W/C 20th May H2O-M-G this is fun!

 

Monday 20th May 2019

Dembe was up early as Jay was on his usual Monday morning start time. He has been coping well with all my bedroom contents being all over the place as I am getting a new (2nd hand ) wardrobe delivered today. The Weimaraners could never cope with their environment being messed with and would get very stressed. Even moving furniture for decorating was enough to upset them. Thankfully Dembe takes it all in his stride.

He was really good when the delivery men arrived . One of them was his Uncle Paul so he loved having a massive cuddle off him. He was exceptionally well behaved as I sorted through all my stuff and slowly put everything back. It took ages as I kept having to have a rest. Dembe just lay on my pillows and just watched me, coming and giving me a cuddle whenever I stopped.

Jay got home after 5pm so Dembe was given a good run up the common as regular readers will know Dembe is not a fan of early morning walks – he refuses to leave the car. So on a Monday he has a long walk in the evening and if he is being particularly bouncy Jay will give him a walk around the block on his lunch hour.

Paul popped in on his way home from work and had a good cuddle with Dembe again. He really does adore him.

Dembe and I had a lie down on Monday afternoon for a few hours

Tuesday 21st May

Jay was day off today so we took Dembe to Woodbury Castle . It was so early that we were the only people there. Dembe had a lovely time running around and exploring the woods.

Wednesday 22nd May

Jay had stocktake at work today so was up at 2.30am and in work for 4am. We did wonder how Dembe would cope with Jay getting up early and if he would beg for his breakfast. Luckily Dembe was very good and although he got up a couple of times to see what Jay was doing he did come back to bed and settled down with me. He didn’t wake up for his breakfast at 6.05am, so I got him his breakfast and then let him out in the back garden so he could do his business. We then went back to bed and neither of us woke up until 8am which was lovely!

Jay was home from work just after 1pm, due to my mouth being painful after the extraction last week I was back at the dentist at 2,30pm. Jay took Dembe up the common whilst I was being sorted out. I had started to develop a dry socket.

This evening I taught Dembe to pull my socks off. I saw on the Broadleaf puppy group on social media that a friend of mine had taught her puppy Reggie to pull her socks off. This is the sort of thing I wanted to teach Dembe, so I asked her how she had done it and she broke down the training for me. As Dembe has always liked playing with my socks in the evening when I take them off for bed, I knew he was already interested in them. It would have been far more difficult if he had shown zero interest in them.

Initially I started with putting the sock loosely over my hand and saying “Dembe Sock”. On my first go he pulled the sock off my hand. I was utterly thrilled and gave him lots and lots of praise and cuddles. I was also aware that he might do this once and it had just been sheer coincidence. So I repeated the command and he did it again. I repeated this a few more times and then I put the sock loosely on my foot and said the same command “Dembe Sock” he pulled the sock off no problem at all. I repeated this a few more times and then shot this video

Thursday 23rd May

This week Dembe has been waking up a lot later for his breakfast, he has been regularly sleeping past 5.30am which has been really lovely as I am not a fan of really early mornings. As Dembe was very active from the off we got him out and up the common by around 8.15am.

Jay gave him a nice long walk on the common as he was on a late night finish today. On the way back from the walk we popped into The Range and picked Dembe up a rigid paddling pool. We filled it up as soon as we got home, Dembe went a bit crazy!

We have never seen him so excited he had no clue what to do with himself. He stayed outside playing with his paddling pool until gone 2pm.

He adores his paddling pool

He was so tired he put himself to sleep up on my bed for a few hours. He really did enjoy himself.

This evening I got him to do the sock trick again, whilst we were outside on the patio. Dembe took my sock’s off fine however he then took the too the paddling pool and dropped them in there. That trick may still need some work!

Friday 24th May

We have had Dembe home with us now 20 weeks. The time has flown by. Jay and I can’t believe how much we love this little guy. He is now 28 weeks old.

At 8 weeks old Dembe liked nothing better than to chew my ties on my snuggle top. At 28 weeks old he still loves doing it but I can only fit his head on my lap instead of his whole body.

I have been working on grooming him this week as he is moulting like you wouldn’t believe. He has never liked being groomed. Even as a pup he would turn around and sink his teeth in to his brush. I have been working with him little by little with lots of treats and praise so that I can brush him with a furminator and his ordinary brush.

