Tick Bath!

Last week, we visited my mum's place and Nero had a gala time running around in the garden. But with the onset of the monsoon, the bugs are out in full force and we found a big green tick on him! ugh! This despite his tick collar. The tick hadn't latched on (probably thanks to the collar) and we disposed of it.

All was well, till a couple of days later, I found a similar tick on the wall of our lounge, right next to the bed where Ishi's play gym is kept!! Ew Ew Ew! So out went hubby and Nero, into the balcony, for a full fledged tick bath. I had first suggested to send him to his spa, but hubby was reluctant as Nero tends to misbehave there and doesn't let them do their job properly! Bad dog!

So onto the balcony they went with lots of shampoo, tick powder and a hosepipe of water. After some rigorous scrubbing and talc massaging, Nero was left out to air dry for a bit, while we cleaned up inside. Once dry, he was nice and clean and sweet smelling. The balcony was a disaster! It took 3 days of cleaning to get in back in shape. Didn't help that the substitute maid isn't as efficient as my original one...sigh. Still! No signs of any more ticks yet. Fingers crossed :)

Strange Happenings

Last evening and night had been stormy - definitely NOT Nero weather. He spent the night occasionally digging in the corner, wanting to be comforted...a wakeful night for both him and me. That is not unusual. What is unusual is his sudden relieving himself in the house this afternoon, and then going into the balcony for doing his bigger business! He never ever does that inside the house. The last time that happened was almost 2 years ago and he had an upset stomach. Plus, he had gone for his customary walk both last evening and this morning, and done his business, so there was no question of having to hold in for long periods either. It was all very strange. He does not have an upset stomach, he is not scared right now, and doesn't seem stressed (except after he relieved himself in the house, which he knows is wrong and he had his tail down looking very apprehensive). It all seems very mysterious.

Anyway, I took him out for a quick walk just in case, and to check if he was feeling ok. He was quite happy going for a walk, and roamed around normally. Of course, having done his business inside, he didn't have much left to do outside. It being afternoon, and very hot, we kept to nearby lanes and his normal route.

That is when we had another strange appearance. I left him on a loose leash, and sniffing around, I suddenly heard a big rustling, and found him standing still in surprise. I saw a big lizard (about 1.5-2 feet long) basking in the sun near a house compound wall, totally camouflaged by the dry sand and grass. The only reason I saw it was because it had its head up, looking at Nero and because of the rustling sound that movement had made. Luckily, Nero was far to surprised to growl or get his hackles up, or even move. I slowly reeled in his leash, and slinked away from the lizard. Nero throughout seemed surprised but came easily, waiting till I loosened his leash again to start nosing around. I had reached the end of the lane and was turning back for a second look, when Nero surprised a stray dog sleeping in the shade and I was locked in the tussle of getting him back in control. By the time, I looked back, I couldn't see anything. The lizard might still be there, but was camouflaged. I certainly wasn't going to go and check. I briefly thought of taking a picture, but discarded the thought because a) taking pics with my mobile camera is a pain and b) that would involve going back and looking for the lizard again. No thank you. Plus, I didn't know how Nero would react the second time around, and the lizard was big enough to harm him if it came to that.

We walked back, me still slightly in shock, Nero, panting about in the sun, walking normally. Called hubby and told him the story. He laughed and commented that he walks Nero twice a day and sees nothing, and I take him for one walk and get to see it. Yea right...like I don't wish it wasn't me either! Googled it at home, and where I had described it iguana-like, it seems monitor lizards are found in the general area and there is even a species called the common indian monitor lizard! Ugh! Like monkeys weren't enough pests in the neighborhood. But then, maybe we are the pests in the lizard's area. Whatever the reason be, it sure has been one strange afternoon.

Boarding

With Ishi's mundan and first visit to her paternal grandparents coming up next month, we need to make arrangements for Nero's care while we are away. Normally, we would have left him with my parents, but they too are travelling with us. Hence, it is to the boarding kennel for Nero. He has already spent some time in Kennel1, a dog boarding farmhouse, 3 years back. But he was much younger then, and we weren't sure how he would take to it now.

