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On 21 October, Diesel and Rascal were involved in a photo shoot for Land Rover South Africa. We went to Struben Dam in Pretoria for the shoot, and the doggies got to try out Land Rover's range of dog accessories, including collars from the HUE 166-based Heritage Collection and jackets from Barbour. Their pictures were taken by pet photographer Emma O'Brien, to be used in promoting the range locally.

They were pretty well behaved during the shoot. However, before the shoot, Rascal managed to escape from my grip and Diesel managed to make me fall down a sandy hill while we were running after Rascal. I had flash backs to the day when I was mugged and fell down the hill running for help. Luckily this time I only had some dirt on my hands and jeans, and not huge bruises and scrapes.

Always an adventure with doggies.

As a thank you for being part of the shoot, I received a canvas with my favourite picture of Diesel and Rascal. The picture I chose is below. I think it expresses their personalities perfectly.

How to trap a Rascal

Step 1: Put a fence around a plant to stop a baby Diesel from pulling the plant off the wall and eating it.

Step 2: Replace the decaying and being eaten by doggies wooden structure surrounding the garden bed with concrete blocks, thereby providing easier access to the garden bed.

Step 3: Let Rascal adventure in the garden, chasing bugs.

In the two minutes it took me to cut up the carrots for their snack, Rascal managed to get himself trapped behind the fence. When he didn't come when called for his snack, I went looking for him and decided to take a photo before letting him out.

He had squeezed himself between the fence and the concrete wall to get in there. I moved one of the balls of concrete on the right hand side closer to the wall - it seemed as if that was his access point. Those balls of concrete are lying on the top of the garden bed to stop him from digging.

I clearly got the access point wrong, as one evening this week I arrived home and Rascal started yelling at me. He was trapped in there again, but trying to get out of the left hand side. So now I've put concrete balls on the left hand side. Hopefully that keeps him out.

Rascal

This post is long overdue. Rascal has been with us for six months now.

After my previous rescue experiences, I wasn't sure what to expect with Spaniel Welfare. However, adopting Rascal couldn't have been easier, and the ladies at Spaniel Welfare SA are incredibly respectful and professional.

I waited until Diesel was a year old and then had him neutered. The operation went well, but I had to laugh when, after the vet had said "watch him, but he shouldn't lick", Diesel emerged with the cone of shame because "he had been licking while in the cage". He also didn't like the cream that had to be applied for a few days thereafter, and started running away the second I picked up the bottle (it must have stung, shame).

Diesel with his cone of shame because he decided to lick

Once Diesel had healed following the operation, I decided to try adopting a spaniel again. I submitted an updated application form on Monday, 25 September. The home inspection happened on Wednesday, 27 September. And Diesel and I went to meet the spaniels on Sunday, 1 October.

There were three young spaniels available for adoption at that point - two girls, Candy and Jayde, and a boy, Rascal. I decided it was up to Diesel to choose, or the spaniel to choose him, and that is exactly what happened. Candy wouldn't stop barking at Diesel and Jayde didn't show much interest in him. Eventually it was just Rascal and Diesel outside, and they quickly became friends. When all the rest of the spaniels (about a dozen) came out to play, Diesel and Rascal were following each other around. And when I went to fetch my phone from the car, it was Rascal that followed me.

Rascal came home with us that day and the adoption was finalised a few weeks later.

Diesel was absolutely besotted with Rascal, and wouldn't leave him alone that first day. He was so ridiculously excited at having a friend that I had to shout at him when we went to bed that night because he wouldn't settle down.

It wasn't as easy for Rascal or I. We were both a bit unsettled for the first few days. I think by the Monday morning Rascal was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the constant attention from Diesel and ended up snapping at him. That concerned me and so I wasn't sure if I'd made the right decision. That evening, out of my sight for a few seconds, Rascal lived up to his name by chewing a hole in the blanket on the spare bed. That reduced me to tears and again I questioned whether I had done the right thing. But the advice is to give it a few weeks, and so I did.

Diesel absolutely besotted with Rascal on the first day. This is also the blanket that Rascal chewed a hole in.

It actually took a couple of months for Rascal and I to get used to each other. He had very little discipline, only knowing "sit". He has since learnt to "shake" for his food, wait, feet (it means I need to wipe their feet when they come in the back door and it has been raining), roll over (another one associated with wiping the feet), and off. We're still working on down (lie down) and high-five, and he tends to only do his tricks in context of a situation.

