Remember the blog about Satch and his leather fetish (early May)? Well, it's still going on. He's now removed a total of three collars from Max, eaten the leather and left the buckle/chain/dog tag or whatever. I'm only relieved that he must chew them into small pieces; I was not looking forward to helping 20 inches of leather out of his bottom. Max is now sporting a fetching multicoloured fabric collar.
Oh, and he had a go at one of my rather lovely pale blue shoes that I bought in the states. I think I can just about still wear it. I'm very well aware that he thinks suede is potentially even more tasty and generally sensually appealling than ordinary leather, as he keeps licking my suede shoes, but so far he hasn't got any further than that (as far as I know).
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Satch the Elizabethan dandy
Poor Satchmo got a little histiocytoma (benign lump) on the inside of his elbow. As he was worrying it and making it raw, the vet nipped it off and put in 2 layers of stitches. Next day ... top layer of stitches gone. Back to the vet for staples. Lasted till Monday. By then the bit he'd worked the staples out from was infected. So, the elizabethan collar came into play. He was a very good boy and let me put it on, but was then scared, unsurprisingly. I walked round the garden with him before bed to encourage him to wee, but he wouldn't, so I resigned myself to a puddle on the floor overnight. But no, nothing the next morning and he still wouldn't pee. It was eventually at least 14 hours and then he peed like a horse.
It was impossible not to laugh as he ran for the door and then - boof - shot back at least six inches as the collar hit the door frame and proved action and reaction really are equal and opposite. Amazing how quickly he got the hang of it though. Not sure how much good it did as I caught Max licking the wound for him several times. All well now.
Another funny thing was that, when I took him for the op, I also took Nina for a day with some other dogs. When I picked her up, I was told she wouldn't play and wouldn't even eat treats; was just quiet and sad. Could this be because I took her son to the vet and left him there? She was fine once she got home and saw he was OK. Bet she kicked herself afterwards for missing out on the treats.
It was impossible not to laugh as he ran for the door and then - boof - shot back at least six inches as the collar hit the door frame and proved action and reaction really are equal and opposite. Amazing how quickly he got the hang of it though. Not sure how much good it did as I caught Max licking the wound for him several times. All well now.
Another funny thing was that, when I took him for the op, I also took Nina for a day with some other dogs. When I picked her up, I was told she wouldn't play and wouldn't even eat treats; was just quiet and sad. Could this be because I took her son to the vet and left him there? She was fine once she got home and saw he was OK. Bet she kicked herself afterwards for missing out on the treats.
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Satchmo the narcissus
Came back from a trip abroad and Satch stuck to me like glue. I went upstairs to unpack and he came too. I looked up from the suitcase to find him stood with his front paws on the dressing table stool, studying himself very seriously in the mirror. How cute is that?
World's most expensive hand job?
Well, I made an appointment for Max to have semen taken for storage and later AI. He's still very fit at almost 13, clear of all the main genetic diseases, beautifully proportioned and a perfect gentleman.
So, I was at my neighbour's a few days before and said I was taking him for a very expensive hand job. Her teenage son's friend immediately asked if he could come too. We both pointed out that he probably didn't need to pay that much. My friend asked how they do it and I said, "I'll tell you after Friday." Lots of jokes about needing to take doggie magazines, plus ciggies and whisky for after.
So, I took Max up to Malvern and we queued behind 7 bloodhounds. (Didn't realise how huge they are. And how dribbly.) I was slightly perturbed to hear that semen had only been succesfully taken from 1. I thought, "No problem for Max, he's all over Nina and she's not even in season."
Anyway, we went in and there was this sweet little collie bitch standing there patiently as the teaser. Then it became clear what the problem was. She was way past her peak of season. Max was interested in the room, the people ... anything except the bitch. Even lifting her tail and sticking his nose there did nothing. I did discover the way they do it ... just exactly the normal way, except with a latex glove. She commented that Max has one testicle slightly larger than the other. I know this and take a photo of his back end every couple of months to make sure it's not getting any bigger. I told her that I have a folder on my PC called 'Max's back end' where the photos are, and she said my friend's son's friend would probably want to be in there too. Guffaws of laughter from both of us. Very surreal having a chatty conversation with the vet across Max's back as he was being, well, wanked. Complete waste of time, and still cost me £50, but an interesting experience.
So, I was at my neighbour's a few days before and said I was taking him for a very expensive hand job. Her teenage son's friend immediately asked if he could come too. We both pointed out that he probably didn't need to pay that much. My friend asked how they do it and I said, "I'll tell you after Friday." Lots of jokes about needing to take doggie magazines, plus ciggies and whisky for after.
