Beyond Adolescence - part 4

[SpanielsGalore]

Didn't realise we were that close to the end of part 3. 😂

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks No update, but I guess no news is good news. A previous home boarder sent us a video but that was a longer visit whilst this is overnight.

Dog destroys anything soft. He has Kong toys and similar in various shape and sizes.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I bought mine from the vets. Probably a guilt present for putting one or other of them through some procedure or other. They are on Amazon though.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DG5XK6J9?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_fm_mwn_dp_5DSK2E8JC6HDY8CVWNEA&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_fm_mwn_dp_5DSK2E8JC6HDY8CVWNEA&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_fm_mwn_dp_5DSK2E8JC6HDY8CVWNEA

@SpanielsGalore thank you for that explanation! Your 3 are gorgeous, K is adorable!

@Silverbirchleaf that Kooker-whatever looks so handsome. I’ve never even heard of them. Hope doggo’s sleepover went well!

@TheHungryHungryLandsharksand @Silverbirchleaf, thank you, I agree about my son. He is amazing and I am very proud of him. He does a really tough job for shit money and little respect, but he is so very good at it. Recently I bumped into him and his colleague going for a walk with one of the clients. Usually the carers have to walk a few steps behind her, but as they walked away I saw her reach out and take his hand. To know that she trusts him so totally made me quite tearful.

No, Merry still does not come up to the bedroom. In fact the little weirdo is now usually waiting outside on the landing when I get up, she doesn’t even try to wake me, just stares intently at the door as if trying to rouse me by sheer force of will. So no wet nose in the mouth for me!

That poo story reminded me of my own poo story. This was when Merry was still quite little. She was sitting on my bed while I got my pj’s on, I leant in and kissed her on the snout but she absolutely reeked of cat shit. I rushed to the bathroom to wash my face again and got back into the bedroom just in time to see her vomm an entire stomach full of cat shit onto my duvet. Was one of the most disgusting things that ever happened to me. Sorry to anyone who has just eaten their breakfast/ dinner/ tea/ lunch!
Speaking of which I’m the same. When we were kids we had breakfast, dinner, tea. I always thought calling the evening meal ‘tea’ was a Northern thing…

@Struckbylightning That beats all of my poo stories and I have lots, having had a dog with IBD. 🤢

I'm a Midlander. But when I lived in Brighton, I was told anything north of the Watford Gap was classed as North. So maybe it is.

P has taken to sleeping in the spare bedroom and is waiting at my bedroom door when I get up. No idea if she hears me stirring, so comes over. Or if she's been there for hours, willing us to get up.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Glad your DH is happy to be home and all settled back in. My DSs will empathise with the dog hair. They lint roll their clothes as they leave. 😂 The dogs wouldn't be allowed close enough to their pillows to drool on them though.

Three minutes a side sounds like a perfect steak. None of this well done nonsense. I'm afraid I start jacket potatoes in the microwave though and then crisp them up in the oven. Who wants to wait 90 minutes for dinner?!

Poo eating is really K's only fault. If she was an only dog she'd be perfect, as she only eats her sisters' poo and only in the garden.
I say perfect. I mean perfect for me. Other people wouldn't approve of her disappearing after deer or chasing hares the full length of the field. 😂

@Silverbirchleaf have you picked up DDog yet? How was he? And how was your evening without him? Hope you didn't miss him too much!

@SpanielsGalore ohh thank you! Will order one and see how his royal twattyness gets on. The others aren't half as bad as him. Perhaps it's a boy thing. Perhaps he's just a twat

If I know I have to wait a while for the food, it stops me nibbling! Otherwise I know it'll be ready soon so I'm in the kitchen lurking and raiding cupboards whilst DH is trying to cook...which sounds counterintuitive but that's what happens. I agree on none of this well-done nonsense though. It loses all it's flavour!!

