buddyboy

China got attacked today by the nasty collie at flyball, first I heard about it was a lot of noise behind me just as I registered a ginger exocet coming across the field at the speed of light. He leapt on the dog and made lots of noise but no biting, got it off China even though he got bitten himself and when I told him to move away he did. He got lots of praise from me. Well done Bo boy and thank you for helping your sister out. I know you are a lover not a fighter and I am extremely proud of you protecting her and then stopping when told.

I managed to grow a second set of top wisdom teeth after having the original 4 out in my teens. The second ones grew out sideways and the crumbled a bit (after many years) so the dentist said they had to come out. Went along for the appointment where someone had been booked to give me sedation and ended up storming out because his attitude was terrible! "Lie back, relax - no RELAX, come on" while looking at his watch because he obviously had far better things to do than that. In the end I pointed out that the reason I had asked for sedation was because I was terrified and surely he should appreciate that - wrote letter of complaint to the practise. I was then referred to the hospital for them to come out under GA and dreaded it but felt it would be better to be asleep than awake - absolutely no problems other than sleepless nights beforehand. Face was only slightly swollen (they had also taken out another tooth which had started to crumble) and although they gave me painkillers I only took one which made me high as a kite and after that if there was a slight twinge I took normal headache ones - but that was only a couple of times. My thighs ache! Went out with a friend last night and we both put "proper" clothes on instead of our normal smart casual - not massive heels and we both managed to walk in them without falling over after months of wellies, walking boots, flats and crocs BUT this morning the muscles in the back of my thighs are reminding me that they exist.

I hope the tooth fairy has been saving for the double donation! Jan here and dogs have calmed down now they have been given the biscuits she brings them

Jazz - can you get hold of an adoption form and fill it out for Albert then send it recorded delivery to the rescue along with a letter stating that the money you have paid out for vet fees is to be considered his adoption fee (and state the dates for each item along with the fact that the vet considers you liable and it would be your financial reputation at stake if the bills had not been paid). From what you say it is bound to be more than they normally ask PLUS mention as he is undergoing tests there is likely to be lifetime medication which you are prepared to pay once he is yours officially. Keep a copy. I did wonder about saying give them 7 days to bring you the money in cash but then they could well turn up with it so best to leave that part out. It's Friday therefore bin day. The lorry has not been but I have taken the bags out so the dogs are on alert ---- not for the collection but because they know Jan will be round soon after it comes.

Sophie - Cassie Cav had acupuncture during a dental, this is pasted from a thread I put on a forum at the time.... it would be worth asking your vet to contact Mikki at Priory Vet in Cardigan 01239 612479 Cassie Cavalier had to go in for a dental last week. She has been with me 2 years and her teeth have been dodgy from the start however she has an extremely enlarged heart and severe murmur (not that you would know it from the way she hooleys around with the others) so up until now the risk of the GA has been more than the risk of the teeth causing problems. At her last checkup for repeat meds the vet said the teeth had really got to the stage where they had to come out and to book Cassie in with one of the other vets who is the speediest at dentals. We went to the surgery where bloods were taken and then went for a long walk round town. When we got back to the surgery the bloods had all come back ok so Cas was given a mild sedative and a minimal dose of metacam. She was in surgery for just over an hour (the teeth were manky but still put up a fight). The vet did not want to give her any more GA or painkillers than was absolutely necessary as the risk of losing her was extremely high so she used acupuncture instead. There was no pain relief other than the original metacam. Normal GA is 2.5 – 3.0% apparently, Cas had only 1.75%. There were 2 needles either side of T3 and T5 – the sites used for pain relief which coincidentally also benefit the heart. There was also a needle in the point just above her dew claw which is used for calming (only one side, there was a drip in the other leg). Cas’s femoral pulse was strong throughout, her vital signs were good and her heart rate remained steady at between 120 (normal resting rate for her) and 135. Within an hour of surgery Cas was bright eyed and demanding food (well – she had forgone breakfast!). She coughed a bit after eating (knowing her she did not bother chewing, just hoovered it up!) so had more acupuncture. She came home 2 hours after surgery as they felt she would be better at home than wondering what was going on there. She had half a metacam tablet on Saturday morning and half on Sunday morning – no signs of discomfort but I thought I had better give them as prescribed to help any inflammation. Saturday afternoon she was charging around the field with her friends, Sunday she was clambering over rocks on the beach. The vet said today she could have murdered the other vet who said the teeth were to come out as the risk was so high, but she is thrilled to have seen just how much of a difference the acupuncture made to a dog with serious heart problems and is definitely going to use it again. She did use acupuncture as pain relief on another dog yesterday – not under GA and it made a small difference but not as major as Cas. She is planning on writing a paper on it. Thought this may be helpful for anyone else who has a dog with heart problems as it is worth asking your vet to find out more if a GA is required.

