Since Ollie turned nine in February, he has slowed down considerably. But he still likes nothing better than to accompany us anywhere in my car, and is able to jump up onto his bed in the back as if he is still only two years old. So he was delighted when after watching us pack up the car last Thursday, he was called outside to leap into his spot.
The first day in Essex was actually overcast, and not very warm. He was pleased to see my cousin’s two small dogs again, even though having so many people in the house made him rather agitated, perhaps because he worried that he might be left behind.
By the time we arrived in Kent late on Friday afternoon, the weather had started to warm up considerably. We were grateful to be able to eat outside at my friend’s house, but Ollie stayed inside, finding some cool carpet in the shade to lie on.
On Saturday, it was almost 30 degrees (C) and we drove the short distance to a local Country park to give him a good walk. In the absence of a river, I took along his water bowl and a large bottle of water. Ollie was soon slowing down in the heat, so after an hour, we sat under a tree near the cafe there, and Ollie was lying down on the long grass in the shade. Despite drinking lots of water, he couldn’t seem to cool down, and was panting constantly.
The next day, I walked him to the local park near my friend’s house, somwehere he has been many times before. But there was a lot of traffic in that large town, and Ollie kept stopping on the pavement, flinching at the noise as cars and buses drove past close to us. By the time I got to the park, I had to sit in some shade and give him a big drink from his bowl. As he showed no sign of wanting to continue the walk after that, I decided to head back, by which time it was close to 31C there.
He spent the rest of the time lying on the kitchen floor, and when the sun moved around and we sat outside to eat, he ventured out to find any small breeze and the cool decking of her patio. For all three days in Kent, he had seemed grumpy and listless, though I was pleased that he ate all of his food, and had a good appetite.
The drive home on Monday wasn’t too bad, and I decided to stop off at Thetford Forest so that Ollie could get out for a walk, and have a drink. For some reason, he wouldn’t follow me after I parked the car, and kept looking back at it. I had to settle for him having a short drink before getting him back in the car for the one hour drive to Beetley. The next morning, he seemed happier, as the temperature in Norfolk, though still hot, was a full 5C lower than it had been further south. Even so, after fifteen minutes in his preferred area of Beetley Meadows, he ran into the river and stood there for over twenty minutes.
Today was still warm and sunny, but a lot fresher than it has been. Ollie has decided that he must now sniff and mark a lot more places than ever, presumably making up for that ‘lost time’ away. It took me almost thirty minutes to walk less than 400 yards, and I found myself standing waiting for ages until he was ready to catch up.
So at least during this short heatwave, dog-walking now has a new name.
‘Dog-Waiting’.
I fully agree with Jennie’s comment, Pete! Ollie now is something like a senior, and in need of his daily schedule, and his water walk. 😉 xx Michael
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Yes, sorry to say Ollie seems old now, and he has become very slow since he turned 9 in February. It makes me sad though.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am feeling sorry for this, Pete! Maybe he needs a younger girlfriend? 🙂
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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That is so sweet… and Ollie is so sweet, too.
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Thanks, Lara. Poor Ollie has aged dramatically in just six months. That is sometimes very sad for me to see.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Like us dogs get acclimatised it seems.it sounds like Ollie is happy to be home..I have to give Saangchai an extra blanket when the temp drops here 🙂 x…
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He is relieved to be near a river again, and that the temp dropped from 30C to 20C, that’s for sure.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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With age, routine and familiarity becomes important. And, the heat just makes things worse. Ollie must be happy to be back to Beetley
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He certainly is, and the heat dropped down to 19C too, so better for him.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good news on the heat!
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Love the adventures of Ollie! He’s such a love. My dog has not been dealing with the heat well, he prefers the cool tile in the bathroom, it has a view of the patio, and he’s quite comfortable. Thanks for the Ollie update, C
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It has dropped back to 19C here, so Ollie is a lot more comfortable, Cheryl.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Welcome home, Ollie! I hope your cooler and comfy! I like the term, “dog waiting”!
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Thanks, KL. The temperature dropped back to 18C yesterday, so Ollie calmed down a lot.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s really hard on animals, isn’t it?
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Ollie’s fur doesn’t look very thick, Pit. But it is dense, and he gets hot to the touch. It has dropped back down to 18 C today, so he is much happier.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow! That’s new…Ollie not wanting to walk. But it is hot for him. We have 31 degrees here too today and we are thankful for it. Last few days, we have seen 45 degrees. I am half baked already.
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45C would be unheard of here, Shaily. I don’t think I could walk about in such heat now, though I have been to Greece whan I was younger, and it was 43C there.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dog waiting 🙂
Our Jackie decides the route nowadays, despite getting all excited when I shout ‘walk’ she will often only follow me for 20 yards and then look at me to tell me that today is not the day. Or she will walk with me and then at various familiar junctions on the route she will decide which way we are going to go thus determining the length of the walk.
