Thursday 26th Aug. (Nine Days - post op)

4.20am.
Woken up again by Flynn standing in his crate, panting and looking at the patio door. Woke Emma (usual ocurrance) and off we trot in a very wet garden in case Flynn wants to toilet. After a short stroll he had a large wee, then a further short stoll and nothing more. Took him back in to put him in the crate and he refused to go in. As he was quite determined not to go in and backing off I thought a bribe was in order because I didn't want him being silly and hurting his hip. Off to the kitchen to look for a bribe and brought back a low fat treat stick, I showed it to him and threw it in the cage - no luck, so I went in the cage - all the while holding his lead while Emma held him in the sling - and pretended to eat it, still no luck. Back to the kitchen and brought out the raw rib cage i'd got out for later today. I took a small rib off, went in the cage and he followed - Eureka! Once in I squeezed past him and shut the door - what a spoilt little boy i've raised, lol. At least he did need to toilet and i'm glad he woke me but I think he's found his own game to play now, it's called "Lets guess the bribe" lol. I wonder what he'd do if I weren't sleeping on the sofa, sleep through the night I suppose but i've slept on the sofa since he was born and now find it hard to sleep in a bed (weird I know) - is it any wonder he's spoilt?

5.15am.
Up again but this time when I looked round at him it was ears flashed down and a tail wag - silly boy gave the game away and I knew he just wanted to come out for fuss - cheeky monkey, so I tried the stern approach and said "No Flynn, go to sleep" and he did - magic, lol. Bless him though I can't blame him for trying.

7.00am.
Up again wanting to go out - phew it's tiring - for us anyway, lol. Took him out to toilet successfully and straight back in his crate - he was having none of it, so tried a bribe but meat didn't work. Naughty mummy knows what he can't resist so I got a small piece of chocolate biscuit, threw it in and in he went - he's really got me round his paw and I thought I was going to be so strong too, lol. He had his breakfast and meds and although he wanted to come out when I told him "No" sternly again he's now gone back to sleep - ah peace and quiet reign!
So now, late as it is (9.45am) i'm going to have a little lie on the sofa, (Em's back to bed) and catch up on a little sleep for an hour or so. Am eternally grateful for Emma's help and her month's annual leave - not much of a holiday though - poor girl.
Flynn is much brighter this morning, wish the same could be said for us!


7.00pm.
What a good boy he's been today, he's slept like a log from around 9am til 2pm, went out to toilet then back in his crate. Seems that since he's been rumbled at playing the "i'm poorly and need to come out" game and i'm being firmer with him, he isn't even trying to ask now. We got him out at around 5.30pm, toileted and he had a meaty bone on his mat outside the crate, a small drink and his meds and is so relaxed on the rug that i've let him lie out for a while.
I used to worry that he doesn't always "go" when we take him out to toilet, sometimes he doesn't wee for around 6 hours, even more but he always has plenty of time and is never rushed. I don't worry now as he does eventually and will do buckets when he does, I expect it's a bit weird for him to go to order and on the occasions that he doesn't we always take him out a couple more times before crating him. At the end of the day we can't make him go and as long as he wee's at least twice a day, i'm not worried. Used to worry me loads at first but not now.
Still using bribes to get him back in the crate, bought a cooked chicken and offered him a piece in the crate - no way - so I got a tripe stick and went in the crate myself, that worked a treat, he loves them - for now anyway!
Have put a pic of his scar one week post op, it's amazing how different it looks and how the fur is growing back, a nice white hue now and no swelling at all.



11.45pm.
An uneventful evening, thankfully. Flynn spent some time out of the crate as he usually does but when in the crate was very good, just lying there and dozing occasionally but not real sleep, with any luck he'll sleep well tonight. The only problem at the mo is that he has only had one poo today and if he does get up in the night we will have to take him out in case he wants to toilet. I won't be able to sleep if I think he needs to "go". He'll be going out in around half hour for the last time, hopefully he'll poo then and we can get a good nights sleep - not holding our breath though, lol.
He's a begger with going back in the crate and i'm having to constantly change the bribes. He's got very wise to what's going to happen, the little tyke and i've now given him, low fat treat stick, tripe stick, piece of choc biscuit, cooked chicken and the last time a couple of cubes of cheese, I have prepared a few cubes of sausage roll for the next bribe and a hot dog chopped up for the one after that - i'm seriously running out of bribes, lol and am adjusting his meals to incorporate them.
He always refuses a bribe he's already had and didn't even try the cooked chicken. I know he will always go in for a piece of choc biscuit but can't use that too often as it's so bad for him and his real love is dolly mixtures - again bad for him. Will have to make some liver cake and sardine cookies tomorrow, hopefully that will be another two bribes to fall back on. Is it any wonder my lot have always said he was spoilt, lol - if it were Kali or Marts they'd get straight in just by being told to, never mind having to bribe them.
Everything else is on track and with any luck he'll sleep well tonight - please Flynny!