Hot day

With the house back to ourselves, Kane slept in the hall way last night. This morning, he was a little stiff in the joints and had trouble moving off the floor, so I had to help him stand up and then he was able to stretch his legs. Poor puppy, it has only happened on the odd occasion and I hope it remains that way. I am dreading the time when even with my help, Kane will not even be able to stand.

Today was a hot day as forecast. This morning, I took Kane out the front to let him pee and poo and then left him inside the house, to stay cool.

When I returned home from work, Kane appeared not to have moved from the same spot. Poor puppy, he was so patient waiting for me to return home. The first thing he did when I opened the back door was to go out for a pee.

Tonight, Kane is content to lay by the front door and bark occasionally at nobody in particular. I think Kane is just announcing his presence in general and that he is watching.

Saturday stuff

Kane usually sleeps in the hallway or in the bathroom. As we had visitors staying, I kept him in my bedroom last night and he slept very soundly, laying down completely instead of laying with his head up and panting. Perhaps he was reassured with me in his sight.

Today was a very warm day. Michelle, Christopher and baby Luca left in the morning for an engagement party (their reason to visit) and then the gardener arrived. In the afternoon, I left Kane to walk to the shops. Poor puppy, we used to do a lot together out of the house.

This evening after Kane's dinner he was looking out the front door, through the screen door and barked at passersby. It was a rich low loud bark. I was in my room and went over to check out the situation. Good dog! He was doing his duty.

Tuesday

When I was leaving for work this morning, Kane had gone around to the back of the side gate to see me depart. So I waved to him and told him not to stay there too long.





When I returned home from work, Kane was on his duvet on the deck. Though he was laying down, his head was up, in wait.

Kane came inside and watched the world go by through the front screen door. He even barked a few times at passersby. Good dog.

Saturday stuff

Our gardener came later in the morning and Kane barked at the front door while I was out the back. It was also a loud and deep bark. Good dog!

In the afternoon, Devi came over and we went to the shops for groceries while Kane watched the world through the front door. When we returned, Devi stayed for a cup of tea and we ate the fruit flans that she had brought over.

Tonight, to Kane's dinner, I added around 200g of diced raw sirloin steak (the last three dinners had raw beef mince) - hidden in the bottom of his regular mixture.

more barking

I returned home a little later than usual - only by 20 minutes. I half expected Kane to be waiting behind the gate, but he was still on his duvet on the deck. Good dog.

This evening Kane engaged in some barking. I think he was barking along to the magpies warbling.

Thursday

Today was just like yesterday. In the morning, Kane was into his bone. When I returned home from work, he was asleep on his duvet. Possibly just resting as I looked and his eyes were open. I wonder if canines sometimes sleep with their eyes open.







Today was a pleasant day and perfect for walking, but we didn't. Perhaps we can go on short walks now and again.

Tonight I was on talking on the telephone and heard loud deep barks from the deck. It was Kane. Not that he would have seen much, he probably detected movement of leaves from the breeze, but good dog!

warming weather

Poor puppy, I had to leave him this morning to go to work. He was happily concentrating on his marrow bone piece though, which was good.











When I returned home from work, I could not see Kane through the front of the gate. After I unlocked the back, I found him in his cool spot under the bathroom window.

We didn't go for a walk straight away as it was still warm and the sun still up too high. Instead, we waited an hour until the sun descended a little. In any case, we didn't walk around the small block. We walked to the end of the block and then turned around and visited our neighbours on the other side. It was a quick 10 minute outing.

Kane does bark a little from time to time while on the deck, but his barks are barely a whisper like someone with laryngitis. Poor puppy. His is frail and elderly.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Saturday

Poor puppy, we didn't go anywhere all morning and then the weather warmed up. I left him looking out through the screen door when I walked to the shops in the mid-afternoon. He had barked at a few passers-by beforehand.

When I returned home from the shops I started making a batch of Kane's dinners so we didn't go on our walk until the late afternoon. It was only around the small block. Aside from checking out the scents (canine gossip) along our walks and watching people and dogs walking pass the front (from the deck over the side gate, or through the screen door), Kane isn't getting much other mental stimulation. We may need to visit some of our neighbourhood canine friends soon.

Sunday

Today was a warmer day compared to the cool ones we've had lately, so we didn't go on a walk in the morning or early afternoon. Kane did bark from the deck, loudly and deeply. It was a nice bark. Good dog.

In the late afternoon, we went on our walk around the small block. We came across another canine on his walk with a lady. She was very rude and asked me to put Kane on a leash, which I did. However, it was her aggressive dog that was the problem, not Kane who could not walk fast anyway. Stupid woman.

Saturday slow day

Today has been a really pleasant and mild day. Poor puppy, we didn't go on our walk until the early afternoon. It was around the small block and Kane took his time, stopping often to smell the gossip.

