A weekend of two halves

Saturday. I managed to get myself ready and go to the gym with Ian, despite feeling grumpy and irritable. We worked out for about half an hour then chilled in the sauna, steam room and pool for a bit before having coffee. My friend that was due to be popping in had to cancel so we decided to go and get a bit of shopping from Tesco on the way home and then go into Birmingham. I wanted some new foundation and opted for a powder one from Kat Von D’s range which is cruelty free and vegan. I also got a new make-up brush from the eco-tools range which again is vegan and cruelty free with synthetic bristles. Ian got some new jeans and we had a quick browse in HMV but it was really busy and I started to feel my anxiety taking control so we went for something to eat at Wagamama’s as they have a new vegetarian and vegan menu. I had the Yasai Gyoza (vegetable dumplings) and Yasai Samla Curry which had tofu and veggies in a curry sauce with rice. It was amazing and I’d definitely recommend it. I can’t wait to go again so I can try some of the other offerings! Afterwards we came home for a while then popped in to The Ewe and Lamb in Bromsgrove for a quick drink. By this time we were both starting to feel peckish again so we called in to Tesco again on the way home for snacks. We also got waylaid by the DVD’s and ended up buying some horror classics. The evening was spent watching Carrie and eating the new Ben & Jerry’s vegan ice-cream which was sooo good. Overall it was a pretty positive, productive day.

Sunday was the polar opposite of Saturday.  It didn’t help that it was a year ago that we said our last goodbye’s to my old pooch Frodo.

It was a hard, sad day and I didn’t feel like doing anything. We were supposed to be going to Mom and Dad’s for Sunday lunch but I just couldn’t face going out so Ian let them know and I had a good cry and then a nap instead. Mom had plated us up a dinner each and Dad brought them round so I did end up having my roast in the end. Despite being uninterested in everything and anything I managed to get myself into the bath and then we decided to put a film on. I picked ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ one of my favourite Studio Ghibli titles. This cheered me up a tiny bit but I was glad when it was time to go to bed and for the day to be over.

This morning I still felt the same. Tired, sad, low, no motivation, no energy, no nothing. The Home Treatment team and my new care co-ordinator came at 10am so I had to drag myself out of bed for that. They gave me a two week supply of Lithium and have discharged me, so I’ve got to see my GP next week to get some more prescribed. I’m not really 100% sure who is going to be monitoring my blood levels now, it should be my consultant Psychiatrist but who knows. I’ve got to have a blood test tomorrow anyway so hopefully someone will sort it out as I will need my dose increasing to get my blood levels within the therapeutic range. After that I had an appointment with my Psychologist over at Evesham. I really didn’t feel like going and especially wasn’t feeling like talking but it went better than I expected. Now I’m home and completely worn out. I’m just going to curl up on the sofa under a blanket and do nothing for the rest of the day. Sometimes that’s the only thing that will do the job.

The assessment. And Costco!!

So the assessment time arrived. We found the building and headed over to reception which was manned by some quite rude G4s security guys. We were told to wait in the lobby and someone would take us up to the assessment centre. Cue a shout of ‘you two, come on, and you over there’ and we were herded into a lift like cattle. Once on the correct floor I had to show all of my documentation and we were told to wait in a large room filled with chairs and little else. Plus all of the windows were open and it was freezing!! I needed to take my lunchtime dose of tablets but there were no cups for the water cooler so Mom asked for me. After ten minutes one of the security guards appears with one cup so it looks like if you need a drink you have to ask and they don’t think that a room full of adults can’t be trusted with cups. We waited and waited and the room got fuller and fuller. We had been told that I could only take one person up to the assessment area so poor Dad had to wait downstairs in the freezing lobby. About 40 minutes after my appointment time, during which I was sitting feeling incredibly nervous, anxious and sick we were called through. Thankfully my actual assessor was lovely and seemed really understanding, although it was traumatic going through how bad things can get with my bipolar and discussing self harm and suicide attempts. After the appointment, which lasted about 35 minutes we were again herded down to the lobby where we met Dad and headed off to find the car which he had to move as we’d been so long. Time for a much-needed fag. I missed out on an ebay item I was going to bid on too so I was doubly pissed off but at least it was all over and done with and all I can do now is wait for the decision letter.

