Unexciting Pod Diary Update....
He was an absolute pleasure to walk today, really had a nice one. Storm Bert has given us a huge jump in temperature here so we had a lovely blowy walk down the estuary and bumped into his possible future walking buddy (acquaintance of ours has a dog a similar age who we're gearing up to take for walks with him). She's a sort of GSD/Huskey/something else X so plenty big enough to deal with Pod's bounciness and confident with it. She's not overly interested in him either beyond a cursory howdyoudo, so I think she'd be a good candidate for a pal. She has a complicated fancy name but for the sake of this thread she will be called Princess, as she is exceptionally regal.
I think Pod actually may have had a baby tape-worm! It's funny how I've gone from someone who held their breath when picking up dog poops to walking along mooshing it up in an inside-out poo bag and squinting at it. It had a few long, very thin white noodle type things in it (nothing near as dramatic as the earth-worm purge of three weeks ago though). Poor Pod. I suspect it's from eating cat-shit which I try to stop him doing but he's like a bloody ninja when he smells it.
I'm thinking now he's beginning to settle I need to ever so slightly up the ante on his boundaries... He's way more attached to me than DP and in spite of him being good as gold in his crate when we've both left the house together, I left him when DP was at work to go to an appointment this week and he cried and barked on and off while I was gone 🙁 He also stands at the bottom of the stairs and whines if I go up there when we're home alone - which I need to do something about as I simply HAVE to be able to go upstairs alone sometimes (for laundry, shower, to get things etc.). Up until now, when we're home alone I'll tend to just not go up there as I hate upsetting him but that's not a long term solution.
So starting today I'm making more of an effort to pop up there while he's eating his brekkie, got his Kong or generally absorbed in something nice. I'm also practicing popping out to the outside bin and shutting the door behind me while holding my keys at similar times and coming straight back in. Sometimes he follows me to the door, sometimes he doesn't. I figure with time and repetition the sight and sound of me going upstairs/going out the door will be not scary and may even be associated with something delicious.
Blood test is booked for Thursday.
I have predictably ordered a doggy DNA test for Pod. I'll be interested to see if it can differentiate between different Pod flavours. It'll take a few weeks to be processed once it's here but I will be taking bets on potential answers, Pod Points to the winner. I'm thinking it'll come back Pod. Ibizian, Pod Canario, Pod Orito & Glago. But who knows!
Couple of nice things if anyone has made it this far: you know how a few weeks ago I was moaning about not being able to get a scrap of work done due to Pod-antics, well this week I realised I'm still getting distracted, but it's mainly because I'm staring at him, because I want to play with him or because I just want to go and pat him 🥰
Another nice thing, he's really started bringing me and DP toys, which he never used to do. Especially his big Covid Bug and bits of his stinky bed (which now resembles an off white version of what dementors wear).
He's also got better at fetching stuff. I TRIUMPHANTLY located the ball our friend got him (which was an unexpected hit) on Amazon yesterday and ordered a couple more as, after MUCH use, the squeaker has gone is his present one.
Paddock in the storm later! It's raining and howling but a whole 15 degrees warmer than snowday so hopefully he'll have a good tear-around.
How are you doggos enjoying the storm/snow? Pictures please!