I do understand how you feel but remember that they will be grieving as well. Going back many years Em would glance out of the office window (it went to nearly floor level) but was too busy doing other things to take time to do it. For a few days after Jake died she would disappear upstairs (the office was the only room up there) and I would find her sitting staring out of the window watching the road.

I hope you are ok Alex, I KNOW Max knows how much you love him and how hard the decision was for you and maybe him finally showing how much pain he was in was to make it easier for you. (and I use the present tense deliberately because he may not be there physically any longer but he is definitely around in spirit). Hold your head up high and if you do have a cry at work and people do not understand then they are the ones to feel sorry for, because they have no compassion.

Thank you Griff I will try that next time - luckily it was just before 8 (because as it gets lighter earlier we go to the beach earlier so in a few weeks time it could be 7!!!) There has just been lots of huffing and puffing and China has wandered in and thrown herself to the floor..... she is red hot so although I did not see it I think we are safe to assume she has been in her favourite position for a day of full sunshine coming through the conservatory window - on top of the hot storage heater!

Please note that if your car has an alarm that sets itself when the doors are locked then you need to zap it to un-alarm it! Poppitt Sands this morning - pressed zapper to unlock car, zilch..... repeated process several times then decided to use the key to unlock the boot. ALARM ALARM ALARM I AM BEING STOLEN!!! No you aren't I used the key! Quickly shut boot, pressing zapper frantically - alarm finally stopped. Tried to unlock on zapper - nothing! This time had to brace myself and unlock boot manually and throw dogs in because 5 dogs bouncing around telling me their car is being stolen was not helping. Alarm finally stopped. Tried zapper - zilch, tried key in driver's door thinking that may be the solution - ALARM ALARM ALARM. Slammed door shut and alarm finally stopped. In the end the zapper decided to give a little clunk and everything was disarmed and unlocked. Methinks maybe it needs a new battery (or I need to find out how to lock the car without the alarm setting itself)

What a handsome boy he was, remember all the good times and smile in memory of them.

Just back from the beach where we got somewhat damp in driving rain..... and Jed and China were soaked because she was chasing him and they went into a rock pool - except it was more a swimming pool and they both went underwater. Got a very strange look from a neighbour's visitor as we got out of the car at home because I had taken their drying off clothes - so explained to him it may look as if I have 5 dogs in hoodies,teeshirts (and in Reg's case a bright green towelling wrap!) but that in the time it took to get home (15 mins) they had gone from soaking to slightly damp and the house would be better off without wet dogs racing around it. They were happy this morning because another friend called round unexpectedly so they got a treat from her instead.

Dogs and their routines!!!! Normally it is a case of get up, give the dogs their breakfast, get dressed, settle down to work while dogs snooze on bed (unless I am on a conference call in which case they sumo wrestle in the hallway behind me) BUT Fridays is binmen day (sorry, council workers of either sex who take away household waste) and then a friend comes round to do some bits round the house for me and she brings them a bonio each. This week she cannot come but will they accept that - NO!!!!! since the binmen (sorry, CWOESWTAHW) have been the dogs have been sitting on my bed looking out of the window whimpering while they wait for her, and Cassie who normally sleeps soundly has been running around yapping each time one of the others moves.

Phebe - I think if it does get to an award type thing it would be good for you to be on there .............. for a long time you and Wispa were "the team" and it is great to know more dogs are learning her skills. Also (trying to be tactful!) Jenny is a very slimline looking lady who does canny cross with Tiga whereas you are more voluptuous so if you were both there it would maybe encourage more non-athletic types to get involved. Also they would be bound to want a piece about you tracking which would be shot outside, so hopefully the Wispa-eating-a-microphone could be kept to a minumum.