On the way home we called at Costco to pick up some things and I got the most enormous pumpkin ever!! I can’t wait to carve it, even though we’ll have to have it prior to Halloween due to the wedding taking place on the day.

We finally got home and I was totally worn out so I just had some couscous and Ian had beans on toast for tea. We started watching ‘Book of Blood’ but I was just too tired and was dropping off on the sofa so at 9pm we headed up to bed and we can finish watching it another time.

The dog also managed to get up the stairs with us, a very rare occurrence now due to his weak back legs and so we had him in the bed all night, taking up most of my side of the bed. It’s safe to say I didn’t sleep too well, although I think he had the best night’s sleep ever!! This morning I awoke to a hornet sleeping above my head too!! I think he must had come in with the washing off the line and he was all drowsy, so I managed to encourage him onto a piece of card and out into the gutter below the bedroom window. I’m quite fond of hornets and they’re really quite cute when you look at them up close but they are very noisy and large and I can see why people might be scared of them. This particular hornet decided to climb up the gutter and then hang off the edge, like in some action movie!! Goodness knows why but here he is hanging on for dear life!! It’s a good job he has wings!!

action hornet!!

Today I’m going to get my flu jab with Mom and then I might see if we can call in at the supermarket as I need some heel grips for some new shoes I’ve ordered. They were Carvela by Kurt Geiger shoes and should have been £100 but I got them for £19 in the sale. What an absolute bargain. After that I’m not really sure but I’m pretty certain that despite being jabbed by a needle today is going to be a better day than yesterday.

New Old Beginnings

Thursday has come and gone and so has Drago the Lurcher. There were tears and sadness as we let him go, but also relief that we can get back to some semblance of normality now. I’m sure he will find a loving home who can offer him a garden he can run in and can be there with him 24/7 until he adjusts to being left alone without being destructive. It’s upsetting that it didn’t work out but life isn’t always perfect and sometimes the dog just doesn’t fit the household. We’re going to move on from this now and accept that we won’t even consider having another dog until Frodo is no longer with us (a terribly sad thought 😢).

As Ian had the rest of the day booked off work we decided to go and look for some wedding shoes for him in Solihull. In typical male style the first shop we went into yielded ‘the ones’ so we had a wonder about, bought some bits and bobs we needed, like a new jacket for Ian (after Drago ripped the last one to shreds) and some pectin as we want to make some jam this year. I also got a new woolly bobble hat for winter and I can’t wait to wear it, it’s so comfy and warm! I love winter clothes and being all wrapped up from the weather!

After we were all shopped out we went home and had some time to kill before our wedding meal menu tasting later on that evening. I decided to finish off some rings I had already started and I was pretty pleased with the results for my first ‘solo’ attempt at it.

My first solo efforts!!

Later on we got all doled up and set out for our menu tasting. I won’t got into too much detail on here about what we had except to say that everything was amazing and we had a fantastic time. We even chose wine to go with the meal, how grown up do I feel! All in all this was a looooong day and I retired to bed gratefully, and maybe a little tipsy!!

Friday was a jewellery day for me, and I made two more rings, this time with mounted stones. There were a few issues along the way, especially with soldering, but the first one came out pretty well and I’m really pleased with it. The second one had ended up way to big for me, but I think I’m just going to bite the bullet and resize it to fit me as the turquoise stone I’ve set in it its lovely.

Malachite on a plain polished band

Turquoise on a heavy hammered band

After Ian finished work we decided to go to Ikea to get a new rug as ours has basically curled itself up into a cocoon and was driving me crazy trying to straighten it out. The cafe was calling as usual and we indulged in some fabulous puddings, mine was, as always, the apple pie. I bloody love that pie!! After wandering around and picking up loads of stuff before we even got to the items we were looking for we realised that Ikea really know how to sell you stuff you never knew you needed. We found our new rug, purple this time, and a couple of lamps to replace the one Drago broke. We also got the obligatory candles. I swear it’s impossible for me to walk through that shop without putting at least one candle in my bag. We got home throughly knackered and after putting down the rug and sorting the lamps out went straight off to bed.

