Up here in Yorkshire we are fortunate not to have flooded too badly so far this year.
However the back garden is starting to resemble a swamp rather than a lawn making it somewhat treacherous underfoot and the footprints on the kitchen floor are now a trail of mud.
This morning Holly slipped on one of the wet bits of the kitchen floor and did a very good Bambi impression before crash-landing on her left shoulder.
Poor old girl was a bit shaken and decided to stay where she had landed to eat breakfast (it takes a lot more than a tumble to put her off her food) and to watch me make my packup, or rather to make long hard covetous stares at the bowl containing egg mayonnaise to go in my sandwiches.
After looking thoroughly disappointed that the egg-mayo went in the sandwich and not into her bowl she perked up when her and the cats were allowed to perform a pre-wash lick of the mixing bowl before it went in the washing up. The walk across the kitchen floor to every animals favourite spot in the hallway (above the hot water pipes) was uneventful. I gave her shoulder a good going over and found that it's a little tender to the touch but otherwise feels ok. I suspect she will feel a little stiff and achy later on today. If she is then we may cancel tonights walk in favour of cuddles on the sofa and alternating ice-pack & hot-water bottle (both in fleecy covers) for her shoulder and my hip.
Yes a few months ago I too slipped on the mud and did my own Bambi impression but without the crash-landing. It feels like I have pulled something in my hip, it is still hurting now so I have actually made an appointment to get checked out by the doctor.
Thursday 30 January 2014
Tuesday 28 January 2014
1 year wheeliversary
On the last Tuesday in January 2013 Holly and I were sat at home waiting for a large box to arrive in the post.
Ten days earlier Holly had been subjected to being measured and weighed and re-measured by me and my Dad. I had then filled in all the measurements on the dog-mobile website and now we were waiting for the wheels to arrive.
Its hard to believe that a whole year has passed since the wheels arrived, especially as we have passed both the 18 month and 2 year milestones since then. Holly is still loving her walks, we may not be going out and walking 16 miles in a day any more but we are still going out and exploring new places as well as revisiting old favourites.
This was taken last weekend, we were out and about in the fields down by the river in the morning and I managed to snap a quick photo of Holly up on top of a bit of banking surveying the surrounding area and enjoying the sunshine.
Ten days earlier Holly had been subjected to being measured and weighed and re-measured by me and my Dad. I had then filled in all the measurements on the dog-mobile website and now we were waiting for the wheels to arrive.
Its hard to believe that a whole year has passed since the wheels arrived, especially as we have passed both the 18 month and 2 year milestones since then. Holly is still loving her walks, we may not be going out and walking 16 miles in a day any more but we are still going out and exploring new places as well as revisiting old favourites.
This was taken last weekend, we were out and about in the fields down by the river in the morning and I managed to snap a quick photo of Holly up on top of a bit of banking surveying the surrounding area and enjoying the sunshine.
Tuesday 21 January 2014
The Trouble with Training
Holly came to me when she was 7.5 weeks old and I started her training immediately. Nothing too serious, just saying "sit" when she naturally sat and other key words and phrases at the appropriate time to start the connections between action and words.
I also signed her up with the local dog training group for puppy socialisation classes and for the basic road safety obedience training.
Puppy socialisation started when she was able to go out after her vaccinations. She didn't really enjoy the classes. Even then she wasn't keen on boisterous bouncy puppies and would simply walk away from them and come back to me. She did play quite happily with a few other calm and quiet pups when the bouncy ones were out of the way and she loved the ladies running the sessions.
When she was about 6 months old she started the basic road safety training classes and loved them. Her basic skills expanded and she developed a real enthusiasm for learning. She passed the basic exam with flying colours and was invited to join the intermediate group.
