Monday, 17th of July 2006

Hot hot hot! Manuel is starting to get used to the routines now.  06.00 - time for morning-pee/poo and then directly back to the flat for a nap. 0800 he wakes up ready for the day - time to go out again, but also time for serious playing, grooming and general examination.

He spent some time out on the balcony (as usual) but after that we tried something new. Me and Manuel drove to the dog-park by the sea, where the dogs are allowed to go for a swim. (The same spot where we had picnic last night.) I was in the sun, and Manuel in the shadow of some bushes. I had brought food for both me and him, but most important was of course water to drink.

It went just fine, and I allowed him also to greet some nice dogs. When arriving home, Manuel was exhausted after riding a hot car (thank good for air conditioning) and passed out on the bathroom-floor and slept for 3 hours. After having slept those hours I knew we would be short on time in the elevator. Not any dripping at all in the elevator, but full Niagara-fall once out in the yard. So he finished his business and spent some time in the living-room chewing on his dog-bone. 

He stepped up and sort of glanced over his "shoulder" at me but I thought: "no it can not be time yet".  Ha! I found a major puddle in the living-room after that. Stupid stupid me - he did tell me! /Charlotte

Tuesday, 18th of July 2006 

HOT! 06.00 out with Mikael. 07.30 barking from the playpen -  out with Charlotte, but now "outcome" until 08,00 which means that we could have waited a while (this time). One learns more and more, the morning-routines seem to be 100% established already. And then the balcony - all according to the routines.

In the evening we went to Inge, Karin and Linnea to put our long-legged boy on display. Tore and Ana was in the kennel curious at Manuel. They barked a bit and Manuel answered. Strange, can he really see that these are Akitas and not "dogs"? Usually he does not reply when other dogs bark. Who knows...

We had a nice time and stayed longer than planned, just as last time we visited them. We got meat-balls a´la Räften and it was yummy. Manuel just wanted to kiss them all and was cool as usual. He just loved all the dog-toys that was neatly put in a bowl (though all over the place once Manuel was done). We forgot to take pictures of Tore and Ana. It would have been fund having one with them looking at Manuel over the fence. 

When we were leaving, Manuel lay flat on the floor sleeping, so we had to carry him to the car. At home he had to follow his routines; going out, and then staying a while on the balcony chewing on his dog-bone. Oh I almost forgot, he took the opportunity to bark at a poor man at the pavement (just passing) ...hrm...I believe we need to train some manners. One bark is ok..but then he should let us take control of the situation. 

The scratching is almost gone. Fur is growing again. It must be quite a struggle with this thick thick puppy-coat in this heat. We have just made sure to keep all scratching-areas clean and dry and it has worked out just fine. /Charlotte

Wednesday, 19h of July 2006 

HOT!!! Jeppe Stridh gave us a call and offered us to take part in his courses (his human-training courses with dogs) which starts when Manuel is 18 weeks. I think that would be perfect and we accepted gladly. We already now now that we have to skip one of the occasions since we will attend a wedding. By lunch-time Kristina from Hässleholm came to visit and with her was the English bull-terrier Vespa. I had no idea how this would work out, but I know that Vespa has a clear dog-language, she shows clearly what she likes and dislikes. A great integrity and Manuel behave very well. We went to the harbor ("Västra hamnen") and stolled along the canal.

We bought some sandwiches at Espresso-house and just sat in the sun enjoying life. Vespa loves bathing, and I had not the hart stopping Manuel from getting wet since he wanted to go into the water. Actually Manuel wanted to sit in the sun, which is very rare, and then he lay down on the towel which I had place on a rock (for me to use).

We hade a lovely time. An adult Golden Retriever showed up, but he was super super social and in his company he had a 16 weeks old Landseer female puppy. Guess if she and Manuel had a blast. When we got home I gave Manuel a good shower in cool water and made sure to blow-dry him completely dry (thinking about scratching and itching). Paws, stomach and everywhere where the moist tends to stay. He really enjoyed the cool shower. Then he fell flat on the floor, sleeping. He slept like dead for 3 hours, then Micke brought him outside immediately, since we know what happen after a nap. Then he was hungry, and actually ate all of the wet food I had prepared. It works better if I get rid of the excess water and puts the food for some seconds in the micro-wave. He prefers lukewarm food to cold. 

In the evening we went to a nearby art gallery and tried to get a nice picture of Manuel but did not succeed a 100% but it is improving all the time. He is getting used to us pottering about. Later in the park nearby we met an Old english bullterrier of 16 weeks and we talked a while with it's owner before we decided it was OK to let them loose together.

We felt that Manuel had had more than enough of stimulation for today, but the got to play for a little while since they had a blast. Then Manuel was beat, so we took turns carrying him all the way home. He can be too tired, he wants to join us and be apart but he doesn't know whats best for him. 

