Beyond Adolescence - part 2

[SpanielsGalore]

No point banning coffee, as it didn't work last time. 🙄
Haven't had any cake updates from a while. @VanGoSunflowers Have you stopped baking already? You still had 8 cakes to go to make it economical.

Quite honestly, it is not good publicity and a lot of people in the breed aren't happy about it. It should have gone straight to breed rescue, they have a waiting list. They're not "goofy giants" at all. They're highly territorial and immensely strong. These people are behaving irresponsibly in the way the dog is portrayed here 😞

Anyway, I'm getting jeaned and booted to go out with my "goofy giant" for a pre lunch drenching. I hate seeing them described like that, in reality they have so much dignity and are highly intelligent. Makes me angry.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I'm more of a bed at 2am, up at 8 person. I get quite grumpy if I have to get up before then. Which is probably why I hated P so much as a puppy. 😂 She was up at 6am for months. K has always had the good grace to sleep in until 8. 😇
The girls are all fine. I haven't seen any improvements in P yet for all the supplements she's on. She was scooting across the carpet yesterday. And all the damp weather won't be helping her ligaments. 🙄
My friend is much the same. (Strictly speaking he's not a neighbour - he lives 9 miles away.) Every time I go round, he's asleep and takes ages to answer the door and I panic. 🙈 I've tried to get him to tell his DD he's not well, but he got quite cross about it. I don't think they have much contact.

The coffee was good but not so good that I won't try somewhere different at lunch :-)

Just seen what last week's vets visit would have cost me if not for insurance - just a shade over 2k in total. That's some expensive kibble 🤣

@tizwozliz You've got your money's worth this year then! 😱

Yup. As predicted, we got completely drenched. It's ridiculously mild and humid; 14 degrees here and I'm getting asthma symptoms, which doesn't normally happen in winter. Weird weather.

Eek! Thank goodness for insurance!

Warm here also. Not really worn my winter jumpers yet, as too mild. Just looked at a weather forecast, and it’s not going to drop below ten degrees until 20th December, and then only just. No frosts are on the horizon

Please may I celebrate a successful walk with a group of people who will get why I’m so happy about it? ☺️

You all know Pablo’s arousal levels are sky high around humans, dogs, cats, food etc

Well on today’s walk he:

Recalled instead of chasing after a cat and proceeded to walk to heel offlead until I released him
Sat patiently waiting for several humans (all at different times) to walk past us without reacting (also off lead)
Recalled and walked to heel until he was released every single time I asked him to - all off lead
Walked beautifully on lead the whole way home

Needless to say I am very proud of him. I know he will regress and come back etc but seeing glimpses like this of the dog I know he can become makes walking in the rain/mud/wind (and cleaning fox poo off him) so worth it! Especially with how excitable he gets and his age!

That sounds really good @VanGoSunflowers , I think you're justified in being pleased with him.

Not that I'm the resident training expert here or anything, especially when it comes to off-lead ,but all of that sounds like a massive amount of progress, particularly so when you consider the fact that Pablo is at what is hands down the most horrible age! I will admit that Brie at that age was so awful that she was threatened with rescue on a daily basis.

So yep, very impressive, particularly as regards the cat! And his lead walking is good now too, I see. Wow!

@VanGoSunflowers well done Pablo, and well done you! It’s such a good feeling when walks are hitch free.

We’re starting the KC gold award in the new year. M has got to be able to walk by my side for that. I need to get practising. He can be pretty good at it- until he gets distracted.

Second walk for us and Brie met the most gorgeous Labradoodle boy. The moment they saw each other they both started pulling to say hi. I think he had the friendliest body language of any dog I've ever met, you'd have thought Brie was family, he was so overjoyed at meeting her. He was really lovely. Oh and his owner had a beautiful long waxed coat on, which I am now going to search for on the internet.

Then two slightly mad looking women made a bee line to cuddle Brie and told her she's a gorgeous boy 😂 Sorry but it always make me laugh.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet big dogs are always male. Didn’t you know?

