A good week, I think we have just about worked her out - well at least for the time being. Poppy mustn't be over fatigued as that really causes her a problem, but so long as you just do the right amount, she is fine.
She has been to the "River" twice this week, once with me, and today with Dad, who remarked that it is the best he has seen her in ages. She was carried part of the way back, but it is a fair bit further than to the play park, and she did walk half way along the riverbank.
Poppy still really loves meeting other dogs, and we made it to dog club again this week, much to her satisfaction. We did not really do many of the exercises, but she just loved saying "hello" in particular to Bess a black labrador who is about 18 months old.
Talking of black labradors, Abbie and Poppy are now firm friends. Where Abbie pretty much ignored Poppy for about a month, they now do so much "playing". Poppy loves to try biting Abbie's leg or ear, whichever she can grab, to attract Abbie's attention, then they often roll around on the floor together for several minutes, or Abbie runs off to get a toy for them to play tug with, or runs out of the house and round the garden, with Poppy desperately bunny hopping after her. When Abbie tears round in circles, Poppy will literally bounce round on the spot.
This is also what she does when she is waiting for a meal. She gets really excited - it is so lovely to watch.
Poppy is such a happy dog, and so sweet with it. She really is a lovely dog to have in the household, other than when she has her stubborn streak on! At those times not much will make her move! So pretty typical of a near 6 month old pup.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Day 54 to 59 Tues to Sun (24 weeks old)
After the slightly rough period at the end of last week, this week has been far better. It may be that if we over fatigue Poppy she really struggles to pick up, so we have tried to be really careful. Poppy is pretty consistently getting out for her walk to the Play Park, but at the moment we have given up on boots. She seems to have managed to toughen up her feet at the moment, and we went through a phase of her really struggling with her right paw.
Her right paw definitely turns outwards a lot more than her left paw, and when she is tired or it is wet her front paws do get really splayed.
She has taken to "giving up" when we want her to start the return journey - but we think this is just tactical from Poppy, as when you offer her the chance to carry home Abbie's ball, she suddenly perks up.
I have carried her a fair bit this week, but today (Sunday) I took her out with Abbie and she really enjoyed it, and seemed to manage quite well.
She is not keen if we leave her on her own, and she does tend to cry, but the radio being left on seems to help matters.
We may drop her lunchtime feed soon, as she has started on a handful of Chappie complete with her puppy food and thus seems to manage the quantity a bit better.
Her right paw definitely turns outwards a lot more than her left paw, and when she is tired or it is wet her front paws do get really splayed.
She has taken to "giving up" when we want her to start the return journey - but we think this is just tactical from Poppy, as when you offer her the chance to carry home Abbie's ball, she suddenly perks up.
I have carried her a fair bit this week, but today (Sunday) I took her out with Abbie and she really enjoyed it, and seemed to manage quite well.
She is not keen if we leave her on her own, and she does tend to cry, but the radio being left on seems to help matters.
We may drop her lunchtime feed soon, as she has started on a handful of Chappie complete with her puppy food and thus seems to manage the quantity a bit better.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Day 47 (23 weeks old) to Day 53 - Thursday to Monday
After the highs of Wednesday Dog Club came the lows. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday have not been too good for Poppy. She has fallen over far more than previously, and has a definite limp from her right front leg. When she falls over it seems that her front legs literally give way so she does go straight down on her face - not a nice thing to witness. She seemed mainly to fall when on a downward slope, so pretty obviously her centre of balance is affected where her lack of muscle is unable to compensate. She has probably fallen about two or three times each day. However, being such a positive puppy, she picks herself back up and carries on like nothing has happened.
Today has been far better again. I took her out this morning fearing the worst (she has not actually been out for an official walk for a couple of days as she was not good), but she was actually really positive, in fact she marched outwards to make sure she got to the Play Park. I let her wander off lead around the grass area and she seemed really happy. She did not fall at all. On the return trip she was more tired, and a bit limpy on her front right leg, so I carried her the final 20 yards, rather than totally tire her. She then played ball in the garden with me, bouncing after the ball when thrown a few yards ahead.
Dad confirms that she has had a far better day, so let's feel positive again and hope for the best for the week to come (although bad weather is forecast so it may not be too great).
