My Animals and Other Family

05/12/2024

Strudel may be 2.5kg, elderly and toothless but it has become apparent recently that he actually runs things around here. Now don’t get me wrong, generally he is the sweetest, waggiest little dog, but as he gets older he is becoming increasingly cranky and less tolerant of the things he doesn’t like (and there is quite a list). I can totally respect that as I am pretty much the same 🤔

Some of Strudel’s rules, in no particular order:

• He will not have his eyes cleaned. I have to stealth-clean them by pretending to stroke him or dry him and give his eyes a sly wipe as I go. He is rarely fooled 😎
• He has to have phenobarbital drops twice daily for his epilepsy. He will only take these if they are mixed with a spoonful of mashed potato 😆
• His breakfast also has to have a spoonful of mashed potato added or it will be rejected. Chopped chicken will sometimes be accepted as a substitute.
• He will only tolerate one particular harness which is soft and fleecy and doesn’t have to be dragged over his head.
• He will absolutely not wear any kind of coat except the very soft, stretchy knitted coat that I made in desperation when all the shop-bought ones were rejected
• He is supposed to have regular blood tests to monitor his epilepsy medication levels. After two traumatic failed attempts to take his blood, even when he was pre-dosed with gabapentin and then sedated, the vet decided that the stress to him (and I suspect to her and me) probably outweighs any clinical benefits, so no more blood tests 🫤
• He will tolerate his monthly librela injection, but only if the vet crawls around on the floor to give it to him on the ground. Any attempt to inject him up on the table results in him screaming like a banshee and frightening the people in the waiting room. This is before he’s even been touched. 😂
• On walks sniffing time must be respected, any attempt to usher him on before he’s good and ready will be firmly resisted
• Once he’s decided he’s walked enough (which may be after an hour or may be after 10 minutes) he likes to go in the buggy. Once he’s snuggled and comfy then he will absolutely not allow me to take him out again for any reason until we are home – and then I have to distract him with a treat and whip him out quick 😮
• All beds must contain a nice fluffy blanket so he can bury himself completely. Lack of blanket means he will stand and stare fixedly at me until I sort it out 😵‍💫

Lucky for the tiny dictator that I absolutely adore him 😁❤

24/11/2024

12/11/2024

Chip panicking because I'm cleaning and moving beds around 😆

05/11/2024

Thank goodness for Strudel the Magnificent, who should now be renamed Strudel the Brave. He undoubtedly saved us all from the evil flashbangs which went off VERY loudly right behind our house earlier 😡

He told them in no uncertain terms what he would do if they threatened his family and..... they stopped. Apparently it worked and he is now enormously pleased with himself, though he's keeping a wary eye out in case they come back and he has to chase them off again 😆

He also protects us from other deadly threats such as window cleaners and postmen. It seems our very survival is entirely dependent on a 2.5kg ancient, toothless dog - heaven help us 😅

Joking apart, I am very lucky that my current dogs are normally unbothered by fireworks but I've had dogs in the past who were unconsolably terrified and I know only too well what a miserable time of year this is for many animals and their people, I really feel for all those going through it at the moment 😢

01/11/2024

A fun outing with the Terrible Teenies and David with his camera to the Field of Fun and Freedom this morning 😁❤

11/10/2024

Strudel is such a dinky little thing, I worry about him getting cold in winter but he absolutely HATES wearing a coat and is totally convinced that his legs have seized up and he can no longer walk as soon as I put one on him 😂

He won't tolerate any kind of garment that has to be pulled tight over his head, or where his legs have to go into leg holes, or where there is the slightest restriction across the front of his chest or a tight strap around his middle - I have a drawer full of rejected coats, jumpers and raincoats 😆

In desperation I was forced to actually attempt to knit something myself to his very exacting specifications. I am about the least crafty person you will ever meet, but needs must and I am actually quite proud of the result - and best of all Strudel doesn't seem to mind wearing it! 😁😁😁

11/10/2024

It's been a very quiet on this page over the summer as we had a foster dog in residence and the rescue prefers fosterers not to post pictures or information about foster dogs on personal pages, so it was little difficult to update on my own dogs without including him 😅 Despite everybody's predictions I didn't keep him, tempting as it was 😎

However now he is well and truly settled in his new home I hope I can bend the rules a little and post a picture of him with my three (the foster is the fluffy beige boy). Good luck little one, I am sure you will have a lovely life with your new mum and dad ❤❤