Nico and his Aunt

Since I last blogged a lot has happened and it has all been what I never expected in a million years. My mother got herself a lhasa apso puppy! NICO HAS A BUD! It is a wee female called Senna and she is a total ball of fluff and most importantly, totally different from Nico himself. He was happy to see her at first and then has gone through jealous patches or patches where she wants to talk to him ore than he would like but for the most part they are getting on well and I am very proud of him.

He has sure stepped up though. He very much protects her on walks, looking out for threats and waiting to bark but I tell him not to so he holds it back. His behaviour is just...well better and he holds himself with a bit more swagger, as if he knows he is the big boy now. It is wonderful to see. There was worry that they would not get on and Senna wouldn't be able to stay and Nico would get upest and angry but I have always had faith in him and things are turning out grand. Not everything is perfect but for the most part I think he is very much happy to have a wee bud.

Long time no woof

Oops. I kept thinking I should update and then I kept forgetting. Well, Nico has grown and is progressing with various milestones like big boy haircuts and not getting insanely excited when he meets new people. Just...mostly excited when he meets new people. As he gets bigger he can walk more and that is fun. He still has his limits as he has short legs and he will never be a 5 mile a day lab but still, it is fun. Having him is getting me to investigate all the nature that is on my door step that I never thought of before. There is an old quarry that has been dug out and turned into a heritage trail that runs down to the river and I love it there. Within minutes it feels like you're miles from the town and everything is green and lovely. Dogs run around off their leads and have fun, sniffing out rabbit holes and getting fascinated by wild rabbits darting to and fro.

I feel safe there, relaxed, and that is a big deal for me given my anxiety and how every time I leave my house it is a small victory. Nico's first walk around the top part of the trail left him knackered but every time we go back he manages to toddle a little further and having him down by the river is amazing. By that point you can't hear the cars at all and everything is so peaceful. We've had a big adventure there by losing the lead. Or shall I say, I let go and he waddles along investigating and checking I'm still there. I feared he would run off and I'd be chasing him down but he rewarded my trust and stayed close by. Given how much he's struggling to pick up recall that was a big moment for us. It is such a rush to feel like I've taught him something, that I'm developing this little pup into an adult and sometimes it feels like I've had him for five minutes and other times like forever.

I'm a lot more confident when we bump into other dogs now. I'm not scared and I don't fear being judged by others because I know Nico is well behaved and that I am doing the best that I can for him. I can now tell people I want them to call their dogs off and don't fear the consequences because I do it for Nico, because of Nico, and their opinion isn't really important to me any more. That is a big mental shift. We're at the point where Nico is ready to take on the sponsored walk for DiabetesUK with me next month and I'm very excited for that! Taking him on a sponsored walk is on my bucket list if you like~

'They' are talking again

Owning Nico has given me another rude reminder that people always like to think that they know better, even when their opinion is neither wanted nor asked for. Everyone thinks they know how to raise my dog and more importantly that they have the right to tell me this. They don’t. The fact is, Nico is my puppy and it isn’t like I’m going into this blind. I have been around dogs before with family and I’ve done my research. I’ve talked to behaviorists  vets plus I’ve read books and blogs and papers on the matter. I’m probably in the minority given I’ve done that much. I don’t pluck my facts from thin air when I defend my choices with Nico but the fact is I shouldn’t have to.

I think many people believe that they have learned about one breed of dog and therefore know about them all but a Pug is very different from a Labrador and a Poodle a very different kettle of fish than a Dalmatian. Different dogs have different needs and capabilities and all my readings and experience with dogs have taught me that I need to respect that. I’m not an expert on my dog and I’m certainly not an expert on yours but I’m not trying to be. I’m trying to learn and do the best for my pup. I’m learning about his breed. I’m trying to find his limits. To me, you can’t even compare Nico to adults of the same breed because Nico is not an adult, he is a child. His bones have yet to set and he is still learning about the world around him. He isn’t even in his ‘teenage’ years by dog standards. No, he won’t be walking the same miles every day that an older dog of the same breed might enjoy and he certainly won’t need, or want, the exercise regime of a working dog. He is a little dog, with little feet, that has his own needs and I aim to meet them and not the expectations of others.

So what is important? Loving him. That is what I really think. 

