A Dog: In The Middle Of Many Travel Adventures

So I know I said since I'm on holiday I wouldn't be posting here (but instead at the travel blog) but
I just feel kinda bad for neglecting my dog-blog-friends!

So here's a couple of quick photos of Milo, my aunt's mini poodle.

He's quite an anxious boy and paces a lot, whether there are visitors or not, but after a long time of being patient, he eventually approached and I was able to touch him without his shying away (my mother achieved that first - humph).

I stayed with these relatives four years ago and poor Milo was more anxious then, he paced the whole time we visited and I never touched him. But I knew less about dogs then...

This time I managed to engage with him through a game of tug, and I was so happy to see he really does play! I had cast a skeptical eye on his toys when I arrived as I have friends with dogs who have toys... just for doggy decor as they couldn't care less about play!

My uncle said 'watch out for his teeth, he can be careless' - but I couldn't have cared less, as I was so happy to see him doing something other than pacing!

Plus, this game of tug and a brief leash walk is the only dog-interaction I've had for a couple of weeks, so I'm grateful to him for giving me my dog-fix!

USA travel

Sorry for the silence, dear readers. I am travelling USA at the moment, so I'd love it if you'd follow me for the next couple weeks at http://bythedonzerlylight.blogspot.com/.

or, the United States of America through the eyes of a Hong Kong-born Australian girl

There probably won't be any dogs, I'll admit, but there will be parks, food, and many, many reflections on the big country that has in so many ways shaped my view -- as an Australian -- of the (Western) world.

A Day: Where Something Was Just A Little Bit Different

So my charge today was Miss Conehead here.

Please don't put any captions on this post.

I went in early to check on her in the morning. Her people didn't ask me to, but I just couldn't bear the thought of her alone post-surgery and potentially hurting her stitches, even with the cone.

I knew what to expect, of course, but it was still startling to see her greet me wearing such a big plastic cone. It was my first real-life experience with a pup in the cone of shame, so it was -- as is everything with Ava -- good experience for me.

Her spay surgery went smoothly and although groggy last night (I'm told) she was fine today -- pretty much just like herself on a quiet day. She was reluctant to go out onto the grass in the yard, but that may have been due to the moisture from the rain. (She doesn't mind a bit of a drizzle on her back, but wet paws are just not happening.)

I stayed with her almost the whole time her people were out today, because I feel responsible for her, and, well, because I care. I've been with her the whole journey since she came home from the breeder, and it's so lovely to be part of something so special. And it just so happened that I had study to do today, so I could sit inside with the heater left on for post-surgery pup (thanks, Ava) and hide from the winter chill. (Yes, we Aussies are total wusses about the cold.)

I was glad she had my company today -- but I was just as glad to have hers.

A Note: In Which Melon Appears, Albeit Briefly, And Leaves A Thread To Follow

Yes, my dear readers, I'm still here. There have been a few things going on here lately which have kept me away from the computer. A few changes -- but mostly for the better. In fact, things are looking up for me in a more long-term direction, which is terrifying, but -- not at all a bad thing!

I am going to be travelling soon, which will either give me more or less time to blog, I'm not sure which. It's a 3-week USA trip and I will be continuing my USA travels blog, so I'll leave you guys with that blog address before I go for anyone interested.

But as for animal adventures -- I still have a couple more Ava stories to catch you up with, as well as our current progress! I will do my best to get back here, but meanwhile, I'll leave you with yesterday's Instagram post.

This morning, I couldn't believe that this little girl is going to be desexed tomorrow. But just a couple of hours later our usual outdoor café routine was disrupted when for the first time I could not tuck her into my bag to order at the indoor counter. This photo is from when we got home. I sat down on a chair in the yard so she could enjoy some vigorous zoomies before tomorrow. But she chose to sit quietly on my lap until I had to get up to leave. So I guess she's ready for the next step. 🐾 #petsittinglife #thirdparent #responsiblepetownership #puppy #toobig #cavalierkingcharles

A photo posted by Melon (@melondious) on May 30, 2016 at 10:06pm PDT

(If you 'do' Instagram, make sure you follow or bookmark me, melondious -- its ease of posting isn't helping with my blog neglect, I'm afraid!)

Silly Saturday

Flashback Friday

Why won't you let me in?

Ava Stories: A Hobby For Ava

The day I met Ava was the day she turned 8 weeks old.

I've known very few puppies that young, so I couldn't say if it's the norm, but I sure was impressed that she could carry a standard-sized tennis ball around in her mouth. (I'm still not sure how.)

Puppy in motion

It wasn't the only time I saw her carry things; she liked to find leaves or sticks and would carry them to the right spot before lying down to chew them. If something interesting happened while she was chewing, such as the human leaving, Ava would get up and follow with the object in her mouth.

Chasing moving things, 'killing' objects and sniffing seemed to be Ava's favourite pastimes.

So I decided she's a natural retriever. At about 10 weeks she had gotten the hang of Sit and Come, so it was time for Fetch!

She easily had the 'chase moving thing' * and 'pick up thing' down pat, so with a bit of experimentation and consulting YouTube I managed to teach 'carry the object and run'. Giving up the object is always the tricky part, but we got better at that too, as I'd been working on swapping objects for treats since almost since day 1.

Ava's people and I all loved playing fetch with her -- but it didn't last. Her interest in fetch has petered out, but her delight in sniffing things has not.

Which leads us to my house.

One night I took puppy out for 'last call' and she was doing the particular brand of zoomies which only seem to happen when it's getting late, I'm tired and the mosquitoes are particularly thirsty.

I leaned against the wall and sighed. Suddenly Ava stopped mid-zoom and ran into some dense bush. She emerged back out immediately, and I peered into the darkness - what was she carrying? It with her plush raccoon, a flat fabric toy with no less than 5 squeakers and a particular appeal to Ava. I had no idea it had even left the house!

I cracked up. In a few seconds, what had been yet-another frustrating evening with a young puppy was suddenly hilarious.

Fast forward a week or so...

I was sitting in the yard with a book and Ava had followed me out, only to wander aimlessly as the human wasn't giving her any attention.

It was a good time for her pickle, I thought, looking around.

Her pickle is a spiky green rubber toy which rolls and bounces in unpredictable directions. It's excellent for occupying puppy when you don't want to throw the toy for her. But it was nowhere to be seen. I checked the corners of the house, inside the crate and the lawn. I shrugged and decided I'd make some "LOST: pickle" posters after I read my book.

About 5 minutes later I looked up, frowning. It was eerily quiet. All dog owners know the immediate feeling of trepidation when you hear silence. I looked around the yard. Where was Ava? Nowhere to be seen.

"Ava?" I called tentatively.

Out she burst from the nearest bush, pickle in mouth.

Perhaps nosework might be more a more suitable hobby for Ava.


* Next time I would start with "take it" a la the Volhard Motivational Retrieve, as that's definitely a missing step. Anyone know if I can re-train the steps from the beginning if she already knows some of them?