Up's and Down's

Hi everyone,

We've had a bit of a tough week, with Franklin refusing to eat. We went to see Dr. Traci, while his lack of appetite is still a bit of a mystery. We are trying Pepcid in the event that it's a stomach irritation, which seems to be helping some. He's eaten some brown rice, ground turkey and eggs with a little kibble the past 2 days but didn't want to eat again this afternoon. One day at time, one meal at a time. I think we have all known a bit about that.

I've also been thinking alot about winter coming, and how I will keep him safe when snow and ice come, which is inevitable here in Maine, with this weighing on my mind. This ramp to help him go outside was meant to be temporary, and is too narrow and steep for his size now. With his brute pulling strength, there has already been one injury (mine). He is stronger than the safety netting now, and things are in pretty sad shape as a result of crashing into it, and weather warping. What we really need is a small enclosed deck coming off the door (he tends to exit like he's been shot out of a cannon..lol), with a wider permanent handicap ramp with a more gradual/gentle grade. The safety netting was great the few minutes he was small! Not alot of safety left to it now.

Mmm, yeah.. we really need something different. It is already slippery some mornings, with frost.




Yesterday was a good day, and we went to play in the leaves under our giant maple, which Franklin loves to do. He gets excited as we near when he feels the crunchy rustly leaves under his feet, and his cat Buddy likes to come along too.




Our Bub kicks up his heels, romps, jumps, dives and barks like crazy. It warms me so to watch and play with him, with him having such a grand time...so happy, having so much fun!

When he is playing in the leaves, he smiles..alot!

So some days really good, and others less than. It's always a few steps forward, then some back reverting to doing circles, unsteady on his feet and falling down - needing time to rest and for his brain to regroup. Then we have good days, with more progress!

Hope everyone has been having a nice weekend, and more soon!

Catching up..

Hi everyone,

Gosh, I hadn't realized just how long it's been since the last update. I took a spill on Franklin's temporary ramp and was nursing a knee injury, while he has had a sore leg/paw as well. September was a long month- phew. We are doing fine though, really..and Mr. Franklin has been growing like a weed, and at our vet visit last week, he weighed 46 lbs.

And speaking of weeds, He has been having great fun helping to harvest carrots. Pulling and shaking, repeat, repeat. This evening when we went out to walk, he stopped to look for some more. He thinks carrots are pretty tasty! The garden is on it's last legs now, while there are still fun things to find.

We go out for a walk around the driveway loop and across the field several times a day when legs, knees, paws and joints are up for it. I bring a leash, while we usually don't use it right now. Franklin stays right with me, and does better off leash than on. He loves our jaunts, and is always eager to go, and if he gets ahead stops and waits for me. He is so good.

Of course there is alot of resting to be done too. Well, not from growing though. Everyone we meet admires his big paws, with alot of speculation on how large he might get. It reminds me of the *guess how many beans in the jar* contest. Who will be the lucky guesser? Might he be like Clifford? Franklin the Big Red Dog?

We find lots of fun things to play with on our walks. Franklin really likes romping in the fallen autumn leaves, and especially playing with pine cones! I really dont know what it is about them, but he adores them. I rake them up from his yard daily, while he grabs what he can and puts them in a pile in the spot where he likes to rest, and then lays on them. LOL. Sticky pup! I'm thinking part of it may be that they are very fragrant and he can find them. :)

He is a handsome fellow, and again a really good boy. He's so willing, and smart! We've started learning clicker and it took him 3 clicks to learn TREEEEAT! He's also currently working on figuring out the latches on his crate, today- from the outside. I have no doubt that he will decipher the *code*. LOL.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to Autumn, and we will write more soon!