A very Merry Christmas

They say Christmas is for children. Well in this house it's all about our dogs. We had wrapped all their toys and treats individually. Taking each of them in turn we opened their presents. Didn't actually get very far because they all got so excited that they  wanted to see what was in the next package rather than concentrate on the toy we'd just opened  for them! Couldn't get them to come to either of us for their next one, they just milled around whichever of us happened to be holding a present. Utter chaos!

It ended up as a free for all, with them all swapping toys, squeaking them as much as they could manage. Kayla and Bella squabbled over one toy whilst Kai played with another. Kayla demanded that I throw a toy for her repeatedly (as is the norm for her) to fetch with Bella in hot pursuit, trying to tug the toy away from her. Kai also did his best to get in on the act, running and jumping at the Girls as they went backwards and forwards. They didn't know which toy to play with next! We decided not to open any more of their toys, so instead opened one of their edible presents, rawhide chews. These went down well with Kayla as always being the first to finish in record time. It was Kai's first, and he loved it!

Toys played with, and chews finished off, all three dogs proceeded to crash out for the next few hours. Rallied round when it was time for their Christmas Dinner unsurprisingly. Family tradition, the dogs always get a share of the roast dinner added to their kibble. This year it was beef and all the trimmings.

With more presents still to be opened we can do it all over again. It gave me such pleasure to see them so excited. Kai's first Christmas.... a real cracker!!

Getting older.... and even more fantastic!!

Our little man, surrounded  by his toys

Kai was four months old on Saturday (17th). Not posted anything about him for a while, largely because there hasn't been a lot to write. It seems like a good time to take stock of where Kai is in his development. We're starting to see the dog he will become, his temperament, his reactions to things, his relationship with other dogs.

Where to start? Well let's look at the physical stuff first. He has had several big growth spurts, now standing a lot taller, with longer legs and a longer body. His tail must be at least twice as long as when we got him. It is held erect and has a wonderful 'windscreen wiper' action when it wags it. He's outgrown his first coat and now comfortably fills his new 12" one.

He still has to be lifted on and off the settee etc, but is noticeably taller. He can ask to get up by placing his paws on the arm of the chair or the seat of the sofa. He doesn't help himself though, backing away repeatedly when you go to lift him up. This rather sums Kai up to be honest.

What is he doing?

Everything is a game at the moment, or something to be explored, chewed or run off with. He somehow manages to drag items that are far bigger than him away from where he finds them. Eric's large walking boots are a classic example. Or the very large dog cuddly toy which is a current favourite. Initially he barked at it, presumably thinking it was a real dog. Now it is dragged around, chewed, jumped on and I hate to say it 'humped'. Not the only thing getting that treatment. Canada goose toy and my elbow whilst playing with him springs to mind...
Well we are four months old now!!

His facial fur is absolutely gorgeous. All fluffy and scruffy, with a beautiful contrast between the jet black and the white. His head seems to have widened and the classic Schnauzer beard is coming along well. I brush him and within five minutes he looks as scruffy as he did before. It won't be too long now until he goes to the grooming parlour. I wish them luck, he could wriggle for England!!

Yet more grot he's found!!

Kai is lovely. The word sums him up completely. If I ask Eric why he is lovely, his response is that he 'just is'. He's right. He has a wonderful nature, not a malicious bone in his body. Bright as a button, very playful and mischievous, yet more than happy to snuggle up and have a cuddle or sleep in my arms. He and Kayla absolutely adore each other, to the point that both are upset if the other is away. There are even signs that Bella is mellowing, especially when he's lying on me. Scary stuff indeed!

His recall is excellent, he understands no and drop, well most of the time. Sleeps on the bed with Eric and Kayla (only Bella lies on me in my chair at night, otherwise my life wouldn't be worth living). Incredibly good when we go out, he chews nothing, doesn't generally have an accident and gives us a fantastic welcome when we come home. He stretches up as high as he can manage, desperately trying to lick us.

Three banana shaped dogs to come home to, what could be better?

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