Pandora’s summer has had a few firsts and some good growth. Let’s recap how her summer has been, training wise and adventure wise.
Pandora’s Summer – June
Pandora took time to stop and sniff the flowers. Little Miss can hike five miles, swim for twenty minutes, and play frisbee for another 20 minutes and STILL have energy left over (it’s no joke when people say Cattle Dogs need a lot of exercise). So, it was a special moment when Pandora noticed my Tiger Lily had bloomed and she went to check it out.
Yes, Lilies are toxic to dogs. She did not eat, she was supervised, she’s fine.
Pandora also had her very first professional grooming session. She’s been having her nails trimmed by the lovely ladies at PNW Mobile Grooming Services for almost two years now. But when it came to bathes, we took of that. She’s not a large dog and she doesn’t shed as much as a Husky, so our bathtub suffices just fine. However, we decided to get her the full spa treatment. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, but she came out looking awesome.
And June was the month that Pandora walked near the road. She was not thrilled, but she did it.
July Recap
July was rough.
Pandora had her longest stretch away from me. I was gone for five days. Pandora usually puts the whole time I am away from home, but apparently, by the third day she would willing go outside. My understanding is that usually, my husband and sons have to coerce her to go outside. She still moped, but it was a tad less by the fifth day.
Shortly after I had returned home, Pandora had her first (minor) injury. We were playing frisbee and after one of her show-off high leaps, she landed and started limping. I focused on her leg and couldn’t see anything odd or feel anything odd. Pandora didn’t flinch when I touched all over her leg. And her leg didn’t swell. I made a note to call the vet the next morning.
The next morning, I discovered what the issue was. She’d broken a toenail. It was a vertical split, from the tip down to the quick. She had bled, how I missed it I don’t know. So, I set up a vet appointment for a week later (they’re booked, and I didn’t think she needed and emergency visit). We didn’t play frisbee or do anything strenuous for a few days and eventually, half fell off and the nail was fine.
LESSON LEARNED: Keep on the toenail trims. I usually do, but this time I forgot to book it and her nails got longer than usual.
Pandora’s Summer August
Mid-July is when Pandora discovered she could actually swim, swim. Like go out and paddle all the way in.
August has been the month of swimming. And swimming. And more swimming. It’s gotten to the point that she will ditch me about an 1/8th of a mile before her new swimming spot. She makes a beeline for that and all I get is dust.
Pandora hopes all the dogs have had a wonderful summer. And so do I.