He has soiled in the house a few times, on some occasions with the back door open and so he could easily have just gone outside rather than into the passage, and on the carpet. Plus, he has chewed holes in a couple of other fabric items - a pillow and the cover on the spare couch in the study. He likes to gnaw on things. He has since learnt that he can only gnaw on the dog toys and the one dog blanket that has become a toy, which has almost disintegrated at this point as it has been ripped by the two of them.

At first, I had no idea how he liked to play. As much as his breed is also meant to retrieve, he does what the Danes used to do and looks at me like I'm stupid when I throw a ball. It took being on holiday over December, when I got to spend much more time with him, that we finally started understanding each other. Turns out his play is to gently wrestle with me.

He likes to play tug of war with Diesel, over whichever toy or piece of dog blanket they have picked up. He likes to chase after and bark at birds. He likes to chase after and try to catch dragonflies - it's actually really cute the way he jumps really high to try catch them. He is not fazed by loud noises, including thunder and fireworks. He loves the rain and wishes to run around in it, which he only gets to do when I'm not at home and he's already outside, because he's like a mud magnet. His absolute favourite thing is to cuddle on the couch with someone, on his back with his tummy exposed so it can be tickled - he took a particular liking to doing this with my dad over December.

Ready for the December trip to my parents in Howick

We're still working on his slight leash aggression. He tends to bark at other dogs when he is on the leash. This I've noticed when we have gone to the park and while we were travelling in December. However, he listens when I say no, and stops.

He's actually very good at listening. The first time we went to the park, I was giving him a few instructions, like not to jump on me, with lots of "good boy" when he did the right thing. A lady had been watching and asked if I was a dog trainer - LOL.

Rascal is exactly four weeks older than Diesel, born on 12 August 2016. And they're a perfect fit for each other. They play nicely together, learn from each other - both naughty and good things - keep each other company, snuggle together and even share kisses. They're already the best of friends.

Snuggles

The Christmas photo shoot that turned into a kisses sharing session

Saying goodbye to their baby, my nephew

Tummy tickles please

I'm cute, you gotta love me

Finding Diesel a friend

"Adopt, don't shop." - If only it was as easy as the phrase implies.

I've had an emotional past few weeks trying to find Diesel a friend. I shortlisted the type of dog I wanted to a spaniel and decided to go the rescue route because I don't have the strength to walk into a SPCA. Just delivering goods to their second hand shop breaks me.

I approached a colleague who has a rescue association for assistance. She didn't have any spaniels for adoption and so recommended that I get in touch with a lady who I later found out works for Spaniel Rescue.

It was all fine in the beginning - we had a good chat and ultimately narrowed down the search to a young dog that would have the energy to keep up with Diesel but was also old enough to have already been potty trained. I thought it would have to be female, but she mentioned that it didn't matter, two boys could be fine together as long as they were both neutered by adulthood, and a female dog might be a bit 'bitchy' for Diesel, given that he is such a gentle soul.

After a couple of weeks, and a few follow ups from my side, she contacted me with the news that there was a male spaniel similar in age to Diesel up for adoption. The family that owned this dog didn't want to get a second dog. Unfortunately, he was suffering from some separation anxiety while they were out and his barking was aggravating the neighbours. Therefore, they thought it was in his best interest to give him up for adoption.

She sent a picture via WhatsApp and it was 'love at first sight' as she had stated. We arranged a meet and greet with the current owner, who brought Frodo to my house on a Saturday afternoon to meet Diesel.

The dogs loved each other and played non-stop for the entire time Frodo was around. However, on my end I barely got to see Frodo, because his current owner had brought her mom and her two young sons with her. I spent the time listening to each of the adult's stories about how difficult it was to give up dogs and to move house, and directing the boys to the bathroom. In short, it was like chaos had descended on my house for 20 minutes.

Nevertheless, once they had left, the current owner sent a message to the WhatsApp group stating: "I felt it went really well. The dogs kept each other very busy. He is tired now. Loved Kim and think she will make a good mommy to Frodo."

