A Resting Day with KoKo 02-27-20

These days whenever I drive a distance (like the 200 mile round trip to/from San Diego) I am just too tired the next day, no matter how much sleep I have had.  So, now I plan for a rest day after each travel day.  Age requires adjustments for me.   I did my physical therapy appointment and took KoKo for his walk around the neighborhood loop, put a few things away, looked through my e-mail and Facebook, and rested. 

KoKo has been very  active lately and today was no exception. He received a new toy from the KoKo caregiver while I was up north.  It is a yellow snake (at least it faintly resembles one) that is 18" long and about 7" in circumference.  It has four little feet and did have two ears about 1 1/2" long.  He tore one ear off before I returned from up north and has been tugging and chewing on the other one until finally it was hanging on by a thread.  I cut it off and thought the earholes were too small for him to do any more damage.  Wrong.  He was in the living room working on the squeaker and then it was very quiet.  I went in to see what he was up to and found him frantically pulling the stuffing through the earholes!  He had seven or eight large wads scattered around.  So, I stopped what I was doing, re-stuffed the batting and sewed up the holes.  Now he just works on the squeaker which is in the snaky nose.  He hasn't deserted Froggy though. 

Bedtime with KoKo's current favorite toys. 

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Time for KoKo again 02-13-20

My heart truly belongs to KoKo.  He tries to be a good dog and is very loving, which requires my time off and on all day.  He has turned into a slug-a-bed, just like me and finds it hard to get up and go for the morning walk.  When he has to go to the groomer he shakes from the minute I turn onto the street that goes there.  He KNOWS what is coming, but what bothers him the most I can't tell.  Is it the bath, the dryer, the actual trimming, or all the dogs running around loose?  He isn't very social because he has never needed to be.   Today was as traumatic as always and when we came home he ate a treat and flaked out in the sun. 

Usually he doesn't like to have me taking pictures, but he hardly opened an eye today.  He was worn out by his trip to the groomer.

He has not been able to play with Froggy for over a week because Froggy is in bad shape.  I need to try to do surgery and perhaps even add some skin.   I suppose all dogs are rough with their toys, that is what they are for, I imagine. He has been playing with Woodstock and managed to pull off a leg!  

So Woodstock has surgery scars now. 

Anytime I am "operating" on one of his little friends, he is right there to give support. 

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KoKo time again 12-31-18

Another year is almost gone - more quickly each year.   KoKo and I are staying warm and out of the wind - no walk this evening, just a quick piddle in the backyard and back inside out of the very gusty, strong wind.  

It is a good thing I am able to sew up KoKo's toys as he is very hard on them.  He loves his Froggie, almost to rags, so he frequently has to have surgery.  

This was just a simple open seam on the back of his neck.  

But you can see how bad his scars are.  There isn't much fabric left on Froggie's back and butt, so I have had to put in an under lining so there is something to sew on to.  

He does love his Woodstock, new this past month.  But it is not very heavy so doesn't throw very far.  

But he does take it to bed now and then.  

We wish all of you a Happy New Year, hoping that 2019 will be better than 2018.

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More KoKo 12-03-18

As much as KoKo loves his Froggie, he will also dig other toys out of his basket and bring them to me to throw for him.  And a new toy gets a real workout for at least a few days.  I can't tell what toy will attract his energy.  Today we went to PetSmart for some of his favorite treats, lest I run out!  They were having a Christmas toy special, buy one get one for half price.  I picked out a tree and Woodstock.  Woodstock has floppy arms/legs that I thought he would like, but what he chose to play with all day was the tree!  By mid afternoon the squeaker was dead and I had to do surgery to replace it.  The squeakers they put in these cheap toys are so flimsy that KoKo kills them quickly.  Fortunately, I have a lifetime supply of squeakers that I bought decades ago when I was making toys.  Now the tree squeaks loud and clear and he is endlessly fascinated.  

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Time for more KoKo 10-23-18

KoKo presents Duckie for a throw.  But Duckie is to light to fly very far. 

Not interested in another toss. 

So, he loves Froggie and sits on Duckie.   He has lots of toys, but loves Froggie most.  After Froggie he chooses Duckie, Monkey, and Snake.  What goes on in his little head? 

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