The foster family bought Ace a new bed. So they shared some new photos of Ace in his new bed (see below).
I’m in two minds about sharing the latest raw photos of Ace’s paw without the bandage. They are not pretty to look at.
But it’s really nice that his foster family, and the rescue home are keeping those of us in the UK up to date with his progress.
Yesterday Diogo and I had our initial consultation with the dog trainer/behaviourist.
Part of the consultation saw Diogo going out for a walk, much to Dolly’s disgust. The intent of the walk was to allow the dog trainer to see how Diogo reacted towards other dogs.
Obviously getting ready for the walk allowed the dog trainer to see how Diogo reacts, and his excitement that is vocalised as barking.
We headed off to Tillery Park. A five minute walk.
Back as a teenager when we lived in Princess Road, Tillery Park was literally opposite the house. It was where each day I used to walk our dogs Timmy (a jack russell) and Rex (mostly lab). Back then there used to be a fallen tree in the middle of the park. A tree as an even younger kid, like many others, used to be climbed all over.
When we got to the park there were people present on the benches. But alas no dogs.
We didn’t see a dog until near the end of our circuit of the park. Diogo reacted with his usual response of barking.
Having not seen another dog until that point, we saw another three or more on the way home.
The trainer confirmed my assessment of Diogo getting excited at the start of the walk, and that he was pretty good on the lead.
The barking at other dogs she thought was more to do with frustration that Diogo couldn’t just run up at them. Which is what he would do back in Peru living on the streets.
It was a positive that not only would Diogo respond/get distracted by food, especially in his excited state.
Back at the house the trainer went over the structure of the sessions. Two of the five will be in a paddock with another dog to teach us both how to handle the situation.
The rest will be indoor training. Which will see us working on the vocal excitement.
The trainer did recommend that Diogo and I take part in one or two of her socialising dog walks that she holds. And I will do that. But Dolly will be on those too. I saw on Facebook that they take place in places like Hunstanton beach or Shouldham Warren. The latter Dolly and I are familiar with.
Our first session should be at the end of the month once the trainer is back from her holiday.
Wow a dual post!
I’ll start off with another Ace update. Yes I know I only posted about Ace yesterday. However within twenty four hours of that post going up I was sent two very brief videos of Ace at the vets. Which I now share with you below.
The kinda sad news is that once he has recovered and healed Ace will have a permanent limp.
Onto Diogo.
I’ve finally had a response from a local dog trainer/behaviourist. Which is exciting news.
Next Wednesday they are coming to see us for an initial consultation. Which if that goes well will see Diogo start a five session course to help him with his over excitement when getting ready and on a walk.
The only drawback at the moment is that the dog trainer/behaviourist is booked solid for the next two weeks, and is then going on holiday for two weeks after that. So the earliest that we will be starting to help Diogo is April.
But I’m hoping that once I’ve been through this with Diogo it will allow me to help Ace once he is with us.
It’s also likely that I’ll look at getting Diogo lessons that will allow him to be off lead as well.
And yes this does sound expensive. But making sure Diogo is happy and safe is the priority.
We woke up Monday morning to a thin layer of snow.
I really would have loved a thicker covering of snow. At best we had one and a half centimetres. Not deep at all. It’s been at least fifteen years since our part of the fens has had anything worth describing as snow. Which firmly puts it into the twilight years of the wolf pack.
As far as I know this is the first time Diogo has experienced snow.
Diogo’s first experience of the snow was in our back yard. At first he found it a bit odd. But the fresh snow fall passed the lick test.
It was funny throughout the day when out in the backyard that not only would he lick the snow but he got snow on his face.
I think it’s fair to say he enjoyed his first experience of snow.
This post is going to be less poor writing and more just a photo dump from the walks that we have had the last few days. Or as I like to think of it the start of Diego’s training to build him up to the much longer walks.
The South Holland Main Drain walk will always be associated with Nico. As we walked along the bank of the drain I couldn’t help remembering the sight of Nico sprinting for his dear life towards me as a flying pheasant seemed to be chasing him. Other times on this walk Nico would go missing in the wheat fields looking for who knows what. Making our walk much longer than it had to be as Strider and I looked for him.
Once back it looked like Diogo had the limp returning. So I made the decision to make Saturday a “rest day”.
As you can see we’ve had the cold spell but no snow. Which is kinda disappointing. I’d like a good snow fall.
Well it’s a new year but to get here every pet owner and pet has to go through the same gauntlet.
Despite the many pleas on social media in the run up to the new year for others to consider how stressful fireworks are for the animal kingdom. There still seems to be those that think letting off enough ordnance to put the illegal airstrike of a sovereign nations nuclear program to shame is justified in celebrating the passing of the old and the start of the new.
This would be Diogo’s first time experiencing such explosive celebrations. How would he handle it.
I’ve been lucky in the past. The wolf pack were not bothered at all by the loud explosions. Which was handy when we were living in Crook because we were living next to the towns cricket ground where we found out they held the annual fireworks display.
Nico and Loki have been ok as well with fireworks. And Dolly has been as well.
I think the secret is not to get stressed out by the fireworks yourself. I think the furballs pick up on this. So being calm and not reacting helps them.
Mums dogs Ebony and Toby were always getting stressed out by fireworks. Which I think they picked up from mum. She got stressed that they were going to be stressed. It was a self fulfilling prophecy.
Last night Diogo was in his bed when the first explosions of the night started going off. All he did was get on the bed and cuddle up next to me. As did Loki and Dolly. I was literally pinned on the bed by them cuddled up next to me.
They weren’t stressed, worried or under any duress. Just content cuddled up next to me.
I was really proud how all three handled the fireworks. I’ll take doggy cuddles any day of the week.
