Rufus went to meet our Vet today, he clearly did not enjoy being in the Vets office after waiting for a bit he was a little less nervous and took some treats. Though he was again ill-at-ease being up on the table. He didn't co-operate in opening his mouth and snarled a bit when his rear was being checked out (though I think you would find most males have the same sort of reaction to a prostate exam.) We got the meds indicated by recent blood work and off we went. We will go back in a few weeks a blood draw to see the effect of the hypothyroid meds.

After the Vets office I went to the Newfoundland National Specialty which just started in Kingston, R.I. and was fortunate enough to catch Janet Wojciechowski DVM giving a presentation about Canine Allergies. Met a couple folks from the Newf-L list and saw more than a few puppies which were half-again the size of tollers. Needless to say, a much larger production than the NSDTR national.

Upon return, let the boys out in the still-wet yard, where there was only one wet-and-yucky tennis ball waiting. So I grabbed the Chuck-It and started flinging the ball out for either dog while talking to the neighbors and who were out with their 18 month & 9 week old British Bulldogs. At one point Mac is taking a dump and I'm tossing the ball for Rufus, on the second throw, Mac abandons his dumping, starts heading across the lawn for the ball, he steal the ball, and then drops it on the ground while he finishes his dump. Mac: "Every toy is mine. Mine !" Oh, and another thing Rufus is much more slobberly than Mac is. We're talking messy after taking drink, tennis balls become spit balls - leave a splat on the wall wet balls. I should get him one of those Newfie drool bibs.

While I was eating my dinner on the couch, there were two pairs of eyes watching every movement of my hand from plate to mouth - that wasn't so bad. About two thirds the way through Rufus gives me a little snarl, curling up his lip to which I reply 'No' and command him go back to a down position and stay. He repeats this a few more times, as do I. [Mac on the other hand given the opportunity would park himself on the couch next to me and in similar circumstances just go for a bite of the food - so I've been trained to be observant of those eye movements... and Mac has matured a bit and now settles down during meal time.]

Wednesday April 30, 2008

Idyllic scene of two Tollers curled up on the couch.

Mac camped out on the far end of the couch as I was checking mail this morning. Then Rufus came up next to me for a pet and squirmed his way up onto the center cushion. Mac was not particularly happy about having him fill the space in between and growled in protest. Obviously, possession is what counts in the dog world and Mac didn't exercise his claim on me by camping out on the far end of the couch.

Back to the Newf Nationals today.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Today I took Mac to his usual Doggy Daycare place (usually tues/fri.) and left Rufus at home with the run of the kitchen. Rufus appears to have been a good house guest, though I suspect he may have some separation anxiety. I'd left a couple of nylabones as well as a a small kong filled with biscuits and when I returned they were exactly where I left them. I'd placed the bowl with his breakfast on top of his crate (#300, plastic) and it also was untouched.