This time last year, we were adjusting to our new addition: a Sprocker Spaniel puppy called Orlando. He's in the process of mellowing now (a bit!) but last year he was a bundle of excited-ness, and took up every second of every day.
We knew that Christmas with his would be difficult, but nothing could prepare us for just what a difference he would make.
All of our beautiful traditions were altered, and we had to prepare for the possibility that there would be physical damage too - especially given that he was still not fully house-trained and started teething in the middle of December.
To make sure that the damage was minimal, we created "decoy presents". These were empty boxes, which were wrapped in Christmas paper and then placed in the Living Room, where Orlando would come into contact with them regularly. Every time he went near them, we would stop him with a firm word and, surprisingly, they remained largely intact. He didn't unwrap or break any of the actual presents either, more's the miracle!
In terms of the Christmas Tree, he was quite alright with our bringing the forest into the house, but some of the decorations were just too much for him. Some time ago, a friend knitted some lovely tree decorations for us, but Orlando thought they were toys! Fortunately, no permanent damage was done, but there was a hairy moment for a woolen choirboy!
One of the worst things about having him (absolutely worth it, by the way!) was that we ended up behind on everything. He needed someone there all the time so, at midnight on Christmas Eve, he was in bed and we were all frantically trying to catch up with the hundred and one things which we'd usually have done by the beginning of December - including wrapping Christmas presents!
On Christmas Day itself, he was a little angel. He played with his new toys all day, apart from a couple of times when he sat, seeming to puzzle over the spectacle in front of him. The picture on here is me and him, playing astronauts. One look at it and any questions I may have about the wisdom of getting a puppy so close to Christmas just disappears!
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