The Christmas Tree has been dismantled..

P

Patches

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 February 2005
Messages
10,028
Visit site
...not by Harvey, but by me.

After reading Charlie's post about Rosie, I decided to take it down. We've been trying to teach him to leave it alone, but he is a baby afterall and can't help but want to play with the sparkly, shimmering gold decorations.

Normality and a heightened sense of safety has returned to The Patches household this evening. I have to say, it's a relief.

Regarding my nipping question. The way I have been tackling it so far is to pick up one of his teething toys and offer it to him. That usually satisfies him for a while.

Have bought a book which looked good tonight called "Puppy Parenting" and also bought a breed specific book too. The other one I was bought was actually about American Cockers as the purchaser didn't know there was another type of Cocker.
 
American Cockers look quite extreme, don't they, you should see some of the American show GSDs, it is the same
frown.gif
although I have met an ACS and it was lovely, all clipped out.

It's a problem you can encounter with any dog, a house dog, an outdoors dog, dogs eat things, the best you can do is keep them safe as you can.

My old female had a pyometra and swallowed two pairs of balled-up tights (her phantom pregnancy made her want to 'mother' things) we had no idea she had done it, they were down in a flash, but the operation to remove them from around her intestines, and to have her bits out ASAP, was not so quick and very expensive.

It can happen so easily, the best we can do is make the precautions we can.
 
I had made the tree as safe as I could but moving the decorations higher. Sadly I bought a tree that went right to the ground as I don't personally like those whose branches start a third of the way up. As the tree has pine cones and red cherry things on some of the branches, I have decided tonight that I can't risk it any longer.

We have a little 4 ft tree that can sit in the deep windowsill next year with battery lighting.

I am on at the children constantly about not dropping sweet wrappers, bits of toys etc. Infact, all toys are banished from the living room now as the "middle room", a dining room, has become their playroom now.

Harvey cannot get in there as we have a puppy gate on that doorway.
 
I might as well confess that the kitten we rescued from our shed some months ago, is by far the most hm, enthusiastic and clumsy kitten/cat we've ever had and that made us decide to have a nude Christmas tree this year!
blush.gif


Though I some years ago invested in an extremely steady stand, it still simply felt best to not decorate it and thus encourage her to investigate it more. All the decorations we've had this year, has thereby hung in doorways and on curtain rods. Though I must say, this has never happened before in my household and I have no intentions of making it a habit.


laugh.gif
 
Mines come down too.

Along with every single piece of holly off the mantlepiece, and I've even thrown out the crackers I'd saved for a new years eve meal. The shaggy rug has gone from the hearth, and I noticed the washing basket that stands by the washing machine is fraying, so thats gone out into the shed.
There's nothing like a night sitting worrying to get you on hands and knees removing everything a puppy *may* chew.

My house is so puppy proof now even the RSPCA couldnt pick a hole in it.

Tomorrow I intend on using the huge spare crate I have and using it to pen off the patio, before sweeping the patio pristine.
 
Well you all know what Henry got up to with his stomach earlier this year... it was so expensive that the vets that did the op have sent me a free calendar and I'm not even registered with them! The Christmas Tree has been fine though.

We only ever met one ACS - we were just getting back to the car after a walk around a fab dog walking place - there's a little shallow river, hedges, cowpats, trees, open spaces for running and LOTS of mud. Henry, as you can imagine, was dripping! This poor little ACS had a show-type trim and was firmly on a lead being dragged away from all the mud
frown.gif
I'm sure it would have appreciated a bit of muck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top