After a couple of weeks off we started the intermediate group. This stretched not only her mind and abilities but mine as well. She hated the out of sight down-stay, but after being taken into the room where all the handlers went to she did start to stay provided she was placed directly opposite the door. The emergency stop was great fun because it was a polished floor, her legs stopped on command but she was moving at such high speed in the recall that it took several more feet before she came to a halt. The exam was entertaining, I had to be given written instructions. The trainer would call out to you to turn left or right, to go at a slow or fast pace and when to leave your dog in a sit or a down. Only Holly was also listening to these instructions as well as the ones from me. So by the time the exam came round she was starting the turn or the change of speed before I had told her to. So we had to do without verbal commands from the examiner. Holly came second out of the whole group in the exam and got a rosette and a trophy. I still have the rosette but the trophy had to be returned after 10 weeks for the next group.
After the intermediate came the advanced group. This wasn't formal training sessions like the basic and intermediate, but more a social gathering once a week that built on the skills and gave the dogs something new to learn.
I had always taught Holly to obey hand signals as well as voice commands as I am prone to laryngitis. One week the dogs were all laid down on one side of the hall and the handlers were stood on the opposite side with our backs to the dogs. The idea was you would issue a voice command and get your dog to change position. It was Holly and me to go first. The instructor asked me to get her to sit. So I called out for her to "sit". No reaction. I tried again, still no reaction from Holly. So I bellowed out in a proper sergeant major command voice "SIT!" The instructor burst out laughing as every dog except one had changed from a down to a sit. The one dog still in a down? Holly. I put my hand behind my back and gave the hand-signal for sit and she instantly sat up. She may be fairly clever but she also has a stubborn streak.
Every year there was an exam for the advanced group, nothing too formal and more of a social afternoon. Two particular tests remain firmly embedded in my mind.
As this was the advanced group we did a certain amount of work outside (in an enclosed area) when the weather was favourable. On the exam day the out of sight down stay was conducted outside. The dogs were all lined up and put in a down and then the handlers walked behind a building so we were out of sight. We heard laughter from the examiners and a few moments later a parade of dogs led by Holly appeared round the side of the building. She wasn't going to let me out of her sight and when she got up and moved the rest of them followed. We tried again with the same result, so Holly had to miss that test.
Back inside the hall and one of the tests was a retrieve. No problems you may think. Lots of problems, the dogs were being asked to retrieve a sausage!
There were two lines on the floor about 15 feet apart, you left your dog at the first line and went to place the sausage on the second line. You then returned to the first line and were not allowed to step over it again until the end of the exercise. Mostly the dogs just ran to the second line, ate the sausage and returned. Holly got some marks for style. We had been warned about this task a week before the event so she and I had been practising with frozen hot-dogs. The sausage on the day was a vegetarian one as it was thought this would give the dogs most chance. Holly went to the second line, picked up the sausage and started back towards me with the sausage. She stopped a couple of feet short, sat down and ate the sausage before taking the last few steps back to me. Some marks awarded for effort, none for the actual retrieve but several for style.
Shortly after this we moved house and couldn't make those training classes any more. But I still run Holly thorough training routines to keep her active and thinking. Linus joins in as well, he worked out that it was a good way to get a treat. So while he may not win any rosettes for obedience Linus will come on command, sit when asked to and walk to heel - provided, that is, that he feels motivated enough to earn a treat.
I also signed her up with the local dog training group for puppy socialisation classes and for the basic road safety obedience training.
Puppy socialisation started when she was able to go out after her vaccinations. She didn't really enjoy the classes. Even then she wasn't keen on boisterous bouncy puppies and would simply walk away from them and come back to me. She did play quite happily with a few other calm and quiet pups when the bouncy ones were out of the way and she loved the ladies running the sessions.
When she was about 6 months old she started the basic road safety training classes and loved them. Her basic skills expanded and she developed a real enthusiasm for learning. She passed the basic exam with flying colours and was invited to join the intermediate group.
