What a difference a year makes. OH has been in the backyard doing yard work all morning and a year ago Axel was running around like a lunatic, grabbing al the sticks and weeds and anything he could get his mouth on. This year though he went down gave OH a big kiss, went for a wee then came upstairs and slept on the deck for hours. We often say that Axel is an old soul loves his sleep and lazy time
She might be tiny but time after time she's proved to be a resilient tough and determinded little dog. You are doing this for her health and welfare it's hard i know, hugs from me and the other swampies. Hugs to Nell too she's become dear to us all and a big sloppy kiss to Sam, just for being himself. Sleep walk Sam talk to us, do whatever it takes you will get through this.
Poor Axel hasn't been able to enjoy our dog beaches this year yet. We have had record breaking flooding and it just keeps on coming. This picture is a year ago on the dog beach. Now here is the dog beach as of a couple days ago Water is so high that it has passed the fence and is covering the whole walk way
Gosh, that is pretty bad flooding! Although I am impressed that you have a dedicated dog beach...... Poor Axel. I LOVE that picture of him on the deck though, he is stunningly good looking
This is my first weekend since March (and only the third in the last five months) that I don't have a dog either with me as a foster or some other doggie-centric activity. I needed a break after the last couple weeks of nursing/babysitting/emergency ambulance service so I planned it this way. I've gotten a ton done already, which is useful as I'm moving back to Germany in less than two weeks so had a lot to organise. But it seems very strange to have a whole two days without being covered in slobber, dog fur, bite marks/bruises (though the healing ones still make me look like I shoot up on a regular basis, lol) and all those other signs of dogginess. I even wore a skirt and earrings yesterday - how luxurious! On the other hand, it's kind of boring and now my house is WAY too clean. I guess I'll have to pick up a four-legged visitor next week again so it once again looks more like "me".
Emily I SO wish you lived in the U.K. I have a Tasmanian devil that you could borrow whenever you wanted
Had a "should have gotten a pug in a pink jumper" moment today...literally involving a pug. Rounded a corner and there was an older woman walking her very sedate pug off lead. My dog went full speed up to them, jumped all over the lady, nearly flattened the poor pug. It's moments like these where I wonder if I'm the right person for a Lab, maybe I don't have what it takes to properly train him to behave in situations like this. I ran up and put him on lead and the lady was very gracious about the whole thing, but she commented he's the same size as me, and he is a great big strapping thing. When he's on lead and we see other dogs, he pulls like crazy and it takes all of my strength to keep him back. We've been working hard on loose lead training and he does really well around everything except other dogs (and cats) - horses, cows, people, bikes - nothing else phases him. I had tried to sign up to an outdoor obedience class that sounded like it might help but they're full up We're moving area in a month or so, so will have to see if I can find something that will work in the new area. I feel a bit defeated. I have been doing LAT with him but he seems to have totally regressed in the last month or so. Now when he sees another dog approaching it's game over, can't get his attention and food isn't motivating - and he loves his food. The only thing I could think to do is turn around and walk the other way, but this doesn't work on the narrow footpaths with no other way to go - I'd just end up walking back the way we came with the dog walkers following us the whole time. I don't really know what a good management solution is. He's 11 months old now.
Oh hell, I came in today and i thought Moo was dead. She cant hear now and she does that old dog breathing thing and it is hard to wake her as she sleeps so deeply. She was on the sofa curled slightly and her eyes had rolled up and she did not move she looked odd . I stood right over her, nothing, I freaked thats how I found Freyja dead about 18 months ago. Eventually she woke looked as if she didn't know where she was then she was fine and interested in the shopping it was just so frightening,horrible. I've still not come to terms with that it's over feeling for a minute i did think shes dead. Its very hard to contemplate a world with no Moo.
hes at the age a lot of labs get rehomed. They become super silly around this age don't despair just keep going. Rory was a tool he's fine now still a bit of an idiot sometimes
Thank you for the pep talk, I love him dearly and would never dream of giving him up for the world, but lately it's been a struggle and makes me feel like a failure.
I know but we're not just having a bad day that's all. Its strange because if you think back there's probably been loads of stuff that's been a struggle but isn't anymore and it's upset you because it's not happened for ages .
