Hi guys. Thanks for all the lovely kind words, I really did feel like the worst muvver ever!!
Harleys doing great, he usually sleeps upstairs with us and last night waited at the stairs, blocking them til I carried him up
He's much calmer now when we re-enter the house, no crazy barking and fussing so we're really fussing him for being calm when we come home - I'm hoping he keeps that up!!!
I think supergirl could be right, he's VERY wary of the gate! When its open he potters about without a care, but when its closed he stays at LEAST a foot away from the gate and its suddenly become a calming influence for him when anyone knocks at the door - providing its shut!!
He's more snuggly than normal which I thought was impossible and is certainly not resisting all the TLC coming his way from family. I've had problems in the past getting tablets down the neck of various cats and dogs we've had so now I don't mess about - and Harley is well chuffed that the vet trip has resulted in a little cocktail sausage twice a day
- What he don't know is inside won't hurt him
though I don't think he'd complain so long as it came in a sausage
I do like the alternatives you guys posted and appreciate the advice offered. Due to the house layout, the stair gate was originally two steps up but we moved it on the advice of the breeder. We have decided to move it back temporarily, at least it makes the gate higher and harder to jump. I've spoken to hubby who used to be a carpenter years ago. As we can't get a standard door for the kitchen hubby is going to make a barn door for that doorway, one high enough for him to be totally unable to jump!!
I feel much better seeing Harley back home and though he may still be sore, as he's opting to take things easy and turning his nose up at walk (unheard of), I do think its mainly heavy bruising and he'll recover. I've even spoke to the breeder who reassured me this and reckons Harley would recover before me
. He also reminded me Harley's a fella and told me to "mind he don't milk it"
Whats cheered me up the most is moving the gate back to its original place and having a plan in place for getting rid of it!!!!
Thank you everyone.
Mel X
