The Spaniel Diaries: The continuing adventures of Billy

The sun is shining and it’s warm, that makes mum happy so it makes me very happy! Now the clocks have done something strange as I got my breakfast an hour early and we were loaded up and taken out for a lovely walk, it was also really light when we would normally be heading home that evening, so we got to stay out in the fields for longer!

One downside to this extra daylight is mum has resumed trying to train us, she’s even got a thing she calls a book which she gets ideas from, I do humour her as if I’m good she seems pleased and them turns her attention to Mav, which is fine by me! He’s stupid enough to run miles to fetch a smelly canvas dummy she dropped on purpose! I find if I just sniff in the hedge and pretend I didn’t see the disgusting thing she’ll send the idiot for it anyway!

I think mum might be losing the plot as she has bought a seat to put on top of one of the grass munchers – apparently it’s time for him to be ‘broken’ to ride, not sure if I like the sound of that – most broken things in the house get thrown away, let’s hope that doesn’t happen to the grass muncher. Plus I think she’s mad, the way those things charge around the field leaping about… hmm, hope she doesn’t end up broken as I need my walks and food.

As I simply love to get Mav into trouble I have taught him to chase birds, it really saves me doing it and he gets told off and given extra training instead of me! Crows are just brilliant, watching them taunt him by flying a few feet and landing again really makes me smile, Mum is of course not happy with his antics and he’s relegated to the long lead meaning he can’t go far or get up to anything without her noticing, leaving me free to sniff around in my own world, as long as I come back sharpish when I’m called mum leaves me to it, perfect! I have, however, heard her saying about looking forward to us going back to classes, so that means I really must be on my best behaviour or I will have to face she who must be obeyed. I can’t wait for Mav to mess her around, he’ll get taken down a peg or 3! Mum has being doing our admin for us and making sure our microchip details are up to date as she had heard that the company we are registered with had changed its website thingy. She said it’s better to be safe than sorry and would hate it if we got lost and our details were not correct as apparently that can happen. I really hope she’s updated me but not bothered with Mav! I would get the whole sofa to myself then!

Mum has started to plant flowers in the garden so I really must show Mav how to pluck the heads off the flowers and tell him that mum really loves us to do that, digging holes in the flower beds is also enormous fun as is burying socks, the look on mum’s face when she digs them up is priceless – I wonder if she’s noticed her gardening gloves are missing yet, I shall of course blame it all on Mav! Jeannette Douglas

Hello, I’m Sophie Hall, Veterinary Surgeon and owner of Meadow Hall Vets in Thakeham. I’m passionate about helping you to keep your pet healthy and a bit of extra knowledge can avoid an emergency trip to your vets. Spring is a great time of year, full of colour, warmth and hope but can also be hazardous for our pets, particularly dogs. Did you know… Spring plants: crocuses, daffodils, snow drops and tulips are just a few of the flowers that can cause tummy upsets. Adder bites: with the warmer weather adders come out of hibernation. They aren’t aggressive but will bite if provoked. Symptoms are swelling at the bite site, lethargy and collapse. Ticks: the warmer weather also brings ticks out. They can harbour diseases that are harmful to your pet once the tick has bitten them. What can you do? • Supervise your pet in the garden, especially puppies so they don’t eat the spring flowers. • Keep your dog on a lead when on a walk to avoid them surprising the sleepy adders. • Prevent your pet from getting ticks by regularly treating them with a good preventative product. Don’t get me wrong, IF your pet does get bitten or eats one of these phone your vet straight away!