Book Review

Slight deviation from normal business! I read this book recently to try to help train Nico. I then reviewed it on my book review blog and thought it relevant to this blog as well. I think it would be an understatement to say that I was far from impressed and generally felt uneasy by the end of it.

available to read here

Walkies! Or...not.

If Nico were a small human child, he would be the one running around naked and screaming to avoid going in the bath, which you subsequently can’t get back out of the bath fifteen minutes later. Of that, I have no doubts. Baths <i>are</i> interesting with Nico and I will touch upon that in another blog but the point of this blog is something that should really be a lot simpler. Walking. I guess I took it for granted that the minute Nico was allowed outside he would automatically know how to walk and off we would go. Um, no. The first time that Nico and I ventured outside into the scary world with leash on and paws ready he….sat on the ground and looked at me. There was no bounding off into the large garden that we’re privileged to have, no tail wagging, and certainly no tugging to get going. No, Nico just sat.

I took him onto the grass and he had a sniff but still had no great urge to wander. It put it down to his age and figured he would get better as he grew up. Well, he is fifteen weeks now and still isn’t huge on walking. Lhasas are not water dogs and Nico is no exception to that particular rule. The site of a raindrop has him trying desperately to get home. He has a lovely coat and doesn’t want it getting out of shape, thank you very much~ Suddenly the name Nico seems to fit him so well, as many F1 addicts will I’m sure agree. (With a chuckle of course) Now, well this is where the bath references start to come into play. It is hard to get Nico going. Lhasas are not big walkers anyway but still, I think it is good for him to get a couple of little walks in a day. He has others ideas and would rather potter around the garden with an empty yogurt pot hanging out his mouth.

Often he just sits and whines and refuses to move. So I stand patiently, don’t look at him, don’t talk to him and so he trots along for a whole three steps and then he stops and he whines and he refuses to move and rinse and repeat. He just doesn’t get it. It can take us fifteen minutes to talk the length of my street some days.  However, when I do get him going he sure goes. He’s either a lazy sod or a champ when it comes to walking.  When he is willing he trots along nicely, investigating leaves (which move in the wind omg his little mind was blown!) and getting to know the neighbours.  Being the type of dog that he is, his legs are really too short for his body so he more runs than walks even though I dawdle myself to let him keep up. His breeding shows when he is wary of strangers and other dogs but willing to say hello once he is sure.  He really is brilliant when he’s happily walking. He loves the canal when I can get him there and walking right smack through the middle of the deepest muddiest puddles he can find.  (Isn’t so fond of the brushing required afterwards but it is good to learn!)  I think it shows that if I can win this battle of wills over who is leading the walks and deciding where we are going and how long for that we are going to have a great time out and about together XD

Another strange trick to get Nico to walk though is to take...the cat. For some reason, Nico is quite happy to follow Morgan around the block and up and down the street. He doesn't chase her but just toddles along quite happily beside her. I have photographic proof. It makes me look like some sort of Doctor Doolittle. They both seem happy enough with the arrangement but I never thought I'd be wondering if the cat wanted to come a walk to get the dog going that is for sure!

Though, on the note of dogs and strangers. Lhasa Apsos are weary of strangers because their original purpose was to be guard dogs for Tibetan Monks. I’m really quite sick of people touching Nico without him consenting. And yes, he can consent. His body language makes it obvious about whether he wants to be touched or not. If he is moving towards you with his tail wagging than he’s ok to be touched. If he’s stood at my feet watching you silently, he is still sizing you up. Leave him alone!  A small boy was walking by and very suddenly reached out and patted Nico on the head today. My wee man jumped and startled before running between my legs. The mother waved it off and said ‘I knew he would do that’. Well, do something about that. If Nico had reacted by biting the boy I doubt it would have caused her the same giggle she had today. Nico only has baby teeth so I doubt he could do much damage at the moment but he will get bigger. If the dog feels threatened, it won’t be my fault if he defends himself. It is another matter if he’s pulling on the leash and snarling but the situation today? The blame would be with the child and ultimately the mother who hasn’t taught the child any better. I would never have been allowed to reach out and touch a dog without permission when I was young. That probably has something to do with why I’ve never been bitten hmm?

Sam and Nico

xx