Picture the scene, one week to go before our long awaited week away - first time to leave Molly. Saturday morning up early to get in exercise before 8.00 dog training class. Unfortunately Molly touches the electric antifox fence because I have forgotten to alter the timer after the clocks went forward. You can imagine her reaction. Not the best calming procedure before training class. Fast forward to the evening walk and Molly finds the new electric fence around the farmers sheep. This time she is a quivering heap. On to Sunday Molly developers a fever and cough. One expensive visit to the vet later and likely canine/kennel cough diagnosed and treated with 3 week quarantine imposed. So there go my holiday dog care arrangements with neighbour and their lab up the road. Two options left cancel holiday or speak very nicely to my retired parents. Well I was very persuasive and they agreed to move in for the week with Molly. Extensive type written instructions and a 2 hour training seminar on the day before we leave and I feel confident they will cope. One of the key areas was diet. Molly has a cold pressed pellet food which is quite dense compared to biscuit or normal kibble so I was quite clear about one surprisingly small measure in the morning and two measures in the afternoon supplemented by training treats throughout the day. Off on holiday, Madeira lovely, FaceTime to mums ipad works a dream to check on dog care mid week. Back home. No problems, Molly Reported to have been very well behaved although quieter towards the end of the week and getting tired on walks. also has been eating beetroot from the veg patch, digging radishes for snacks and eating baby rooks falling out of nests from rookery nearby. (Sorry for non country folk) Now I knew she was fond of beetroot but the radishes diet was new to me and the rooks certainly gave me pause for thought given I am trying to train her in gun doggery. Finally just before my parents took their leave my father asked me to settle an argument about food amounts. He said they should have fed one plastics measure from the food container in the morning and two in the afternoon. Yes just as its written on the fridge I replied. oh piped up mum I thought it was one pellet in the morning and two pellets in the afternoon. Putting on my best calm face ’well she's certainly looking fit and slim so nothing to worry about' before ushering them out and rushing madly to get the scales. Turns out Molly lost 2 kg (10% body weight) on the crash diet. Remarkably she seemed to take it in her stride but has more energy after a week on her full diet and the rooks have lost their attraction. As a post script I did suggest to my mother at their was a business opportunity for helping owners with overweight labs but I don't think she saw the funny side. Molly hasn't commented on her week from hell but has been extremely well behaved, affectionate and even seems to have forgotten the electric fence. The moral of the story appears to be you can never take understanding for granted no matter how much you think you have explained. Paul
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh. My. God. I have just about split my sides laughing. THREE PIECES OF KIBBLE A DAY??? No wonder the poor dog was scavenging for beetroot like some impoverished, post-apocalyptic peasant.
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh my goodness......!!!!! I guess you are thankful you were only gone a week..... Hopefully she hasn't acquired a taste for the rooks.... [quote author=Oberon link=topic=5596.msg70896#msg70896 date=1398429475] No wonder the poor dog was scavenging for beetroot like some impoverished, post-apocalyptic peasant. [/quote] ;D ;D ;D And Simba thought he had it bad when he missed breakfast yesterday..... :
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh this is soooo funny. I reckon Lochan (the greediest dog in the world) would have packed her bowl and left......
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh my goodness, poor Molly! No wonder she was digging for veg in the garden! No way I could have stayed that calm about the situation.
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Good grief, poor love ,no wonder she was munching ( lunching ) on anything vaguely edible
Re: A cautionary dietary tale "putting on your best CALM face?" ;D ;D ..I am impressed...glad it has all turned out well with no lasting ill effects...and you had a super holiday in Madeira!
Re: A cautionary dietary tale I thought I had better post some proof of health before the RSPCA come round. Here she is this evening with beetroot. unnamed (1) by kermit1959 . . . . . . and hoping for more food e by kermit1959, on Flickr [size=8pt](Edited to make pics full size - Oberon)[/size]
Re: A cautionary dietary tale She's a lovely looking girl! My son did a similar thing to my cats when I went away.
Re: A cautionary dietary tale She's beautiful. And, as a bonus, now has a whole heap of new, self-sufficiency skills. I hope that Molly is starting to appreciate the funny side.... That first full bowl must've looked like salvation.
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh no poor Molly! But....this is an absolutely hilarious story and I admit to raucous laughter which needed full explanation to the rest of the family. Very glad she hasn't suffered. I guess UK holidays may be on the cards for a while ;D ;D
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Oh my goodness....I'm perturbed ........ ??? but she's ok that's the main thing...... ;D
Re: A cautionary dietary tale How did you not explode? Poor Molly bet she was over the moon when she finally got fed! She is stunning by the way
Re: A cautionary dietary tale Poor Molly; It's a good thing she had the beetroot to munch on. I'm surprised your parents could resist those lovely Labrador eyes. Alice
