Dog and House Sitting Information (protected post)

• Rita – white female neutered 12 years old. Scared of loud bangs, thunder etc.
• Arko – black and white neutered husky x 10 years old.
• Sooty - black mottled short ears and tail, neutered.
• Sweep – mostly white tortie neutered.

Feed twice a day. Please wait one hour before, or after, a walk until you feed the dogs. Morning time to suit walk time. Evening meal usually given around 17.30. They are on the same food. The open food bag is in the white bin next to the door in the spare room. Measuring jug is in the bag. Top line on jug is Arko and lower line is Rita. Arko has had bloat in the past so we feed him in the blue slow feeder bowl. He is having to have his bowl raised now, there is a foot stool by the feed bins, with a tea towel on it to stop the bowl from slipping off. Place the foot stool beside the desks on the rug, best to do it before you’ve done the food. Rita gets hers in a normal metal bowl on the floor on the rug by the main door to the house.

Arko – The marker is on the measuring jug for dry food. Spread evenly throughout his blue bowl. Add a small spoonful (blue handle spoon) of the tinned wet food (in the fridge door). He is fed on the rug by the tables, don’t forget his foot stool , he will supervise while you make it and then bounce and woo his way to his place.

Rita – The marker is on the measuring jug for dry food. Add a small spoonful of the tinned food. Rita is fed on the rug beside the main house door.

New wet food tins are kept in the cupboard in the spare room where the cat wet food is.

We give them home made icecream every night around 19.30. They are kept in the freezer in the spare room top draw. Keep the tubs as we reuse them, just wash them out. Give Arko the plastic tub ones with more in them, Rita has the old yoghurt pots. Arko destroys the yoghurt pots so he has to have the plastic tubs!

Refresh the water bucket every day, hosepipe in the garden. I keep the water bucket in the porch to keep it out the sun and cool. Arko tends to sleep in the bedroom, Rita usually in the lounge or outside. Cats wherever they go.

Feeding Cats

Feed once a day in the morning. If walking from the house do not feed the cats until you are ready to leave, that way they shouldn’t follow you. Be sure to have the dogs all ready to go, feed the cats and then make a run for it. You can pull the house door to that will slow them down! Some dry food in the red bowl (we decant from the main bag into the orange container on the chester draws where the cats are fed. The main bag of dry food is kept in the white feed bin nearest the chester draws), don’t over fill it, just top it up. A sachet, or tin (depending on what food they are on) of wet food in the little bowl (wet food is kept in the wardrobe beyond the chester draws), you will need to mush the tin food up for them. They are usually around waiting for breakfast but will come if called. They come to their names and to “Kittens”. Just top up the water bowl for them as necessary. When Arko gets his last lot of tablets, around bed time, the cats also get a few treats. There are a few bags of cat treats (Felix) in the same draw and container as the dog medication. Extra bags in the cupboard with wet food. Just pop some on the floor near the wine rack/wood stove area.

There is a ginger tom cat who has decided he wants to come in the house to eat the cat food at night. Close the spare bedroom door at night, Sooty and Sweep are used to this now but are hungry in the morning. The tom cat just comes in and pisses everywhere, so are now closing the door.

Tablets can be found in the draw cupboard next to the fridge 3rd draw from the bottom up. They are in the box at the front of the draw.

Arko – 400mg twic per day. One 100mg Alopurinol tablet twice a day. One 300mg Alopurinol tablet twice a day. ie 400mg twice a day 12hrs apart. To be taken wrapped in a pavo slice, in the fridge (there is unlikely to be sufficient for our time away, so you may have to buy some more (Mercadona), or some cheesy triangles will do. I usually split a slice in half, wrap both tablets in one half and give it him, the other half of pavo I use for Rita. In an evening he also has 3 YuMove tablets, he’s on the extra strength ones. He takes these one at a time from the hand, no need for pavo etc. Morning tablets I give after breakfast. Evening tablets I give before bed.

Rita – Quarter of a Previcox once a day. I give this just before bed when Arko gets his and cats get their treats. Give with half the slice of pavo or with cheesy triangle. I share the triangle between the two dogs so only one is used at a time.

Tell both dogs to be gentle sometimes they can snatch, but mostly they are gentle.

Early is best, less people out walking their dogs. Feed an hour before or after you walk. Take treats with you. I usually give them a couple of pieces each when they get back from a walk and are through the gates. Both dogs are pretty good off lead, friendly with people and other dogs, but best if you see other dogs to get them on a lead in case the other dogs are not good. Rita will chase anything that she thinks moves faster than her, bikes, cars, motorbikes etc and they will chase cats but they don’t hurt them!

The only thing we have to do is avoid a damn German Shepherd that attacked Rita, yesterday it attacked our neighbours little dog. Weekends and holidays are when you will likely bump into it. But the walks I am suggesting for you, you shouldn’t meet it. There are spare walking poles by the front door where the collars and leads are, use as you like. I often take one just in case I need it to keep a dog away but generally, other than the GS, the dogs are fine.

Arko has some boots in case you need them on his feet. They are easy to put on. We are walking him without at the moment and he seems ok. They are a just in case. You will find them in the bottom draw of the chester draws in left container with a blue lid.

The walks are not that interesting for you I am afraid but that’s how it is now, they don’t need long, half hour to an hour is sufficent. Feel free to use the Skoda for the short transport of the dogs. They have their collars put on for walks. When clipping a lead to the collar clip to both D rings. Watch out for grass seeds in the house and on Arko tummy and his feet. He is a magnet for them. He still has sore feet now and then.