After a couple of weeks off we started the intermediate group. This stretched not only her mind and abilities but mine as well. She hated the out of sight down-stay, but after being taken into the room where all the handlers went to she did start to stay provided she was placed directly opposite the door. The emergency stop was great fun because it was a polished floor, her legs stopped on command but she was moving at such high speed in the recall that it took several more feet before she came to a halt. The exam was entertaining, I had to be given written instructions. The trainer would call out to you to turn left or right, to go at a slow or fast pace and when to leave your dog in a sit or a down. Only Holly was also listening to these instructions as well as the ones from me. So by the time the exam came round she was starting the turn or the change of speed before I had told her to. So we had to do without verbal commands from the examiner. Holly came second out of the whole group in the exam and got a rosette and a trophy. I still have the rosette but the trophy had to be returned after 10 weeks for the next group.
After the intermediate came the advanced group. This wasn't formal training sessions like the basic and intermediate, but more a social gathering once a week that built on the skills and gave the dogs something new to learn.
I had always taught Holly to obey hand signals as well as voice commands as I am prone to laryngitis. One week the dogs were all laid down on one side of the hall and the handlers were stood on the opposite side with our backs to the dogs. The idea was you would issue a voice command and get your dog to change position. It was Holly and me to go first. The instructor asked me to get her to sit. So I called out for her to "sit". No reaction. I tried again, still no reaction from Holly. So I bellowed out in a proper sergeant major command voice "SIT!" The instructor burst out laughing as every dog except one had changed from a down to a sit. The one dog still in a down? Holly. I put my hand behind my back and gave the hand-signal for sit and she instantly sat up. She may be fairly clever but she also has a stubborn streak.
Every year there was an exam for the advanced group, nothing too formal and more of a social afternoon. Two particular tests remain firmly embedded in my mind.
As this was the advanced group we did a certain amount of work outside (in an enclosed area) when the weather was favourable. On the exam day the out of sight down stay was conducted outside. The dogs were all lined up and put in a down and then the handlers walked behind a building so we were out of sight. We heard laughter from the examiners and a few moments later a parade of dogs led by Holly appeared round the side of the building. She wasn't going to let me out of her sight and when she got up and moved the rest of them followed. We tried again with the same result, so Holly had to miss that test.
Back inside the hall and one of the tests was a retrieve. No problems you may think. Lots of problems, the dogs were being asked to retrieve a sausage!
There were two lines on the floor about 15 feet apart, you left your dog at the first line and went to place the sausage on the second line. You then returned to the first line and were not allowed to step over it again until the end of the exercise. Mostly the dogs just ran to the second line, ate the sausage and returned. Holly got some marks for style. We had been warned about this task a week before the event so she and I had been practising with frozen hot-dogs. The sausage on the day was a vegetarian one as it was thought this would give the dogs most chance. Holly went to the second line, picked up the sausage and started back towards me with the sausage. She stopped a couple of feet short, sat down and ate the sausage before taking the last few steps back to me. Some marks awarded for effort, none for the actual retrieve but several for style.
Shortly after this we moved house and couldn't make those training classes any more. But I still run Holly thorough training routines to keep her active and thinking. Linus joins in as well, he worked out that it was a good way to get a treat. So while he may not win any rosettes for obedience Linus will come on command, sit when asked to and walk to heel - provided, that is, that he feels motivated enough to earn a treat.
Sunday 19 January 2014
Gravy
Last night I had a roast dinner and, as usual, cooked to feed a small army rather than just me. The plus side of this is that all I have to do for the next few days to prepare an evening meal is zap a plate of food in the microwave.
This morning I thought the animals might enjoy a little gravy with their breakfast as a treat.
Holly hoovered her breakfast up at a greater rate of knots than normal and then, when her bowl was licked spotlessly clean, did her best Oliver Twist impression in the hope of more.
Linus must have some Labrador genes somewhere in him. He and Olaf both had about a quarter teaspoon of gravy put in their bowl alongside their normal food. Linus devoured food and gravy in under 20 seconds and then spent a couple of minutes being restrained by me so he didn't go eat all of Olaf's. After he was released he spent a good long while making sure both cat bowls were licked clean and is still occasionally wandering back into the kitchen just in case they have miraculously leapt off the draining board, refilled themselves and ended up back on the floor.
