Sunday, August 31, 2008

sometimes, Sunday is a day of rest

It rained all day today, so we didn't walk anywhere. It has been a good day to spend indoors.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

it's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll

We went on our walk before midday, and being Saturday, it was to the shops. This time, we walked a long way to the shops, firstly through some alleys and then to the other end of the green way.

On our way, we met an Alaskan Marmaluke puppy who was six weeks old. Then the mother called Sable. They were both very shy dogs. Sable was a rescue dog and her people thought she had been mistreated. They liked how Kane was very calm and friendly.

After shopping, I bought a sausage roll with tomato sauce (ketchup). I sat on a seat and ate half, and gave Kane the other half. We might make this a regular thing.

Afterward, we walked home the short way,as I had bought fresh meat and it was a warmer day than usual (spring is in the air).

Later this afternoon, we walked to Macquarie oval. Jack the Jack Russell Terrier was there. We said hello, but didn't stay and walked home along the road.

Friday, August 29, 2008

like it's Sunday

I was home again today and thought about walking with Kane to the markets, but it didn't happen.

We didn't set off on our walk until later in the afternoon. We walked all the way to Aranda oval, hoping to join one of the renown puppy parties there. When we arrived, there was nobody there, aside from people playing with balls. Kane did get a pat from a kid though. The kid told us, the parties were mainly on Thursdays.

On the way back, we stopped by the shops. By the time we returned home, it was dark. It was a nice long outing of about 90 minutes.

Kane also walked at a decent pace, like a horse's canter. He would have made a great show dog.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

walking through the night forest

Tonight we went to visit Jake to say hello. Jake was terribly excited to see Kane. Both of them were at risk of over-wagging.

It was only a brief visit and after we left, we followed the lane way trail to the green way. The good thing about walking that way is that Kane can go without a lead and sniff the gossip to his heart's content.

The green way in the dark was also like walking through a night forest.

It was a good 30 minute walk, even more interesting than the usual big block walk.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

back to basics

I was home today, much to Kane's delight. He always seems to enjoy spending time with me, even if it is doing nothing.

Late this afternoon, we walked to Macquarie oval but nobody was there. We must have been too early. Anyway, we walked back up the street.

It was one of the first routes that we used to walk, and Kane remembered it well.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tue do

Poor puppy, we only walked around the little block tonight. We had a visitor over for dinner, so only managed a little pre-dinner walk.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Monday Monday...

A song from the Mamas and the Papas
Monday Monday, can't trust that day
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday mornin you gave me no warnin of what was to be
Oh Monday Monday, how could you leave and not take me
Kane may relate to this. We go on longer daytime walks for two days, and then on Monday morning, I leave him.

We went on a pre-dinner time walk tonight, but it was only around the block and only takes ten minutes or so.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

going further

Today was mostly a lazy day. I had thought about giving Kane a bath, but he doesn't really need one yet. Kane was content to rest until I called him up for a walk at 4pm. He does get excited when I put on my shoes.

Anyway, not only did we walk to the shops, we went past (firstly meeting another dog there) and continued walking into the next suburb to Aranda oval.

After 30 minutes, we arrived at Aranda oval, where I had hoped there would be a big puppy party. There wasn't, but we met Fergus, a black furred Poodle puppy (14 weeks old) who was very cuddly. We continued walking and met a brown dog without a person, then spotted another oval (two in one place) and we met a blond Labrador called Movee (or Movie) who was four years old and had just moved from South Korea. His people must have been on posting in Seoul and adopted a Korean dog. Movee didn't bark so we were not able to hear if he barked with a Korean accent.

Anyway, we walked back via the shops, where I had to get coffee. Then we continued back along the green way, finally finishing that leg from yesterday.

It was a big walk. Accounting for the time I spent in the supermarket, we must have spent over an hour just walking. Kane just loves his walks, especially being able to go check out the neighbourhood gossip.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

the long and short of the shop walk

This morning was very lazy. I didn't really get up until 9am. Maybe it was closer to 10am. Anyway, the door chime rang and it was Mary walking with Momo. They came in and I gave Mary a coffee and Momo was content to sniff and look at Kane. He's still a silly puppy.

After Mary left, we went on our walk, by which time it was early afternoon. It was the usual walk to the shops, but we took a longer route to get there. After 20 minutes grocery shopping, Kane and I walked around the outside of the shops and then a different route to the green way.

Half way up the green way I spotted another dog on the loose. It was a medium sized dog with a pit bull looking face, so we walked the other way. I don't like coming across dogs without their person. There is no way of telling whether they will be aggressive.

When we returned home, I realised I had forgotten a few things. After an hour and a half rest, we returned on a shorter walk to the shops (in blue). On the way home, the dog on the loose was on the street we were about to walk along, so again, we had to take a detour.

Long walk in red, short walk in blue


In any case, I still forgot something. Ground coffee. I'll have to do with instant tomorrow morning.

