Monkey Monkey

So Milo has been with us a while now and we are getting used to each other quite well, He has settled right in and follows all of us around managing to trip us and help us by taking the washing in (to his basket to chew it) help with mopping the floor (on the way out the door and up the garden at high speed to chew it) picks up the kids socks and pants (on the way to che...) ok so you can probably see a pattern.
If you decide to get a Labrador I can definitively say without a doubt they will chew anything at all they can get their teeth into, ANYTHING !
Milo loves gardening too, Pulling leaves off any plant or tree and tasting it, Soil testing including digging and eating it to check for ph level obviously, He removes pebbles, Stones and coal and chews them then trims the grass and pulls weeds.
He loves meeting people when I hang around outside the shops and people seem happy to meet him too, He is getting very heavy to stand and hold now though but as he has had his second jabs and chip now he will soon be moving under his own steam instead of me carrying him.

The trip to the vet was quite pleasant as he got to look at a couple of other dogs in the waiting room and was all tail wags when he met the nice vet, Never noticed when she gave him his Jabs and was still wagging his tail when she attacked him with a big needle and made him yelp while putting the chip in.
Milo refused to have anything else to do with the Vet or me who was holding him refusing to look at either of us from then on, I think he has forgiven me now but not so sure the Vet is on his Christmas card list anymore.

Timber !

Busy day chopping down trees with help from Milo, When I say help I of course mean Milo trying to bite the saw, Branches, Gloves etc I nearly launched him as he was hanging on the end of one large branch as I threw it on the pile.

All day he was with me helping and all night he was sleep walking, He was very worn out after his exercise but he found somewhere with sunshine to lie in.

Drowned and stabbed

So would you be friends with strange people who tried to drown you then took you on a car ride to see someone who touched your private parts then stabbed you with a needle ?

Seems Milo didn't mind so much really, He fell into some mud, Well he slid on a piece of wood and artistically slid along into the mud caking one side of him and then ran inside to deposit muddy footprints so he had to have a shower that he quite liked thank you very much.

That was yesterday, Today was an adventure in the car to the local Vets to have his jabs and a health check.

He passed with a clean bill of health and the injection went past virtually unnoticed by Milo as I think nothing fazes this dog at all, He showed mild interest in my electric shaver and the Dyson hoovering around him.

He does seem a little subdued by the jabs but overall he is ok not too keen on the rain but he has been in plenty today !

It's so FLUFFY !

So Milo loved the car journey home, Relaxed so much he fell asleep.

I was a little worried he might be wary of a new home but he was straight into explore mode and inspected everywhere inside and out. He did run into the closed glass door but after a dirty look realised the other side was open and went in to trail muddy footprints inside. 

He has claimed his bed and seems to like it as he climbed straight in and went to sleep so he seems settled in which is good news.

D-Day

Thats Dog Day to you and me !
Yes im sat here enjoying my coffee and browsing through a few sites on training and other puppy related things as today we go and pick up Milo and he come home with us.
My feelings are a combined mish mash of excitement and dread but overall positive, I think.

We have most of what we need and plenty of things we dont need but who can resist toys and treats ? I would of preferred the Vetbed to come before he got here but im sure he will be happy in the soft RSPCA furry blanket and the Bob the builder one. Food is covered as he is already on Beta Puppy we bought a bag to keep him going until we change him over to Eden, Applaws or similar protein based food without cereal.

Why cereal free ?
Allergies and Hyperactivity along with all the carbohydrates could make you dog overweight, It is used by manufacturers as a filler and makes the food you buy look better as the bag is fuller and yes it does fill your dog up and possibly isnt doing any harm but isn't doing it any good either. You feed less food for the same amount of calories and one of the positive effects is less in less out, All that cereal tends to go straight through leaving you to pick it back up.

Seasonal Canine Illness

SCI Is now in season, It was one of those things that is around but didn't really come onto my radar until after we decided to have a dog. As I had already marked Clumber park as a walking spot then found out about SCI it's very worrying but as the incidents of deaths drop due to owners and vets being more aware I'm less worried. 

Along with rare problems we also have worming schedules flea protection and the normal jabs and boosters to worry about and the breed specific problems to look out for, I'm sure the kids were not this much of a worry.

Calm before the storm

So we bought a puppy.

Im not sure how or why we did it but in a couple of days time, Sunday to be precise we have a chocolate Labrador retriever coming to share our life
Over the past few weeks we have gotten to know Milo and have been waiting until he is 8 weeks old before we wrench him away from his litter mates and mother, Hopefully he will learn a little bite inhibition from them and being 8 weeks he should be ready for the big wide world and an adventure.

We have booked him in for injections and micro-chipping so it seems we intend to not only take him away from all he knows and make him sleep alone in a strange place but the very next day we will take him for an exciting ride to someone he has never met before who will stab him, Im sure he will be really happy to have come to live with us.
After researching and looking at different places and prices for the injections we eventually settled for a good local vet that costs a little more but at least we will get to know them for any future visits.

Of course with any new addition to the family we have now purchased lots of toys, Training treats, Food, Bowls, Lead, Collar and tag, Bedding etc the list does go on a bit and wow what a confusing choice on everything you "need" and on things you dont.

Overall im sure we will find out what we do and don't need as we continue our journey !