Dog mad

We went to a friend's birthday lunch today, and this little chap spent the whole afternoon waiting for the hostess's two dogs to get back from the salon (honestly, I suspect Brazilians now spend more on their dogs, particularly grooming them, than the dog mad Brits).

When the dogs were delivered to the gate, he couldn't get his sturdy little legs to climb up the steep drive quick enough, and even accepted a hand from me, a complete stranger. Earlier, he had to be held up at regular intervals to look over the wall at the neighbour's dogs. Like ours, all the dogs are strays that have been taken in (can't think how anyone could abandon anything quite as cute as Patch, in the photo).

We had to leave early (before they cut the cake, and I was longing for something sweet to eat), as HH had a committee meeting at the club. Luckily, it didn't take as long as usual, so then back to the dogs at home.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Duke's appetite. He eats everything we give him and looks for more, and also chews anything he can reach - including baskets, wood for the fire, orchids..... Let's hope this means the suspicion of canine distemper is unfounded.