Now that Lambi is fully recovered from her operation, we've found that for the first time in her life, she is putting on weight. Since April, she has gained 800g. While that does not sound much, when you remember that she only weighed 3.6kg in the first place, it's quite a lot.

As usual, I was in denial, claiming she was "just fluffy" or "getting her winter coat", but after weighing her at the vet the other day when she got her rabies shot, I had to admit that a little dog Weight Watchers was in order. So, she is being "encouraged" to go for longer walks. Which she is very reluctant to do, much preferring this mode of transport.

The first day, she shivered and carried on as though she was dying. We both thought she may be trying to con us, but we did admit that she needed a better coat for walks in the woods - something that would cover her tummy and was waterproof. We selected a nice coat in a burgundy colour that was perfect, but sadly not in stock in her size. The shop owner got us to try on the same coat in another colour for the size and said she would order it in.

Guess what? It was LAST season's colour and not made this season. I didn't realise that dogs followed fashion seasons as well. So after much face pulling and declarations about how hideous it is, we bought her a warm coat in this season's camouflage colours.




If there was ever a dog born who did not suit this style, it is our dog. People are smiling at us in the street and remarking on our "fine hunting dog". I'm sure they are smirking as they walk off. Someone asked me her name the other day and I almost said White Fang just to see what they would say. So we took her down to the wilds of the duck pond to see if we could instill some kind of wilderness instinct in her. To see if she could hear the call of the wild, to watch the ducks quake in fear as she approaches decked out in her Rambo gear.




As you can see she and the ducks are as mutually bored with each other. Not a quack or a feather out of place. Just a demand for the contents of my bag. Lambi sniffed briefly at the stale bread I was offering the ducks, but then heard the call of the warm apartment and the fresh cinnamon buns. Well, it's a start...

The ducks, on the other hand, seemed to be in exercise mode. A group of young girls were running along the path and the ducks, thinking they may get a good feed, started jogging off after them. I wish I'd thought to film it as it was hilarious watching them all jog happily along the track, keeping pace with each other.




But Madame Lambi hot footed it home as fast as her tiny, mincing steps could carry her. I tried her out the next day as well. There was a light sprinkling of snow on the ground, which did not impress her one bit. She walked under sufferance up to the school and then turned for home as her internal pedometer told her enough was enough. Only to find her path blocked by big, fierce birds, whereupon she insisted on being carried the rest of the way and spending the remainder of the day on the couch recovering.




Day three, the snow was heavier, so she declared herself totally unwilling to venture forth. So much for dog loyalty - she left me to fend off the duck attack all by myself. They seem to beg food from every passerby and there is no way you can try and fob them off with excuses like you are on the Atkins Diet - they don't care about low carbs - they want bread!




I'm only scared that they will figure out where I live and start dropping by for a top up feed. Just as well I have that fierce dog on hand to help me out. Just to be on the safe side, I've threatened her with one of these poodle hair styles if she doesn't start behaving more like a real dog. Somehow I don't think she really cares.