Part of the day, Ruby has been ensconced in a well appointed ex pen in the middle of our living room during her heat cycle. This affords her a good view of the kitchen, the centre of her universe. If Sami approaches, boyishly charming, she looks right past him (usually at me, the bringer of all good things) and if he hangs around for more than ten seconds, she provides a lip lift, soft growl or harmless air snap just to make things absolutely clear.

This morning, he came bouncing in from outside, play bowed and pranced around the pen. She looked right at him, dropped her ears down against her head and threw a little play bow right back at him.

Ahh, the power of hormones.

So now we’re on serious lockdown.