Loving my Oldies

I don't notice any change in terms of drowsiness or "not quite there" with my dogs when I give them Trazadone, but I understand you wish to find something natural. The problem with those sorts of agents is that they take a long time to have any effect.

@Kazm, just over a year ago, I adopted two Pekingese sisters who were from a puppy farm. They are both totally gorgeous and very very funny. They are not generally nervous except one of them predicts storms hours away and the other is nervous about going to the grooming. I have Trazadone on hand for these sorts of situations. Just a tiny bit of a pill given two hours before the event (eg before you have to go out) and it works for several hours. Of course, you can also go out and get Molly a couple of permanent siblings - LOL.

No wonder the rates of depression are skyrocketing. Many years ago, I attended a lunch hosted by my boss which was attended by several of his friends and business colleagues. Afterwards, he asked me if I had enjoyed myself. I mentioned one of the men (who my boss had been friends with for decades) and I said, 'He would sell his grandmother for a dollar." My boss replied, "50 cents." I realised from working with him and that company ("big end of town") that morals never ever played a part in how business was done. You could hate someone but if they had a deal ..... let's explore it. It is evident in every aspect of life where so many people have no sense of right or wrong. All that matters is them and what they want at any particular time. It is very depressing. You only have to read a little bit of social media to see the ugliness that is part and parcel of humankind.

I’m not sure they are lucky to be in the hands of those owners. Long haired fluffies in Queensland need someone with more than a peanut sized brain.

"A slap on the wrist." Yep that's right. Make the people sit in a locked car for a couple of hours FFS. A slap on the wrist will never be enough for these excuses for human beings.

Wonderful photos, @grumpette. Puppies have the biggest smiles ever

"Police dog Dravec, aged five, died while off-duty on December 26 after serving on NSW Police's Dog Unit for almost six years." Now, maths was never my strong suit, but even so I can still see something is wrong here . . . .

There used to be a condition in some contracts: all care, no responsibility. Today the default condition in regards to just about every aspect of life is: no care and bugger-all if anything goes wrong. What the hell will the world be like in a decade or two? Even worse. Having been bitten quite a few times over the years, I can guarantee that those bites are very very painful.

A few years ago, a GS who could hardly walk his back was so sloped and his elbows were practically on the ground, won BIS (or similar) at Crufts. An other year, a Pekinese who had had soft palate operations and could hardly breathe also won. You ask why. Examine the judges, their contacts with breeders, etc etc. There's an old adage, "Follow the money."

The German Shepherd is a complete tragedy and a shocking indictment of all judges and breeders. In my eyes, the only ones changed for the better are Bull Terrier and Rottweiler. The Dachshund is tragic as well.

And buy you for company during Covid and then dump you when you cry because you are left alone for hours a day.

Such good news that you have pulled your little family through this far. Hopefully the next couple of weeks will see everything slot into place and you can enjoy them. You have done a sterling job and are to be congratulated.

And that is the crux of it. Very sad.

@tdierikxif you believe that you have rocks in your head. I have seen the opposite on more that one occasion and at more vets than one. Not someone telling me third hand .... with my own eyes.

So what you are saying is that because anything can happen leading to tragedy, ho hum, no one needs to bear responsibility? I find your comments quite indefensible.

He DID think. He put the dogs in another person's yard to keep them hidden. He knew he was doing something illegal. He knew he was in the wrong. He should have been given a custodial sentence and refused permission to ever own anotherdog. I'm so angry with these judges and magistrates who give piss-weak sentences for people who have caused shocking harm, including death, and ruined the lives of those still living.

He should be charged at the very least with negligence causing death. He deliberately and knowing broke the law with three dogs he knew were aggressive. I can’t understand how he gets away with a fine.

I've noticed in the past couple of days that she is spending a lot more time downstairs which seems to me to be an avoidance tactic. She is almost always downstairs when I get up in the morning. So I go out on the deck and call her. If I notice she is just pottering around, I don't make a noise, just so she can enjoy herself. Once she realises I am up, she does come upstairs. And she does know her name. A great bonus is that, providing she has access to the outside, she is housetrained. She still runs when I walk towards her which is disappointing (not for me, but I feel for her that she is still scared), but there are definitely small signs of improvement.

I have more dog beds than my cupboards can hold and some are over a decade old. They go in the washing machine on a long cycle and hung on the line. I also have a product from The PetLab called E.N. Zyme Solution Stain & Odour Remover which WORKS . Order on line.

Just one of the girls. Clockwise from top left: Beatrice, Shala, Strawbs, Bunches.

Yes, that’s true. I’m making a point of picking her up more and more. This morning, she took all her meds in little balls of mince from me without backing away. Tomorrow marks 6 weeks . Will definitely take a while.

We have a long way to go. Poor darling was terrified.

Well, two massive breakthroughs today. The first one came when I was getting their breakfasts and, as usual, I gave Strawbs her tablet in a little bit of mince. She usually takes a bit of convincing, but she took it straight away and didn't move as she ate it. I decided to push the boundaries and started giving her scratches around her ears, gradually moved down her body and, throwing caution to the winds, and picked her up. She was terrified of course, but she didn't struggle or try to bite. So thrilling. Second one came just a little while ago. I'd spent ages in the garden and after coming upstairs when into the study and spent a bit on time on the computer. I was desperate for a cup of tea, so eventually turned around to leave the room and there was Strawbs in one of the beds (the others always come into the study with me). How I managed to contain my squeals of delight I don't know, because I didn't want to frighten her. Well, of course, once she knew I'd seen her, she started to shake, but only got out of the bed when I moved and left the room. I was hoping she would stay there so I could get the camera, but she has gone off hiding somewhere. So quite a day in terms of progress. I am over the moon.

That's is what is uppermost in my mind. The pain and terror would be immeasurable.

She is def worth all I can do for her and more . It is heartbreaking though. We are having crazy weather at the moment with hot days and turning really cold at night starting quite early in the evening. Last night, she was shivering so hard, I simply had to put her through the catching process so I could get a coat on her. She didn’t stop shaking for ages while I held her, but she kept turning towards my face and giving me licks. I’m quite sure it was an appeasement gesture which made me so angry at whatever or whoever had caused her to think like that. This afternoon I gave them all some treats. I was holding one out for Strawby and Shala swooped in and took it. Well!! No more backing away after that. She wasn’t going to let that happen again . So most days we see a little inching forward.