Photos from the long shop walk


This evening, we had company for dinner.

Friday, August 22, 2008

feels like Tuesday again

Just like Tuesday, I fell asleep on the couch after I returned home from work. Actually, it was from about 7pm for an hour, so I did get to watch the news on tv. Just like Tuesday, we didn't end up walking anywhere tonight. There is also a very cold chill in the air.

We should make it up for it tomorrow.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

big block walk with a twist

We went on a big block walk earlier today, as soon as I had returned home from work while it was still light, as I had left work a little earlier today.

When we walk out of the driveway, Kane usually turns left, so we kept going. Not only was that direction the opposite of our usual route, but it was also on the other side of the road (the 'outside lane' so longer in distance).

As we normally don't walk along that path, Kane enjoyed smelling nearly every house block's letterbox post or shrub under it. He's a gossip hound!

Nearly forgot - on the way back we saw Jake, so cut across the alley to his street to say hello. Jake was being a silly pooch and running around in circles. They had walked to Cook shops.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

finally, a decent walk

After a few days of taking it easy, we finally went on a decent walk tonight. It was also right after dinner. We had a visitor over (for dinner) who came along on our big block walk for around 30 minutes.

After dinner walks are quite satisfying.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

This Tuesday was very dull

I fell asleep on the couch after I returned home from work. We didn't end up walking anywhere tonight. One non-walk day a week isn't a bad idea.

Kane did have raw diced beef heart for dinner, which he always likes.

We are envious of Melbourne folk who are able to go to Mad Dog Monday at The Flying Duck Hotel in Prahran.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Mondays are indeed boring

We did go on a planned walk tonight, but it was only around the block. I think we might take it a bit easier this week.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

sleepy Sunday

After yesterday's big adventure, today was a very sleepy day. Kane spent much of the day indoors napping, just like me.

We went for a walk to Macquarie oval later in the afternoon, saying hello to the three Labradors there (chocolate, blond and black) before they left. Nell the Cocker Spaniel arrived, followed by Sammy and Shayla the Belgian Shepherds and a new blond Labrador called Andy. We also met a new pup, three-month old Jimmy, a Border Collie.

Kane enjoyed meeting the new dogs.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Super duper Kane Day - another big adventure

This morning after Sue D and I finished visiting the Farmers' market, we went on a big walk with Kane. Sue was the one who had suggested the walk.

At 9am, we set off on a long walk to Mount Painter. Unlike the last time back on 13 April, we walked right up to the summit of the mountain. We also took a few short cuts through the suburb's alley ways. Although the distance wasn't as great as the previous big adventure, we climbed higher. The walk, at a more gentle pace, took one hour and 50 minutes.



I still needed to go grocery shopping, so after a rest of an hour and a half, we walked to the shops (the usual Saturday walk), around the outside of the shops and along the green way home.

It's been a super duper Kane Day. He even had the same thing as I did for dinner, which was sirloin steak, although he may have had a bigger piece, uncooked of course.

Friday, August 15, 2008

not the big block walk, but nearly as good

As soon as I returned home from work, we went on a walk. Instead of the big block walk, we went towards Cook shops and back a different way. It took the same time (30 minutes) and Kane enjoyed catching up on the canine news from a different part of the neighbourhood.

It was good that we went on the walk earlier, as I fell asleep on the couch afterwards!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

big block walk

After yesterday's light walk, we went on the big block walk tonight. It was also as soon as I had returned home from work. In fact, I saw Jake with his person Sue on my way home and said we'd join them. By the time I had changed clothes and we had walked partly around the big block, it was already dark, so we didn't join them at the oval.

Anyway, Emily came over tonight and gave Kane lots of cuddles. She even sings songs to him like I do.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Wednesday

Tonight we only walked around the block. Not only that, but it wasn't until much later and after dinner time.

It has been so cold.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

w00t - a big walk

Kane and I went on a long walk tonight. I made an effort not to get comfortable on the couch when I returned home from work.

We walked to the shops (where I spent five minutes at Aldi before they closed - they are the only store that stocks Haribo gummi bears), then Kane and I walked around the outside and we found a really nice Hungarian Vizsla dog (whose name I forget). He was eight years old and had nice fur. Kane was pleased to meet him. Then his person came out and we had a chat. There is another oval that has puppy parties. We'll have to check that one out too.

We continued home along the greenway. It was a nice long work for during the week and took an hour.

Kane had raw beef mince and beef liver for dinner. All protein for a change. He still gobbles up his food too quickly, like he hasn't eaten for weeks!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Mondays are getting boring

Poor puppy, I fell asleep on the couch after returning home from work so we didn't go on our planned big block walk.

I only woke up just before Kane's dinner time. We went on an after dinner walk but it was only around the block. It was also really really cold.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

sleepy Sunday

Poor puppy, today was a really cold day and it rained intermittently. We should have gone for a walk in the morning but I was being very slow.

