W/C Monday 23rd November 2021

 Monday 23rd November

Shock horror Jay is on an early, Dembe came straight back to bed when he got back from his very early morning walk. His legs were wet and his nose very cold but I love an early morning snuggle with with my boy.

Dembe as usual didn’t want to get up when I did so he stayed in bed for a further 45 minutes.

Dembe is obsessed with standing out in the garden at the moment. He keeps sniffing around the bench box I think there are mice in there but nothing seen as yet!

He has been crazy with energy this morning. I have been trying to get some Christmas presents made but he is demanding my attention constantly bless him. He does make me laugh. From 12.30pm he stands at the window in the lounge waiting for his dad to come home at lunch time.

When his dad arrives home at lunch time Dembe always brings him a toy. As he was ready with a carrot I thought he would give his dad this when he got in. However he was so excited when his dad arrived he ran around in a circle and then gave him his sprout much to our amusement.

At around 6pm Dembe was sick, no warning which is common with him. Where as the Weimaraners we would get a minute or so of warning drooling or retching before they would be sick. Dembe just hurls mid stride and carries on. We will keep an eye on him and see how he is overnight.

Tuesday 24th November

It was a bad night, Dembe was sick several times more. I got up a little after midnight and found him downstairs surrounded by several pools of sick. He had managed to do it all over the rug at the front door, which has now had to be binned as I couldn’t get the sick stains out. Im glad it was there and not anywhere where we couldn’t just chuck it away!

I gave him some tummy meds, most of which I think were shaken through the lounge as he shook his head as soon as I gave it to him. There were pink dollops everywhere that were still being cleaned up a few days later. Whatever he managed to keep down seemed to do the trick as he wasn’t sick again.

Dembe slept a lot today but did eat and drink ok. He wasn’t sick again after his bout during the night. so we just had a quiet day altogether as Jay was day off.

Wednesday 25th November

Jay is on a late night today so Dembe has had his usual two walks before daddy went to work. He has still been quite sleepy today and not his usual bouncy self so I have been keeping an eye on him, whilst I continued with some jobs I needed to get done.

I was so busy that when Martin arrived to pick Dembe up that I didn’t hear him knock on the door. The first I knew was when I heard him shout “hello, hello”. As I walked into the lounge he was clipping Dembe onto a lead. That was a bit embarrassing.

He had a fab walk on the common, he played hide and seek with Martin. He was also much better behaved when he was getting cleaned off by Martin at the end of the walk

Dembe has been crying a lot the last few days, we have no idea why he is doing it other than for attention which he gets bloody loads of anyway! He made such a fuss between 4pm and 5pm that in the end I called Jay and got him to come home and walk him around the block , in case he was crying because he needed a poo. He didn’t but lots of wee’s. He kept up with the crying until he went to sleep just before 7pm.

Thursday 26th November

OMG we ran out of cocktail sausages first thing this morning. Dembe was not a happy bunny!Jay didn’t see the message I sent him last night. I did give him a cheese triangle and that seemed to pacify him.

This morning Dembe decided to join me in the shower! what fun. He got soaked but seemed to enjoy it more than his shower last week!

When Jay came home for lunch he brought home some cocktail sausages. Dembe was beside himself with excitement and couldn’t eat the sausage fast enough. He had a few sausages one after another to make up for lost time!

Jay was on a 9-6 shift today which Dembe hates,

To keep him amused I ended up playing nudge with him for hours. He loves this game but he cheats, if the ball doesn’t go right back to him, even if it is just 1cm away from his nose he will refuse to nudge the ball back to you. So you have to tap it again right back to him. He also picks the ball up and throws it back at you rather than nudging it back.

Friday 27th November

I was so poorly today that Dembe and I crawled back up to bed at 9am and stayed there until gone 12pm. I am having a lot of problems with my neck and Dembe has been very in tune with the fact I haven’t been right and modifies his behaviour accordingly. He was such a good boy, I rarely go back to bed like that unless I am rank. He just followed me up the stairs settled down beside me and slept next to me.

He spent much of Friday on my lap having a cuddle.

Saturday 28th November

Jay was on an early so Dembe once again came straight back to bed as soon as he got back from that walk. At about 7.30am I heard him get off my bed and go into Jay’s room. I then could hear him scraping up the pillows and knocking them off the bed onto the floor. That made me chuckle. When I woke up again an hour later he came down with me. He was obviously very hungry so I gave him his breakfast which he polished off without stopping.

He spent another afternoon on my lap having cuddles. Jay finished at 4pm so he didn’t have long to wait for his evening walk after having a stroll around the block at lunch time. It was still light when they went out this evening but by the time they got back to the car it was rapidly getting darker.

