Friday 31 May 2013

Fri 31st May - Pirate Twiglet

Twiglet has a new coat for the cold weather which makes him look really tough!  He went for a walk in the field today with Elvis and we discovered that he will need to stay on the long lead for quite some time as he wants to greet every dog in the distance.  Had a pleasant surprise though - he loves swimming!  This is really good news as our dogs swim every day and stay clean.  Nothing worse than being the new boy on the block without being the smelly one too! 
Had to laugh this afternoon when I noticed that a large tin of dog treats which I had left on the table was missing.  It couldn't be Harry or Elvis as they were out having a run, but surely a small scruffy black dog couldn't have picked up such a tin!  We eventually found the tin - after some hours searching - buried in the garden!  He hadn't managed to open it, but had carried it off and stashed it for later.  It is becoming clear, just how this little black dog has survived for so long!  The vet thought he had been stray for several weeks as she had had reports about him. He is delightful!

Thurs 30th May - visitors!

Twiglet is a bit of a local celebrity and we have been visited by people who tried to catch him earlier.  He is often greeted on the street as everyone is really pleased that he has a home.  I made the mistake of talking for too long when we were out walking and got caught out as Twiglet lifted his leg and peed on my boot!   Harry always lifts his left leg and has never peed on me!!!  Those nuts are coming off!!!!

Wed 29th May - Twiglet has learnt to sit

Twiglet has now learnt to sit, and walk to heel with a treat.  I am teaching him to weave through poles as I think he will be a fab agility dog.  We are booked into the classes for dogs over a year who have had no training and can start in a couple of weeks.  The children have decided that they will take him to classes which is great!  Twiglet is now living in his crate in the laundry with the other 2 dogs.  Harry has taught him some doggy manners and Elvis isn't quite sure, but they are beginning to settle down. 

Tuesday 28th May - To the Vets

The District Council have contacted me and are sending over the paperwork.  They have given me permission to vaccinate and neuter Twiglet, although I haven't told him about the neutering yet!  He is now vaccinated against everything and was very well behaved at the vet's. They also think he is lovely.

Monday 27th May - walking with the pack

Twiglet is learning to walk with our dogs and they are slowly becoming a pack. He is very scared of buses and lorries and slightly nervous of different noises in the street.  He is trying to mark every 10 paces.  We have been teaching him to play with a tennis ball in the back garden and he is clearly feeling much better as he is charging around like the fastest, scruffiest dog in the world!

Sunday 26th May - To the dog school.

We bought Twiglet a new collar and ID tag and took him along to see our dog trainer.  Twiglet is not allowed into the dog school as he hasn't been vaccinated, but she comes out to meet him and thinks that he is lovely.  It is clear that he loves people and is interested in making friends with other dogs.  She advises us on how to introduce him to our dogs.  

Sat 25th May - Settling in.

Twiglet is loving his new home and is seeking cuddles from the whole family.  He smells much better, but the worms are horrendous!  Double bag poop scooping!  I can't believe that he has managed to get any nutrients into his system with this number of worms.  He is not allowed to meet our dogs yet as we want to get advice from our dog trainer first.  I update the lostdog post with a photo and let the District Council, Police, local animal shelter and RSPCA know that we have him.  He is very cute.

Friday 24th May. We've caught him!

Friday 24th May.  I return to the cul-de-sac with another food bowl and once again, Twiglet starts to come towards me.  It is raining and I squat down on the pavement and start to throw dog treats casually in his direction without making eye contact.  He comes towards me and I throw the treats closer and closer to me so that Twiglet is close enough to touch.  I didn't want to get it wrong so I let him back off, and started the process again.  Eventually Twiglet was so close that I was able to put my hand gently on his collar and get a lead around his neck.  Nothing happened.  He just stood in the rain and looked at me with truly grateful eyes.  My husband then carried Twiglet back to our house where I waited for him to return from the woods with the crate.  We took him straight to the vet and discovered that he was just over a year old, very friendly, and riddled with worms.  £50 lighter and armed with special shampoo, and various parasite medication.  We set about cleaning him up.  We put him on our bath on a towel and showered him down, putting the special medicated shampoo on him and rinsing it off.  Twiglet was a star and looked so skinny when his messy fur was all wet.  We then dried him, fed him, and put him in the crate in our garden building with the heater on.

Friday 24th May, Starting to trust me.

I venture forth with a metal food bowl and enounter Twiglet on the street.  For the first time he seems to come towards me so I place the bowl on the floor and retreat.  Twiglet eats the food, and whilst he does this I walk casually up and down the road avoiding eye contact with him and trying to ignore him.  Twiglet finishes the food and walks away.  I pick up the bowl and leave.

Thursday 23rd May. Horrendous rain and hail.

Horrendous rain and hail downpours all day, leave us with no choice but to install our spare dog crate in Twiglet's woodland den.  We give him a bed, a waterproof cover, camouflage it with sticks and leaves, and chain it to the fence.  We hope and pray that Twiglet seeks shelter there overnight.  I have noticed that he now has a pronounced limp on his front left leg, and patches of fur missing from his hind quarters.  He needs to get to a vet.

Monday 20th May - Twiglet has a den in the woods.

Twiglet has a den in the woods where kind folk have been leaving food and water.  We start leaving food and water also, but never meet him there.

May 18th - Living alone in the woods.

Living alone in the woods, Twiglet was spotted, and despite the efforts of half a dozen well-meaning villagers, managed to evade capture.  Instead, we found ourselves slowing the traffic and leaving him be.  He is the scruffiest black dog ever with the saddest eyes. I post a description of him on the doglost website.