Day 22: Here Comes the Hot Stepper!

Our morning starts much the same as usual. All is relatively calm in our household. Breakfast outside and no pee accidents.

I feel slightly mean in that’s it’s drizzling with rain this morning and as committed as I am to him I really don’t want to go out there and get cold and wet. So I stay indoors and watch him through the window! - bad mum! Bad!

Watching Lloris eat his breakfast through the window - it’s way too cold & wet to join him this morning!! He at least has his dressing gown on!

He’s not getting on with his paws bandaged. He’s making less effort to walk so I’ve had to take them off. Maybe I could try little plasters on his toes?

He’s very cute and cuddly this morning which makes it harder to tell him it’s a day in the office for us both today and we can’t sit around having snuggles all morning!

Morning snuggles

We go through his physio routine, practise a bit of ‘drunken’ walking indoors of which he’s making a good effort with.

We still have the surprise no 2 that just pops out mid physio seemingly surprising him as much as me! An area we need to work on!

Off to the office we go!

As I unload him from the boot he is overcome by the familiar whiff of the hedge he would normally insist on sniffing and peeing up. Just like the ‘old days’ but in his new drunken style of walking, he drags me over to it.

To my amazement he does a big long piddle. He’s walking at this point unsupported and whilst he’s sideways and wobbly his toes are not scuffing half as much as yesterday.

He now steers me over to the little wall outside our neighbours (the solicitors). It’s their new wall and I’m cringing hoping they are not looking out of their window as he pees all over it. I don’t want to pull him away. This knowing he wants to pee, when and where is progress!

He attempts to cock his leg but topples over and is now sat on the ground in front of the neighbours wall peeing all over himself… and of course, as luck would have it the solicitor himself just pulls onto their driveway at this exact moment.

Do I nod, offer a little half hearted wave??

Oh thank goodness he’s on his phone and has blanked me!

…. And now for the money shot!

We practise a bit of ‘find the treat on the floor’ in the office and within 5 minutes I have him strutting around the place like he owns it!

Oh I’m so overcome with joy. My baby boy is actually walking! All on his own and for quite a way!!

The only way now - is up!!… just need to work on that technique and stamina.

He is like the angel dog today. No accidents in the office, all peeing outside. I feel like we have reached a whole new level on his journey of recovery.

As with every positive achievement and symbol of hope there of course is always a set back… ours came by way of me trusting him to eat his dinner in the kitchen as it was sooo cold outside this evening!

It seemed a reasonable risk to take. He had lunch in the office and didn’t wet himself!

But no, last mouthful is followed by the lake of pee on my kitchen floor.

I’m starting to think this puppy dog is just laughing at me now and being a lazy little tike who can’t be bothered to go outside. Some firm retraining in this area shall commence tomorrow!

I can definitely say he is now 90% stumble walking everywhere and only 10% scooting on his bum. A much better percentage than yesterday which was more like 40% walking and 60% scooting.

He is absolutely shattered this evening. He is ‘out for the count’ in a deep sleep by the fire.

Get your rest my beautiful boy, you will need your strength for tomorrows activities!