Misty Morning

This month we have had beautiful weather. Friday and Saturday it was 24 and 25 but yesterday was misty in the morning and it is again today. I am hoping it will clear but it doesn't look hopeful at the moment.

Calahonda is very quiet and there were not many people shopping this morning. Ken and I went to Lydl to get some icecream as they didn't have any vanilla on Saturday and they still didn't have any today, in fact the icecream cabinet was nearly empty just as it was on Saturday. Lots of the shelves were half empty which doesn't look good at Christmas.

We are going to the club this evening but don't expect many people to be there as a lot of the usual crowd have gone away. The people who will be there are nice and I will take the dogs so will have a good time whatever.

Three beautiful Bolognese

These three little dogs belong to Liv Sesseng Johansen who is a Norwegian Lady who breeds Bolognese and Coton de Tulear. She spends the winter here in Calahonda and usually brings three dogs with her then returns to Norway for the summer.
  
Her website is www.ginille.com

My Garden

I spent some of my birthday money on two ornaments for my new garden at the back of the house. It is still a work in progress but is coming on well.

Xmas 2012

CPDS group photo Xmas Party 2012

Great time had by all.

CPDS Christmas Party 2012

Millie & Co

This is a photo of my friends dogs which she took with her iphone and uploaded to facebook, technology is a wonderful thing.

The dogs are left to right, Ruby, Millie, Archie and Raz.

Sky likes her tummy tickled

What a little tart, she certainly has got her feet firmly under the table.

Happy on a sunbed

Sky likes relaxing on a sunbed, she is such a cheeky little dog now it is so nice to see her so happy and confident.

I have worked out how to send photos to facebook and to email them. I just need to get the hang of the Photo Stream then will be able to use my ipad  instead of the laptop to do my blog.

Photo taken with my new ipad.

Shula and Sky sleeping together on the sofa. I took this photo with my new ipad and wanted to put it directly on the blog but have not worked out how to do that yet so emailed it to my self and downloaded it to my pictures. I am sure there is an easier way but need to learn exactly how icloud works. My next thing is to try a photo to facebook. I bet is is easy when you know how.

Pippa

Pippa has been in all day today, it is raining and cold and miserable.

Poo Bags

Dog training went well on Sunday. Gary wanted a photo of all the dog owners holding poo bags to show that responsible people carry them at all times when out with their pets. I am glad to say that all the owners were carrying them.

Beach Walk

My doggy club on a beach walk. What fun this would have been for Shula and Sky. We are also going to miss the club birthday party, we do all the training, miss all the fun.

Shula, 'tickle my belly Ken'. Ken falls for it every time especially when we are planning to go away.

We took the dogs to Pat this morning, I was dreading leaving Sky but she was fine. No barking at Michael she was running round, tail in the air, I am sure she will be okay. I am so pleased with her progress. I don't think she will ever trust everyone as Shula does but she didn't panic. I so hope things will go well.

We are so lucky to be able to go away knowing that our dogs are not in kennels, they are in a home with people who care as much as we do.

The gangs all here

This is a photo of Chris and Debbie's dogs. What a well behaved lot they are.

Two of the dog here are descended from the mother of  a dog I had. Border Collies are my favourite breed. Not practical here, anyway I have my look-a-like, Shula who is the best dog ever.

5th. October 2012

 

 

Both dogs have been scratching a bit so I bathed them. I took these photos of them when they were still a bit damp.

 When they were dry I put their anti flea treatment on, it seems to have stopped the scratching. I did check them and found no evidence of fleas but who knows.

I am going to the UK on the 15th. and I usually bath Shula a couple of days before she goes to Pats so they are both all ready. I am not looking forward to leaving them, but something that has to be done. This time it is only for two weeks, not like the last time when circumstances forced me to leave Shula for six weeks.

Sky with Ken

For a little dog that was terrified of people, men especially, Sky has come a long way, she loves Ken.

She still has the odd panicky moment when she encounters new things but at home she is a very happy confident little dog. Today when we were walking in the ravine a man working there stroked Shula and Sky went right up to him, she didn't let him stroke her but it is the first time she has approached a stranger. Ken said it was because she was jealous of Shula getting fussed which could be true, but it was nice to see her relaxed and not in a panic meeting someone new to her.

This cartoon reminded me of Shula.


 

Mollie's new home

Mollie has decided to go into a care home. The decision is entirely hers and one she has been thinking about for awhile. The place she has found sounds very nice, she will have a bedroom, her own on-suite bathroom and a sitting room with doors out to the garden.

 I am sure she has made the right choice, she has looked at a few place and this is the one she likes. She spent a week there before making her decision and was able to check out the accomodation and is happy with it.

She will be able to have her own things with her, most important her own television and her own telephone so will retain her privacy but be able to have company if she wants it.

