raincoat functioning as intended

Poor puppy, I returned to work today.

As walked home from work, there were light rain droplets. Anyway, after I returned home, it was about 20 minutes before we went on our walk, mainly as I was in two minds about whether to go due to impending rain.

So we went and walked the triple small block, with Kane wearing his raincoat and me carrying an umbrella. About half way during our walk, the rain started, but it was okay. The coat kept Kane dry except for his head and tail, which were slightly damp. Thankfully, Kane didn't end up smelling like a wet dog.

Monday

Puppy had the pleasure of my company today as I wasn't at work due to feeling unwell.

In the afternoon we went on our walk, initially along the double small block but then I surprised Kane by turning right and we went to Macquarie oval. There was a little party on with Genie, Pepper and two strange dogs. We didn't stay long and walked around Lachlan Street and then home. It was a good 33 minute outing. Almost the equivalent of a big block walk.

Sunday rest day

Poor puppy. We didn't go anywhere today and spent all day indoors with the heater on. I meant to do lots today, but was just too tired.

Canine Day

Today was a very exciting day. This morning, Glenn from next door came over to visit and to introduce us to Poppy an eight week old Kelpie who was only adopted yesterday. Kane was very happy to meet Poppy. We hope Poppy visits from time to time.

In the early afternoon, we went on our walk to the shops. It was the usual short way there. Before I left Kane, we met a brown dog who was very friendly. After shopping we walked around the outside of the shops and met Fritz the miniature Schnauzer again. He was being walked unleashed in a busy public area, which I cannot do with Kane as some people are afraid of big dogs. Afterwards, we walked home via the woods.

Later in the afternoon, two blond Labradors called Wallace and Clancy came to visit to see if we could mind them from next weekend. They were big and overweight. They checked out the yard and also met Poppy who ran over from next door (the fence was gone, to be replaced tomorrow). Afterwards, I tried to walk three dogs, but the two Labradors were wide and not easy to walk. We might decline minding them.

This evening, Kim came over for dinner of T-bone steak, mash and broccolini. We also watched the film Newcastle.

Strangely, with all our visitors coming to the door, Kane did not bark at any of them.

finally a puppy party

The winter solstice was on 21 June, so the days will now start becoming longer.

It was towards the end of twilight when I returned home from work and we went on our walk immediately. This time we walked to Cook oval, but it soon became dark. There was a puppy party on with Kel the blond Labrador, Molly the black Labrador, Tully and Desker the Shelties and Digger the very small Jack Russell x Fox Terrier. Digger was obsessed with Kane and wasn't aware that Kane is so much bigger. He kept on reaching up, which appeared to be dominant behaviour. Kane didn't mind the attention though.

After about 10 minutes, we continued home. The outing was a good 30 minutes.

Thursday walk

Today's walk returned to normal after the irregular Monday and Wednesday ones. We walked around the triple small block just like Tuesday. Again, it took around 30 minutes.

Wednesday variation

I returned home from work with a visitor (CQ) so we didn't go on a walk right away. CQ came over for dinner (bangers and mash with peas) and a scary movie (the original Japanese version of Pulse).

After dinner, Kane and I walked CQ to the bus stop around the corner, waited until the bus came, and then we continued around the small block in the reverse direction. It was nearly a rest day.

Tuesday walk

After I returned home from work, we went on our walk almost right away. Even though it was just after 5.30pm, it seemed like the middle of the night as it was already dark and the mist/fog had set in.

We went on the triple small block walk walking at a slower pace until half way when Kane picked up a good pace. It took nearly 30 minutes, just a few minutes longer than normal.

rice run-out ruins routine

Poor puppy, we didn't go on a walk as soon as I returned home from work as I had to make more batches of his dinners. Despite walking to the shops twice during the weekend, I had forgotten brown rice so could not cook up any last night.

Anyway, Kane's regular diet of brown rice, cabbage, carrot and kangaroo mince takes time to cook and then cool down. Cabbage and carrot in particular need to be cooked well otherwise it is almost indigestible and causes farting. Amazingly, Kane does not fart from this diet, but farts if he eats commercial tinned dog food.

