Category Archives: Dino

The cutest Bearded Collie puppy who I could kill sometimes (just joking)

I gotta stop; Pictures from Piero’s day in the office

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Really, I HAVE to stop talking about it but so amazed I am by the whole experience that it’s very difficult not to.

I mean to say, this morning was an example.

Last night the dogs ate a lot. Then F and I went out and got home late. We took the dogs for a walk and then went to bed and sleep straight away.

At 5.30 a.m. this morning when, by rights, I should have been asleep, we got up (yes, F got up with me!). I cleaned up the newspapers and, although there were plenty of wees there was no pooh, which was slightly odd. F went to take them out and I was to catch up later.

Which I did – to find that Piero had done a pooh outside!

Unbelievable! I mean, for his age it’s just incredible and that’s why I can’t stop talking about it. It must be similar with parents talking about the first time that their kid stops using nappies or something.

Anyway, now that I’ve told you about that, I thought I might post some pictures, taken by my colleague Pietro, when Piero came into the office that day.

He didn’t like the balcony which is where I sometimes go to smoke, and Pietro was there to take pictures:

But, most of the time, he stayed in the office with me and, just like the Queen, he ‘received’ people :-):

Thanks Pietro.

Eggs or stead

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The growling has stopped. More or less.

Now, when Piero jumps up at Dino, Dino just tries to move away.

But I’m half convinced that, out of shot, so to speak, Dino tries playing with him, even if he’s a bit small at the moment.

Of course, the playing with him has one, quite serious, drawback.

Piero has learned to bark. He barks when he’s excited and when he wants to play. I only hope (very much hope) that he doesn’t get too excited and wants to play too often during the day, when I’m not there.

Still, I’m sure we’ll find out. If necessary, of course, I shall have to do what I did with Dino and Rufus – i.e. separate them when we’re out. But I’d prefer not to.

The place now looks like a bomb has hit it most of the time. There are toys everywhere, there’s bits of the box that has newspapers in it over the floor and, in a slightly worrying development, there seems to be a new game of moving the newspaper that’s on the floor, collecting pee and pooh.

Apart from the getting up at 5.30 a.m., there’s also the need to watch them whilst they eat as Dino wants Piero’s food and vice versa.

However, when Piero has finished his food, he goes to the dog basket and waits.

As usual, Dino, once full enough starts to do the picnic thing, taking a mouthful of food out of the bowl and dropping it on the rug in the dog basket and then eating them one by one. But Piero is there now to snatch what he can. It is very amusing to watch.

This morning, as I came out of the bathroom, Dino was sat with his back to the unit housing the DVDs. The bottom shelf I had cleared, not wishing to leave too much stuff that was chewable and in easy reach of a puppy. Piero has found that he can sit upright on this bottom shelf – making him slightly taller than Dino and right behind him. I wish I had had my camera.

However, this constant need to watch Piero; clean up after him; stop him from barking, etc. coupled with the need to get up so early is leaving me exhausted (as I indicated in the title of this post – exhausted = eggsorstead :-D). I know it won’t be for ever but, still, I wish it were over already.

p.s. F has actually been getting up with me all the time apart from the one day – and then this morning as he is in Venice. I am impressed.

We have successes and setbacks

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So, after yesterday, when he was a model of a puppy for the whole day at the office, we had one slight setback and then this morning a great success – maybe two, depending on how you look at it.

Of course, after yesterday morning, most of the afternoon was spent sleeping.

To be honest, I was wishing I could join him. This getting up at 5.30 a.m. is a killer and, almost, not really necessary at the moment. The getting up so early allows me time to clean up any mess that might be made off the newspaper. In fact, apart from one small pooh on the balcony, everything has been on the newspaper (or pretty damned close). He is an exceptional puppy. Better, even, than Dino was at his age!

But, yesterday, in the office, he did nothing on the newspaper waiting until we went for a short walk to pee and poop. An absolute result! He ate several times during the day and, in the afternoon had to be encouraged to come out with me when I went for a cigarette, so tired as he was.