For the moment she is back at home sorting out her affairs, once she is settled in her new home I will go to Jersey to see her. It will be nice to know where she is and picture her room when we talk on the telephone.

I am praying for a nice summer next year so she can take full advantage of the gardens which she tells me are beautiful.

Tickle my tummy

Sky has really settled in and whatever Shula is doing Sky wants to do it too. Since she has gained confidence she has become a bit more demanding for a fuss. It is really nice to see her so happy, you only have to smile at her and she wags her whole body, it makes you feel good.

We do have to be more careful now as she wants to be everywhere with you and can get through small spaces. We have had to put wire at the bottom of the garden gates because she squeezes through to get into the drive if you are there. I worry that she might go under the main gate looking for me if I am out.

What you doing in there Pippa

Poor old Pippa can't get away from the dogs, whichever empty pot she finds to sleep in they find her.

Rebuilding underway at Les Aristochats

I just returned from delivering some stuff to Les Aristochats and was looking through some old photos of happier times. This is Carmen's three legged goat which along with her two companions survived the fire and is still living happily on the finca. Rebuilding is underway and it is hoped to have some of the work finished before the rains come.

Burnt campo Calahonda

This is the sort of devastation caused by the fires which raged for miles.

Les Aristochats

This is part of the devistation effecting this santuary for old cats. Fortunately only half the place was affected. After all the horror of the fires which affected me, seeing this place which my friend Carmen has for the past I don't know how many years dedicated to saving old unwanted cats makes you want to cry. So many animals have died, even here where their cages were open and they could have fled they chose to stay and died.

I think a few days ago Carmen was all for giving up but there are still some animals that have survived so she has to go on. Now she has to rebuild. The community has been good suplying food and water, now what is needed is material to rebuild., cement, sand, wire and fence poles, tiles for the floor.

Fire

We have had the terrible fires even worse than the last time. Some apartments at the top of Calahonda have been effected and loads of people evacuated.

I did not realised how bad until I went with my friend Carmen to her finca in Atalaya where she has a little animal sanctuary, Les Aristochats, dedicated mainly to old cats without the hope of adoption to live out their life.

We passed quite a few burnt out houses and miles of the country side is devastated.

Carmen's house escaped untouched except for smoke which has made the place dirty. What was burnt was half her animal pens and she has lost a lot of animals.

Work in progress

Went to the club Naranja tonight and took both dogs. Shula was as usual fine, Sky found it a little daunting but was okay, she spent most of the evening sitting on either my lap or Kens. Everyone has noticed how she has improved. Dogs are welcomed as long as they are well behaved and dont cause any fuss or attracted attention. I am hoping Sky will be as acceptable as Shula who has been going to the club for awhile. There is never going to be another Shula, everyone excepts she is well behaved and just isn't noticed.

 Sky just has not got her convidence and I am dealing with two dogs not one, it is a bit of a different ball game. Different dogs, Shula was a little wild dog not used to living in a house. Very timid and frightend by all new experiences but not beaten and abused and we gained her convidence and she is loved by everyone.

Sky, I think was someones pet, well maybe the wrong word, from what I have observed I think maybe she was naughty and wouldn't come so they coaxed her in and then beat her, how sick is that.
 We have a little dog who recognises being told no but is terrified of coming when you are calling her all pleased. We are getting over that and she is beginning to trust, but it will take time.

The other point is that Sky, although is a cross breed she is very different from the cross breed Shula is and all breeds of dogs have tendancies to behaviour. I don't care what the experts say I can see the difference, so what works for Shula doesn't always work for Sky.

Happy Family

I feel a lot more relaxed since we agreed to keep Sky and when I go out am not worried about letting her off the lead. I know this is silly but when she was just a foster dog I felt so responsible to keep her safe, try to make her feel safe.Trying to give her the convidence to trust that would enable her to be adopted.
 Now she is ours we have all the time in the world but suddenly she doesn't need it, she is just an ordanary little dog, just like Shula. She still does not trust other people but she trusts us so sits quietly with me while Shula enjoys the fuss. It would be nice if one day she had the convidence Shula has but no big deal. I remember how timid Shula was when I first got her but they are different dogs and have had very different experiences which no one knows about. One day at a time, at the moment Sky is less than three feet away from me which is usually where she is. Shula is in the next room, alone lying on the sofa, if I call she will come but she is happy where she is, I hope someday Sky will feel as secure.

First walk with Ken

Dont think I need worry about how Sky will take to Ken she was quite happy to go walking with him. 

Happy dogs, tails in the air.