Saturday deserved a lie in, and so we had one. We finally emerged from the house at lunchtime and went and did a few chores, like taking the old rug to the waste tip. The sun had come out so we stopped at our local for a drink on the way home and enjoyed the sunshine. As it was so sunny we thought we should pick the fruit for the jam and collected loads of plums, damsons and elderberries from our garden. I’ve been saying for the last two years that we should use the fruit as it’s such a waste to see it left on the trees and now we actually have! We washed, pitted and chopped all of the fruit (except the berries) and following two separate recipes made our jam. It tasted nice and is all sealed up now in pretty jars so fingers crossed it’ll keep. As luck would have it we had twelve jars and it made exactly enough to fill them all!! Such a coincidence as the recipe didn’t say how much it made, just how many it fed!!

After a yummy tea of a Higgidy quiche, new potatoes and salad I was exhausted and fell asleep pretty much straight after we had watched Dr Who on TV. I love this show, and always have. I can’t believe it’s still going all these years later, but I’m so glad it is.

So that was the last few days. Busyness, updating phones etc,etc have kept me from blogging more frequently so sorry this was a bit of a monster!! Today we’re off to pick up Ian’s suit after the alterations have been done and then back to Mom and Dad’s for dinner. Happy days 🙂

A successful defecation!

Well it finally happened, after taking Drago out after breakfast this morning he finally gave in and did a poo for me! I can’t believe this event has made me so happy!! And last night there was no destruction and no accidents! I’m touching wood right now, (I don’t want to tempt fate) but I’m hoping this is a breakthrough.

Drago’s approach to waiting for breakfast

Frodo’s approach to waiting for breakfast. Greedy beggar!

I have moved practically everything I can out of Drago’s reach and we put up some more shelves in the lounge yesterday so we can still have a few decorative bits on show but way out of reach of the hound. He’s already chewed numerous coasters, broken the head off one of my horses, chewed a recipe book and chomped on a wooden elephant. I’m taking no chances now! On Saturday we had popped to the pet shop and into town to collect my new specs (YES!!) and returned to toileting of both varieties and chewing of items so we decided we needed to take more preventative action. I know we can’t stop him chewing but we can make sure there is nothing important anywhere that he can get to. The toileting will improve in time (hopefully!) as he becomes more toilet trained and realises that when we leave we’re always going to come back. And I still don’t know why he prefers a coaster to chew instead of a lovely kong!!

So yesterday after all of the shelf-putting-up we decided to take Drago along to our local pub and have a drink in the beer garden. The thinking was that he would have a walk first to tire him out and then be in his own space but still in an area with other people, hopefully becoming accustomed to this gradually and learning how to socialise with strangers. At first he was very stressed, there were a few children running about and he found it all a bit worrying, but after a while it quietened down and we moved to a table that was furthest away from the couple of people remaining. He settled much better then and I think after doing it a few times during quiet periods and continuing to give him treats while he’s there he’ll get used to people in a gradual way. It’s so hard to get a dog who’s terrified of people to lose that fear, it takes a long time for Drago to trust anyone usually (except my Mom who had kisses the first time she met him!) so getting him used to several new people at once is very difficult for him.

Today is going to involved trying to fix a new bike shelter we got yesterday from good old Argos. (We also got a new kitchen bin, I know I shouldn’t get excited about this but I’m just so happy to have a bin that actually works and isn’t falling apart!!) Anyway I’m going to try to attach the bike shelter to the fence so it’s more stable. This will mean I can have my bike and the turbo trainer near to the house so I can get back to my fitness regime more easily. Having to trek up to the shed isn’t much fun when the garden is so massive and I REALLY need to lose some of the weight I’ve put on since starting these bloody antipsychotic meds. Yes I feel better and more balanced but if I get fat there is no way on this earth that I’m going to take them. Meds that make you fat + eating disorders = very unhappy and unhealthy Heather. Plus I have my size 8 wedding dress to fit into so although I’m sure it’s fine now, I can’t afford to put on anymore weight and I want a ‘comfort window’ where I know it’ll fit perfectly. After all of this shelter fixing and exercising I might even dye my hair again, it hasn’t gone as purple as I’d hoped and I want a more extreme colour change. There may be pictures later, but for now here’s a lovely one of me with no make-up and one of the pairs of my new specs.

New specs!! Bloody love them!!

Losing faith but trying not to….

