Borisitting

I didn’t go to work today because Heather had a day off and wasn’t sure who’d be in the library to look after me. So, first thing, it was up to the gym then back home. Sophie took Boris for an early walk then took off for her child-dog-free couple of days just before 10 o’clock. Then it was just the four of us.

It would be fair to say that I’m not used to big dogs. Boris is big and, because he’s young, quite gallumphy. He lumbers up the stairs and almost crashes down them. He sometimes puts his front paws on my shoulders and tries to hug me. He’s also quite affectionate. I think if he could get on my lap he would.

He reminds me of Rodney next door back when Rodney was less than a year old.

Boris is surprisingly easy to look after. He just wanders around then chases his tail for a bit then lies down to recover then it all starts again. He’s no trouble at all as long as you keep an eye on his tail which swooshes and slaps without any consideration for objects in its way.

Freya is a bit wary of Boris though Emma feels that she has asserted her territorial dominance enough to convince him to pay her due deference – not that he does. It’s quite funny to watch.

The one thing I was really concerned about with Borisitting was how he’d go in the park off-lead. I needn’t have worried. He is very obedient. He might wander off a bit absent-mindedly (a bit like Freya) but comes back as soon as you call him. I didn’t really want to take him for a ‘walk’ attached to his lead so this made me very happy.

He is also very good with other dogs – big and small – he just loves making friends.

One of his best character traits is the fact that he barks only when he really needs to. I was a bit concerned that he would go off whenever Emma decided to carry on but, apart from an initial bit of curiosity, he ignores her. Just like Freya does.

So, the day passed easily enough and, eventually, we all settled down to watch some TV ahead of going to bed.

I didn’t feel happy leaving him downstairs so I let him sleep on his matt in the bedroom. At first he wanted to sleep on the bed with the girls but as this meant there wasn’t any room for anyone else, we all decided the floor was the better option.

Actually, Boris was outvoted and didn’t have a veto.