Walking the dogs

Shula & Sky following Ken

Ken is Home

Picked Ken up at the airport this morning and when we got home Shula went mad greeting him. Sky thinking something good was happening just rushed round all excited. Things have calmed down and Sky is a bit wary but fine. The verdict is, she is okay, I can keep her. I don't know if she realises how important this is but she is rushing around all happy. Ken says he thinks I have her on an invisible string because where I am she is a couple of metres away.

Down to serious living, getting Sky used to and accepting Ken is the main priority. When Ken is here he is the one that feeds all our pets so that is one way for her to bond. Hopefully she will come to love him as much as Shula does. Poor little dog, so abused by people she has no trust. I don't know how anyone can do this but when I hear of what some people do to each other I should not be surprised.

My friends arrive

The last ten days have been really good with a vist from my friends Keith and Janet. I have been spoilt as Janet who is the best cook in the world took over the cooking. Keith sorted out problems I was having with the battery charger for the car and just having real friends to talk to who go back a way and understand where I am coming from is something I really needed.

We did a few nice trips out.  We left the dogs in when we could not take them but took them where ever we could. Sky was fine and Shula loved them both as I knew she would. Keith and Janet so understand dogs they understood all the traumas Sky was going through and didn't put any pressure on her, it was just nice to see her respond which gives hope for her future.

Bored

The dogs look as bored with the television as I am. Much as I am pleased we got the olympic games I will be glad when they are over.

Five weeks +

Checking the calendar this morning I realized I have had Sky for just over five weeks. The time has flown by and she has made quite a bit of progress. When she is round the house she is a confident happy little dog. Although when people come she won't go up to them she has given up running off and barking. Most of the time when we are out she is fine but still has the odd panick when we meet up with people. I have not yet let her off the lead but yesterday evening we met a man with his two dogs and walked with them, we have seen him quite a few times before and he thinks I should let her off. I think maybe if we see him again I will.

One of the things I am most pleased with is she is not so inclined to bark at every little sound and will stop as soon as I say no. I am still keeping the water skirter handy. In fact Carmen has just this minute opened her garage door and Sky was up ready to rush out into the garden barking but as soon as I said no she went and laid down again.

Very good day

Well the water skirting idea is working quite well and we have reached the stage where I only have to pick up the water bottle and Sky stops barking. She has also stopped when I have not had the skirter to hand and have just said no. I think now I just have to be consistent. The barking occurs mostly when my neighbour opposite raises her garage door, as soon as Sky hears the noise she is up ready to bark and this is what I want to stop.

All in all it has been a very positive day, first Bryan came round and both dogs came to the gate with me and neither barked. I was really surprised at Sky she wasn't a bit timid, all though she wouldn't go right up to Bryan she was wagging her tail. Next Ian and his brother Mick came and she was fine. Ian thought she had made loads of progress and reminded me how nervous Shula was when I first had her.

Ian, Mick and I went out to a garden center and I bought six climbing plants and some border plants to put round the back of my house. Ian is going to come round early next week to help me put them in. I am hoping that the climbers will fill the gaps in the back hedge so we will see less of our neighbours garden. It would be nice if it would help stop their dogs barking as you can't walk there without the constant yapping of her dogs. That is one good thing, neither of mine bark back. Fortunately most of the year it is only their weekend house, it is just a couple of months in the summer when they are there full time.

PADS

Saturday I went with Carmen to a charity evening in aid of PADS. It was not as good as it could have been as there were only about 30 people attending. In the end this was probably a good thing as the restaurant was having problems in the kitchen and it was hours between the first and second course. One of our party left just before the main course arrived. I did win a prize in the raffle however.

Some of our party were FAMA people and were pleased to hear Sky is progressing well. I did tell Pat that she had found her voice which is very loud and I was trying to discourage this barking at every little sound. Pat said she had overcome the problem with one of her dogs by skirting water and saying no. She said in the end she didn't need the water and no was enough. I have tried it and it is working to a degree, I have to have the water skirter at the ready and be up and out as soon as the barking starts, but as soon as I skirt the water she stops. It is quite hard work but I am going to persist. What I want is for her to be like Shula, only bark when there is good reason and not jump up at every little sound. My friend Carmen thinks the barking is a good thing as it lets people know I have dogs. I don't want to be like my neighbours who have real yappy dogs who bark for hours and really get on your nerves.

Sunday Bryan came round, Sky did bark while I was opening the gate and while he was walking up the drive but once he was in she was quiet. She came in and lay down and although she wouldn't go up to him she didn't bark or display any of her silly behaviour. Progress? I really hope so.

Early morning walk

I went for an early walk down the ravine this morning with Shula and Sky. Sky as usual was on the lead. I haven't plucked up enough courage to let her off yet, mainly because she isn't mine and I don't like to take the risk of her pannicking and running off.