I’m not saying Dembe is spoilt but his dad bought some artificial turf to go under his paddling pool so he didn’t slip on the paving slabs when he was jumping in and out. This is Jay filling up Dembe’s paddling pool at 7.52am.

Dembe loves sitting on this particular garden chair. He launches off it into the paddling pool or he just sits there and sunbathes.

Today Dembe and I met a lady called Claire, who I have known for a few years on social media but we have never met in person, despite living in the same town as we both suffer from a multitude of health conditions. Dembe took a real shine to her and constantly wanted her attention and for her to throw his ball. He was absolutely exhausted by the end of her visit and was really sleepy for the rest of the day.

Saturday 25th May

Dembe has had me in stitches from first thing this morning. He is such a character

He loves having a good old nose out of the front window watching the world go by. I have nose art all over the lounge window. He reminds me a lot of our Weimaraner Willow when he does this as she was always up on the sofa looking out of the window. He has taken it a step further now and climbs up onto the window ledge completely now.

He had another day enjoying the paddling pool, sunshine and the garden!

Sunday 26th May

Poor Dembe has been absolutely shattered today after his three days of non stop fun in the garden and paddling pool. The weather hasn’t been great either with overcast grey skies and the odd spot of rain!

He has been really into his daddy today spending time having cuddles on the sofa and sleeping next to him whilst daddy played on his PS4. Every so often Dembe would wander into the kitchen to check on me as I was using my embroidery machine quilting cushion fronts for the garden chairs.

He has had two lovely walks up the common and has enjoyed his very quiet Sunday.

W/C 13th May 2019

 

Monday 13th May

Due to Dembe’s continued reluctance to go out at 4.30am when Jay is on an early shift and lets face it who can blame him? No walk was attempted today his first day back from holiday. As we have issues with the car, we were told the cambelt was on the way out ( on top of a huge list of other faults) Jay has been nursing the car through until we get the new one later this week. So it is essential travel only whilst it is in this state.

I was knackered when Jay and the boy got up so attempted to stay in bed only the blonde hairy bastard was having none of it. After he had his breakfast and toilet trip he bounded upstairs and proceeded to bash me on the head with numerous toys until eventually on the verge of throttling him due to my strong desire to stay in bed I got up.

As soon as Jay left for work, just after 6am said blonde hairy bastard took himself back upstairs to bed. Fuming that I was now wide awake I made him come back down stairs and prodded him at various intervals when he had gone back to sleep.

He did however behave beautifully today and kept himself occupied whilst I got some prep work for some sewing done. I always panic a bit when it goes quiet so periodically I go and check on him as one of the Weimaraners…. Willow chewed the handbrake off one of our cars in less than 2 minutes. So I am well aware of the trail of destruction puppies ( and Willow was a fully grown mature dog of 5 when she decided to eat the handbrake) can wreak. Dembe is pretty exceptional in the fact he only has to be told no once and he doesn’t attempt to chew the item again. We have been incredibly lucky that despite the house being full of lots of solid pine furniture he hasn’t ( so far) used any of it as a chew toy.

I had to take this photo Monday as it looks like I own a headless dog!

Tuesday 14th May

Dembe was manic from the word go this morning. He was so bouncy that Jay took him out for a long walk up the common relatively early. They decided to have a bit of an explore and managed to link up two separate walks that he had been trying to see how they joined together for a while. Dems had a good run around off the lead and stayed nice and close to Jay as he was unsure of what direction Jay was going to go in. When they got back Dembe was still bouncy and only finally settled down at 10.10am.

Jay and I decided that as it was sunny we would paint the remaining fence panels and posts. I did all the bits I could sit down and do whilst Jay did all the rest. Dembe of course had to see what it was I was doing whilst sat on the floor, that always means I get smothered in kisses. His nosiness though meant he got blue ( well seagrass ) coloured fence paint all over his foot and he was an absolute nightmare to get to stay still so That I could wipe it off. After that adventure Dembe decided to stay in the house and go to sleep on the sofa whilst we finished outside.

In the afternoon Jay took Dembe out again for another longish walk.

Wednesday 15th May

As Jay was late night today Dembe had a really good long walk up the common again in the hope that it would keep him relatively calm for me, whilst Jay was working. Jay is on a really strange shift today 2pm until 11pm to help the night team. So it really confused Dembe when Jay started getting ready for work.

