Suzanne Harrington: New adventures abound - Medellin, the dog-grooming parlour...

"He doesn’t seem to like being touched anywhere near his hind legs, they say. Neither would you, I think, if the last time anyone spent any time there was to castrate you."

Suzanne Harrington. Pic: Denis Scannell

The two young males of our household are embarking on rival adventures. As the 19-year-old heads to the airport to catch a solo flight to Medellin, home of the Pablo Escobar walking tour, the lockdown rescue puppy – now a giant teenage German Shepherd – is going to the dog groomers for the first time.

To say I’m worried is an understatement. I’ve phoned the groomers twice already, to pre-warn them about all the things that trigger the dog: these include other dogs; people he doesn’t know; strange smells; loud noises; being touched; being brushed; scissors; new places; people wearing hats, masks or hi-vis; enclosed spaces; plastic bags; slamming doors; escalators; skateboards; seagulls.