The dogs have just been groomed .
They line up on the kitchen sofa with that sad air of resignation of men awaiting a firing squad, and stand with a certain amount of shame on the fold-a-way table as Jackie, the ever cheerful groomer does her thing.
Welsh terriers should ideally be hand stripped, but it is a procedure that can irritate dogs with sensitive skin. It is also a bit of a dying art and is more expensive than clipping, especially when there is more than one dog involved.
The large bag of unwanted dog hair , I recycle on the field.
A while back one of the farmers told me to place it in gaps in the hedges where foxes might venture through, so if you look carefully at the field borders, you can make out vague clumps of ginger fur dotted here and there amongst the hawthorn.
I don't know if it actually deters foxes.
But it can't hurt
When I walked the dogs down the lane this morning ,I noticed several members of a troupe of field sparrows sitting on the barbed wire fencing with ginger hair in their beaks.....recycling again, I thought,......it's almost nesting time.
Love it.
ReplyDeleteEverything in this house has a patina of black fur. Which I throw outside for the birds to use in their nests. And last year was pleased to see that a pardalote had a very snug nest indeed with a fur lining.
John, what a sweet thought of yours: Nesting time. Baby swallows kept warm by your dogs' surplus hair. How much better can life get?
ReplyDeleteYou do know, of course, that there are wig makers who will pay good money for crowning glories, don't you? Just saying.
U
After I've combed Monty, I always put his hair up in a tree.... amazing how quickly it goes.
ReplyDeleteI've been putting off getting Elsie clipped because of the cold weather, but seeing your two today I'm thinking it must be OK.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have an Old English Sheepdog and left her excess fur in the garden during spring for the birds to use for nests.
I used to do hand-stripping John - it hurts your fingers no end! I'm sure the dogs prefer what you do and I'm absolutley positive the sparrows are grateful!
ReplyDeleteYes, nesting time is near......spring isn't far away!
Well the birds will use the fur to make nests, if nothing else. They have decided that spreading lion shit around doesn't deter deer, though.
ReplyDeleteI put clumps of our dogs hair round the front door to deter my mother in law, she hates dogs.
ReplyDeleteSUch handsome dogs!
ReplyDeleteAnd totally unrelated: have you seen this BBC segment on pensioners knitting jumpers for battery hens?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qKSmh8Q0zBc#!
I was going to say something about hair in a tree but got all sidetracked by pensioners knitting jumpers for battery hens. Can't even begin to imagine hens made out of batteries wearing jumpers.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time I cut Liv's hair for the first time. She was about 4 and it was SOOO long. I spread her baby hair in the back yard, something learned from my Mother. Later that year, a bird's nest came down in a storm and I was touched to see Liv's baby strands intermixed with all the twigs, etc.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of Ginger fur adorning your hedges :)
ReplyDeleteThe hair of my dog is left for the birdies to use as nesting too.
Love the idea of ginger fur adorning your hedges :)
ReplyDeleteThe hair of my dog is left for the birdies too.
1) So, is there a lot of grooming going on in North Wales then?
ReplyDelete2) I think you will find that human pubic hair is a better fox deterrent. Perhaps you could put a card up in the post office window.
One man's trash is another's treasure.
ReplyDeleteLove your post!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet that put a smile on your face. Birds are such resourceful creatures and when I see them with those odd things that would make the nicest nest, I admire all that work they put into it. Fine home it'll make! Also, those pups of yours are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI always leave plenty of the skirtings from the fleece out in the paddock when I have my sheep sheared.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that you can have your dogs' hair spun into yarn? It is best when blended with wool (the wool gives it more bounce and elasticity)and makes lovely scarves!
No dogs here to donate hair to the universe but in spring I drape bits of yarn over the fence and branches for the wee birdies.
ReplyDelete;-)
ReplyDeleteThe dogs look fabulous! Love this breed.
ReplyDeleteGinger colored nests ! Can you imagine the jealousy of the other birds? "She stole it you know, from that human. Sure it's pretty but it came from a mutt for God's sake!"
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the dog hair getting second use as nesting material.
ReplyDeleteNext time they're due for haircuts, I'll pop by and stand on the fold-away table for mine. Clipping is fine for me.
The dogs look lovely.
ReplyDeleteAfter combing the cats, i often clean the comb outside to let the hair go where it will.
I loved Kath's comment!
megan
We compost our cat's fur...some of it gets placed in trees for the birds (fur not compost). Generally we avoid trees with fur attached...it means a bear has been visiting.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hehe.
ReplyDeleteBet it makes for a cozy nest, too. :)
J n J's fur is hard and sharp, don't think the birds would use it, could pierce their baby's tender skin. Birds are quite smart.
ReplyDeleteThe dogs look really nice!
They look very smart...and glad the sparrows have something for their nests too!
ReplyDeleteI always got handstripped, but them Tess came along and now moms started grooming us!!! don't think we would do very well in a ring at Crufts!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week
See Yea George xxx
I always put out dog hair for the birds at this time of the year John - it is good to see them flying off with it for their nests. Those two Welsh terriers look good - reminds me that I must get Tess done too now that winter is on the wane.
ReplyDeletethe hair of the dog is usually wine in this house ;P
ReplyDeletethe hair of the dog is usually wine in this house ;P
ReplyDeleteYour pups look totally soft, fuzzy, and huggable. It's nice to think of their fur being recycled by the birds.
ReplyDeleteThey both look great John!
ReplyDeleteI have tried to leave dog hair in our yard to ward off the deer...Still have plenty of deer, and as you found....lots of happy birds.
ReplyDelete