So today was a mixed bag. I think I still had a ‘pissed off hangover’ from yesterday’s psych appointment. The morning started ok, Drago went and had a wee outside, but wouldn’t poop outside or on his morning walk so I came out of the bathroom to an accident again. I managed to dye my hair, but I’d got the mix wrong and it was so pale you couldn’t even see it so I ended up doing it all over again. Dying my hair is not my most favourite thing so this wasn’t a good time for me. I did get the ironing done without scaring the living daylights out of Drago with the board so that was a bonus. Thankfully Ian finishes work early on a Friday so he was home just after 3pm to help with the hounds.

At 4:30 we set off for the doctors as Mr Q had an appointment with the nurse to have his ears syringed and I wanted to watch (I’m weird like that). Plus I was getting cabin fever being in the house and needed to get out for a while. We cleared everything Drago could munch out of the way and crossed our fingers. The appointment was over in a jiffy and now Q could actually hear again we decided to celebrate by having a very quick drink in our local. It was so nice sitting outside and just having a few minutes to relax and not worry about toilet training or destruction. There would be plenty of time for that later.

When we arrived home it was like a whirlwind had been through the lounge. Everything was off the windowsill, pot plant included, coasters had been chewed, my decorative bowls had been carried across the room and chomped. The telephone had been knocked askew and an ornament shoved down the back of the cupboard. The only positive was that there had been no accidents. After cleaning up the destruction I was feeling pretty dejected. What had I taken on here? I thought I’d moved everything out of his reach but obviously we aren’t going to be able to have anything at all below 5 foot off the ground if we didn’t want it to get eaten. I understand that  Drago only does it because he misses us and wants us home so gets up to mischief, but he had loads of toys for chewing so I just don’t know what else I can do. Both dogs have Kongs but I haven’t tried them with them together yet as Frodo is VERY protective over food so I don’t want to come home and find they have been fighting. I suppose I’ll have to try them out together while I’m here to supervise. Also I blame myself for having a quick drink in the pub and think if we had come straight home from the doctor’s surgery maybe he wouldn’t have done it. I know this is ridiculous and he probably did it all in the first ten minutes of us being gone, but I can’t help but feel guilty.

After feeding the hounds we took them for their evening walk and again no poop from Drago. He seems to only go when there are no distractions at all, which for a Lurcher doesn’t leave much room for opportunity!! He seems to go better for Ian though, and he managed to get him to focus on the task in hand a bit later on. Drago started showing signs of needing a wee in the evening and I took him out. No joy. After being back inside for 5 minutes he started pacing again so Ian took him out. Again no joy. He came back in and literally 2 minutes later peed up one of the cupboards!! I despair at him!!! After this I started to feel even worse. I couldn’t even toilet train a dog. I just wanted to go to bed and cry, but if I did that I’d have to go on my own as Ian couldn’t leave the dogs to come and sit with me. I felt trapped in my own home by an animal that I chose to bring into my house. I felt stupid for thinking that I could cope with this and even contemplated taking him back and saying I couldn’t deal with him. Then I felt cruel for thinking it. My brain was all over the place so I lay down on the sofa and slept, the only way I can switch off.

Bedtime came and we went upstairs and before long the whining and noises of destruction started. I was so tired I just went to sleep through it and didn’t realise Ian had been downstairs with them again while they settled and slept until he came to bed at about 1:45. Poor Ian, at work all day and then kipping on the sofa to appease a restless hound. He really is the best.

This morning I came down just before 7 and found another destroyed coaster. They must be particularly tasty or something!! I took them outside, Drago did a wee, which was great and then they came in for breakfast. Frodo is getting very possessive of his food and growling which isn’t like him at all. I fed Frodo in the kitchen and Drago in the lounge rather than outside as usual as getting past Frodo’s feeding spot in the kitchen was proving difficult (it’s only a very narrow galley kitchen). This worked ok until I went into the kitchen to pick the food bowls up and realised that Drago has pooped on the only space on the entire carpet not covered by plastic mats. Typical. I think it was because Frodo was aggressive though so I wasn’t angry with him. I’m never angry with him for going inside actually, he doesn’t know yet what is expected of him so it would be unfair to tell him off for something he doesn’t know is wrong. Positive reinforcement is definitely the way forward!!

