On the picture above our dogs and the dogs of our co-workers after a visit to our lake. They are hot already, though still wet. The temperature exceeded 30°C in the early afternoon today and more days like that are expected. Good for those who stayed in the country for their vacation, not so good for those who planned to train dogs, like me for example.
Of course people are different, some of my friends thrive, I do not cope with that heat so well. We try to air the house during nights and spend the days inside. The dogs sleep a lot and become active again in the evening. Sometimes I take them to the lake if I feel I can walk despite my hurting leg and the heat. But I get dragged by water and the great relief swimming gives. I have been bad recently, my spine is hurting more than usual and one of my legs hurt terribly when I move. And I am losing feeling in this leg, must be from the pressure on the nerves in the spine. Well, well, a new operation needed? We will see what doctors decide…
The only thing that keeps me going and lets me forget about the constant pain is training with dogs. Right now we are having too long break and I am getting insane!
And, as it wouldn’t be enough, Ruda has got a tick fever and was really low until we diagnosed her and started the treatment. She responded well and is back to normal now but I have to give her antibiotics for 2 more weeks. She has been protected against ticks all the time but probably there was a too long interval between the tablets and some of the ticks survived long enough to get her infected.
Must have been a tick she got when we visited my sister in the countryside at the Baltic Sea coast where more ticks can carry tick-borne diseases . But dogs, unaware of the risks, had fun of course and loved to be there!
Except some visits at my sister’s we spend some time in the countryside with our friends where we usually stay during summer. There we can swim many times a day as the lake is so close to the cottage.
Brita has learned to jump from a bridge on our side but sometimes I took them even to the other side of the lake where there is a little sandy beach and so much easier to run in and out of water.
Little Brita has finished her puppy classes where she was a star. The course was well organised and there were 8 puppies altogether. The whole idea of letting her be around other puppies was a brilliant one as her behaviour towards other dogs has changed dramatically. I can pass dogs on our walks now without her reacting at all! We have to plan other activities, like show training or walking with a group of dogs to let her continue the training. As soon as the temperature drops back to normal...
I hope for moderate temperature also the day the first obedience competition is planned for this year, in just a month! I do not feel Ruda is really ready for that, after a long maternity leave and hot summer. I am definitely not ready either but I have to do something about my fear!
I both look forward to first start and panic when I think about it…As usual…But I know it will be better as soon as I survive the very first start! It always does!