Today was the annual vet visit for my jabs and this is not something I particularly enjoy. Border Terriers are renown for being stoical with regard to pain, but I am not a brave Border. I don't do aggression, I just refuse to co-operate. Added to this, our vet practice is still enforcing COVID restrictions which means 'Her Indoors' has to 'phone from the car park to let them know we have arrived and then the vet comes out to us and expects me to go trotting off nicely, leaving 'Her Indoors' behind in the car park. As I have separation anxiety I don't go trotting anywhere without my family, and, anyway, Charlie says 'never go with strangers' and he seems like a sensible fur. So the upshot of all of this was that when the vet appeared, I refused to budge. The vet suggested picking me up, but 'Her Indoors' rightly pointed out that I'm not keen on strangers elevating me - I'm not a sack of potatoes, I have my dignity - so 'Her Indoors' suggested she pick me up and then hand me over. At this point the vet wisely allowed 'Her Indoors' to accompany me which was just as well; I refused to get on the scales, stand nicely on the table, open my mouth or do anything else. I might not do stoical but I major on stubbornness. 'Her Indoors' just calmly manoevered me, with the deftness born of years of experience with recalcitrant Borders, to allow the appropriate examinations to take place.
Whilst all this was going on, they were talking about the apprentice Bear, which was rather rude as she wasn't actually with us. I bet her little hairy ears were burning back at home. Anyway, apparently Bear will be getting a spade at some point in the next eighteen months, unless she wants puppies. To be honest, puppies are a lot of trouble so a spade is probably easier although Bear is perfectly capable of digging all by herself. Still, she can always chew it I suppose. Then, to my surprise, 'Her Indoors' admitted to not knowing the signs of a season. I know it has been a wet summer but she's been round the block a few times so you'd have thought she'd recognise a damp August when she sees one. She's supposed to be doing a PhD which is a miracle as there’s clearly not a lot going on upstairs.
On the positive side, I have lost a little weight since I was last at the vets (either that, or I didn't have all of me on the scales) so that's a good excuse for a few more treats. Apparently running around with Bear has slimmed me down. I am also in fine fettle, have good muscle definition and even my teeth are pretty good for my age. So all in all, the visit was a success. I even deigned to eat a gravy bone when offered one which I think was rather gracious of me, all things considered.