After breakfast they had both settled down, Frodo on the sofa and Drago in his basket so I decided to see whether I could sneak back up with a cuppa to type this. I thought I was onto a winner until about 5 minutes later I could hear the tell-tale sounds of naughtiness and came down to discover Drago chewing yet another coaster!! What is wrong with this dog?! He has bacon flavoured chew toys but he prefers an old coaster!! So anyway, now I’m downstairs and the chances of me and Mr Q having a cuppa in bed on a weekend morning are looking pretty slim, for a while at least. Maybe I’ll try to sneak back up again now their both asleep…..

A day of two halves

Well the Psychiatrist appointment went as expected. He glossed over the fact that the last time I saw him I told him I was self-harming, suicidal, having extremely violent thoughts and hearing voices that weren’t mine and instead just said that it he had put in his letter to my GP that I appeared less anxious. Nothing about the fact that he did absolutely bugger all for a patient obviously in crisis and asking for help. He’s a complete tool to put it politely. The outcome is that I will be kept on his books and in secondary care and put on the waiting list for secondary psychological therapy. This list is 12 months long so I’m basically flying solo until them. What an absolute load of shit.

Forgetting about the total bollocks that the appointment was, my boys did me proud. Drago had no accidents in the house and went for a poo both out on his walk and in the garden and asked to go out for a wee again. I can’t believe how quickly he’s coming on. I was so worried about leaving them for the first time but all they had done was get some little wooden elephants off the storage unit and given them a bit of a chew and pulled frodo’s jumpers off the chair. I was quite frankly amazed!! I still felt crappy from my appointment so I decided to make cupcakes. There are no pictures I’m afraid (even though I decorated them better than I’ve ever managed before) as they didn’t last long enough for me to think about photos!! I finished making them just as Ian got home from work and by the end of the evening a dozen chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were no more!! It’s so strange, I haven’t baked for ages but since Drago has been here I’ve made a baked cheesecake and cupcakes. Maybe he’s helping me get my mojo back!!

Bedtime led to some whining again as we went upstairs and left the boys, and after hearing a crash we came down to a broken lamp. We’d left the lamp on for them as a nightlight and I think Drago was trying to jump up to reach over the dog gate into the kitchen and had knocked it off. It was totally destroyed so no more nightlight for the pooches!! There was also a tiny bit of wee on the floor nearby, but I think this was probably caused by fear when Drago smashed the lamp and scared himself. This morning he seems fine, has been out for a wee, had his breakfast and is curled up fast asleep in Frodo’s basket. Frodo of course is on the sofa, also fast asleep. This pedigree thinks that he’s too good for a basket and will do anything to be on the sofa, even if it means shoving people out of the way to make room for him!! I think this pooch has been spoiled!!

Today is going to be a chilled out day. I may dye my hair again, more purple this time rather than bright cerise and then I’m going to finish watching the horror film I started yesterday but paused to make cakes!! Cakes come before horror every time!! So I’m hoping for a good day. I’ll take Drago for his morning walk in a minute (Frodo is too old and stiff to manage two walks a day so he’ll just come later) and then hopefully he’ll settle down and sleep for a bit. He usually does so I might even get some ironing done, although I haven’t introduced Drago to the ironing board yet and I’ve a feeling he may be a bit frightened of it so we’ll have to see. So that’s my exciting day all planned out. I’m so glad I don’t have anything vital to do and I can just potter about with my boys. Perfect.

Psychiatrist Day…

Today is the day I have to see the useless Psychiatrist who can’t even record details about my condition correctly. I can’t wait. My GP has complained about him and I said I don’t want to see him again and yet here we are. I’m not in a good mood and I’m tired. And I don’t want to leave my boys alone for the first time yet. I’ve had enough already.

On the plus side Drago seems to have gotten the hang of going for a wee outside and we only had one wee accident yesterday which was probably my fault, I was going to take him outside in a few minutes but I obviously misjudged it and waited too long. We only had a 25% success rate with number 2s though, two of these were definitely a separation anxiety thing, firstly when I went upstairs for ten minutes and left him, and the second when we went to be bed and he was whining and distressed. The other one was just after he’d been outside and I think that he just finds it difficult to concentrate and do what needs to be done with all of the distractions about. It must be hard for a Lurcher to focus with rabbits, pheasants and sheep everywhere!!

