Wiggle - Day 2,735

Recently we were contacted and asked if we would like to trial and review the Panasonic Smart Home system. I didn’t know a lot about the system but said yes as I was curious and a few days later, a box arrived with various items packed inside.  We had a hub, a camera, a smart plug and two sensors.  I’m not the best with gadgets but when I looked at the quick start guide, the instructions were clear and it all looked really easy!

After plugging the hub into power and following the quick set up guide before long I had connected the hub to my wifi,  The camera was connected as soon as I plugged it into power and I plugged a lamp into the smart plug.  All I needed to do after that was download an app to my iPad (and iPhone if I had one!) and we were good to go.

I’ve had the Smart Home system set up for a week now and I think its great!  I can check on the camera any time to see what Wiggle and Sofy are up to, if they are relaxed and sleeping and with the volume control, I can make sure they aren’t barking.  I like that I can see the temperature in the room which is good as I don't have the central heating on during the day and I don't want them being cold.  I can talk through the system, which is especially confusing for Sofy!  

I always thought that Wiggle and Sofy sleep a lot and with the Smart Home system, I know that they do!

Wiggle likes to follow any sun puddles round the room while Sofy spends most of her time in the armchair.

It's reassuring to know that they are both relaxed and calm while I'm not there and with the Smart Plug I can switch on a lamp when it start to get dark later in the afternoon.  I've been listening in on them but needless to say, with all the sleeping going on, there's not a lot to hear!

Wiggle - Day 2,728

Wiggle likes to spend long stretches of time on his bed but as he is 13, he's bound to sleep more:

So while Wiggle was having a nap this morning, I took Sofy up to the Downs.  For a while now she has been having extra walks as when we walk with Wiggle, we go a lot slower!

Sofy did some sniffing:

But she also felt a little lost without Wiggle:

Sofy soon perked up with some ball games:

From time to time we are contacted and asked to review dog-related products and recently we were sent some Serene-Um tablets:

Wiggle is too laid back to need anything to calm him but Sofy can be hyper at times so she took part in our review.  The tablets arrived before fireworks night so that was a good time to trial them as Sofy got spooked last year when we were coming home from a walk.

Sofy took the recommended dose and although she wasn't any less bouncy when it was food time or dinner time, she was certainly not worried when fireworks were going off.  As fireworks tend to be heard for a few days either side of the 5th, we heard them for several days but Sofy wasn't bothered and even stood outside, watching the sky while fireworks were going off.

If I'm honest, I don't think the Serene-Um Xtra made much difference to Sofy's usual hyper behaviour around dinner time, but I would definitely get some of the tablets ahead of fireworks night next year as she was much more relaxed and that is a good thing for her!

Wiggle - Day 2,721

Today we went up to the Downs, the first time in ages so Wiggle was happy to be out and off the lead:

We've had windy weather so Sofy and Wiggle had flappy ears:

I think Wiggle was happy even though he was looking quite serious:

Since Wiggle can't manage to go so far these days, I had to put him on his lead so that he didn't go further than he could cope with:

I'm not ashamed to admit that I did cry a little, thinking back to when Wiggle could run and run as it breaks my heart to see him getting old but I hugged him and hoped that he was enjoying himself, just at a slower pace:

Wiggle - Day 2,713

Wiggle has had a busy weekend, mostly sleeping in between his walks and meal times.  But sleep is good and he always looks so peaceful:

Today Sofy and I went out but had to leave Wiggle at home.  We arranged a last minute meet-up with Mindy and Cato and Haggis at Virginia Water but the walk would have more than Wiggle could have coped with.  It was good for Sofy to get out and have a run with her friends:

Haggis and Sofy splashed around in the water: 

Sofy walked next to the lake after deciding to stay away from the scary swans on this side of the water:

Cato was super happy to see her BFF:

Sofy and Haggis played ball games:

Clever Haggis carried a leaf with the tennis ball:

Any self respecting Labrador know's how good it feels to get in a muddy puddle:

Fortunately, the mud washed off!

Wiggle - Day 2,706

These days Wiggle is definitely a 'senior'.  His fastest pace is an occasional trot as he is more comfortable walking and he seems to sleep a lot more.  His eyes are cloudy and he doesn't hear very well.  He also has times when he forgets where he is and if he needs to poo, well, he poo's.  But no matter what, I love him to bits and I dread the day I have to say goodbye.

Last weekend I was away in Edinburgh for work so Wiggle and Sofy went and stayed with Lilly and her family but although I know they will be well cared for, I still miss them both so much.

Of all the rescue Labrador's that I've had over the years, Wiggle has been with me the longest.  And while each of Wiggle's predecessor's have been special, there's something extra specially special about Wiggle.