Monthly Archives: July 2012

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.

Relaxing/preparing

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Sorry for not posting. This week has been so incredibly busy and I am very much looking forward to the weekend a relaxing a bit on the beach.

Of course, this is before the BIG DAY on Monday, for it is on Monday morning that we shall go and collect Piero and bring him to his new home.

And, in celebration (and also ‘cos he did a Guardian interview), you have to check out this blog from a dog!