Pentland Pet Services Newsletter - November/December
The lodging season was brought to a close by Ozzy and Mac, the miniature Schnauzers, who arrived at the beginning of November for a couple of weeks.
They were great characters that quickly settled down, making themselves quite at home. Fortunately the weather was quite good during their stay so there were plenty of field walks affording Mac and Ozzy the opportunity to sniff and snuffle around the longer grass then run along the paths into the next field to check out what was on offer there.
The lodging season was brought to a close by Ozzy and Mac, the miniature Schnauzers, who arrived at the beginning of November for a couple of weeks.
They were great characters that quickly settled down, making themselves quite at home. Fortunately the weather was quite good during their stay so there were plenty of field walks affording Mac and Ozzy the opportunity to sniff and snuffle around the longer grass then run along the paths into the next field to check out what was on offer there.
Day care and training continued over November and December with Rufus and Blue having refresher courses and then Bailey spending a day while his people had some time in Glasgow. Bailey had had the “snip” earlier in the week and was recuperating so could not be off leash during his walks.
He was very frustrated by this, particularly when meeting some of his pals in the fields and not being able to run with them.
I have caught up with Bailey since and pleased to say he is now fully recovered and racing around with great gusto once more.
It was with great sadness we heard from Dalry that The Boy had passed.
He was twenty-one and been with his owner John since he was a kitten. Ross’s first meeting with the Boy was on the day John brought him home back in April 1989 so Ross is also grieving the passing of an old friend.
Talking of the Dalry cats, good wishes and bon voyage to Banjo who is about to set off to start her new life with John and Mo in Australia.
He was very frustrated by this, particularly when meeting some of his pals in the fields and not being able to run with them.
I have caught up with Bailey since and pleased to say he is now fully recovered and racing around with great gusto once more.
It was with great sadness we heard from Dalry that The Boy had passed.
He was twenty-one and been with his owner John since he was a kitten. Ross’s first meeting with the Boy was on the day John brought him home back in April 1989 so Ross is also grieving the passing of an old friend.
Talking of the Dalry cats, good wishes and bon voyage to Banjo who is about to set off to start her new life with John and Mo in Australia.
This icy weather reminded me of a quaint little foible of one of my Deerhounds, Torry, who preferred to head for high ground in order to poo.
In icy weather the result of his efforts were nicknamed stalagmites (or stalagsh*tes to be more accurate) and could be seen pointing skywards from a great distance.
How I miss those dogs whose funny little ways cheered up the bleakest of days.
I am always interested in receiving tips to pass on to other dog owners.
One such tip has come via Tasha the Boxer who suffers terribly from carsickness.
Tasha and her people make trips to family in Ireland periodically and the car journey to the ferry is a difficult time for Tasha.
The vet had prescribed quite expensive medication with the expectation that this would see Tasha make it to Stranraer. She only managed to get to the top of Heathfield however (not even 2 miles out from home) before the carsickness kicked in.
Someone has suggested that Tasha has ice cream prior to and, if necessary, during the car ride as this has been found to prove successful with other dogs.
Once Tasha has tried out this remedy on her next trip I shall let you know the results.
With no lodgers now until next March you may find me arriving at your door in order to borrow a dog or join you in a dog walk.
After a period of time I do suffer withdrawal symptoms from being dogless!.
A very Merry Christmas and many thanks to all the wonderful dogs, cats and their people who have made running Pentland Pet Services a joy.
I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.
Be safe and stay warm!
Anne
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A Dog’s Tale – Clyde
Over the past week or so you may have had difficulty in actually spotting Clyde as he is a very white Boxer, so would have easily merged in with the winter landscape.
Clyde is now nine and a half years old; years that have not been trouble free despite finding himself re-homed in a loving home at the age of eleven months.
I met Clyde some time ago and was impressed by his sweet nature, considering him to be a very handsome dog. Once I heard his tale I was even more impressed by his resilience, recuperative powers and his devotion to the new people in his life.
As I said he was already eleven months old when he came to the attention of his new owners and was being re-homed due to being hyperactive and somewhat boisterous.
He settled without any problem in his new home, becoming a much-loved family member.
In icy weather the result of his efforts were nicknamed stalagmites (or stalagsh*tes to be more accurate) and could be seen pointing skywards from a great distance.
