I can't believe that I have felt so completely neutral about grass seeds my whole life. I utterly DESPISE them now! Every time we get in I find I can brush forty seeds per leg off with my hands, comb another twenty out and still see them in the water if I then bath him! And it'a not just him, I came in from the fields yesterday and took my shoes off and my socks were coated in them!

And while I am moaning about summer - today my boy was limping a bit when playing in friend's garden. I called him over to have a look, couldn't see much and stuck a finger in between his pads, only to be stung on the fingertip by the live bumblebee that was stuck in there! I got it out and it was still alive and unharmed (it had only stung me very slightly) though I then squashed it as it didn't seem able to fly away for whatever reason and I didn't want him standing on it again.

The worst bit is I suspect summer is going to be the easiest season...

Hate those green sticky seeds...every year this time they get covered in them. Hate em

Once a bee stings, it does, unlike a wasp and that's sad because we NEED bees (even if not stuck between our dog's pads!!)

As for grass seeds - we had a hound who managed to ingest a foxtail which migrated from the back of his mouth to finally (and I do mean finally because it took a long time, during which we almost lost him) point under his ear.  Then, and only then we realised what was going on (it's the one time my then treasured vet was completely stumped about what was ailing him) and the thing could be lanced and removed.   Ghastly time, BUT going to the vet loads, in the car, completely cured him of being car sick!!

You wait for the Harvest Mite time - if you live up East (arable farming).   It's one of the good things about living with farming livestock!   But then there are ticks.

I think we've already encountered harvest mites, though I am north and west but with a lot of foxes around. I have my thornit at the ready!

The seeds really concerned me. Whenever I think I've been a diligent owner I find another 5 stuck in his fur somewhere...

Having a long coated dog it's the burrs that drive me mad. Not the tiny sticky willies, but those large spikey things that usually bury themselves into her tail and end up having to be cut out.

I read a tip about those those spikey  ones but haven't had one to try it to see if it works. The article said crush the whole thing with a pair of pliers...then it can easily we combed out then since the barbs are broken short and no longer grab onto the hair. Be interesting to try it and see does it really work.

Sounds good pipsmom, I'll give it a go when she next drags one in

Once a bee stings, it does, unlike a wasp

They dont normally sting, quite harmless:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sBWo_6z_ws
.

This one did sting but didn't die. It only stung because it was trapped in his foot though, because it didn't push its stinger in deep enough for it to stuck in (and kill the bee). I pressed its stinger accidentally. I killed it because it couldn't fly. Usually I am very careful and protective of bees.

I have just discovered the REAL demon in my garden. Burdock!

Ooh adds one dandilion and a perfect drink!

After combing 300 seeds out of him every time he ventures near it I shall also have to add a generous serving of gin..

Spraying detangling spray on stubborn sticky willy seeds helps to comb them out.

My least favourite is Herb Bennet, they have tiny little yellow flowers then the seed head is like a rosette of reddish barbs on the plant but when in the dog hair it all falls apart and clumps at different angles. They have to be crushed to pieces and detangling spray.

Is it burdock seeds he gets in his fur ? Ive not had a problem with those

I think it's Burdock.... Spherical spiny seedheads which come apart into individual seeds, each one has a long sharp fine thorn and a fat seed at the bottom covered in hairs. The thorn leads it deeper into the fur and the hairs prevent it sliding out. They comb out fairly easily with the greyhound comb but if I don't spot one they are soon stabbing his skin...

> I think it's Burdock.... Spherical spiny seedheads which come apart into individual seeds, each one has a long sharp fine thorn and a fat seed at the bottom covered in hairs. The thorn leads it deeper into the fur and the hairs prevent it sliding out. They comb out fairly easily with the greyhound comb but if I don't spot one they are soon stabbing his skin...

That sounds more like Herb Bennet that I hate, certainly isn't the burdock that I know as burdock. Google an image to see.

I have Googled.

My herb bennet (if that's what it is, I would call that Wood Avens, is it the same thing?) has white flowers and brown-not-pink seedheads, but it does come apart as you describe. However it doesn't have to be crushed, I can just comb it out (usually onto me, where it immediately burrows into my clothes).

On the plus side, if it IS wood avens/herb bennet then I have just read that it's a very useful anti-inflammatory, which we can take comfort in when the vet is having to surgically remove the blimmin seeds!

Herb Bennet and Wood Avens are same thing I think we have yellow flowers though. Its when he gets a clump in his beard they don't comb out easily. They're murder in your socks. Didn't know about the anti inflammatory

Especially if they get them and decide to go for a swim!!