Oops, there goes another toy!

Kayla has always had the habit of dropping toys in the pond.  She is incredibly dexterous, leaning precariously over the  edge to grab them back. How she doesn't fall in is mystery.

Eric captured this lovely moment of the two of them gazing down at the latest victim.

Kai, the imp!

Kai is at that age where everything is interesting and must be explored. This has ended up with him falling in the pond twice recently. Thank goodness for a hairdryer and a puppy who rather likes being dried that way!! Unfortunately no pictures, we were more bothered about getting him dry as soon as we could.

This afternoon he was wandering around in the kitchen, exploring as usual. He disappeared under one of the kitchen units and look how he came out..

Here are the car keys - Let's go!

Putting his coat on has become an absolute battle of wills. He thinks it's a huge game, being totally unhelpful. Trying to get his head though the hole, whilst trying to stop him grabbing at the coat at every opportunity is somewhat of a challenge. Of course he is wriggling like an eel at the same time which makes it even harder. We get there in the end, Getting the coat off isn't as difficult thank goodness!

This photo sums it up really. He looks really miffed because he didn't win!! Stupid really because once it's on he doesn't bother about it at all.



And finally the latest photo we have of Kai. aged 14 and a 1/2 weeks old.

He seems to become scruffier by the day. I brush him, yet moments later he is as scruffy as he was before. Still absolutely gorgeous though, and only adds to his impish nature.

The best dressed pup in town?

We bought this coat for Kai a couple of weeks after we got him. Dog coats seem to have evolved since the last time we bought one. This one has elastic loops which the back legs go through - stops the coat turning apparently! Once you've put his head through the hole there is a section that goes between the front paws and then is secured with a belt that goes around his waist.
(See the picture to the left)



Trying it on him was absolutely hilarious. We had bought the smallest one (10") but it was still really big on him. Anyway managed to get a very wriggly puppy into the coat and put him down on the sofa. Every time he walked he toppled over to the right. Somehow he'd managed to get his leg back through the hole... hence the falling over!! He'd also managed to get his lower jaw stuck inside, presumably trying to chew it. An unmitigated disaster!

Three weeks on, not only does the coat fit but he manages to wear it properly as well. Have to say he does look very nifty in it, even though I'm biased. What do you think?

Climbing stairs? No problemo!

Our stairs

Well Kai decided he was fed up with being left behind at the bottom of the stairs crying about two weeks ago, when he made it all the way up both parts of the stairs by himself. I was amazed watching him motor up them. Seeing as he's really only tall enough to reach the next step it's amazing that he can do it at all!! It's even more impressive because our stairs are open ones so he can see the floor all the time. Eric had sort of showed him what to do putting his front paws up on the next step.

We hadn't pushed it with him because we don't really want him going upstairs whilst we're still working on his toilet-training.

Kai, three steps down

onto the lower set of steps

Of course coming down is a different matter entirely, but he has gradually plucked up the courage and is now starting to get himself down regularly. He lost confidence after the first time he managed it and went back to crying at the top until Eric went and got him. That was a week or more ago, but in the last couple of days he has got back into it again.
It is really tricky for him because he's so small. Just another example of how brave and bold he is.


Even though he couldn't get himself down he would insist on going up at every opportunity. So we bought a baby gate. This was rested across the bottom of the stairs as a temporary measure until Eric fitted it properly..

Done i

Of course he tried to climb it and ended up with it falling on him. We then put a large box in front of the propped up baby gate so it wouldn't fall over. The clever little blighter got round this by going round the back of the chair, underneath the stairs and then hopped onto the first step from the back, turned round and then carried on going up the stairs!  I watched in disbelief as he worked out how to get past the obstruction. It seems as we have another intelligent problem solver on our hands.


All things considered it is probably best that he can now get himself back down the stairs whenever he goes up..... not sure what we'd try next!

Click here for a video of Kai coming down the stairs.

Kai's first walk

Today was the day. The day that Kai went for his first walk. It is too difficult for me to go with Eric to walk the dogs at the best of times because of my CRPS, let alone in the Winter which makes it flare even more. There was no way I was going to miss it, so this morning 'Operation Dog Walking' rolled into action. Eric has to help me do everything so going out is a military operation at the best of time.

our little man taking a breather

'hello, I'm Kayla, who are you?'

Suitably dressed and safely seated in my electric wheelchair with Kai on my lap off we went down the road. Eric took the other two down in the car as normal. It takes a good 10 minutes for me to get to the playing fields but Kai was as good as gold, sat quietly, didn't fidget, just gazed around taking everything in. He was a little worried by the traffic noise when we got as far as the row of shops, especially the double decker buses but didn't try to get off or get away. Over the pedestrian crossing and then Eric took him so that he could have his first taste of walking on a lead. Just across the car park to the car where the girls were waiting, probably miffed because their walk hadn't started!!

He was really good on the lead, needed a bit of encouragement at first but then happily toddled along next to Eric. Then we were on to the fields where the real fun began. He loved it, and everybody loved him! Lots of cuddles, meeting other dogs and most importantly lots of chasing after Bella and Kayla!

He is such a bold little chap that he took it all in his stride, wasn't scared, wagged his tail at people and dogs alike, having a really positive first experience.

