Latest economic Indicator: Dog Grooming

It's fair to say that I have a little trouble wiv me fur... mostly at both ends but sometimes in the middle, too!

Let me explain:

Me fur is gorgeous.  It's wavy, soft and I love me dreadlocks.  Although, I have to say I caught Richard raising his eyebrows at one of me admirers last week when they asked Renee how long it took her to braid me hair int he mornings.

In fact, as a dog, I'm so utterly perfect that me humans need do nothing to me, beyond a little trim up every so often.

Even when I take me humans for a walk through the muddier areas of Edinburgh there's no issue.  We get home and I have a little nap.  The muck dries whilst I'm asleep and when I get up it all drops off me.  There's usually a Barney shape left on the floor, marked out in grit, Renee gets the vacuum out and it's gone.

Simples.

Someone else may have used that line already.

Anyway... me fur was getting a bit long and I've had to have a couple of trim ups (as previously reported) because me fur flops in me eyes and causes issues around me nether regions... usually in the form of clinkers.

But, fans, I'm delighted to report that I'm all ship shape and Bristol fashion at the moment with no fur related issues to report.

Me recent trips to the dog grooming parlour have got me thinking, too.  You see, I saw a whopping great brand new van this morning that said 'Mobile Dog Grooming Studio' on it.  Then I saw another one (also brand new) and then someone came into the shop to set up a new canine cuttery business and so it goes on.

I'm certain there are more people setting up Pooch parlours than ever before (probably all hoping to have a shot at me).  Then by the powers of doggy deduction I've worked out that other businesses must be starting up as well and therefore the economy is on its way up.

Forget Mark Carney (Governor, Bank of England), just come to me, Barney Doodle (Governor, Bank of Dogs) and I'll tell you what's what.

In other news the new shop is progressing nicely and we'll probably be moving about the 12th December.

No pressure then.

Have a Goal

I have many opinions and ideas about business - all of them correct... at least from a dog's point of view.

And people are beginning to catch on.  Just look at O2's new advertising campaign.  'Be More Dog'!  I bet they got that from me.

Anyway, I'm about to give you the benefit of my infinite doggy wisdom and, if you follow my wisdom, success is guaranteed.  Errrr... I may have over egged the pudding with that last comment, but only a little bit.

Thinking about that I was allowing me humans to watch a film the other night and it had a brilliant line in it: 'Everything will be all right in the end and if things aren't alright, then it isn't the end!'

Brilliant.

Anyway, I was thinking about the effect of having a goal on people and I remember a time we was out with Richard's puppy, Adam.

It was a while ago when Adam was a bit younger.  It was  a hot summer's day and we were out for a bike ride with Adam and his older sister Katie.  Well, they were out for a bike ride, I was running.  I can't ride.

I'm a dog.

Katie had ridden ahead and was a few hundred yards (sorry, metres) up the road when all of a sudden Adam just stopped.  'I can't go any further,' says he, 'My legs ache and I'm too hot.'

Richard stopped, too, wondering what he could do to get Adam to move and thinking it was a long walk home carrying 2 bikes and an 8 year old boy.

'Come on, mate,' says Richard, 'Let's crack on.'

'No, I'm not moving!'

Then Richard had a brain wave.

'I tell you what, let's get to Katie as quickly as we can and then we'll have an ice cream.'

Adam was back on his bike and peddling like mad before Richard could spell k-n-a-c-k-e-r-e-d.

So, let's examine the facts.  Adam, who a moment before couldn't go another yard (sorry, metre) on his bike because he was so tired was now peddling like mad to get to his sister who was waiting outside a row of shops.

What had changed?

Not Adam... not the distance to be travelled... not even the weather.

It was simply that he had a goal to aim for, something to achieve with a reward at the end of it... and that's the effect of having a target to shoot for.

Although it pains me to say it, me humans are pretty good at that sort of thing.  They have a long term goal in mind and then everything they do ties in to that goal.

So my piece of advice to you, me dedicated fans, is to set some goals, give yourself something to strive for and then go for it.  It's almost irrelevant whether you make it or not - simply having the goal, as long as it's stretching enough, will mean that your performance will improve.

Go forth and set targets...