Staying at home

With the Corona virus pandemic raging, we are all being advised to stay at home which, as a dog with separation anxiety, is fine by me. 'Her Indoors' is muttering darkly about what this will do to my on-going conditioning that being on my own is okay, but we dogs live in the moment, so that's for tomorrow.
          There are many advantages to being at home. The garden was looking very scruffy after a wet autumn and winter gave limited capacity for tidying up, so all this extra time is being usefully spent getting things  back up to scratch. I've been supervising of course. Unfortunately, I've been kept away from 'Him Indoors' painting the outside of the home office and shed which is a pity; I could have done something artistic in black paw prints. I've also been given a stern telling off for digging in the borders - just trying to help - and instructing a certain fluffy woofy Leonburger next door in the art of social distancing, which is a shame as I'm so good at it the government ought to be employing me.
          I've also been enjoying the benefits of collaborative media for home working. One of 'Her Indoors' friends, Danielle, after several years of careful training, always says hello to me during FaceTime sessions and asks 'Her Indoors' to give me a biscuit. Then there's the fun of keeping out of shot, but suddenly barking at some unknown threat, making everyone jump. 'Her Indoors' was having a meeting with her academic tutor in the week, so  I was banished to the house, only to discover that the lady she was meeting with had a parrot in her office. There's clearly potential for some significant contributions there. Perhaps we should get one.... We did have a huge bumble bee who decided to turn up to 'Her Indoors' virtual creative writing course, buzzing loudly and angrily at the window. In the end, 'Her Indoors' had to excuse herself and use a cup and a piece of card to catch and release them outside. By comparison, I'm no trouble.
          Then there's the domestic stuff. There's been no end of cooking and cleaning going on which I've been helping with. 'Junior Him' had temporarily stored his flat contents in the conservatory as his lease on his flat had expired and he is looking to buy somewhere, but that has all been put on hold. 'Them Indoors' wanted their conservatory back so they boxed up all his stuff and stacked it in 'Junior Him's bedroom. I helped by thoroughly investigating all the box contents and running off with the roll of packing tape and refusing to give it up. It looked like one of those ring toys so it was clearly intended for me.
          'Him Indoors' has always been good in sneaking me the odd snack and now he's at home a bit more, I'm benefiting. Unfortunately, 'Her Indoors' was changing my bed and found a small piece of crisp at the bottom. This was distressing on two counts: one, that I'd missed a bit, and  two, that 'Him Indoors' had been found out and told off. I hope this doesn't impact on our happy arrangement.
          Fortunately, we're still allowed out for walks and we are very luck to live in the country where long perambulations without bumping into another soul are perfectly possible. 'Her Indoors', rather worryingly, has taken to talking to the alpacas in the fields next to the lane and advising them on social distancing. They seem to be taking note but, to be honest, if she wants to have one-sided conversations with cute furries, she's got me.
          Still, it's concerning times. 'Her Indoors' discovered today that a person within her professional circle has just come out of hospital having suffered from Covid 19 pneumonia, the first time it has happened to someone she knows, and we suspect, not the last. So, my pals, it is up to us dogs, to keep our people at home and keep them entertained. I've been doing my best with toy spinning and tennis ball skills. After all, we furs live pretty much in the moment and are good at all the things people are now supposed to be doing so we have a duty to lead the way. What would they do without us....

Time for a screen break 'Her Indoors'

                                                   Teddy does ballet!

Beating the Bug - Ten Teddy Tips!

There has been a lot of talking about the Corona virus to the point that even 'Her Indoors' has realised that this is not about a nice man bringing bottles of pop to the door and every bubble passing its fizzical, but something more serious and threatening altogether. She's even remembering to refer to the virus as Covid 19 and not Corvid 19 which is a relief. What have crows ever done to her?
          However, in the face of a national and international crisis, us dogs, as usual, are having to step up to the mark, so I just thought I'd share some advice on useful things we furs can do.

1. Provide distraction. 'Her Indoors' spent some time on the phone to her parents, so I waited until she was thoroughly engrossed with discussing on-line supermarket shopping, and then I went for it big time in the toy deading department. Duckie has a nasty hole and leaked stuffing all over the carpet, although with radical surgery he might survive, and penguin is now missing both wings and a leg. He's finding getting around a problem! '
2. Assist in the hand-washing department. They are supposed to be washing them regularly and for at least two minutes. That's slightly longer than it takes me to consume my tea, just as a useful rule of paw, so I suggest you sit outside the bathroom or cloakroom door and give them the stink eye if they don't keep scrubbing for the allotted time.
3. Assist in social isolation when out on walks. I can be quite reactive around other furs, and I'm not very good with children, so there's very little chance of anyone getting within two meters of 'Her Indoors' anyway. If you are naturally of a more sociable disposition then you'll have to work at this one, but see what you can do.
4. Help stop panic buying of loo rolls and paracetamol by getting them to focus on stock-piling dog noms instead. Fortunately my brand of preference, Lily's Kitchen, can be bought on-line so I'll be okay. I suppose I could share with 'Them Indoors' if things get desperate, but only as a last resort.
5. Make them book holidays in remote, dog-friendly self-catering accommodation. They will be virus free and you will be on holiday with them. Sorted!
6. Volunteer your services as a food distribution agent. I like the idea of little panniers or even a trolley that I could tow to people who haven't got enough food. There would be a small percentage surcharge of course...
7. Provide them with company whilst they're self-isolating. As we dogs don't get the virus, we can take our rightful position at the centre of their universe, or even better, the centre of their sofa and big bed.
8. Keep in contact with the outside world via dog social media. It contains a lot more sense than their own accounts will ever do and they can't catch anything that way, although to be honest, 'Her Indoors' keyboard could do with a wipe of something anti-bacterial if you ask me.
9. Model keeping calm and carrying on (sleeping) through the entire thing. A good example is everything.
10. Demonstrate mindfulness and the fine art of living in the moment, taking pleasure in simple things like rubbing your itchy back all over the best cream carpet, toy spinning, and, if you are very lucky, sun-puddling in a bit of spring sunshine.

In addition to the above, we will of course be fulfilling our usual function of bringing joy to their lives and making them smile, which in very uncertain times is a big bonus. So, my friends, be kind, be careful, be there for one another and stay safe.

Stockpiling, who's stockpiling....?

Model how to relax.....

Provide some distraction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find a use for any excess toilet roll