It's that time of year again - when a new pair of Rocket Dog boots gets bought - and how much easier it is for me now that Amazon UK have decided they can ship boots and shoes out of the UK.This pair is from the Jailer range and is called June Bug. Normally my calves slop about comfortably in my RDs, if anything the boots are slightly too roomy. With this particular design I had already read that the leg part had been cut narrower than usual - hence me going up from my usual size 3 (36) to a mammoth 4 (37). But what a tug I had this morning - trying to get them up my legs. I eventually got them on and realised that the width must be about 3cm narrower than the usual pattern. I don't know why there are Velcro straps around them because that gives the impression that there is a hidden gusset (what is it about that word that makes one want to snigger?) - but there isn't. I suppose though you have to have a slight bondage look to justify the word 'Jailer'. Another minor gripe is that they have left frayed edges on the boot - I cut all that off; no doubt more will form in time but that will be a good thing to fidget with when I'm feeling edgy.
The bichons weren't at all interested in my new boots. They'd already been up for two hours and it was time for another sleep
Poppy had a cortisone injection two days ago to try and help her with her many many allergies. It has been three years since her last jab and of course in between then and now she has had the desensitisation vaccine sent from the Paris laboratory to our vets, in order that she can try and build up immunity to the things that send her crazy and make her want to bite herself. A lot of it is a coping mechanism she employed when living in her first home (one of 16 dogs shut up in a small room with very little food and never seeing daylight).
I suppose there is a bit of an improvement from how she used to be, but I long for the day when she will be able to live without her bucket.I can't see it happening though; just as there are three legged dogs one sees from time to time who seem to manage quite well, so Poppy is with her bucket - she is very used to it and even gets a twice-daily massage from me. That must be worth having to put up with all that plastic - surely?
35 comments:
There was a survey done recently that slammed shoe companies for how they cut boots!! Their measurements are not in proportion which is why so many woman can't get boots that fit their calves...it's not just you :-)
Awww, poor wee Poppy!! I bet the twice-daily massage more than makes up for all that plastic!!
C x
Nice boots.
Poor Poppy - living in that little funnel. So happy she now has a wonderful home with you!
It's is so true what you say about narrow boots. I have started getting a complex over the last few years because I just cannot get boots to fit my calves, even if they have zips, gussets whatever and I am sure I don't have really hefty calves. What are these people thinking? Don't they realise we will just walk away!!! Thanks for letting me rant. :)
I have always had problems with boots...I do have big feet and I have calves to match but riding boots always seemed to be O.K. while 'normal' boots just aren't.
I have almost given up on even looking at boots, it is so depressing.
Poor little Poppy! At least she now has love in her life.
I'm sorry to hear about Poppy. But how civilised your Bichons are! They have their own separate beds!
I'm wondering if I put on one of those plastic cones if I'd get a twice daily massage? Hey, it might be worth a try...
Carol - the thing is that RDs are normally very roomy - this is my first pair that have been a struggle.
I know there is firm called Duo that make boots for wider than average calves but I tried a pair from them and they were too baggy in the foot and ankle.
Ladyfi - thank you re the boots. Re Pop and her bucket - I do get upset looking at her sometimes but she gets one long walk a day without it on; she gets lots of love and kisses; sometimes I remove it and wait to see how long it is until she bites herself (usually 2.5 mins on average) and then there are the daily massages. So her life is quite good really.
She helped me eat a banana this morning (Misty hates fruit; Pop says no to nothing)
Kim - yes but RDs have never been like that before. i think too many people must have complained about their baggy legs
flyintheweb - riding boots are always so narrow and elegant that if you can get those on you must have perfectly proportioned calves
ASD - those are their day beds; they also have car seats and other dog beds in the bedroom. Spoilt - our dogs? of course not :)
Mark - yes but you have to give lots of loving licks and kisses to get them :)
So why don't French boots fit?
Now off to look at my 'perfectly proportioned calves' in the wardrobe mirror...Thank you FF, if I ignore everything the mirror tells me upward of the knee I owe you a morale boost!
Aww. Hope Poppy gets to take the lamp shade off soon!
Well-wishes to Poppy! As for "gusset," yes ... it's an inherently funny word for no apparent reason. My roommates and I made a list of such words when we were in college -- I think the most memorable one for me was "spelunk."
flyintheweb - we have quite a narrow full length cheval style mirror here and when I stay in hotels and see myself in a 'normal' one it is always a bit of a surprise :)
willow - I'm not holding my breath that it will ever happen for her - not except under supervision
ContemTroub - yep, that's a chortle-inducing word as well :)
It must be horrendously rough for any animal to have to put up with a big plastic ruff... our cat had to suffer the indignity of it once after he developed an abcess on top of his head. He was most unamused for the duration of the treatment.