On the way back we met a lady with her GSD that I haven't seen for ages, but I used to walk Shula with them a lot. Shula and Roxy greeted one another fine and I stopped to have a chat. Big mistake, Roxy for some reason took a dislike to Sky and flew at her. Sky screamed and I dragged Roxy off. There was no harm done, except Sky was very frightened, something which I really didn't want as I am tying to make her feel safe and secure with me.I don't know whether it was because Sky was the only one on a lead, or that Roxy just took a dislike to her.Well we will never know the answer to that one. I am glad in a way that Sky was on a lead because if she had run and Roxy had gone after her I dread to think of the outcome. I will be avoiding the ravine early morning from now on.

Back home and Sky has recovered and is quite happy and relaxed.

Your feet smell

Sky has just discovered that Shula has smelly feet and loves sniffing them. I think they must be due for a wash.

You are awake

Sky has managed to wake Shula up but I think Shula thinks it is too hot to play.

Are you asleep?

I think Sky can't resist waking Shula when she wants to play, Shula on the other hand is too lazy to move.

Shula's asleep

Sky July 17th

Sky is such a good little dog and now comes as soon as she is called. I am trying to teach her to sit and stay but am finding it more difficult with two dogs as Shula interfers all the time. Being on my own I don't like to leave one of them in while I train the other as they both get upset.

Where are you Shula

Sky looking for Shula in the garden. The weather is quite hot but they still love running round the garden.

Shula Playing with Sky

Shula and Sky playing, they really are. It looks a bit like Shula dragging Sky round by the ears but Sky seems to like it and when Shula gets fed up Sky keeps on for more.

Ian relaxing after the repair

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When Ian got back he was able to replace the chlorine dispenser with a piece of solid pipe and all is working well.

This is him sitting relaxing on the terrace with a well earned drink and guess who is sitting not too far away. I think maybe we are getting there, slowly slowly.

Disaster Strikes

Why is it that disaster always strikes when Ken is not here and always at the weekend. Yesterday the little pipe on the automatic chlorine dispenser for our pool sheared off. There was no screwing it back on, it was totally kaput. I had water running out of the pipe and the hole where the pipe was attached, which is the little black circle on the right under the dispenser container. I turned off all the gate valves but water was still running out. The gate valves which are getting old are not totally shutting off the water. My solution was to jam pencils in both the holes. One pencil you can see, the other broke off but sealed the leak.

This morning my friend Ian came round and we have decided he will replace the dispenser with a solid bit of pipe. We don't use the dispenser and it is just another weak spot for leaks in the future. It is not a straight forward job with the gate valve not working properly but we have worked out a way to do it.


On a positive note although Sky barked and went silly when Ian first arrived she soon gave up and even followed him round the garden at a distance. He has gone off to get some tools and pipe so we will see how she is when he gets back. I am trying to stop all this barking as Shula rarely barks and never without good reason. Sky on the other hand barks as soon as she hears a noise.

Weigh Day

I weighed the dogs this morning and was surprised that Sky was 6.5 kilos. Shula weighed in at 15 kilos which would please her vet as he thinks that is her ideal weight.  I am really happy with anything under 16.
Anyway they both look fit and healthy which is the main thing.

Went to the park this morning for the dog school walk, not quite sure why, but nobody turned up. We came back home along the nature trail and we were out for an hour and a half so got plenty of exercise.

I'm not coming in.

I don't have to worry about the dogs going in the pool. Shula has never been interested and fortunately Sky isn't either.

Shula's Ball

Shula chasing after Sky to get her ball back.

Doggie Training

Decided to go to Calahonda Park to Gary's training session for small dogs and puppies. It was a bit of an off on decision all day. Whether it would benefit Sky and going out with the little dog and leaving Shula, especially as Ken isn't here. In the past I have never worried about leaving Shula but this time I was a bit concerned about her being jealous. I decided to give her a chewy, which is what I normally do when I go out. When I got back I found she hadn't touched the chew, so she was upset, won't do that again.

It was definitely worth taking Sky to the training, Gary sat on the grass and stroked her, then took her round the park on the lead. Although she had her eyes on me all the time he got her walking normally for a short while. Just before we came home he picked her up and held her and although she was not entirely happy she wasn't shaking. Gary said she was calm and her heart beat was normal, what a break through.

Coming home we walked back round the Avenida. I don't know if it was because Sky was tired, I certainly was but she just ignored the passing traffic and didn't do her usual panic when people walked by.


Calahonda Park is closed next Sunday which is Shula's normal training day but Gary is going to have a road walk so I will take both dogs.

Bathday

I decided to bath Sky today as she was starting to smell very doggie. I think this was a lot due to all the trauma she has gone through, changing homes, walking out on the lead, meeting new people. Anyway she was so good and loved being rubbed with a towel. Half way through I stopped to take these photos, as you can see I was soon forgiven, she is now all dry and brushed and smelling nice.