Sunday 29th November

As usual we are having a quiet family day together. Dembe rarely barks when Jay is home during the day so it is clear he see’s his job is to guard me when Jay is out of the house.

So far today he has barely left the sofa and is currently snoring his head off.

W/C 19th August 2019

 

Monday 19th August

Dembe was a very sleepy boy today. We seem to have days where he is manic and days where he sleeps all day long. He either likes to sleep on me / next to me or on the small sofa in the lounge, scooched up on cushions.

For some reason today Dembe wanted to bark at everything, no idea what was bothering him but every little noise he heard that came from outside was being barked at. Noises like kids playing, neighbours talking, cars driving past were being barked at . He was even running upstairs and barking out of Jays bedroom window which is something Mollie used to do. It was very strange. He also spent a lot of time in his favourite place on the window ledge.

We did have lots of cuddles which was gorgeous. I managed to capture this photo and I realised how much it looked like a photo I took 9 months ago when he was 9 weeks old.

When we got back from taking Dembe out for his walk this evening we came across a curled up hedgehog on our front garden. We managed to get Dembe inside without seeing it.

We took him across the road to my neighbours house as their garden although enclosed backs on to a lane where it would be safer and more full of food sources for him / her. I checked him over and there were no parasites or open wounds.

Tuesday 20th August

Dembe didn’t wake up until 5.30am for his breakfast, Jay was so out of it when I woke him he started having a go at me for letting him oversleep by an hour. I didn’t say anything as I knew he was still half asleep. He had woken up thinking it was Monday. He did apologise later and said he had got confused and was convinced he was going to be late for work.

When Dembe woke up for the second time he was determined to have all the pack together, so he went into Jays room to wake him up.

A friends husband popped up today to borrow my wheelchair for his wife Julie. She is recovering from a huge operation on her ankle and can’t weight bare at all at the moment. Get well soon Julie. Dembe was really shy with Nigel to begin with, we think it is because we don’t have many male visitors to the house and not ones he doesn’t know. Dembe kept running over to me and standing over me. We haven’t seen him act like that before ( but with the barking yesterday he seems a bit out of sorts) . By the time Nigel left, Dembe adored him and was playing tug, ball and kissing Nigel. It was very sweet. After Nigel left Dembe was shattered.

We had a lovely walk together in the afternoon, we went out longer than normal which was good fun, although my mobility scooter really didn’t like the gradient. Dembe led the way all the way around our little circuit. He went straight to sleep when we got in and we had to wake him up for dinner.

We needn’t have worried about him being so tired as he got a second wind about two hours later and we were playing out in the garden with him.

Wednesday 21st August

Dembe had breakfast at 5am, Dembe had been stirring for a while. Jay decided to stay up as he was taking Dembe out for a walk before work. Either Dembe settled or I was so knackered that I went back to sleep and I didn’t wake up until they got back from their walk at the model airfield.

As Dembe hates going out for an early walk Jay had to bribe him with two cocktail sausages to get him out of the front door. He really isn’t a morning dog! Just as well Jay went out early, as part way through the walk he got a call to ask him to go in earlier. Good for us as it means he will be home earlier .

Dembe is following around the house, to the point I am tripping up on him. I am really suffering bad headaches at the moment due to my neck coming out of alignment when I sleep and I am sure Dembe is picking up on the fact it makes me feel so rotten.

He was again on the window ledge watching the world go by!

Uncle Paul popped over today to collect a parcel that I had delivered here for him. Dembe was over excited, he just loves Paul so much he gets silly. He embarrassed himself as he knocked Paul’s coffee into his lap ( thank god it didn’t burn him) as he brought his football over for Paul to throw for him but barged into him. I could have died. Paul took it in his stride and said it didn’t matter. I really wish that Dembe didn’t get so excited when he see’s some people as he then ends up behaving like a hooligan until he calms down.

I managed to finish the quilting on my quilt today. It still needs bound but the hardest part is done. Dembe has been so well behaved whilst I have done this and just entertained himself or slept whilst I worked on it.

Thursday 22nd August

Oh my days my head is even worse today. I am having to wear my soft collar a lot of the time to keep the pressure off my neck. Dembe is being very good and looking after me. Jay is on a late night so got Dembe out nice and early for a good walk.

He has been on the window sill every day this week, at least twice a day. He loves it there.

