Dog Boarding with Othello

Here are Noodles, my lovely Labrador boarder, with Othello, Severus (the Shih Tzu) and Ruby, all checking out something..... and each other.  Severus and Ruby are the two next door dogs who I walk in the day to give them a break, because their owner works a full day. (When I don't have a boarder in, she walks Othello at night when she gets home.  Great arrangement!).  They all get on so well.  Especially when we let loose on the country walks.  Severus is Othello's BFF and yet he (Othello) gets bowled over and rugby tackled by Sev many times on our walks.  They do make me laugh grr-grring and holding on to each other's ears, or whatever can be grabbed, as they run.  It is such fun to watch and they seem to love it.  Boys will be boys!  Roughhousing is fun!

Ruby the spaniel, is such a lady.  She does not partake of the roughhousing - in fact you can see the cogs turning in her brain as she watches them with disdain. 'Oh puleeze, boys.  Are we here for a walk, or what?  Stop being so childish. Let's get ON with it now!'  Ruby is in her own bubble, even with new boarders.

Every boarder is different.  Depending on the breed, some are manic, charging around like demented bees.  Other's are more sedate, sniffing and watering every bush and piece of grass we pass.  Some chase each other all over the place, seek out squirrels and think they can catch those..... and others are just a little...dare I say...lazy... and just amble along at my heels.  Whatever, they will always make me laugh at something with their antics.  I guess they laugh at me too - me, the chief poo picker-upper. 'There you go, another one for you.  That's right, hand in plastic bag, good, pick it ALL up now, right, now fold the bag over and over and tie a pretty little bow in it.  Well done.  And now you can continue walking and carrying yet another smelly little bag with my present for you in it.  You GO, Girl!'

Laughter is the essence of living.