Carol is still progressing slowly however, she has developed a sore throat. Under normal circumstances this would not be an issue however, that is exactly how this whole business started so she is taking it easy! The other day she managed a 2-block walk with her walking frame thingy in front (official name unknown), and her physical support as necessary at her side (official name Ray)! In hindsight, two blocks may have been a bit ambitious so we all agreed to scale back her activities.
Ray is performing almost precisely as expected. He is not going to let her get away again if he can prevent it, and is constantly in sight of her, and usually within reach. The “almost” was very deliberate because as attached as he is to Carol, he is still more attached to food!
Yesterday I was trying everything I know to get him out of our living room where Carol was resting. It was an exercise in total futility. At around dinnertime however, one shake of his food container and Carol was furthest from his mind! The only other reasons that he will leave her are if he has to go (REALLY, REALLY has to go) out to the garden for some basic bodily functions.
Under these circumstances, and with our hot and humid weather, he is certainly not getting the exercise that we would like… but he does seem very content in his guard/protect role. Fortunately, our back garden is heavily shadowed by a very old Maple tree and so, while I am writing this, Carol and Ray are chilling out in the back garden! Must be nice!
Given all the activities in the trees and around the garden in general, Ray is consistently preoccupied mentally so perhaps he can accommodate a lack of walks at least in the short term.
This evening I am going to to see of he will follow me on a walk simply by knowing that I have some turkey on me! More news tomorrow!
A New Direction Perhaps? 
So glad to read that Carol is improving even if it is slow going. My grandfather used to store his chocolates and sweets in his walker, perhaps that would get Ray moving 🙂
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I’m really sorry to hear about Carol but I’m glad she’s home and on the mend, hope she takes it easy and is feeling back to her usual self soon. I’m sure with you and Ray by her side she’ll be fighting fit in no time 🙂
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Thanks Laura. Progress is slow… but it is progress 🙂
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Ray’s routine was sorely disrupted so it’s not hard to understand why he’s balking at making changes. It’s very sweet that he’s so devoted to Carol. Continued pawsitive healing thoughts flowing your way.
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Thanks Monika. We’ll all no doubt survive!
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Ha! Ray is like me! When hunger strikes, I often forget about the world around me 😀
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Not quite Mahevash, if your desire for food is triggered by hunger! Ray is always looking for food, which probably goes back to his early days as a stray. He would eat whatever he could find, whenever he found it, probably because he could never know when he was going eat again. Presumably you were never a stray?
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I am not as big a foodie as him then!
Aw that’s sad 😦
Ha! No 😀
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🙂
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He’s such a dedicated pup. My old cat would hover over me whenever I was ill. I always expected him to come in with toast and tea with honey (or at least a catnip mousie).
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“Hey Ray! How about poached eggs on toast for your Mom?”
I am pretty sure that it would never make it out of the kitchen! 🙂
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🙂
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Great news Colin on Carol’s progress. Does her frame have a seat so that she can rest on her walks? Hope her sore throat doesn’t develop into anything. Not surprised yu Ray’s behaviour though!
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Yes it has all mod-cons! It used to be her Dad’s, and he clearly bought a good one! 🙂
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It sounds like the walking frame thingie may be a “walker.” If you think so, go ahead and google that.
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Well done! Yup… it’s a walker, with 4-wheels, brakes, seat and basket! Must be the all-terrain model as it has big wheels! Very practical in park areas 🙂
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If Ray balks at the turkey-treat walk, I am available. Mom Who??
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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It will be interesting to see what happens. 🙂
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Looking forward to the ‘will he won’t he’ walk you have planned, I have to admire Ray’s guardian role though, Regards to Carol x
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He certainly takes his perceived responsibilities very seriously!
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I am very glad to hear Carol is progressing nicely, and you are quite right to keep an eye on the sore throat!!! I love hearing about how Ray takes his job of guarding mom very, very, seriously. You must realize how special you both are to him (as well as him to you). If it is very hot, don’t worry about the walk too much; maybe just once in the evening when it cools down will be enough. Best wishes from Liz and Woof! from Maggie
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Thanks “guys”.
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All dogs are similar yet different too. Even dogs of the same breed. Out Shia Tzu Maggie (we lost her last year) had “human not feeling well dog radar”. She could sense an illness and planted herself next to the ailing person for the duration. Molly (also since passed) and Annie, the most wonderful Malshi on the planet, never exhibited similar behavior. Ray is indeed a special dude.
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A “special dude” certainly sums him up Mike!
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Prayers that Carol’s throat doesn’t get any worse and that she keeps progressing!
My heart smiles every time you describe Ray’s devotion. He has a true golden heart 😉
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He really takes “his job” (at least as he sees it) very seriously. He’s a very special “boy”!
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Does Ray enjoy swimming or playing in water? It is a great way to stay fit and cool in the hotter months :o)
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Ray’s swimming ability is an unknown, and we cannot test him without his leash (local By-Law). He does have a “long leash”, but I am concerned that if he panicked (a real possibility based on other experiences), and he either caught his feet in his leash, or his leash snagged on a rock, the end result would not be good. For all the benefits of living here, and there are many, having an empty sandy beach leading into a loch like you guys is not one of them! We do have a large children’s pool which we fill up with water periodically… but we have to throw food in it to get him in! Once Carol becomes more mobile, we can take him down to the lake where he will walk with the water almost touching his stomach, but that is not a possibility at this point.
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We have used hydrotherapy in the past for Seamus as a way of keeping him fit whilst recovering from an injury and there were several other dogs there who just came to swim in an enclosed pool (they would swim out to sea in the ‘wild’). You have enough on your plate just now but if you have a hydro pool near you, you can see how he takes to it without worrying about a leash.
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Now there’s a thought! 🙂
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