Then there was silence for the next week and a bit. Eventually I decided to contact the rescue lady because my colleagues and family were asking about Frodo - clearly I was so excited I was telling everyone the story.

She then told me that the owner now had misgivings. She now wasn't sure whether Frodo should go to a home with a large breed dog, and wasn't answering the rescue lady's messages. The rescue lady said she would try again, but it didn't look like I was going to get Frodo. If that was the case, she would look at the other dogs up for adoption and let me know of any suitable options.

All good. If only the Frodo and Spaniel Rescue saga had ended there.

That Thursday I was trawling through Facebook when I noticed a Spaniel Rescue post about a 10-month-old dog needing an urgent foster home. On Friday there was a post to thank someone for taking in the dog at such short notice. The post contained a picture of the dog and he looked cute. I called the rescue lady with the intention of finding out if I could possibly adopt this dog. Turns out it was Frodo.

The family was leaving for their Ireland holiday. The owner had wanted to home the dog before the holiday, which she had mentioned to me during their visit. Unfortunately, since she "hadn't found a home" and there was now no more time left, she just dumped Frodo on the rescue lady at the last minute, with no food, no toys, no collar, no bowl, nothing. Strange, considering she absolutely loved this dog and it was "so" difficult to give him up for adoption.

Anyway, after a long conversation with the rescue lady where we went over the meet and greet, and how what she had been told by the owner might not amount to the truth, she decided we should give it another try and she would facilitate the meeting this time. Therefore, we set up a second meet and greet at my house for the next Thursday morning.

I worked from home that morning. When she didn't arrive at 9am, I gave it a bit more time. Then I called - no answer. An unanswered WhatsApp message and two further unanswered calls later, I decided to leave for work.

When I got to work I had a message: "Just at vet with dog hit by car". Okay, but no 'sorry Kim'. And couldn't she have let me know that she wasn't going to make it, or answered one of my calls. And so with this, after all the following up I had done, the reaching out with little response, the trying to accommodate everyone with little success, I decided to give up. What was the point? I also haven't heard anything further from the rescue lady.

Again, if only the Frodo and Spaniel Rescue saga had ended there.

I then saw my colleague with the rescue association again the next Monday - she had been out of the office at clients for the past two weeks. She asked if I had my dog yet, and I had to explain the whole ordeal to that point.

It made her so angry that here I had been trying so hard, here was a good home for Frodo, but the rescue lady just wasn't playing along. We both understand that rescue is often a second job, that you need to juggle this with your day job, your family and other commitments. However, it shouldn't be that difficult just to respond, even if it's just to say that you're busy and will come back to me later, or let me know why I can't have Frodo.

She decided to contact the rescue lady to express her disbelief. I'm not sure exactly what was said, but the rescue lady then agreed to set up a WhatsApp group with the current foster mom to organise for Frodo to come through for the weekend. That WhatsApp group never materialised. My colleague then decided to set up a WhatsApp group to try arrange the visit. She even offered her help with getting Frodo to my place, doing the home check and making sure the dogs got on well, because she knew that the rescue lady was busy and needed help. The rescue lady never responded. In short the weekend came and went, and Frodo didn't visit.

We are now in this current week, almost two months since I first made contact with the rescue lady, and I still don't have a friend for Diesel. Other than Frodo, there has also been no communication as to options for a friend for Diesel, yet this rescue association gets new spaniels almost every day.

I contacted Pet Rescue this week about a spaniel up for adoption. When I mentioned that I've been having troubles with adopting a dog from Spaniel Rescue, the lady told me that I am not the only person to say that. Unfortunately, I was too late for the Pet Rescue dog, they had already booked an appointment for Pierre to come see him the next day, and Pierre ended up adopting him. Lucky Pierre.

The final straw in the Frodo saga was the up-for-adoption post on the Spaniel Rescue page, posted this week:

Needless to say, I am angry. Hence the angry emotion on the post. I'm absolutely done with dealing with Spaniel Rescue.

I've now reached out to Spaniel Welfare, filled out an application form (something Spaniel Rescue didn't even request) and they've been great so far - very responsive. However, they want Diesel neutered before they even do a home check or consider placing a spaniel.

