M.T. Sanders's Blog, page 3

Cookie's Cruciate Pt 1

On learning on Wednesday that Cookie has almost certainly damaged her Cruciate ligament I decided to do a blog piece about the whole experience. This is not because we have expertise in the subject and actually it's the total opposite as it's the first time we've been through this. The reason is because we know that we will get a huge amount of support and advice from our online friends who have huge knowledge and experience. The hope is that will become a useful resource for people going through this in the future.On Wednesday I took Cookie out for a walk in the morning. Nothing new, nothing different and we arrived back home without any drama, a routine morning amble.On arriving back in the house Cookie wanted to go straight into the garden as his her way. She's usually hot and spends a few hours outside cooling down unless it's absolutely lashing down and then I try and deter her.Wednesday was dry and bright so out she went and immediately decided she needed the toilet as she hadn't gone on her walk. Like many dogs she has this habit of spinning round before doing the deed and this is what she did on this occasion. As she performed her heffalump pirouette she suddenly yelped really loudly and held up her back right leg and kept it there.I think everyone knows immediately when something serious has happened and it's one of those sinking moments that everybody dreads but also kind of expects, especially when living with a giant breed. The Vet was immediately called but I think before we arrived we pretty much knew what the diagnosis was going to be. It took him literally seconds to confirm the worst and said that he felt enough movement in the joint to be pretty confident our fears were correct. A pain killing injection was given and he said that we needed to be referred and did we have a preference. I didn't particularly and fifteen minutes after we got back home Liverpool University small animal hospital called to book Cookie in for Monday. So that's where we are at the moment. Cookie is booked in for Monday 17th Dec at 11.am and we will find out more about the actual damage and the procedure to come. I have to admit that as soon as it happened my thoughts turned immediately to finances as this is going to very costly. We are insured for Monty and Cookie but by a weird coincidence our renewal was due in November and I decided to change insurer as they had doubled our premiums. So our new policy with our new company started on November 2nd.....arghhhhh. After anxiously reading through the policy it stated that we had no cover for new conditions for 14 days from the start of the policy. That meant that we should be ok from the 16th but I always have a very cynical view of insurance companies. How they deal with this will be a big and very important part of the blog. Were we right to change? Are they a good company? Time will tell and we will of course update.Once we posted about Cookie we began to get some great tips and advice as I was pretty sure we would. One of the first was a recommendation for a Help 'EmUp harness to aid moving Cookie and also assist her getting around post pre and post Op. At £100 it wasn't cheap and I'm sure if I shopped around I'd find different versions that were cheaper but the recommendation came from a trusted friend who had used it successfully and found it useful so that was good enough for me. I paid £8 for next day delivery and so far I have to say it's been excellent and really useful helping her out into the garden down the step. The harness is made by Orthopets https://www.orthopets.co.uk/mobility-solutions/help-emup/I think it's true worth will become clear post op and getting Cookie to appointments by car. Next time I'm looking about what preparation we'll need in the house for Cookie as she recovers and some of the advice we've been getting.

It's a Cwissymouse Carol in a Monty Stylee

Ok with only 10 days to go before the big day here is number 3 of our Cwissymouse poem collection.....this isA Cwissymouse CarolPart 1 – Not a nice manIt was a dark cold day in early DecemberThe fire was dying it was only an emberWe had no more coal so we sat in the frostWe weren't allowed more by order The BossThis was the scene as dogs shivered togetherToo poor to stay warm in the cold winter weatherFood too was scarce it was seen as much wasteThey survived every day with barely a tasteMy job was to help in the dog’s home each dayBut the hours were long and there was little payI had a family to feed I was over a barrelThis is my story.... It's a Mont’s Cwissymouse carolIn cages so bare they peered out with sad eyesAnd at night I was haunted by their pitiful criesThe boss was a cruel man who loved only one thingThe cash that these poor little doglets could bringHe pretended to rescue them but it was fakeIt was all about how much profit he could makeHe would find them or steal them and then ask for a feeHe was the rottenest hooman it was possible to beSome he would keep and they would be bredAll alone in the yard in a cold and dark shedPuppy after puppy the poor girls producedUnderfed and neglected they were badly abusedTiny Tim the Chihuahua was so feeble and thinThe way he was treated was really a sinI was worried about what his future would bringSo, I sneaked extra food for the poor licckle thingThree days before cwissymouse the boss had a visitMr Scrooge they said do you object if we sit?We wanted to talk about the sick and the poorWe felt that you’d want to donate some for sureWell the Boss wasn’t happy and told them quite clearPeople wanting his money weren’t welcome round hereHe showed them the door and slammed it behindI did tell you this wasn’t a hooman who’s kindAll day I had summoned the courage to askFor a day off at cwissymouse it was a horrible taskHe tutted and grumbled and looked with a frownAnd when he finally spoke he brought his fist downA day off? What all day? And paid for as well?He agreed but I knew that he’d make my life hellThe dogs would go hungry as I wouldn’t be thereHe wouldn’t do it because he just didn’t carePart 2 – A plan is hatchedI could stand it no more I needed a planI just had to try and change this awful manThat night at home I just couldn’t sleepI had made myself a promise and it was one I must keepI needed some help that much it was clearBut who could make him shake with dread and with fearThere was only one person that I knew I could trustCookie bear aka hairy slobbernosserusThe plot had been hatched and everything it was setBut my lips are sealed I can’t spoil the story yetYou’ll soon see if it my plan all worked outGood stories are designed to keep you all in doubtAt six o clock on that cold cwissymouse SteveAnd just before it was time for me to leaveI asked to give the doglets some cwissymouse treatsMore food or even just some added heatScrooge said just go I’ve had enough of youDays off and then being wasteful too‘Happy cwissymouse sir’ I saw him shrugAnd then replied…ah bah humbugScrooge locked up on that night and headed homeNothing out of the ordinary just him there aloneAs he let himself in he felt something strangeHe couldn’t quite say but something had changedSoon that became clear and did he make a fussWhen he came face to face with the slobbernosserusSoon fear took over and he listened intentlyAs this hooge hairy beast explained pretty gentlyThis night you’ll be visited three times, listen upCos these will be very educational pupsTake their advice this isn’t a threatOr at least we haven’t got that far just yetPart 3 – Night visitors (Cwissymouse past)That night our villain found sleep not too easyHe tossed and turned in his bed and felt pretty queasyAt last he slept but it wasn’t too wellThen suddenly he woke at the midnight bellOut of the shadows a figure appearedCurly of coat and dangly earedThe creature finally spoke at last'I'm Molly the spangle of cwissymouse past'You need to follow me, this strange visitor saidAnd to the wide-open window our villain was ledShe flew outside, but he wouldn't budgeSo the slobbernosserus gave him a gentle nudgeThrough the dark star filled night they flew and they flewThen they came on a familiar scene old scrooge knewA boy sat crying alone for his lossYes, this sweet heartbroken child was now my cruel bossHis dog had passed and it was his only friendHe felt at that moment his heart would never mendThen into the room his father appearedA humourless cold man with a long wispy beardHe mocked his son told him to grow upBe a man and stop crying over a silly pupHe threw down some money on the bed by the boyAnd sneered…’Get yourself another toy’Scrooge saw the scene his young self-grieveHe wanted to get home, wanted to leaveMolly spangle saw clearly his pain and his woesCome on she said softly now it’s time to goPart 4 – Night visitors (Cwissymouse present)Scrooge woke in bed a dream he thoughtIt must have been that glass of portBut as he dozed he was in for a shockAs the church bell rang out one o clock.Once again came a creature right next to his bedThis time it was younger and brown coated insteadAs night visitors go this one seemed quite pleasantI’m Bailey he said the spangle of cwissymouse presentOff to the window the two of them wentThis time he accepted didn’t need to be sentOnce more through the night they travelled togetherUnaffected by gravity or winter weatherThey came to a house with a family sat roundThey peered through the window not making a soundWhat he saw wasn’t joy from those sat round the treeBut tears and unhappiness that was easy to see‘Has somebody died?’ Scrooge asked almost concernedNo, their pet dog went missing and hasn’t returnedHe’s probably locked up in a cage all aloneWhile his family are frantic and worried at homeCome on said his host there is more yet to seeBut Scrooge wasn’t happy ‘why do you torture me?’Can I change what I’m seeing or is it written in stoneI promise I’ll change if you let me go homeBailey ignored him and beckoned him comeThis time when they landed Scrooge was silent and glumThey were watching a party and the guests laughed and jokedThese were family of Scrooge, he was silent as they spokeWell we asked him to come but we do every yearBut humbug was his answer his feelings were clearHe’d rather stay home and just count all his moneyAnd they teased him and joked that old Scrooge he was funnyJust take me home now pleaded Scrooge near to tearsNow looking much older than his sixty-two yearsOnce again, he awoke in his own bed at homeBut this time he knew that he wasn’t alonePart 5 – Night visitors (Cwissymouse future)The bell had struck two and he waited in dreadAs slowly a figure moved close to the bedI’m poppy she said but he could say nothingI’m the spangle that will show you what the future will bringHe obediently followed now so used to the scriptInto the night sky they silently slippedThey travelled for minutes or was it for hoursTime just seemed to freeze so great were her powersThen all of a sudden, they were there on the groundAnd from every direction was a piercing soundCarried on the night air were the terrified screamsOf dogs locked in cages and their nightmarish dreamsIt was where Scrooge made his money the place built on greedWhere a dog never knew when the next time he’d feedThe old man looked around at what he had createdAnd in an instant, he knew it was himself that he hatedPlease stop this I’ll change I promise right nowI won’t let this happen I’ll stop it somehowBut Poppy had more and determined was sheThough she knew that the old man was deep in miseryThey moved through a crowd and as the view became clearThey were stood by a graveside and Poppy drew him nearShe pointed to him and he peered at the stoneWhen he read out the inscription he let out a moanTiny Tim he lies here put by one man’s neglectAnd Poppy knew immediately this had had the right effectScrooge sank to his knees and he cried in the night‘I’m sorry for every poor doglets sad plight’I’m sorry he screamed and he sobbed real tearsNot like anything he had experienced for yearsHe was that boy once again who lost his best friendAnd he knew in this instant his bad deeds he would mendPart 6 – Cwissymouse. A new dayWhen he opened his eyes, daylight flooded his roomAnd he flung open the window now free from his gloomDown below stood a boy and old scrooge shouted outWhat day is it lad have I missed cwissymouse out?No, it’s cwissymouse day said the boy it’s todayI have an errand for you that will handsomely payScrooge said do you know of the butchers at the end of the streetPlease get me the big free-range turkey for my dogs to eatScrooge threw down the money but it hit the boys headAnd instead of going shopping he sued him insteadWhen he finally thought that his deeds were spot onHe had a summons from injury lawyer’s dot comDespite all the hiccups the day still worked outThe turkey was bought and the doglets pigged outScrooge kept to his word and from that day to thisHe kept to that three spangle cwissymouse promiseHe made it his mission to find homes for foreverAnd starvation and cold they wouldn’t feel everHe opened a rescue and it was the best it could beAnd those old rusty cages were mere historyHeated beds and great food with kindness and loveIt’s like Mr Scrooge had an almighty shoveBut even though he got persuaded with fearHoomans can change and the proof is right hereYou may be left wondering what happened to meWell I got a pay rise and Tiny Tim is happyIt was team effort and we tried a new angleWith a slobbernosserus and three well-meaning spanglesMoney is fine but it isn’t what’s realIt’s much more important how you make people feelWe should all spread some kindness we should all spread some loveOr you too could end up with a slobbernosserus shoveFinally, this is the end of my taleI hope that it’s always the good that prevailsI hope that my message of kindness will travelAnd that you enjoyed the Mont’s cwissymouse carol

