She's half Boxer and half Olde English Bulldogge.
I had planned to remove the skirting board (this side of the Pond we call it 'base-board') but it's a 2- piece trim that has a bunch of wire-mold attached to it from a recent electrical upgrade, as well as being glued to the original horsehair plaster from c. 1900, and if I remove it the walls will crumble in those spots and require a lot of repair. I decided to leave them, butt the new floor up tight, and then lay a small piece of cove-molding along the joint to hide and protect it and fix the floorboards in place. I also decided to nail them down because a friend who has done a lot of construction warned me to think of the future, when sand and grit works between them and causes wear on the tongues, and lets the floor get loose over time. I think if the boards were thicker and longer I'd be able to get away with fewer nails through them, but they are only 1/2" and 38" long.
Thanks! I'm glad it's coming out right at least!