slow Saturday

Our gardener was back for the morning, but I left Kane looking through the screen door as I left to meet Susan D at the markets for coffee.

After I returned, I spent some time with Kane before leaving him again to go to the shops. I bumped into Martin on the way home and he came back with me briefly to say hello to Kane.

As a storm was imminent, Kane and I went on our small block walk. As it turned out, the storm never eventuated.

The walk around the small block has become hard work for Kane. Soon, it will be every second day that we walk. Poor puppy, his old age is really catching up with him.

Friday

When I returned home from work, Kane was waiting on the other side of the gate. He was also lying down so he might have been asleep.

Being the third day of our three-day walk cycle of two days on then one day off, we had a rest and didn't go anywhere.

Thursday

Today was another usual day. When I returned home from work, Kane was asleep on the deck, on his duvet. Before I unlock the front door, I like to peer over the gate on to the deck to check for Kane.

We went on our walk around the small block, which was uneventful.

Wednesday

This morning as I locked up the back door, Kane looked at me forlornly through the glass and then left the deck to go into the yard. As I left for work, Kane was looking through the other side of the gate to see me leave. Poor puppy.





When I returned home from work, a little late as Wednesday is market day on the way home, Kane was still asleep on the deck. Good puppy.

We went on our walk around the small block, which took 23 minutes. Three doors up, we saw Margaret out in her yard, so Kane went over to greet her. Margaret also had a visitor called Ros and Kane presumptuously walked over to her for a nuzzle. Kane enjoys meeting new people and canines alike.

laying around

Tuesday meant the last piece of the quartered marrow bone, which Kane focused on, as I departed for work.

I arrived home an hour earlier than usual and found Kane asleep on the deck. He was literally asleep and was surprised to see me. I had an appointment with the accountant today, so took the afternoon off work, but had to travel through the city, which took time. Otherwise I would have been home earlier.

In any case, today was the third day non-walk day, so we didn't go anywhere. In the past, we would have gone on a longer walk and taken part in a puppy party.

Nevermind. Kane is quite content to lay around. As long as he has me in sight.

Monday

Today was even cooler than yesterday and a windy day.

When I returned home from work, Kane was waiting behind the gate, so I let him through and he came into the house with me from the front. Then we went on our walk around the small block.

Around the corner, we saw Kel the blond Labrador, in the side/back yard of the house where she is being minded, through an iron gate. As the gate was not solid, Kel could look out and even poke her face out. Kane was excited to see Kel and ran over to greet her. Kel was even more excited.

Then we continued around the block and then home. I let Kane take his time and smell scents to his content. Surprisingly, the walk took 20 minutes so it was shorter than yesterday.

Sunday

Today was a little cooler. As we had a non-walk day yesterday, we went on our walk earlier - in the late morning.

In the early afternoon, I left Kane keeping watch through the screen door while I went to lunch with Anthony in the city. Kane didn't bark when the door chime sounded when Anthony arrived. Naughty puppy. I hadn't seen Anthony for nearly a year, so it was good to get an update on his next film-making ventures.

Anyway, it was just as well that we went on the walk earlier as it started raining from mid-afternoon.

Saturday rest

Today was a non-walk rest day in keeping with our new two days on, one day off routine.

There was some activity at home today as Raymond returned to finish mowing the back lawn. I was out the back and Kane barked when Raymond came through the gate. Good dog. Later, Kane was out the back and took a long look at the yard. It seemed that he was disappointed that his near-waist high grassy jungle had gone. Just the front jungle to tame now.

I walked to the shops and left Kane in. He was resting in the hall way and had not even noticed I was gone. The door chime surprised him.

Friday

When I returned home from work today, Kane was waiting behind the gate. Just like yesterday. This time, I opened the gate and let him out the front and he came back inside the house through the front door.

Then we were out again, on our walk around the small block. I hadn't been timing it lately, but today, it was 25 minutes. Kane is slowing down. The walk used to take 10 minutes, then more lately 20 minutes. One day, even that short distance will be too much for him. Poor puppy.

Thursday

When I returned home from work today, Kane was waiting behind the gate. It meant I had to brush off some grass clipping as he didn't shake first.

We didn't go on our walk for another hour as it was still warm and waited until the sun was setting. The days are getting longer and eventually we will have to go on night walks. Poor puppy, it means his dinner was also later. Soon, the walk and dinner order will have to be reversed.

Tonight, I gave Kane a thorough brushing of his fur. His winter coat is now coming out in clumps. Kane really enjoys being brushed.

Wednesday

As I was departing for work this morning, Kane walked around to the back of the gate. I think it was more to do with doing a poo than seeing me leave.

When I returned home from work, Kane was on his duvet, but with his head up in wait. As we walked the last two days, today is a rest day - our new routine.