DH has a lint roller he keeps in his work rucksack so he can roller himself when he gets to the office in the mornings!!! 😂I try not to judge him, but honestly.

Well I suppose all dogs have to have one or two flaws, otherwise they would be boring and who wants a boring dog!? Perhaps K is eating the poo to ascertain how healthy P is? So it's not really a flaw...it's a sisterly instinct 🤔

@Struckbylightning ohh that's so lovely! I think if someone has ever cared for someone before, they 100% understand how hard it is and to do it as a full time job is really commendable!

Awww bless Merry! She was just trying to share, you know? 😂I still kiss mine on the snout and they lean into it. I know lots of people find it a bit grim, but if the dogs are leaning into it (twatdog even closes his eyes, bless him) then I don't see the harm!

Had a lovely (slightly damp but not too damp) walk this morning. DWS started chasing a pheasant and I called her and she came. If only I could trust that her adolescence was past, but I fear we're still in the throws of it. Twatdog is being extra clingy, but he's hurt his back leg a bit and whenever he has a boo boo he turns into a massive mummy's boy.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Got back about half an hour ago and all seems well. He’s just flopped. There was another lab there who liked to be dominant, but they were well aware of this, and he did calm down after the initial ‘I’m boss’ barking. Dog seemed content, having found balls to play with, and didn’t want to leave!

@Struckbylightning I wonder if the vet was too rough with her and realised it but decided to blame Merry instead. A bit like when the nurse is too rough when you get a smear but because we are human we can usually stop ourselves smacking them.

I have enjoyed learning about Spaniels. I think I prefer cockers. Saw quite a few on our little break and they were all super well behaved.

Our break was lovely. It was much easier this time than when we went away this time last year! Pablo was very good. Even in crowds in Lincoln he was really well behaved. We met lots of admirers!

Had an interesting one on a beach this morning (we decided to detour the wrong way to go to a beach making the journey home twice as long but as I am in the Midlands we never get to see the coast!) there were lots of dogs around, all off lead and I decided to throw caution to the wind and let Pablo off too. He did beautifully, was mainly glued to DS and playing with him and pretty much ignored all the other dogs around us…. UNTIL a female black lab came running over to us out of nowhere with nothing but flimsy blue string for a lead! Anyway, Pablo of course ran after her because she’d spent a few mins flirting with him (and would not recall) we eventually found her owner, she seemed completely unbothered by the fact her dog had bolted out of sight to us - she asked me if mine was intact and then told me hers was in season!! No bloody wonder he wouldn’t recall! I had to immediately talk myself out of the walk being a ‘failure’ because he was doing beautifully up until that point.

The other owner was just crooning away saying “they would have beautiful puppies but we should keep them apart really” 😳

Serves her right if she had got pregnant! The female lab owner should have been responsible. it’s annoying when an incidence like that spoils a really good walk.

@VanGoSunflowers What an absolutely stupid bitch! Human, not canine. Funnily enough, my friend did a FB rant a couple of days ago about a man with an in season bitch off lead in the woods. It seems to be common pratice these days. I got called ridiculous on MN for saying I didn't walk mine and kept them entertained at home.

Glad you had a lovely holiday and Pablo was a good boy.

I prefer cockers too. 😁

We met an adorable 10 month old dog today. He was a cocker x King Charles spaniel. He was black with a white chest and the tan KC markings on a cocker shaped head and face. He was a tiny bit bigger than K and very sweet. I nearly gave his owner my details incase he ever needed to rehome him. 😂

I don't know what's going on with K. I took her to the woods this morning and she barely strayed from my side again. We met two dogs and whilst she greeted both of them, she was very nervous. Her bum and tail were tucked right under. She's always been a confident, in your face type dog.
I took her to the seafront this evening and she was fine. Much more confident and running wild.
I'm going to book her in for repeat bloods on Thursday to see if there's any change.

I was inspired by @TheHungryHungryLandsharks and had steak and jacket potato for dinner. Very nice it was too.