Olaf was confused. I had very specifically kept his food and gravy apart. He went to start the food, spotted the gravy and stopped. Sniffed the gravy, walked round the bowl and sniffed again. After repeating this a few times he ate his food and then very cautiously had a tiny lick of gravy. Sat back and though about it before licking up the rest.
I think they each enjoyed their treat in their own way.
This morning I thought the animals might enjoy a little gravy with their breakfast as a treat.
Holly hoovered her breakfast up at a greater rate of knots than normal and then, when her bowl was licked spotlessly clean, did her best Oliver Twist impression in the hope of more.
Linus must have some Labrador genes somewhere in him. He and Olaf both had about a quarter teaspoon of gravy put in their bowl alongside their normal food. Linus devoured food and gravy in under 20 seconds and then spent a couple of minutes being restrained by me so he didn't go eat all of Olaf's. After he was released he spent a good long while making sure both cat bowls were licked clean and is still occasionally wandering back into the kitchen just in case they have miraculously leapt off the draining board, refilled themselves and ended up back on the floor.
Olaf was confused. I had very specifically kept his food and gravy apart. He went to start the food, spotted the gravy and stopped. Sniffed the gravy, walked round the bowl and sniffed again. After repeating this a few times he ate his food and then very cautiously had a tiny lick of gravy. Sat back and though about it before licking up the rest.
I think they each enjoyed their treat in their own way.
Saturday 18 January 2014
Fat Feet and a Haircut, Two Cats!
On Thursday (I am writing this on Saturday) the cats went to the vets for their annual MOT and boosters and Holly went along too.
Linus and Olaf both got clean bills of health.
As Holly doesn't put any weight on her back feet nowadays I regularly need to trim her claws and less frequently give the fur that grows between her pads a trim as well. I have noticed that the pads on her back feet were starting to thicken and become a bit spongey. I wasn't too worried but took the opportunity of a planned visit to have the vet look at her feet.
The vet confirmed it is due to her not putting pressure on her feet and unless they become cracked there is nothing needs doing other than the existing maintenance. As we were there she too got a check-up, the diagnosis? She's doing just fine!
Linus and Olaf both got clean bills of health.
As Holly doesn't put any weight on her back feet nowadays I regularly need to trim her claws and less frequently give the fur that grows between her pads a trim as well. I have noticed that the pads on her back feet were starting to thicken and become a bit spongey. I wasn't too worried but took the opportunity of a planned visit to have the vet look at her feet.
The vet confirmed it is due to her not putting pressure on her feet and unless they become cracked there is nothing needs doing other than the existing maintenance. As we were there she too got a check-up, the diagnosis? She's doing just fine!
Tuesday 14 January 2014
Photo Favourites
A few more favourite photos from a trawl through the archives.
Most dogs when they get neutered/spayed object to having the bucket on. Not Holly, she didn't see it as a problem and carried on life as normal. This is her less than 24 hours after being spayed and having her dew claws off (she had got them snagged several times so the decision was made to remove them for future safety)
When Linus arrived he was only a tiny little thing, but he loved Holly right from the start
He could have gone swimming in the water bowl!
But then he grew, and grew and grew until 1 year later he was too big to sleep on Holly any more, she now uses him as a pillow
Most dogs when they get neutered/spayed object to having the bucket on. Not Holly, she didn't see it as a problem and carried on life as normal. This is her less than 24 hours after being spayed and having her dew claws off (she had got them snagged several times so the decision was made to remove them for future safety)
The Maths worked for once.
2 cats + 2 boxes = 2 happy cats
Alternative maths
1 holly + 1 puddle = 1 happy dog
Tuesday 7 January 2014
How to say walk without the word walk?
I've mentioned before that Holly is fairly intelligent and that I have always encouraged her to use her brain.
Most of the time this is great, however it does have some disadvantages.
If I fancy a bit of company on a walk I will phone a relative or friend and ask if they want to join us. Often the answer is yes but can we wait an hour or so while they finish whatever they are doing?
Holly listens to me when I talk to her (someone has to) and she quickly learnt the words walk and park, which meant I would have an over-excited dog for an hour while we waited for everyone else to be ready to go out.
