Boomba

There’s a  new name being used in our house, “Boomba”.  I had a feeling that Jess was putting on a bit of weight.  If I’m honest her weight has fluctuated since we got her at eleven years old but today, I realised it had managed to creep up again.

When we rescued Jess, she was a very skinny 17kg border collie.  Now 17kg, isn’t that bad for her breed and she wasn’t starving or anything (though she was not at all motivated by food and would often refuse to eat) but you could easily have mistaken her for a border collie whippet cross (which I’m sure would be given a very amusing name like whipollie or bordepet (almost a little French sounding)). 

So, like any loving parents, we encouraged her to eat.  And, then at our first ever Battersea Reunion party (Battersea dogs home hold an annual reunion for all of their rescued pets in Battersea Park every year) there was a professional photographer, and as proud parents, we took Jess along to the stand.  I remember being so proud on the day, and then when we were emailed the proofs to see if we wanted to purchase, I realised our dog was overwreigh!!  How could that be?  Only months before (this was probably over a six month period) she was the skinniest little thing.  But now, she was definitely in need of a diet and exercise (not that she didn’t get walked several times a day) .

Since then her weight has always been good.  I’d say she’s always been on the heavier side of the ‘ideal range’ for her breed but she’s still in the ideal section.

Even today, as the scales went up and it became apparent her food portions and treats needed to come down, she is not classed as overweight.  Jess gets plenty of exercise, the walk back and forth to the vets was over 3.5kms

Let’s just say, it wouldn’t hurt her to miss a meal and with her arthritis getting worse, the weight needs to come back down.  So dinner was slightly smaller tonight, and my little fattie boomba, gave me a look of sheer horror when I refused her any treats from the cupboard.  This puppy is joining the unofficial Biggest Loser House!

Don’t worry pup, you’ll still get your goodbye treat when I leave for work in the morning (but your breakfast may have been a little smaller than normal).

Who called me special?

When we first rescused my beautiful border collie pup from Battersea Dogs Home, we came to the conculsion she was a little special. Border collie’s are of course supposed to be super intelligent and Jess, at the prime age of 11, seemed to know nothing, didn’t want to learn and was scared of everything from tiled floors to cuddly toys.

Four years on and I actually realise she is super intelligent. I’ve taught her to chase a ball when we’re in the park, but she refuses to bring it back to me. Instead she stands and looks from it to me, as if to say “go on then, come and get it”. If you watch us, it looks like I’m fetching the ball and then throwing it to her! I do all the work. Who’s the clever one here?

Today Jess surpassed herself. As it’s a super hot day in Sydney, I took her to the garden, opened the back gate (which opens onto a little park) and pointed the hose at her. She was drenched (but cool) and she gave me a stinking look! I ushered her outside to dry off a little before coming back into the house. Jess normally battles me to come in but she went straight out, and headed for the crowds of people who had just come out of the Church in their Sunday best. Yes, my clever Collie, definitely got her own back on me, by standing next to those people, dressed in all their finery, and shaking. They were soaked, I was apologising like no one’s business. It was a true ‘Marley and Me’ moment. And, with that Jess gave me a satisfied look and wandered back to the house.

She can be a nightmare (and she’s still scared of tiled floors), but she sure has hell makes me smile and most importantly, she is mine (the title of today’s #fmsphotoaday).

She’s saying it about the ball and I’m saying it about her (all mine)

This is my year, and it is moment’s like this that, although embarassing, that make me grateful for all I have (plus those people were coming out of church, surely they must have to forgive me, right?).