February 2026 - Shorn Like a Sheep

I was beginning to look like a Wookie, so a haircut was long overdue. However, I wasn't expecting quite so dramatic a transformation. Poppy got in on the action, too, because she can't bear to be left out of anything. The Woman booked us in for a half-day at Pawz&Co, so that Zoe the groomer could work on us. I got taken first, so Poppy could tire herself out in the play area. Not that that could ever happen. Duracell wanted her to take over from the Bunny until they were shocked to discover she likes chewing on power cables (we've had to buy cable covers for the electric recliners).

BEFORE

It's just as well dogs recognise each other through smell. 

AFTER

BEFORE

Poppy's transformation was not as dramatic. She now looks more like a Spaniel and less like an '80s rockstar.

AFTER - "What have you done to me?"

Together, demanding treats.

The loss of all that hair returned my love of running. Poppy makes a good pacer. 

We ran in the garden.

We ran at Barassie Beach.

And we ran at Mugdock Country Park.

We also liked to rest. 

Well, I did.

Poppy would climb the walls if she could.

We spent time up at the cabin.

Poppy: "Take my picture".

"Why are you looking behind me?"

"Oi, that's my trick."

"I'm ready for my close-up now."

Can you tell it's Spring?

If this is chicken wire, where are the chickens?

Where did the deer go?

Ah, over there.

It's Spring at Barshaw

Delicious!

I've run out of things to say. 

Time for another rest, sans Poppy.

January 2026: Welcome to a New Year

We began 2026 up at the cabin. It was bitterly cold, and snow was expected, but there were still signs of a bright future. Not for the pigeon that Poppy found dead in the woods beneath the ferns. Its throat had been ripped out, so it was probably not a victim of excessive Hogmanay partying. The Man disposed of the body in a bin bag to avoid the corpse becoming a Poppy plaything. She wasn't amused at only finding feathers on her next trip to the woods.

Poppy won't pose for long if treats are promised.

Of course, Poppy went into the freezing river.

A couple of days later, our noses took us far into the woods behind the cabin. I behaved and returned to the Man when he whistled. However, Poppy couldn't resist the lure. She gobbled up as many pellets as her stomach would allow - which is a lot. At dinner time, she was still so full she could only nibble her kibble, leaving most of it in the bowl, which never happens. Usually, it's gone in seconds, followed by a dog-food-flavoured belch.  

The humans were unsure whether the pellets
scattered across the undergrowth were safe for dogs to eat.

They hoped it wasn't poison.

The humans considered trying to make her sick, but held off as she seemed unfazed. The next day, she was fine. Thereafter, we were kept on lead and not allowed to return to finish them off. Spoilsports!

They did take us to a couple of restaurants, but not places where we got fed. 

The Atrium Cafe, CCW, Callander.

I'll have what she's having.

 

Nardini's at the Moorings, Rothesay 
No ice cream for us.

The cold persisted so long that the pond at Barshaw Park froze over. It was funny watching the swans waddle across the ice, slipping onto their bahookies. 

The Man didn't like the low sun while driving, so we didn't get to many places this month. Most of our walks were either at Barshaw or the Gleniffer Braes. Poppy loves it up there. She regards the field as a poop buffet. The Man's attempts to deter her have so far failed, though he watched a programme where an expert trained an owner to fix this problem, so we'll see how he gets on. To be honest, I like the odd poop sausage myself, but don't blame me for her behaviour. 

Should Poppy's bad behaviour be regarded as recycling?

The humans were recommended a walk called Knockmountain, near Langbank. After driving for ages along a single-track road, they found all the parking spots taken, so they ended up at Boden Boo in Erskine instead. Poppy loved running through all the dead leaves. 

Gotta love these views.

At the end of the month, the new couches arrived. We tested them and found them to be acceptable. 

And relax...

"You might want to move."

 

"I've got window viewing to do."

She's already tried to chew the backs of the couches on multiple occasions. She might not make it to February's blog alive. 

Sorry, that was in bad taste, given that we recently received the sad news that Miley, the lab from next door, sadly passed away after a vet home visit. Miley had cancer, but fought it bravely for five months. We're all going to miss her. She had such a gentle nature.  

December 2025 - Couches, Kennels and Nocturnal Evacuations

December was notable for the three consecutive nights when Poppy had a tummy upset. She's always had an anxious relationship with her bowel movements, so I was surprised the first night when she silently pooped in the corner of her crate, messing her bedding, stinking up the room. Afterwards, she lay on the opposite corner of her crate, leaving it to me to voice my concern to the humans upstairs.

Her bed was washed and replaced. On subsequent nights, the process was repeated until they resorted to leaving a towel for Poppy to lie on. Fearing I was in the splash zone, I insisted the humans move my bed to another part of the kitchen. They didn't twig this at first, thinking I needed out despite the late hour and inclement weather. It took them a while to realise that it was Poppy who needed the evacuation exercise. She recovered without an emergency visit to the vet, though she did go in for her annual booster (and received a kennel cough vaccine, too). 

We've never stayed in kennels, but that may be about to change. The humans combined a visit to North Glassock Boarding Kennels and Cattery with a trip to the Whitelee Wind Farm. Poppy and I never got to see the accommodation inside, but the staff were all lovely. They haven't told us when they plan to leave us.

I'm not sure why we visited Whitelee. The walk was as horrendous as you'd expect for a place known as a wind farm. The wind was so strong, I'd say they'd overdone it. All those giant turbines going whoop...whoop...whoop with excitement, they must love their work. I'll admit the paths were wide and easy to walk on, but I wasn't blown away by the cafe, which wasn't dog-friendly.

You don't want to be on the end of those sharp points.

Can we go home now?

We've been informed that the old couch and chair are being replaced with electric recliners. We're not happy with this, as we weren't consulted. We decided to protest in the laziest way possible. 

Even Molly took part in our industrial action. 

She stayed over with us over Christmas while the Man's Mum was away. She made herself at home by claiming my living room bed.

 

I was allowed to sneak upstairs to use the humans' bed. 

Would you say I have bedroom eyes?

  

Poppy claimed the chair.
She wasn't allowed to bring in external chew toys,
despite them being natural.

Barshaw Park

Bellahouston Park

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
from Poppy and me.