He doesn't love me anymore...
Poor Toby. He thinks he has been supplanted in the Hub’s affections by a little girl. He has spent this week wandering around the house, looking reproachfully at the Hub and resorting to sympathetic back rubs from me. Our niece, C2(g), loves her Hubuncle and they spend a lot of time doing crafts and listening to music and gentle girly stuff like that. It means that Toby can’t be in his favourite place: the Hub’s direct eye line. Usually, the Hub can hardly move without being prodded, licked, manhandled or growled at; but Toby normally sees me off so he can cuddle up. This week, he has had to make do with attention from me and three children; long, long walks; C2(g)’s gentle brushing and subsequent reward treats; and only 80% attention from the Hub. You can see the confusion on his little face.
He is not what I would call a normal dog: in particular, he is terrified of everything, especially other dogs. That is down to being locked in a small conservatory for twenty hours a day and never being walked by his previous owners. He is much better now, after nine months of daily walks and lots of love and care. What is really odd about him is his occasional cough – he has nasty coughing fits that come on unexpectedly. We can’t find a trigger, and we have ruled out hectic play and his food. Maybe he’s asthmatic. Trust us to get the only dog allergic to himself.
There’s nothing wrong with his appetite. Despite being practically hand fed by the Hub - because he didn’t eat when he first came to us due to being terrified, I expect - he displays typical dog behaviour by donning that dog disguise of starving neglect, indicated by the ribs which magically appear whenever there’s the possibility of a bread crust to chew or yoghurt pot to lick out. And isn’t it amazing how a dog can swallow a piece of meat whole, without tasting it or it touching sides? No wonder it’s so easy to poison them. The Hub calls him Bobo Beggins.
What a beautiful dog! He looks so sweet. I hope Toby is feeling better now and getting the attention he feels he deserves.