With M there are some dogs that he really wants to meet. There doesn’t seem to be much of a pattern, although he does show a preference for big dogs (they’re all boys of course) and generally ignores the little dogs.

I think you're right @Nella68 We have been told by people "but she's boy size!" , it's very funny because they're so indignant when they say it, as if she cannot possibly be a girl 😂.

Brie's preference is usually small/medium dogs like cockers or beagles, she's generally scared of bigger ones like GSD's but this Labradoodle boy was quite big and it was love at first sight for both of them.
Like Midge, she pretty much ignores tiny dogs. Apparently, pugs in particular are totally invisible.

That's exciting about M preparing for the gold award. Does he have to pass that before he can be assessed to be a PAT dog?

Thank you @CoubousAndTourmaIet and @Nella68 ☺️ I realised today that my left arm hasn’t hurt in ages which is probably the main proof that lead walking is much better these days 😂

@Nella68 Pablo is very good at walking forward and then backing up for treats 😂 what method will you use to get him to walk by your side? Pablo doesn’t walk to heel the whole time, he does wander in front but doesn’t pull anymore and I must admit I’m happy enough with that 😂

When I was little I used to think all dogs were boys and all cats were girls. It’s adorable Brie made a friend! And it does make me laugh when you correct people about your own dog and they try to tell you you’re wrong!

@VanGoSunflowers on lead he’s great when we’re walking on pavements and he’s got his double ended lead. For the gold he’s got to walk to heel off lead. When we practise I count 1, 2, 3 and treat on 3. I just need to phase the treats out, which will be a challenge. They’re not allowed any treats in the assessments.

I’m hoping that I’ll be taught how to do it in the lessons!

@CoubousAndTourmaIet he doesn’t need to have done the KC awards for the PAT assessment, but I think every little must help!

@SpanielsGalore Poor P! It wasn't her fault she was excited to get out and see the world. She would definitely fit in well with my lot! A lay in here is 6am. Do you have another appointment with the physio booked or any follow up? Or is it a wait and see for P?

That's really sad about your neighbour/friend. I'm sorry he's not showing much improvement. I really hope he does get better ❤

@tizwozliz was the second coffee at lunch better?

@VanGoSunflowers great news about Pablo. I say it all the time, but it's so lovely when they grow up😍

@VanGoSunflowers Sounds like all your hard work is paying off. You should be very proud of yourself too.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Fortunately P is now tuned in to my sleeping pattern. 😁 The physio said her treatments wouldn't really help P. The ultrasound treatment gives temporary relief, but it doesn't last. So it's a case of giving joint supplements and continuing with reduced exercise. And hoping for the best.

Had a crappy wasted day today. Yesterday I took J for blood tests. When I went to pick C up to take him for a walk, J told me the doctors had phoned and he had an appointment for 3pm. So K and C had a short walk and I took J to the doctors. They said he was in acute kidney failure and needed to go to the hospital and be admitted overnight for IV fluids. So I took J home and he packed a bag. We took his dog to his brothers. Popped to my house to feed my three and so I could change out of my wellies. And then went to the hospital. Where we sat waiting in A&E for four hours, before J said he'd had enough and discharged himself against medical advice. So I took him home again.

So the poor dogs have been left on their own for hours today. 😭 Fortunately my neighbour was able to pop across and let them all out for a wee whilst I was at the hospital.
But the worst bit is tonight was the night the old fire engine toured the village. It's Santa's 'sleigh'. It's decorated in lights, blasts out Christmas songs and constantly has it's siren on the go. P would have been petrified, trembling in a corner and I wasn't here for her. 😭 💔

Tomorrow will be a dog day. 💖

That sounds like an exhausting day @SpanielsGalore .
I don't blame your friend for discharging himself but it's difficult to understand such a long wait in A&E when he was meant to be admitted for an overnight stay. I know, the NHS is broken and the staff are doing their best to cope with current outbreaks of flu & noro. It's difficult for everyone I guess. And now, presumably, your friend will be at risk of being admitted as an emergency.

