Murphy's obviously feeling better - having ignored his foodball for about a week (he gets half his dried food in his bowl and half in this ball that he pushes round with his nose to empty - supposed to keep him occupied) he decided he was hungry and he'd have another go at it.
Unfortunately this was at midnight last night and we - I - was awoken but a succession of polite "ahem"-type barks at 12.10am. Curious and a little forboding I trotted off downstairs and had to rescue the foodball from where it had got stuck under a bookcase. I did so in some exasperation and went back to bed. There followed a series of clatters and bumps as he battered it round the living room again, then silence.... followed by more polite barks... You gotta hand it to him, he's persistant - after another six or seven muted barks I had to go back down and rescue it from under the dining table!
Having learnt my lesson I emptied it out for him and went back to bed. I'm not stupid!!!
25 February 2011
23 February 2011
Maddie - update
Maddie is fine, although has recently been exhibiting lily-liveredness. One evening last week Murphy was asleep and snoring and she got scared and went through to her den in the kitchen. After I'd coaxed her back and she'd gone to sleep in her bed Richard then fell asleep and his snoring actually woke her up! - needless to say she shot off back through to the kitchen so that was that!
I got her a new bed, called a "bagel bed" cos it's oval-ish and has a raised cushion round the edge. She likes it now, but to begin with wasn't sure. She's not good with change. Murphy, if presented with a new bed/blanket etc will immediately climb on/in and look gratified. Maddie refuses to go near and the first night settled down in Murphy's (large) bed, leaving him to curl himself up in her (too small for him) bed! Luckily things have sorted themselves, although as I write she is asleep on his and he's asleep on the floor next the sofa (in her defence he likes sleeping there and was there before she went on his bed). Poor Murphy - even the cat occasionally throws him off his bed!
I got her a new bed, called a "bagel bed" cos it's oval-ish and has a raised cushion round the edge. She likes it now, but to begin with wasn't sure. She's not good with change. Murphy, if presented with a new bed/blanket etc will immediately climb on/in and look gratified. Maddie refuses to go near and the first night settled down in Murphy's (large) bed, leaving him to curl himself up in her (too small for him) bed! Luckily things have sorted themselves, although as I write she is asleep on his and he's asleep on the floor next the sofa (in her defence he likes sleeping there and was there before she went on his bed). Poor Murphy - even the cat occasionally throws him off his bed!
"Rolling in the Deep"
As I write I am listening to Adele, the amazing song of the above name, and as I contemplate my muddy jeans and listen to the washing machine (well I would hear it if the music wasn't on so loud) working on all the muddy dog towels, it seems to be particularly apt.
So we have bitten the bullet and furnished Murphy with a muzzle. I have been walking him on the lead for the last few weeks (he does get off at certain times and places but there's always a residual worry) so it's good that he can go for a run if he wants. I've accustomed him to it by always giving him a biscuit when he puts it on and he gets quite a few on the course of a muzzle-walk. So although he tries to get it off out of irritation he is happy to put it on and doesn't seem distressed by it. Although yesterday he got the tennis ball I was throwing and was very put out to discover he couldn't chew it up (once he gets a tennis ball you can say goodbye to it unless it's at the beach) - he literally eats them! I felt quite guilty as he rarely gets the thrown balls, Maddie is much faster and he usually doesn't even try any more.
I thought people would be scared when they saw him with a muzzle on - I know I assume a dog is dangerous if it's wearing one - but so far I think it depends on the attitude of the owner. The first time he wore it I ignored and avoided other dogs/owners which probably looks worse.. now I behave as if everything's fine and although people do ask why he's wearing it (particularly if they know him, and most know him as a friendly dog) there haven't been any negativity. It probably helps that he hasn't tried to sit on any dogs while wearing it!
So we have bitten the bullet and furnished Murphy with a muzzle. I have been walking him on the lead for the last few weeks (he does get off at certain times and places but there's always a residual worry) so it's good that he can go for a run if he wants. I've accustomed him to it by always giving him a biscuit when he puts it on and he gets quite a few on the course of a muzzle-walk. So although he tries to get it off out of irritation he is happy to put it on and doesn't seem distressed by it. Although yesterday he got the tennis ball I was throwing and was very put out to discover he couldn't chew it up (once he gets a tennis ball you can say goodbye to it unless it's at the beach) - he literally eats them! I felt quite guilty as he rarely gets the thrown balls, Maddie is much faster and he usually doesn't even try any more.
I thought people would be scared when they saw him with a muzzle on - I know I assume a dog is dangerous if it's wearing one - but so far I think it depends on the attitude of the owner. The first time he wore it I ignored and avoided other dogs/owners which probably looks worse.. now I behave as if everything's fine and although people do ask why he's wearing it (particularly if they know him, and most know him as a friendly dog) there haven't been any negativity. It probably helps that he hasn't tried to sit on any dogs while wearing it!
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