Monday, June 30, 2008

a dog purr

Poor puppy, we couldn't go on a walk tonight as it is raining, cold and wet.

When Kane is content, he makes a funny breathing sound almost like when a cat purrs.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

w00t - happy Sunday

Today was a great day. Kane went on TWO walks.

This morning, we walked to the shops and met two dogs, a puppy and a Golden Retriever called Louis. It was a shorter trip, only to pick up a few things forgotten during yesterday's shop and we walked back the shorter way home.

I left in the afternoon for a few hours, and returned in time to go on our second walk to another puppy party at Macquarie oval. This time we went to visit Tess first and convinced her person to come along. Tess is an old dog, at ten and a half, and she is a bit chubby. She used to be a working dog as a sheep herder.

Nearly everyone was at the party including Rosie, Jake, Viva, Sam, Jack, Nell and we Kane met a new fawn coloured Labrador called Bonnie, and a little dog called Gypsy. Nell and Viva played really rough. Viva invited Kane to play by lying on her back but he didn't know what she wanted.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

the Saturday walk and new photos

Kane enjoys just lying around.


I love how Kane's front paws join up (not shown here) to form a triangle.


I meant to take Kane to the vet this morning to use the scales, but slept in again. I expect his weight should be around 40 kg by now, but really need to check.

After midday, we walked to the shops, and then around the outside of the complex, then along the green way home, which is always like walking through a forest.





It's a decent length walk, and Kane was a bit tired when we returned home, otherwise we would have gone to Cook oval to catch up with his canine friends.

Tonight I gave Kane raw lamb mince (250g) with a small tin of sardines for dinner.

Friday, June 27, 2008

boring Friday

Poor puppy. I was home again today, but we didn't go anywhere at all. I'll have to make it up tomorrow if I am feeling better.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

super party time

I wasn't at work today, so Kane enjoyed my company all day.

We also managed to go on an early walk to Macquarie oval. We were the first to arrive around 4.30pm and were soon joined by Jack (Jack Russell Terrier), then Rosie (Kelpie puppy) and Sammy (another Jack Russell), then a new puppy called Jupiter (not sure of the breed), then Viva (Labrador), then Bruno (chocolate Labrador), then a new dog called Coco (German Short Haired Pointer), then Sammy and Shayla (Belgian Shepherds), then Jake (Kelpie/Labrador).



It was a wild party. Kane and Bruno engaged in a bit of rough play. As Bruno no longer had his balls, Kane did not feel compelled to exert his top dog status. It didn't stop Bruno from egging Kane on though.

We were out for about an hour. Kane does enjoy his puppy parties.

This evening, Emily came over, whom Kane hasn't seen for a little while, but he was more interested in what I was preparing in the kitchen.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

boring Wednesday

Poor puppy. We only walked around the block this evening as it was too cold to stay out for too long.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

big walk night

I was a little late home from work but it doesn't make any difference as it was already dark at 5.15pm. Kane always nudges me when I return home while wagging his tail. I think is always happy to see me.

We went on a longer walk tonight, by torch light, to Cook shops (without stopping) and through the green way (path). It took about 40 minutes, and Kane slowed towards the end. The cold might be getting to his joints.



I cooked up turkey mince with diced potato and cabbage for Kane's dinner. I think fresh food is better for him.

Monday, June 23, 2008

happy Monday

Kane had me at home all day, as I didn't go to work today. Unfortunately, I spent most of the time on the couch including napping.

I have discovered that Kane doesn't like horror movies with screaming in it. Keiser loved watching horror movies with me as she stayed on my lap - she was such a lap cat. Anyway, during the movie, Kane barked! I had to reassure him that it was only fiction and nobody was really hurt.

We didn't go on a walk until it was dark, and only around the block. It was also really cold. Even though the days will start becoming longer, it won't be any warmer.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Sunday strolling

Today was a very lazy day. I left Kane briefly after midday to have lunch (dim sum/yum cha) with Devi and Fiona, both of whom came back after we had finished. Fiona had not met Kane before.

I had an afternoon nap so Kane didn't go on a walk until the afternoon. We went to visit Jake first, who was really happy to see Kane. Unfortunately, Jake had already gone on a walk earlier so didn't come. We continued on to Macquarie oval, meeting another neighbourhood dog called Delphi along the way.

When we arrived, nobody was there and we were about to leave but then Nell the Cocker Spaniel arrived. She was so happy to see Kane. Not only that, Milco the Beagle puppy (seven months) arrived. Kane loves Milco and spent some time chasing after Milco who was chasing Nell. Given Kane's arthritis I had to restrain him and put him back on a leash. Poor puppy. He wanted to play, but it was for his own good in order not to inflame his old joints.


Kane and Milco

Tonight Kane had a fresh meaty lamb shank for dinner, and a small amount of kibble.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

dogbear

The weekends are returning to normal.

I meant to take Kane on a walk to the vet this morning to use their scales, but had slept in and spent the morning watching the final episodes of season 4.0 of Battlestar Galactica.

We didn't venture on our walk until the early afternoon, which was to the shops. It is always a great walk. After I had finished the grocery shopping, we walked around the outside of the complex where there were lots of interesting smells. We also came across Yoshi and Kumi the Japanese Spitz. It has been awhile since we saw them back in April, and Kumi growled at Kane.

On the way home we met an old dog called Max whom Kane was glad to meet. A Golden Retriever was also walking along with a lady and a pram, but they weren't interested. How rude!