The weather is warming up and Kane likes to stay out on the deck in the evening. Tonight, he barked at some passersby and now content to keep gnawing on a bone.

Tuesday

When I left for work this morning, Kane had gone around to the back of the gate to see me off, so I waved to him from the front and told him not to stand there for too long.

When I returned home from work, I couldn't see Kane through the gate or on the deck. When I opened up, I found him laying on the brick paving under the bathroom window. It must be getting warm for Kane, as he likes to lay there in warm weather.

Anyway, we went on our walk around the small block. We also greeted Kel the blond Labrador on the way. She was very excited to see Kane, and Kane was happy to see her as he rushed to greet her. Then Kel and her temporary minder walked to Cook oval, but we couldn't follow as the distance is now too far for Kane to walk.

Kel


Strangely, Kane walks with a more normal gait when he wants to walk faster, in particular with other canines around. Unfortunately, afterwards he tends to be really sore. I guess he walks with a strange gait as it hurts to walk normally. Poor puppy.

Monday plus

Kane enjoyed his bone this morning as I left for work, a picture of concentration.





When I returned home from work, Kane was still gnawing on a bone. I presume he had a rest sometime during the day.

We went on our walk around the small block. Kane was quite keen to go at a faster pace, but I let him know that he could take his time.

We saw Felix, two doors up, but Kane ignored him


Tonight, Kane had my dinner. I hadn't cooked another batch of his regular kangaroo mince with rice and vegetables yesterday, so I gave him cooked diced carrot and zucchini with raw diced lamb chops instead.

rest day

Today was an absolutely lazy did nothing day.

That included not going on a walk. It might be our new pattern. Walk two consecutive days, rest on the third day, and then again.

Saturday less dull

I was supposed to go into town in the morning to check out an auction of valuables I donated to the RSPCA, but Raymond the son of the elderly lady across the road offered to start on the lawn. I found out from him that his mother, Maisy, is 91 years old.

I also left Kane in the late morning to walk to the shops while he looked out the screen door. After two hours on part of the lawn (still much more to go), Raymond left. He'll be back when he has free time to continue.

In the mid-afternoon, Kane and I walked around the small block.

finally fine

Today was finally a fine day. When I returned home from work, Kane was waiting for me behind the gate. I greeted him and by the time I was in the house and unlocking the back door, he was on the deck still looking out for me.

We went on our walk around the small block. Kane was a little better, though unsteady at times on his paws (as the expression goes, as only people have feet). After a few days of missing on a proper walk, he really enjoyed it.

cold, wet and windy

The weather has been horrid this week.

Poor puppy, this morning when I was preparing to leave for work, he wanted to come back into the house. He would have enjoyed having me home with him indoors. In any case, Kane went to the yard to do his poo and then returned to the deck to lay down on his duvet.

When I returned home from work, he was still there. I walked home in cold, wet and windy conditions. It was horrid, so Kane and I didn't go on our walk.

Wednesday nearly

Today was another cold and horrible day. When I returned home from work, Kane was still asleep on the deck.

We started on our walk, but then it started raining lightly. We had reached the front of the next house and returned home. I put Kane's raincoat on him and carried an umbrella and we ventured out again.

We had walked to the end of our small block before turning around (again). Kane's walking looked too much of an effort.

Later on, while we were on the deck, Kane noticed a car pulling up next door so he barked a few times. He was very alert. Good dog!

rest day

In the mornings, as soon as I wake up, I give Kane his breakfast (a chicken wing, except on Wednesdays when he has a cup of kibble). Afterward, I let him out to do his wee. This morning, after his wee, Kane decided to gnaw on an old bone. So I left him for a few minutes. Later on, as I departed for work, Kane returned to the deck to continue on the bone.

When I returned home from work, Kane was still asleep on the deck. As much as it is nice to have him await my return, I prefer Kane to be asleep as that means he is relaxed.

Today was a rest day from walking. We might only go on walks every second day now. Kane does enjoy his (short) walks, but are often a struggle.

Monday

Poor puppy, I had to leave him today to go to work but he was enjoying his bone as I departed.

I returned home from work a little later than usual, by 30 minutes. Kane was waiting for me behind the gate. We went on our walk around the small block. Along the way, we met Kel the blond Labrador who was on her way to Cook oval. Kane was happy to see Kel, but we couldn't join her as it is now too far to walk. Poor puppy.

dull Sunday

This morning was nice and sunny but still cool. We finally went on a mid-morning walk around the small block.

Afterward, I attempted to mow the lawn (or rather, collection of overgrown weeds masquerading as a lawn). The lawn mower wouldn't start and the pull rope starter broke. Time to call in the offer of gardening from Daniel, the grandson of Maisy, the old lady living in the house across the road.