I went up to bed at 7pm but Dembe wouldn’t come up with me. He has started waiting for Jay to come home so refuses to move away from the small sofa by the front door. He won’t come up to bed now until Jay gets home after 10pm. I hate it as Frankie and Mollie always used to come up to bed with me, it feels weird being in bed by myself. Willow would always wait for her dad so would sleep on the landing or half way down the stairs so she could see him get in before everyone else. He only started doing this last week. I had hoped it was a one off. I hope at some point he decides to stay with me until his daddy gets in. But I won’t force him to stay upstairs.

Friday 23rd August

Dembe woke me up at 6.30am by dropping a tennis ball on my face! Not even remotely funny, I haven’t had a great nights sleep and he has been crying trying to wake me up since he came back upstairs after his breakfast.

As Jay is on a 10-7 shift he got Dembe up the common quite early. He went to the model airfield again where they met another Labrador aged 17 months called Sid. They had a crazy time playing together, they played chase which is Dembe’s favourite. By the time he got home he was hot and knackered.

We have been messing around today having cuddles on the bed. My head yest again is crap so I have been lying down on and off trying to ease the feeling of pressure at the base of my skull. During one of these play periods Dembe has managed to scratch my arm with his dew claw. My skin is very fragile due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome so what would be a normal scratch on others is this on me

As the weather is really nice I got Dembe’s paddling pool out. He went crazy! I haven’t seen him like that since the garden was revamped and he got to play on it for the first time! He was running to the back of the garden and then leaping into the paddling pool. For his own safety in the end I had to turn the hosepipe off as I was terrified he was going to slip and then really injure himself. We still had fun out in the garden though. Just calmer fun. I also got his solar fountain out and had that running.

Saturday 24th August

This photo really made me laugh today

Especially when captioned with “Truth be told Dembe was never going to win the World Championship of Hide & Seek” or “has anyone seen Dembe? I can’t find him”. He is such a silly sausage sometimes all Jay and i can do is laugh at him.

My arm is looking a bit of a mess today as more of the bruising has come out. Thankfully it isn’t hurting anymore.

My head was muzzy again today so I have taken it quite easy, well as easy as I could manage. In the evening we went over to my parents van after Dembe had his walk. He had a good game of chase with Maggie going crazy and stealing her raw hide again.

Sunday 25th August

Dembe having a snooze after his walk up the common with daddy this morning. Today they went to Woodbury castle but as it was early and very misty they didn’t see another soul the whole time they were out.

As I am writing up this week’s diary entries into his Blog, Dembe has got on the window sill and is watching me work. He likes lying so that his nose is almost touching my shoulder. He looks like he is reading what I am writing!

Jay is on holiday now for a week so we shall be spending lots of time together, which Dembe will love. He loves his pack being all together,

w/c 1st July 2019

 

Monday 1st July 2019

Poor Dembe was sick immediately after his dinner last night, he projectile vomited it all back up. Jay dealt with it all as I was asleep in bed, I was so tired after the BBQ on Saturday.

I slept until gone 8am Monday, Dembe was with me. As soon as we got downstairs Dembe stood at the backdoor and projectile vomited his breakfast from 4 hours ago. It was just a lake of puke that was quite awkward to clear up with the majority of it being liquid and mushed kibble. He was feeling a little sorry for himself. I also found a pile of puke on the stairs was a nightmare to clear up.

Dembe slept a lot of the morning. I asked Jay to get a vets appointment as I have never seen a dog projectile vomit like that. It had freaked me out as it had reminded me of Willow just before she passed away on December 15th 2017. Plus a bit of new puppy jitters as I still feel like I am getting to know his character and the signals he will give me to tell me he is unwell. He was still searching for food, but everything I gave him he was bringing back up.

He got checked over at the vets, he managed to escape from the consulting room into reception as Jay didn’t realise he had dropped the lead! That was amusing. Dembe was given an injection to stop him being sick and the vet told us to starve him for the rest of the day. Tomorrows two meals need to be divided into 4 so that his tummy doesn’t get overloaded.

I have never felt so cruel in my life not giving him his evening meal. To be fair he was very good about it, he didn’t make a fuss or cry etc. He just accepted that he was getting any dinner and went to bed without any fuss. We are so lucky he is such a good boy.

Tuesday 2nd July

Dembe is much recovered after his sickness bug and before 8am he was chucking his crocodile around the lounge. Jay got him out early to burn off some of his crazy energy levels.

As Dembe was feeling so much better – climbing all over the window sill, see above! We decided we would take him out to do some more environmental training. We went to the beer garden of a local pub. As it was a Tuesday at 11am it wasn’t very busy but it was a lovely day. Dembe encountered children, delivery people and the pub staff. He got a massive cuddle from a delivery driver, which Dembe loved. It was a good first experience . He did have a couple of barks but not massive and stopped after two or three so wasn’t causing a nuisance. We have to work on ignoring him when he starts with the barking.