This evening, Kane's family - Margie, Luke, Liz and Bill came over for dinner. Luke and Liz also joined us for a walk around the block. Kane always has a walk before dinner time.

Kane enjoyed having lots of people around, who love him. With his winter coat, Margie described Kane as a dogbear. For a large German Shepherd, Kane is cuddly!

found!

Ha! I just found the missing (dog walking) torch in the couch!

Friday, June 20, 2008

trying again

Kane always wags his tail when I return home from work. He also likes to nudge me with his head.

We walked around another bigger block tonight, with a new torch. It was Kane's idea to walk in another direction. When Kane is off-lead, he likes to pretend he is the boss.

I also made up for last night's missing lamb's heart, going to the market on the way home today.

We still haven't seen Jake yet.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

woe woe oh dear

We only went on a minimal walk around the block this evening as rain was imminent. In fact, there was a light drizzle. We returned home before the rain became too wet.

Not only that, I could not find the torch. I hope I didn't lose it last night. It was a good one - small yet bright as it had 15 LEDs.

As if misplacing the torch wasn't bad enough, for Kane's dinner, I could not find the fresh organic lamb's heart I bought from the market yesterday. I must have left it in the bag and thrown out the bag with the beef bone wrapping this morning. Still, Kane had raw steak for dinner the fourth night in a row.

Today was not a good day.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

finally, a puppy party

I returned home from work early today so Kane and I were able to go for our walk during daylight.

We walked to Cook oval to find Buffy, Gypsy and Pepper were already there, along with a new dog called Digger, a Jack Russell Terrier cross.

Pepper was very friendly with me and Kane. Digger on the other hand, like all Jack Russells was fixated with Kane. Digger tried to exert his dominance as top dog, but Kane wouldn't let him.





It became dark within 30 minutes so we walked home via the green way by torch light.

We were out for 55 minutes, which was a good length outing.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

yawn

Kane was very excited to see me when I returned home from work, as always. I love how he nudges me with his head.

Poor puppy, unfortunately I also fell asleep on the couch so we didn't go on our walk until 8pm, and then it was only just around the block. It was also very cold.

Kane didn't seem to mind. He was off-lead so enjoyed the freedom of smelling and marking his territory at his own pace. I think he has claimed the entire block as his own.

Monday, June 16, 2008

back to normal again

When I returned home late this afternoon, from the extended weekend in Melbourne, Kane was already home so I was overjoyed and gave him a big hug.

We went on a walk to the shops for supplies. As usual, Kane patiently waited outside and watched people, while keeping watch for me.



Kane had fresh raw steak for dinner. He's content.

Friday, June 13, 2008

visiting Jet

Poor puppy. He must have thought it was the weekend as I did not leave at the usual time this morning.

Anyway, we went on a morning minimal work around our block (the small block walk) and called in to visit Jet, the German Shepherd puppy who lives two doors up, on the way. Jet was very excited to see Kane and wanted Kane to chase him and play. Thankfully Therese was home. Dee is visiting at the moment, from her military deployment overseas. Felix the kitten was a bit wary of Kane, even though Kane totally ignored him.

Kane was naughty depositing 'nuggets' in Jet's backyard.

We walked off lead around the block. I have left him at home with a big bone and Margie will collect him this afternoon.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

the big block walk

Kane still hasn't caught up with his friends Jake or Jet, who live nearby. He did say hello to Dusty this evening though when we set out on our walk and Dusty was just finishing his.

I was going to walk towards Cook oval, but Kane had other plans. Instead we walked around the two main roads in our suburb. It was a good 30 minute walk.



Poor puppy. I have to leave him again tomorrow for another weekend away. As much as I love going away for the football, I also can't wait for things to return to normal next Monday when I return.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

routine returns

I managed to shop at the markets on the way home for Kane's fresh food, which include chicken wings and beef bones. Unfortunately, the pork butcher was out of pig ears - which I slow roast overnight.

It is now totally dark when I leave the office to go home, so weekday puppy parties won't resume until the days become longer from late June.

We didn't go on a big walk this evening, just around two blocks. Firstly we called on Klaudia (where Kettles the cat lives) to give her a bag of cumquats, which she will turn into marmalade. Then we continued on and stopped by Jake's house. His people were having dinner, so we didn't say hello to Jake.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

boring...

Poor puppy. I felt bad leaving him to go to work this morning.

Even worse, I was late home as I went to the city straight after work to meet Jon for dinner. He is in town from Brisbane until tomorrow, on a research project and organising an international conference on statistical physics.

Even though I was home by 8.30pm, in time for Kane's dinner, it has been raining so it is wet, dark and cold outside, which is not appealing for a walk.

Poor puppy. I'll have to make it up to him tomorrow.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Kane's team

When I was in Brisbane I asked Josh Drummond, who is Kane's favourite football player, to sign his membership certificate. Josh was also Keiser's favourite.



He is the best kick-in in the league and kicks the ball to pin-point accuracy.



I returned home before midday today and Kane returned not long afterwards from his holiday with Margie and the family, along with Lola (the Golden Retriever puppy) and the cat . After 12 days, Kane was a little confused at first at the door step, but he has settled back in comfortably.

Before twilight, we walked to Cook oval. Along the way, Kane was visibly excited smelling all his usual spots and reclaiming his territory. At the oval, Kane met his doggy friends Desker and Tully (Shelties), Molly (black Labrador) and Kel (blond Labrador) and a new Golden Retriever. We didn't stay long and continued to the other shops walking the long way round along the green way, where I briefly shopped for essentials, before we went home.