@VanGoSunflowers so glad you hear you had a good time away! What about a little cocker as a friend for Pablo, one day?

That woman sounds like an absolute muppet! What a fool. She's putting her dog at such risk - not just for rowdy sex-crazed male dogs but also risking her getting into a fight if she tries to fend a dog off. Silly woman.

Not many in-tact dogs would recall from an in season bitch! So definitely not one you can blame yourself for. Sounds like he is really improving on recall though?

@SpanielsGalore let us know how K gets on. Fingers crossed it really is nothing. Poor girl. And poor you! Could it be changes in weather? Or have I asked that already (told you I am not with it)!

Glad to hear you enjoyed your steak and jacket! I could just go another, but it would be a tad ridiculous to have it twice in a week.

@Silverbirchleaf glad to hear DDog is happy, even if he didn't want to leave!

Goodness, the last two days have been exhausting. 😷I'm wondering if there's another bug going around as I could barely get out of bed today. DH and DDs took the dogs out this morning and at lunch. Twatdog is being a very good boy and hasn't moved from the sofa other than for his walks and food. He's currently asleep with his head on my chest and his nose about two inches from my mouth. The girls couldn't care less. Nice to know I'm loved...

Glad it’s not just me that thinks she was out of order!

@SpanielsGalore I hope she is ok and that it’s just normal ups and downs! I’m not surprised people on MN said that to you, there are strange people on here! Was it in the other place by any chance??

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks As I just come to the light at the end of the tunnel of getting my first dog through adolescence, it doesn’t feel like anything I want to go through again soon 😂 but then I wonder is it like with kids where you conveniently forgot the really hard bits?

His recall is doing well but it was more that he could see other dogs but didn’t even try to bolt to them for me to need to recall him anyway. Granted, they were all fairly far away but he definitely knew they were there. And when any of them started to come a bit closer he would recall or ‘wait’ so I could put his lead back on so I was proud of him. It definitely helped that DS was there though! And as you say I can’t be surprised that it was difficult to get him back from the other dog considering she was in season!

I hope you’re not coming down with anything!!

@VanGoSunflowers I wonder that too about the vet. I used to do injections when my old dog was on Librella. She barely even flinched when I did it.
Glad you had a lovely time away, it really does sound like Pablo is a wonderful dog! God that woman sounds like a loon, how very irresponsible! Definitely not a training failure or Pablos fault at all. I am so careful when Merry is in season, it’s my second biggest fear; that she gets up-duffed! One Merry was bad enough, the thought of a whole litter of tiny Merry’s makes my blood run cold…
(my first biggest fear is her chasing livestock. That terrifies me - made much worse by the recent Archers storyline.)

@SpanielsGalore I hope K is ok, it does sound worrying that she’s acting out of character. Maybe there was an unfamiliar scent in the wood, or something scary, since she was fine again at the beach?

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I’ve been a bit off-colour for the last couple of days. I’m glad you have a furry friend to snuggle you. Merry is not a snuggler, but I live in hope that she will relent one day.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. How sweet of TD to keep you company. Hope you are feeling more energised today.

@VanGoSunflowers No it was in TDL, by one of the regulars, who has since left.

Shall I add you to the list of buyers for K's imaginary litter? Don't believe the things you read about her on here. She's an angel really.

@Struckbylightning K is definitely scared of something at the woods, but I have no idea what or why. Nothing happened to spook her on her last happy visit there.

I was a mean mummy yesterday and subjected P to the long car journey to the woods. (It's 11 minutes, which is about 7 minutes too long for her.) When we arrived, P was excited and leapt out of the car. K was scared and didn't want to get out at all. She was practically cowering on the seat. She was much better on the walk, exploring the woods but stuck like glue to P. It's so strange. I'll take her back by herself tomorrow to see what she's like. Blood tests are also booked for tomorrow, as it will be a week since the last one.

