I love working at a vet clinic because this is literally THE cutest puppy I have ever seen in my entire life. I’m so not a fan of the wildly expensive designer doodly things we’ve been seeing a lot of lately, but this adorable little creature is a Cocker Spaniel/Golden Retriever and it seems like he has the sweet, soft, lovely Golden temperament but with the adorable spaniel face and ears. And he’s SO SOFT
Every year as the days get hotter, Tristan spends less time outside and is a little lethargic inside. Very reasonable, right? Every other creature in Florida does the same.
We’ve been trying to figure out why he produces such an enormous amunt of (not infected) goop from his eyes, and dealing with severe skin reactions to some biting insect. We tried Cytopoint a month ago.
It’s getting hotter out, still, but every day now Tristan is having a *better* day. More playful outside and inside, spending more time outside, more into mischief every day. In this video, he’s been patiently trying to teach Gwyn how to play “keep-away” properly (pick up the toy, mouth the toy, pretend to drop it, pick it up, push it away from you; Gwyn is having a little trouble with pushing it far enough away when she volleys it back).
WhenKovu arrives, Tristan is so thrilled he wants to tell him loudly All The Things. Since this involves 25 lb Tristan yelling excitedly in 12-lb Kovu’s face, we need to manage it so Kovu doesn’t get steamrollered. But through the visit Tristan and Kovu still have plenty of time for mutual adoration.
Quiet, gentle Tristan gets enthused and worked up as he barks and rawrs at Kovu. Sensible, chill Kovu gets worked up as he barks and rawrs at Tristan. Both of them wagging nonstop.
It was an important conversation, whatever it was about. If they were human I think they would have been waving their arms demonstratively; they were already pacing around the room as they excitedly discussed it.
AKovu came to visit us! Both Spaniels absolutely adored having him with us. The resident thumb-monkeys had a great time playing with the kissy cuddly wriggler, and visiting with Kovu’s human.
Yesterday Gwyn had a very puppy day. They’re getting increasingly infrequent, but yesterday she NEEEEEDED to Do Stuff. She kept stealing increasingly difficult items, bringing them to me so I could tell her how clever, naughty, and rotten she was. Also how proud, and swap her a treat for them.
Eventually I took the silicone hot pads she’d just been bringing me, went outside and hid them. Then I took the Spaniels out, and told them “Go find.” It was the first time we had played Go Find outside, *and* the first time I asked for them to keep going after finding one. They rocked it. They’re amazing.
By the third one she was starting to get fatigued (started towards inside instead of towards me), and I thought I had finally made a dent in the Puppy Day. As soon as we came inside (to hails of “so good! so clever! aaall dooooooone”) and sat down… she brought me a shirt.
