Spring has sprung!

[draclvr]

This isn't croaking at all - it's high pitched screaming! So much better, right? Did you listen to the sound in the link?

[Rosaboobie]

Oops, I missed that link, sorry. Thats exactly like the Kenyan frogs - the majority of them made that high pitched noise - and then the bull frogs would chime in with their loud croaking. They used to drive me to distraction every night cos I could not sleep for the noise AND you knew when rain was coming because the volume would increase dramatically.

[Diat60]

Starlite, it sounds like you're further advanced that we are in Ottawa if you can rake your lawn. We have little patches of grass showing, but it's only a tease for what's underneath. The snowbanks have been so high that the markers the driveway plowing company puts in completely disappeared on my neighbour's property! And they're a good 4 feet high.

[Rosaboobie]

Doesn't the salt on the grass do damage?

[Diat60]

Probably not the best thing for it, but it comes from the salt spread on the roads to melt the ice. Then, when the city plows come along and scrape and blow the road snow, it lands on the lawns. Not much you can do but rake it off in Spring.

[Rosaboobie]

Did I read somewhere that this salt is also not good for your dogs' paws?

[Diat60]

It can be irritating to some dogs' paws and we often see dog walkers around here with doggie winter boots on. (The dogs that is, not the walkers). If you search for "dogs and winter boots" on YouTube, you'll find loads of funny videos. My two are pretty well limited to the back garden in winter where we shovel a maze of pathways to keep them running.

[Rosaboobie]

Yes, I have seen these doggie boots, Diat - so cute

[Rosaboobie]

Well, Benji thinks that this new cat flap is the best invention since sliced bread. It's a wonder he hasnt worn it out already.

Maloo on the other hand has to be "talked" through it every time she wants to use it She is very intelligent but refuses to use her head to push it open - just sits there pawing at the flap. If my friend's skunks can use a cat flap, then why cant Maloo?

[draclvr]

Perhaps if you stand on the outside and coax her out? It sounds like she just needs your reassurance!

[Rosaboobie]

She is not so bad at going out - it's the coming back in she cant seem to grasp - and yes there I am - on my hands and knees - coaxing her to come back into the house. She has learned to wait for Benji and follows him through the flap rather quickly before it shuts again - so funny to watch.

I really installed this cat flap for Maloo alone so that, if I am in town all day, she can also go out for her "toilets" and not be locked up in the house all day long, so we will have to persevere with it. This lunch time she sat outside the cat flap in the porch for 90 minutes - I purposely did not coax her cos I thought eventually she will get so bored sitting there, that she will let herself in , but no, I still had to go down on my hands and knees and talk her through.

[draclvr]

Silly doggie! What happens if you lift it just the tiniest bit from the inside - sort of get it started for her? I'm sure you've probably tried everything!

[Rosaboobie]

Oh yes, if I open it a fraction, she does the rest but she HAS to learn to do it on her own - Like you say, I have tried everything but I knew she would not take to this. If a door in the house is open 6 inches, and this is a very small dog remember, she just wont go through it until I push it wide open - she has never opened doors. Well, to be honest we didnt have many doors in Kenya!

The funny part is - she is a very intelligent dog.

[draclvr]

She's just being cautions - the sign of a smart dog!

[Rosaboobie]

If you say so!

Benji goes through this flap like a whirling tornado lol. No finesse at all!

Isn't it wonderful that all I have to worry about this week is cat flaps