A couple of fine beards!

Well, it’s been done. He’s had his first session at the groomer’s. Not too much taken off, but he’s definitely got that schnauzer look (instead of just a ratbag look) about him now.

The groomer, Craig, was very pleased with him. He said he was so good with everything. We know he likes his bath and hair drier, and didn’t mind being brushed, but Craig was most impressed with him, and reckons he won’t go through a naughty teenage stage, he’s so laid back. We felt like parents getting a first school report...

Craig didn’t need to do his ears, and he was pleased with this, as it can be problematic with puppies, and it made Craig realise that many puppies probably have sore ears and so strongly resist. Craig and Archie seemed to get on well, so we've booked in for the next grooming in October.

He was to be in there for two hours and so we repaired to pub across the street, where we could look across and see Archie standing nicely on the grooming table. We were in the pub for two hours, and it was like being at home - I was in charge of the remote control on the big screen Games coverage (more or less) and food and drink kept appearing in front of me.

The big screen had table tennis and badminton on (what brilliant singles matches!!). And the charming manager even changed channels for me when it changed to boxing. There were two others watching the table tennis too, so it wasn’t just me being bossy. And the sticky toffee pudding was EPIC!

The new aerodynamic Archie is charging round like an even madder thing at home as we speak...