We decided today that we would increase Dembe’s food allowance up to the next weight bracket as there is no way that his final weight is going to be 25kg when he is 20kg before he is 6 months old and he still has a lot of growing to do. Plus he has been acting like he is really really hungry all the time and he is looking a bit ribby. So we have taken his food to 200g for breakfast and dinner. If he starts looking porky on this or starts gaining weight too rapidly then we will reduce the portion size down again.

Today I had to adjust his collar as his neck has filled out a bit more so he is on the second to last notch rather than the smallest one now. I am glad I bought a collar that has plenty of room to grow in it ( around 10cm ) as otherwise I would be forking out for expensive collars all the time. This one wasn’t cheap at around £35 from Dogs & Horses but it is a beautiful pale grey and it looks beautiful against his red / yellow fur.

Dembe was a really good boy for me all afternoon as I worked again on some prep for a sewing project. Later in the afternoon as the weather was nice we played in the back garden. He is very good when it is just the two of us and he takes his role of protecting me very seriously. Barking at every strange noise so I have to reassure him that everything is ok.

Look I can touch my nose with my back feet whilst I am asleep

Look at that face xx

Thursday 16th May

Can you believe it Dembe is six months old today? He has become such a handsome boy who is so loving and protective.

Dembe has wanted a lot of my attention this week. I think he has been picking up on our stress levels. There are other things going on, whilst waiting for the car has been really stressful as we have been severely limited where we can go due to the fact the car isn’t very reliable. I also have the dentist tomorrow for a tooth extraction and I have a phobia about the dentist. So he can just probably feel the stress coming off me in waves.

When he wants my attention he can be really whingey, I try really hard not to respond to his whines as I don’t want to teach him that whining gets my attention. He has to learn that I am not wrapped around his little paw although sometimes it feels as if I am.Fr

It is really hard not to react though as I am always scared that he has hurt himself or is unwell even though I know those cries would be different. It is frustrating when he is this demanding of my time as all he wants me to do is sit on the sofa so he can sleep with his legs or his head touching me! He doesn’t even want me to play. I think he has been feeling unsettled due to the stress vibe in the house currently.

Friday 17th May

As I have a dentists appointment at 9.35am Jay was waiting until he dropped me off to take Dembe down the beach. Dembe thoroughly enjoyed his time down the beach playing chase with lots of dogs. Jay said he was absolutely shattered after 30 minutes of running around with all of his new friends.

The dentist took longer than expected my tooth was refusing to come quietly. It was a bit of a nightmare as Jay was waiting at home to come to get me and had organised a lift to the garage 12 miles away. As he was just leaving the house with Dembe, his lift arrived ( Sarah) so for the first time ever Dembe was left without either Jay or I. Sarah said all he wanted to do was play and was good as gold. I think Jay and I were more stressed out than he was. Sarah took some lovely photos of him.

Photo credit Sarah Jane Toms

Photo credit Sarah Jane Toms

Photo credit Sarah Jane Toms

When Jay had come back from the beach without me Dembe had searched the house for me crying as he did. He then went up to out bedroom and went to sleep on the bed wrapped up on my snuggle top.

Jay popped home at 4pm as the old car was being taken by the car breakers. Poor Dembe cried and cried when Jay went back to work. He wanted his daddy to be home for the evening so the pack was all back together. Thankfully he did settle quite quickly as we were both knackered we had an early night.

Saturday 18th May

Jay had an early start and despite the fact we now had the new car we let Dembe sleep. He isn’t really a morning person. As soon as Jay went to work Dembe and I went back to bed and slept for another 90 minutes. It was needed!

For the first time this week Jay came back for lunch. Dembe was beside himself with excitement to see his dad this early in the day.

Dembe was really good this afternoon, mainly because I bribed him with a bone and allowed me to get some sewing done. My mouth was less sore than it had been Friday and it was a good distraction from the pain.

In the evening Dembe and I got to have our first trip out in the new car! As Jay took us both up to the common so that Dems could have a really good run around. The car was really lovely and despite it being a diesel is much quieter than our last car.

I only managed to sew for a short period of time on Saturday. As soon as I stopped for the day. Dembe snuggled right up beside me and went to sleep.

Ignore the mess of my bedroom I am having a new wardrobe delivered so everything from my wardrobe is down one side of my bed. I woke up in the night and needed a pee, I looked over to discover Dembe flat on his back airing his ginger nuts. Obviously he feels very safe and secure with us.

