Anna the dog

[Stumpy]

Cheers to that Mendy. I get the bull rush by ours as well.

[ootai]

Mendip
Are they running to greet you because they like/love you or are they just keen to go for their morning walk and you just happen to be the facilitator of that walk.
Also be careful what you do as I see the "gardener" watching in the back ground.

[Mendip]

^ It's because they love me of course!

And that's the missus, mate. She will be most upset.

[lom]

She will be most upset.

For every day you'll find a little joy and happiness

[Mendip]

Mendip
Are they running to greet you because they like/love you or are they just keen to go for their morning walk and you just happen to be the facilitator of that walk.

Although I am the walker as well of course.

I have to do it in two shifts now cos six is too many in one go and we keep getting tangled up.

Notice that our new puppy Maya already knows to stand by the gate entrance to make sure she's in the first walkies shift. She's smart... a new pack leader once she grows up maybe?

[strigils]

You have a HIACE for the school run ya posh bugger.

Yep i think there won't be many mess with Maya when she's bigger.

[Mendip]

^ That's the gardener's mate... it's a Ventury.

There's more to him than gardening I can assure you, which is a bloody good job.


But anyway, Yogi cocked his leg and pissed on the wife's left calf yesterday. I'm much too experienced in the marriage game to show open glee at such an occurrence, but it was damn funny. The wife was none too happy but it was completely her fault... she stood still for too long. Had she been helping out and actually moving, rather than standing there and yapping on, it would never have happened.

Cheers Yogi... nice one!

Though be careful what you wish for... I stood still for too long tonight and Maya started chewing my left Puma while I was still wearing it!




But the purpose of this post... Dillinger has stopped replying to messages and I have to assume his offer of a home for these two absolutely beautiful puppies was nothing more than a passing thought. I don't want these to be short term lock down puppies... they deserve a good home.

I have two nibbles for a home... one from a daughter's classmate and one from a wife's friend in Udon... but neither are definite. I think it only fair to say that time may be running out for someone to give these guys a home, so please act quickly. Delivery will be a pleasure after next Thursday to get away from this damn place for a couple of days. These two puppies really are something special and I'm convinced they would be a positive addition to any household.

All previous offers still apply. They are so calm it's unbelievable. I leave food and water for the mum every day and these guys now waddle up to say hello.



Aaawwww....

[Saint Willy]

There's more to him than gardening I can assure you,

im not sure you should be posting that in the forum, but then again we all know!!!!

[strigils]

^^well there's an obvious name for the one on the right. Some cracking markings, got specs around the eyes too.

[Mendip]

Yeah, she's beautiful. Got a similar thumb print on her head as me, poor thing!

Every time I do this I want to take them in... but six is enough for us. Any more and it would mess it up for all of them. The puppies all look gorgeous but they soon grow up and start asserting themselves.

Fingers crossed for these...

[Mendip]

Maya continues to grow at a phenomenal rate and is now on her third collar in a month. She now struggles to fit in her favourite spot under a chair.



This morning she was persistently barking at the door (she's no longer allowed inside the house) so I went to investigate and it seems that Yogi has won over with his training and her conversion from 'house' dog to 'street' dog is well under way.

She was proudly telling us that she'd caught her first mouse.



In case anyone thinks I'm needlessly bumping this tread to remind everyone that there are two beautiful puppies in need of a home, that's not the case.

But while I'm posting this, there are two beautiful puppies still looking for a home. Delivery within reason is possible, I'll cover the first inoculations and the cost of neutering the girl.

They really are a lovely pair... see above for pics.

I can also throw in a load of mangoes and fresh eggs and if you're local you can have the gardener for a day.

Can't say fairer than that!

[lom]

They really are a lovely pair.

They are very cute and I would have taken them if it wasn't that we've already got three (and are also feeding a lovely but shy soi dog outside our gate) while I thought the missus and I had an agreement that two was enough..

[Gallowspole]

PM sent

[Mendip]

^ Thanks Gallowspole... details being sorted as we speak...


Dan has had a turn.

This also happened a year ago but this time it looks really bad. She's lost all interest in eating, drinking, even moving... I fear the worst.

She is fourteen and a half, which ain't a bad age for a puppy taken off the street after being hit by a motorbike back in 2006, but it's upsetting nonetheless.

She just lies there... while our new puppy Maya carries on. It is very sad, but I know it's the way of things. Since losing our first daughter in 2009 I can become overly sad over these things... stuff comes to the surface. I don't know why. But you stay strong for the nipper, of course.



But anyway, after last night's salmon meal...



... the daughter left a bit, and Dan ate a few scraps... her first food for a couple of days.

Today no interest in food again, so I microwaved a small piece of salmon. I stuck a knob of butter on top to keep it moist and tried it on Dan, but with no interest. I tried it myself and to be honest it tasted as good as any other salmon I've ever cooked, and I wonder why bother with a frying pan in the future.



Dan wouldn't touch it, turned her head away. I blended it all and made a salmon and milk smoothie... she needs food in her tummy to take the pain killers. I fired it down her throat with a syringe.



This worked last time, but I can see that this time is different. I said to the daughter to spend some time with her... Dan loves my daughter.



Tonight the other dogs have gathered around Dan. They've never done this before. Dan won't move.

I know it's the way of things and Dan's had a fantastic life... but even so.

[strigils]

Sorry to hear Mendip, i hope she pulls through but sadly its going to happen sooner or later. Fingers crossed.

[armstrong]

I watched my pug breathe his last breath and my daughter still talks about him. It's fucking horrible.

[Loy Toy]

My pug is 14 years old which is a great age for that bread of dog.

