And baby makes three!

[diamondlil]

They look like they're having a lot of fun. One of my dogs LOVES to chase the ball, and he often would get his pads torn up from skidding on the dirt and dry grass. I had to take him to an area with better grass to prevent it from happening.

There is (for us) a heatwave at the moment so the ground is rock hard. So really I'm limiting his games of fetch and using the vetwrap when he does play hard. I used a calendula ointment mixed with manuka and he's healed up pretty good, but apparently there's something called 'mushers wax' that might help too, so if this dry spell continues I'll try that. And also I'm still looking into the various types of hock guards as a more long-term help

 

[MegF.]

The small gnats here are awful during the summer....my horses are miserable! The dogs don't seem to have a problem with them thankfully. You need to hire your dogs out as rat exterminators!

 

[diamondlil]

Well we've had quite an active summer, out and about with Bertie's running away habits almost gone! I still wouldn't trust him totally but he's been very good for a few months now..... we've taken the dogs out sea fishing at Dover, where they got to meet a large and angry crab, and I think Flash has finally stopped growing now!

 

[diamondlil]

Part of Bertie's reformed character is due to getting him involved in playing more instead of making his own amusement. So I cured a rabbit skin in salt and made Mr Bunny, our training dummy! Mr Bunny either gets thrown into cover for retrieving or I fasten him to a long rope and run like crazy!

 

[diamondlil]

We have been going down the river on hot days so the dogs can swim, and just over a week ago Bertie cut his foot open. He didn't limp until I put his lead on, but after studying the photos I realised he'd done it right at the start of the fun and been running in the mud and swimming for a good hour or so. Home to wash out the wound and I was horrified to find it was a deep laceration, so straight to the vets for wound cleaning, antibiotics and staples.

 

[diamondlil]

After 3 days of anitiotic injections, a further 5 days on antibiotic tablets, I'm glad to say the wound has healed up beautifully and Bertie is back to running around at full speed!

 

[MysticExotics]

As always, I love the photos you post! I'm glad Bertie is better! It's hard to keep active dogs from hurting themselves!

 

[vetusvates]

Good to see your posts, Janine.

I am sure the dogs must be a riot. In a good way.

 

[MegF.]

Glad Bertie is feeling better and it looks like the dogs weren't sure WHAT to do with that crab!

 

[diamondlil]

Glad Bertie is feeling better and it looks like the dogs weren't sure WHAT to do with that crab!

It was definately a case of crab 3 - dogs 0! they all got nipped on the nose and the crab was returned to the sea unharmed.

 

[tsst]

Great pics as always J9. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MegF.]

I guess the pups will keep their noses out of crab business in the future!

 

[diamondlil]

I've taken the dogs over to visit Mick's workshop this week, in Rochester. Flash really needs more practice in walking calmly where there are crowds without getting anxious, and he did really well. SO we went past the Cathedral and Castle, then the dogs had fun looking for rats in the yard

 

[diamondlil]

After being good and behaving nicely during the visit and another walk back through the crowds, time to let off steam with another run. The boys were chasing crows all over the field, whereas Rosie will only give chase if one lands near her.

 

[diamondlil]

Yesterday was hot and the tide times were right for the dogs to have a swim in the river, so a trek there and then let them wear themselves out! One of their pals from the yacht club came ashore and gave them a fuss. Thankfully no cut paws this time.

 

[MegF.]

Looks like great fun!! I would LOVE to photograph the castle!!! Someday I will come visit!

 

[diamondlil]

More fun! Now that Bertie joins in with 'fetch', I'm having to replace lost tennis balls more often as he isn't quite reliable on finding the ones he drops. so neon socks knotted around them means less chance of losing them

 

[diamondlil]

And a toy monkey with his arms ripped off by the boys has become a flirtpole! Bertie has had a bit of a trim with my new clippers, long enough to keep him warm but dries out quicker in the rain. I actually managed to wear him out for once, as he's got very fond of his pink sock/ball toy!

 

[diamondlil]

Today we caught the tide before it started going out, so there was seagull chasing and retrievinng from water

 

[diamondlil]

Then on to the country park, so they could run around and dry off...except Bertie decided the reedbed looked interesting and came back with filthy, stinky legs!