Good news on my birthday

Yippee, it's my birthday and I'm 6!  Daddy spoke to my doctor who says my lumps are benign and nothing to worry about, so another cause to celebrate.  I wish Daddy would take me out after my tea though.....

Feeling sorry for myself today!

I've just been to my doctors about a couple of lumps on my back. Hope they are not bad news. Anyway they wanted to have me in this morning to have samples taken which required me to be sedated - as if I am excitable! I'm home now having an unusually long rest. (At least it means Daddy can catch up with a few things.) I get the results next week in time for my birthday and Christmas. I've been looking at some pictures over the past year and here are some of the best.

 

I'm poorly!

I've got a poorly paw. I had to go to the vets in Newbury while I was at Grannie's as one of my paws swelled up and I couldn't put any weight on it. I did feel out of sorts. Anyway, it is getting better very quickly as Daddy is hiding the medication in my food and I am taking it!

My war wound

Daddy was encouraged to take me to the vet because of the gash from the barbed wire on Tuesday. So, off we went. (I didn't know what all the fuss was about.) Anyway, I was pleased to go there - I like meeting people. The vet gave me a good look and said if I had gone straight after it had happened I would have had a couple of stitches. But as it is, it is healing up with no infection and the cream that Daddy has been using has been doing its stuff. It would have to be opened up again to put stitches in now. Now it's no more cream and bathing in salt water for a week. I will have a scar but no-one will see it.

I am 13 months old today

I had a cracking time today. It is 13 months since I was born and it felt like my birthday again. I was not feeling too good yesterday morning, probably because of that needle pointy thingy that the vet stuck in me the day before. But today, I was back to normal. Daddy took me for a long walk this afternoon and I vote for that every day. We went to the golf links as usual and then on through Old Down and round Old Down Wood and back via Sheepcombe and the waggon wash. We've been there before, but as it was a Saturday afternoon, as well as nice and sunny, there were loads of other furry friends to play with. Two of them (including another flat-coat) took my kong, but that is no more than I try to do!

A visit to the vet

I went to see the vet this morning. It was originally going to be for the 'snip' but Daddy has been having a rethink in view of comments from various sources (including here!). So I had my annual innoculation instead and Daddy spoke to the vet further. We saw a different one this morning than before and his view was that it was up to Daddy as to whether to have me 'done' or not - he was not dogmatic about it. There are medical advantages, in particular there are lower chances of prostate and testicular cancer. (However, it is more important to have a bitch spayed.) He also said that the summer would be an appropriate time, as that is when I would be mature. Daddy is therefore going to think about it further over the next few months.

The vet also said that I am now old enough for longer walks - yippee! Most of my growth plates have now closed. Here is an information sheet that Daddy found on the subject: http://www.yourvets.co.uk/html/pdf/Factsheets/Dog/24_265463.pdf.

To be or not to be (castrated)

That is the question. I am glad I don't know anything about this, but for the record I am going to the vet on Thursday for my annual innoculaton and Daddy is going to ask her when is the best time. He has read that it should be when a dog is mature and I am not yet. My trainer and my vet recommend it, and Pawstretchers won't mind me now until I am "done".

While researching this subject, Daddy has found the following articles of interest:

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html
http://www.neutering.org/
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080727041938AANpdu0
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf
http://dogtime.com/spay-neuter.html

New Year's Resolutions

I gather this is the time of year to make some resolutions, so here they are:

To try not to jump up when I greet people
To try and sit or down/stay for longer

They will be hard to achieve, but Daddy's training hard. We went to training last night which was good, but it showed we need to work at these things.

PS One of the trainers recommended that I have the 'snip' when I have my next visit to the vet. What does that mean???!!! I think I should be worried.

Getting lost

Last week, I had a first - I got separated from Daddy. No, I was not lost, but after chasing a rabbit, I could not find Daddy again. He had run off somewhere else. So I did the obvious thing and found my way home again. Who needs a GPS? When Daddy decided to turn up, I was about to be taken to the vet as the vet's telephone number was on my tag. (So was my number, but never mind.)

The vet

Daddy went to see my doctor this afternoon. I refused to go in the car....

So Daddy went on his own and left me at home. I have run out of worming tablets, so he got some more for me. Sounds a good idea, as I do pick up all sorts of rubbish.

While there, Daddy asked some questions:

1 How can I be trained not to chase sheep - baaaa! The vet recommended walking on a lead in a sheep field as much as possible and being repeatedly held back and told no. Also, a collar might work - no, not an electric collar (they are banned apparently), but one that vibrates. You can get them on eBay, and he's found a few. Has anyone any comments about how useful they are? They're call training pagers!

2 When should I change from my puppy food? I should stay on puppy food until I am 12 months as I will still be growing then! (Since then, Daddy has spoken to James Wellbeloved and they said I should be on Junior now until 12 or 13 months.)

3 How can I be persuaded to go in the car? I am alright once I am in but I give Daddy the run-around when I think he wants to get me in the car. I am even suspicious of treats now. Daddy was advised to try giving me my meals in the car, put my bed in (or something like Daddy's t-shirt) and to put me in when we are not going anywhere.

The vet and my 7th lesson

Daddy saw the vet last week about treatment of ticks and to get some more worming tablets. I still had 2 ticks from the Lakes. Anyway, they have now gone, thanks to Frontline. He agreed with the exercise I was getting as well (3 times a day for half an hour to an hour). I am glad that is not too much - I do like taking Daddy for walks! I should also stay on my puppy food for another 2 or 3 months as I am still growing.

There were only four of us at training last week so we had close attention. I think I was really good at the 'stay' which I have not done much of.

Second vaccination

I went to see Mel, my doctor, today for my second vaccination and microchip as I am now 10 weeks old. Daddy was very impressed - he didn't even know it was done until afterwards. I was very good there and afterwards when Daddy did some shopping. I am now zonked out.

Daddy talked to the vet about my two bad habits - chewing furniture and climbing stairs. I am afraid he might be putting some advice into practice, darn it. However, I can go out for walks on Sunday - hooray!!! They will have to be short for at least my first year, but Daddy is thinking of carrying me in a rucksack for longer distances. I am not sure what to think about that.

Mel also said my meals can be cut down to 3 a day. So, from today, I am having 3 bigger meals but I do get hungry between times. At the end of March, my food will increase again.

First innoculation

I had my first visit to the vet (Mel) at The Coppins today for my first innoculation. She was very nice and it didn't hurt. I have to go back in two weeks and then I can go out and about! I now weigh 5kg.

Meanwhile, I have been keeping busy as you can see, and booking my social diary. Mel said that now is a good time to get used to the outside world even though I shouldn't walk outside the garden. So I might get carried around and meet other dogs. I met the bin man today (I didn't like the wheelie bin sound) and two dogs. I was a bit frightened by one of them.