Let me take a selfie...

I have just given Mr Darcy a trim so that he can see again. He looks much better now.

Come here Mr D, let me take a selfie !
"Sure thing, Dad."

Gorgeous. Smile.
"Yes Dad, cheeseeeee...."

 Si the DogBlogger.

Grooming Mr Darcy's whiskers

Mr Darcy, come here. What is that growing on your forehead ?! It looks like a rhino horn.
"Yes Dad, and it makes me cross-eyed looking at it."

Hmm, I had better trim your face.

Haha, look at you.
"Dad, don't mock me."

Right then. Haircut coming up. I'll trim your eyes and mouth and that horn.

Looking better...
"Thank you, Dad. I can see now."

 Si the DogBlogger.

Trimming Mr Darcy's fur-balls

Mr Darcy is part Maltese and his fur is like wool. It mats and clumps, especially between his rear legs and under his armpits. I have to trim him fairly frequently.

Hold Still !
"But Dad, it tickles. And I don't trust you with those scissors, not right there anyway ! "

Don't be a such a chicken. I'll be careful. Now stretch out and don't move !
"OK Dad, holding very still... just be careful."

 Si the DogBlogger.

Fitzroy Veterinary Clinic today. Synovan injection

Poor old Daisy needs a monthly injection for her arthritis. It keeps her moving.

Everybody in the car !

Poor Daisy-Mae. Time to be a pin cushion again.

Waiting for our turn...

Are you ready, Daisy ?
"Yes I guess so Dad."

She's had her jab. Poor girl. Are you OK Daisy-Mae ?
"It stings a bit Dad, but the nurse gave me some liver treats so I don't feel too bad."

Darcy had a liver treat too.

Si the DogBlogger.

Poor bucket head

Poor bucket head. Mr Darcy has been chewing on his front left foot. I'm not sure if it's nervous habit or a skin irritation.

Either way, it's off to The Vet for a prescription of antibiotics and cortisone cream, and a bucket for his head.

"Take it off, Dad. It's not fun. The joke is over."
Sorry kiddo, but your foot is covered in cortisone cream and you'll just lick it off.

Time for sleep, kiddies.
"How, Dad ? With this thing on my head ?"

Poor boy. Just for a day or two.

 Si the DogBlogger.

Tragic haircut

Poor Darcy. That haircut looks a bit tragic.
"Well you did it, Dad. Anyway, I feel much cooler thank you."

 Si the DogBlogger.

Washing off the plaster dust, and concrete dust, and ....

We're renovating, and at the moment we are plastering and sanding.

Daisy and Darcy are covered in plaster dust and sawdust and concrete dust and other things too terrible to mention. So, in the tub with you two !
The hydro-bath at the Fitzroy Veterinary Clinic is such a wonderful thing.

"Dad, for once I agree with you. It's all a bit much."
Too right Mr Darcy.

 Si the DogBlogger.

Prickle on your face.

Come here, Daisy Mae, what's that on your face ?

"Nothing, Dad."



It's a prickle. Hold still while I pull it out.
"No Dad. You'll pull my whiskers."



Tough luck. I'm not having you walk around with a prickle in your whiskers.
"Ouch. Oohh. It hurts, Dad. Ow. Owowow. "



Poor chicken. Serve you right for rolling in nasty things.

Si the Dogblogger.

Victim of a tragic haircut.

It's going to be another hot Summer here in Melbourne.

I have dug out the dog clippers and given Daisy her first haircut.
I feel a bit bad that I have cut her fringe off too. Show me, Daisy ...

"Yes Dad. But at least I feel cooler."

Let me look side on. Hmmm, well at least it's growing back already.

"Yes Dad. But at least I can see now."

And the rest of you looks like a plague victim. Maybe a W.A.S.H. would help.

"Go easy there, Dad ! Anyway I like it now when you pat me. It's all nice and prickly."

Poor chicken. At least your mustache still looks fine.


 Si the DogBlogger.

Trying to brush the mud out.

Mr Darcy took a face plant in the mud in The Park, so I'm trying to brush him clean.

