Something old, something borrowed, something new and something Blue!

Something old

Having a bit of a spring clean at home, and found Blue's old buster collar, before we threw it out we put it on him, a little bit of a squeeze but on it went, he looked so chuffed, it stirred up the memory of what it was used for, his rehabilitation fro his back surgery, when he was less than one year old.

Safe to say we have had a change of heart, and it is staying.

As you can see from comparison to a new one his has been modified.

We had already gone through a couple, the modifications were essential to allow Blue to enter and exit his crate safely, the duct tape was to reduce the splitting which occurred on a regular basis.

So for sentimental reasons, we will put away safely for memories another day.

Something borrowed

When I say borrowed it is more like found. While on our walk this morning, out of nowhere Blue walked straight up to a hedge and pulled this ball out. He has been known to do this on many occasions, so we rarely have to buy him replacement footballs to play with. I can only assume he finds them through scent, as often they are out of sight, he will rummage through the undergrowth or hedge and pop out proudly with a ball in his mouth.

Something new

After a bit of exchange on Twitter, it was decided to buy Blue a new Squeaky, this took the form of a duck. What made this a little more unusual, Blue actually went into the shop and help select it.
This morning Blue got his new toy and a whole new experience of shopping. We went into "Pets at Home" Rose Kiln Lane, Reading. To say Blue was excited is an understatement, the phrase like a kid in a sweet shop springs to mind, sniffing everything. However he was a bit like Bambi on ice, he struggled to get a grip on the slippery floor with his big furry paws, but after a few moments he soon learnt not too pull so hard. The staff were great, just allowed him to do as he pleased, and Blue was a model dog on his shopping expedition. No free samples on offer, but that did not seem to bother Blue. He will return no doubt, his favourite shop now.

While we were at Pets at Home, we purchased a new harness for Blue, which will be reviewed in his next Blog.

Finally something Blue

Blue standing majestically in his garden

Blue back in the swim and enjoying the garden

It is good to share that Blue is slowly returning to the life style of which has become accustomed.

Playing in the garden, going out for walks and now back swimming on a more regular basis. 

This week Blue enjoyed another good swim session.

The ironic thing is all the above pictures of him are outside the pool or in the shower, this was because of the time spent interacting with him, encouraging him to dive in and play.

Blue still needs to wear his buster type collar, if left alone, he used to need to wear it pretty well all the time, to reduce his scratching and licking. For a long period this would the case even in our presence, but now it is only the odd occasion, even though he still bears the bold and blotchy parts to his lower hind legs.

Action shots of Blue in action in the garden

Finders keepers, returned for a price.

New balls

While out for his dawn walk this morning in the local park, Blue dived into the undergrowth and came out with a football, moments later he was back in the undergrowth a bit further along and out came Blue with another, matching the same as the previous.

So off came the lead, and as he chased one ball kicked across the park, he could not wait to get back for the other one also. So this mornings walk was a success in Blue's eyes. Normally he plays  with any balls found for a while then gets bored and leaves them for others to enjoy, today he wanted to keep them. Give it a day or so and we will return them from where they came.

Blue says if anyone wants to claim them, the going rate is one pigs trotter or pigs ear per ball will be a fair trade, applications must be in person, however they will only be available until the weekend,  when they will be set free again.

Blue does have a scent for balls, two days ago he retrieved two white cricket balls from the same park, but different hedgerows. Though he soon bored with them and carried them a few feet and left them for others to pick up in the middle of the park.

We were once walking in the Torridon Mountains in Scotland, behind Liactach, when suddenly he dived into some thistle and came out with a set of sunglasses, looked expensive and were in excess of £70.00 on the Internet.

Obviously Blue knows how to use his nose, though not sure if it is human scent or something in the material of the balls  and sunglasses.

Perhaps he could sniff out a good striker for our home town team Reading Football Club ;-))

Blue enjoying the garden, and showing signs of ageing,

Blue catches the ball

Each and every evening, Blue enjoys a good play in the garden.

This year the games are a little less enthusiastic, having spent some money on shrubs and flowers. Normally this time of year the game of ball normally costs flowers and shrubs their floral display, blame is equal on this, we both get a little carried away, either I kick the ball too hard or Blue is too enthusiastic to retrieve it, so for a while we play a less energetic game, so far only one shrub and two potted plants have suffered loss.

Blue recently turned five, and is now showing more signs of an elderly dog, the greying of the fur round the muzzle, the longer sleeps etc. this would not be too evident to the untrained eye, but there is a distinct difference. When Blue was a young pup we went for a walk along the Thames near Maidenhead, on the toe path we met a gentleman walking an elderly looking German Shepherd, we were very surprised to learn that his dog was only five years old. So now we see the same in Blue.

So he is showing signs of ageing, but is not an old dog, and in truth the energy levels and enthusiasm has been the same as they have always been. One thing that Blue does not have, stamina, he must have been at the back of the queue that day when it was handed out. This may be because of his back operation when he was a pup.

Recently in a few pictures it appears that Blue is not carrying his weight as good as he did in the past, so we will keep a close eye on this, sometimes we all look in the mirror and see a different us, but at 47kg Blue really can not afford to carry more weight, though not on a diet, the portions are slightly smaller mealtimes, and the treats are fewer.

The observations above do not mean that Blue is an overweight, out of condition old dog, they are merely hints of what is lurking with potential around the corner.

Blues mum religiously keeps a diary of each and every walk Blue does, as she has since the day of his spinal operation four and a half years ago. Likewise all his food is measured/weighed out, for this I doff my cap to her, it is an unselfish caring thing she does, not to mention ensuring he is walked three times a day.

So below are a few pictures of Blue enjoying games and relaxing in the garden.

Come and get it

On yer ead son

Here comes the ball

To see more of Blues garden games and more follow the link below of his Flickr photos

Blue relaxing in the garden and playing ball

Bank Holiday

Finally a Bank Holiday weekend which was dry and gave plenty of opportunity for Blue to enjoy the garden and great outdoors.

Blue loves it when we do the garden, he gets to play some of his favourite games, but one that he never tires of is his favourite, chase and catch the ball.

Games and the rules in the garden (According to Blue)

• Weeding; if it comes out of the ground and is green, it is a weed and must be removed
• If it does not come out of the ground easily, it must be dug out
• If flower beds are turned over, sample holes must be carried out as trial pits
• Any hand tools placed on the floor must be carried off to safety
• Work must not interrupt play time
• Work must cease when I am bored
• If you kneel on the ground, you are fair play for some rough and tumble
• Lush lawns must not be cut short, it is my bed which I allow you to care for
• Use of hose-pipes is forbidden until water sampling is carried out
• Security perimeter patrols maintained (No cats, squirrels or birds allowed)

The above list is not exhaustive but gives a flavour of the rules of the garden and games played in the eyes of Blue.

Like many German Shepherds, Blue has a big thing about water hoses. Once we use the outside tap, he will worry until it is turned on, if it isn't he will stand and stare at it.

One other strange game that Blue plays, holding the ball firmly in his teeth, he will beat his own sides in turn by shaking his head and twisting all in one movement.

Fun time

After the minor blip in the week, Blue has had some great fun already this weekend.

Off lead in the park playing with his chewy toy and favourite tennis ball.

Later on it was the favouritist game Football in the garden, Blue likes to jump and catch and chase.

Come on you Blues!