Today was Mothers day off. We enjoyed a leisurely lie in.
Normally when Mother comes down stairs, I’m happy to see her, but I’m quite lazy in the mornings, which suits Mother. I usually get a fuss, then settle back down. Sometimes I don’t even want to go outside when Mother offers. I usually eat some breakfast, only a small amount though, I don’t often have a huge appetite first thing.
This morning though, I was all wrong.
I haven’t told Mother why. I’m not sure how to tell her.
When Mother came downstairs, I expressed my energetic ways by doing zoomies all over the living room, over the sofa, on the footstool, back to the sofa. I then made her play fetch with me with one of the cats mouse toys. I then ran to the front door and barked. I then ran to the back door and barked. Mother cooked herself some breakfast, and she told me to be patient. Apparently she’d made plans for us to walk with Auntie Emily today, but wasn’t sure on the timing. I refused to eat all food offered.
I must have been a bit too annoying, because Mother messaged Emily and said she was going to take me to the local woodland trust site so I can get my energy out, and then she’d do some errands.
So off we went in the car. 15minutes later we were in the woodlands. It’s a well known dog walk site, everyone is friendly and off lead, and Mother knows I love woodland walks the best.
We were out for 80minutes in total, off lead the whole time, which is my kind of walk. There were trees to run around, and birds to chase, and giant puddles to splash in, and grass to roll in, sticks to run with, dogs to say hello to. I ran like the demon I am the whole time. Like insane zoomies the whole time. Usually, while I may run like a nutter for 20minutes or so, I actually spend a lot of my time sniffing at things, but not today. I barely sniffed anything today.
After we finished our circuit and got back to the car, Mother was surprised that I still seemed to have crazy energy vibes going on. As a spaniel, if life is exciting, I will keep on going and going until I get to the car or get home, but I do visibly slow down a bit. But today I did not know the meaning of the word slow. I had soooo much energy!
Usually Mother can leave me in the car easily. She’ll pop into the shop on the way home from work, or on our way to/from our lunch time walks. Sometimes, she’ll leave me in the car to pop into her Dads house (the StepMom doesn’t like me making a mess… which with my fur is all the time).
Today, after 80minutes off lead, I should have settled in the car fine. I love the boot of the car. It’s my safe space. I’ll fall asleep there easily. I never get anxious in the car, I don’t get stressed, I don’t bark in the car. I love the car.
But today I was not having it. When she parked up and got out the car, and left me in the car, I was not happy at all. How dare she leave me to pop into the shops. So I immediately started barking. Mother still went into the shops. I did stop barking at some point. Mother was only gone for 10minutes, and she came back and said she’d rushed around like a lunatic because she was worried about me.
Then we went to pets at home. I like pets at home because its the one shop I can go in with Mother (and the garden centres). Mother needed to get some frozen mice for Marvolo (my snake brother), and since it’s a quick job Mother would normally leave me in the car for this. If she brings me inside, I bark. People there need to know I exist, and give me fusses, so I bark. It embarrasses Mother so if its a quick in and out job she tends to leave me in the car now. Given my behaviour at the shop, Mother dare not risk me staying in the car for this place too. We trotted into pets at home, Mother asked one of the sales people if they could grab some mice, and we made our way to the dog toy section. Where I immediately started barking for attention again. The store lady came to tell Mother they didn’t have the right size mice for Marvolo, but I got jealous that they were talking about someone other than me. So I was barking and barking. Usually, Mother can get my attention with treats and food, and I’ll sit and go a bit quieter, not perfect but at least a bit quieter. But yet again today I was not having it. In the end Mother had to put her hand on my mouth so she could hear the sales lady. I must have been being very naughty and noisy. A customer in there did give Mother and I a look.
We didn’t browse once we knew there were no mice. No point being there and I was being too naughty for us to stay. So back to the car and back home. Mother told me that I had been so embarrassing today, like how a mother feels when her toddler has a temper tantrum in the middle of a supermarket.
When we got home Auntie Emily was ready for a walk if we were. So Mother put the shopping away, and I literally sat by the front door wanting to go back outside again. And off out we went again.
We did another hour outside this time, on the lead the whole time.
By the last thirty minutes I finally found my calm. Auntie Emily popped into a shop, and Mother was able to distract me with treats and sits and stays. Finally.
When we got home this time, I finally, finally, calm down enough to eat some food then curl up on the sofa for a nap.
I still haven’t told Mother what was wrong with me today. I probably never will. I will just have to leave her wondering. It must be very frustrating for her. Especially since I’m well in myself, no diarrhoea, no signs of pain, and I’d been walked plenty in the last few days, including playdates with doggy friends. There’s no obvious reason for me to have had so much energy today. Mother thinks I’m acting like I’m on drugs. Maybe I’m just high on life.
Do you have any ideas?