Angus, continued.

I wrote a blog about our bull terrier named Angus a while ago entitled 'Angus, his story.'  Since then Angus has been improving daily.  As I type, he is curled up asleep in his basket, his beloved orange ball near his nose.  During his 'terrible tail time,' this would never have happened.  He hardly slept then because he was fixated with chasing his tail and mutilating it.  Since his tail was amputated, he has been weaned from his anti-epileptic meds and we are in the process of doing the same with his anti-anxiety meds.  Angus likes routine and tells the time exceptionally well. He loves car trips and is wary of the vet, but behaves exceptionally well with him. I think he might instinctively know that the vet gave him another chance at life as a real dog. Up to this point he has not been dog-friendly, but he met a Jack Russell the other day and immediately went into the 'bowing position' which says "Play with me!" in dog language. The Jack Russell was at risk of being flung into the air by an Angus nose under his tummy. We were amazed to see this as the times before play spiralled into aggression very quickly.  He sleeps upstairs with us these days and has his spot at the bottom of the bed.  Before he settles down for the night, he washes Sam, our very large ginger cat.  This causes much disgruntled meowing. Once that task is finished, he bomb drops into his space with a grunt and goes to sleep.  In the early morning, Sam and Angus start gently waking us.  Sam with the patting-paw-in-the-face method and Angus with the nose-nibble method. Needless to say, this becomes more and more insistent as they realise we are pretending to be asleep.  They are both let out only to return for 'snuggle Mum in the bed' time. When I manage to extricate myself and go downstairs, Angus sometimes grabs my dressing gown tie and leads me to wherever my husband happens to be.  We all sit on the couch and watch TV.  Angus like to sprawl across our laps.  Breakfast crumbles eaten, it is time for Angus to bark at the cupboard for his ball. If I am working that day, Angus curls his waggy body around me all the way to the door, maybe to prevent me from going. If I am at home during the day, I have a black and white shadow. I can't even go to the loo without being checked on! Angus is not a great gardener, but he tries. He likes to sniff blooms. We have had some disputes about where the plants should be planted. Angus pulls them out and relocates them. . .  Everytime I come home I am greeted in true bully style, ears back, wagging stumpy tail and quite a lot of boinging!  He knows now that humans need a nice cup of tea when returning from work so he waits, almost patiently, with the occasional woof in case we have forgotten the promised ball game.  Eventually, when the ball emerges from its cupboard hiding place, he gleefully grabs it and rushes outside to roll it in the mud. Once it is suitable anointed, it is presented to either Mum or Dad with a bump. No white clothing in this house! The problem is he won't let it go. We have tried everything! He puts it under the stove and flattens himself so just his rear end protrudes, idiot! We then have to prostrate ourselves on the floor with a long kitchen implement to get the ball out.  The game goes on until "Game over" is announced.  Angus then likes to remind the pigeons nesting on the awning who exactly is boss by barking at them. They perch on the edge looking rather puzzled. He also chats to the staffie nextdoor for a bit. He sniffs at his bowl when he thinks it should be filled and he is always on time. Then it is time to help Dad cook. If he is not sitting on someone's feet, he is near the stove, it is a bit like an obstacle course. While watching TV, Angus likes to snuggle next to me on the couch or chew a hoof filled with peanut butter in his basket. He used to be unable to chew anything because he thought his tail was going to grab his treat and spent his time growling at it. Poor chap! Angus is a very sensitive dog and has displayed this many times. If one of us is upset, he will do his utmost to help by climbing onto the person's lap and pushing his chest hard up against the person. He likes to join in when people are laughing and clowns around doing his springbok leaps (all four legs off the ground) usually with something ridiculous like pliers or the decorative metal warthog in his mouth! Angus has just turned three and I will say this again. I am so glad we found someone who was willing to help us spare his life. He is an absolute character.