Change to our routine leaves Flossie puzzled

As a freelance writer, I love being able to fit my work around my life rather than the other way round. 

This flexibility means that Flossie and I can adjust our walk times to whatever the weather conditions are. If it’s wet, we wait until the worst has subsided and when it’s hot, we can go on our morning adventures much earlier.

To avoid the extreme heat of recent days Flossie and I have been up with the larks and out for our walk super early.

It’s beautiful being out at that time. We share the countryside with the birds and the butterflies and often don’t see a single soul. And it feels good to be back home shortly after 7 with plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast. 

Flossie is a little puzzled by these new arrangements. Normally, we have a relaxed start to the day. We both have our respective breakfasts and she promptly goes to sleep for a couple of hours while I catch up with emails and chores. 

When I first appeared downstairs at the crack of dawn already dressed for a walk, Flossie yawned and stretched and gazed at me in amazement when I reached for her lead instead of her food bowl. 

She soon got into the swing of it though and seemed excited at this change of schedule, even though she hadn’t yet been fed. She seems to enjoy the cool of the early mornings and rushes round the fields with glee. 

And the bonus is that she doesn’t drag her paws on the way home which is her usual tactic to try to stay out longer. Now she knows that a meal awaits, she’s enthusiastic for the whole walk, especially the final stretch.

So Flossie enjoys her breakfast out in the garden (another summer tradition) and then settles down for a couple of hours of sleep while I get on with my day. 

The trouble is, when she wakes up mid morning, she seems to have reverted back to her previous setting.

She thinks it’s time for another walk.