My sweet old dog is blind, deaf and drunk all the time now. His old dog disease causes him to topple over often and at random. He is better in full light, but it is still getting dark at night around here, and even in the house he can't get around much then.
He is sweet about it.
I leash walk him and he appreciates the support of the leash and my leg so he doesn't tip over. He appreciates lots of biscuits and eating people food while the others scarf dog food too. Been a long time since he needed to be walked, but he has always loved the leash. Gael obligingly came in season just now. Very helpful. She is a terrible flirt, and despite being neutered he thinks she is just dandy. I have been keeping him in the kitchen, since it is hard for him to be in his crate and in his current state he isn't going to get in any trouble....except what she cooks up for him. Nick is miserable. He is intact. However Gael is his mother. The weather is cold and rainy or he would be spending some serious time out in the run. I feel like I am juggling dogs twenty hours a day with him inside.
We need to ship a couple cows today. I really hate selling the one, old Marge. She is something like fourteen (if it was daylight I would get out my pocket herd book and check). We had talked about letting her finish her life here on the farm as we all like the old girl. However, now there are those darned drags to pay for and she is only giving twenty pounds of milk and isn't bred and isn't going to ever get bred again...(just too old I guess). The other one is Soir Noir and although Liz likes her, she is the most vicious kicker we have. I have never put the milker on her...she hates to be milked and kicks so hard. She keeps getting mastitis and we can't use the quarter milker on her because she would kill us. I won't miss her.
I have to go wake everybody else now (except Liz who has already grained the cows, checked the two springers and gone to work.) It is a drive Becky to school morning and we have to get started. Have a good one.
Nice of you to take the time with your dog. So many just look on the animals around them as machines to do a job and when they get some age they dump them without another thought. It's nice to know there are others who value their helpers.
ReplyDeleteIs someone shooting at a stone building? Hmmmmmmm... He might want to add that to his list of "Well it WAS fun at the time..."
ReplyDeleteGlad that you got an opportunity to release Kicks. Here's to a safer Spring!
Poor old Mikie. I wish I could take him off your hands. I'd try to spoil him more than you but he sure would miss you though.
Today is about sifting through the metric ton of stuff I picked up Sunday. LOL
Awww...old age is tough. You're a peach to walk the dog. Sorry about the cow, that's sad.
ReplyDeleteSure have missed you, been so darned busy. Best wishes for a wonderful day!
Poor Mike, the trouble with smart dogs is that they realize they aren't as helpful. Having the other dog in heat probably makes him think "he's still got it".
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the cows - if the mean ones would just understand that if they LET you milk them, they probably wouldn't be so mastitis prone, but you're telling it like it is - it is hard to be an animal caretaker.
Thanks for being so honest for the folks that aren't farming and can't see what a mental struggle it is, having to deal with all the issues involved.
Jinglebob, he has given me so much and still does...I already miss the connection, even though he is still here. He used to always be about four feet away from me, now he stays in the kitchen because he gets lost in the rest of the house and I don't want him to hurt himself.
ReplyDeleteSteve, illusion on the barn thing. It is actually a wooden building... that is just the foundation. He was popping at pigeons with clay bbs. I can see how it looks stone though...you are very observant. I didn't even notice how it looked.
I think Mike is a lot happier when Nick is out in the run. It warmed up today, so he is, so Mike is having a good time (he just ate a minute steak, don't tell the boss). Nick is really better off out there too...he is simply miserable being in the same building with his mother just now.
So....what goodies did you buy? Amazing array of temptations there for sure!
Marti, so nice to see you! I know you have your hands full these days...
Nita, it is funny about Mike and Gael. I bought her because I had to have him altered, and they are half siblings. They really are fond of one another. I don't think she would ever have anything to do with Nick, although we don't take chances...she is crazy about old Mike though. She is getting old too, lots of little lipomas and getting kind of snappy. We still love her though.
Really hated to sell Marge. The other one not so much. Soir belonged to Liz who is VERY choice of her cows and even she didn't mind selling her. Six years old and never went a milking without kicking. She was by Canyon Breeze Storm Atom, a really good bull, but...
Hope you day gets better. I what you're going through with Mike and it's hard. Really, really hard. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I guess I shouldn't write so early in the morning,. lol...kind of gloomy. He is happy and I guess that is all that really matters...
ReplyDeletePoor old Mike! I'm sorry he's slowing down so much.
ReplyDeleteCubby, thanks, he is pretty happy anyhow. He sure likes eating people food
ReplyDeleteI miss Marge...my line is so bereft with out her. SOIR on the other hand. Hot dang you don't know what you had til it is gone. This time in a good way!
ReplyDeleteAnd I want the old Mike back!