It's A Dog's Life: Redecorating

Saturday, 30 January 2021 09:00

January may not be an indoor month for everyone, but for Teddy it’s time to contemplate redecoration and the battle for control of the soft furnishings. As usual, his barks and yelps are translated into human by Helen Stockton

The winter is the season for interiors. There are a number of reasons for this but primarily it must be because we spend so much of it indoors. And I don’t know what goes on in your household, but in ours, it’s not so much spring cleaning as winter cleaning. With the garden safely doing its own thing in the frost and the rain and the snow, the attentions of ‘Her Indoors’ are redirected to the inside.

She’s trying to persuade ‘Him Indoors’ to do a bit of decorating. When they moved into our present house fifteen years ago, he decorated throughout and now looks all pained at the idea that he might be expected to do it again. I’m happy to help; a paw-print here, a tactical shaking of muddy droplets there, but she doesn’t seem keen strangely enough.

She’s always reading about interiors in this magazine and in those specialist interior magazines, which is a dubious pastime if you ask me. I’ve noticed they often have a well-groomed pooch gracing one of their equally well-groomed rooms, but white walls, Scandi minimalism and high polished kitchen floors don’t work quite so well with muddy feet and tumble-weed fur balls blowing along the skirting. And to my mind tasteful accessorising is not a few scatter cushions or a throw, unless it’s there for the dog of the household to lounge on; but a carefully placed rubber toy in a strongly contrasting shade, so we can find it easily, and a rug with just the right degree of abrasiveness for scratching my beardage on.

Sometimes there is a little bit of conflict over the ornamentation of the living space. ‘Her Indoors’ decided that a tasteful collection of three large wooden balls was just the thing in the living room but as one of them has a rope handle, like an oversized Christmas bauble, I mistook this for a tuggy toy and got into trouble. Not my fault whichever way you look at it.

She also has strange notions about not having me on the furniture which is a bit unfair as I was allowed to go wherever I wanted in my previous home. I’ve abandoned the sofa with reasonably good grace, but I still keep trying for their bed regardless of the scolding. ‘Junior Her’ has got a beanbag in her old room, and as there hasn’t been a collective decision about whether this is furniture or not: a grey area or is that ‘sea mist’ or ‘winter silver’, I have taken advantage and claimed it as my own.

Anyway, hasn’t ‘Her Indoors’ heard of the old adage about British interior design and the tendency to choose colours, for major soft furnishing items, that match their dogs? Border Terrier beige anyone?

More from Animals

It's a Dog's Life: Teddy & the Dragon

Teddy has been musing on the origins of national credentials and that the truth of the matter could be quite different to any literal interpretation, as his human translator Helen Stockton explains
Paws for a Cause

Sussex-based animal charity Raystede has been working tirelessly to improve the lives of animals for over 70 years. Hanna Prince visits its Sussex site to find out more
Kids Zone: Lambing in Spring

Tap into the super cute side of spring with a visit to some frisking newborn lambs, suggests Sara Whatley
It's a Dog's Life: Access Denied

Although he's not allowed everywhere, Teddy tells his human interpreter Helen Stockton that he's actually OK with that
It's a Dog's Life: February is not just for Pancakes

Teddy has discovered that the month of February is far from uneventful – with many special days to recognise and celebrate, as his human interpreter Helen Stockton explains
It's a Dog's Life: Cleaning Up

The annual January household clean up makes Teddy feel a bit anxious. Helen Stockton, his human translator, explains that Teddy isn't the greatest fan of cleanliness
Top 10 Garden Birds to spot in Sussex

Alice Johnson from the RSPB describes some of the species of birds you might see during the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this January
Top Tips: Keep Your Pets Safe this Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night is just around the corner. A night of fireworks and celebrations, it's fun for us, but not always for our pets.
Advertising Feature: Plan Bee

Advertising Feature: The relationship between bees and humans dates back thousands of years, so its reassuring to know that Carl Slade is making beekeeping easier for both the novice and experienced apiarist; we sent Robert Veitch to meet him.
It’s a Dog’s Life - The Quiet Life

Teddy is looking forward to a chilled out month of rest and relaxation, hopefully with some sunshine to bathe in, as Helen Stockton, his human translator explains.
What should you be looking out for in your Sussex Garden this Summer?

A Sussex garden is not only a place of beauty and tranquility but also a haven for a diverse range of captivating wildlife. We have complied a list of some of the wildlife that you’re most likely to see in your garden this summer:
A Summer of Wildlife at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

Alice Johnson from the RSPB offers her handy guide to spotting beautiful butterflies and wildflowers at this nature reserve within the Arun Valley in West Sussex
RSPCA Young Photographer Awards opens for entries

Budding young photographers are being encouraged to enter the RSPCA’s high-profile national young photography competition which is now celebrating its 33rd year.
10 ways to keep your dogs cool in the heat

From serving up delicious frozen treats to creating a ‘cooling cave’ - animal welfare experts have shared their tried and tested ways to help your dog stay comfortable this summer.
It's A Dog's Life: March Column

Still sporting a thick winter overcoat, Teddy contemplates a trip to the doggy salon for some spring cleaning and grooming, as his human interpreter Helen Stockton explains
PET OF THE MONTH: Ruby needs a forever home

Raystede has many dogs that are victims of the pandemic. They have received special training and are now ready for their forever homes. This month we meet Ruby, a 2 year old Lurcher.
It's a Dog's Life: Other Cultures...

As Halloween approaches, Teddy has been pondering the influence of other cultures upon our own. Told as ever by ‘Her Indoors’, the chief provider of treats, Helen Stockton
Ten Ways to Help Hedgehogs

To celebrate its 10th birthday, nationwide campaign, Hedgehog Street, is asking members of the public to do 10 things to help hedgehogs throughout 2021. The campaign launched by wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) aims to encourage people to make their gardens more hedgehog friendly, in order to help stop the ongoing decline of Britain’s favourite mammal.

It's A Dog's Life: Redecorating

Share

More from Animals