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Saturday, 28 March 2020

Struggling a bit

It's difficult to walk Betty at the moment....well, give her a good run off the lead I mean.  Where we live it's all narrow little lanes, just wide enough for a tractor, with ditches and tall hedges on both sides and laybys so vehicles can pass or walkers can take refuge from tractors, and lots of farms.  Most of the farmers round here don't mind locals walking their dogs in their fields, provided they're not being used for livestock or have newly planted crops.  There is one farmer who objects and orders people off his land, but he's a minority of one.

However, right now the farmers are all getting their fields ready for crops, so they're spraying with weedkiller first, then a few days later it's muck spreading (we used to shut all the windows when we saw them doing that, but now I really don't mind the smell!).  And then they plough it all in a couple of days later, followed by seeding.

And during all this, we can't take Betty in the fields - we don't want her coming into contact with weedkiller obviously, and we certainly don't take her in a field that's been covered with muck - she adores the smell and throws herself down and rolls around in it.  I may be used to the smell now but I don't want it indoors on a filthy stinky dog!  It takes ages to wash it off her, we know from experience, the smell still lingers on her fur for days, and the college grooming salon has closed for the duration of the virus lockdown.

We can't take her to the beach or the Marshes nature reserve either, not allowed to drive to anywhere at the moment.  So that means right now we can only walk her, on lead, along the lanes.   So shes's not getting much proper exercise and is consequently full of beans at home.  We do play with her every day, she loves tugging toys and chases after the toys we throw, but it's chaos - our house isn't very big, nor is our front garden - husband doesn't like her in the back garden because she tramples over all his veg beds and likes digging in them.  So playing with her results in the house looking like we've had a party for toddlers, or big scrape marks in the front lawn where she's skidded across it chasing her toys, and bits broken off my shrubs after she's crashed into them.  She's a chunky little bruiser who creates havoc when she's charging around.  But she does make me laugh, all the same.




Who can resist that face anyway, she's adorable and I love her to bits.

I'm suffering a bit with cabin fever too, am sure we all are.  Nearly a week into lockdown and still weeks to go.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if it turns out to be longer than 3 weeks.  But I guess staying safe at home is better than the alternative.

17 comments:

  1. Such a cute face! I think the lockdown may get more severe before it eases. I hope I'm wrong! There are still idiots out there, who seem to think it's some sort of hoax or that they're invincible. At least the weather is warming up and we can enjoy the sunshine! Got to look on the bright side, the dark side is too dark to contemplate. Keep safe. xx

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  2. Hi Sooze. What a sweetie pie Betty is. Which variety is she? It must be an absolute nightmare keeping her entertained at the moment but I bet you are glad of her company. Stay safe x

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    1. Morning Cherie, she's half Shar Pei, half English Bulldog. She looks like her mother, the Shar Pei, but has her dad's broad shoulders and strength. The breeder we got her from breeds them specifically and calls them Bull Peis.

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  3. Betty is so sweet, she must be such a joy to have around.
    xx

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  4. People keep comparing this to WWII but back then a lot of people rushed out to have their pets put down because there was so little pet food available. So thank goodness it's NOT the same!!
    Stay well down there in beautiful Somerset

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  5. Mental stimulation is the way to go. We have a piece of material which I carry on me all the time. I hide it (she has to wait with her dad). She then smells my hand where I have held it and goes to find it and bring it back. I started with an empty vitamin plastic bottle with one small hole drilled in the lid. Inside were a few pieces of dry meat. We only need to do it about 4 times and Ruby is conked out. Look online, loads of things there.

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  6. Betty is adorable, who couldn't fall in love with that lovely face.
    I agree, a week has gone by now but its going to be hard to keep going without getting out for weeks. Oh well, we must just get on with it.
    Briony
    x

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  7. hat a joy Betty is she has the most adorable face. Take care.

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  8. This is my 15th day. I don't mind it and love what one blogger wrote-they asked your parents to go to war-they added you to stay inside. I have so many hobbies. Been three weeks since grocery. My family will get me a few things next week when their 14 days are up from grand getting home from England university. Younger still going to groceries when needed. I do Facebook and school some of the grands here in Two states. It will end, and we will be ok I pray. Prayers for you.

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  9. We are fortunate in that we have plenty of fields (empty) and countryside to take our dog. I say we, but it's my husband who takes him.

    I was under the impression that we had to self isolate for 12 weeks. Has it changed or did we get it wrong?

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    1. Joan, as I understand it, if you are in the high risk category, i.e. have a compromised immune system, respiratory problems, heart disease etc, then you should isolate for 12 weeks and not go out at all. Otherwise you should stay at home except for going out for food, medicines, exercise as long as you keep 2 metres from others. If you're not sure whether you should self-isolate for 12 weeks, contact (by phone) your GP or look on the NHS Coronavirus web pages. Hope this helps. x

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    2. Yes, it does help Happy Hooker. Thank you.

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  10. She looks such a sweetie, like butter wouldn't melt. Sending hugs x

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  11. Awwwwww Betty...cutie patootie an angel when you sleep.:)

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  12. This lockdown is hard on us but, as you say, hard on our doggies too. So many people rely on taking their dogs in a car to a location away from their home to give them exercise but they're unable to do that at present. We're lucky, we have lots of safe places near where we live to let Archie off his lead, though he's getting old now and doesn't need so much exercise as he once did. I'm sure Betty's enjoying all the interaction she's getting at home, they do enjoy being played with.

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  13. Oh my, Sooze, Betty’s little face! It must be so difficult for walks. What about some enrichment games for her? I think you can find some on google, but when I speak to my daughter, I’ll ask, as they use them at the Blue Cross to stop the dogs being bored xx

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  14. I am struggling too as I have 4 rescue dogs.I feel so guilty as they don't understand the change to their lives.Usually I have a shower and then we go out in the car for an hour or so country walk each day.I now sneak a shower a a different time so we not to disappoint them.Today I just didn't bother as they were waiting for this sign we were off out.This tires them out racing around and they are so happy.One refuses toys and looks bored,2 are being like naughty boys,and little ones just running found and round.All but one was housetrained but now 2 are going indoors as they go in the garden run around,I play with them several times throughout the day and then come inside and toilet indoors.This is making me anxious as I'm spending my day trying to keep them happy.Last Saturday was their last good walk as when I took them the next day it was impossible and I found a track on the way back home but it was mainly ponds and the field was flooded.I know it can't be helped but the effect on my dogs is already negative plus one of my dogs had his yearly booster cancelled as the vets are only dealing with emergencies-they did say he will still be covered for another 3 months though.They will advise on the phone still.I am so looking forward to feeling free again.Just got to take it one day at a time and devise more entertainment for them I think x

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