I don't want to neuter Diesel until he is a year old because there are studies to show that you should wait, especially with large breed dogs, until they are older. The dogs can experience problems if it is done too soon. The lady that I get Diesel's food from said I should wait, if not do it at all, and mentioned that her one dog experienced incontinence because she was spayed too soon. Now that I think about it, Asha might have had that, because I recall the ex mentioned that she constantly 'leaked'.

The lady that I spoke to at doggie day care this week also said I should wait, and that I shouldn't be pressurised into doing it sooner. She's a breeder, so she should know a thing or two. Unfortunately, because she is a breeder, it also means that until Diesel is neutered he can't go to her doggie day care. The other doggie day care options don't have space at the moment.

So I'm stuck with regards to all options of trying to keep Diesel entertained during the day while I'm at work. And now I'm really not sure what to do.

Diesel wasn't supposed to be home alone during the day. When I got him I had a boyfriend living with me who worked from home. This is why it was okay to get only one dog. However, circumstances changed.

The sad thing is I wanted to get two puppies again, like with Titan and Asha, but it was the bad experience with another rescue organisation that changed my mind.

Before I got Diesel, I considered adopting a German Short-haired Pointer (GSP). I contacted a GSP rescue association that had puppies up for adoption. At that point I wanted young puppies because I wasn't sure the little cat could handle big dogs just invading her space one day. At least the puppies would start out small.

I wanted to adopt two from the same litter, but I was discouraged to do so because of littermate syndrome. This is where a pair of puppies, whether from the same litter or not, bond with each other to such a degree that they exclude other dogs or humans from their interactions. This can lead to behavioural issues.

It's a possible issue, but not all dogs have this problem. Perhaps we were lucky with Titan and Asha, or perhaps it was because of the way that they were raised that there weren't any issues. The Spaniel Rescue lady rubbished the littermate syndrome idea.

Anyway, the GSP association didn't want me to adopt two puppies from the same litter, so they suggested I look at an 8-month-old black GSP named Vader and one of the liver litter puppies. I was happy with this and we organised for a home check.

The lady that came to do the home check only had a problem with the fence between the front and back yards, which has since been fixed. It had some sharp edges at the top and she suggested I put a pool noodle at the top because GSPs have a tendency to jump over lower fences.

However, during the visit she bad-mouthed every single breed of dog that was raised - GSP, Weimaraner, Labrador, Golden Retriever. She told me that a GSP could be fine with a cat for a long time, and then one day could just snap and attack the cat. I also found out that Vader was no longer available and that I 'might' get one of the litter puppies as I was on the shortlist, but she couldn't guarantee it. Broken promises.

Needless to say, I said thank you, but no thank you. And because of the cat statement, I then looked in the direction of a Labrador. This, after a couple of weeks where I had to convince myself that getting a dog was still a good idea, because of her dismissing all types of dogs.

I started following a Labrador rescue association and submitted an application, but came to realise that puppies are snapped up quickly. While trawling through Labrador puppy posts the one day, I came across the advert for Kusa registered pups for sale in which Diesel was featured.

I called and the puppy with the white spot in the advert was promised to me so quickly and his collection organised for that very weekend. He didn't come cheap, but it was effortless.

And that is probably the reason why so many people still shop. It might be the route that I will have to take again, even though I'm trying my best to 'do the right thing'.

Brain games

I'm still spending a small fortune on toys, to try keep Diesel occupied.

However, when I'm out at work during the day, the toys don't hold much interest and Diesel's boredom is resulting in quite a bit of destruction in the back yard - but that's a whole other story.

So, besides throwing the ball to try wear him out, I'm also trying to engage his mind on a regular basis. I've been teaching him a few more tricks - shake, high-five, touch, wait, settle. I'm trying to get him to put his toys back in the box, but he hasn't figured that out yet. I've also been doing a whole lot of research on dog mental exercises.

I came across the muffin tin game on this web page: http://3lostdogs.com/puzzle-toys-a-beginners-guide-to-the-most-useful-dog-toys-ever/ (scroll down). In that video it is taking some time for the dog to figure it out. The very clever Diesel has already aced the game, to the point where he now looks at me as if to say "is that all". Here he is on the third go at it:

I'm also trying to teach him the cup guessing game. I'm using some plastic bowls I had, and so far we are at the point where he can show me which bowl the treat is under. I'm now trying to get him to follow when I move the bowls around. On one day he'll have the patience and follow. On another day he just bulldozes both bowls. Here he is showing me which bowl the treat is under:

Fun in the park and other adventures

With Diesel in my life I have been going to Walkhaven again. It's bittersweet, reminding me of all the times I went with Titan and Asha. But with Diesel it's a completely different experience.

