AUTHOR: Kat and Kev TITLE: All's well that ends DATE: 6/19/2007 12:37:00 AM ----- BODY:

Good news the youngest member of the family seems to be settling down a bit. Still whingy, but doing a lot better. Yesterday he barely cried at all and today he is just a bit whiney, but I think he has thrush in his mouth. So off to the doctors we go. The swing is the best thing ever. Though I keep getting Pop Goes the Weasel stuck in my head. It turns out he also likes the theme tunes to the Adams Family and Harry Potter. Kevin is mortally depressed that Star Wars isn't his favourite. To be honest, I am surprised that Ellis hasn't been forced to watch it yet. All 6 movies (gag, choke, puke). Well at least there is someone else to watch it with him. THe other news in the house is that it has come to crunch time with the dog. Yesterday, the mum's group was at ours and Rowan was a nightmare. She barked and howled the entire time. She pooed all over the room she was in and lately she has taken to mouthing me when she gets upset. Not good!! I phoned all and sundry to get advice and the verdict was mixed. The woman from the Basset Hound Welfare group said that her breeders are puppy farmers (which they did a good job of hiding) and her breeding is bad, therefore not a good dog to have around babies and she should go. Our trainer and many other basset hound experts that I spoke to say that she can be rehabilitated as this is all puppy behaviour. So what to do. the breeder has said they will come and get her to rehome her. I don't really want to get rid of her for a number of reasons: -Kevin loves her -I think she will grow out of a lot of the behaviours -I think its good for kids to grow up with animals. I know LOTS of kids who don't have dogs and are terrified of them and don't know how to handle them. Plus I generally think its a good thing. On the other hand: -UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO I WANT HER TO BITE THE BABY!!! -Her need for a lot of exercise means that Kevin spends a huge proportion of his free time walking her. Now I know to some extent this is normal, but Rowan needs about 2 hours a day just to be manageable, which is not normal, particularly as she is a basset hound. -Her behaviour is quite isolating. I don't feel like I can have people around to visit and I hate to leave the house because she barks and upsets the neighbours. -Trainers, vet visits, etc to get all of this sorted are expensive...not great at the moment when we are trying to save for when my salary goes down. This isn't a reason to get rid of her, per se, just another negative. SO I am not sure what will happen. I do worry about when I am away for the month and how she will do. ugh. What else...the weather is cold and rainy. We went from 80 degrees last week to about 60 this week. You have to love Scotland. Oh and I've sold stuff on ebay for the first time! Its so easy and addictive, i keep eyeing stuff around the house to sell. Maybe thats how to solve the dog problem.

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