So, I took Max up to Malvern and we queued behind 7 bloodhounds. (Didn't realise how huge they are. And how dribbly.) I was slightly perturbed to hear that semen had only been succesfully taken from 1. I thought, "No problem for Max, he's all over Nina and she's not even in season."
Anyway, we went in and there was this sweet little collie bitch standing there patiently as the teaser. Then it became clear what the problem was. She was way past her peak of season. Max was interested in the room, the people ... anything except the bitch. Even lifting her tail and sticking his nose there did nothing. I did discover the way they do it ... just exactly the normal way, except with a latex glove. She commented that Max has one testicle slightly larger than the other. I know this and take a photo of his back end every couple of months to make sure it's not getting any bigger. I told her that I have a folder on my PC called 'Max's back end' where the photos are, and she said my friend's son's friend would probably want to be in there too. Guffaws of laughter from both of us. Very surreal having a chatty conversation with the vet across Max's back as he was being, well, wanked. Complete waste of time, and still cost me £50, but an interesting experience.
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Does Nina wish she had babies or is she just pissed off with Max?
Nina has come to the end of her false pregnancy and seems, to all intents and purposes, to have post-natal depression. Or maybe she's just fed up with Max following her around and licking her fanny.
There is definitely a noticeable hormonal change at that point. I always know exactly which day it happens as Max goes off his food and starts trying to mount her. (He mounts Satchmo too, which leaves the pup looking confused). It's like a lesser version of his behaviour when she's in season. He had to sleep in my room last night as he wouldn't stop barking excitedly.
I've started giving Nina Tic-Tacs like I do in her season. Hope it helps, for all our sakes.
If she carries on being depressed for too long, it'll be off to the vet again for some cabergoline (prolactin suppressant). They must be missing us anyway; it's at least a fortnight since we were there...
There is definitely a noticeable hormonal change at that point. I always know exactly which day it happens as Max goes off his food and starts trying to mount her. (He mounts Satchmo too, which leaves the pup looking confused). It's like a lesser version of his behaviour when she's in season. He had to sleep in my room last night as he wouldn't stop barking excitedly.
I've started giving Nina Tic-Tacs like I do in her season. Hope it helps, for all our sakes.
If she carries on being depressed for too long, it'll be off to the vet again for some cabergoline (prolactin suppressant). They must be missing us anyway; it's at least a fortnight since we were there...
Satchmo gets his Kennel Club Silver
Satchie baby passed his Kennel Club Silver Good Citizen Test Saturday at 12.5 months! Pretty good considering he hadn't been going to classes for several months and only had 3 before the test (test rather sprung on me as I hadn't picked up that a date was set due to not going to classes for a while).
Neither of us much enjoyed the road walk in the rain. He had been a bit funny about getting in the car, but our brill trainer Ann Nash had given me a tip to sort it (involving cheese - surprise, surprise) which worked perfectly.
On to gold now, and then SWDTBC's Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. he'll catch up with Mummy Nina if she's not careful. She's in advanced. Might have to take them alternate weeks.
Two dog shows coming up next week, so fingers crossed.
Neither of us much enjoyed the road walk in the rain. He had been a bit funny about getting in the car, but our brill trainer Ann Nash had given me a tip to sort it (involving cheese - surprise, surprise) which worked perfectly.
On to gold now, and then SWDTBC's Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. he'll catch up with Mummy Nina if she's not careful. She's in advanced. Might have to take them alternate weeks.
Two dog shows coming up next week, so fingers crossed.
Friday, 28 May 2010
No, Max, you're 12 YEARS old
Went for a 10 mile walk yesterday with a friend (turned out to be 11 miles, but that's another story). Satch is too young and Nina can be a bit of a pest when she's excited, so we took Max. I dithered a bit about that as he will be 13 in August. He's very good at looking sorry for himself and a bit of a waif and stray, so sometimes I think he's feeling his age. However, true to form, he had no problem with the walk and even behaved like a naughty teenager the whole time. Very like Satch at 12 months, in fact.
He ran off twice and wouldn't come back when called, so I had to put him on a lead. He tried to steal biscuits from my bumbag. He pulled on the lead while I was trying to walk down a steep slope. He ... get the picture?
Needless to say, he was much less tired than us when we got back and spent at least an hour playing in the garden with Satch. He's having a lie-in this morning, though.
He ran off twice and wouldn't come back when called, so I had to put him on a lead. He tried to steal biscuits from my bumbag. He pulled on the lead while I was trying to walk down a steep slope. He ... get the picture?
Needless to say, he was much less tired than us when we got back and spent at least an hour playing in the garden with Satch. He's having a lie-in this morning, though.
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