In the early afternoon, there was a brief rain shower, the usual time that we would have walked on a Sunday.

Another dull day.

dull Saturday

Today was a fine but cool day. Finally a weekend without rain. We went on a walk around the small block in the early afternoon. Afterward, I left Kane looking through the screen door while I went to the shops.

Another dull day.

invisible Kane

When I returned home from work, I could not see him on the deck from the gate. I quickly went in the house and unlocked the back door. Kane wasn't on the deck. I feared he had fallen from the steps and was lying at the bottom. He wasn't there. He wasn't in the yard.

I called Kane by name. Then he came wandering around. I had totally forgotten that he may have been waiting for me from behind the gate. Duh! Good puppy.

We went on our walk around the small block.

Thursday

Today was a typical week day.

When I returned home from work, Kane was asleep on the deck. He does hear when I open the back door and wakes up. Perhaps he wasn't really asleep.

Anyway, we walked around the small block and as usual, Kane took his time stopping to smell the gossip.

seeing Jet run

Today was a very cold day. Kane was still content. When I returned home from work, he was on the deck but not on his duvet.

Anyway, we went on our walk around the small block. Two doors up, Jet ran towards us, so I grabbed him by the collar. He might not be a puppy anymore, but is still silly. Kane greeted him briefly and then ignored him. After Therese took hold of him, and raced him back inside their house, we continued our otherwise uneventful walk. Seeing Jet next to Kane, it wasn't hard to notice that Kane is looking more and more like a frail old dog. Poor puppy. He is getting geriatric.

Jet

something different

Today was a cool and pleasant day and Kane didn't mind spending most of it on the deck. He likes lying on his duvet - probably more so because it was my old one and my human smell is embedded in it.

When I returned home from work, Kane was lying on his duvet but was awake as his head was up. I wondered what he was thinking. Sue B from work helped me to drop by at the vet after work for more Metacam, which Kane has been taking with his food since 14 July. I measured the first bottle, which lasted 44 days (daily doses), so the second bottle now only has exactly three doses left. It's a vital medication as it is also a pain reliever. Poor puppy.

We started to walk around the small block, but at the end of our yard, Kane decided to cross the street. So we walked around the equivalent of the small block, perhaps shorter. Kane was having a great time rediscovering all the smells so took his time and the outing was about 20 minutes.

bonus day

Today was a public holiday, extending the weekend into a long one. Kane was glad to have me at home.

It rained in the morning and in the early afternoon, during a dry break but with dark clouds, we went on our walk. As soon as we returned home, the thunderstorm broke. It didn't last long though.

Tonight, Kane had raw diced sirloin steak for dinner with cooked diced carrots and cabbage. He left a lot of the carrots till last, but still ate them.

mostly wet Sunday

Today was less wet compared to yesterday, with a fine rain drizzle now and again. Poor puppy, I left him mid-morning to go and visit Devi for a dim sum lunch and then some outlet shopping.

Devi came back with me in the late afternoon and Kane was happy. He had been asleep on his duvet on the deck. Devi stayed for a cup of tea and then went home, when Kane and I went on the small block walk. Thankfully, the drizzle had stopped, or was very fine.

wet Saturday

It rained for most of today. In the early afternoon, we did manage to go on a small block walk, braving a very light drizzle. We said hello to Margaret from the house three doors up and she gave Kane a pat. We hadn't seen her for awhile and she was out the front doing some weeding.

Afterward, I left Kane looking out the screen door while I went to the shops.

What a boring day.

Friday

This morning as I left for work, Kane wandered around to the back of the gate to see me depart.









When I returned home from work, Kane was asleep on the deck. Good dog. I was also a little late, visiting the market on the way and found out that Brian's cat had kidney failure on Wednesday so went to the vet for a final visit.

Anyway, we went on our walk around the small block. At the front doorstep, Kane spied a person walking past and barked. Good dog! Half an hour after we returned home, it started raining.

Thursday

As today was Thursday, Kane had a fresh bone to gnaw as I left for work.









When I returned home from work, Kane was lying on the driveway behind the gate. He was also asleep or resting with his head down. Poor puppy, I hope he hadn't been laying there long. He must was been waiting for me, though I was a little late, by 15 minutes compared to usual.

We went on the small block walk and an elderly gentleman stopped to ask after Kane and his age and gave him a pat. Kane likes nuzzling up to people. On the way back, we passed that rude lady and her dog from last time. This time as Kane was on a leash, she didn't say anything except that her dog was blind. But he was still aggressive.

After yesterday's fish special, Kane is back on his regular kangaroo mince with rice and vegetables. I made another batch tonight including a whole bunch of chopped English spinach. Kane eats a lot of carrots. I hope they are good for him. He's not going blind anyway, able to see other dogs from a fair distance.