So when she learnt the words "Walk" and "Walkies" I moved onto spelling it "W. A. L. K." that lasted a couple of months, so it was changed to "Going Out" and then to "O. U. T." We then progressed onto "Taking a Stroll" and "Stretch the legs".
It took a while for her to work out "A You Know What in the You Know Where" as meaning a walk in the park.
"Blow the cobwebs away" didn't last very long but "Perambulate" took almost 6 months.
As for where we go I had the same problems. "Park" was soon worked out as was "P. A. R. K." so we changed it to "Field" or "Recreation Ground" ("Rec" for short) then "The Place Opposite the School". The one that lasted the longest was a suggestion of my Dad's "Municipal Gardens"
As you might imagine, strangers sometimes wonder what on earth I am talking about when I say "We are going to Perambulate through the Municipal Gardens"
As a family we do quite a few crosswords which may explain some of the alternative ways of saying "Go for a Walk in the Park"
Most of the time this is great, however it does have some disadvantages.
If I fancy a bit of company on a walk I will phone a relative or friend and ask if they want to join us. Often the answer is yes but can we wait an hour or so while they finish whatever they are doing?
Holly listens to me when I talk to her (someone has to) and she quickly learnt the words walk and park, which meant I would have an over-excited dog for an hour while we waited for everyone else to be ready to go out.
So when she learnt the words "Walk" and "Walkies" I moved onto spelling it "W. A. L. K." that lasted a couple of months, so it was changed to "Going Out" and then to "O. U. T." We then progressed onto "Taking a Stroll" and "Stretch the legs".
It took a while for her to work out "A You Know What in the You Know Where" as meaning a walk in the park.
"Blow the cobwebs away" didn't last very long but "Perambulate" took almost 6 months.
As for where we go I had the same problems. "Park" was soon worked out as was "P. A. R. K." so we changed it to "Field" or "Recreation Ground" ("Rec" for short) then "The Place Opposite the School". The one that lasted the longest was a suggestion of my Dad's "Municipal Gardens"
As you might imagine, strangers sometimes wonder what on earth I am talking about when I say "We are going to Perambulate through the Municipal Gardens"
As a family we do quite a few crosswords which may explain some of the alternative ways of saying "Go for a Walk in the Park"
Wednesday 1 January 2014
Happy New Year
The Menagerie would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014.
Most news outlets take the new year as an opportunity to review the past 12 months, I am going to share a few of my favourite photos taken over the years.
Most news outlets take the new year as an opportunity to review the past 12 months, I am going to share a few of my favourite photos taken over the years.
Many many years ago I looked after some guineapigs, Fluffy thought they were fascinating and would spend hours sat on top of their run 'talking' to them. They were not in the slightest bit frightened of her and spent as much time sitting in the run chattering back to her.
Olaf doesn't really like having his photo taken, but I did manage to get one of him snoozing with his tongue stuck out
Holly loves the beach, our progress can be mapped by disgruntled seagulls, shredded seaweed, rolled in dead marine life and craters in the beach.
Holly was only a tiny little scrap when she came to me.
This is our first meeting when she was 6.5 weeks old
I had originally been going to get a retired greyhound, but somehow came home with a 7.5 week old puppy who wasn't going to let size matter when it came to bed.
This was her at about 8 weeks old
And with the same toy on her 1st birthday, she used to be able to walk through it, but now it gets stuck on her head!
Olaf doesn't really like having his photo taken, but I did manage to get one of him snoozing with his tongue stuck out
Holly loves the beach, our progress can be mapped by disgruntled seagulls, shredded seaweed, rolled in dead marine life and craters in the beach.
Holly was only a tiny little scrap when she came to me.
This is our first meeting when she was 6.5 weeks old
I had originally been going to get a retired greyhound, but somehow came home with a 7.5 week old puppy who wasn't going to let size matter when it came to bed.
This was her at about 8 weeks old
And with the same toy on her 1st birthday, she used to be able to walk through it, but now it gets stuck on her head!
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