We set up a new bath time system. A 30 metre length of hose attached at one end to a shower unit in a downstairs bathroom and at the other to a spray attachment. The hose snakes across the floor and out of the house towards the PONs paddling pool which has been placed outside by the French doors. The theory is that the PONs will somehow be happy clambering into the paddling pool and can then be thoroughly washed and shampooed in an atmosphere of fresh air and bucolic calm.
The PONs have of course worked out that this is a demonic, borderline satanic, bath time trap. 1):They refuse to leave the house 2): When they do leave the house there is a large garden to hide in 3): When cornered they turn on their backs and become lead weights 4): Placed in the paddling pool they promptly hop out again 5): The attachment that fixes the hose to the shower attachment springs a leak and jets water all over the bathroom walls 6): 'The Font' helpfully wonders if this is an improvement on the old bath and wellington boots system 7): Mid shampoo Sophie escapes and heads , dripping, into the house and heads upstairs 8) : See 1) above and repeat.
The Coot chicks are getting full grown. No sign of them this morning but the very second Angus puts the i-Phone away out they come and parade across the Water Lilly leaves on the village pond. By this stage Sophie has skipped off in search of fresh adventures. Maybe we'll get the ornithological photo of the year tomorrow ?
Pumpkins make a colourful appearance in the greengrocers.
A better display in the bakers. The PONs enjoy their croissant. They both look remarkably clean. Angus wonders if he's reached that age in life where bathing the dogs justifies a breakfast time drink of something '' nerve steadying ''. Angus also ponders what multiple of their body weight a PONs fur can hold in water. What would happen if we never bathed the dogs again ?
Yesterday a convoy of sixty cars comes through the village. A local wedding. Bob sits on his stump seat. Every single car beeps its horn. The effect of this on the PONs karma is electric.
So starts a new week in deepest, deepest France profonde with two shaggy (and sweet smelling ) laughter generators..
This is interesting / unanswerable :
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11357-9
Not sure I've seen this happening : https://www.eater.com/2019/8/15/20791929/restaurant-design-california-inspired-dining-rooms-los-angeles-aesthetic
17 comments:
Your description is hilarious.
It seems that wet dogs rolling around the garden quickly negate any bath effects. I am surprised they don't like baths--the rubbing, the attention.
Hahaha good one Pons. That's why I have a cat - self cleaning.
Maybe it's a long haired breed thing but the PONs view water as the devils work - to be avoided at all costs
There are many days when I think that the angelic duo are a great advert for having cats.
"The best laid schemes o'Mice and Men
gang aft agley.
For each dog you need two people one with three hands on the dog and one to operate the water taps, hose and spray for temperature and quantity and to fetch and carry the shampoo and towels. I can understand why some people prefer to wrangle small dogs.
Hari OM
Angus, the PONs are only ensuring that you get a decent quota of exercise. They love and care for you in return for this bathing service! YAM xx
Hi Bob and Sophie,
You know it strikes me as a tad unfair that over the years Angus and the 'Font' have invested a good deal of thought, time and money into making the ROH a beautiful and comfortable home. But where is the luxury dog spa? No wonder you protest at being asked to make do with a leaky hosepipe and a children's padding pool. Insist on better!
Toodle pip!
Bertie.
PS Gail says that if you were never bathed again you would start to smell very "doggy". But surely that's a good thing...
Think I'd settle for the permananent doggy smell rather than the whirlwind of destruction that PON bathing brings.
The angelic duo heard some decidedly non-angelic language !
We once had two long haired dogs like yours. We also had a shower enclosure with a door and a hose fitting. We would put both dogs into the bathroom and close the door so they couldn't escape. Then my husband, in his shorts, would take them one at a time into the shower, close the door and shampoo and hose each dog then I would towel them dry. No escape until we opened the bathroom door, but it could be tricky catching them in the first place. We now have a yorky - so much less trouble.
A pet store near us has installed two dog bathing tubs, with the nice leash attachment so the dog can't escape, and charge a ridiculously low price if you buy a card for 5 baths. So we did, and tried self-bathing our Cocker spaniel and our greyhound. Our Cocker gets bathed regularly when he's groomed (just a basic puppy cut -- no fancy long, time-consuming coat for this family) and was remarkably well-behaved, but our greyhound regarded the entire process as a major violation of her person. When we got home she turned her back on us and stayed that way all day; it took dinner to bring her around!
Maybe an enterprising pet shop in your area will install self-service dog-washing tubs. They really are a blessing. Bob & Sophie might find it far less objectionable to be bathed in a proper dog spa! Right, Bertie?
You need to adjust your food to water ratio as bribery works! Enzo hates the water and the sight of the hose so the only way we get him to stand still for washing is when one of us hold his collar and hand feeds a regular supply of favourite treat food (Kong, yog pot, liver, chicken, etc) while the other shampoos and washes him.
Then we do a synchronised leap back before he shakes water off his fur and does a mad dog run around the lawn. Riley, having seen food being dispensed to Enzo, then wants his bath!
Sadly , the angelic duo have no interest in treats when it comes to bath time. We have yet to find anything - chicken, roast salmon, bones - that will make them receptive to a bath. The Whoa! That's water ! syndrome is deeply rooted.
I fear they would still find a moment to slip away and become invisible.
Oh how I remember the exciting times of chasing soapy dogs around the back yard! I never tried to bathe them in the house, as they were all large dogs. Instead of rolling in the grass, they would always head for dirt! While they detested the thought of water on their body, shampoo was the ultimate abuse. However they did enjoy turning the event into a very long game of chase. And once they had been caught and rinsed off, they loved the drying off process with a towel. Your description of the morning activity was not only accurate, but extremely amusing to another canine lover!
Inca agrees wholeheartedly with Bertie's comments!
Having bathed all our dogs in the bathroom walk-in shower over the years, it always amused me that our Labradors suddenly didn't like water! Streams, dirty ponds and puddles - absolutely the best thing ever and the muddier the better. Having just one Lab. now, and living in a warmer climate, bath time is outdoors. I attach Inca's lead to a gate near the hosepipe, turn the hose head to a gentle spray, and she stands there whilst I shampoo her and then rinse and dry her off. Then she goes mad dog around the garden!
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