Later in the afternoon, Devi came to visit and Kane barked when she came to the door. It was a very croaky bark. Poor puppy, perhaps he needs to practice, just like singing.

I hadn't gone to the shops yet, so Devi and I went as she also needed supplies. Devi also made me watch a rugby union match. She also stayed for some pea and ham soup for dinner but didn't stay for all of the subsequent AFL (Australian Rules football) game.

Sunday

Today was another fine and pleasant sunny day, but we had a rest day instead.

This afternoon, Kane had a short barking session with Scotch the Dobermann next door.

As much as Kane enjoys his walks, he does so with difficulty most of the time so should be resting more often.

Thursday - early and late

Poor puppy. Thursday was a strange day.

I returned home from work earlier than usual, by an hour. On arriving home, I spotted Kane just walking to the gate to wait for me. After I went inside, Kane had laid down in wait behind the gate. I had to tell him I was already home. Silly puppy. We went on our walk straight away around the small block and after an hour's rest he had an early dinner.



Just after 6.40pm, we had a visitor (Anne) and Kane barked as he went to the door to greet her. Unfortunately, I left with Anne to go to a work trivia night, leaving Kane indoors.

I didn't return home until 12.20am (our team won the competition). When I opened the door, poor puppy was still laying beside the door in alertness. He must have been in the same position for hours waiting patiently, not daring to fall asleep.

I let Kane out to do his pee before sleep but he had trouble climbing the back deck steps and I had to help him. Laying in the same position must have left his joints stiff. It was far too long to leave Kane at his age.

Melba visits again

Our weekday routine is now back to normal. Before I went to work, I left Kane with a beef bone on the deck. After I had crossed the road I heard Kane barking and turned back to see people walking past our driveway. Good dog! He doesn't bark to alert me, but to announce his presence to others.

After I returned home from work, we walked around the small block, which takes 20 minutes these days.

In the evening, Melba the Border Collie came over to visit with Adam. Kane was very happy to see her while Adam and I talked about football over a beer. Melba even got stuck into Kane's bones on the deck, which he didn't mind. Then they left.

Sunday lazing

Today was a cold day. We didn't go on our walk until the early afternoon, and it was only around the small block.

Sometime in the afternoon, we had a surprise visitor. Sue B had planned to visit and when she arrived, had Elizabeth with her, who was visiting from Melbourne. They stayed for a cup of coffee. We sat out on the deck while Kane gnawed on his bone from Friday, then went inside. Kane barked so I went to see who he saw and he was laying behind the gate. Poor puppy, he must have thought we had left him and was waiting patiently for our return, so I invited him back inside.

We didn't go on another walk as it was too unpleasant outside.

back to usual

Now that the deck steps are safe and I don't need to worry about Kane using them, I left Kane on the deck with a bone when I left for work.

When I returned home from work in the afternoon, Kane was actually behind the gate waiting for me. It is so much more interesting being outside and being able to see what is happening.

We only had a 11 minute abbreviated walk this evening. We were out on our usual small block walk when Pauly phoned to mentioned he and Lumi were on their way. So we returned home. They came over and checked out the modified deck steps built to Paul's suggestion. Kane barked a deep bark when they came to the door, but only once. Good dog!

It's good to have a rest now and again.

Tuesday evening excitement

Poor puppy. Just like yesterday, I left him inside today while I was at work. The electricity supply was interrupted at some stage last night as well (or early in the morning) so the heater's timer was off kilter and didn't turn on as it normally does every morning. It also meant I was an hour late getting up and going to work. Poor puppy, he may have thought I was going to stay home.

I returned home from work with Pauly Worley who walked back with me. I rang the door bell and Kane was standing up right behind the door. I wonder whether Kane is alert the entire time when left indoors, just sitting up waiting for my return.

Anyway, Pauly gave me a second opinion about the deck steps and came up with a completely different idea to what I had in mind. It was also a good suggestion making use of what I already have. Then Pauly continued home.

Afterwards, Kane and I went on our walk around the small block. We called past Glen and Janey next door and said hello to Poppy the Kelpie puppy. Glen said to return after the walk to discuss the deck steps.

After the walk, I took Kane home and left him looking out through the screen door, then went to see Glen. On our way back, Kane barked. Good dog! Glen checked out the steps and the plank of wood (the failed ramp) and agreed with Pauly's suggestion, so we returned to his place as he had an electric saw.

After Glen cut the wood, we returned and Kane barked again. Good dog again! Glen brought over some wood glue and a nail gun and put the pieces into place. The deck steps are now less hazardous to Kane. Basically, we covered the steps with new wood so that there are now no gaps that used to be a problem whenever Kane lost his balance and slipped.

While leaving Kane inside was more safe, it would have been very boring for him not being able to see people walking past the drive way.