Thursday, 20th of July 2006

Yet another super-hot day. The hottest day of the year? Our daily morning routine - lukewarm food. He has been eating more than the recommendations say, and I can not complain, he looks good. But otherwise he has spent most of the day sleeping, and then in the evening - exploding, using all that energy he has been too warm to use during the day. What else? Pee, poo, scratch, eat,  I guess it is too hot for anything else.

At seven in the evening he got totally crazy and ran around like a maniac in the back-yard jumped in and out off the sandbox, dug like an idiot, ran, spun and made funny moves. Then when I called for him to come with me in the elevator he came in such a speed, he could not stop.

In the evening we had picnic at the dog-field (where dogs are allowed to run free) in our usual spot. Manuel had a carrot and chewed for a while, then we trained some "come here boy" and some "follow me". He was really good.

When we came back home we met one of our neighbors, who told us they were to pick up a mini-schnauzer puppy soon, so in end August, Manuel will have to hand over the sand-box a new "baby-dog". /Charlotte

Friday, 21st of July 2006

"Master" deputies as Charlotte is in Stockholm to watch her favourite - Sting. Uuu Manuel has had a very very boring day today. Since I have no vacation to use, I had to work from home today. But wait now, there did occur some drama. Manuel had decided to lay a huge "pile of manure" on the pavement outside the patisserie. Of course - I had forgotten to bring a poo-bag (or the poo-bags)... and Luther was tapping on my shoulder not allowing me to leave it there. So, home to get some bags while hoping no "civilian police" had seen the partners in crime leaving exiting the crime scene. All went fine, Luther was satisfied, and the walk could continue.

A rather bored Manuel came around when I decided we were heading towards the "Magistratsparken" (park) by the theater and art-gallery. By some reason I am a bit skeptical towards German shepherds (or their owners). I realise that is very prejudiced but I guess I have seen too many German Shepherds in the wrong company.

After a while the owner made contact and and told me that the bitch was very fond of puppies and actually was expecting puppies for the second time in her life. The owner seemed to have fairly the same thoughts about right's and wrong's regarding dogs - great!

Just as we where leaving 17 weeks old Flat-coated Retriever showed up and wanted to play, but Manuel was very tired so we had to stop him from playing. Sometimes he does not know what's best for him. But what puppy would always do?

When we played at home in the back-yard a neighbor told me he'd seen a giant rat climbing up the mulberry-tree yesterday. We have to watch out there, we do not want Manuel to clinch a rat from the sewer. The rat can attack and bite. /Mikael

Saturday, 22nd of July 2006

Me and Manuel (Micke) had a lie-in. We woke up at half past seven since we went to bed a bit later than usual last night. My brother Petter came to see us and he left around noon. We took a mini-puppy-walk around the church (Johanneskyrkan) and around the construction site for the new railway-station (Citytunneln) - all went fine. Manuel has now no problems "taking care of his matters" outside the yard, which feels good. On our way home we met another German Shepherd then yesterday. A bit more questionable I would say, the owner asked if they could have a sniff, but just seconds ago previous to that I had seen the dog make a "unpleasant move" towards a passing Labrador Retriever. I decided to rely on my gut-feeling.

Manuel was a bit off during the day, and mostly slept. My father and my other brothers came to see us, but they did not manage to get him playing. After a while, Manuel threw up and looked like crap. After some hours of rest he seemed to be OK again. He wanted to play for a while.

Around half past seven, Lotta arrived and Manuel went nuts! During the day he had barked towards the bed-room several times, but no Lotta. (If somebody is missing, he believes they are a sleep in the bed-room.)

We had lam-chops for dinner and Manuel got some meat to (boiled especially for him). After tasting for some seconds he was obsessed by it. Maybe we could use that for introducing tracking? We had a go during the evening walk and I must say I was really really impressed by his nose and sense of smell. Maybe tracking wounded deer would be something for Manuel?

Sunday, 23rd of July 2006

Humid, moist, sticky - whatever! I have been working all day, and  Micke and Manuel has done "nothing". It has been really really hot. In the evening it was cooler so Manuel could play for a short while with a German Shepherd girl. She was wild and crazy so we had them leashed. We do not want Manuel to play too roughly with heavier dogs at this time.

But he had a lot of energy left. When we came home he rushed around in the flat, barking at his dog-bone, and then just in the middle of a leap "lights out" on the balcony - as usual.

One never learns!  After the play-time with the German Shepherd, of course we had and "accident" inside. I should have known. He was too excited to really pee when we came back to the yard. He let go of two or three drips. Then I should have known by now, that after playing inside, it is "time". Well, at least we have succeeded to improve regarding reading the signs, and Manuel has been able have a little control of his bladder. 

Manuel has become a sleep-head as he has got inspiration from us I believe.