My neighbour, Monika, messaged me to see if I wanted to go for a walk with her Sheltie, Copper who apparently likes playing with other dogs.

I immediately said yes, and that we could walk in my big field.

This is the first time Pepper has met another dog, after travelling up here with her sister so I was very interested to see how she would get on.

Of course, Pepper was over-excited, annoying and silly. Copper stoically bore the irritating behaviour, hoping she would give up or go away, and then snapped at her, putting her on her back most probably in surprise.

Perfect.  It worked like a charm.  Pepper had to learn and she only needed telling once and not by me.  Well done and thank you, Copper.  Sometimes only another animal can do this.

And then we got on with a lovely long walk to the end of my field, which is perfect for dogs to gallop about in.

During the day I mostly take Pepper with me around the croft now, shouting “Croft Dog” when I want her to follow.  We are slowly introducing her, totally supervised, to everyone.

The ducks are faring better too.

I guess the excitement has gone.

Pepper loves the ducks. She looks at them, and then they instantly fart or poo and that is like the best sound ever!  She has stopped chasing them which is good.  I have found a new home for our latest additions too (17 ducks is way too many), keeping Mum and one daughter back to join the rest of our old flock.

So we are making progress. New things every day.

Life with Pepper is pretty full on PUPPY! (all capitals, I think).

Although utterly delicious, yesterday the little things like sleeping, pee’ing and poo’ing outside, eating and not chasing ducks, chickens and sheep seemed a long way off…….

I keep telling myself that she may learn….. eventually.

Yesterday (and I was very over-tired) I lost my rag and Pepper and I had words about all of her failings.

And today life appears much better (I say this with trepidation) but there has been minimum chasing, pooing, peeing outside etc and lots of eating too.  The eating cheers me up hugely.

I am more hopeful as today Pepper left the ducks alone and even the sheep when we went on our walk.  This could be a breakthrough.  Maybe my words have sunk in.

Luckily Pepper enjoys the garden.

Monster has been doing his bit on the education front too.

While Pepper enjoys chasing him, not to catch, but to annoy a lot…… (see tail).

Monster was reduced to having his claws and paws ready (I feel his pain) and I am afraid Pepper has had that coming.

And this is the umbrage that was then duly taken and possibly enjoyed – resentful with the pretence of bewilderment.  She is now perfecting this look for future use.

Monster wanted her to take responsibility for her actions.  You don’t make friends by annoying everyone to death, he told her.

So, duly chastised by the cat, she went off looking for someone else to persecute.  The list seem endless at the moment.

Phew!  In my shed asleep.

Please no one tell Floss what Pepper is sleeping on – her blanket.  I can wash it before she comes home. She need never know but it is the charm!

Sleep. I remember sleep.  Tomorrow is another day, I tell myself.

These two are getting along fine now.  They have settled into their new routine and seem unpeturbed by the whole laminitis thing.

We remain vigilant, though.  No treats.  No nothing nice – just fibre and various potions.

We’ve been in constant contact with our farrier who advised us to “lower the heels, and bring the toe right back”.  Armed with our farrier kit, Daisy and I got to work.  First up Tiddles.

Little Miss Pepper was with us and I attached her to the end of two knotted together leadropes and tied her to a far gate in the enclosed little pen so she was safe.

And furious. She was definitely raging about being tied up in a stable.

But this was no place for a small Patterdale terrier puppy.

So I threw her some hoof trimmings and she quickly gave up her rant.  She was now happy and quiet.

Once finished and based on how they were, we decided to give Tiddles and Waffle the use of the bigger part of the stable to wander around in.

I think they will enjoy their new found freedom very much.

Daisy and I took to the hill today to “do feet”.

The view was wonderful.  The feet less so.

First up was Vitamin who stood like a rock while Daisy worked her magic.  This time I was on rope duty as the last time we did the MInion’s feet, I ended up in A&E with a very sore back shouting at me.

And then there was the “help”.  Storm spent a good 15 minutes frisking me like a security guard at the airport when the machine goes off!

I even had to get cross a few times as he had brought reinforcements. Newt.

So then they proceeded to annoy each other, which was fine.

Better Newt than me.

Scruffy little Herberts. It was windy too up there on the side of the hill.

Silver was a good boy, ie he stayed far away and just watched the whole procedure. My kind of pony.

Storm was next and then Albie.  Three ponies is our maximum on the feet front.

While I was catching Albie, Daisy was being “appreciated” by Newt.

Albie is very fat so hopefully the terrible weather arriving will start to shed the pounds (more like tons though, to be honest).  I am trying not to worry about him too. There is not enough room in my head now.

And yes, guess who turned up?  Storm.  Predictable and irritating.

Meanwhile, in other news, Pepper now can only eat out of the same bowl as Monster (sainthood Patent Pending). Even though Monster barely talks to me (he loves OH and Daisy only), I love him more than words because of this.

I brought Haakon out of his field and popped him in the paddock while Daisy was finishing up in the school with Kappi.  I wanted to try on his new rug on him.

Before we started fiddling about with buckles and straps, Haakon had a chat with Kappi who was just leaving, having just finished a strenuous work-out.  These two have a bit of history – all about the hierarchy in the herd when Haakon was boss. It wasn’t pretty – so it was nice to see them say a cheery hello.  I think Kappi is fed-up of the “kiddy factor” – Dreki and Efstur can be tiring.  All that ruddy giggling.

Anywho, I tried the rug on Haakon. It has a high neck, dart at the shoulder and some fairly firm straps.  I am in two minds to send it south to have everything changed so he can break his way out of it rather than get stuck.  I think I will give it a go like it is first and see what happens.

Haakon gave me his not-very-enthusiastic look like a child trying on school uniform for the first time. He hates rugs but they do keep the weight on when the weather is bad so he will just have to put up and shut up. I told him this while asking him not to wreck it either.

I put the old man back in his field and said hello to the others, finding some carrots about my person.

I also took with me a salt lick and attached it to the gate.  Sóley gave it her attention.

So, when the weather deteriorates, the rug will make an appearance.  It won’t be long the way we are going.