Don't shoot me!!!! I'm catching up gradually on all your news and activities ....I've been around but not very Forum active as we have such a lot of UK visitors this time of year ..... I rounded off a busy week last night with Xmas dinner ....bit of a tradition that I hold the first dinner of the season but I opted out last year due to the 4 legged arrival .......I wasn't confident that I could focus on getting the meal right,managing Dex and managing the guests temptation to give him treats! ;D So all the decs went up this week( an all time early record for me)4 trees this year..here's Dex looking a bit perturbed in front of the main one image by dexterpops02, on Flickr The weather is perfect ( hence all the UK visitors :) so dinner was served in the garden..... image by dexterpops02, on Flickr But in case it got a bit too chilly we put the fire on inside ;D image by dexterpops02, on Flickr Bit tacky I know but I love a real fire and when we buy a place in the UK it will either have to have or have the potential to have a lovely fire Dex was amazing.....he sat nicely on his bed as people arrived .....after his initial bark at the bell ,he mooched around folk whilst we had drinks and just settled in his room with a kong while I served up....then this was him while we ate..... image by dexterpops02, on Flickr ( yes those observant amongst you may recognize the mat from cafe Nero ;D) I'm so glad I persevered with the mat training...this would never have worked last year at 15 months....he wouldn't settle for a whole meal and would get up every time I moved...but I kept at it and now he just settles. All my guests were wonderful...they know how anal I am about Dexter so no one gave him anything....although someone dropped a sprout and he thought it was the best thing ever....he played with it rolling it round,bowing to it ,rolling on his back on it,very funny.....especially,as someone commented how revolting sprouts are if a Labrador won't even eat one ;D or.....maybe that's just my cooking ;D Funny day today though...the pooch has been right out of sorts with his routine shot to pieces..... we didn't get to bed until 3 am...we took him up with us and didn't set an alarm we just thought we'd wait to see when he woke us....he was still out for the count at 9 so we had to get moving because it is still a little too warm (30 degrees) for a big walk .Chris got up and Dexter scooted right into me for a spoon ;D ;D ;D he was going nowhere....this is the dog that sneezes with joy when my alarm goes off he loves his walk so much.....I had to get up to get him moving and he walked downstairs and then got onto the sofa!once out he was fine though....he came home though and just looked miserable.....the back door was open and he kept glancing at the door and looked cowed and he wouldn't go out......my friend called in and he went and lay in his crate,unusual,I gave him a kong and he tried to take it upstairs....not allowed and unheard of and then I realised what he was bothered by......the balloons I'd put up. In the garden .....he has been a bit funny about them in the past,he doesn't mind the bang they make,he doesn't flinch ,but he doesn't seem to like their bobbing motion...I went out and took them down and he cheered up noticeably ;D I do hope he IS ok,do you think he is feeling the effects of a late night?..he has slept all day,my sister came round with the kids and had lunch,there is no way he doesn't get up to come and investigate what is going on when food gets prepared...he looked up and went back to sleep....even Gill said is he ok?loved his walk tonight but again didn't come and sit on my head at 5pm to push me on ;D Tonight will be a really early night ;D ;D ;D so I guess he should be back to normal tomorrow.... Ok,so I've kicked off Christmas 2015 come and join in and let us see your trees and decs and tell us how your puppies and dogs are coping ...... Happy Christmas xxx
Re: Happy Christmas! Sounds like you have had a very busy few days Dexter looks very unsure of the Xmas tree! I wish it was warm enough here to sit outside and eat......I love the sun and warmth I would say Dexter is probably just over tired. When we have friends round and a very late night, Harley is very lazy the following day. I would just keep an eye on him, but hopefully he will be back to himself tomorrow I hope you aren't kicking off Xmas 2015!!!!!! It's still 2014
Re: Happy Christmas! That looks lovely! Is that a bar in the background? Hopefully get our tree up soon, goodness knows how we will manage with the pooches... :
Re: Happy Christmas! Wow, it all looks so beautiful and inviting. What a good boy Dexter was. His behaviour does sound fairly normal to me, after a big doggie night out. Obi is the same after a huge day....next day he just sleeps and sleeps and is subdued and we're thinking "is he ok??". Usually by the day after (or the one after that) it's business as usual
Re: Happy Christmas! Looks gorgeous, Angela! Might put up the tree next week....with all the kids gone it doesn't seem quite the same. And still not sure I can trust the pooch (pretty sure I CAN't, actually :) so wondering if I should bother. But I'll put the rest of my stuff up, in places where he can't reach
Re: Happy Christmas! [quote author=Naya link=topic=8937.msg127242#msg127242 date=1417196781] I hope you aren't kicking off Xmas 2015!!!!!! It's still 2014 [/quote] Oh Ternaya,I'm a dope..I know I'm early but I'm not that early!
Re: Happy Christmas! [quote author=bbrown link=topic=8937.msg127284#msg127284 date=1417204826] Hhhmmmmm 18 week old spaniel and Christmas tree.........oh god!!!! [/quote] Heh heh.....don't you have a toddler in the mix too?? Better you than me, Barb!
Re: Happy Christmas! Our tree went up last night, Rolo can't keep away. I am determined to leep it up even if I have to say a hundred times no, leave it! Was pleased last night because there was a bang from the kitchen as he snoozed in the lounge and he jumped up and barked as he ran in. This pleased me as he is so quiet (good thing I know) but barks when he needs to. As it was it was his food that I measured out for this morning all over the floor. Luckily hubby held him back while I picked it up. Nearly an early breakfast.
Re: Happy Christmas! [quote author=Rolokris link=topic=8937.msg127321#msg127321 date=1417244837] Our tree went up last night [/quote] Photo when you get a chance? X
Re: Happy Christmas! Someone's tree came down!!! My friend just sent me this..... image by dexterpops02, on Flickr ;D ;D ;D
Re: Happy Christmas! Beautiful decorations! Won't be putting ours up til the week before Christmas, cos they've got to last til 29th Dec which is when we're having our 'real' Christmas (all four daughters coming home for the day, complete with husbands and two new grandchildren....!). Not sure how Mr Pongo is going to react to trees and decorations, but I'm soppy about Christmas so they are going up by hook or by crook... he'll just have to cope!
Re: Happy Christmas! Very, very funny!..not sure I will be laughing when our tree err...faints... ;D ;D
Re: Happy Christmas! My tree looks no where near as good as yours but heres a pic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sbnp0nj2owjvsyl/2014-11-30 09.13.54.jpg?dl=0 We have "lost" 2 baubles so far but he's getting better. I love Christmas and have 2 little ones so it has to be special. Lol.
Re: Happy Christmas! Your tree is lovely and the little ones will be delighted with having bright new things to look at,and I think so far so good if you have only lost 2 baubles Lisa set a great trend last year with a new style of decorating.....decorations on the top only( well it was a kind of evolving fashion)...all the humans get to enjoy the tree and so does the dog ....only the temptations are removed xxx
Re: Happy Christmas! Make it 3! Lol. My daughter asked me last night, she's 10, how long until we don't have to worry what we leave lying around because Rolo won't pinch it? I didn't have a definitive answer but said it would be a long time darling. Bless her. Little monkey, good job he's so handsome.
Re: Happy Christmas! Your Christmas looks gorgeous Angela, really special. I would love an outside Christmas xxx All lovely trees, thanks for the photos xx
Re: Happy Christmas! Lovely Christmas photos! ;D We haven't got our tree yet - hubby has decided to decorate the room (as in paint!) first
