Day 31: Practise makes Perfect; the new routine-can we really teach an old dog (toddler) new tricks?

It’s Saturday and way too early so I’ve grabbed the ‘squealing baby seal’ (aka Lloris) from his pen and am enjoying snuggles in bed before we get up and face the world.

Morning cuddles in mummy’s bed - it is the weekend!

Today is the big day of learning his new physio routine. One we shall then keep up repeatedly throughout the coming days to see if we can continue to progress with his walking to look a little more normal and most importantly resolve the paw scuffing.

We are starting our day with our short morning walk with his ‘balloon paw sock’ firmly in place. I have everything crossed this will protect his paw from scuffing, but it’s so thin I’m not convinced. We will see!

Well I never! The balloon sock worked! No new injury or bleeding! Well that’s certainly a relief!!

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We’ve got a few new exercises to practise that we’ve been given by the physio therapist.

It’s important that we keep up the momentum with this and be able to improve enough to move on to the next stage. I have been told he is NOT ready for terrains such as a sandy beach just yet!

Sit to Stand:

He can do this and is already something we have been practicing but only when he’s in the mood.

Back Stepping

This one comes pretty easy to him. I think we can build this one up over the coming days so that he is stronger with it.

Turning - The Slalom

He was terrible at this one at our appointment, let’s see if I can get him more focused at it today!

Let’s see how we get on!

That would be a NOT so we’ll then, but it’s an ok start. We will try again later!

I fear we have PLENTY of work to do! His road to recovery was never going to be easy and all of our hardwork and perseverance to date has got us this far; this is just the next hurdle in the process! ….

Practise Practise Practise. He WILL master these exercises! Oooh I’m such a slave driver!… an exhausted one, but I continue to be full of determination!!

(this is all sounding a little like i’m trying to convince myself!)

Surprising what you can find around the house to use as cones!

With around 13 weeks to go until his birthday party on a Norfolk beach, we have lots of practicing to do and milestones to hit. BUT if our first 23 days are to set the standard of the rapid rate in which he is recovering, then we should have plenty of time to achieve our goal. Lloris shall go to his birthday ball!

… could I dare to be so ambitious as to suggest he could maybe make a little practise run on the beach with his Easter Bunny Bouncing on Easter Weekend? .. that’s just 6 weeks away .. perhaps a ‘tall order’!?!?

I need to add a PS: I’ve just put him to bed and… it’s been a ‘dry’ day! ZERO accidents AND lunch and dinner were eaten inside! (Which would usually be followed instantly by peeing)