Boysie is a 7 year old (born in 1991) German Shepherd Dog. He joined the Preen household on August 17th 1998 from the Wethersfield RSPCA. And we've adopted August 17th as his "official" birthday.
His history, as we know it, says he was rehomed aged about 4 from Wethersfield, but due to a family illness he was re-homed again - not via the RSPCA as he should have been. Anyway, at about the beginning of August 1998 he turned up at Battersea Dogs Home, London, and having been chipped earlier was recognised as a Wethersfield dog, and returned there.
We saw him on August 9th, and we picked each other there and then - and following the home check he's now got a new home.
We decided we had to have some basic rules:
The first of these is still in place, and working, although he has been known to try and climb onto the bed for a cuddle. Having shut him outside the bedroom on the first night, leaving him on the landing with a blanket, he started howling everytime the clock struck (every 15 minutes), so Malcolm stopped the clock chiming, and got back into bed. There was then knocking on the door, and within three attempts the door was open, and there was Boysie. So that battle was lost - he now lies at the foot of the bed, and is actually very well behaved.
The garden, well, Boysie likes his own space, and is very keen to water and fertilize the plants in it... but he also enjoys burying things - normally biscuits which rot and he can't find later. This has lead to the attempted digging of a moat around the garage, and the spraying of the lawn with soil and stones... fortunately the leeks weren't harmed in the excavation.
He's a very happy dog, but doesn't appreciate most other dogs (Barney - Malcolm's parents dog being the exception) - and if they growl at him they'd be in trouble if he could get at them. He's supposedly good with cats - if they sit still he'll just look, but if they run away he'll try and chase them like he does the rabbits in the field.
He has no real interest in toys - and doesn't seem to know how to play ball, infact whilst Barney was trying to catch the ball, Boysie was busy playing defence, and trying to get in his way... - he has recently picked up a knicker fetish - that'll teach Becky to tidy up.
He gets three walks a day, at least, as Malcolm and Becky are both home based, so can take him out at lunchtime, which is commonly a walk to the field, and if there are no other dogs around he gets let off, and often goes brambling (or should I say rabbit chasing).
When he was taken into Battersea he was only 15kg, so we've been building him up, and now he is almost at his proper weight (30-35kg). He is normally fed Chappie, and a dry food (Eukanuba or Hills) three times a day, and extra treats when he's good - and occasional tit bits too. And if you think that's spoilt, he's got two water bowls - one upstairs, and one downstairs, as well as his very own quilt.
He's on regular pills these days (lasix) to control his heart murmur, which is quite pronounced, but doesn't seem to slow him down at all, and he loves to be groomed.
On 17th October he went to school for the first time, with Pat Clark, who said he's generally good, but very nervous - he seems more relaxed with females than males - and is distinctly uneasy if he smells other dogs, or helmets - which was quite sad when we were visited by our homechecker (who has two dobermans, and rides a motorbike !). For some reason he also dislikes anyone who puts anything through the letterbox - but especially postal workers - although perhaps thats in the genetic makeup of the canine species.
On Saturday 24th, he went to class for the first time - just to watch the other dogs, and see how well he behaved. It was mostly good - although snapping at your teacher often is rewarded with a smack round the nose with a "Yellow pages". He was well behaved for the rest of the day - mixing sociably with the other dogs.
On the early morning of Monday 26th, we were awoken by a frantic doggie who wanted to go out urgently, and a number of stressful hours followed when he went out to the garden - dug a hole - threw up in it - filled it in, and came in to fill up on more water, which started the whole cycle again.
Anyway, we went and camped out at the vets, and half an hour later we came back with a ton of various pills, and powder to put in his water to rehydrate him - which had to be rationed... and its like nothing ever happened. Although the fact that he gets real chicken when he's sick isn't going to persuade him to stay well !!!
Into November, and he's being a complete darling at class - behaving himself - being sociable with other dogs, and then, on the evening of November 20th, we are minding our own business, waiting for another dog to be put on its lead, and it escapes its owner, and comes for us - Boysie held his own before they were pulled apart, but this little bundle of fur and teeth has ripped open the skin on his forearm, leaving a 1 inch gash, which necessitated a visit to the vet, and 4 stitches, and boy do they itch... But he hates the Buster collar so much it seems fairer to keep shouting "NO".
NOTE: I'll be re-writing this - Malcolm has tried hard, but he doesn't quite write it correctly... Boysie
29th November 1998
We were out for a nice long walk today, and we were almost home when this big black labrador called Hamish rushed off the field and jumped me from behind. He was on my back before I realised what was happening, but Malcolm seemed to have a sixth sense, as he was throwing the big brute off almost as soon as I felt him - unfortunately my reflexes has already taken over, and I got Malcolm on the arm - through two jumpers and a jacket, and there is a nasty looking gash on his arm. He doesn't have to wear a buster collar though :-(
1st December 1998
Malcolm took me to see Greg the Vet today - he took the itchy stitches out of my arm, but I still don't like him - he said I have to wear the buster collar for two more days, and he stared into my eyes. I think I scared him when he did that though.
2nd December 1998
A very strange day - we went to see Grandma in Basildon, but after about 20 minutes, Malcolm and Becky just left me - I thought they were never coming back, and I cried. Grandma is nice, and I feel happy there, but its not home - even if I do get brushed alot. They did come back after about 4 hours, and I was very happy to see them.
mid December 1998
A very worrying time - we went out for a walk, and coming round the first corner we came face to face with the post lady. I was under threat, and felt caged in, so when she put out her hand I bit it. Malcolm and Becky were very cross, and I was in the dog house.
NOTE: This unfortunate incident got us very worried, but fortuanately things went no further, and having paid the prescription charges that's that - but now Boysie has to be kept under VERY strict control
14th December 1998
Something's up - I'm not myself. Fortunately Becky notices, and we're off to see Uncle Greg at the vets again. My heartbeat is 130bpm instead of a more normal 80 - and whilst it might be up 'cos I don't like the vets, its too high. So now I've got another type of pill (Digoxin) as well as the Lasix.
17th December 1998
After two nights where I slept right through, I'm now feeling lousy again - I'm not going to eat that pate stuff they give me - as I think its made me sick (we put his pills in pate to make him take them). After being sick a couple of times its off to see Uncle Greg. (to see a grown dog wimper at being given pate, and then when we try to force them down his throat he gives in an eats them anyway is very sad... what a baby)
Now I KNOW why I don't like Uncle Greg - he's given me too much of the dijoxin, so I've got digoxin toxicosis. He reckons I still need it, but now I'm on half a pill twice a day, instead of one and a half twice a day. We were supposed to go to Becky's xmas dinner today, but as I'm feeling rough we are staying at home - I hope she doesn't get into trouble.
24th December 1998
Something very strange is happening - Becky has tidied up ! All the furniture has been moved, and everytime I come into the house I have to wipe my feet. Doesn't she understand - I'm a dog - I'm supposed to make mess !
25th December 1998
Wow - all these people have come - including Grandma and Grandad Jacobs - there is loads of food, and Malcolm seemed very happy when he gave me a pork rind with funny paper all over it, and made me take it out of the paper. I did it to amuse him. The weather is horrid today, but we still went out for our walks although Malcolm fell off a pavement and screamed very loud and we had to come home.
26th December 1998
After all the excitement of yesterday I just want to sleep - but just as I'm dozing off another car turns up, and more people come in. They (Malcolm's parents) smell doggy, so I bark at them to show them who's boss.
Next thing I know we are off for a walk, and guess who's here too, its Barney. We have a bit of a sniff, and I take him out to show him a few of my favourite smells. When we get back he rushes all over the place and we play, but I'm very tired and he won't leave me alone, so they put him in the car to rest. After dinner we had another walk, and again Barney came in the house - but now its too wet outside, and after about 5 minutes the house is almost wrecked, and anyway its getting late - so they leave us. And the rest of the day is spent sleeping...
30th December 1998
Becky needs to get her skates sharpened, so we are off to Skate Attack in London, in the car. Its all a bit weird, but we go for an interesting walk whilst we are there. When we get home I've got this nasty itch in my eye, and they keep telling me to stop, but it does itch so.. So we go to the vet, no Uncle Greg today, and they put this nasty thing like a halti which they call a muzzle on. Now I can't bite the vet :-( She looks in my eye and apparently I've got conjunctivitus - so now I've got some cream to go with the pills (which I now take with cheese, as I don't trust the pate).
31st December 1998
More excitement - as we get up early, go for a walk and then into the car. Apparently its London again, but this time Orpington, where we are visiting Shirley and Dick in their new house. We had a nice day, but also a bit of a scare. When we came back from a walk I was in the kitchen being dried and Becky spotted blood and it was dripping from my willy. I don't like that, and neither did Malcolm or Becky - but we were too far from home to see the vet that day.