Titan and Asha used to stick with me, barely leaving my side, particularly Asha. They also used to look to me for guidance. Asha once hid behind me looking for my protection from a dog that had approached her aggressively. This stick by your side thing seems to be a Dane trait, as I've now observed others doing it.

Diesel does no such thing. He is a far more social being and is easily distracted. So instead of me walking the dog, he walks me. I find myself following Diesel around, and he goes with whatever takes his liking for that particular point in time. So, one minute we are following one group of people/ dogs and the next we could be going a completely different direction with the next group that has taken his fancy.

It certainly opens up conversation, mainly with me saying "I'm sorry to be following you, but Diesel has decided that you're interesting and he'd like to walk with you, for now."

I have met lots of people this way. And it was even because of this that we happened to bump into Diesel's litter brother, Harvey, the one day.

Diesel, green leash, and Harvey, blue leash

Diesel also has no separation anxiety. This is a good thing when I leave him at home alone for the day while I go to work. At the park, it means I have to look out for him, because I'm sure he'd happily go home with someone else.

He is so unfazed about being with me that he was able to follow some ladies and their girl Weimaraner around the dam while I waited at the restaurant. Thank goodness he was really keen on the Weimaraner, it kept him from being distracted until right at the end of their walk when another group of dogs took his interest. But by then they were close enough for me to go fetch him.

Here he is playing with the Weimaraner at the restaurant:

In March, I went to visit my parents in Howick. Diesel was really good in the car, he slept most of the way. At the one rest stop in Harrismith there are some animals. I took Diesel to go meet them. He was curious but didn't want to go too close, and got a fright when the pig made a noise. Here are the pictures from our road trip:

Diesel also learnt to swim while he was in Howick, since my parents have a swimming pool at their house. It was important to teach him while we were there, as he wasn't too sure in the water. During the first visit to Walkhaven, he was bouncing around in the water after other dogs. At one point he bounced in a bit too far and sank. He popped up, jumped around and came bounding out the water towards me with huge eyes. He got out, dropped at my feet a bit overwhelmed, but after two seconds realised he was fine and started dive bombing the mud because of the water in his ears. A few seconds later he was back in the water, so no harm there. But it made me realise that I needed to teach him to swim, and so that was the goal while we were in Howick.

My social dog also accompanies me to restaurants. While we were in Howick, we visited the Bierfassl on Nottingham Road. Diesel went with us and calmly lay down next to the table while we ate.

He and I also regularly visit Brightwater Commons because they allow dogs there. After a walk around we end up at McGinty's for a drink. Diesel is now well-known there and has the waitrons wrapped around his paw. While I have Gummy Berry Juice (an awesome cocktail of Vodka, Blue Curacao, Banana Liqueur, Grenadine, Lime and Lemonade), he gets served water in his bowl which I take with us, and this gets regularly topped up with ice, one of his favourite treats.

Toys, toys everywhere

Other than the small fortune I've spent on flea products...

Aside: I worked it out, I spent R2045.77 on getting rid of the fleas. I could have spent less than half of that if I'd know what worked. So trust me when I say go straight to the Revolution and Bravecto, and save yourself the tears from the ridiculous amount of money, the flea bites, the waking up in the middle of the night to the thump, thump, thumping of an itchy dog, and the feeling of "when will it end" (wail).

I've also spent a small fortune on toys.

But they all serve their purpose and have the desired effect of keeping Diesel from mischief (well, most of the time). Add the "garden toys" to the pile - sticks, rocks, slate and numerous other things Diesel manages to find - and the boy keeps himself entertained.

They're stored in a box, and Diesel helps himself when he wants to play. He hasn't yet learnt to put them back, so they end up being scattered around the house and a few have gone missing under furniture from time to time, especially the balls. We have a round up of toys back into the box each evening, mostly so that I don't trip over them first thing in the morning when I'm not quite awake.

When the giant ball was still whole:

 

 

It's more entertaining now that it's deflated:

On your marks, get set, go: