This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

smallholdingsister

How is Puppy?
I echo Elephant's comments about a Kong. You can soak complete food and stuff the Kong with that and freeze it.

AlexLK

Pleased to hear things have been getting a little better with the puppy. Things will calm down but there will be some ups and downs, just a part of having one. Though my parents' was an angel from day one, she is such a placid dog and was laid back even as a puppy. They have had quite a few puppies before which helped I think.

Feral kitten should hopefully be tough enough to survive and will hopefully be good at controlling pests. You may well find that she likes being fed and gradually becomes a bit more pet like; my cousin has one like this.

Watty1

smallholdingsister wrote: »

How is Puppy?

Puppy is doing OK. And I think trying very hard to understand what is wanted in puppy's world. I have realised the real problem is I didn't want a puppy Mr Watty did and although he does all the puppy raising he isn't actually around enough so it falls to me. Which isn't puppy's fault.


Mr Watty's dad in and out of hospital. And I am feeling the strain of this. If Mr Watty is not working he is looking after dad. Which means very little is done around here unless I do it, and, it does seem to have escaped Mr Watty and dads notice I do actually work full time

AlexLK wrote: »

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Feral kitten should hopefully be tough enough to survive and will hopefully be good at controlling pests. You may well find that she likes being fed and gradually becomes a bit more pet like; my cousin has one like this.

I hope so. I am so excited to be picking kitten up on Monday. Mr Watty keeps glumly saying yet more work, but I am just so pleased that we have saved the little scrap from starving and that we now can offer it a home. I will tend to it while it is in release pen when I do the horses in the morning and evening and I am sure kitten will be fine. Kitten may well be sociable. If not, kitten will be well fed and can chase rats and mice and generally be eco pest controller and ruler of the hay barn. For some reason I know this will work out.

AlexLK

I'm not sure it's the puppy that is making things difficult after your last post, to be honest. My father has been through periods of quite serious ill health (hospital stays and quite lengthy recovery periods) and it has been difficult. More so on my mother than I but a lot seems to fall to me.

Glad to hear you're excited about picking the kitten up.

themadvix

Sorry to hear you're struggling at the moment Watty - it must be hard trying to keep so many plates spinning. And I know what you mean about relatives not appreciating that you're working because you work from home! (See my dad's visit yesterday!).

I think you're right about kitten - cats can be so self-sufficient compared to dogs - I'm sure kitten will be fine

I hope things improve with Mr Watty's Dad soon.

EatingTheElephant

We get all the family asking for errands to be run etc as they don't seem to realise you do actually have to work when you work from home!

Kitten will be saving you a job and money if it becomes barn eco pest controller, not that you need any convincing!

Watty1

EatingTheElephant wrote: »

Kitten will be saving you a job and money if it becomes barn eco pest controller, not that you need any convincing!

I need no convincing. Kitten will be fed and has shelter, is not waiting miserably in a shelter for a charity to rehome her and I will look out for her. If she moves on, well she is feral and always welcome back. I spend quite a bit on pest control so if she does that job, wonderful. But, ultimately, for me I wanted a cat and now I have one. Maybe not the fluffy bed sleeping cat I imagined but sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways :rotfl:

themadvix wrote: »

I think you're right about kitten - cats can be so self-sufficient compared to dogs - I'm sure kitten will be fine

I think that is part of her attraction. I do not see she is greatly increasing work or responsibilities. And I believe she will bring joy. If only the joy that comes from having helped a little mite.

Watty1

AlexLK wrote: »

I'm not sure it's the puppy that is making things difficult after your last post, to be honest. My father has been through periods of quite serious ill health (hospital stays and quite lengthy recovery periods) and it has been difficult. More so on my mother than I but a lot seems to fall to me.

Alex this was really insightful. And absolutely correct. The breeder asked how we would manage when hearing about Mr Watty's dad and I remember saying he would be out of the care home, living at home with care package in place. Mr Watty and I discussed that this would be so, and Mr Watty said he would be here more once dad was home.
I never figured dad would be such a drain on us. And continue to be so. This year we have totally renovated his house and garden, equipped his house, advocated for him, looked after all his finances and got care package in place so he could go back home. But it didn't end there like I thought it would. He needs his shopping done, and although the carers do that once a week, there is still things needed, he needs his meals organised and stashed in his freezer for the carers to provide his food, he needs a plumber when the shower stopped, his meds need continually checking, the health visitor needs chasing, the mental health team need talking to and now we have to address his finances with the council re cost of care.


Since puppy has arrived Dad has been in hospital twice, and thus back home twice. He refuses to do anything for himself, including walking now despite the physio we have arranged for him. Initially I was cross because he is so lazy but now I am just sad because he has become more frail. And with that comes more work for us. Yesterday the afternoon was taken up with his transfer home from hospital which has to be by ambulance because our cars are too low for him, and then, we find in the evening he has left his bag at the hospital and it contains his vapes (he gave up smoking this year) so the evening was taken up retrieving his belongings from hospital. There seems to be no end in sight.
I have said we can't go on like this, Mr Watty says there is no choice, and how would I feel if it was me? Wouldn't I want someone to make sure I could still live at home? In my heart I know he is right but I can't see we can continue to work the hours we do and also care for Mr Watty's dad.
Sadly puppy was just one more responsibility on top of an exhausted household and puppy's care has fallen to me and I just don't have it in me.

Firegirl

It's not easy at all. Wishing you all the best for 2017 and I'm sure you are much appreciated for all that you are doing for your family!

smallholdingsister

What breed is puppy, Watty?