Navipets!

[stannn]

Mart, you look like you're down there for a reason, rather than the pup's convenience. Is recovery dragging?
Stan

[biff]

I,m guessing, it must be some kind of a back exercise mat Stann.
        What ever it is Mart, get well soon. You are a gluten for punishment, Taking on another dog, knowing you are going to suffer another heartbreak,parting with it.
 but it is an admirable generous act my friend, one that I am sadly lacking in. I salute you.
                                                           Biff
                           

[M]

Mart, you look like you're down there for a reason, rather than the pup's convenience. Is recovery dragging?
Stan

Hiya Stan, things are going well, but yes it's a drag. Had my first physio appointment yesterday and Scout came with us, as we didn't want to leave him on his own for 2hrs yet, as he's still a bit anxious. He was perfect at the hospital, clearly a professional, and the staff loved him.

Physio impressed that I'm walking evenly and doing about an hours walk each day, so pelvis mending fine.
Also surprised that I can straighten my elbow, as I couldn't go to town on it because of the shoulder, but I've been doing loads of flexing at home. So whilst it's not 'fixed' it's also not jammed, so full movement will be possible once I'm allowed to be a bit rougher on the shoulder.
Shoulder - SOB - ok, I'll admit it, collar bone breaks are a total PITA (more so than pelvis even ;-) ). But I've got reasonable movement, and after x-rays next week, should get the go ahead to start moving it more. Little bit of trivia I discovered yesterday, they prefer too little movement of collar bones, to be made up for with physio afterwards, as they really don't want to have to do surgery there as there are so many nerves and blood vessels. So it seems policy is to err on the side of caution, and let the bones really fuse first before testing them out, which makes sense.

So, yes, you are right, mat on floor (replaced camp bed) is for me, as sitting is a bit sore, but perfect for doggie cuddles. He really seems to like laying next to me, or even squashing up and shoving his head in my armpit (brave dog). Be interesting to see if this is nervous bonding, or genuine personality as the month goes on.

[M]

I,m guessing, it must be some kind of a back exercise mat Stann.
        What ever it is Mart, get well soon. You are a gluten for punishment, Taking on another dog, knowing you are going to suffer another heartbreak,parting with it.
 but it is an admirable generous act my friend, one that I am sadly lacking in. I salute you.
                                                           Biff                

Hiya Biff. Not sure I'm a gluten, as I get the ups of a month's worth of cuddles as payment. Also Fifi taught us that when they move on it is sad, but not as bad as we'd expected, the crucial thing being that you know they are going, whereas an unexpected loss would certainly break my heart.

Must think seriously now about getting our own dog. Lab or Labradoodle high on the list. Is it stupid that I've still got (in the back of my mind) a wish for an Irish Wolfhound!

[todthedog]

Great to hear that you are making progress Mart.
Go on go on go on get one of your own as well you know you want to!

[biff]

Hi Mart,
       I am not so sure if the Irish wolfhound would be a good idea. I knew a friend who kept a few of them and used to exercise them behind his new Mk 2 Cortina estate along Dollymount strand.
 He and his wife were going to breed them and took them to shows. I had my first Shepherd back then and I could see no way that you could ask them do do anything without a bowl of food in your right hand. They were not deaf but just could not care less until they spotted the bowl of grub..That was a long time ago and breeds do change but the few wolfhounds that I have seen since that time, were unfortunately,,no different. Some people read that book  "Marley and Me" and think it is beautiful, I read it and I feel sorry for everyone for getting involved with Marley.
  There is one very old breed that folks don,t Pay much attention to and is a first cousin of the Irish Wolfhound, In fact many years ago, the Scottish Deerhound was introduced into the few remaining Irish wolfhounds to improve the bloodlines, so they are closer than you would think. The deerhound is trainable and has an excellent reputation around this neck of the woods. They are very tough and healthy as a breed. They are a great family dog, very loyal. they are also very very deep, They know what you are thinking, They were bred as hunting dogs but they are much more than that. They are naturals on the lead. Even though they are a very large dog, they can curls up in a ball folding their legs to take up very little floor space., then they go to stand up and everything shoots out into place. Like transformers , anyone who ever knew one will know what I am talking about. They are gentle and kindly to their owners and quite reserved with strangers. If you wanted a dog with the strongest 6th sense,,it has to be the deerhound.                                                          And  their broken merle coat casts very few hairs.
                  Biff

