Fleas on dogs; some dogs on kayaks Our dogs have fleas. Probably all – or most – dogs have fleas but those on our dogs have been pushing their luck. So, we are going to form as assault force and try to get rid of them.

First step, as usual, is to consult Andrew, our long time vet in Fishguard. His advice will be followed and the flea task force is far more sophisticated than I expected.

Scratch the skin of the dog with a chemical which is harmful to fleas and fine for dogs. There are other bits to this which Daphne understands. Although she is a medical doctor, and not an animal doctor, Andrew is able to explain the clinical bits better and quicker than he could to me.

She injects our Black Rock hens herself, for example, after instruction by Andrew. I have a “thing” about feathers so the hens are corralled in the orchard and Sharon, my mum’s carer, holds them while Daphne plunges the needle.

We collected the flea chemical and decided to call in at Pwllgwaelod on the way home. Daphne swam and I kayaked around.

Although the sky was overcast, and the sea was a bit choppy there were dogs, different kinds of canoes and kayaks, and dogs swimming with lifejackets and one on a kayak.

Now, if our dog Freddie stayed on a kayak the way fleas stuck to him we would be doing much longer trips. The dog we were watching is on holiday from Hereford with his owners. And he impressed us.

He swam to the kayak, was hauled on board and behaved so well I took a photograph.

As usual people on a beach in our experience are really helpful and we have picked up some ideas. The problem with Freddie is that he needs to sit in front of me, if I can manage that, because otherwise he heads for the shore when he thinks the kayak is too unstable.

Also, the back of the kayak is too slippery in waves. Thank you Hereford lady and dog and also for the offer to try your kayak. If we had not been pressed for time the offer would have been accepted. In the meantime we may yet solve our “dog on a kayak” problem.

I wonder if there is a sit-on kayak, single, which is especially sutable for a Labrador to sit in?