Today's Pinup

"I'm on the bus!"

   Lucky is a thoroughly nonplussed city dweller.  Nothing fazes him, with the exception of motorbike engines, and who likes those?
   He loves busy Edinburgh streets.  He tries to say hello to one and all, and even the busiest mobile phone tapper or very-important-person-in a-rush usually offers a quick smile.
   I love how he automatically believes that every dog and person is a potential friend, and nowhere is this more true than on a bus, at 10AM or so.  That's the time of morning when Edinburgh busses are usually full of pensioners of varying temperaments.  Lucky sees the bus as a moving fun house, and while I know that not everyone is thrilled to see a nearly 9 stone, friendly dog come their way, Lucky is still unable or unwilling to distinguish between potential friend and foe.
   So the other day, he tried to board one of these lovely, sociable coaches.  The problem was, it wasn't our bus.  It was a bus with an open door, one which we happened to be passing, and Lucky took the opportunity to jump on.  When I explained that we weren't actually boarding this coach, he was visibly disappointed, to the amusement of the driver and passengers.  What a boy.

On The Mend

   This week marks a return to a somewhat normal routine for us after Lucky's ear surgery.
   It's been a long two weeks.  Keeping a nine stone (125 pound), 19 month old dog quiet has been tough.  He's used to an active life, with hills to climb, parks to explore, and Citidogs, where he hangs out with his chums.  Laying around all day just isn't his style.
   The ear is looking good.  We've had two off-lead walks this weekend, and today, he's coming back to work with me to once again enjoy his Monday routine.  I have people who book to see me on a Monday just so they can spend time with Lucky, and they've been disappointed for 2 weeks.
   Friday, he'll be back at Citidogs.
   We're real creatures of habit, the three of us.  We like home, predictability, and routine.  It'll be so good to get those things back.

    

In Memoriam

Sharkey

January 2014-February 2014

R.I.P.

Dogs And Owners

Sometimes, they have the same idea about what constitutes a busy Saturday.

Hat's On

Oh dear.

I'm happy to discover that these protective cones are now made out of soft, padded fabric, and come in a range of jaunty colours.

It doesn't necessarily mean that Lucky is enjoying wearing it.

The Rhodesian Patient

   Lucky has been feeling the effects of his surgery, and has needed a degree of comforting.  We don't ordinarily believe in this, as it can actually increase anxiety, but when a bandage is involved, all rules are void.

   Soft-chew toys are for special occasions only, but this was one of those.  'Sharkey' was given to Lucky by good friends of ours.  He loves Sharkey!

   Tomorrow, we have a follow up appointment at the Vet.  Hopefully, he can have a smaller bandage.

 

Poor Boy

   We're having an eventful time of it this week.
   I've spoken before about the cuts on Lucky's ears.  One healed beautifully, but the other was stubborn, and getting progressively bigger and deeper.  I'd lost confidence that it could heal on it's own; his vet and I decided that Lucky needed a small operation to close the wound.
   Going to his appointment on the bus, he was an angel, as always.

   It's always hard to leave a pet at the vets, and this was no exception.
   When Scot collected him at the end of the day, there was a commotion.  Lucky was so excited when he saw him, he shook his head vigorously, and banged his ear several times.  By the time he got home, the plaster was off, and his ear was bleeding.  Scot took him straight back.
   Upon examination, it appeared to be undamaged.  But later on, once we were all home together, it started to bleed again, so we took him off to the emergency vet.  We were worried that the stitches had come undone.  But that wasn't the case, thankfully.  His ear was dressed, and we went home.
   Now, the next day, he's subdued.  I'm glad about that, because I'm trying to keep him as still as possible.  The vet last night told us that it'll heal in a couple of days.  Luckily, I'm off this week, and available to stay with him all day.