelling show of being Perfect Puppy (aka Nice Nobby), staying fairly close to the humans even when not attached to my walking string.