We nearly had a rest day, but sometime after dinner we went on the small block walk, which took only 10 minutes. It was cold, dark and foggy. Kane looked very smart in his canine coat like a detective about to solve a crime.

shop walk non-stop

It rained for most of the day so we couldn't go anywhere. The rain finally stopped later in the afternoon.

We walked to the shops the short way, with a pit stop at the video store for a couple of seconds then walked home on a short detour before the green way. We didn't walk around the outside of the shops this time.

It was practically a non-stop walk so it was a big walk and took 20 minutes on the way to the shops and then 25 minutes to home. By the end, Kane was tired and quite slow. Usually when we walk to the shops on Saturdays, Kane has a little rest of between 15 and 30 minutes while I shop.

shop walk greets

We went on our weekly shop walk in the early afternoon.

Firstly we went to visit our other next door neighbour, the household without a dog. Glenn was doing some home improvement work in his yard so we said hello. They will soon be adopting a Kelpie puppy. Woohoo!

Afterwards, we walked to the shops the short way. Before going to the supermarket, outside the video store we met a miniature Schnauzer called Fritz. He was a lovely dog and Kane enjoyed greeting him. After the supermarket shop, we walked around the outside of the shops and met a Golden Retriever who was very disinterested (very unlike a Goldie) and then a Border Collie who was very friendly but also smelly.

Around the other side of the shops outside the opposite entrance we met a little grey dog who was nervous and aggressive to Kane, but friendly to me. After circling the shops we walked home via the alleys.

This afternoon, Devi came over but Kane didn't bark when she came to the door. We watched most of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. We then left Kane to go out to dinner at a local Indonesia restaurant. After two and a bit hours we returned and watched the rest of the film.

Great Danes are really horses

We nearly had a rest day tonight, but Wednesday was almost a rest day with the minimal small block walk.

This evening we went on the triple small block walk, which is our default walk. Kane is now back off the leash and walks at his own pace though I need to keep reminding him to not stop for too long when he's sniffing the local canine gossip.

On the way back we saw Sofie the Great Dane on her way for a walk with Bronte a Rottweiler something cross. They stopped to say hello. Kane is a big dog, but Sofie was huge, the size of a small pony. Even though Kane has met her before, he wasn't too keen as she was a little too excited for a huge dog.

Thursday walk

There was still some light after I returned home from work so we walked to Cook oval via the small block alley.

There was a small puppy party in session (small in number, not small in size) at the oval but we kept walking around. Margot and Lucy were leaving the oval and wandered over to us for a greeting on the way to their car. On the path away from the oval, a lost white small terrier came over to say hello. Unfortunately, he or she didn't have a collar on and proceeded to follow us home until spotting somebody else to follow.

Just outside our house we saw Sherlock the Beagle who was pleased to see Kane.

It was a cool walk with a number of pups to greet along the way, and including the greeting stops, took 35 minutes.

Buddy's visit

This morning when I left for work and was already across the road I heard Kane barking. He was barking at a passerby even though I wasn't home. Good dog! It means that his barks are not to alert me at all, but to whoever he has seen to inform them that he's seen them!

This evening we only went on the small block walk. Kane walked at his own pace, which was quite quick and stopped to sniff as he wanted. It took 12 minutes. We hadn't done the minimum walk since the hot summer.

After Kane's dinner time, Buddy the Fox Terrier came to visit. Kane barked at the door when he arrived. Buddy stayed with Kane while Jing and I went out to dinner for Thai food. It'll be the last time Kane sees Buddy has he will be moving cities (and he's old) when Jing moves to Jakarta to join Emily.

freedom walk

I was home from work a little later than usual, about half an hour.

We went on a shorter walk this evening, unleashed and around the double small block. Kane enjoyed his freedom to walk at his own pace and to stop and sniff. The walk took 20 minutes.

Monday big block walk

We went on the big block walk this evening and it was rather uneventful. Amazingly, the walk always takes 35 minutes.

