For Archie though things remain very restricted compared to his usual lifestyle but since Tuesday his horizons have broadened just a little bit. Instead of a couple of minutes in the top bit of garden for his morning/lunch and evening 'walk' that he had to have until early in the week, I have carried him over the muddy bit to the track going along the fields beyond our home so that he could have 10 mins pootling around just on his lead and harness on the grassy stretch there. The field at the bottom of the gardens has been another morning adventure.
Then they come to work in the van with me, which they do anyway through the late autumn and winter. I take a change of clothes so I can change in the van and then either shoot off for a walk in the afternoon before it gets dark or, more often, go to my rented field for a few minutes with Nellie to work on something, before then going for a walk etcetc. I thought that Archie would appreciate looking at the school car park from his van crate, and Nellie hates me leaving the house without her. She isn't separation phobic, she just doesn't want to miss any action!! So why not let them carry on coming with me this week?
But instead of our usual routine after I finish work, we went to the heath where it is relatively dry and grassy underfoot to keep Archie's stitches clean and so Nellie's pad wasn't under any pressure either. Just for 10 mins pootling about again.
Yesterday and today we stopped off at Badbury Rings - an ancient hillfort adjacent to the lovely Kingston Lacey avenue of beech trees - on our way home, where not only are there terrific views (different ones from the heath) but it too is dry and grassy underfoot.
Today Archie and I walked about slowly with him on his harness and lead, without bonnet, for almost half an hour stopping a lot for him to 'collect' scents, while Nellie loped energetically about in all directions enjoying the feeling of flexing her muscles in the bright winter sunshine.
The weather has been bright and clear for all our little walks this week - even though it had rained before or after. How lucky!
Like Nellie, Arch doesn't worry about the bonnet. When they have had to wear one they are put in our large crate, because they need to rest anyway. Because they are used to resting in a crate, it is a calm place to be (it has never been a 'punishment', nor a place to 'separate them from me to make them want my attention more and therefore make them more willing to train'. How can people who do this claim their dogs are their best friend??? It's b*******s) and so they just settle to sleep. Same with a big floor cushion. So if in, or on, either they just settle and relax. Because a crate, or cushion, creates this mood in them they don't bash around and get themselves in a state fretting about the bonnet. When they are out of the crate the bonnet can come off usually and they are supervised. Although Archie, who will still go for his stitches any chance he gets unless he's on a walk, keeps his on now, sprawled out on one of the large tuffies on the floor next to my stool, and I am sat on the end of his lead to prevent him suddenly leaping up (say if the door is knocked on) and charging downstairs. Leaping off or on or down or up things is off limits 'til those stitches come out.....
Giving him different views rather than just one - from the crate - for the duration and different sniffs and different grass under his paws helps to keep him happy and relaxed.
I am hopeful this will ensure his stitches will be OK for removal next Wednesday as planned and he can enjoy all the things we want him to be able to over Christmas and the New Year.
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