10-month Birthday!

Skye is 10 months old today! How quickly time flies. She is quite a grown up girl now, well, some of the time anyway. LOL

She has changed so much, grown so much, but still has got a lot more growing up to do of course. But she is such a godsend and I am so glad she landed in my life when she did! Love you lots, crazy puppy!

Nearly 10 months old and some pictures

Skye is doing really well in general, slowly growing up, but still having mad moments! She is currently scared to go into the garden due to some loud bangs during the fire work season whilst she was out there, so she has decided to regress with her house training... never mind, we'll get it sorted again! She isn't worried about fireworks in general and everyone was actually really calm even during the worst of it, so that was good.

She is also much better with staying home alone now. Although she still has her moments (especially at the end of a day I think), she is generally quiet now when I tape her, so I am really happy with that.

I took some pictures on our walk this morning as it was such a beautiful day - together with big brother Jesse, who is now smaller than Skye LOL.

9 months old and new pictures

On 17th, Skye was 9 months old. How time flies!

Here's some pictures I took this morning on our walk:

Well, where do I start... LOL

Skye sure is going through her puppy stages. LOL She is very much the easily distracted spangle that so many people think spaniels are. So training is very much attention and following exercises as she sometimes just buggers off otherwise. But it's little and often, and overall we are making good progress.

Skye is getting much better with the house training though and she now rarely has accidents. Even during the day, she is now often dry and there hasn't been any poo for a couple of weeks now - I hope it stays that way.

On the other hand, I have heard her crying again virtually every evening I came home this week, so not too happy with that. I will ask Karen whether she would be able to have her on Mondays at least as that is a very long day for her. I also must set up that internet camera that I bought, just haven't had the time yet.

For a month or so, I felt she was better home alone, I had taped her a few times too and she was quiet - though of course it's different if it's a whole day. The month that she was better was when she was wearing a DAP collar rather than having a DAP diffuser, I wonder whether that makes a difference because it is always on her and doesn't get diluted by having the door open etc. So I think I will get another one of those.

Other than that, she is doing great; she is a fab little girl and things are coming along nicely.

Poor old Skye... LOL

Mummy has banished me to me bed whilst she prepares our dindins... she says I am a grumplebear otherwise who is constantly under her feet... don't know what she means.

Separation anxiety still an issue

I just bought a wireless webcam to spy on Skye to find out what exactely her "noise pattern" is when I am out. She is great and very quiet sometimes and a bundle of screaming crazyness at others.

I know it isn't just entirely separation anxiety, but just adolescence behaviour and the fact that she can't be with the other dogs. But yesterday, I saw one of my neighbours stop in front of my house (I was just approaching coming home from work) whilst Skye was screaming and Jesse barking... he then walked on looking at me. For the rest of the evening, there wasn't a single noise from any of the dogs, but I still need to sort it swiftly one way or the other, as it doesn't just stress my neighbours but me too! Not to mention of course Skye.

So I got a wireless web camera so I can see what the patterns are of Skye's noise, I will be able to monitor her from work online to help me see what is going on.

I have now started to take Skye in the evening with me and Dylan and Flash too so she is now getting two walks which hopefully will help too. That's nearly two hours of walking with the morning walk being more training and playing and the evening walk just running and sniffing.

I have to sort this out, if I can't, then I might have to consider putting her into day care until she is a little older and I can leave her with the others. I'll see how we are getting on.

Wow... separation anxiety resolution

Well, since yesterday, I have been giving Skye Bach Flower remedies (which she loves) for her separation anxiety:


Aspen - Vague or unaccountable fears. Appearing agitated for no apparent reason
Heather - Overly concerned with companionship. Constant barking
Honeysuckle - Homesickness or over-attachment to the past. Loss of owner or home
Vervain - Enthusiastic, always want to be involved, high strung
Walnut - For any period of change
Rescue Remedy


I am shocked at the result... today I taped Skye and there was less than 20 seconds of half hearted whining in one hour! Compared to continues screaming before... WOW! I am also giving her a rawhide bone, but she had that before and that didn't make such a huge difference.


I know we are not in the dry yet, but what progress! So happy! She also seems less manic when I come home, so I guess this indicates that she is less stressed.


I am also doing some separation training with her in the park by tying her up on a bench and gradually moving further away, yard by yard. She was much better this morning already than yesterday, calmer and I could get further away. Excellent.