Jasper's diary

[JudyN]

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It's a pity the weather goes downhill again from Friday! It makes me sad to think how uncomfortable he must be the rest of the time. But old age doesn't come alone, as my elderly neighbours tell me every single time I ask them how they are!

That's just about his favourite toy, BTW, even though it's about half its original length. It's a shame they don't make them any more.

 

[Hemlock]

I find high humidity has a detrimental effect with my own aches & pains, so may be the same with Jasper. Cold dry days don't hurt as much and nor do warm dry ones. Babydog is always livelier on dry-air days. She's 12 now.

 

[JudyN]

Someone has been egg rolling in the park today with raw eggs Jasper is now doing the most rancid farts

 

[RGC]

You have my sympathies big time, Judy. Watching “Incredible Reunions: Pets & their owners” on Channel 5 - box of tissues to hand.

 

[JudyN]

Jasper has taken a real dislike to a new dog in town... He's only ever seen it while on lead, but stares at it fixatedly and won't be distracted by treats. If we're following it at a distance of over 100 feet he'll forget all about sniffing and we get to walk a lot faster than we usually do nowadays!

The other dog is a youngish black lab, though I think he's neutered, and J's response is stronger than it would be to an entire male nowadays - in fact he's pretty cool about almost any dog nowadays. The lab pays no attention to him at all. The only thing I can put it down to is that the lab wears a fairly hefty black muzzle (to stop him eating stuff he shouldn't). Talk about pot - kettle - black!

 

[Hemlock]

Might also be scent-related. No-one knows Jas like you, so you have probably worked out the reason and it isn't this, but I'm just adding another dimension to think about as we humans don't always factor in scent. Could be the food the lab is fed, or maybe he is on medication. If you are following the other dog, remember his scent-trail is coming right into Jas's nose.

 

[JudyN]

Yes, it's possible it's scent. Actually there was an old, creaky (non-muzzled) yellow lab he once took a dislike to when I'd have betted good money he would have ignored it, and I'm sure that one must have been scent-related, stemming from illness or meds. And there was one male he once got very amorous with - not playful, overexcited humping, but in a 'Your perfume is intoxicating, I love you and want you to have my puppies' sort of way.

Thinking about it, he's met plenty of other dogs with muzzles and not batted an eyelid. So maybe scent after all.

 

[JudyN]

Sulking, because his daddy's told him to stop digging holes again...

 

[Hemlock]

What else is a garden for?

 

[Flobo]

Poor Jasper, bad daddy!!!

 

[JudyN]

Poor Jasper, bad daddy!!!

I know, and Daddy's allowed to dig anywhere he wants!

Jasper does have a spot where he's allowed and encourage to dig, but of course, he'd much rather dig other places. Like under the shed and right next to new plants. At least he stopped digging ruddy big holes in the middle of the lawn like he used to as a pup.

 

[RGC]

In spite of all such trials and tribulations they give much more than they ever take. We’ve had to line large pebbles around the base of a fig tree in a pot because Mabel has tried to bury something disgusting there. However I wouldn’t begrudge her if she did. Sun’s shining and tails are wagging - what could be better?

 

[JudyN]

As I keep telling Mr R, it's good for a dog to have a hobby!

 

[Flobo]

it's good for a dog to have a hobby!

A bit like Sid and his relentless desire to steal the remote!! I caught him again today, he'd got up on the sofa, over onto the window sill and onto the table to get it(and yes i was slack again this morning after putting the radio on)

 

[JudyN]

Oh bless him - could you find an old remote that could be his? Though I'm sure he'd end up just wanting the real one, they're not daft.

Talking of daft, we have the same routine every afternoon in the lead-up to walkies time. Jasper will whine, and whine, and whine, because it's nearly (i.e. less than an hour) time for his walk. The moment I get up and start getting ready, he'll stop whingeing, and go and lie on his bed. Fair enough, he doesn't want to waste energy now I've got the message, and that's far better than having a dog you can't get the lead on because he won't stop bouncing. But when I open the door and say, 'Come on then,' he just stares at me. So we go through the usual routine: 'Are you not coming then? Shall I leave you here? Shall I see you later? OK, see you later then' - at which he finally gets up and follows me out.

I have a sneaking suspicion he's waiting for me to say, 'Do I have to bribe you then?' Daft he may be, but he's certainly not stupid

 

[RGC]

“………I have a sneaking suspicion he's waiting for me to say, 'Do I have to bribe you then?'”. Is it all run on a quid pro quo basis? We’ve got to the stage of getting the expectant look when she comes back into the house after having a wee in the garden. Sometimes she hasn’t even had a wee but still has that “cash for a slash” demanding look.

 

[JudyN]

When Jasper comes in from eating his tea in the garden (much less messy when carcasses are involved) he hangs around in the kitchen until I ask him to leave so I can get on with preparing our tea without him 'helping'. I even have to do this if I'm not actually planning to cook anything...

It's arguable who is manipulating whom, but it works, which is the important thing.

 

[melb100]

Ahh Jasper's so gorgeous, one of my all time faves
Aggie also a great gardener. Excellent at pruning (bye bye lovely climbing jasmine we never wanted you anyway), also lawn maintenance (looks so much better when covered in holes and brown wee patches). Big fan of digging but the cruel cruel humans have put new chicken wire around the veg patch and then netting above the soil to foil any paws that do get through even though that's clearly the BEST digging spot in the whole garden and filled with delicious smelling compost.

 

[Flobo]

could you find an old remote that could be his? Though I'm sure he'd end up just wanting the real one, they're not daft.

I actually thought that the other day, maybe pick him a couple up from the pound shop... But then as you said, he's not daft, he will know for sure. The brothers are the same, desperate to get in my hiking boots and dig the insoles out, so when I got my new pair I left my old pair on the rack just for them to play in and they haven't touched them since!! I swear it's that thing of I really want it because you told me I can't and now you're allowing me to have it, I don't want it

 

[JudyN]

Jasper can still stop traffic - not, I hasten to add, by running into the road We had just crossed a road when a car slowed to a stop, and the driver lowered the window and called out 'If he grows any more he'll be taller than you!' The cheek of it! I smiled politely... ish... and he called out 'He's gorgeous!' Er, yes I know, but two cars have now just come up behind you and you should probably move on....

He's managed two days of 'NSAID holiday' and has been moving OK - last time we tried he was hobbling by evening of the first day And he certainly seems comfortable...