Sunday 19th May

Dembe was full of beans this morning so Jay and I took him out up the common before 8am. Jay took some photos of him on their walk

We decided after getting home and having a coffee etc that we would go out for a drive in the new car. Firstly so that Jay could get used to it and secondly to get Dembe better at car journeys ( longer ones) .

We decided to go up to Dartmoor near Okehampton and let Dembe have his very first run around. We found a nice flat area where I could use my mobility scooter and just pootle about a bit. It was really nice if not a bit chilly and windy. De,be really enjoyed himself and had a nice run around. He was pretty good in the car and slept all the way home.

w/c 6th May a week of weird sleep positions

 

Monday 6th May

I have to admit this week I have been really rubbish at keeping Dembe’s diary. My routine is all to pot as Jay is on holiday this week and as usual there is loads going on behind the scenes. Dembe is fine it is just adulting stuff, the stuff that makes you lose sleep through stress. So Dembe cuddles have been gratefully received.

First thing Monday morning we got Dembe out up at the Warren on Woodbury common. He had lots of fun playing with many different dogs. Jay took him on a longer walk and one he hadn’t done before so Dembe stayed close and didn’t run off into the distance as he is prone to do on walks he knows well.

On his evening walk he saw two joggers and freaked out a bit and ran behind Jay which made him laugh. He is really funny with what things freak him out. He is still barking at the printer whenever something is printed out. We have no idea why he takes exception to the printer!

Tuesday 7th May

Dembe slept really well last night. He had his breakfast at 5am and then slept until 6.45am which was a nice lie on for us all. As Jay had a dental appointment at 9.15 he was out up the common nice and early for a walk.

Today he has learned how to open the net curtain in the lounge by using his new toy Ducky. He hold ducky’s head in his mouth and uses the body to swipe across the curtain to shift it out of the way.

He has obviously worked out that I am a bag of nerves today, I also have the dentist today. So he has followed me everywhere. I can’t move without tripping up on him. Whilst I was at the dentist Jay took Dembe down the beach for a run around. The beach is now closed off for dogs apart from two small areas. He had a wonderful time chasing a lady Labrador called Bella. They played together for ages. Then another Labrador came along and joined in as well. By the time Jay picked me up from the dentist Dembe was fast asleep in the back of the car.

Wednesday 8th May

We have spent most of the week at home during Jays holiday, just pottering around the house or garden.

We took Dembe down to the vets this morning for his monthly weigh in. He loves the vets so much he can’t wait to get in the door and be fussed all over. He was a very good boy and sat on the scales for me with me using a treat to get him in the right position. He weighs 20kg which is 3stone (14 x 3 for those who use pounds) . I know he is getting heavy as I can now barely lift him onto my lap even if we are both sitting down. He looks so slight though at the moment and is all legs.

We did laugh at lunch time when he decided to sit so close to Jay whilst he ate his lunch that he had his paws on the table. Good table manners though as he kept his elbows off.

He was quite sleepy all day but decided to run riot in the last hour before going to bed.

I managed to capture this photo of him in the nano seconds that he sat still for.

Thursday 9th May

Today Dembe is 25 weeks and 6 days. The photo on the left is Dembe aged 15 weeks the photo on the right was taken this week. It is amazing to see just how much he has grown in just 10 weeks. His snout has got longer his head has got bigger. At the moment he is looking very slight and all legs. He still has a wonderful temperament and is very loving.

On Dembe’s afternoon walk we had a bit of excitement as we discovered a very young Pheasant chick beside the car. Whilst Jay walked Dembe I kept an eye on it to see if its parents would come and get it. No one turned up for it. It was quite obvious the chick was getting very tired and cold, it was so young its eyes weren’t even open yet. When Dembe got back to the car he had noticed that there was something on the ground so I had to step in and scoop the chick up into Jays Redskins cap . We took it to the vets for them to either give us advice on who to contact or for them to look after. It chirped all the way to the vets and Dembe was very interested to see what was inside the hat.

Thankfully he was still really pleased to go to the vets and pulled Jay all the way to the front door. One of nurses is going to rear it, if it survives the next few days. We think a predator possibly a dog or a fox had disturbed the nest and scattered the chicks. This chick had been alone for sometime and was so tired it could no longer stand up. I couldn’t have left it. By taking it to the vets I hope I am giving it the best chance at life.

Dembe was exhausted after all the excitement and was falling asleep in the weirdest positions.

Both Dembe and I were asleep before 7pm.