How I miss those dogs whose funny little ways cheered up the bleakest of days.
I am always interested in receiving tips to pass on to other dog owners.
One such tip has come via Tasha the Boxer who suffers terribly from carsickness.
Tasha and her people make trips to family in Ireland periodically and the car journey to the ferry is a difficult time for Tasha.
The vet had prescribed quite expensive medication with the expectation that this would see Tasha make it to Stranraer. She only managed to get to the top of Heathfield however (not even 2 miles out from home) before the carsickness kicked in.
Someone has suggested that Tasha has ice cream prior to and, if necessary, during the car ride as this has been found to prove successful with other dogs.
Once Tasha has tried out this remedy on her next trip I shall let you know the results.
With no lodgers now until next March you may find me arriving at your door in order to borrow a dog or join you in a dog walk.
After a period of time I do suffer withdrawal symptoms from being dogless!.
A very Merry Christmas and many thanks to all the wonderful dogs, cats and their people who have made running Pentland Pet Services a joy.
I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.
Be safe and stay warm!
Anne
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A Dog’s Tale – Clyde
Over the past week or so you may have had difficulty in actually spotting Clyde as he is a very white Boxer, so would have easily merged in with the winter landscape.
Clyde is now nine and a half years old; years that have not been trouble free despite finding himself re-homed in a loving home at the age of eleven months.
I met Clyde some time ago and was impressed by his sweet nature, considering him to be a very handsome dog. Once I heard his tale I was even more impressed by his resilience, recuperative powers and his devotion to the new people in his life.
As I said he was already eleven months old when he came to the attention of his new owners and was being re-homed due to being hyperactive and somewhat boisterous.
He settled without any problem in his new home, becoming a much-loved family member.
As you may or may not know, I am not a fan of extending leads as find them cumbersome and do not consider they afford the correct amount of control.
But even I was startled to hear that Clyde’s first incident was as a result of being on an extending leash...
Whilst on leash and waiting to cross at the lights between Low Road and Heath field Road, Clyde for whatever reason became interested in checking out the driver of a stationary car waiting for the green light.
The person walking Clyde had not realised that the leash was in the “unlock” position and while concentrating on the moving traffic was unaware Clyde had wandered onto the road with the lead extending as he went. Clyde was knocked down suffering a broken leg that required to be pinned and was out of action for eight weeks.
Clyde’s next vet visit was necessitated having swallowed slug pellets.
The first indication that something was wrong was when Clyde came in from the garden with a blue mouth. His recovery this time took three weeks.
Clyde loves children and is quite prepared to be dressed up by visiting grandchildren, however, when playing on a frosty day he slipped on the ice Bambi fashion and damaged a tendon.
There have been a few more disasters that for other dogs may have appeared fairly major, however, for Clyde they pale into insignificance.
He remains a joyful boy who flips his toy box upside down and amuses himself playing with his favourite toys, is devoted to his owner and loves backing up to sit on your lap for an ear tickle.
The message from Clyde’s tale?
If today hasn’t gone so well don’t let it get you down, tomorrow is another day, look forward and not back!
But even I was startled to hear that Clyde’s first incident was as a result of being on an extending leash...
Whilst on leash and waiting to cross at the lights between Low Road and Heath field Road, Clyde for whatever reason became interested in checking out the driver of a stationary car waiting for the green light.
The person walking Clyde had not realised that the leash was in the “unlock” position and while concentrating on the moving traffic was unaware Clyde had wandered onto the road with the lead extending as he went. Clyde was knocked down suffering a broken leg that required to be pinned and was out of action for eight weeks.
Clyde’s next vet visit was necessitated having swallowed slug pellets.
The first indication that something was wrong was when Clyde came in from the garden with a blue mouth. His recovery this time took three weeks.
Clyde loves children and is quite prepared to be dressed up by visiting grandchildren, however, when playing on a frosty day he slipped on the ice Bambi fashion and damaged a tendon.
There have been a few more disasters that for other dogs may have appeared fairly major, however, for Clyde they pale into insignificance.
He remains a joyful boy who flips his toy box upside down and amuses himself playing with his favourite toys, is devoted to his owner and loves backing up to sit on your lap for an ear tickle.
The message from Clyde’s tale?
If today hasn’t gone so well don’t let it get you down, tomorrow is another day, look forward and not back!
