Canine accomodation

Stellar at  6 months old small enough
 to fit under my writing desk

So, with Stellar and Dusty now firmly members of the family (well, actually, they were from the moment we laid eyes on them) ...

Stellar at 1 year and Dusty at 6 months old.  ne bed fitted in the space
perfectly.  Two - was one too many.  Their beds block the  entrance
 to the staircase

... plus their respective homemade beds, "space" in our lounge / at the entrance to the stairs is becoming a bit tight.  Sleeping outside in summer the temperature is perfect for dogs - although in winter they would have to move back indoors.

I priced a dog kennel large enough to house Stellar and was quote "only R2000.00" and Dusty would be another R1000.00.  There wasn't one big enough for both of them.

Hmmm,  that's a lot of money.

So, I had what I thought was a bright idea.

RMan re-doing the roof over the new proposed dog kennel

We have this unused, wasted area that used to house the quaddies (they are now stored elsewhere).  I said to RMan, if we throw a slab, re-do the roof more permanently (it leaked before) and ensure that the edges are sealed against the two adjoining walls, and put up some walls, perhaps we could let them sleep outside - especially during the hotter summer months.

"You need access to the washing line? Why?  It will only take 4 weeks.
 Can't you wait until I'm finished...?"
NOPE!

RMan cottoned on to my idea, and we proceeded to put the plan into action.  Naturally, the back yard became a construction site for the duration of the remodel ~ sigh

It's not easy hanging up washing around building materials...

Shiplapped wooden walls completed the project

Naturally, RMan did most of the work, but, I'm glad to report that my assistance was welcomed, and appreciated.

What a beautiful dog kennel 😀

The end result is brilliant.  And, thanks to our local sawmill, the whole thing cost less than buying only Stellar a dog kennel.

However, it will not be used as a dog kennel, because just as we completed it, we happened to spot a Cape Cobra in the back yard!!!  There is no way in hell that we would put the dogs into that dangerous a situation, so inside they will stay.  Houseguests will just have to climb over their beds - if and when they want to go upstairs.

All is not lost though - the kennel will now become a tool shed / storage room.

And then there were two...

... but before that some insight.

As you know we adopted Stellar in February this year.

She has grown into a very boiterous canine companion, who goes absolutely moggie whenever any one, or any dog, visits us.  So much so that I said to RMan - Stellar needs a buddy.  A permanent playfellow, or, to be blunt, something to wear her out... 😂

We were so used to ol' Scallywag who was our only dog for 6 years that we took it for granted than another single dog would do the trick and fill the emptiness.  When we had to let Scallywag go he was 16 years old - or 112 human years.  Being so elderly he tended to just eat his food, lie around and genteely wag whenever anyone visited us.

Stellar - oh, no!  She is a completely different kettle of fish.

Her homemade raised bed did the trick getting her to stop sneaking onto our couches when we went to bed at night.

Her inability to eat what is in her bowl without scattering it across the entire floor is non-existent.

But, her natural exhuberence a.k.a. jumping up at everyone anytime they arrive or even leave the room and return - even if it's only for a few seconds - was giving us hints - and then some...

So, we decided to see if the local SPCA had any puppies that we could view.  After putting our name down, the  SPCA paid us a visit - to check that our home was suitable for a dog.

We passed muster 😉

Nope - 3 - 4 months ago they only had adult dogs.  I'm not keen on adult dogs as you don't know what "bad habits" they have acquired, and, with our alpaca's, we need to be able to train any dog that venturing into their paddocks is a no-no.

Four weeks ago I was contacted by the SPCA and told that they would have puppies available in 3 weeks time.

We duly toddled off to view / choose our puppy

It's always so heart rending to see dogs caged up -
 and even more so at SPCA.  We all know what happens
 IF they don't find a home...

Fonz - as he was named by the SPCA - is a mixed breed.  He came up and licked our fingers through the mesh, and we decided that he was the one.

Last week the SPCA called us and told us the puppies were now old enough to leave and so on Friday we went to collect the latest addition to our family.

RMan noticed that he was subdued.  And that his nose was running.  And that his stomach was quite bloated.

So, no sooner had we left the SPCA than we headed straight for our vet to have Fonz checked out.

The vet discovered that he had a temperature of 39.4oC  She was also a bit concerned about the puppy's bloated stomach.  Possible parvo virus was mentioned to RMan.  After a precautionary antibiotic injection, and armed with a deworming tablet and a warning to watch the puppy, we headed home.

Stellar went besperk when she spotted the puppy that RMan placed on the grass.

Runinng round and round, up and down, being a general nusiance and causing the puppy to yelp at the onslaught - we managed to get the puppy inside where he climbed onto the big cushion we had purchased for him and lay down.

And lay down.

And lay down.

Not much to eat (although he did willingly ingest the deworming tablet), but he did drink water.  Thankfully.

During the night I was awoken by the smell of puppy poo, and upon investigating, discovered a squishy pile with so many wriggling worms it was impossible to believe they were all in his stomach.  And he had a bad dose of darrhoea definitely!!!

The next morning, the puppy was still very lethargic so RMan returned to the vet.  The puppy's temperatu was now 39.7oC  So the vet said he must stay there for the weekend so that they can monitor him.

A poorly puppy placed on the couch by RMan

The vet phoned us the next morning and told us that she couldn't believe the number of worms the puppy was passing.  The diarrhoea was ongoing, and he still wasn't eating properly either.

Monday morning and the vet called again.  She said that she couldn't find any indications of parvo virus (thank God) and that his temperature was down, the upset tummy was settling, and he had started eating during the day on Sunday.  All indications were that he was much perkier and so he could finally come home.

That's better - Stellar and the puppy climbing into their respective
 bowls of dog food.  Even better, the puppy now locates and eats
 all of  Stellars "scatterlings" 😂

What a different puppy that climbed out of the car this time!

Ah - look how innocent we look...
You know what the newspaper is for, don't you... 😉

And Stellar - she couldn't believe that her buddy was back.  I think that perhaps she thought that she had frightened him off with her exhuberence.

Hello, little one

He is the sweetest little thing - and we have renamed him Dusty - for the colour of his coat matches the land.

The puppy shelters from Stellars clumsy, heavy paws whenever she can

To evade Stellar's exhuberence he has learnt to shelter where "those paws" can't easily reach...

Although Stellar is becoming adroit at contorting herself in her attempt to reach him.

Admonitions abound at every puppy yelp - for now.  The puppy must learn to give tit for tat eventually...

Inseperable 😊

 They have become inseperable in the last 5 days...

This is, at the moment, their favourite game.  I'm not worried
 about the socks - there are plenty of odd socks that the washing
 machine spat out over the years

 ...and delight in playing tug-of-war with some hole-y socks (mine).  The tug is a bit unfairly balanced, but they're having fun 😃

Who is more comfortable?

As for RMan - he's smitten with puppy love all over again...

Contentment 

And (groan) the puppy is being lifted onto his lap - ON THE COUCH!!!  I  give up...