This morning on our walk there was very little evidence of last nights explosive celebrations. Usually the remains of some expensive fireworks display in a box type thing are left next to the dog bins or in the middle of the grass. All I saw this morning was the remains of a sparkler and a couple of rockets. I know times are hard for lots of people and this is just a tiny example of where people are making cuts.
Anyway happy new year from the little monsters.
Today Dolly and I introduced Diogo to the fenland landscape.
We went to just out side of Newton in the Isle for a walk I used to do regularly with the wolf pack. This one saw us doing a there and back to the North Level Main Drain. It ended up being about 1.5 miles in total.
This is the furthest Diogo has been on a walk since arriving in the UK.
Although the sun was out there was still a bit of a chill.
While Dolly was off the lead, a trust she has learnt. Diogo has not got to that point yet and was kept on his lead. He did get a bit longer on it than normal because I used Dolly’s lead as an extension.
Although I did my best to avoid other dogs, and the inevitable barking in excitement from Diogo. I wasn’t 100 percent able to avoid that situation though.
But I am trying to get to a point using calming dog treats (I’m very sceptical about these but time will tell). I’ve also contacted a dog trainer but had no reply yet. But then again it is the Christmas period and they could be taking the time off. I’ll give them until middle of next week before looking for another.
In the meantime Dolly and I need to build Diogo up so he can do the longer walks.
There is one last opportunity for some games to be played before the year is over. Hopefully that will work out. Then it’s a couple of boring stats posts and we are in the new year.
I did give away my Pokemon Splendor yesterday. My step sisters son is a Pokémon fan. He collects the cards but doesn’t play. So I decided to let him have my copy of the game.
My Christmas viewing, apart from YouTube has been a rewatch of season 1 of Arrow. Which has been fun watching these earlier, almost darker episodes again.
I’d say Diogo is now 98% back to full use of the leg.
I do notice a brief limp after he has been resting for a while.
Now to build him up to doing a longer walk.
I do have a new brew kit in the works. It will work with any stove. Well 99% of them that aren’t like a Jetboil type stove. It won’t be the lightest but it will be flexible.
Having a brew stop while out on the longer walks is something I really enjoy. It’s something I need to introduce Diogo to. Unlike Dolly who will have a bit more freedom while we stop. Diogo will be on his leash. Until he learns or should I say earns the trust to be off it. Which at the moment won’t be for a while.
I do need to look into training for the both of us. We need to correct Diego’s barking while excited. Whether that’s while I’m getting ready for our walk or while out and seeing another dog.
His barking Christmas Day morning at 8am upon seeing another dog did see a home owner enter into the Christmas spirit by shouting out of their window for Diogo to stop barking. Diogo’s response? To keep barking. It’s surprising how loud his bark sounds in the silence of the early morning, echoing off the surrounding houses.
I’ve tried the usual words in English and Spanish but they have no impact. I’m not sure Diogo knows the meaning or how to be.
So I’m hoping a combination of training and calming dog treats (ordered from Amazon) will break Diogo of this habit.
The other aim of any training is to get to the point where he has earnt the trust to chill freely while stopping for a brew.
Diogo is about 80-90% now with his bad leg.
Each day it seems to be getting stronger. Which is what I want to see.
Hopefully Diogo will be in a position soon where I can introduce him to the fenland landscape.
This morning the post delivered an emotional surprise.
A mystery friend had sent me this little slate with Nico’s photo on to remember him by.
It came as a complete surprise when I opened the cardboard envelope it came in.
I had no idea.
And yes it did cause my eyes to leak.
The photo is from one of the ones I shared when I told the world of Nico passing away.
It’s a beautiful gift to remember Nico by.
I’m eternally grateful to the mysterious, generous, thoughtful friend.
After the “brief” update yesterday buried in the “I’m still alive post”. I thought it’d be more appropriate to give another update on Diogo’s road to recovery its own post.
Diogo is continuing to make progress in using his leg.
He is using it a lot more. If walking at a slow or moderate pace he is using it. However if at speed because he is excited and wants to get to the next scent fast, he resorts to limping.
Which is massive progress.
I want to think that the rheumocam he is taking once a day is helping. According to the included leaflet with the medication it alleviates “inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders in dogs.“
The only pain about the medication is it’s an oral medication. So I have to use a syringe to give it to him.
Unlike Nico and his heart medication who I could pick up, cradle in my arm, and use the syringe in his mouth. Diogo is a bit more challenging. Neither enjoy the medication they have/had to take.
But as I said it appears to be working.
Kate managed to get hold of the details for the operation that Diogo under went while in Peru. Which I promptly emailed to the vet. I’m also sharing them with you below.
“Right flank / lumbar area: an open wound was found affecting the dermis and epidermis; for this reason, flap approximation was performed.
Lacerations were present on the distal portion of the tibia, fibula, and tarsal bones. In this area, partial loss of condyles and fascia was found. Skin approximation and regenerative treatment were performed, preserving the anatomy of the distal limb. Estimated recovery and skin regeneration time: 2 months.
A bilateral orchiectomy was also performed. Postoperative care was provided following all surgical procedures.
Medications used
Anesthesia:
• Ketamine
• Fentanyl
• Lidocaine
• Propofol (maintenance)
Postoperative treatment:
• Cephalexin
• Meloxicam
• Dipyrone”
Obviously that all means diddly squat to me.
Kate also has the theory that Diogo may not be used to walking so much, especially in the rescue home.
So maybe it’s a combination of things that have bought us to this moment in time and the issue with the leg.
Diogo has also started knocking over the glass next to my bed to get my attention. He particularly does this if I try and ignore his barking to nag me to take him for a walk.
Diogo has his body clock that tells him he wants a walk at 8am and another around 3pm.
And if I don’t give in to his initial prompts his barking somehow gets louder!
He can be a very demanding young dog.