P was a confident, bomb proof dog until she was around 2 years old. Then she started showing signs of nervousness. I'm hoping it's not a personality trait.

The vets have made a right, scabby mess of K's neck, where they shaved it for the blood test. It looks like they were very heavy handed with the clippers and cut her all the way across.

@VanGoSunflowers It is a bit like that! Every time one of my dogs get to about 3, I forget how horrible they were for 18 months. It's why I tend to have litters every 3-4 years or so 😂It does definitely sound like Pablo is really getting there though! I remember a few months ago he was being a bit of a turd heading off to play and now he sounds like he's pretty much moved on?

Honestly, I think I'm just very exhausted and need some annual leave so I'm catching all the bugs. It's been a very long and very stressful year so far. But only two weeks (and 2 days) and then two weeks in Norfolk.

@Struckbylightning not sure about you, but I've had swollen glands, very tired and sore throat. Someone I work with had COVID last week, - I hadn't even realised it was still doing the rounds! If you want a snuggler to keep you company, i'll trade you a Twatdog for a Merry! He's a very good snuggler, but just a bit too forceful. He's not yet learned that looming over me in the middle of the night and staring at me is, in fact, very creepy.

@SpanielsGalore still knackered, but only two weeks to holiday (which I will keep mentioning until I go on holiday) so I can power through!

Poor K! Sounds like she's definitely not quite herself. I do hope it's nothing serious. P is a bit older than K, right?

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks I might have to have a month's break from MN. Can't remember the last time I went on holiday. Not having someone to look after the dogs and having a dog that can't travel put a stop to them.

P is 3 years and 3 months exactly older than K. Their birthdays are both on the 28th. P was 5 in June and K turns 2 years old this month.

I took K back to the vets today. We saw a different one and in his opinion, K is having a phantom pregnancy. That never crossed my mind, as I thought we were past anything season related. (Her season started on 22nd May.) He said it can make them anxious and nervy.
He thought last week's blood test results were nothing to worry about, as everything was within normal range, even if they were on the low side. And here's me been worrying about her dying of kidney failure all week. We repeated them anyway and they're still fine. Red cell count has gone up.
So he has prescribed Galastop for a week, but says she should be back to normal within a couple of days. And Pet Plan and I are about £260 down.
He did give me a free tube of Trigoderm for her scabby neck though. Seems only fair, since it was their heavy handed use of the clippers that caused it.

Oh poor K! But it’s good news that it’s nothing too serious. And poor you going through all that worry. And for not being able to go on holiday! I am a confirmed homebody but the odd week away even just in the next county over is really good for me.

@SpanielsGalore - our first spay attempt for little pup was postponed as she had some milk and that was 12 weeks post season so the same sort of timeline.

I need a holiday to recover from my holiday. We're away for a bit longer but I'm working again next week.

Girls have been superstars, hotel rooms, ferry's (4 so far), underground in Copenhagen, camping, thunderstorms. Also after being a rather unorganised pet parent I've discovered they'll drink water out of a poo bag far better than any travel bowl I've bought!

@SpanielsGalore a break from MN? That's impossible 😂I hadn't really considered how limiting it must be with dogs that don't travel well! I suppose even with twatdog's wankyness, he still does travel well once he's in the car.

Ohhh! I had not considered a phantom pregnancy. It would make sense if she's otherwise fine and healthy other than her needy-ness. Poor K. Great news it's nothing serious, as others have said, but must have been so stressful for her.

@Silverbirchleaf is it windy near you? Pretty sure I nearly got blown away on this morning's walk. Had to have a coat on because it was so windy but it was also muggy - not a good combination.

@tizwozliz Big & Little pup look like they're watching something very important out of that window!

Not sure how you come to find out that they'll drink water out of a poo bag better than anything else, but nothing about dogs can surprise me these days! At least it was a clean one 😃How long is the journey to Copenhagen?

