Monday 24th June
This is Jays second week of his holiday, Dembe has really enjoyed having us both home. Jay took him out early for his walk and then at around 10am we went to the local garden centre (different one from last week) . We had a wander around the grounds and then we went to the cafe as they had an easily accessible outside area.
I’d give Dembe a 7/10 for his behaviour at the garden centre as I wish he would just learn to settle down rather than be terrified he is missing out on something. We actually call him FOMO ( fear of missing out) . He did bark and although it was embarrassing I am going to give him a pass for this one. There was a lady being pushed in a squeaky wheel chair. It sounded just like one of Dembe’s squeaky toys. As soon as she was pushed past her Dembe gave a couple of barks. We know he doesn’t have issues with wheelchairs, he has seen me in mine, he saw loads at the hospital last week. The barking was triggered by the squeaking.
He did cry a few times and he spent the time moving between Jay and I getting treats. The staff were telling us how well behaved he was for such a young dog. Although he let himself down by jumping up at the waitress when she brought a tray over. Again that is also our fault because Jay had given him too much lead.
After the garden centre we popped to the vets to get Dembe weighed as we have cut down his food due to the amount of treats he is getting due to training and to prevent him from getting fat. He weighed in at 26.6kg so his weight gain has slowed, we don’t want him losing weight we just don’t want him packing it and getting tubby.
The vet popped his head around the door and gave him a quick once over and he said that he is still growing so not to panic. He is big for a labrador, just to check I measured him against one of my quilting rulers and from the floor to his shoulder is 23 inches so just under 2ft at the shoulder. The vet told us to keep doing what we are doing.
Tuesday 25th June
I was knackered after all our running around yesterday so haven’t written much in his dairy for today. We spent the afternoon lying on my bed which he always loves.
He had his first taste of Lamb breast bone today which he loved and polished off very quickly.
He spent a bit of time in the garden in his favourite chair as well.
Wednesday 26th June
Oh dear Dembe doesn’t seem to get on with Lamb. He had a couple of runny poos this morning. Thankfully last weekend I bought some stuff to settle canine dicky tums so we gave him a syringe full of that, which he happily took. It did the trick as his stomach calmed right down and his poos went back to being firm. Probably TMI
The little toad had me up at the crack of dawn – 5.30am and refused to go back to sleep. Within 30 minutes of being downstairs he was on his back snoring his head off. Why this wasn’t possible to achieve upstairs I have no idea. Who knows what goes on in the canine mind other than how to get mummy wrapped around my paws.
We had obedience training this evening and he did really well. He did have a bit of a bark tonight ( all the dogs did at some point) but that was because we were right by the five bar gate at the entrance of the barn and he could see the farm cat wandering around the yard. It was winding him up no end mainly because he has never seen a cat before.
We made a bit of a boo boo before class and gave him his usual walk. He found a six month old puppy to play with so by the time we got to class he was hot and in play mode rather than work mode so we took the first 20 minutes just getting him to the right level of energy to work.
It was quite funny as the trainer kept going on about the sound of the fridge door, I think me telling him about this last week had tickled him. Dembe no matter where he is in the garden or house will come to you in the kitchen if you open the fridge door. We use it quite often if he is refusing to come indoors or if he is upstairs. It is funny that one of our recall commands is the sound of the fridge opening.
We found out this evening that we have been putting his lead on incorrectly some of the time. It is annoying because in the instructions it doesn’t state there is a wrong way and a right way. It just assumes that everyone will walk their dog on their left. Jay is right handed but dominant left hand – I know that is weird right, so he walks Dembe on the right. Which means the lead needs putting on slightly differently. The trainer has shown us how to do it so we both know now how it goes on. Hopefully it will be a lot more comfortable for Dembe now.
I can’t get over how big he looks in this photo.
Thursday 27th June
Yesterday we put the gazebo up and sorted out the garden ready for our BBQ on Saturday afternoon / evening. Dembe was a really good boy and stayed plonked on his chair whilst it was all done. He was a bit annoyed that his paddling pool was emptied but was thrilled as soon as it started to be filled up again.
It was crazy hot yesterday so we didn’t walk him a second time . We kept hosing him down and playing in the paddling pool, he was more than happy. Even I was struggling at times with the heat and came over faint a few times. Dembe has been using his cooling mat a lot at the moment.
Friday 28th June
Dembe is 33 weeks old today, it seems a lifetime ago that he was a little tiny bundle of energy.
I am dreading Jay going back to work next week as Dembe is crying constantly when Jay leaves the house to go shopping etc. He really loves the “pack” being all together. The crying constantly has only started this week and as you can imagine is highly irritating . He has only ever cried once when Jay has gone to work and that was when he was tiny and it lasted only 30 seconds. Now he will stand at the window for ages.
It is very warm again today but with some gusty wind it is making it more bearable for me and the mutt. Todays activity has mainly been standing on the sofa and barking out of the window.
We went over to my parents caravan this afternoon and Dembe had another play with Maggie. He was shattered after that and was flat out in the back of the car.
Just as well as we will be having an early night due to having friends over tomorrow for a BBQ.
Saturday 29th June
Dembe doesn’t know quite what to make of what is happening in the house as stuff is being moved and cleaned etc. He got very excited at one point and was running around like a loon. We had to stop him as he had been in his paddling pool and we were terrified he was going to slip over and hurt himself.
His new ID tag came in this morning’s post. I wasn’t expecting it until next week as I only ordered it yesterday. I love it. I have wanted a copper coloured ID tag for him for ages but just couldn’t find one I really liked.
It was really strange as the tag the design had on Etsy used the name Frankie. Which was the name of my beloved boy who passed away at the end of December 2018. Another weird coincidence there have been so many with Dembe.
Dembe was brillaintly behaved during the BBQ only once jumping up trying to get someones food. He was fascinated with beer though and we caught him a few times trying to drink out of any glasses that were on the floor. He kept us all amused with his crocodile throwing antics especially when he managed to throw him straight into his outdoor water bowl.
He was so tired by the time everyone left at 10.20pm that Jay had to carry him up to bed.
Sunday 30th June
Dembe was shattered and didn’t wake up for breakfast until Jay woke up at 6.30am in a panic thinking he hadn’t locked the front door last night ( he had drunk rather a lot). Dembe came straight up to bed afterwards and only got up at 9am because I got up. I had struggled to get to sleep last night and was still awake at 2am this morning,
Dembe really doesn’t want to move at all today and is just very cuddly. I am so proud of the way he behaved last night. He was so much calmer around my friends little boy Liam and when Liam fell asleep on the sofa Dembe stayed in the lounge with him guarding him. Dembe stayed on the sofa opposite so he could have a full view of the lounge and could keep an eye on Liam.
We had lots of lovely feedback from our guests at how well behaved Dembe was and that his training was paying off. It was lovely to have such a calm dog that didn’t bat an eyelid as people wandered into the house unannounced as I told all our guests just to come straight in. Not that he ever barks at the door anyway.
All of us have pretty much spent the day like this! Have a good week folks.
No comments:
Post a Comment