So today, we visited the Kennel again. He seemed to recognize the place. We decided to leave him there for the day and let him get used to staying there. When we left, I saw him sitting in his good boy pose in the fenced enclosure, whining behind us..and it broke my heart. I'm missing him so much...:( I know its good for him, he needs to get used to an alternative whenever we are out of town, and also get socialized with other dogs. But I MISS him! I know he'll be fine, but I can't stop worrying..hoping he is alright, having fun, not missing us, making friends - human and canine alike. Sigh!

Its getting hot in here...

Spring is in the air...actually it went from cold to hot in a blink of an eye! Hot days make Nero lazy. But more than the heat, its the wind thats driving him nuts! Even a soft breeze, if our verandah doors are left open, creates wind tunnels in the house and totally freaks him out. Ahh Nero, the list of things that scare you keeps growing..:( What ARE we to do with you!!!!

I'm feeling laaazyy..

..and so is Nero!

Its been a year since the last post. Since then, Nero has unflinchingly stayed by my side through a difficult pregnancy and 6 months of bedrest and now has a new addition to his pack - Baby girl Saisha (Ishi)! And since I'm feeling lazy, here is a copy of Nero-Ishi relations to date from Saisha's Blog!


We had all wondered about Nero's (our dog) reaction to Ishi. While we let him smell her discarded clothes to get her used to her smell, we didn't let him sniff her or actively introduce her. The plan was that she would seamlessly join the family without any fanfare (well for Nero at least! :) )

So everything was kept as normal. He still slept on the floor in the same room with us, while Ishi slept on the bed. After a couple of weeks, we got our heirloom cot for her and fitted it next to the bed, without removing his crate/den. He made his cosy sleep spot under her cot!

The first few days, when she cried, he would come up the side of the bed to investigate. Later (and till date) he ignores her. As Ishi grew a bit bigger, we started taking her to our daybed on the lounge where Nero is also allowed to climb on bed. Soon they were sleeping side by side, separated by a mountain of cushions! Of course all under supervision. Neither of them currently seem to be concerned with the other right now! They'd be lying side by side, Nero deaf to any wailing, Ishi largely ignoring any loud woofing! Often, when I feed Ishi, Nero will lie on/near my legs, separated by a quilt/cushion barrier, like a nice warm hot water bottle! And given the winter we've been having, his warmth is very welcome!

They both get their own times with Mommy and Daddy, who have ambitious future plans of taking them for walks together, once the weather gets a bit warmer!

Modelling

Nero is sooo photographic! Hubby has a new passion - photography. And guess who his showstopper is!

We put him on a diet last month after his doc said he was getting too fat. He's responded nicely and is looking all nice and lean again. All healthy except dandruffy. Its been really cold lately so he's always in his t-shirt (+ coat for walks and sometimes at night). All those clothes are giving him dandruff .

He's taken to sleeping in the lounge room bed and looks sooo pained when we wake him up when we retire for the night to our bedroom. He has to be coaxed with treats (rub it against his mouth till he opens it to eat it, let him lick it, then take it away into the bedroom. Then leave the door open and avoid all eye contact till he hops off the bed in a pained manner, shakes himself and condescends to come into the bedroom!). Lately, its been so cold, we've been thinking its better to leave him sleeping on the bed than forcing him to come into the bedroom and sleep on the floor (or on his rugs rather). The bed is cosier, and he is particularly fond on curling up on the quilt on the bed! While this is fine, its a pain for us in the morning, and he is up at 6am (brrr) and whining and scratching on the bedroom door! Well lets try it for a few days and see how it works out. More my hubby's problem anyway since he is the early riser and the morning walker. Tee hee hee hee :)

Pea Pods

Nero has a new love - pea pods. He had been staying with my mother, and she gave him some shelled pods to eat. He loved them! Of course he only like the crunchy green ones, not the old white speckled ones. And the odd pea falling his way is yummy too! Peas on earth goodwill for man!!