Flossie has a whiff of spring

When you’re a dog owner, the signs of spring are not indicated solely by glimpses of fresh blossom and new buds.

It’s uplifting to hear birdsong and watch the burgeoning greenery as each week passes.

But when you have a dog like Flossie, spring is celebrated in a rather more basic way.

Yes, she likes chomping on the tender shoots of grass as we walk through the countryside. She also likes rolling in poo. Specifically, deer or fox poo, but most varieties are acceptable. She’s not a discerning dog.

And rolling opportunities are more prevalent at this time of year.

Last week, as we were walking

Caked in her favourite ‘Eau de Bambi’ perfume, she wagged her tail in triumph. I sighed.

down a farm track, her nose went up.

Although I knew the sign, I was slow to react. It’s been a long winter.

The next minute, she had slithered through a broken wire fence, dropped her shoulder to the ground, and was rolling in ecstasy.

She came back as soon as I called her, but it was too late.

Caked in her favourite ‘Eau de Bambi’ perfume, she wagged her tail in triumph.

I sighed. This signifies the start of the season of rolling in indescribable substances and sometimes eating them, too.

The milder weather ensures that the delicious (to Flossie) scents waft towards us on almost every outing.

With her lead clipped back into place, we returned home in a rather subdued manner to the inevitable clean-up procedure.

Flossie loathes being washed. Unfortunately, she doesn’t associate it as a consequence of her actions.

It takes ages but we get through it. I manage to avoid being showered by Flossie’s vigorous full body shake at the exact point when she is wet and also covered in poo.

I wrap her in a towel and she climbs into her bed, looking satisfied.

There is still a faint whiff about her.

I have missed a bit under her chin.