The DOOM Spaniels

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA …

You know what, it *is* pretty rough to be a Florida farm dog in August.

[Image Description: two cocker spaniels sit and lay in a kitchen, panting. They’re still cheerful, but the heat is really taking it out of them.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in July!

Sooooooo rough.

[Image Description: Yvaine and Merlin, two cocker spaniels, lay on kitchen tile. They are delightedly panting. They’ve been having a great time, and cheerfully expect more fun soon.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in June!

It’s *such* a tough life.

[Image Description: Yvaine and Merlin, two cocker spaniels, are happily panting in a kitchen. Yvaine sits, and Merlin lays, on a light blue mat over beige tile. Their eyes are bright and cheerful. They’ve been having a lot of fun.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in May!

Oh, it’s ruff.

[Image Description: two cocker spaniels sit on a light blue mat over beige tile. They are wet and muddy and pleased with themselves.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in April!

So rough. Such a hard, hard life.

[Image Description: two dogs lay on a light blue mat over beige tile. They have muddy paws, legs, and ears. On the left, Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, is licking her lips. On the right, Merlin, a buff cocker spaniel, has bangs nearly covering his eyes.]

Guys, guys, you just have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in March.

It’s too exhausting to even stay awake after muddy Sniff Patrol. THERE ARE SO MANY SNIFFS TO EXAMINE. SO MANY.

[Image Description: two muddy cocker spaniels lay on a light blue mat on beige tile. On the left, Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, has her head on the floor. On the right, Merlin, a buff cocker spaniel, looks at the camera with his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how rough it is to be a Florida farm dog in spring. The grass is confused and the wildflowers are weedy and sad and everything is pretty much the way it was in winter, just with extra hot outside.

[Image Description: Two cocker spaniels lay on green and brown grass. Each dog has a small bunch of tiny purple wildflowers over their left ear. On the left, Yvaine, a white and red cocker spaniel, faces the camera with her body but her head looks to the left of the camera, her expression is thoughtful. On the right, Merlin, a buff cocker spaniel, lays at an angle to the camera but his head is turned toward the camera. Merlin’s mouth is open and his expression is cheerful.]

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how *rough* it is to be a Florida farm dog in February!

Just so, so tough. The rain, and the mud, and THE SNIFFS. Gosh golly.

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how tough it is to be a Florida farm dog in December.

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how tough it is to be a Florida farm dog in November.

The Spaniels "helped" the farrier trim the hooves of the Big Doggies (by carrying away the hoof trimmings to gnaw vigorously and with delight). It was too hot all summer, but we finally had a reasonable temperature today so they could come keep us company. When they got back inside, they were tiiiiiired. Yvaine, of course, loves people and enjoys hanging out with me, the Big Doggies, and a visitor--plus, you know, hoof trimmings. It's good for Merlin to interact with strangers in his territory, especially when the "stranger" dispenses so many good candies so Merlin is distracted from his stranger-anxiety. Good day all around. Horse hoof is a lot like those dried cow hooves that are sold as dog chews, only a lot softer when freshly trimmed off.

You guys, you guys, you have NO IDEA how tough it is to be a Florida farm dog in October!