However, not being completely stupid, he remembered the car.

I think, in his head, it works something like this:

Car = make me feel bad = I throw up = make me feel worse = DO NOT GET IN CAR!

As we are approaching the car he hangs back. When I reach the car, he is some feet away (on the lead, of course) and sits down. When I try to coax him to the car, he is stubborn. When I pull him he fights back. But, I mean fights back with vigour!!!!

Obviously I am a tad stronger than he is. He gets put in the car. I try to drive a little slower, especially round corners. In any event, by the time we reach home I see he has thrown up. Ah well, poverino. He will get used to it, I know – but it’ll mean no food this evening until we’ve arrived in Carrara and we’ll stop at least once to ‘clean up’ I expect.

Dino used to be like this, so I know it will get better.

But my, how happy was he to see Dino last night? The new, improved, sleek, short-haired Dino. Dino almost seemed a little pleased to see him – but, really, how can you tell?

Last night he was playing and generally having fun. Maybe he will forget about the car by this evening? We shall see.

Then this morning, F got up with me (that was the second success) which was a big surprise. In fact, he wanted to make sure he could handle them both together. Bless him, he gets worried that he won’t be able to control them. It was a success in that he handled everything – but at the same time, I could have stayed in bed for an extra hour! Ah well.

But the main success was that, within a few moments of being out, Piero did his first (not counting the ones yesterday) pooh outside. Oh how good is he? Dino didn’t do his first for months.

So, there were mainly successes and the setback with the car journey. It could be very much worse. He is, in a different way from Dino, of course, going to turn out to be a great dog.

In which we go to work.

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Well, the getting up at 5.30 a.m. lasted for 2 days. This morning, no!

Ah well, it’s OK.

We went out for our walk. This morning they got no food. I didn’t want Piero being sick in the car and I learnt this with Dino who had the same problem.

At first, I put Piero in the footwell but it was no good because he wanted to come to me and so I laid out the old sheet in the back and put newspaper on top. Even if I hadn’t fed him, there was always the possibility of vomiting.

He doesn’t enjoy the car …….. yet. For him it is a bit traumatic. His stomach feels bad and so, even without being sick, he drools everywhere. To the point where his muzzle is soaking wet – and, obviously, all over the paper. But at least it’s not sick!

For most of the journey he just lay down in the back.

But we made it to work. He was happy to be out and happier once I had put the lead on and we were walking from the car to the office. We get into the reception and, of course, everyone wanted to stroke him.

We made our way upstairs and into my office.

He doesn’t like my office very much. Near me is the air conditioning unit and it makes a noise which he isn’t used to – and is, therefore, a bit frightening.

However, he is getting used to it. Eventually he came to eat his food from his bowl. Then we went for a little walk to purchasing and on the way he had a little wee on the grass. I am proud of him. He is a very good dog. Everyone is amazed at how quiet he is. OK so he’s had a traumatic journey to work, everything is new and strange – but, even so, this is the way they are, more or less. They play but not so much. They like affection more than anything.

He seems a bit sad – but in reality it’s just because he is a little unsure.

Now he is so tired he is sleeping. This is already a VERY exhausting day for him.

Being a mother?

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To be honest, 5.30 a.m. is a time of morning that nobody should see unless they really want to. All sensible people would still be asleep. For that matter, F too.

Except for the last 2 days.

Yesterday, he said he wanted to get up with me. I thought it was strange and stranger still that he came out with us for a walk before going back to his flat.

Last night he told me that he wasn’t sure if he was going to get up with me but I should wake him and he would let me know.

He came out with us again. I said that he didn’t have to get up. He replied that he didn’t want to miss the walk with the new bimbo. So NOW I get it.

However, I think this may be the last time. We shall see.

He is also acting a little bit like a typical Italian mother (when I say say typical I mean stereotypical, of course. I’m sure not all Italian mums are like this) in that he is a little over protective of Piero.