Today has been far better again. I took her out this morning fearing the worst (she has not actually been out for an official walk for a couple of days as she was not good), but she was actually really positive, in fact she marched outwards to make sure she got to the Play Park. I let her wander off lead around the grass area and she seemed really happy. She did not fall at all. On the return trip she was more tired, and a bit limpy on her front right leg, so I carried her the final 20 yards, rather than totally tire her. She then played ball in the garden with me, bouncing after the ball when thrown a few yards ahead.
Dad confirms that she has had a far better day, so let's feel positive again and hope for the best for the week to come (although bad weather is forecast so it may not be too great).
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Day 40 - 46 (Friday to Wednesday)
Well I haven't been very good at blogging recently, but not because there is any problem, other than the weather! As it has been very wet recently Poppy has not got up to much - but the last couple of days have actually been far nicer weather so she is back on form.
Indeed tonight, we went back to dog club after a 2 week absence. Poppy had a wonderful hour. She did all the movements that all the other 5 puppies did, which included a down stay, sit stay, recall on the lead, heel walking, recall across the yard, heel walking around the other puppies, retrieve the ball, follow off the lead, and puppy playing! She may not have done alot of anything, but at least she did something of each of them.
We are now on mark 3 boots, and I think this is really helping. They have been made more like mittens, so are quite easy to put on. They have velcro closures, and are lined with fleece and sheepskin, so are softer and more padded. The outer layer is made from one of our pony's old rugs, so they are sort of shower-proof; although still not yet fully waterproof, as the seams obviously let in the water.
I am sure that these new boots really helped her to achieve a whole hour on tarmac tonight. She is so good having her boots put on, I think she realises that they do help. Although she does not like having her warm coat on - this was used for the first time yesterday morning to her disgust!
We weighed her on Monday and she is now 15.9 kgs. We have started to add some Chappie complete to her feed and slightly reduce her Puppy food. In part to get her ready later to move on to Chappie, and also to make her meals smaller in actual volume. She does struggle with the quantity that the Purina Puppy seems to be, and just the act of eating can fatigue her. Since we have changed, she gets 1 cup of Purina Puppy and a small handful of Chappie and she seems to get on far better.
She is nearly as tall and long as Abbie, but much slimmer still. I reckon about another 5 cms to go on the height and quite a lot of width - although this may be where we really notice a difference as of course not much of her body will be muscle.
I have been trying to get a good photo of her, but whenever I have the camera around she always seems to move - ironic for a puppy that has difficulty in moving around! Anyway, the following picture is the best I can do at the moment, it does capture some of her cheekiness!
Indeed tonight, we went back to dog club after a 2 week absence. Poppy had a wonderful hour. She did all the movements that all the other 5 puppies did, which included a down stay, sit stay, recall on the lead, heel walking, recall across the yard, heel walking around the other puppies, retrieve the ball, follow off the lead, and puppy playing! She may not have done alot of anything, but at least she did something of each of them.
We are now on mark 3 boots, and I think this is really helping. They have been made more like mittens, so are quite easy to put on. They have velcro closures, and are lined with fleece and sheepskin, so are softer and more padded. The outer layer is made from one of our pony's old rugs, so they are sort of shower-proof; although still not yet fully waterproof, as the seams obviously let in the water.
I am sure that these new boots really helped her to achieve a whole hour on tarmac tonight. She is so good having her boots put on, I think she realises that they do help. Although she does not like having her warm coat on - this was used for the first time yesterday morning to her disgust!
We weighed her on Monday and she is now 15.9 kgs. We have started to add some Chappie complete to her feed and slightly reduce her Puppy food. In part to get her ready later to move on to Chappie, and also to make her meals smaller in actual volume. She does struggle with the quantity that the Purina Puppy seems to be, and just the act of eating can fatigue her. Since we have changed, she gets 1 cup of Purina Puppy and a small handful of Chappie and she seems to get on far better.
She is nearly as tall and long as Abbie, but much slimmer still. I reckon about another 5 cms to go on the height and quite a lot of width - although this may be where we really notice a difference as of course not much of her body will be muscle.
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