How weird he has been. I guess it started at 4.30 am yesterday morning. I am home alone as my husband is in hospital. Kramer needed to "go" - outside. He sat by my bed and "spoke" to me in his doggy voice.
It was pouring with rain so there we were on the back lawn as he relieved himself. I tried to go back to bed and sleep afterwards, but there was quite a lot of traffic noise and eventually I got up.
During the day Kramer was more active than he has been of recent times. When the granddaughter visited, he was rather horny and did what a log of dogs do - we call it "humping" and the little girl was put on the lounge - out of his reach.
Later in the day I had a visitor, after I had returned from the hospital. Kramer was extremely restless. We'd had quite a few walks around the back yard, and he seemed to be looking for something. Looking for my husband perhaps? But he has been away from home on and off for the last two weeks and Kramer has not behaved like this.
When my friend was here, he was so restless and disruptive. Often "talking" loudly and interrupting any conversation. I took him outside, and I gave him extra food. Nothing seemed to settle him.
When my friend left, he continued. As he had previously had a stroke, I was wondering if he was in pain or something, but there was no sign of pain. He seemed "happy".
Later he dug a hole into newspapers. Really odd.
Eventually he did settle.
He's still a bit odd today. I don't know what is going on.............
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Is he deaf or pretending?
It is hard to tell now, but I think Kramer is deaf. Or he sleeps so soundly he hears nothing. Today our daughter came, range the front door bell and I opened the door and let her in. Kramer was some 8 feet from the door and didn't lift his head. He kept on sleeping soundly. It was around 8.30 am and he had slept all night too. He sleeps in the house so I hear him if he wanders around.
My daughter said 'Kramer must be the laziest dog in the world' so I gave him a gently push and he opened his eyes and saw my daughter sitting on the lounge chair. He was startled and offered a soft "woof".
And then looked like he ws embarrassed, curled up and went back to sleep. I do think his hearing is failing.
My daughter said 'Kramer must be the laziest dog in the world' so I gave him a gently push and he opened his eyes and saw my daughter sitting on the lounge chair. He was startled and offered a soft "woof".
And then looked like he ws embarrassed, curled up and went back to sleep. I do think his hearing is failing.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Kramer and Kahlua
This is not the story of a dog with a drinking problem. It is the story of two dogs who really didn't get on well.
Dachshunds are strange dogs - and often are intimidated by dogs that are larger than them - which means most dogs.
Kramer was already five years old when Kahlua came into his life. My son-in-law and daughter bought a German Shepherd puppy, and by the time Kahlua and Kramer came face to face the former was already a big dog.
We would often go for picnics and for many reasons the dogs were always on a leash, and they seemed to get on OK. Perhaps a little cautious around each other, but OK. But when Kahlua visited Kramer at home, fur flew! Kramer could not accept this big visitor, so unless we went on outing where both dogs were on a leash, they saw little of each other.
My daughter and son in law always said that Kahlua was their "practice" for having children of their own, and it wasn't long before their first daughter arrived. Kahlua was so gentle with her, and there's no doubt there was a deep love. When daughter number two arrived the love affairs continued.
By this time the family had moved to a bigger property, and Kahlua enjoyed the great freedom of roaming a 2 1/2 acre property. She enjoyed the horses on agistment she rounded up the chickens, she welcomed all the guests and intimidated those who visited for unknown reasons. No one got past Kahlua at the front gate - even delivery men trembled as she bared her teeth at them from a few feet away, and many a church canvasser has been seen running down the driveway with Kahlua in hot pursuit.
Whether she would do anything to anyone she caught we will never know - but it was always fun to watch, and rescue those folk who had a legitimate reason to visit.
Sadly on the night of Thursday February 5th 09, Kahlua took ill. She vomited a few times, and seemed to have trouble with her bowels. Maybe in pain. My son in law was away working, and in the early hours of the morning my daughter sat with Kahlua not realising that the illness was so serious.
Around 4.30 am, I received a phone call from a teary daughter. "Can you come. I have to take Kahlua to the vet."
I flew out of the house in some clothes that I had hurriedly "thrown on" and was around at her place just on five minutes later, as she drove to the vet.
Two little teary girls were at the front door. I took them in, cuddled them and tried to get them back to bed.
Soon after 6 am I phoned my daughter. Sadly Kahlua had been euthanised. My daughter had managed to locate her husband and he was there to say goodbye to his most loved friend.
There were soon five of us sobbing, and cuddling. The family decided to bury Kahlua on the property, and during the morning a huge hole was dug near the house. A wonderful friend came to help - for it was not an easy task in the hard soil.
Late yesterday, Kahlua was buried in a very moving ceremony. She was wrapped in her blanket from her bed, and we all patted her and said goodbye. When her body was lowered into the hole we threw flower petals onto her, and my daughter read a long dissertation which we had all helped create, about the things Kahlua did, and what she meant to us all.
The youngest was truly overcome with grief and ran from the scene - but soon came back. She stood at the grave site in her purple tutu and sang a song for Kahlua. A love song.
We talked about never forgetting Kahlua and how she had made our lives much richer. Kramer was not at the service and will probably never know that Kahlua has gone. He has his own health problems.
It was a very moving ceremony and the two girls learned so much on this day. I am sure they will be sad for a long time, but they are strong.
Dachshunds are strange dogs - and often are intimidated by dogs that are larger than them - which means most dogs.
Kramer was already five years old when Kahlua came into his life. My son-in-law and daughter bought a German Shepherd puppy, and by the time Kahlua and Kramer came face to face the former was already a big dog.
