A new Member of the Family

[Plantaholic]

You could write a book about Eva and her antics Daisy. Eva is certainly with the right family now. Horrid things ticks.

[Gemini]

Daisy, Eva reminds me of our cat Hermia, who died in December. A gentle very ladylike cat (unlike her tomboy sister!) but do any simple procedure to her and she panicked wildly and you would get scratched. Those flea spot drops at the back of the neck, other cats hardly notice them, she acted as though we were about to cut off her leg with no anaesthetic. It took two of us every time and injuries were still incurred. It was lucky she only developed diabetes at the end stage of her life, as we could never have injected her.

You did well to get it done!

[Daisy]

Plant, haha, so true! She certainly keeps us on her toes. To be honest, we could have handled things differently and just basically shouted at her, but that's not how I like to treat my dogs. I don't want perfect, robot-like obedience, I want them to be relaxed and happy and work with us rather than just do what they're told. With Eva we're dealing with what have turned out to be very deep-seated behaviours and fears and she's making progress all the time, but it's a long job!

Gem - yes, they sound very similar. Sheer panic! We'd have a hard job to put spot treatment on Eva, too, but I might have to if the tick season is bad. I did wonder how you would have managed diabetes injections with Hermia had it come to that. Clyde was an absolute angel. We'd put him on a towel on the kitchen table and he'd just stand still while we did the injection and then turn round for his treat! If he was asleep we could do it without him even waking up! But we had him and Rusty as puppies and we made sure they were used to being handled every single day - at first I used to top and tail them like babies!

[Plantaholic]

My GD's cat, who lives with us all in our 3 homes was inclined to attack us when we stroked him, you would see his eyes change and his ears would point up, so you had to retreat. A few weeks ago they changed his food, he is a changed cat. I am happy to stroke his tummy when he rolls over now. He divides his time between us but only gets fed in my DD and Sil's utility.

[Daisy]

Plant - that's great. He must be feeling so much calmer on his new food, and I bet he's enjoying his extended family.

It really worries me what goes into commercial pet food.

[Daisy]

It's a while since I've updated our lives with Eva!

During lockdown we weren't allowed to drive to a sensible place where we could walk a dog away from other people and pooches. This meant we had to run the gamut of our own road to get on to the Forest, and then it was terribly busy with people who were defying the restrictions and driving to one of the few car parks which was open. So poor Eva didn't do very well for walks - mainly after it had gone dark and just round the block. Now we can take her to the paddock for an off-lead run, and to quieter parts of the Forest for walks, so things are much better, despite having to go further and further to get away from lots of visitors. Classes are still closed, but Pam has been organising a weekly evening walk in a very remote part of the Forest. At first the dogs needed to be walked in single file - they were very concerned/upset at having other dogs too close. But gradually over the weeks they've relaxed and we've been able to walk side by side, even with some pairs of dogs next to each other.

Last night was lovely. We went a different way because there were two dogs off lead running round, quite a distance away but Eva wasn't the only one watching them with eagle eyes! There's usually about 12 dogs, but last night there were only 8 and we were able to walk in various combinations, just relaxed and chatting and all the dogs were very chilled. This doesn't sound much, but it's more than we ever expected of them. It's not always the same combination of dogs, but Eva has worked in class with most of them at some time or other, and it's been fantastic to see her relaxing with them in the big outside world.

Most weeks we encounter some kind of wild life and last night it was a Shetland pony foal - not much bigger than the Leonburgers and Dobermanns in the group - who decided to follow us. The Shetlands are quite determined animals and he followed for a good few minutes, then eventually went back to his mum. None of the dogs took any notice, which was great.

Unfortunately with the evenings drawing in we won't be able to do this for much longer.

[Plantaholic]

You and your OH have done wonders with Eva, she found a very loving home with you.

[Daisy]

Plant - I feel will will have done the very best for her when I can safely let her off the lead in the Forest knowing that she will come back when we call her, no matter what temptations are distracting her. She still wants to play with every dog she sees when we're out, but they don't always want her attentions and it's resulted in a few minor scuffles, with us scrambling to get her back. She loves to have a really good run round and she can only have that at the paddock or if we take her to Wild and Free.

[Clover]

Your perseverance is really paying off Daisy. That sounds like a very enjoyable walk the other day.

[Gemini]

Lovely to read Eva's progress updates again
She's doing so well. And her mum!

[Daisy]

Thanks, Clover and Gem. We do our best!

[Daisy]

Covid and all the continued lockdowns are still preventing our dog training classes from running and I think Eva misses them. But we're trying to keep life interesting for her and last week we looked after Cooper for three days to help DS2 and DIL during a busy pre-Christmas week. We then went to DS1's for Christmas itself and she had Bailey to play with. Bailey the BC is much calmer than either Eva or Cooper, but the two dogs get on well and enjoy racing to fetch a tennis ball. But DS1 and family also have a cat! She's quite an independent cat and spends a lot of time in the woods behind their house, but when it's chilly she's the first to run for a cosy corner or a warm (human's) bed.

Eva arrived and immediately went tearing round the house trying to scent out Scully the Cat. Scully was way ahead of the dog and had already made herself scarce. Then later on she came in - looking for her tea I think - and suddenly Eva leapt into action, tearing round the house from room to room, skidding on the hard floors, bumping into things. Needless to say Scully had made herself scarce again! I wish I could get her to accept a cat, because I feel mean that she chases Scully out of her own home, especially on a cold day like that!

[Gemini]

Daisy I wonder when training classes can start again? I would have thought them a fairly safe event, but then almost every group activity or class has been disrupted I suppose.

Oh poor Scully!! It's not your fault though, and at least she has the sense to hide.

[Nanto2girls]

Scully made safe getaway.

[Daisy]

Gem - the local Council are refusing to open the village hall we use at the moment. They're not very sympathetic to us at the best of times, and it's dilapidated, under-used and in the middle of nowhere with very little parking. I'm sure they would prefer it not to be there at all! But now I think it falls into Tier 4 so there's not much hope until some restrictions are lifted.

Scully is a sweet little kitty - very pretty and quite tiny, although I think she can stand up for herself in the big wide cat world!