Sorry boy, but you're full of knots as well. I'm going to have to cut out all this matted fur with the scissors.
"Go for it Dad. There's plenty more were that came from."

Maybe I'll just shave you naked then...
"Whoa Dad. Go easy on that idea. It is Winter you know."

Yes well. No shaving then. I'll just have to keep hacking at you with this steel comb.
"Ouch. Oooch. Owwww."

Well if you weren't so knotty... Look at all this, and I've barely started.

I guess I'll have to groom you more often then. *Sigh*

Si the DogBlogger.

Face plant in the mud.

Mr Darcy ! Come here !

What have you done ? How did you manage to cover yourself in mud ?! I've only just washed you.
"Um, sorry Dad. I was playing with a big dog and tripped."

So I see. It looks like you've taken a face plant into the mud. Ick.
"Maybe I can lick it clean, Dad."

Somehow, I don't think so. I'll try to brush it out when we get home. And if that doesn't work then it's back in the tub for a wash. Again.

"Wash ? That's a little drastic for a little mud, isn't it Dad ?"
Ahhhh, no.

Si the DogBlogger.

Daisy ran into a bike.

*Sigh*. It's been a traumatic month. Monty passing away. Grief. Sadness.
Searching through the Lost Dogs Homes looking for a new hound to rescue. Missing out on poor Prudence. So many sad dogs. Finding Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy escaping. Mr Darcy being found.
This and that. *Sigh*. It's been tough. It's been an emotional roller coaster.

Then what happens ? Daisy trots across the road to our little park and runs straight into a pushbike. *SIGH*. Silly chicken. My heart is jumping all over the place again.
"Sorry Day. It hurts."

Poor thing. You've scraped you eye and hurt your foot.
"Make it better Dad."

Poor Daisy. *kiss kiss* Dad will make it better.

Si the DogBlogger.

Taking the stitches out at Fitzroy Veterinary Clinic.

We're down at the Fitzroy Vet with Mr Darcy and Daisy.
Mr Darcy had just been neutered when we saved him from the RSPCA on the Peninsula.

This is your first visit here, boyo. Probably the first of many no doubt.
"Yes. It's very exciting."

Yes, silly thing. Anyway, it's time to take your stitches out.
Poor thing. No knackers now.

"Jolly good. It does itch, you know."

You're such a good boy. You're taking it very well.
"I say, there's lots of interesting creatures here, you know."

"Hey Dad, maybe they can put some brains in when they take those stitches out."
Daisy-Mae !

"Well he's a bit dopey, Dad."
Yeah, just a little bit, but he's young.

Si the DogBlogger.

Grooming Mr Darcy

This is Mr Darcy. We adopted him from the RSPCA on the Peninsula yesterday.

Mr Darcy, your hair is a mess ! It's full of matted knots and dreadlocks. You need a good comb.
"Yes Sir. Sorry about that."



I'll need a pair of scissors to cut these knots out ! I'll need the strong steel comb too.
"Rightio. See what you can do then."



And a wash too !
"Ah. Now that could be an issue, Sir."

Si the DogBlogger.

Supplies. Suprise !

Monty ! I have a present for you !

"Gosh Dad. What is it ?"
Inuslin ! Suprise !

"Dad, I'm speechless. You shouldn't have."
Yes, I know. I bought some more needles too. See ?

"Wow. For me ?"
Oh yes. Some urine glocose test strips too.

"Gosh Dad, I'm overwhelmed."
Well, you're my special boy, Monty. Nothing's to good for you.
Si the Dogblogger

Checking all your bits

Rightio Monty, let me check all your other bits now.
*snufflesnuffle* "Yes Dad."
I'll check your nose... It's a bit dry.
"Yes Dad, it feels dry. I need a drink."

Let me check your teeth... Lovely teeth.
"Grrrr, Dad. It's all those bones, you see."

I'd better check your ears. Hmm, nothing nasty in there.
*snuffle sneeze* "Yes Dad."

Lovely boy. You're not looking to bad.

"But I feel a bit old and tired still, Dad."
Si the Dogblogger