Molly sent me some more pictures and updates of Dudley. �Dudley and Milo are doing better but they won't ever be totally hanging out together. But Milo comes out more and they would hang out in the same room. Although Dudley still gives him a chase when he gets a chance and thinks we aren't looking!� Sounds just like Mercy when she would inch and crawl with her front legs towards Anastasia when she think I�m not looking. In the picture, Hayden is "Giving Love" to Dudley.
Avery was born on Saturday, March 26th. Molly said Dudley is doing great with the new baby and loves to sniff her and be near with them all as usual.
Some dogs seem to be able to tell when their owner is pregnant, so I asked Molly if Dudley knows. Molly emailed back, �Dudley doesn't seem to know the difference. I'm sure he'll notice once she arrives!� Molly also said that they had to leave Dudley at the boarding kennel, also where he gets groomed, for a weekend for the first time, but he did fine, because he�s such a well-behaved Springer. I really think it teaches him that he�s at a forever home now, and that his family will come back for him. So it helps build his confidence.
Tue, 4 Jan 2005
I sent Dudley some lavender aromatherapy stuff for Christmas. Molly said, �Dudley is doing great. He's just as sweet as he can be! He had to spend several nights in the kennel again while we were gone over New Year's weekend, but he did great. They love him there and take good care of him, and he got a nice grooming the day we picked him up. Hayden has started to LOVE to give him treats. So every day Hayden gets the treat box out of the pantry to have Dudley sit and get a snack, it's so cute. They are best buds. Dudley is just so patient and tolerant with Hayden, you couldn't ask for a better dog with a toddler. Hayden is just in that wild man 2 year old stage and sits on him, etc. (we are always of course trying to get him to stop!) and Dudley just sits there and does nothing. He still just wants to be with us wherever we go and he just loves pillows. Whenever a pillow is on the floor his snuggles right up to it. All in all I think Dudley is a very happy boy! We still can't believe our luck in getting him for our family! We couldn't be happier that he's our dog!� And I can�t be happier knowing that Dudley is with his wonderful forever home.
Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Molly writes, �I just wanted to send you this picture of Dudley from this weekend. It was beautiful out and we finally got to spend some nice time outside fetching! He still loves it! We can�t wait for this summer to get some pool time again. Dudley is doing great. We got him groomed last week and did a drastic haircut this time. He had been smelling really bad, even after baths, and his feathers were so long he was tracking in so much dirt and leaves from the woods behind our house, so we got him cut really short! He actually looks really cute and littler. They trimmed his ears some, too, which will hopefully help with the smell. We�ve had a hard time keeping them clean, even with washing them out. And his breath has been really bad and we�ve tried some different biscuits, but he doesn�t seem to like them. We even tried brushing his teeth but he didn�t cooperate very well. I remember you saying he was really good when you brushed them, I wonder why he�s not up to it now? But he looks and smells very nice and doesn�t seem to mind his short hair! I think we�ll let the feathers grow back out some and then just keep them better trimmed through the summer. He�s as sweet as ever and fun to have around. He�s still very mellow most of the time and just wants to be near us. Although now he�s very excited in the mornings as we go downstairs, he almost falls downstairs sometimes he�s so excited. And whenever he�s home alone for a while and we get home he�s very hyper for a few minutes and gives us some big deep �woofs�. He definitely doesn�t like to be left alone. But luckily, it�s never for very long and once he knows we�re home he�s happy again!�
I told Molly that I think Dudley looks very cute with his new haircut. I reminded her that thee is a possibility that his fur might stick out like a teddy bear when it grows out after a shave. But I think it's okay to keep the short coat all year long, as long as he gets extra protection (maybe a sweater) when going out on really cold days in the winter.
About his ears, Springer ears are beautiful, but they also need a lot of attention. I cleaned his ears every five days when he was here (but that's almost a year ago, things might've changed). So Molly might need to clean them twice a week if once a week didn't work. If she�s already cleaning them twice a week and they are still dirty, he might have an ear infection that needs antibiotics or antifungal treatment. And she probably would need to clean his ears after swimming and after baths also (I can�t wait to see pictures of him swimming in the summer either). Also, not all ear cleaners are for all dogs. For Lexi, we have to use something that has drying property. And that I would send her some cleaners that are working for Lexi.
About the teeth, he was great with brushing when he was here. I suggested maybe try a beef or peanut butter flavored toothpaste at the beginning, so he would like to be brushed more; then later switch to mint flavored toothpaste. And keep the session short (two seconds on each side) at the beginning, then slowly increase the time. If he still doesn�t like it, then I guess he just needs to have his teeth cleaned at the vet's once a year. I still would not recommend giving him rawhides. But pig ears or Greenies twice a week might be okay to help scrap off the plaque and tartar. I think the reason he doesn't let Molly brush his teeth might be because he knows Molly won't insist on it if he doesn't like it. He reads people really well, that's part of the reason why I said he would be a good therapy dog.
Also, I told Molly that might need to be careful about separation anxiety, as most Springers are prone to it. I recommended her to make leaving and coming home as low key as possible. Personally I completely ignore my dogs five minutes before leaving and five minutes after I get home (unless I've been at school for eight hours and need to take them out potty right away, but I still try not to talk to them until after five minutes). Also, we want Dudley to feel that it's great to be home alone and not feel sad about it. So maybe only have his favorite toy out when he's home alone. Some people give treats only when the dogs are home alone (using Kong-type toys). But I think Dudley�s smart and mellow enough that he�ll be okay.
Tue, 15 Mar 2005
�As I write this, Hayden is sitting on the floor watching a cartoon eating a snack. Dudley is snuggled right up next to him with his head on a pillow. They are too cute. Have I told you about part of Hayden's naptime/bedtime routine? Before every nap or night time he has to give Dudley a hug and kiss. Dudley is usually sitting at the top of the stairs, and Hayden will go down a stair and kiss him on the nose and give him a big squeeze. It's so cute. If Dudley is for some reason downstairs eating and not right there, we have to call him up or Hayden doesn't want to go to sleep! Molly� I just love the heartwarming stories Molly tell me about Hayden and Dudley.