We would often go for picnics and for many reasons the dogs were always on a leash, and they seemed to get on OK. Perhaps a little cautious around each other, but OK. But when Kahlua visited Kramer at home, fur flew! Kramer could not accept this big visitor, so unless we went on outing where both dogs were on a leash, they saw little of each other.
My daughter and son in law always said that Kahlua was their "practice" for having children of their own, and it wasn't long before their first daughter arrived. Kahlua was so gentle with her, and there's no doubt there was a deep love. When daughter number two arrived the love affairs continued.
By this time the family had moved to a bigger property, and Kahlua enjoyed the great freedom of roaming a 2 1/2 acre property. She enjoyed the horses on agistment she rounded up the chickens, she welcomed all the guests and intimidated those who visited for unknown reasons. No one got past Kahlua at the front gate - even delivery men trembled as she bared her teeth at them from a few feet away, and many a church canvasser has been seen running down the driveway with Kahlua in hot pursuit.
Whether she would do anything to anyone she caught we will never know - but it was always fun to watch, and rescue those folk who had a legitimate reason to visit.
Sadly on the night of Thursday February 5th 09, Kahlua took ill. She vomited a few times, and seemed to have trouble with her bowels. Maybe in pain. My son in law was away working, and in the early hours of the morning my daughter sat with Kahlua not realising that the illness was so serious.
Around 4.30 am, I received a phone call from a teary daughter. "Can you come. I have to take Kahlua to the vet."
I flew out of the house in some clothes that I had hurriedly "thrown on" and was around at her place just on five minutes later, as she drove to the vet.
Two little teary girls were at the front door. I took them in, cuddled them and tried to get them back to bed.
Soon after 6 am I phoned my daughter. Sadly Kahlua had been euthanised. My daughter had managed to locate her husband and he was there to say goodbye to his most loved friend.
There were soon five of us sobbing, and cuddling. The family decided to bury Kahlua on the property, and during the morning a huge hole was dug near the house. A wonderful friend came to help - for it was not an easy task in the hard soil.
Late yesterday, Kahlua was buried in a very moving ceremony. She was wrapped in her blanket from her bed, and we all patted her and said goodbye. When her body was lowered into the hole we threw flower petals onto her, and my daughter read a long dissertation which we had all helped create, about the things Kahlua did, and what she meant to us all.
The youngest was truly overcome with grief and ran from the scene - but soon came back. She stood at the grave site in her purple tutu and sang a song for Kahlua. A love song.
We talked about never forgetting Kahlua and how she had made our lives much richer. Kramer was not at the service and will probably never know that Kahlua has gone. He has his own health problems.
It was a very moving ceremony and the two girls learned so much on this day. I am sure they will be sad for a long time, but they are strong.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The scary blue light
We have a water filter and cooler in the kitchen, and we had a few issues. One (still under warranty) spilled its contents on the kitchen floor and through the drawers underneath its stand. So it was parcelled up along with the receipt to prove the date of purchase and returned to the store.
Apparently there was some problem with providing us with a replacement, but in the end we got a new Sunbeam Brita - sparkling model that sits on the bench and we've had no problems with it. When it is going through one of its cycles, a blue light appears on the front of it.
The new model had only been installed a couple of days and Kramer had a call of nature during the night and after waking my husband, he trotted out to wait by the kitchen door. It was around 3 am. As he walked into the kitchen, Kramer spied the blue light!
He barked ferociously at the light, and my husband hurried towards the kitchen to see what was causing the commotion. In the darkness of the kitchen the blue light shone brightly and he noticed it for the first time. The nasty blue light! So he barked in a frenzy.
He was soon shown that it was all OK, and he has not bothered with the blue light since. If only he was that observant when the burglar entered the house a few of months ago!!!
Apparently there was some problem with providing us with a replacement, but in the end we got a new Sunbeam Brita - sparkling model that sits on the bench and we've had no problems with it. When it is going through one of its cycles, a blue light appears on the front of it.
The new model had only been installed a couple of days and Kramer had a call of nature during the night and after waking my husband, he trotted out to wait by the kitchen door. It was around 3 am. As he walked into the kitchen, Kramer spied the blue light!
He barked ferociously at the light, and my husband hurried towards the kitchen to see what was causing the commotion. In the darkness of the kitchen the blue light shone brightly and he noticed it for the first time. The nasty blue light! So he barked in a frenzy.
He was soon shown that it was all OK, and he has not bothered with the blue light since. If only he was that observant when the burglar entered the house a few of months ago!!!
Kramer improves
It is some months since I reported on Kramer's stroke. He's back to normal - almost - and still living happily. His only residual problem is that his head is always to one side, as if he is looking for a special answer.
He has been my husband's only companion while I was working in China, and has made indoors his home, and seldom goes out. We carry him up and down stairs, so every couple of hours we remind him of his need to relieve himself. He's not always keen, but when he is put on the ground downstairs he always obliges.
He has slowed down a bit - so he is quite lazy now. Lazier than before, but his sense of fun persists and sometimes he's quite funny as he runs around, or runs away when he has worked out we are going out.
He has been my husband's only companion while I was working in China, and has made indoors his home, and seldom goes out. We carry him up and down stairs, so every couple of hours we remind him of his need to relieve himself. He's not always keen, but when he is put on the ground downstairs he always obliges.
He has slowed down a bit - so he is quite lazy now. Lazier than before, but his sense of fun persists and sometimes he's quite funny as he runs around, or runs away when he has worked out we are going out.
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