Where the Wild Things Are

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

I have an eight month old Border Collie called Meg. She is far from perfect (and so am I).
Today she has been about 60/40 good. The 40 included chewing up my camera memory card which DH is sure he put safely on the mantelpiece. Every time I look down at this screen she takes a quick munch of the coffee table with her eyes on mine. This despite a 2 hour walk which included much in and out of streams.

Did you sort out the after op meal issue?

Hope you have a busy day planned to keep your mind off it until they call.

I took some of his normal food in as they do offer them some food before they come home. Really don't want him having Hills ID food which is what they have.
I've got to call at 1.00pm and he should be ready to come home between 3 and 5. The house is so empty without him.

Good to hear they were ok with you supplying some of his normal food in the end.

It's such an odd feeling when they're at the vets isn't it. Always reminds me why I could never be without a dog though.

I have found myself looking at rescues this week. I'm really missing Oldgirl and it's coming up to the anniversary of when we lost her last year. Fell in love with this girl the other day. There's something about her that really reminds me of Oldgirl - same face and body shape (although black not black and tan so not too similar) and a shepherd/collie mix. This girl also tugged at my heartstrings.

Dh agrees that we could probably do with a calm, sensible bitch in the mix, but we really can't fit another large dog in and I'd worry a small one would end up getting injured in play with my two.

They are both beautiful, I'm sure you could squeeze one in. We are moving house in a few weeks and as we rent, we're only allowed one dog

We rent too, but it was my Dad's house and we rent from a trust that's holding the house on behalf of my sister and I, so no restrictions on pets, thankfully. Dad was a huge dog lover, there's no way he would have wanted us to live here without dogs - we had 3 when we moved in and he was still alive then. Mind you, those three consisted of one small-ish Wheaten, Oldgirl who was medium sized and Lurcherboy who is on the smaller side of large, iyswim.

The girls used to share a bed, although Oldgirl preferred to lie on the tiled floor until she became very old and ill. We haven't enough room for another large dog bed and they don't fit to share anymore, so it would have to be a smaller dog and then I'd worry about them getting injured by the two big guys.

I think so long as the smaller one was a fairly robust breed it would be ok, dogs generally seem to know their limitations or though I can see why that may be an issue for Pip but he may grow out of his impulsiveness. I remember watching a programme about teenaged kids and how, sometimes, their growth is so rapid that they can struggle to control their limbs etc which makes many of them go through an extreme clumsy stage. Perhaps that is what is happening to Pip,I remember you said he has grown very quickly.

Just phoned the vets, dead on the time they suggested wasn't clock watching at all and they say he has come round from the anesthetic beautifully and they're going to get him out in the sunshine and I can pick him up at 3.10. Can't wait to have my boy back, the empty house reminds me too much of the months after my Springer died, the hole is sort of dog shaped.

Hurrah! Hope Finn feels ok tonight

We've just got back from holiday and I can't wait to see Fitz - I hope he's not too unsettled tonight as I am shattered ...

I think you're right about the growth/teenage thing NCIS. In fact my sister and I were just saying the other day that Pip is like my nephew, who has suddenly shot up, gone all gawky and keeps doing things like walking into door frames and even falling off the bed because he hasn't grown into his body yet.

Great news that Finn is awake and up and about. Not long now till he's home again.

Basil, he's going to be so pleased to see you.

He's home and you would be hard pressed to know he's had an op. If a man was castrated they'd be lying down whimpering, he trots out, wagging his tail, delighted to see me. The vet tells me he is their star patient.

Fanstastic. Mine were like that after their ops. I think being young, fit and healthy really helps.

Glad he's home safe and you can relax now.

I can't believe Pip has injured himself again!

Glad Finn has taken his op in his stride too. Maz was exactly the same.

Maz has been poorly again the last few days. Unfortunately he managed to snaffle chips and bread at the carboot on Sunday before I saw it and it has had a predictable effect on old glass guts. He had one of his crampy sessions on Monday morning when my mum had him. She said she would have been terrified if I hadn't warned her because she says he spent a good 30 mins with his head bent sideways on the floor. He is picking up today and has eaten and wanted to walk although poo is still not firmed up (bleurgh).

Fitz was delighted to be back home although he looked like he was having fun (dogwalker sent updates with photos)

We've now got my sister's dog for a few days - she's decided he's not such an annoying puppy after all :)

Hi all, what a lot has happened here since I lost my membership of MN! Couldn't remember password for the re-set thing so I'm starting afresh!

Just a reminder of minty - though that was early puppy days, he is massive now!

Poor Pip and Finn, but glad Finn has come round OK. Must have been weird today. BB - was he super excited to see you?

We are taking minty to kennels tomorrow so we can go to Scotland with my elderly parents, my dad is too frail to cope with a big bouncy dog. I am so worried we're going to be in bits for the holiday though as none of us want to leave him.

