canine maintenance day

Today was a very exciting day.

It was also a relatively warmer day for winter. In the late morning, I gave Kane a bath. It has been nearly six months since the last one. Although Kane is cleaner, he smells even more doggy.

In the early afternoon, we walked to the shops the short way. Even though the very absorbent towels dried most of Kane's fur, the walk also helped to air and sun his fur. It was a 20 minute walk to the shops, which was a good though slow pace. After my shop, we were intending to walk straight home. As we left, we saw Sherlock the Beagle on his way in - his handler was on her way to the post office to post a letter. So we walked with them. After leaving the shops, I suggested we walk through the woods as Kane was walking much better following Sherlock and had not done that walk in a long time.






It was a good walk until we neared home. Poor puppy, the walk was too far for him (around 45 minutes) and he barely made it up the front steps. Once inside the house, poor puppy couldn't stand up any longer and collapsed.

It was only temporary and Kane recovered but still a little sore.

This evening Adam came over to watch the football game. During the game, I gave Kane a very thorough brushing and then a massage.

double do and a bath

Poor puppy, I meant to take him on a longer walk today, but had lots of household chores (making up for a month not cleaning due to hot weather). We did go on a late morning walk when it was still overcast, but only around the small block.

Around midday, I left Kane inside looking through the screen door, while I went out to lunch at the Dumpling Inn. Afterwards, Devi, Liz, Hannah and Lucy came over. Hannah and Lucy liked Kane but they want to get a King Charles Springer Spaniel. Lucy is about four years old.

Later on, I continued with more chores and then gave Kane a bath. It was still a warm day and Kane's damp fur did not take long to completely dry.







As I had more chores, we ended up going on a night walk around the small block, instead of a longer evening walk. Poor puppy. Kane did have a lengthy barking session through the screen door. It might have been a hint.

Kane had diced lamp chops for dinner with carrots and zucchini. Even though he ate all his medication, Kane left some vegetables. I worked out how to get him to finish eating them, by adding dried liver sprinkles on them. What a dirty trick!

a busy and exciting day, but we forgot something

Today was an interesting day full of excitement.

It was meant to be a warm day today, so I gave Kane a bath in the morning. This time, he preferred to sit through most of it instead of standing up, so I had to say "up" to shampoo his belly area.



Afterwards, it ended up being a cooler day - overcast with rain clouds, so I distracted Jazz with a bone on the deck while Kane and I walked to the shops the short way. When we arrived we saw Nellie, who was really excited to see Kane. We had not seen her for many months, not having walked to Macquarie oval.



When I had finished in the supermarket, I walked out to a huge thunderstorm with heavy rain. Thankfully, there was a break in the storm and Kane and I walked home the short way.

In the afternoon, a pay-TV salesman knocked on the door (rang the door chime) and both Jazz and Kane barked. In the end, I took up the offer - it worked out cheaper than buying DVDs regularly and I wanted the sports channels for the football. While the salesman was here, Therese from two doors up also rang the door chime, but Jazz and Kane had used up their door bark and were silent! In any case, Kane knows Therese.

After the salesman left, Therese stayed for a cup of tea.

It has been raining on and off for the rest of the day and evening, so we didn't go on any more walks. Poor Jazz.

Unfortunately, in all the excitement of the day and forgetting what day of the week it is, we forgot Kane's vet appointment! Early Monday morning it will have to be.

w00t, what a day!

We had an exciting day today.

This morning we walked to the shops. One of the candidates of today's election was handing out balloons, so Kane acquired an orange one.

After my quick shop, we walked around the shopping complex and then took the short walk home. The long way back along the green way will be saved for another time.

After an hour's rest, it was bath time for Kane. We used a fancy fur shampoo by Aesop. It was so gentle that I might even use it myself!

After Kane's bath, we walked to the local primary (elementary) school to vote in the ACT election. After I voted, we walked through Macquarie oval to the markets. Splat was more hidden than usual so didn't greet Kane. We picked up an 8kg bag of Advance senior dry food. Normally we get 3kg, but Kane is eating more of it now (one cup a day, along with fresh - not tinned - food), and $8 a kg is better than paying $10 a kg (for the smaller bag). Theresa only feeds Jet with Advance dry food. She said that she changed brands once, but Jet lost condition, so she is sticking to Advance.

Splat, the resident cat


No, he couldn't have any of the dry food while in the shop


After the pet shop, we stopped by the book store, and then the wine shop. I managed to pick up two books (The Islamist and A Three Dog Life) and a six pack of beer, all without needing to tie Kane to a post (Kane came in with me to the book store) and we transacted at the entrance of the wine shop. Carrying around an 8kg bag made it more difficult.

After such an adventurous day, we didn't go on an evening (and the sun is still up) walk. Instead, we visited Janey and Glen next door (Glen was mowing the lawn) which was the first time Kane explored their yard properly, and then Jet who wanted to play.

bath time

Kane had a bath today. Kane enjoys being washed. It wasn't a proper bath, more like a shower. It's funny how I need to lift him into the bath, but afterwards, he is able to get out all by himself! Afterwards, I massaged lanolin cream into his fur to moisturise it.

Kane Day

Today was Kane Day. I gave him aqua therapy and a massage this afternoon (okay, it was a wash, followed by moisturising of his skin and fur with lanolin cream). Afterwards, we went on a walk to the shops. I bumped into Anaree at the shops and we had a yarn while she shopped at the green grocer store.

Afterwards, I took Kane around the outside of the shopping centre, which he found olfactorily stimulating. We even discovered a fruiting apple tree. On the way home, Kane decided he wanted to go another way, along a bike path. Not that Kane stayed on the path as there were lots of grass and trees alongside, which was obviously another doggy trail. So it was a long detour home.

Kane is pooped out from all the excitement and exercise of today, but there is always room for extra treats.

a dog's day afternoon

Today was a dog's day afternoon, and a dog's day morning. This morning I washed Kane in the bathtub and he seemed to quite enjoy it. When I rinsed him off, the water was brown! Then I took him for a walk to the local shops to dry off.

This evening, I walked Kane and along the way we convinced Jake and his handler (who live nearby) to come along. At the playing field, Kane would only chase after Jake who was fetching a ball. He also met Rosie, a three legged dog; and Ripley a Doberman and Vinnie a Border Collie Kelpie cross who were all intent on chasing ball, but not Kane. We were out for nearly 90 minutes. A pretty exciting day for Kane.