Unlike any of our other blind animals, Bobbins seems very happy to be shut in the puppy cage. While others will lie in it with the door open, they do not like to be shut in (on a larger scale Wilbs doesn’t like to be shut in a room). However I have shut the door on Bobbins at night and during her ‘down-time’ during the day and she doesn’t seem to mind. She came with a toy spider and spends a lot of time attacking that, so a series of squeals comes from the crate. Unfortunately, Queenie used to like sleeping in the crate, but she refuses to go in there with Bobbins, maybe that will change. Bobbins also takes herself under the sofa. She’s not a nervy pup, I think she just likes to have a safe little nest.
Having Bobbins using a puppy crate makes life very straight forward and will help no end with her house training. The only downside is that we carry her from her crate to outside, something that makes it difficult for her to get her bearings, but at least it will get her used to going to the toilet outside.
Bobbins loves to play and like Milly, likes to play with the dried up little oranges that have fallen off the tree. I think they must have a smell, as well as make a rattly noise when they roll. Bobbins has tried to get the others to play with her. They have all worked out that Bobbins can’t get up the steps so they jump up the steps and sit there looking down on her snootily. Even Tinkerbelle does this, which is a little rich, given that she has been the naughty little sister of the family!
When we first saw Bobbins she had these little scars on her forehead from ‘bumping into things’, which I must admit I was skeptical about, however having seen her over the last day or so I can see how. I think I am quite glad we didn’t know Wilbur as a puppy (if he was blind then) as I think he would have been just as bouncy but several times the size! For the first time we did start musing the value of a tiny crash helmet for her. But it won’t be long before she masters the steps and her biggest problem so far is running head long at them and not being able to jump up them.
Interestingly, she recognizes the change in surface between the patio tiles and the step edge. I’ve seen her come to a comedy cartoon-like halt when she gets to these – all four legs suddenly stopping rigid. We’d suspected this with the others, but this is the first time I’ve really seen this in action.
Queenie was originally scared of Bobbins, she doesn’t be able to see her if she Bobbins comes out of the shade to Queenie, but I think that this is largely where she hasn’t been expecting to see a small dark pup appear out of nowhere. I think that Queenie will be the first proper playmate for Bobbins, though, as they are closest in age.
Alfie is back to normal – we haven’t heard anything from the vet about his pellet or whether they have seen any problems with his chest so hopefully everything is OK now.