Tali's Tails

Tuesday, 11 January 2022

Some Snaps

Loki keeping up with Ross and Siska

Siska looking great

A game with a view

Orin and Siska watching Kaiah

My Family

Aren't they all beautiful? Aren't they all lovely?

How hurtful it is to focus on one and not mention the others eh.

We love them all, the beautiful ones, the plain Jane, the naughty ones and the clown.

These two are so close. When he arrived in 2012 I put Nico with Louis, Finlay and Jezi and the youngsters just bonded. Jezi had managed to oust herself from the other bitches very early on and Nico became her everything. Without doubt he has been her lifeline and it's wonderful to see them still so close and bonded.

Monday, 10 January 2022

It Got So Misty

I ended up having to do the last two walks closer to home. Visibility was just too poor on the mountain, hence I've tried to adjust the second photo to make it clearer.

I really hate having to use this head collar on Zeus, but I just can't think of an alternate. I think it gets me as it marks his beautiful face, and I recently saw a bitch with a grey line across her face where she had worn a head collar all her life on walks. I hate harnesses, and most encourage pulling anyway, and I honestly can't hold him on a collar on a flexi lead.

Weights And Measures

Well only 12 month measures as we are being held captive by covid till tomorrow, so I can't weigh her. (No we haven't got it) Anyway I measured Siska at 59cms, possibly pushing 59.5cms. I never thought she'd get to this height, I really thought she'd be marginally smaller. It just goes to prove that with good nutrition and normal development, small ones usually catch up. I hope to edit the post and add her weight when I've been over to Ffor, but I can't imagine there will be much increase in her weight since last month when she was 27.8kg.

Constructionally, Siska is beautifully put together, not perfect but find me the one that is? With increased wither height her overline has improved, but I find her croup and tail set a little distracting. Hopefully that can be helped with a little tidying of the coat over her croup. She has the most beautiful head, a lovely dark eye and the naughtiest of expressions. Her ears are a tad wide set, like her mothers, but she can use them to advantage when she chooses too. Siska is a lovely colour and has a glorious coat and plenty of frills and knickers to complete the picture. She has plenty of straight, strong bone for a feminine young lady, though her feet are not her fortune. Her front and rear angles to me are pleasing and balanced and with normal maturity she should fill in her teenage frame. In movement she has a long stride, but she lacks the drive that Orin has, again I hope training will help. It's not that she can't do it, it's just I think she feels little need to put in that much effort. I am looking forward to seeing how she develops further, but of course I'm enjoying who she is now too!

***At 13months Siska was 28.3kg***

Queen?

Ian thinks this looks like the cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody"

I'll have to try and line them up a little bit better next time. Funny yeah.

Changes And Worming

Steve says I watch these dogs too much, he says that I don't miss a thing. Surely that is what it's about? That's why I know Loki had no mobility or behavioural changes and that the onset of his condition was instantaneous. I don't miss things, I can't afford to miss things! Siska has a sore lip, I'm not concerned, but I noticed it days ago .. he saw it yesterday, hmm. Last night, Steve also noticed that Jezi was the last to finish her meal, even when she had started before the others came in. I had noticed over the last week that Jezi hasn't been starting her meals instantly, she hesitates, thinks about it, then eats it. It's such a small change, but it is a change in behaviour that needs to be noted.

I've ordered the first worming dose for the year from Animed.. it came to just under £90. Panacur liquid for the dogs and drontal tablets for the cats and Ross. I've given up on trying to get panacur liquid into Ross, if I put it in his food he won't eat it, if I try and put it down his throat I end up wearing it. For the others I buy large tins of butchers tripe and mix the panacur into that and add to the dogs dinners, it usually works. I use a pill popper for the cats and generally only need help with Perry! Buying from Animed is cheaper than from the vets or from Idris Morris but I get to use the reputable brands that I'm comfortable with. Supermarket products really are a danger and should be taken off the shelves. I don't like spot on products either, but will use them if I have to for fleas, and then I'll only use certain products with a years of service so to speak. (Like Advocate) Luckily it's been years since we had fleas here. Spraying the house and van with "Stay kill" 2 - 3 times a year seems to be working, though it's not idea to use chemicals at least it's not going directly onto my dogs!

I have to add that I'm not keen on the above photo .. only one reason ... Nico looks so old in it, and yes I have observed a change in his eye colour recently - sadly as the oldest member of the Blaniks it's only to be expected!