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For many years, Ollie ran ahead of me, choosing his preferred route. I had no alternative but to follow him to know where he was. In the last 9 months, I am now in front, and he lags behind until I stop to allow him to catch up. 🙂
Cheers mate, Pete.
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Hi Ollie boy, just take care. No one is getting any younger.
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Thanks, Arlene. He did seem to age very quickly this year.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Awww. Poor, long-suffering dog … *and* to have missed all those messages from his friends in addition! I bet he‘s ecstatic to be back home — whatever passes for ecstasy at his age! 🙂
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I think ‘content’ sums up his feelings, Themis. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😀
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This heat / humidity is bad for me and I imagine even worse for pets with furry coats. So glad that temperatures should go back to normal next week though I can do without the thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast!
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Just seen a forecast for thundery downpours here on Saturday night and Sunday. With a maximum temperature of 21C over the weekend, hopefully Ollie will be less distressed by the heat.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m hoping the thunderstorms won’t be too bad, my daughter is coming down on Sunday and they are camping!
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On Sunday, I think they are forecast to be over here, East/South East. Fingers crossed for your daughter!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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What about a dog cooling vest?
https://ruffwear.co.uk/collections/cooling-gear-for-dogs
You could even put frozen ice gel block in bags and tie or fold them into it ( you know the sort you put in picnic boxes) to make it extra cool.
Also the pavement might be too hot for the pads of his paws to walk on, so maybe get him some dog shoes?
https://ruffwear.com/products/grip-trex-dog-boot-pairs
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Hi, WN. In the past, we have tried cooling gel-vests, but they upset him to the extent that he wouldn’t walk wearing one. A fan placed near his bed made him get up and stand behind it, as he doesn’t like the feel of the air it generates. We also tried wet towels, which he shook off immediately. In Beetley, he only has to walk a very short way on a road (around 90 seconds) before he is in Beetley Meadows on grass, so shoes are probably not necessary. Once he is able to stand in the river, that cools him down quickly.
Thanks for your thoughtful suggestions.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Could it be that dogs are man’s best friend because both like familiar surroundings? WArmest regards, Theo
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You make a very valid point, Theo. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ollie wouldn’t do well in Las Vegas, where 31°C is considered a cold day in hell.
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He would not like that one bit, David. And there are rattlesnakes to contend with too!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think “smushed” faced animals have a harder time in hot weather and I daresay because he is a bit older now, having his routine changed might unsettle him. Just like older folk! I’m glad he’s better.
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Yes, I am old, and also have a rather ‘smushed’ face. So I know how he feels, Yeti. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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No as old as me!
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Having been gone so long, Ollie had to check up the “news” left from other dogs at the usual “meeting sites”!!
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He certainly did, GP. Then he left his own calling card, around 70 times! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We call those calling cards p-mail.
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That’s a good name for it, Peggy. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dot has slowed down in the heat as well. it never used to bother her but she is almost 6 so I guess that makes a difference. Glad Ollie is feeling better now he’s at home.
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Thanks, Darlene. I think Ollie would be happy if he never actually went anywhere other than Beetley.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am sure that he was glad to see his stream…..the heat it stream is a welcome sight…..chuq
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He does love that river, chuq.
Best wishes, Pete.
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31 C is very hot, especially in the UK where it is so humid. I always find it interesting how, although your weather can get hot and I have been in the UK during a heatwave, it doesn’t burn and frizzle like our heat does.
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It is usually just oppresive and humid, Robbie. Like being wrapped in a hot blanket.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Home Sweet Home!
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He does love Beetley so much!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I imagine the heat is even harder for our furry friends than it is for us who don’t wear fur coats. Time to enjoy some ‘dog-waiting!’
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Yes, he has quite thick fur, so I can imagine it must be awful for him, Susanne.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, that intense heat must have really made an impact on him, so it’s good to see him more back to normal now! Hot for you as well!
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I can cope, as I hate rain, so will tolerate the heat. But he has a lot of fur, and it must be awful for him, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I just got back from a very dry and hot Greece and told my wife that it’s so much easier to warm yourself up in the cold than it is to cool down…we did all of our hiking early in the morning because by 11a it was brutally hot!
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I remember Greek summers, especially in Crete. (Up to 42C there) The hire car was so hot inside, I couldn’t touch the steering wheel. Then after sunset, I was bitten by so many mosquitoes, I almost went crazy!
Best wishes, Pete.
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We got bit up just one day Pete, but boy did they get us!
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Welcome home, Ollie
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Thank you, Miss Sue. Tail wags!
Ollie.
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😊😊
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Nice to go away but so Good to be home.
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Ollie is always at his happiest in Beetley, FR. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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of course we like the place where we are used to walk and play so that happened with ollie and also the temperature change
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Yes, he loves to be on familiar territory.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It sounds like Ollie is happy to be home! Cheers, Jon.
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He loves going in the car, but her really does miss Beetley.
Best wishes, Pete.
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