Direct to Copenhagen is around 11 hours, we stopped in a hotel en route though so 'only' around 9 hours driving. It was a long day still as it took us about 2 hours to get through passport control before we even started.

Regarding the poo bag drinking bowl - our short walk turned into a longer walk, I knew there was water available at a point halfway round but didn't have anything capable of holding water other than a poo bag. Offering mine drinks on walks normally consists of filling a bowl and offering it then throwing all that water away but they both actually drank from the poo bag!

@SpanielsGalore No, don’t disappear although I feel your pain with non-travelling dogs. Behaviourist coming tonight, will report later.

Hope K’s okay and she recovers quickly. People don’t warn you about the stresses and strains that dogs can cause.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks and @Struckbylightning Hope you’re both feeling better now.

@tizwozliz Have a great holiday. Impressed with the driving. Love the little Scottish flag on Big Pup’s (?) collar.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks Not windy at all but quite mild. Got drenched in a downpour though. Glad I had my coat on, even though it was too warm to wear it.

We found the best travel bowls for Dog was the cheap and cheerful ones that concertina flat.

@Silverbirchleaf - the flags are all the countries she's done Park Run in

Just enlarged the picture and can now see the other flags.

@StruckbylightningYes. If this vet is correct, it's a massive relief. Honestly made my birthday. 😁

I live by the sea, but occasionally I think it would be nice to be able to go away. My plumber has a caravan sited an hour's drive away. That would do.

@tizwozliz I thought afterwards, N's spay was cancelled twice as she was lactating. She didn't have any other symptoms though, so all this hormonal behaviour is new to me.

My offering water on walks goes down as well as yours. Perhaps I should try a poo bag. The only time I've got K to drink was when I added goat's milk to the water.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks When I only had P, I planned to tour the Scottish islands. We were going to stay in B&Bs and eat out every day. Then she became scared of the car and being around me and food, so those dreams were shattered.
If I did go away now, I'd have to sedate her for the journey.

I hadn't considered a phantom pregnancy either. I'd been keeping track of the weeks as well, in case of pyometra. I'm a bit pissed off that the first vet didn't suggest it. Not only would it have saved K a week of feeling like crap, it would have saved me money too. And K wouldn't have a scabby neck.

I hope you are feeling better. Has TD got a Hairy Coo toy yet?

@Silverbirchleaf Hope it goes well with the behaviourist. P actually sat calmly looking out of the window yesterday for a couple of minutes. It gives me a vague glimmer of false hope.

It's just chucked it down here, so I won't be cutting the grass after all. I shall make a start on decorating the landing instead. I've finally booked in to have a new dining room carpet fitted too. The dogs have ripped through the underlay to the floorboards now.

@tizwozliz one of DH's posting was something like 18hrs by car. He's a bit of an oddball and he drove there over a week. 4hrs in the course of a week is enough for me (my eyes start getting fuzzy) so lots of respect for you for doing 9hrs! How long are you all away for? Hope doggies (and you) are getting some lovely walks in

@Silverbirchleaf I have to say, I'm a used tupperware dog bowl person. Just wash it out after a takeaway and it's good as new 😂Am feeling a bit better, thanks! Had lots of sleep and took a few days off work which helped.

@SpanielsGalore poor K and her scabby neck. Her and Satan could start a club - scabby spaniels anonymous😂

Was the first vet the one you saw before that you weren't overly impressed with, or another one?

He has! I got another one as well. Although DWS has claimed the other. Twatdog keeps trying to sniff it and she runs away. It's funny as none of the girls are particularly playful with toys in the way Twatdog is except DWS. Hairy Coo has survived 24 hours so far, which is pretty good going. I hadn't expected it to be so big or robust, even having seen photos of it with yours!

I wish I had your motivation for household tasks! I look at things and then look away again 😳Partly because whenever I do touch something, it goes wrong. Last time I changed a lightbulb the bulb exploded 48hours later and the socket thing was burned.