His new collar arrived from Dogs & Horses today, French navy with Brass hardware. It is a bit too big for him but no doubt he will soon fit it perfectly. His last collar ripped, for which I thank my lucky stars as it saved his life. Dembe was in the back of the car clipped into his seat belt, Jay left the car door open and turned to get something, Dembe decided to jump out of the car. He could have broken his neck or hung himself. A mistake that will never happen again. He had never attempted to get out of the car before and he still insists on being lifted in and out.

Wednesday 3rd July

I had a migraine this morning so Dembe stayed with me until I felt well enough to get up at around 11am. He is such an angel.

I didn’t think I would make Dembe’s obedience training class this evening but I did. This evening only two sets of puppy parents turned up, us and another couple. It turned out brilliantly for us all as it meant the dogs had all the barn to work in and we practically had a one on one lesson. Dembe was a little star, working so hard and catching on to the task required really quickly.

Tonights work was heel work with changing paces, turns and getting your dog to hit a mark. Jays confidence is really growing and it is wonderful to see the bond between him and Dembe really growing.

As there were only two dogs there Dembe and Rhea a German Shepard, we were able to work on recall using a long retractable lead. I have been working on recall with Dembe since he was 8 weeks old. Jay has told me that Dembe is really good when he is out and about , he can be recalled even when playing with other dogs.

Tonight I decided to have a go, my cue for calling Dembe back was when the trainer said the word Pink. Dembe was half way up the barn sniffing around on the floor when the trainer said Pink. I used his command “Dembe Come” and he rocketed back to me. I think the trainer was a little surprised at how quickly he came back. I was so chuffed as that was the first time recalling him outside of the house / back garden. Jay also had a go and Dembe was equally as good for him.

Dembe is a totally different dog now from the holligan that attended the first class 5 weeks ago. I am so glad that we have put the work in as he does us proud most times.

Thursday 4th July

Yesterday Dembe’s replacement fountain arrived for his paddling pool. Jay emptied the water out of his paddling pool and refilled it and got the fountain set up. Dembe is crazy about it and it has encouraged him to get in and out of the paddling pool more.

Jay took him out to Woodbury Castle for his walk and practiced lead walking and recall with him. He ensured he called him back when he was playing with another dog as well. He came back on the first call. The work that Jay puts on with Dembe is phenomenal. I am very proud of him as it isn’t something that comes easily to him. Our Trainer is brilliant and will always come over and show Jay one on one what he is asking him to do. Jay finds following instructions difficult, he is fine when he knows what he is doing but gets very daunted with new stuff.

Dembe has played pretty much all day in the garden playing with the fountain.

Friday 5th July

34 weeks old today.

As the weather was nice we spent a lot of the day out in the garden.

Saturday 6th July

It has been another lovely day so we have spent lots of time in the garden. Dembe has been asleep this afternoon, we have just had a fighter jet go over, extremely loud and that didn’t wake him from his sleep. I am pleased about that as the Weimaraners would have been hysterical after that.

This evening we popped up to my parents caravan and Dembe had a lovely play with their dog Maggie.

Due to flies coming into the house I got a fly screen curtain. Its left Dembe a bit perplexed at times!

If anyone is wondering why we have a Dunelm basket in the garden…..last year we went to Dunelm and bought over £100 of stuff, when we were at the checkout , me in my wheelchair with Jay pushing it, we asked if we could have a carrier bag ( we had come without bags as we weren’t expecting to go there), the staff said they didn’t have any and then proceeded to chat amongst themselves whilst Jay struggled putting our shopping in the basket and my wheelchair. We got to the car and Jay was so furious at the rudeness of the staff, no offers of help etc. He got the basket and threw it into the car. So now I have a Dunelm washing basket – to take the washing to the line. If they had supplied a bag or hadn’t been quite so unhelpful we wouldn’t have it.

Sunday 7th July

Today we took Dembe to the local supermarket and did a small shop he coped admirably with the challenges it presented. He wore his yellow coat which says Assistance dog in Training.

The only problem we had was the number of people that kept stopping us to have a cuddle with him. The vast majority asked us before making a fuss of him but annoyingly there were a few who just ploughed straight in and petted him. It is really hard as you don’t want to upset people by telling them to leave him alone but they wouldn’t go up and pet a Police dog so why do they think it is ok to come up and make a fuss of a dog who has a high viz yellow jacket on who is clearly working. Anyway rant over.

Going to have to cut todays diary entry short as I ended up with an eye injury today and have an abrasion to my cornea so it is very sore.