Sunday

We went on our walk in the late afternoon to Cook oval via the double block walk. On the way we met a Border Collie being walked with a family of kids (no parent). At Cook oval there was no puppy party in session though there was a family with a Staffordshire Terrier, but we didn't greet them. After the oval, we continued further and returned home via another way, adding to the walk. We don't get to go to Cook oval so much during the week as it is too dark after I return home from work.

Passing our neighbour's house

shop walk excitement

We only went on one walk today but it was a big one and quite eventful.

Early in the afternoon we walked to the shops the short way. I also bumped into Tim and Toni inside the supermarket and they offered to take the shopping with them and drop it home later, which allowed us to walk unencumbered. Anyway, after the shop we walked around the outside in the opposite direction to usual.

Along the way to the green way, Milly the black Labradoodle bounded over to say hello. So we walked back most of the way with Milly who was on his way to Cook oval. Milly was silly and kept on running to and fro dropping his ball. He was very excited to be hanging out with Kane. After the green way and the footpath along Redfern Street, Milly and his minder continued to Cook oval while we headed home.









Not long after, Tim came over to drop off our groceries and Kane barked when he came to the door. It was a nice deep low bark instead of his usual high pitched puppy yip.

resumption of duties

Today was a really cold day and was under 4° C (39° F) for much of the day. Unlike summer where it can get too hot, in winter it is never too cold for Kane.

We resumed our walk today. As we walked out of the house, a person came off the bus and walked across the road towards our side and Kane barked. Kane's barks are not aggressive or territorial but more of an announcement that he's seen them. Good dog!

Anyway, we continued walking around the triple small block. At the conclusion of the third/last block, a new footpath across an alley way was opened. It means the entire walk is now concreted. The old path was dug up and we had to walk on dirt for the last couple of weeks.

It was a good walk as usual even though it was bitterly cold.

Thursday rest day

This morning, I gave Kane half a dried pig's ear instead of another quarter of a beef marrow bone. Yesterday's bone was well chewed but gave Kane a sore tummy as he left 'nuggets' this morning in the living room. Poor puppy must have needed a quick release as he would normally hold until I let him out in the morning, or wake me. Thankfully the 'nuggets' were hard and dry, for my sake. Too much bone meal at once musn't good for his stomach.

Anyway, I had to put the bins out for collection and Kane had walked out of the deck to look from behind the gate and he barked when a stranger walked past as I wheeled the bins out on the kerb. Good dog!

Today is our rest day for the week and it has been bitterly cold outside.

visiting and then being visited

Today was a cold day, but the sun was out. In any case, Kane suffers from discomfort more in hot weather. He also ground down the half knuckle of a marrow bone more than usual so I wonder if it was to keep warm, or it was because there are none left in the yard following a clean up.

Anyway, we had an exciting walk today. It was only around the triple small block. From our front steps, Kane saw a Golden Retriever on the other side of the road so barked to announce his alertness. Kane's barks are never territorial. On the way we dropped by to visit Jet two doors down. Jet was very well behaved and much more settled and less behaved like a puppy. Therese thought Kane's rain coat was cute. We didn't stay long and left to continue our walk.

On the way home we saw Momo being walked by Mary. So they came back inside with us and Mary had a glass of wine while we watched a previously recorded episode of the Dog Whisperer about a nervous fearful dominating Chihuahua. We are going to apply the same technique to Molly an equally tiny dog who always growls at Kane.

500th post

This is the 500th post of the Adventures of Kane!

It was a very cold day today, no warmer than 9 degrees Celsius. Kane doesn't mind the cold. I was a little late home and it was very cold but we still went on our walk with Kane wearing his rain coat. We went on the triple small block walk, which took 25 minutes.

an extra weekend day

Thanks to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, today was a public holiday in observation of her birthday even though it was actually back in April. Unfortunately the weather was like yesterday's and we didn't manage to go on a day time walk.

