Day 3 - 19th September

The hardest thing, I think, is first thing in the morning. He’s been a good boy all night but when he hears me beginning to move around he is wide-awake instantly. I tend to wake up slowly. No, I used to wake up slowly, now it’s down stairs to the little dynamo. Out side for a quick toilet stop in the cold dark and damp morning, then back indoors for a mad half hour. He is so full of energy then and I feel I owe it to him for being so good at night to have a very intensive play session, before his breakfast.

As yesterday, he didn’t touch his breakfast, a quick sniff then off to do other things. Well I was warned that he may be off his food for a day or so. I found out this evening why! More of that later.

It was a busy day today. We had an appointment with the vet this morning. A general health check and chat about the various things that will need to be done over the next few weeks. He passed the health check with flying colours. 3.3 kg in weight. I took the opportunity to discuss his feeding, more how I was doing it (wrongly) than anything else. The vet reinforced the advice that Alison had given, and suggested that I gradually move Lewi to dry food over the next few weeks. I had planned that anyway.

Having got Lewi into his canvas pet carrier and into the car I decided to make it a morning out and we drove to Pets at Home for a look round and possibly to buy a dog waste digester for the garden. Not possible, he is not too keen on being carried so with both my hands full, I couldn’t carry any shopping, except for two more stainless steel bowls. But Lewi enjoyed the shop as much as he had enjoyed the Vet’s reception area. Every one came across to fuss him and to ask me if he was a fox cub. That was funny the first time, and I did try not to be impatient with them. Although he doesn’t mind, I’m beginning to!

Once home it was time for lunch. This was going to be a success! I followed the advice I’d got from the vet. I served him a smaller portion, shut the kitchen gate and stood over him as he ate. Much more successful. He no longer thought that he was missing anything, and couldn’t go wandering off. Before I’d prepare my meal and do other little jobs whilst he was “eating”. Like any youngster, he is eternally curious about all the exciting things in this new world around him, and he forgets to think about everyday things like eating. I remember as a small lad, feeling that meal times were an interruption in important world of play and imagination. Lewi certainly has a lot of imagination, it’s fascinating watching him stalk and pounce on a ball that is probably some wild exotic animal in his mind.

After food it was time for siesta. I joined him in that.

I managed to give him a big fright, quite accidentally. He was investigating the strange Hoover machine that had appeared whilst he was asleep. I plugged it in, forgetting that I’d left the switch on. It’s a good job the door was open, the speed that he flew out of it, straight to his favourite hiding place in the garden, behind the plant containers.

He has at last realised what the bed is for, it’s not something to chew up then nap beside!

The afternoon meal was not quite as successful as lunchtime. I think that’s because he had napped for so much of the afternoon. I did try to make it more fun by putting a few kibbles in his puppy kong. He loved that. There was a bit of a challenge involved in getting at the food. He loves a challenge. So in the end I was happy that he had eaten enough. Now I know what mums go through.

I had to give him one telling off today. He thought that lounge carpet is for digging in. A quick, sharp NO! seemed to do the trick, though it did shock him – and me as well!

I have the two young girls coming round again tomorrow. I need to work on his approach to the youngest one. I think his over exuberant reaction to her was in large part due to the way she approached him, very full on and face on as well, he just interpreted as another puppy wanting to play rough and tumble. He never bit or mouthed her at all, but was just very bouncy towards her. I will need to teach her how to approach him, calmly. He needs more experience of playing with tiny humans as well

I solved the problem of his evening meal (and breakfast). He had just been sniffing it and turning up his nose. I had assumed that he’d like his Ready Brek the same way as I do, nice and thick. Tonight, I saw the error of my ways, very runny – like slightly thickened milk, he lapped it up and enjoyed every drop – even with egg yolk in…

Then say goodnight to our 3 lots of evening visitors and a quick lie down to watch a bit of telly while I get his bed ready

Still touching wood as I sit and write this. Bedtime was even easier tonight no whines or complaints. But then after a very busy day I think he was as tired as I was!