Apart from her mobility being slow and her losing a lot of fur she still eats like a trojan and is generally in good health.

I also fear the day she passes. It will be like losing a family member.

I hope Dan recovers and remains a part of your family mate.

[Saint Willy]

Cherish the moments, it sounds like Dan is on his last legs mate. It’s hard. Take care

[CalEden]

It's amazing how attached you can get and the amount of unquestioning love and loyalty these animals give. It's an emotional challenge at the end. Rest in peace Dan.

[katie23]

Dan has had a good life. Thank you for the pics & memories, Dan!

I remember one of our cats (street cat) - it was around 10.5 years when he passed. He also didn't like to eat or drink. On his last night, he made an effort to eat. He stayed outside on the porch as he was an outdoor cat. The next morning, we found that he had passed on to the after catlife.

@mendip - do you trim the nails of Yogi et al? Throughout time (since my childhood), I haven't trimmed my dogs' nails. I've read that if they get enough exercise, the nails are trimmed by themselves. They're soi dogs and stay loose outside the house, but within the walls of my mom's property. I'm at my mom's now for Easter & wondering if I should trim the dogs' nails. Cheers!

[Mendip]

Cherish the moments, it sounds like Dan is on his last legs mate. It’s hard. Take care

Dan's a girl mate.

Many people make that same mistake... I think it must be because she's got a boy's name.

Thanks for the thoughts.

I was up early and there was no change, although Dan did manage to stand up. After our experience last time this happened a year ago (although she wasn't nearly so badly affected) I first squirted some water down her throat, and then gave her an anti-acid tablet. Apparently when a dog is in distress it will pant a lot which can mean a lot of trapped wind, which in turn causes an acid imbalance in the stomach... which stops them eating.

After 20 minutes or so I fired a salmon smoothie down her throat, and then with some food inside her tummy I gave her a pain relief tablet. Then I gave her a wash, carried her around the garden to look at the pond and then back to the kitchen where she lay down again.

We have had Dan basically since we first moved to Thailand in 2006 so she really is part of our lives here. She really hasn't put a paw wrong and has been an absolutely wonderful dog. Last night I sat with her a while and had a couple of Ya Dongs... which didn't help. My daughter tried to console me... which was a bit strange to be honest but was also a wonderful thing. I realise how fast she is growing up

When I returned from the school run this morning I was all set to take Dan to the vet's, which I'm convinced would have been a one way trip for her. We know exactly what the problem is and have the medication... basically a dog isn't designed to live until fourteen and a half... she is very very old. My wife convinced me not to take Dan to the vet's which is I guess a common conflict between the West and the East. I couldn't really go against her wishes. I see no hope but also I guess so long as Dan isn't in bad pain and can lie on the kitchen floor surrounded by her buddies then why not let her fade away... that's the natural way?

It's a difficult one. I can keep her comfortable with water and smoothies but if I see her in real distress then it's off to the vet.

Katie... I have to trim the nails of a couple of our dogs but not the others. They get regular walks along the road which I think keeps the claws worn down, and we have a lot of concrete paths around the house the dogs run along. You have to watch the dew claws which don't make contact with the ground. They can curl up on themselves if not trimmed and cause pain. If the dogs claws are long I would trim them, just make sure you don't cut back to the quick.

[Mendip]

But of course life has to go on...

A huge shout to Gallowspole who is giving what sounds like a wonderful home to the two puppies. I hope they give as much pleasure as Dan has given us.

Tomorrow the daughter and I will bring them back to the house where we can get them used to solid food and people for a few days until they go to their new home. I think they're about 8 to 10 weeks old now... a little young but to leave them any longer risks death or disappearance. I can't jeopardise a good home. It's a shame for the mum, but experience has shown that the mothers very soon lose interest in the pups once weaned and that only means one thing... they have no chance.

In a week or so we now have an excellent excuse for a road trip to Nong Khai to deliver the pups. I've never been there before and the daughter is excited about a few days alone with her old man. Her mum wants to spend Songkran with an offshoot of her family in Phimai for a few days... which neither I or my daughter fancied very much.

Maybe a picture travel thread in the making?

And for the many people disappointed about missing out on these two beautiful puppies... watch this space. I'm sure you will get another chance.

[katie23]

@mendip - thanks for the tip. My mom's dogs are 6.5 years (male) and ~1 year (female). The older dog has never had a nail trim, and his walk is OK. Same with the younger dog. They get enough exercise. They can roam within the walls of the property. In the mornings and evenings (when the street is clear of vehicles), we release them to the street. They run & do their thing. After 10 minutes or so, they'll return to the gate & go home. I then go out to look for poo bombs left by them and clear them up.

Looking forward to pics from your road trip. Cheers.

[Shutree]

I see no hope but also I guess so long as Dan isn't in bad pain and can lie on the kitchen floor surrounded by her buddies then why not let her fade away... that's the natural way?

That is the way the gf's mother passed, on the house floor surrounded by lifelong friends for a couple of weeks, although quite a lot of morphine was involved. It looked better than lying alone in some sterile hospital ward. Others in the village have followed a similar path.

Nonetheless sorry that Dan has to arrive at this point. Sorry for you and the family.

[Mendip]

Thanks Shutree.

It is very strange... I've never seen the dogs act like this before... I don't know if dog packs are known to show empathy? Normally the dogs are scattered around the garden and squabble on when all together.

Of course a cynic may say that they're hanging around for tidbits that Dan refuses... but I like to think they're all pulling together to give her moral support. Maya won't leave her side.



Dan ate two crabsticks for lunch... so you never know... If she refuses any solid food at teatime it'll be salmon, scrambled egg and crabstick smoothie.