The hounds are both sleeping like babies at the moment so I’m going to take the opportunity to get in the shower and get ready for my appointment. I’m not looking forward to today at all. Hopefully it will turn out better than expected and I can come home and relax Drago style.

Do not disturb!!

Successful dog-blocking…

So yesterday I ordered a dog gate, which is pretty much a baby gate but for dogs and my Dad very kindly went and collected it for me from good old Argos. I was going to wait for Ian to get home from work to fit it but being the stubborn girl that I am I decided to do it myself. Approximately one hour later and the gate was up and fully functional. I’ve given myself a very large pat on the back for that one!! Drago didn’t even freak out at the sound of the drill so it was a massive success all round and there will be no doggies getting up to mischief in the kitchen again.

Toilet training is going really well, Drago actually asked to go outside for a wee yesterday evening and Ian managed to get him to poop outside too which, thank goodness, was of a normal consistency so hopefully no more Poomageddons for me to clear up!! We did have one accident in the house, but solid poo on a plastic mat is so much easier to deal with!! He’s coming on so well, we’re both very proud of him.

When I came down this morning there was no carnage, the dog gate had worked and the only sign that they had been attempting to get up to no good was a dining chair knocked over. I was so pleased you won’t believe it!! And no accidents either!! I took Drago straight outside and he had a wee and now he pretty much will go whenever you take him outside which is amazing considering we only picked him up on Sunday lunchtime. As we’re supposed to be having an epic storm this afternoon I took Drago out for his walk early this morning. It was glorious and he was having wees as we went along like a regular dog and was so well-behaved!! He does have a lot of Lurcher instinct in him though and he wants to chase anything that moves so I don’t think this boy is ever going to be allowed off the lead 😦 You never know though, training might help but I don’t think you can ever fully remove a dog’s instinct to do what it has been bred for centuries for and it isn’t worth the risk. Thank goodness for muzzles!!

Our view of the Malvern Hills from the top of our lane this morning.

Anyway, today’s mission is to try to get my Drago shadow to be a bit less clingy, by leaving the room, and the house for a few minutes and then coming back. I have a psychiatrist appointment which was arranged for me at short notice that I have to attend tomorrow, so I’m going to have to leave the boys on their own for an hour or so. At least the dog gate is up now I suppose!!

I really don’t want to go to this appointment. I’ve been having real issues with this Psychiatrist basically giving false information about me to my GP and Psychologist and he’s left me to fend for myself with no support or assistance other than my GP (who is luckily brilliant) and the number for the crisis team who are no help whatsoever. Every time I see him he discharges me and advises me to stick with my local Psychology team, even though my allocated sessions have run out and they have advised that I need more intensive maintenance treatment anyway!! I’ve pretty much given up on expecting care that comes anywhere close to the recommendations made in the NICE guidelines, but it seems that this is the state of the mental health system across the country at the moment. Thankfully my parents are coming with me so they can back me up over what the Psychiatrist says. I’m not looking forward to it but at least I’ve got my boys to come home to. Now I’ve just got to focus on the dogs and me and try to forget about my appointment or I’ll end up in a right state. Bloody Bipolar, why can’t anything be straightforward??

My first day alone with the boys…

So no poomageddon for me this morning, but a couple of wees to be cleaned up which I am more than happy to do after yesterday’s messes. There were several, all lovely and loose and green. I know, too much information, but if I have to deal with it you can hear about it!! What we did find was a tin of tuna, punctured several times by Drogo’s teeth, a tin of sweetcorn and one of chickpeas which were untouched (obviously not a veggie dog) and somehow he had managed to get the huge Mason and Cash ceramic water bowl off the work surface in the kitchen and into the lounge. How he carried it and managed to get it off the side without breaking it is a mystery to me!! A few rabbit treats were also gobbled but all of this naughtiness will be ending soon as I’ve ordered a dog gate to stop the terrible pair from getting into the kitchen when they’re unattended. No more midnight snacks for you, boys!! Drago’s quest for treats knows no bounds, he managed to jump up, grab Ian’s jacket off the coat hook by ripping through the hanging loop and then proceeded to rip open the pocket from the inside to get to the dog treats that were in there!! Luckily it wasn’t his best jacket!