“Do you think he’s OK out on the balcony?” Yes, I assure him. Even if, I too worry a bit that he’ll fall through the railings (dogs, generally, not being so clever, especially at this age).
“I am a bit worried about taking him out on my own” was a comment made more than once.
“I think it’s a bit dangerous for him” – made on more than one occasion for different reasons.

And, when he’s not at home, he wants to know what he’s doing. Is he sleeping? Is he playing? Is he lying with Dino? How many poohs has he done? Has he eaten? Etc., etc.

Yes, just like a mother, really :-)

Tomorrow, at the suggestion of a colleague and agreement with the boss, Piero will be coming with me to work.

It will be an experience (for everyone!)

Confession time

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Piero is fantastic. He is small, cute, fluffy and makes me laugh.

He will be a lovely dog, of that I am sure.

It will take time, of course. He needs training by both me and Dino but already he is looking to Dino to determine how things should be. I am prepared and I am not concerned by the pooping anywhere but the paper – it takes time for him to understand what’s OK and what’s not.

I’m not too worried about the barking when excited or when he wants to play. Although one doesn’t want to encourage it, of course. Barking is not good. I have spoken to Rita, our door lady, to ask that, should the other residents complain, she should tell me.

He is sweet and wants to be with you but seems a little more independent than Dino – although it’s far too early to tell, yet.

He is everything a puppy should be and will grow into a stupendous Bearded Collie.

And I do love him, very much.

But ………

He is not Dino.

I have always said that Dino was going to be the best dog I’ve ever had. And Dino HAS been the best dog I’ve ever had. I don’t know why, it was just the way it was from the moment I chose him.

I don’t have the same feeling for Piero. I mean, I love him and everything – but, somehow, there isn’t the same connection as there was with Dino.

Perhaps, of course, it will change? Or perhaps this is how parents feel? Perhaps, after all, their favourite is a real thing and in spite of how they WANT to feel, they really do favour one over the rest?

But it makes me feel a little guilty.

I mean, I loved Rufus (and Ben and Sam and Spotty Dog and the rest) very much – but Dino was, really, THE ONE and I was a bit worried that, with Piero, Dino would lose ‘his place’. Instead, Dino retains his place and that, in some way, makes me feel bad.

I shall, of course, like any good parent, try to ensure they both get treated the same and feel the same love from me, but ……

I hope you understand what I mean.

Piero has arrived

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He’s sleeping now. Sleeping is good. Sleeping means not bothering Dino and not poohing or peeing. I already want sleep and feel as if he has been here for months.

Only five were left

We collected him from the kennels. They gave us some food and the little soft toy that they had used, a different one with each puppy. She said that, now that they’ve seen how well Dino is, they have no concern that we will treat him right.

Piero before leaving his Mum and siblings

He seemed quieter than I remember. But, I thought, quieter is good.

He went in the back of the car and we drove the half an hour or so to the showroom. F wanted to show him off.

During the journey, he tried to get from the back to the front. He was also sick four times. I asked F to remind me that we should not feed him before travelling. I remembered how it was with Dino.

When we got to the showroom he was shell-shocked. He didn’t want to leave the car and then didn’t want to leave the safety of ‘under the table’. After a while he was coaxed inside and started to be a bit more curious.

I took him home. I let him walk from the lift. In this strange new world he wasn’t going to let me leave him behind anyway.

I opened the door and greeted Dino but Dino could smell him and wondered what he was. On seeing Dino, however, Piero became very excited. This was a dog, after all, and dogs he knew well. Dino, however, was less than impressed. Especially by the fact that Piero thought hair pulling was good fun!

Since then there has been an uneasy truce. Well, uneasy as far as Dino is concerned.

WTF is THIS?

Apart from the one time that Piero tried to eat out of Dino’s bowl as Dino was eating. Then, Piero had a quick, sharp reminder that he has manners to learn.

I am a rug

We have had a lot of success with the newspaper. So far, (and I am keeping my fingers crossed here), all pees have been on newspaper. Unfortunately, the one pooh he did was in the middle of the bedroom floor! oh well, you can’t be perfect at everything when you’re only 2 and a half months old, I guess. However, I was reminded that the whole house seems to smell of dog pooh – and I hope I don’t too!