I thought we'd have a pizza on sofa evening while watching a film tomorrow night to distract us and take advantage of fact there will be no dog to get upset at us eating! Guess which film arrived from our list at lovefilm? Digby the biggest dog in the world!!! I placed it on the list months ago, can't believe it arrived today - none of us can bear to watch it without him so I think we might play monopoly instead!

Ah poor Maz that's tough on him.

NCIS your comment made me laugh - for my DHs snip he booked a week off work, we booked two days of boys-at-grandparents to avoid the leaping in lap scenario! And all that time was spent on the sofa watching films! What a drama, I remember at the time enjoying the first day of sofa crash out and by day three mentions of my many stitches after childbirth came thick & fast as my intolerance increased!

Oh Mint, I thought you must have already gone on your holiday when you disappeared. Hope today goes ok and you can find something else to watch, what terrible timing with your Lovefilm request.

Enjoy your holiday and try not to fret about Minty too much. (I will be the same in a few weeks when we have to leave Pip and Lurcherboy at the kennels for the weekend. We're going to do a few short visits and then a short trial overnight first - really hope he copes, as we've paid for our tickets now and can't back out of what we have planned.)

Pip is really fed up of not being allowed to charge around the garden in the sunshine and/or be let off-lead. He usually had a good old romp first thing then sleeps until lunchtime, so now he's prowling and whingeing because he's bored and I have ds2's birthday cake to decorate, which isn't easy with a dog under my feet.

He's gone

I was very reluctant to hand him over to the owner of the kennels and ended up telling him all about how I was never good at handing over either of my babies to anyone blah blah blah... What a nightmare woman he must have thought I was! I came home to find DS1 had hoovered and steamed floors and DH poo-collected and mowed the grass! Think they needed to be busy while I did the kennel run.

Soon as me and dS2 got home though the boys were bickering and at each other's throats so we are all feeling the tension. Will definitely be ready for wine and pizza tonight and some research into dog friendly cottages for future holidays!

Poor Pip, does he still have his rather fetching top on?! What does it do? Hold the wound in place and stop Pip chewing on it?

Aw. It's early, but I think you've earned it!

Yes, he still has his t-shirt on. It's really just to stop him catching the staples on things, as he's a terrible one for squeezing through small spaces and doors that are only slightly ajar. Also makes it harder for him to get at them, although he hasn't shown the slightest bit of interest in them so far. (I do take it off for our lead walks though.)

I only finished making ds2's cake about half an hour ago and am absolutely exhausted. Dh and ds2 came home, gathered up the other two and took them all for ice-creams at their favourite ice-cream parlour. I had planned on using that trip to walk Pip, but they went without me or the dog in the end, which was fine by me ... if not by Pip.

How's Finn getting on post op NCIS?

He is desperate to go for a walk moose Bouncing around like a loon, going to get the scar checked tomorrow so going to ask the vets advice about taking him but not letting him play with other dogs. he only has two stitches so am hoping it will be ok. Not sure if we can last the 10 days they advocate. He hasn't needed the cone of shame as has ignored the scar for the most part.
At least i'm on nights for the weekend so don't have to cope with the need to play and be entertained. It's a pity dogs don't watch DVD's.

Sounds like you're having similar problems to me NCIS. Pip doesn't really do quiet and calm unless he's had a really good run first. First bit of peace I've had since ds1 broke up a fortnight ago and he's whingeing and moaning because the rest of the family has gone out without him.

I think with Lurcherboy he was ok to do lead walks after a couple of days, just no off-lead racing around or rough play.

We need a canine equivalent to CBeebies!

Our kennels has doggie DVDs shown in two of the 'rooms' for owners who wish to pay more for it! I should have asked them for the DVD names for you both! Thought it a bit silly myself but I was pleased that they pipe the radio in 24hrs a day.

Competitive sadness/missing minty went on her for ooh about 20 mins till the teenager got bored with it and went out to play. Normality restored I'm glad to say now and I'm actually quite enjoying buzzing about tidying, cleaning and packing without constantly tripping over minty! As soon as I move, he comes to even if enjoying a lovely sleep.

Just read the whole thread
Really just marking post so I can find it again

Hello again Jayne :)

Hope your holiday goes really well mint - I did miss Fitz when we were away but he'd obviously been fine and has not been changed in any way by the experience (was a bit worried that his training might have gone to pot but he's not forgotten anything)

We've got my sister's dog at the moment - bonkers springer/lab cross - I took them both out to a local NT property yesterday - gosh that was a mistake as it was heaving with families doing Easter trails - we spent the whole time trying to avoid picnics and small children who'd obviously spent no time around dogs as they started squealing and running as soon as the dogs came anywhere near them - thankfully both dogs are under control so I can stop them chasing after small, squeaky running things ..., why don't parents teach their children how to behave around dogs?? It was v stressful ....

Hope poorly pups are better now