The Newftivity

For those that are unfamiliar with Monty Dogge he is a Newfoundland who lives in Wigan (wigwam) with his hoomans, sister Cookie (the heffalump) another Newfoundland. He also share his home and life with a trio of Cockeyed Spangles - Bailey, Poppy and Molly.The NewftivityTwas the night before Cwissymouse but you've heard that before Though this is a story that's familiar I'm sure It's explaining a journey to follow a star But instead of a donkey we went in the carIt all started one night while dad was on Twitter The celebs weren't responding, with dad getting bitter We all know what he's like he's a little bit loopyAnd if the truth's known he's a celebrity groupieSo it's Christmas Eve and dad is still trying But his tweets like his jokes are choking and dying Then all of a sudden he screams really loud And stares at the screen looking really quite proudRicky Gervais has replied to a tweet says me dad I didn't know who he meant but he seems really glad He's somebody dad always wanted to meet I can tell he's excited he's out of his seatDad said that he was touring and not far away The Midlands was beckoning, he was going today Mum said it is late now don't go there alone Take Monty and Cookie and don't forget your phoneSo we left on a dark frosty evening from Wigwam And followed a star to a town called Birmingham You are probably thinking it's a story that's old But stay with me cos this one has never been toldAs we travelled through the night it started to snow It got heavier and heavier the journey now slow If we were going to make it we would need some luck But looking how the road was, more likely we'll get stuckEventually at midnight dad could drive no more We'd skidded off the road we were stranded for sure Another road trip with dad had turned into a joke Instead of meeting Ricky we'd be stuck here in StokeDad said if we stay put he'll find us a room We settled in the car he said he'd be back soon When he came back later he said he'd looked and looked But all the hotels in the town were already fully bookedEventually he'd found a hooman who felt sorry for our plight He said he knew a place nearby where we could spend the night It wasn't a hotel but he ran a stationary shop And it was shelter from the storm and was ok for us to stopWe went to the shop and it was cosy enough But food was a problem and that would be rough Dad had a look round but all he could see Was an old loaf of bread and a pack of DairyleaThe Heffalump was starving I was a bit peckish too I knew that a pack of cheese triangles just wouldn't do By the time I turned around Cookie had eaten them all Dad was distracted cos he was giving mum a callMum wasn't in but Bailey was there Dad left her a message but it wasn't too clear The signal was bad and he isn't the sharpest Relaying the message would be a hooge spangle testDad said we were fine and what had happened so far Bunked down in a shop cos he skidded the car The hotels were full Cookie ate all the cheese But a kindly store manager had given us his keysHe had all the details and wrote it all down But when mum read the note back it gave her a frown She posted it on farcebook and how things can spiral In a matter of hours dad's message went viralIt read that Me and Cookie had followed a star But had needed to shelter when dad skidded the car The inns were all full and the weather might freeze us We sheltered in a Staples and Cookie had baby cheesesThe whole world believed that this must be a sign We had created a miracle wivout even trying That night we had visits and gifts brought to us From all round the country they came in by busThree shepherds all German tried dead hard to kneel Then some wise men turned up from the uni at Keele Even Ricky Gervais turned up out of the blue He had to see for himself that the story was trueSo that is the story of our Christmas Eve And how we helped the whole world to believe Mini hoomans will hear as they sit round the tree The story of cheeses the newftivityWhen I woke in the morning I was back in me bed I realised it was summat I'd dreamt in me head I looked over at the Heffalump and she looked back at me With a glint in her eye and an unopened Dairylea...........

Get well soon Cookie!

We visited St Paul C of E school in Wigan on Thursday. It had been arranged a while ago as the official launch of the Christmas book. St Pauls is a school we love visiting and it's our third trip there, twice with Monty and once with Cookie.I rang them on Wednesday to say I would still be coming but needed to leave at lunchtime and explained what had happened with Cookie.I read the book to each year group one after the other and was absolutely blown away when a child from each group came up and gave me their good wishes for Cookie.I learnt afterwards that as soon as the children heard that Cookie had hurt her leg they wanted to do something to let her know they were thinking of her.Well you can imagine how moving it was and such a beautiful and genuine gesture. I know we hear so much about the horrible things in the world I thought I'd share with you the innocent love and warmth of children towards Cookie.

Our continuing story with the Furbo

You may remember that we trialled the Furbo camera at home with our dogs earlier in the year. Initially I was sceptical and wondered if it would just be another gadget but soon really enjoyed using it. We are very lucky in the fact that that we don't have to leave our dogs very often at all as someone is usually in, but even for us the Furbo has given us some great reassurance when we are out of the house.Obviously Furbo has the great features of remote treat dispensing and the ability to listen and talk to with your pups, but just the camera alone is superb. It has given us real peace of mind when we do have to go out for any length of time that everything is ok.The treat dispensing was again something that I was dubious about because I thought it would just unsettle the dogs. I was very wrong because even with our three crazy spaniels they settled very quickly after the excitement of a five minute treat hunt. They soon became accustomed to the small sound it makes prior to the release of the treats and it was great fun to watch them enjoy finding their rewards. The sound option also gives you the chance to speak to them and I found that seemed to have a calming effect on them and they did settle again very quickly. We also had some great success using the Furbo while still in the house. The spaniels like most dogs go crazy when the postman appears down the street so I tried an experiment where I released treats before the barking began and it worked really well. Obviously I had the advantage of seeing the postman before the dogs but I could then reward them from a different room for being calm. After three days they began to associate his arrival with treat time and we have a much calmer trio of spaniels.....Now just to work on Monty.Furbo has also had some great success working with Battersea dogs home and dogs with separation anxiety and I have posted the links to these wonderful little stories below. This may be useful information for those of you dealing with anxious dogs at home or in the workplace.https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-oaJLPIx4YWS3BjcVFiRVBIZjhRRjNfeW41SnBhWDg1VUlF/view?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_tA4sdnK4CEnC3qWXbeOVGfaWo6c24uRrUBpIe2c8k/editAs you know with all of our reviews we never recommend anything that we don't like using ourselves but we love the Furbo as an additional tool to give you peace of mind or as a fun training aid.Currently and up until Christmas the Furbo is on special offer at £129 which for a very solid piece of kit (which also looks good) is a very good price. The link is below and happy viewing.https://bit.ly/2zON20T