[M]

Thanks Biff, all ideas welcome. A sensible dog for us would be no bigger than say 30kG and about Scout's size, but I do like big Mastiffs and 'hounds'. Too much choice.

Scout and I fell asleep watching TV last night. I'd probably still be there now if he hadn't started chasing rabbits.

[todthedog]

Alternatively a border collie, reading an article about them someone asked how large a garden was required for a collie. The reply came WALES!  When Elliott arrived he had been used to sleeping outside and we were told he would not settle in a house. First night I slept downstairs with all three dogs in case of emergency. They had far more sleep then me taking it in turn to stick a wet nose in my face to check if all was well.  Night two back upstairs, 3am a huge cerfuffle from downstairs, descending rapidly two dogs asleep the cat the middle of the kitchen. No sign of Elliott, who emerged a moment later from hiding under a kitchen unit.
They maintain a dynamic relationship he follow her around until she hops him. He can be fast asleep in his bed and she will stand and  yell at him until he wakes up and follows her.

Great dog loves to walk, but brilliant in the house.
Good for rounding up chickens, sometimes when you didn't need them rounding!
If in doubt ask Stan
We are not trying to convince you Mart, really!

[stannn]

I would only agree if you have a lot of time time to exercise them. Tod & I are retired.
Stan

[stannn]

I find Noel Fitzpatrick (supervet) to be such an inspiration as he drives himself on and on to fix pets. In one recent episode he had carried oüt a near-impossible operation to fix a dog's nervous system to let it walk normally. We saw him creep up to the cage next morning, fully expecting failure, and the pup got up to greet him. Noel threw himself into the cage and sobbed, saying what a strain it is working all hours and through the night, with acute back pain, and wondering why he does it. This is why.
Stan

[M]

Doesn't time fly.

We've had Scout for just over 4 weeks, and every day past the original request of 4 weeks is a bonus. We still curl up on the floor watching telly at night. Around 7-8pm he approaches, I get a big lick, then curls up with his back to me. Then around 9pm he gets up, another lick, then tucks down my side and buries his head under my shoulder/armpit - the signal that he's down for the night.

He's off tomorrow to the trainer's house for a few days to see how he is living with another dog. That suggests to me that a match has been made, and last checks are being carried out. I suspect our days with Scout are now numbered.

Turns out he's a Scottish doggie from Aberdeen. A scout group raised the money to name a dog, I think it's £5k, so a very well done to them. Seeing a photo of the large group with a very young Scout pup in the centre front brought home just how many people and how much work and generosity lies behind what to us is just a genuinely lovely pooch.


Good news, he's been such a dream to have that we're putting our name down for a withdrawn dog, so hopefully we'll have a forever dog to post about soon. We've also ticked must be good with cats, as I volunteer one morning a week at a local rescue centre and a lovely fluffy ginger and white emotional blackmailer won't leave me alone, so another moggie may be with us soon, so long as Flash (remember F4 - Flash the Ferocious Feral Feline) says it's OK.

[todthedog]

Great news Mart

[Greenbeast]

So we've added numbers 9 and 10 to our pack, and this lad is my first dog. (his mum is the other addition)

Meet Frank

[M]

What a gorgeous fluffy face.

(Add your own punchline.)

[biff]

Oh Well done GB and Frank,
                    He looks the picture of our Diesel at 12 weeks, He will be a big kind hearted softee.
                                                     Biff