Full House or Royal Flush?

My little house is bursting its canine seams right now.  We have:

Princess Mitzi

Princess Shiloh
who is adjusting very, very well
(except for her cat-chasing episodes)

Princess Chelsea Dawn
who is staying with us for the next week

HRH Princess Riley
(In most unprincessly pose, falling off the bed)
who is staying with us for the next month or so.
Seen here with her shadow, Princess Shiloh

And, of course, HRH Prince Eddie

Fortunately, despite their airs of royalty, they all get along very well.  I normally consider four dogs at one time to be my limit, but had already committed to looking after Riley and Chelsea before I knew Shiloh was in my future.  Riley and Chelsea have both been here several times before, so I knew them to be very easy and well mannered guests, hence no concerns about having two visiting dogs at one time.  But Royal Attitudes are certainly apparent - I am clearly the lowly servant, here only to serve their food, open doors, brush their hair, fluff their beds, escort them on walks........ in other words, be at their beck and call.

The only chaotic times are first thing in the morning, meal times, and bedtime - it is all just a matter of getting each dog in/out/to their own feeding space/to their own bed without all of the others trying to beat them to the punch, and without the stronger or bigger dogs knocking over the smaller or frailer ones.  Really, the only dog that is a real challenge is Anxious, Excitable, Foodaholic Eddie.  The rest are really very calm.  In between the chaotic times, you would never know there were five dogs in the house.

They all walk at difference speeds and different distances, so I much prefer to walk them individually - which means I'm currently spending several hours a day walking dogs.  Or escorting royalty.

With Riley, a walk is more of a gentle stroll with a lot of side-to-side paw waving.  With Shiloh it is more of a parade, head high, chest out, strutting along to imaginary trombones and tubas.  Mitzi's walks, I think, are an example of royalty rushing to meet with the prime minister - an air of great determination as she plows her way through the crowds and stops only occasionally to give the nod to a lamp post or fire hydrant. Chelsea goes on world tours - as the youngest member of the royal group, she believes in steering her own coach and dragging her entourage  farther afield to explore new territory and meet with the commoners.  Here she went on an exploration of Osborne Bay Park with our friends Sadie B and Gail,  and accompanied by Prince Eddie and me.

Princess Chelsea Dawn at the beach

Sadie B decided to go skinny dipping, and although Chelsea was dying to join her, the entourage kept tight rein on her lest she bare all to the paparazzi like a certain young British prince.

C'mon in!  The water's cool!

Walking so many dogs individually does have its rewards - like this beautiful sunrise Princess Shiloh and I experienced the other morning:

As for Allie?  Well, she thinks things have gotten quite out of hand, especially now that Shiloh's honeymoon period is over and cat-chasing reveals itself as a favourite past time.

I am SO not talking to you, camera lady!

And when Shiloh chases, Chelsea joins in.   Allie is plotting her revenge. There may be a coup in the castle.

Wake me when the nightmare is over. 

(And thanks to Riley's chauffeur, Deb of CatnMouse Designs, for fixing my computer when she delivered Riley in the Royal Pumpkin Carriage on Monday).