On a more serious note, today is my first day alone with the pair of pooches and with house training and cleaning up accidents it’s hard work. I have to be so careful with my disorder to ensure that I don’t get stressed and get lots of relaxation and that isn’t so easy with a one year old Lurcher who will eat anything he can get his paws on!! I don’t even know how I’m going to manage to have a shower as Drago is like my shadow and he follows me everywhere!! I think I’m going to end up with the door open and two dogs observing me!! I’m sure when he gets more confident he’ll be much better, and once he’s house trained it will be so much easier. It’s just getting to that point that’s the hard part. I know that having Drago and Frodo to look after will help me with my Bipolar; having to look after dogs that completely rely on me for everything forces me into action when I would normally just be lethargic. This is great, but I’ve got to watch it doesn’t take too much out of me and wear me out. It’s such a fine balance trying to do enough to keep my mind stimulated and not thinking horrible thoughts and overdoing it and causing a meltdown where I can’t do anything. I’m so used to Frodo who is laid back and easy going at 12.5 years old so this is a whole new challenge.

It’s tiring work being this naughty!! (and cute)

Frodo chilling on the sofa with Dad

So far so good anyway. I’ve been alone with the hounds for approximately 75 minutes and so far no accidents or incidents. Fingers (and everything else) crossed that today is a positive day and Drago finally masters the art of creating poomageddon outside!! Keep ’em crossed for me!!

Dr Dray is in the house!!

He’s home!! We finally picked up our funny, loveable lurcher Drago from Dogs Trust yesterday. We’d taken Frodo along for a final ‘getting to know you’ session which went fine again, and then after a fair bit of paperwork he was actually legal ours!!

I’m home!!

I was a bit worried that Drago would be nervous in the car. We put Frodo on the back seat and had Drago in the boot where they could see each other and Drago was completely chilled out! I sat in the back with Fro so I could keep an eye on them and Drago was resting his head on my shoulder and he even lay down and had a rest a few times when he wasn’t nosing out of the window. Overall a complete success 🙂

When we get home Drago was nervous to actually come into the house; we think he must have been shut in somewhere because he hates going from outside through a doorway into a building. Poor pooch, I hate to think what he’s been through 😦 Once inside though he was really good, having a nice sniff around and accustoming himself to his surroundings and once Frodo had stopped trying to hump him he lay himself down on the rug and sprawled out!! We couldn’t believe it!! Either he has come on in leaps and bounds at Dogs Trust since we first saw him or these Adaptil products really work!!

What’s that spotty one up to behind me?

Toilet training is going slowly so far, we were advised that Drago had been having diarrhoea over the last couple of days (great!!) and was on a special diet, but he didn’t toilet any of the times we took him out during the afternoon, evening and before bed. Instead he saved it for when we’d gone to bed. He obviously missed us and was scratching at the door so Ian went down to settle him and discovered ‘Poomageddon’. A huge, splattered mess on the carpet by the door to the stairs. I’m not sure if it was nerves that caused it, maybe separation anxiety was the trigger, but it took a hell of a lot of cleaning up that’s for sure!! A bit later in the night we could hear strange noises and after going down to investigate Ian discovered Drago had reached high up onto the back of one of the work surfaces, grabbed the box of dog treats, taken it into the lounge and both he and Frodo were tucking in to a midnight feast!! Naughty hounds!! All was quiet for the rest of the night though so I think we got off quite lightly there.

This morning I was again greeted by ‘Poomageddon’, in a similar place, so I think separation is a big factor with this. It isn’t helped by the fact that as Drago is a Lurcher and can jump for England he has to be either tethered to his long-line or on the lead in the garden, which makes toilet training more complicated. Frodo isn’t helping either, I was hoping he’d show him the ropes but it’s pouring with rain so Frodo took one look outside and gave me a look which suggested he was thinking ‘You’re having a laugh!!’. As well as the diarrhoea splat I found that somehow the naughty pair had got hold of a box of Dentastix and scoffed 3 out of 4 packets. And this was after we thought we’d moved everything out of reach!! Rascals!!

Right now I’ve got Frodo curled up on the sofa next to me and Drago is sprawling across his favourite rug. A perfect scene. Although today I am doing something I never thought I’d do, buying carpet protectors from Argos. I’ve always mocked them but after clearing up two massive piles from the carpet in less than 6 hours my pride is losing out to practicality. Well, just until Drago gets rid of the runs and becomes better house-trained 🙂