Oh, what an adorable photo :)))
Our Bichon is EIGHTEEN years old. We cry every other day, in "pre-remorse" for when the "time comes". But lately I'm realizing that, although HE has a hip that goes out, so do I. Although HE has arthritis, so do I. Although HE is blind, I can still be his eyes. So it looks like we're in the same boat TOGETHER and that's what counts.
Steve - I totally agree. I remember the time that white gloves were put on my little hands to stop me scratching at some spotty childhood thing - and the temptation to pull them off and scratch away was overwhelming. I have to do a lot of distracting of Poppy to keep her mind off her skin troubles.
Braja - thank you very much
Oh Dana - I got quite emotional reading your comment. Your lovely bichon boy is so lucky to have you
Poppy is looking tres elegant
I'm sorry she wasn't bouncing round admiring your cool boots.
The only thing about me having boots on around the house is that they usually think a walk is imminent. The fact that I was breaking them in baffles them
I couldn't help contrasting the boots and Poppy's bucket, and wondering why they can't come up with something more comfortable than plastic. Stiffened felt, perhaps, with a flower motif. Or a light, gauze mask like laminitic horses wear to stop them grazing.
OMG, FF!! Your dogs do lead a good life with their own day chaise lounge and night beds!!
BroTob - we've actually bought two alternative styles to this traditional monstrosity - both from the SA. They are soft and look more like a neck support collar that us humans wear. The thing is that with both the medium and the large size that we ordered she can still reach her back legs and proceeded to try and eat her back feet down to the bone. She really has this obsessive-compulsive behaviour and the stiff Elizabethan style collar is the only option.
ASD - I actually wanted to get these little custom-made four poster beds for them a few years back (before the money got wasted on other things). I suppose Mr FF was right to stop me :)
No he wasn't.
flyinthweb - if you knew how rash and impulsive I can be... I once almost (and did in fact order it only to then put in a cancellation) got an umberella for me and an umberella lead for the dogs - all matching of course (above the collar was a kind of halo effect but with a doggy umberella attached). Thank goodness Mr FF stopped me with that one.
Ah, yes; rocket dog season. Hope the boots fit after you've broken them in.
Too bad about Poppy, with the lampshade on his head. But I'll bet he still lights up your life, as you do his.
So annoying when boots or shoes that have always fitted suddenly don't! I have huge problems with the whole shoe experience.
I'm sure the massages make the collor worth it for your cute little doggie!
Poor we Poppy. I'm not a doggie person but I always feel sorry for the ones getting the bucket treatment.
Re gusset, it always was preceeded by the word "cotton", a must of course.
Oh and another chortle word, apart from chortle naturally, would be snorkle, my favourite:)
I love gussets and snorkelling too - merkin the one to make me snigger
Poppy looks perfectly happy in her collar, have you seen those disabled dogs with back wheels fitted - they just zip around.
Rob - I've found two pairs I'm trying to resist buying now. As for Pop - she is a lovely bichon and does light up my life
(even though she has just had an 'accident' on the rug)
justme - Shame about the boots and that is the downside of internet shoe and booy shopping
Dottie - 'cotton gussett' - classic English phrase :)
Lulu - now she has had the cortisone jab she is a bit more comfy but so used to the bucket that when I removed it yesterday she could not settle down to have a snooze. It was only when it was back she could have 80 winks
Oh your dogs are beautiful. Re the allergy, just a point that you may have considered. My dog Dudley suffers from grass allergy so we have him on anti-histamines. But I found out on my research that the dried kibble that we feed our dogs can exacerbate allergies in a big way. A change of diet to home cooked food can make a huge difference. We have done this and it has made a big difference.
Good luck with the OU course. I totally agree about staying away from the new courses - they do take some time to bed in and as they are key to good marks, best let others be brave and take a chance!
Hello MOB - thanks for your comment about home cooking. This is something I also do - see here
http://frenchfancy.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-ate-some-dog-food.html
I can't say it has made much difference to their health but at least I know exactly what they are eating now.
As for the new courses - imagine being on the first ever run through of a course, being inundated with course work and then finding they'd reduced it by a third after the first few years! I'd be so upset.
the boots look great, I might have to look out for a pair.
Poor Poppy, but at least she is very well loved xx
Cute boots!
And the Bichons? They look comfortable. I wouldn't mind a lovely mat on the floor!
Pearl
When you said that you had size 3 feet, were you referring to a British size 3?! Wow, you have tiny feet!
Claire - yes, her forever home means she can be a princess together with Misty.
Re the boots - RDs are so so comfortable - when they don't cut in due to revised leg room!
Pearl - hahaha - you can come and lay on our floor any time
Petrichor - hello there - yes my feet are small but unlike Oriental women whose feet are narrow and elegant - mine are tiny but wide and solid; consequently I have quite a lot of bother finding shoes that fit me properly.
The dogs sleep like dolls on their cushions! Poor Poppy. What an awful like she must've had. I'm glad she's with you now.
Hello bindu-It is a shame they are not asleep all the time (only joking) - it is just that they can bark a lot too
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