Sunday 16th June 2013 - Twiglet's not so great escape!

Three days post op, Twiglet has decided that he can now revert back to running as fast as he can up and down, round and round the garden, in through the patio door and back again.  Noooooooo!!! To my surprise he did an excellent "stop!" mid garden when I shouted with my arm raised, only to look at me and continue at the same speed - need to work on that!  I then caught Elvis barking at his crate, only to discover that Twiglet had settled himself down in Elvis's crate for a snooze.  He was promptly removed!  He does like to sneak into Harry's bed when Harry emerges, and I get him out immediately to stop him getting another pasting!  I did not see him get into Elvis' bed so have to watch this.  It is possibly because their beds are more comfortable because they have not shredded their vet bed!
Just had my neighbour knock on the door to say that Twiglet was in her garden and she didn't know how he got there but didn't want to scare him!  Whilst we were having a conversation over the fence, Twiglet appeared looking very smug!  This was a huge surprise to me as having had 2 labrador puppies with no escape, we were convinced that our garden was escape-proof but Twiglet, being part Whippet, is distinctly slimmer than a labrador puppy and had pushed one of the fence sticks across to make a hole just big enough to get through!  There was also a clear trail of flattened plants showing his route through the fence so he was not stealthy enough!  We then set about sorting out the fence which typically was between  a holly bush and a Yukka plant - poor Chris, trying to do a professional repair whilst being attacked by prickly plants, was a true comedy moment!  Having said all that, Twiglet is doing well with his training and has almost learnt to "stand". 

Thursday 13th June 2013 - Twiglet's Funny Moments

Sorry - it's been a while since the last post.  Twiglet has settled in really well and is now actually Jumping into the lake with Elvis and Harry like a true Dock Dog!  To be honest I think this is his first experience of swimming and he thinks that that is how dogs get into the water - doesn't know any different! 
All dogs have now been banished from the sofa - a long overdue disciplinary situation - and so we have Harry sleeping in his crate, Elvis sulking on the floor in the lounge, and Twiglet asleep in the laundry basket!

At night, of course, all dogs are in crates!  Twiglet has now done his first training class at Charlie's in Soham with the other dogs who are older than a year, but who have had no training.  He went with Chris and the children and did very well. He has a lightning recall and a pretty good sit and down.  They all really enjoyed themselves so thank you Anita and Jess.
Gorgeous moment this morning.  Twiglet is allowed no breakfast as he is having his op today (no testicles by this evening!).  Elvis was scrounging for food so was sent to his crate where he proceeded to whinge.  Twiglet went over to Elvis' crate and started pawing at it, trying to release Elvis!  So sweet, but fairly concerned that at some point Elvis and Twiglet might start plotting evil deeds together!  Elvis can already open the back door from both directions and regularly lets all 3 dogs out into the garden, or back into the house.  Twiglet can climb and is clearly stealthy and cunning.  If they pool their resources........................!!!  Now getting myself prepared to leave Twiglet at the vet's.  :(   Will update with a later post!

Friday 7th June 2013 - Good food manners at last!

Wow - Twiglet did a sit, wait for his food last night along with Harry and Elvis!!  We put his bowl down and made him sit and wait and make eye contact before diving in like he'd lost the winning lottery ticket at the bottom of the bowl!  He's such a sweetie to get it so quickly. Well done Twiglet!  This morning when I came down at 5am to do some work, I let all 3 dogs out into the garden and then all 3 went back to bed!  I left the crate doors open.  Harry went into his very comfy dark stinking pit (needs a wash and which Twiglet tried to curl up in yesterday), Elvis climbed onto the sofa, and Twiglet went back into his crate to sleep.  So pleased that he associates his crate as a place of safety.  Since we've had him we have given him treats and used the word bed every time we have put him in there, but to start with he would go rigid and do a sort of Garfield -like refusal while we gently but firmly encouraged him.  He has torn up some of his vet bed so we need to keep an eye on this but at least he hasn't eaten it! I am delighted that he has chosen to take himself in there and has gone back to sleep.   All quiet this morning.

