Monday

Yesterday’s missing post? Put it down to Isis. Or maybe it’s all my fault.

After a long, enjoyable walk in Highbury Park, Isis joins Ji. and me in the front room. It faces south and is the sunniest room in the house. From time to time, The Hairy One growls, spins and nibbles at her feet. I guess it’s the brightness which is upsetting her.

During the evening she has spin rage after spin rage. Polymath phones. We must go back to the vet and ask for sedatives, she insists, fighting over the phone to make herself heard against the background of snarling and yapping. I am reluctant, still feeling that time, kindness and gentle, consistent training will win in the end.

But this is something else. Rage after rage. Over a period of several hours. Nothing I do calms her. At ten thirty I pick her up and carry her upstairs. She snarls ferociously all  the way. I place her on the bed and leave her. There are one or two more rages, but they are shorter in duration and less frantic.

She sleeps through the night, asks to go out at seven, returns upstairs and behaves normally.

It is a very long time since she has had an episode as worrying as this.

Several dog owners had told me about an anti-chew spray which can be used to deter dogs from self-harming. I used it yesterday for the third day running and am wondering whether it is the spray which has provoked the attacks. It is clear that Isis hates the smell. I think it is possible that instead of desisting from chewing herself she is determined to remove every trace of the spray.

So far today, only one rage spin. This is her post-eating spin. Post-eating spins have become a new habit. They deserve their own post.

No more spray and we’ll see what happens.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.com