I'm not sure I trust you yet ......

So, so far, so good. They will get used to each other over the next few months and then it will be fine.

Meet Piero!

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Well, we made the choice. To be honest, part of the reason was that he seemed a little independent. For independent read: hard-headed. For hard-headed read: difficult. For difficult read: right little barsteward.

I am certain he is the right choice. :-D

Poor Dino although, to be honest, Dino is much the same.

Anyway, it’s time you met Piero:

F was, of course, quite taken with him:

as, it seems, was Piero with F:

Here are two photos that F took that are so, so cute:

In preparation.

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Well, I think it’s as good as it will get – subject to plastic around important legs, which will have to wait.

Of course, I THINK it’s OK but know, in my heart, that I have, quite obviously, missed something.

There are, one hopes, what with F buying something every time he goes abroad, enough toys to keep the little bugger occupied. In the process I have cleared out some food in the fridge and found that I have far too much wine. Maybe I should drink more? ;-)

Tonight, we should be going out with the Austrian friend and her husband. They are here to select clothes for next year, it being the start of the showroom sales.

Next week is the Paris fashion shows, so F is in Paris next weekend. Dino and I will be going to Carrara, even if I prefer to be with F.

I have suggested to Best Mate, that she comes for the first week in August (as F will be working and I shall be in the first week of my three-week holiday) – she can get a cheapish flight to Pisa and we can spend the days on the beach or sight-seeing or something. I don’t think she will come but it would be rather nice. And it would be a weeks holiday for her.

Of course, there will also be Piero, which makes it more fun. We could have barbeques in the back garden and stuff. Yes, it would be all rather fun, I think. I hope she says ‘yes’.

This afternoon, we are going to see Piero and, hopefully, choose. F says that he will like them all and be unable to choose, so I will do it. He says that he will always, then, prefer one of the others. But I think there will be ‘the one’ – and you know that I always believe in ‘the one’ for both dogs and boyfriends :-D

In the meantime, these next few weeks will be SO busy, with hardly an evening or weekend free to do anything. Weekends in Carrara being the only time to relax. And then comes Piero – so even more so. But it’s OK. It will be fun, I know that much.

Summer; slowly; puppy-proofing

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Finally, it is here.

The temperature in my flat, with all windows open, is 30°C. Last night it reached a low of about 25°C (according to the weather forecast I use).

I am happy but slower, of course. I am also, after going to the supermarket, sweating so I am sitting here for a moment, typing this whilst I ‘dry off’ a bit. Before going out again. Slowly, of course. On the other hand, both Dino and F are not so happy. Dino cannot get cool enough and, at times, seems to be trying to dig through the floor (to get to cooler earth???). Obviously, he doesn’t realise that we are on the third floor and so, if he ever did manage to dig through the concrete, he would be in the flat below! Now, he can’t be walked in the middle of the day. It’s too uncomfortable for him. I wait until about 8 when the sun is lower – even then it’s really too hot for him, poor thing.

We are not in Carrara this weekend. F is supposed to be working but has done his back in again and so is currently at home. So this weekend, the plan was to ‘puppy-proof’ the flat. Which I will start this afternoon.

Puppy-proofing will be difficult, I think. When we got Dino we were able to close off the lounge. Here, I am unable to do that and, anyway, I need the lounge for the newspaper.

So, all rugs must be lifted; all books must be put into the bookcase; all videos stored away from the bottom shelf in the hall. There will be other things too. I have an idea for protecting the table legs and chair legs in the lounge which is to get some thick plastic and tie round them. The ones in the kitchen don’t really matter. There will be things that I will miss, of course. It’s one of the prices you pay.

Still, we have not decided. Now I am so busy that, if I don’t go this weekend and choose, it won’t happen. I really want F there too (to help choose) but I’m guessing he won’t come. Maybe I go tomorrow.

In any event, it is summer and Piero should be here in the next 3 weeks or so. I am so excited. It will be exhausting but fun.