Thursday 6th June 2013 Tigger Twiglet

Since I last posted, Twiglet has made an amazing recovery.  The antibiotic injection has sorted out his sore foot and when I came home just now he ran about 8 laps of the garden at full speed and a half just out of pure excitement.  He actually bounces like Tigger!  Definitely booked in for his neuter on Thursday!
Twiglet is getting used to being in the car and the van and we are taking him out at every opportunity to help with this.  We went into the Village and visited the bank this afternoon.  Thank goodness he didn't pee in there!  Everyone we meet asks after him and I am so grateful about the support we have received.  The dogs are a well formed pack now and frequently curl up asleep together.  We have just bought a new crate so that all 3 can go in the van together without Twiglet having the status of being on the front seat!  The fur on his bald patches is now growing back with a silky sheen and his limp has gone completely.  Twiglet has brought so much fun and laughter to our home we can't imagine it being any other way.  We are now having to brush him every day to stop his fur from tangling, but he is still scruffy black dog afterwards!  He loves being brushed and the only issue we have is that he gets so relaxed that he leans against you with his eyes closed making it difficult to do his whole body.  We have also made huge progress with mealtimes.  Now all 3 dogs sit and wait with Harry and Elvis' food bowls on the floor and Twiglet's bowl in your hand.  Twiglet no longer tries to eat the other dogs' food as soon as the bowl goes down.  Harry starts his, then Elvis and then we put Twiglet's on the floor.  Next stage is to get him to wait with the bowl down.  We have been practicing this with a treat in a bowl during the day but I  think that right now doing it with a full bowl of food is just one step too far!  Won't be long though so watch this space!  Thank you to all those who have been following our story.

Feeling a little poorly :(

Twiglet wasn't himself today.  He has a small wound on one of his pads which seems to be hurting a great deal today.  Yesterday he seemed fine, but today he has a pronounced limp once again and it is clearly the pad as it is sore to touch.  It needs proper investigation to see if there is a foreign object in there but we will wait until he is under anaesthetic for his castrate and microchip.  Took him to the vets as he coughed a couple of times this morning.  Hasn't coughed since and his chest sounds were all fine but he has a slightly raised temperature so has been given an antibiotic injection.  Hopefully this will help his sore pad.  I hate to see him limping, particularly as he is following me around everywhere at the moment - should have called him Shadow!  Had a lovely moment earlier when he curled up actually leaning on Elvis - very cute.  All at the vets were very impressed with his sit, down and wait, and he was very stoical with his treatment, particularly as there was a problem with the antibiotic and the vet had to have 4 goes at it!  Just hoping that he mends quickly.  We have postponed his op to make sure that he is really well.  His fur is already growing back in the thin patches and he is defending the garden quite fiercely if he hears someone at the gate.  Gorgeous scruffy black dog - you are now truly part of our family.

Sunday 2nd June - off to the County Show

Took the family and the pack to the County Show yesterday.  Twiglet was a star!  He walked with Harry and Elvis, although he did pull on the lead quite a bit, and was friendly to everyone he met - human and canine!  He really wanted to join in the terrier racing but obviously wasn't allowed!  Elvis and Harry did really well in the novice scurry and Twiglet got very excited watching this activity too.  We managed to sit on the floor and have our packed lunch without inadvertently sharing it with 3 dogs which we considered to be a huge bonus.  He is still very nervous about travelling in the car and van so he was put in a harness and seatbelt and stayed on the back seat next to the children which helped him to feel safe.  All 3 dogs went to sleep really early when we got home.

Sat 1st June 2013 - Making himself at home.

Today felt like a normal day with Twiglet in the house.  Usual dog walk with Twiglet on a long line and wanting to go and visit every dog he sees!  Feeding time is fun.  We need to feed the dogs in the correct order - Harry, Elvis, Twiglet.  Harry and Elvis will sit and wait in front of their bowl until told to eat, but Twiglet behaves like a greyhound in the stalls!!!  While we are restraining Twiglet - who needs to eat last, Harry takes advantage and tries to eat - so he gets told off and has to wait,  and in the middle of this Elvis just sits there like the 1 well-behaved child in the class wondering if he will ever get to eat again!  This needs work and at the moment works best as a 2 man job!! I can understand Twiglet's enthusiasm for food but he needs to learn some manners! 
Caught Twiglet opening the - now dug up and retrieved - dog treat tin and helping himself this afternoon.  He is much more steathly and silent in his approach than Harry and Elvis so needs watching more closely - they would have been far more clumsy and knocked the tin off the worktop with a huge crash!
Later in the day I had a huge fright as suddenly, Twiglet started barking ferociously and charged out into the garden, with barking Elvis hot on his heels, and Harry last - who was asleep in his bed and thought he ought to join in!  It appeared that next door but one's bitch had made it's way into next door's garden again and Twiglet thought it might be encroaching on our territory.  All 3 dogs were barking and I think that the poor thing was grateful to be captured and returned.  Twiglet clearly now sees this as his patch!
I went to bed fairly early to as I had to get up early to do some work.  I must have left the door at the bottom of the stairs open as Harry and Elvis are not allowed, and do not try, to go upstairs.  Having  drifted off to sleep, I woke to find the small black scruffy dog curled up asleep on the bed next to me with Chris trying to persuade him to move!!!  Twiglet was so relaxed / stubborn that Chris had to carry him back down to his crate!  I think Twiglet feels at home!