Friday 10th May

We got Dembe out early as we had the car going into the garage at 8.30am. For the first time ever at arriving at Woodbury castle we were the only car there. Dembe had a crazy run around and enjoyed himself. Just as well because the rest of the day was really stressful.

At around 9.20am we had a call from the garage to say they couldn’t do the repair because the cambelt was in such a bad way it could go at any time. The car is only worth about £200-£300 and the repair just for the cambelt was going to be £400 plus as the exhaust also needed fixed and I am sure the brakes needed done too. It wasn’t worth the money of it being repaired when it was going to cost more than the car was worth. We took the decision that we would look for a new car. The cambelt if it goes will destroy the car’s engine, so even driving it to the garage could be disastrous. It was really stressful as we were in the position where we needed to buy a new car but had no transport to actually get to any garages.

I did a big search online and managed to find us a decent second hand car at a village 12 miles away. Thankfully my parents had come up to their van, so my dad could give me Jay and Dembe a lift over to the garage to check the car out. It is the same as we have got now just two years younger and is a bigger model. Basically I can get my mobility scooter and Dembe’s crate in the back of the car now and it has 7 seats…there is just the two of us and Dembe. That keeps making us chuckle.

After being in my dad’s car for the first time and being very well behaved Dembe crashed as soon as we got home.

It was a strange day for him as he reached the grand old age of 26 weeks, it was also his first day without any lunch as he from now on ( as long as he doesn’t kick up too much) will be fed just twice a day on his full adult portion.

Again Dembe and I were asleep before 7.30pm we were both shattered.

Saturday 11th May

Dembe was up at 4.45am for his breakfast and slept until around 6am. I couldn’t stay in bed any longer as my back was killing me. He loves the whole pack being together so he went and woke Jay up at 6.45am by jumping all over him!

Jay took Dembe out for a walk and when he returned said he was crazy all the way around. He only had a 20 minutes sleep this morning and when he did, he was in this weird pose.

It looks so strange that it looks photo shopped but hand on heart it isn’t. It has been a week of Dembe sleeping in the weirdest positions. When I came downstairs after sorting myself out for the day Dembe assumed his normal position by the window

He just loves watching the world go by and barking at the seagulls! He has had quite a frenetic morning as we had to empty out the old car today ready for when we either sell it or get it taken away as scrap. At some point either mid to end of the week Jay will be getting the new car.

Whilst I was sat on the front wall with Dembe on a lead our next door neighbours came out and had a massive fuss of him. Dembe is never one to refuse a cuddle. Then a little while later my parents popped over with their dog Maggie a jack russell terrier. He loves playing with Maggie although he gets on her nerves a bit because he is a puppy and full of beans. He never learns when the other dog has had enough. As soon as they left he crashed out! Which made the whole new situation of no more lunch a bit easier as he was fast asleep.

Dembe and I went up to bed at around 18.40 last night as we were both shattered. He fell asleep with his head in my lap. He always looks after me when I am feeling poorly bless him.

Sunday 12th May

Dembe was up at a good time he woke up at 4.50am for his breakfast and toilet trip, he then slept until 6.30am. He would have slept longer but I woke with a jolt thinking I could hear him cry and he was lying beside me. The speed at which I jolted awake woke him and there was no getting him back to sleep. It reminds me of that joke they tell about they should make alarm clocks that have an alarm which is the sound of a dog being sick, that way you would never oversleep! Thankfully I must have just dreamt he was crying by the baby gate that we have on my bedroom door. He is so good though regularly going 8 hours over night now.

He is a happy puppy today as it is bone day. He is allowed two raw beef marrow bones a week and his week starts on Sunday. We let him have a chew for as long as it holds his interest and then we wrap it and put it in the fridge. They will keep for a few days. Once he has removed all the marrow bone he will get another one. But two is the limit for the week as they are quite high in fat and I don’t want him getting pancreatitis.

I couldn’t get him to stay still for the photo, as you can see marrow bones are rather a favourite thing for Dembe.

Jay took Dembe out for a walk this afternoon on the common. They bumped into a middle aged couple , the lady was wearing a large hat. Apparently Dembe decided to freak out and the lady kindly offered to take her hat off so that Dembe wasn’t scared and could walk past her. Its very strange that he was scared of the lady’s hat as Jay and I have worn hats around him practically everyday. I couldn’t believe it when Jay came home and told me about it. What a silly sausage !