That's no lady....that's my sister

The heffalump has been a bit stiff lately so dad took her to the Canine massage lady. I blame the fact that most of the time she acts like the love child of Tigger and Roadrunner. This week when she went she was getting proper relaxed and dad said that when she had her neck rubbed she sounded like two hippos on a date night. If that wasn't enough the other end didn't want to be left out and did a pretty good impersonation of a bullfrog trapped in a megaphone.....I don't know you can't take her anywhere. She's such a hooligan.....She then left the poor hooman lady looking like she'd been tarred and feathered...or slobbed and furred

Monty and Friends save Christmas becoming our bestseller

I've Just had the latest report back regarding worldwide book sales in the last 30 days. This is amazing and we've never had anything like it before. Now if you're David Walliams this is 10 minutes of book sales in Waterstones but when you're a self published author this is very exciting. We do all of the promotion....100% and it's hard work. We bore people with constant posts, we know we do, but that's what it takes. We have some amazing friends on our blogs who share, retweet and bore their friends and families with our stuff. We love you guys...it does pay off. Thank you.I'm making the most of it as it will probably never happen again but it is sure a lovely sight and the feedback and reviews we're receiving are fantastic and very heartwarming.

You wear it well

Last night mum and dad went out....together....yep both at the same time to the same place so it was odd cos that don't happen much. Anyways I decided to let Mr and Mrs Poobag have the pleasure of my amazing company...I know I'm all heart me. Well pipsqueak went to bed and I was having a lovely snooze when all of a sudden I heard the door....It was Mum and Dad and they were home. Well they obviously needed my welcome kisses straight away cos that's what I do when hoomans come in. This where my problem started as I have to be honest though and say I'd forgot where I had fell asleep and when the door went I was a bit disoranientalised. It was only when the Pipsqueaks table became my new Monty hat that I realised I was wearing furniture. Well poo bag ran over really fast to help....really she was just trying to save the table before I ran through the door wiv it on me head....Well as most fings I fink it could catch on....tablehat anyone?

Me first trip to Landgate School

Yesterday we had our first trip to Landgate school. This is where I am the resident orffer and dad is my assistant. We was there all day which meant we was there at lunchtime. I am going to like my time here cos they brought dad a sammich for his dinner and I got a whole bowl of Tuna to meself...it even had a lid wiv a paw print on. The mini hoomans enjoyed us being there....well me really.Some of them had a Storytime, some asked questions and some just wanted to sit on the floor wiv me and have cuddles. It is a specialist place for mini hoomans wiv Autism and I had to ask dad what that was. He just said that it meant that they just thought about stuff differently to others. Well that's good then cos most hoomans fink stoopid stuff like killing all the animals and being horrible to each uvver.....I fink I'm going to enjoy my time at Landgate School....I like different......

Monty the baddie detector dog?

Anybody who knows Monty and has followed his story since he was a 7 week old puppy will know he's a very public dog. Since a very tender age he has been introduced to the world in lots of very busy settings and has throughout this time been an absolute star. He has been petted, cuddled and photographed by literally thousands of people at events such as Crufts and the Edinburgh Fringe as well as being a regular visitor to schools both mainstream and specialist.In all of that time he has barked at an individual just four times. This comes in the form of Monty standing up and letting out a series of 'warning' barks that clearly say 'that's close enough'. In each case there has been no commonality other than they were all male. There was no clothing or headgear that would give alarm. No noises, shouts or outward threat. On each occasion Monty returned back to greeting people normally without being phased at all, not spooked or nervous. The thing that makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck is that on each occasion I found out afterwards that the individual involved was potentially a threat. I choose my words carefully because in two cases the individuals were out and out wrong uns but in the other two there was a more complicated story. So how did he know? In one case the man approached the table where we were collecting for the Poppy appeal as hundreds had that day.....He seemed friendly, nothing at all outward until he had left when the person I was collecting with told me about him.Is this a superpower and should Monty be working for Scotland Yard as a baddie detector dog?Do you have a similar story, I'd love to hear.