When it is torrential rain with a bit of thunder and lightning the best thing a boy can do is take himself off to snuggle down in bed

Such a shame about the pups, hope the remaining ones can pull through. We had torrential rain yesterday and overnight - but it did wash away the snow.... which looked pretty but was actually over ice so not good! 2 new chickens came on Wednesday to keep Chicky company as she has been on her own since just before Christmas. She had plenty of wild bird visitors to steal her food and would rush out when the dogs or I were in the garden but I was worried about her body temperature overnight as the coop is a big one and she had nobody else to snuggle up to (not quite there yet with the new girls) or help heat it. New girl Ninja on the left - when it gets gloomy you cannot see her in the run unless she moves! Chicky with the paler body and dark neck/head. New girl Madge (Edna Everage's bridesmaid, small and timid but with an inner strength) behind Chicky. The new girls are used to dogs but are not quite brave enough to come out into the garden when mine are out - Chicky struts her stuff to show she is actually boss of the dogs.

When the dogs have biscuits outside I have to stand guard because the chicken can make him drop his biscuit for her!

Phebe - forgot to say you are of course welcome to come here with Wispa - the boys would lurve to see her again!

Apologies if I seem to be stalking anyone - mouse has been sticking a bit so I click away and don't notice it has moved from the last post time to the poster, and I keep getting people's details. Timed it right for second day running - just back with dogs and the heavens have opened. A very surreal conversation on Sunday - my neighbour died on Thursday (only 42) and I was talking to her dad. I do not believe in God, he does but it ended up with me helping him rediscover his belief (I think??). Anyway he thanked me for what I had been saying and for reminding him that he should feel happier that she is in a better place and no longer suffering. I will have to shut the dogs in the middle of the house tomorrow so they do not race outside to bark when the hearse turns up - will let them out when it has gone (I am going to the cemetery but not the church service - mainly due to this stupid cough and do not want to interrupt the service)

Should be inside here somewhere apparently! http://www.bt.com/pricing/homepage.htm This looks like it http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Exch_Lines_boo/2-1294_d0e453.htm

Suzeanna - apparently you need to ask for a "lineplant rearrangemet". Not sure what costs would be passed on to you but the rates for timescale work (ie not maintenance) are appx £90 for the visit and £60 per hour after that - but should be straightforward to do. Will keep digging in case I can find out more (been many years since I was involved on that side of things so probably changed vastly since then)

why could the dog flap not break yesterday when it was dry? Why wait until today when it is heavy rain and one side of the U shape needs to be screwed back in - with the screws on the outside??

That has got to be better for you - look forward to the film of it all ............ who will play the lead?

today was the first day this year I have been able to do anything without wilting 10 mins into it so the penicillin, Tesco Chesty Cough Syrup, Steroid inhaler and Lemsip seem to have combined eventually to do their business.... Took the boys and girls over to a friend's place so we could walk round her fields with her dogs - especially the collie because my boys were attacked by one the other day. It came round the corner of the cul de sac off lead, dropped its ball and launched at poor old Jed - who is the one who always get beaten up. He and Bo were on the doubler on my right hand and although the woman was running to get to it the dog kept on attacking and I was feeling so rough I just let go of the boys (because any longer and China and co on my left hand would have joined in poor little Reg was terrified). Very proud of my boys because they chased it off, it was still snapping and trying to get Jed but they just crowded it until the owner was able to grab it (she seemed scared of it). My boys were making lots of noise but no attempt at retaliation -- yet if the tabloids had got hold of it no doubt it would have been a poor little collie intimidated by 2 bull breeds. Of course next day when we were out (due to my illness we have only been on lead walks) the next dog we saw was the other nasty collie which was bouncing round on the other side of the road onlead hurling death threats at them, so luckily today they were able to chase around and have lots of bumping and playing with Deeze (among others). Turns out the collie that attacked has also attacked another dog in the road - her excuse is that it is a rescue dog! Excuse me madame but so are my 5, 3 of them are bull breeds and NONE of them would dream of behaving in that way!

Think maybe they would be better off swapping seats?!?!?