Like the moon pulls on the tide

[lizblackdog]

Fucking suburbia. Kamikaze squirrels by day, daredevil cats and foxes by night. One of these days the dogs'll pull just that little bit too hard and my hand will just pop off at the wrist. Or possibly Spike's head will. I've been working hard on his leash-pulling because I'm scared he's going to damage his windpipe - like the barking, I can always get him to stop doing it, but I have trouble getting him to not start doing it again five minutes later - and his Great Leaps Forward are a lot harder on my arms and his neck than Squish's steady draft-horse action, even though Squish is a heavier, more muscular dog. Squish, in fact, although he's less obedient generally, has much better leash manners than Spike. Spike just tends to forget it's there. Neither of them can resist visible wildlife, though, especially the sort that erupts from a hedge under our feet - and I wouldn't really expect it of them.

Am going to walk Spike on a harness to save his neck. He won't do headcollars - just putting it on him sends him into hysterics. Of course, I can't find the bloody harness I've got knocking around at Mum's house, so I think I'm going to have to buy one. More expense. Lovely.

The fireworks still haven't stopped yet, either.

Squish is making irritating little whiny noises at me even though I've only just come in from taking them out. I'm starting to feel like doing the same, just as I sometimes play one of his songs and sing along with him. I wonder if it'll help?