'The Girls' - Kayla and Bella

The girls chased off a big fluffy German Shepherd that started to come bounding over so it is clear that they will look out for him. He responds to his name and comes back well. But to be honest he didn't stray far from us, and just followed the girls.

For a tiny puppy he certainly has lots of energy. He kept running after them long after I thought he would be tired. I fully expected to have to have him on my lap on the way back to the car but no he went the whole distance, albeit a far shorter walk than the girls' normal length.

ready to run after the ball again

The girls have a tennis ball each so there is lots of throwing and fetching to be done. I suspect it won't be long before he has a ball of his own. He did try to pick Kayla's up at one point, but he couldn't get his jaws round it. Bless him. Thoroughly soggy and wet he took the trip home in the warmth of the car.

As an aside I have to say that it was absolutely wonderful to see Bella running round, enjoying her walk. I really miss walking them so it was a double delight for me. She seemed really pleased to have me out with her as well. 

You would think that Kai would have crashed out when we got him home. Not a chance. He seems to have been even more energetic than normal for the rest of the day. We really do have a Duracell puppy!!

All in all a very satisfactory walk I'd say....

Click here to watch the videos we took of their walk 

Being left for the first time

Well today was the day. We've had Kai four weeks, so he's had lots and lots of time to get used to us and the girls. So we took the plunge and decided to go to lunch. Wouldn't be out too long, but long enough that it would be a good test for them being left together.They all had the run of the house downstairs, although only the bedroom door upstairs was left open. Bit worried about cables so items placed appropriately to prevent Kai getting to them. He has a thing about chewing cables, ruined an iPod cable, Nintendo 3DS charger and damaged a PS3 connection cable to date. Thankfully he's getting better with time.

We were absolutely delighted to find that nothing had been chewed, all was as we'd left it. The only thing that he'd obviously played with was his bed which had been pulled across the room. Kai hadn't even had an accident bless him. We were greeted by three delighted doggies, Kai wagging his tail and leaping up like mad. Took him a while to get to us, every time he moved forwards he kept getting hit in the face by Bella's tail. More than made up for it though!!

Eric checked with our neighbours to see if there had been any noise. They didn't hear a thing which put the final shine on a very successful first time being left. We'll be able to leave them in the future safe in the knowledge that they will be fine. Not that we go out much anyway, as I can't cope with it.
And of course today was a big day for Kai, conquering coming down the stairs. That's for another post though....

Learning the ropes...

Kai, 1 day short of 11 weeks old.

Well Kai is 11 weeks old tomorrow and continues to grow rapidly. His collar is becoming tighter and will need to be enlarged soon. Amazing to think that just 3 weeks ago it was far too big! He is also getting taller, as he can now see over the edge of the sofa. We are some way from him being able to jump up, so the girls are safe for a while yet!

Kayla tends to leap onto the chair or sofa to escape him when he chases her. He launches himself unsuccessfully after her then stands with his paws as far up as he can reach and yaps at her. He also makes what can only be described as 'ewok sounds', a kind of 'I'm frustrated' sort of noise. He often does this when he's playing and is trying as hard as he can.

He's a sponge when it comes to learning how he should behave, taking his cue from the girls. His manners are really improving. Where he would scrabble to get at whatever we're eating, he will now sit and wait when asked. He also just lies down at mealtimes in the same way as the other two do. Far more civilised. He takes things very gently, finally deciding that he knows where his mouth is. When he was younger you would try to offer him something and he had no idea how to get hold of it. Of course his beard doesn't help and needs wiping whenever he eats and drinks.

Sitting next to Bella eating a carrot

The number of things he likes is constantly increasing, indeed we haven't found anything he doesn't like yet. A diverse range including fish, scrambled egg, ice cream, apple and even plum! A healthy appetite he enjoys his food, sometimes leaving some when he's had enough. Not a gannet!!
He's very good about food, showing no possessive streaks. Bodes well for the future.

Kai walking across 'the corridor'

Toilet-training is still hit and miss. Some days he's brilliant, even barking before the alarm went off the other morning because he needed to go out. He's been going through the night accident free for some time. We're picking up the signs of when he wants to go, or perhaps he's getting better at telling us!!

What is really bizarre is that he has also had an accident whilst lying on the sofa next to Eric, some days has accidents all over the place and even started peeing when he was about to come across 'the corridor' between the sofa and my chair.(see photo). That's puppy bladders for you I guess.

Kayla is really funny when Kai is doing something she thinks he shouldn't (such as grabbing Eric's slippers. With toy in mouth and lots of woofing she pounces up and down in front of him. Bella just tends to watch, as is her way. Kai for his part isn't phased at all, he isn't bothered by either of them. This is a bit of an issue with Bella who isn't as enamoured with him as Kayla. My girl doesn't approve of silly behaviour, so she tends to try and avoid him, and growls at him he he jumps around her. This is also her way, she always grumbles at Kayla about various things. Top dog and all that. Kai is slowly learning his place with her, and they are fine together when on me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

All in all he's coming on well.I'm managing to interact with him a lot more in the last day or so and feel much happier that I will form a firm bond with him. Those of you who read my CRPS blog will know that this was a major issue for me.Being stuck in my chair I've got to find ways to attract him over. His squeaky duck works really well. He loves playing tug so I'm onto a winner I think!!