Diary | PERFECT COCKER SPANIEL

Finally, oh, finally, I am reunited with my journal. My every intention was to keep going no matter what, but since Fred’s arrival most plants were either forgotten or postponed until further notice. It really was a challenging time raising him and making sure Cooper is happy, too.

But somehow I did it. We went through the snow storms, rain falls, upset tummies, tears (mine, not his!), teething (his, not mine!), seasons of insects and heatwaves, logistics of feeding and walking two dogs, training lessons and hours of utter bliss also known as puppy cuddles. Whenever I felt totally rubbish, my darling husband would say “you’ve done it so many times and you can do it again” and somehow his faith in my skills kept me going… No matter how many sleepless weeks it took, and no matter how many times I cried because I was so very tired, frustrated or plainly scared, I got my boys to the point when we can happily live every day as it comes.

To be fair, Fred has been a wonderful puppy. In fact, he reminds me of Oscar a lot and it is yet another trait that makes him rather special. I love the boy with all my heart. He is just lovely, absolutely lovely. Always happy, always smiling and, how should I put it, “self-sufficient”… From day one he not only proved to be incredibly intelligent and resourceful, but also very calm. Provided that he was done with the toilet, had his food and playtime, Fred really does enjoy his personal moments and space and looks utterly adorable wondering off to yet another undisclosed location (usually his favourite sofa, my bed or the corner of a chair) with a chew.

He also turned out to be a real kamikaze! From his first days Fred showed real interest in climbing stairs, jumping on and off everything regardless of height, squeezing into every corner and hunting every bug and fly he came across. The levels of puppy proofing went beyond imaginable! We blocked the stairs, door ways, put up puppy fences around the garden to somehow stop the little adventurer pulling down the twigs of the bushes (he still figured it out, though)

Basically, life has been a mad circus… and flew by before I had a chance to take a breath and memorise it.

Then it became better and easier, more fun and less stressful. These days we get up at 6 for breakfast and toilet (mainly led by Cooper who would never ever miss his breakfast), have a little nap (again, according to Cooper’s schedule – Coop is napping, Fred is chewing and I am supervising) and go for a walk an hour later. Once back, the boys enjoy their morning biscuits and have a good old run around the garden until they collapse, happy and satisfied. Comes afternoon, they have training lessons, more naps and a wonderful walk in the countryside.

And I finally get time to work on my most special project, exercise and maintain the house the way it deserves.

It would be misleading to say that the moments of madness and puppy days are gone. Of course, Fred still requires plenty of attention and most definitely – entertainment and training. Soon I will be hand striping him, too. Still, I am pleased with what we have achieved so far. And I am grateful for this little guy. He is LOVE.

Autumn is such a beautiful season and, lets be honest, much better for cocker spaniels than hot and humid summer. We still get long and sunny walks, yet the air is cool and everything looks so beautiful, and if I may say so, works as a gorgeous background for a typical cocker.

There are, however, a few things that you need to be aware of when out and about.

Acorns can be very tempting tempting for dogs and puppies, in particular, because they look like interesting little rocks that beg to be tasted! Luckily, they are bitter, so the dogs often spit them out and never try again, but there will always be a few who somehow find acorns fascinating and worth a bite no matter what.

Unfortunately, acorns can cause instestinal blockages if swallowed whole. They also contain a chemical called gallotannin known to cause anything from a mild stomach upset to death. Green acorns are more toxic than brown due to higher concentration of gallotanning in the outer shell. Toxicity levels also depends on the oak species.

Symptoms such as diarrhoea, upset tummy and vomiting may take up to a week to develop, so if you suspect that your cocker might have chewed an acorn, contact the vets immediately.

Horse chestnuts or conkers are another nut that is highly toxic to dogs if chewed and digested. Conkers contain aesculin, a chemical compound found in both the nuts and the leaves. Symptoms usually develop within 1-6 hours depending on the amount of digested toxin, and include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, pain, discomfort, dehydration, shock and, in worst cases, respiratory paralysis and death. If cockers are swallowed whole, they can cause intestinal blockage and will require an urgent surgery.

Wild mushrooms are the dogs enemy, so it is best to avoid them all together. Some of the worst species include toad stools (red cups with white dots), Jewellery death cup (pale brown cup with white dots), Panther cup (golden brown cup with white dots), Death cup (greenish cup with a thin stem and rather generous “skirt”, 30g of this mushroom is fatal to humans), Destroying angel (flat pale yellow or white cup on a thin stalk), Fools whitecap (small chestnut brown mushrooms), Fools funnel (shaped like a pale grey funnel), and Autumnal Galerina (flat rust-coloured cups, these mushrooms grown on sawdust in “families”). Yellow stainer that looks like white balls that sit in groups all over the ground is commonly found in gardens and green areas as well as woods.

The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can develop rapidly and include anything from vomiting and diarrhoea to liver and kidney failure, and death.

Leaves, both freshly fallen and dry rusty ones, can cause digestive upsets, especially in pups whose digestive system is still developing and acquiring its natural defence mechanisms. Old and dump leaves can also house fungi and bacteria as well as bugs and mites. The fungi and bacteria can cause digestive problems, diarrhoea and vomiting, while the bug bites – lead to irritation and, if the dog licks and scratches the spots, bacterial infection.

Fireworks season is coming up soon. We tend to think of them as one of the causes of anxiety and fear, but it is important to remember that used fireworks can be very toxic to dogs. Make sure to clear your garden from any left over bits and look out for them during your walks.

Now the conversation is done with, it’s time to enjoy the beautiful things autumn brings.

NB. A slightly condensed version of this post is also published on @perfectcockerspaniel

Photo source: all images except the photo of Cooper are via Pixabay: acorns, chestnuts, leaves, mushrooms, fireworks

PERFECT COCKER SPANIEL

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS

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