I left at midday to go out to lunch and left him inside. When I returned with Devi, Kane was just inside the front door, obviously waiting.

Anyway, it was raining and after Devi left, I fell asleep on the couch. Thankfully, Kane woke me later in the afternoon - not with a bark, but with his nose in my face.

We went for a walk to Macquarie oval, hoping to catch a puppy party. The only dog there was Nell and Kane didn't want to play with her. So we continued on down the road on our usual big block walk.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Super Kane Day Saturday

Today was a Kane day. A super Kane Day Saturday with a lot of walking.

This morning we walked to the vet to use their scales. Kane weighed in at 40.6 kg. He is now very close to his ideal weight. Woohoo!

On the way to the vet, on the path parallel to Coulter Drive


40.6 kg.


After the visit to the vet, we continued on to the shops (Jamison Plaza). Normally, we would have gone home for a rest and made it another walk, but we had other plans in the afternoon.

There is a residential complex across the street from those shops and a few weeks ago, we discovered external water taps on a wall. So we had a minute's rest and a drink for Kane - I had to cup water in my hands and he drank from that. He refused to slurp from the tap itself!

After grocery shopping, we walked home the long way round. We were out for just over two hours.



We had a brief rest at home before setting out again to visit Melba the Border Collie, where I watched the football telecast with her person Adam. We didn't stay for the whole game and came home to watch the final quarter.



After such a tiring but exciting day, I fell asleep on the couch, but not for too long.

Kane had raw beef mince for dinner. I also tricked him into eating raw vegetables - green beans and diced carrots, which I only covered in boiling water to make them warm. He also ate a bit of brown rice mixed into it. All the vegetables seem to be good for him, even if most of the fibre passes through him undigested.

Friday, August 8, 2008

better than the big block walk

I managed to get away a bit earlier from work today (only about 15 minutes) so there was enough day light to join the puppy party at Macquarie oval.

Rosie the Kelpie, Rosie the three legged dog, Jake and Jack were there. We didn't stay long though as Jake was leaving. Not only that, the mean black dog called Saxon who is not desexed tried to dominate Kane and Saxon is not only not very nice, but also heavy. So we left and walked back with Jake.

From there, we followed a few lane ways to the green way. On the way back, we detoured through another alley, and then back through a reverse of our little block walk. I like the detours now and again to make our walks interesting.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

happy Thursday

Tonight we went on the big block walk again. Near Macquarie shops, which is a little one, we saw and then met up with Nell the Cocker Spaniel. She was so excited to see Kane.

We are going to try and walk at least 30 minutes every night, and more on the weekends.

Actually, it will be training and preparation for another big adventure.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

mid-week

Tonight we went on a big block walk. Oddly, this walk always takes 30 minutes. One of these days we should detour.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

ah MacKane, he's done it again

Poor puppy, it has been raining today so we didn't go on a walk. Kane didn't seem too fussed. As long as I am with him, he is quite content.

Last week, I bought a new mat for Kane. It has a tartan pattern, so when Kane is lying on it, he becomes MacKane.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Monday

Tonight we only walked around the block. I had intended the big block walk, but the sky was threatening to rain.

As it turned out, the heavy rain didn't eventuate. Nevermind. We will have to go tomorrow.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Kane Day Sunday

Today was another Kane Day. In the early afternoon, we went to visit Jet (the German Shepherd puppy who lives two doors down) at his house. Jet wanted to play with Kane, but Kane ignored him. Kane likes to visit Jet, just to see how he is doing.

After the visit, we walked through a few alley ways to the green way and then along the Green Way (like a walk in the forest) to the next suburb and then along Lyttleton Crescent to Cook shops and then home.

We made a quick stop at Cook shops as they were selling six-packs of Budweiser for $13. It was a good one hour walk.



Later in the afternoon, we walked to Jake's place. His people were cleaning a car, so we took Jake with us on our walk to the Macquarie oval. When we arrived, at 4pm, there was nobody there. After wandering around a bit, we went home, returning Jake to his house. What a shame there wasn't a puppy party.

Still, Kane caught up with two of his best canine friends.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

sleepy Saturday

Poor puppy, we only had an ordinary Saturday today.

It was a cold day and we only managed one outing, which was to the shops in the early afternoon. The walk to the shops is always a great walk as Kane smells a lot along the way and we meander home the long way round. We met an old black dog called Buddy around the other side of the shopping complex.

After the walk, I fell asleep and then we had a visitor who left just as it got dark.

There is always tomorrow.

Friday, August 1, 2008

boring Friday

Poor puppy, it was cold, windy and had just started to rain when I returned home from work, so we couldn't go for a walk.

Not only that, I fell asleep on the couch until about 8pm, just in time for Kane's dinner. We will have to go on some exciting walks tomorrow if it is not raining.