We did go on a twilight walk, beginning around the double small block and then continuing to Cook oval. There was a small puppy party on with Molly the black Labrador who was happy to greet Kane and the two Shelties. We didn't stay long as it was very cold, icily cold. Then we walked home adding extra metres to the walk. Coincidentally like yesterday, the walk took 35 minutes. Just like yesterday, Kane wore his Driza-Bone rain coat and looked very smart.

Tonight, from the back deck Kane decided to remind the neighbourhood he was alert and on guard. Good dog!

big block walk

Today was a strange day weather-wise, it rained intermittently so we didn't go on a morning or afternoon walk.

We went on our walk at twilight around the big block. There were some fireworks going off from a few yards, but Kane didn't take any notice. It was a good walk of about 35 minutes.

We are maintaining the new dinner routine where I ask Kane to lay down when I put his bowl down, and he can only start eating after being invited. In the past, he used to sit and then I'd put the bowl down. Now he must wait for permission to be given.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Saturday walk day

We went on a late morning walk to the shops via the short way. As I was tying Kane outside a strange lady asked if Kane was a nice dog and then she mentioned that a dog tied nearby had bitten six people recently. It was a Blue Heeler (cattle dog) and had knocked an old man down off his walking stick and dislocated his elbow.

Anyway, after the shop we walked around outside the complex, which Kane enjoyed and then we walked home via the alleys.

In the early afternoon, Brendan and Lavinia came over bearing a Turkish banquet, which we had before they spent nearly two hours in the garage locating required items. When they came to the door, Kane didn't even bark. Hmmm...

In the early evening we went on another walk around the triple block. Some people were already letting off fireworks (for the Queen's Birthday long weekend), which Kane ignores.

Later in the evening, Adam came over, but without Melba the Border Collie as she has noise anxiety and we walked the football game on TV. Kane didn't bark when he arrived either. Mmmm...

night walk

Poor puppy, as I walked home from work, it started raining so we didn't go on a walk immediately I was home.

Today almost became another rest day. It stopped raining during Kane's dinner time, but we opted for the meal instead. This time, I made Kane wait for his meal after I had put the bowl down and until I gave permission.

After two hours, we went on a walk around the double block. It was shorter than usual, on a leash and very disciplined as I kept Kane focused on the walk without stopping and sniffing.

naughtiness

We walked the triple block walk this evening, which is now the default walk.

At the corner of our street and Elizabeth Street is a house with a number of outside cats. The irresponsible residents didn't desex their cat and now they have a brood. Anyway, Kane was unleashed and I usually walk ahead and around that corner he had disappeared. He had walked through their yard towards their house and found a tub of food probably for the the feral cats, which he started eating. Bad dog! I had to express my displeasure Dog Whisperer style with a firm hand poke.

After that naughtiness, Kane was on the leash and we kept walking with greater discipline. I did not allow Kane to stop and sniff as usual and kept him concentrating on walking with his head up at a steady pace.

I need to train Kane to not eat food lying around (when we visit other houses) unless directly offered by establishing some new rules and boundaries. I hope I can teach an old dog new tricks!

Wednesday rest day

The sky became dark in the afternoon today and it has been raining since, so we haven't managed a walk today.

Hopefully the rain clears up tomorrow.

cool Tuesday

I was home from work earlier than usual as Brendan and Lavinia have only just returned from nearly twelve months travelling outside of Australia, and wanted to come over to retrieve some things they have stored in the lock-up garage before it became dark.

After they left, Kane and I walked to Cook oval. There was even a puppy party in session with the Shelties and a few dogs we have never met. They were more interested in fetching balls, so we didn't stay long and continued our walk.

Later this evening CQ came over. Even with the front door closed, Kane barked when the door chime sung and again when he saw CQ through the screen door. Good dog! CQ stayed for lamb rogan josh curry with rice and beans and we watched Pulse 2, which was a terrible film.

Kane likes a bit of human activity going on around him.

Monday

We weren't as adventurous this evening, compared to yesterday, and only walked the triple block walk. I let Kane walk unleashed and he decided to start off slow so he could catch up on the canine gossip until we were in the straight (Redfern Street) then he picked up a decent canter. 28 minutes, so just slightly longer than the usual 25 minutes.