I hope you have an easier day and that P is okay after the stress of not having you there yesterday.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet We couldn't understand it either. I thought we'd present the letter and wait a little while before being taken to a ward. Apparently that's how it used to be, but the system has changed now so everyone goes through A&E and that department only has 5 or 6 beds. And since two ambulances came in, we were moving further down the list of priorities. Despite him being told he could go into renal failure and die if he went home. He said at least he'd die in the comfort of his own home and not in their waiting room.
To be fair, he does seem a bit better than he did a few days ago. He walks now rather than shuffles. But he's still quite wobbly, which is probably because he's not eating and drinking enough.
I've also suggested he gets some home help in, which he was surprisingly open to, so I'll see if I can sort that out. My next step will be a mobility scooter for walking the dog. 😳 He can access the old railway line from his house, which is a nice level walk.

But today is going to be a my dog day. 💖

@SpanielsGalore Gosh that sounds horribly stressful for everyone and a very long day!! I really hope J see's some improvement

P sounds like a very good girl if she's learnt not to wake you up. Are you sure I can't tempt you with an exchange? No matter what time of year it is, Twatdog is bolt upright at 5am. The only time he doesn't wake up that early is when he seems to know I need my rest.

I managed to sneak in an unexpected WFH day today as the meeting which was my main reason for going in has to be cancelled (terrible - we're all deeply upset, of course). So, I have celebrated by taking Hen for a solo walk and a bacon roll after I took the rest of the rabble out this morning and DDs took Eris on their walk to school. We've got the timing for when DDs leave home with Eris and then I meet them at school with their rucksacks and lunch perfected now. I have still not mastered the art of a healthy breakfast, so once we had exchanged rucksacks for Eris, I sent them on their way with a Twix. 😳I'm just glad I park on a side road so none of the teachers see my nefarious parenting.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks It surprises me that all three dogs let me sleep and don't stir until I do. Which this morning was 8:46. 😳

How lovely to have an unexpected browse MN WFH day. 🥳

Your dog walks sound organised to military precision. When you say you take the dogs for a walk and a bacon roll, is it the dogs eating the bacon roll? When P got pancreatitis, the vet told me it was usually caused by people feeding their dogs bacon. Not that P had had any. And when my dog with IBD stole a full packet off the kitchen side (thanks son!) it had no harmful effects on him at all.

I'm now eating a Twix in solidarity with your DDs. Although mine's only a not fun size. 😞

Jealous @TheHungryHungryLandsharks @SpanielsGalore
Brie woke me at 3.15 this morning!!! 5am would have been a lie in.
I suspect she must have heard something because when I let her out she stood by the garden gate for a while then checked along the fence. Her guarding is different from the others, she's more low key and almost silent. Algy particularly was "bark first, ask questions later". at least I don't need to keep apologising to the neighbours with Brie. I suppose I shouldn't underestimate her, she'd probably react if the need arose.

@SpanielsGalore It seems ridiculous that J was not attended to, given the circumstances. It does make you question the system when you're given the paperwork for same day emergency care and still left sitting for hours with nobody checking up on you. It's crazy.
I hope that more help is available for him and that his dog will be cared for.

After me saying I was keeping an eye on Brie because she seemed quiet, the bonkers, hooligan Brie suddenly resurfaced on this afternoons walk. She had me in stitches with the dancing around, head shaking, play growling routine. Funny how it used to irritate me but now it makes me laugh. We also got the brakes on and eyes rolling routine when we dared to turn for home. She was, in fact, a sodding pain on the field, but walking fine on the footpath & pavement sections, albeit dawdling all the way back.

Dry so she's making the most of it by lying outside just now.

We're having chips & pizza for tea 😋 Brie is having Beef a la Provencale.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet Glad the hooligan Brie is back. You can stop worrying now until tomorrow.

I have been naughty today. 🙈
I have spent a small fortune recently, trying to find ways to help P. I have stuck to half hour walks and not gone out in the rain. She is still a nervous, neurotic, scooting, limpy wreck.
So I thought 'fuck it' and took her to the woods for an hour with K. She had an absolute blast. K seemed to really enjoy having her there too, and they spent the first half hour or so running around together. The second half hour, they did more of their own thing.