I have 6 walk suggestions. Richard has done GPX files for all the walks except walk 6 which you should have done with Clive. You can download the files into the walking app you use. If you take the dogs in the Skoda for walks 1 & 2 both just jump into the back seat, no seat belts required. If you have to take them into town, or out of town or vets etc Rita goes in the boot, and Arko on the back seat with seatbelt. Arko harness is the blue Ezydog harness. Seatbelt attachment is in a clear container 3rd draw down in the chester draws in the spare room beside a dog first aid kit. If Rita needs a harness then there is another blue one, same place as Arko’s but different type of harness. The dogs are good off the lead, mostly, just try to keep them close to you. If you hear a car, get them next to you off the road as much as poss and give treat after it’s passed. It’s generally a quite road so not much traffic, especially in the early mornings. The guardia have started doing random stops at the cannon mirador on the way out of town in direction of Orgiva, suggest you don’t drive that way with dogs in the car.

Walk 1 - Put the dogs in the Skoda, head down the drive, turn left (after tight turn) and then next left heading up hill instead of down to town. Drive up the road until you pass under a bridge (it’s a concrete acequia bridge), park the car out of the way just through the bridge there are a couple of home made signs there, one says caballo blanco, park so that is in front of the car and you are not blocking it. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VoKh2FAZfrf9kJx5A). Out of car follow the dirt track heading up hill. You pass a farm on the right with small barky dogs, no issues there. Carry on down the dirt track/road to where it splits, follow the road round to the left, you then pick up an concrete track, follow that down, it then turns into a dirt track again, follow that until you reach the ermita. From the Ermita head up hill, up the ridgeline that they pylons are on and it brings you back to the area just before the concrete track, retrace your steps back to the car. Just watch out for other people walking dogs, get Rita and Arko on lead quick if you see anyone. Drive slowly up and down that road, people can drive too fast, so best for you to go slow.

Walk 2 - Park in same place as walk 1. Out of the car and head back through the acequia bridge to the road on the right just before the bridge. Follow that along as far as they want to go. Again return the same way. There are some barky labradors along that road, but harmless. Go no further than this corner https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZFdEqDYe8Ci8uMx8 There is a driveway upto the right on this corner. If you go up that a very short way, in the bamboo there is a spring, sometimes it flows just enough for the dogs. It’s a good walk for Arko, he prefers to walk on none complicated ground. They are trying to make friends with a Weimaraner it lives behind some blue gates on the left, just watch out because if the gates are open Rita and Arko go it and Arko doesn’t come back! I have experience haha. The dog is found about 200m further on past the labrador dogs.

Walk 3 - Take the dogs onto our land. Open the gates (cats can come too) head up hill to the metal gates by our fenceline. Open the padlock, (key is on a green keyring called bottom gate kept in the dish on the sideboard behind the small sofa). The dogs can run around and sniff, often they will just sit with you too, happy to just chill out and munch grass. Rita may bog off, but she will come back in around 5 to 10 minutes. She has a circuit she likes to visit.

Walk 4 - Drive down to the pink path, Arko likes to strut his stuff along there. Plenty of places to park where you want. Take poo bags. Both dogs will need to be on the lead as it’s next to the main road. So it’s not the best walk, Arko loves it but Rita loves to run and sniff. A lady from the bar on that path has started to walk her dogs, big one is not friendly, she walks them off lead!!

Walk 5 - Only to be done on Monday to Friday morning (nasty German Shephered is walked that way at weekends, afternoons and holidays). If in doubt give Lina a call. Out of the gates, head up hill to our land, follow the fenceline, when you reach the end of the fenceline the path splits, head up hill (neighbours are a group of young Germans who maybe or maybe not there, they only come for a few weeks a year nice and friendly though and it’s a right of way for neighbours) to the tarmac road. Turn right and follow the tarmac road until it meets the main concrete road, head down the concrete road, put Arko on the lead (or both) when you reach a ruin on the right, further along on the left are some dogs, nasty brown one now lives there. Rita trying to befriend it. To keep some semblance of control on the road I keep Arko on a lead, Rita is better at responding to voice commands. Walk all the way down the road (listen/watch out for cars) until you reach the turn upto our place.

Walk 6 - A walk in the park in town. You should have done this with Clive.

If it’s 27C or above please don’t take them for a walk, it’s my cut off temperature. You can check temperature by looking at this link https://lanjaronweather.com/index.php?theme=dark

Dogs passports are in 3rd draw down of chester draws in spare room.

We use vets in Durcal called Clinica Veterinaria Durcan. They do have an Orgiva practice but we find it easier to go to Durcal. That is the main veterinary hospital. Orgiva is just a call in for an injection or minor stuff type of place.

• Phone number for Durcal – 958780213
• Emergency – 605455089
• Website - https://veterinariadurcan.es/en/home/
• Link to vets - https://maps.app.goo.gl/eVdj3qYXiGyE29YR9
• Link to parking - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2YF4zmS6nqo7Bh5dA

Directions – Head out of Lanjaron as though heading towards Granada. Take first Durcal turn as if going to Mercadona. At the Mercadona roundabout turn left, go under the bridge and follow the road all the way down to the very start of the town, there is a road on your left called Calle Jazmin, take this there is a parking area up there. Walk back to main road and vets is on opposite side of road.

Outside

• If it is windy please but the big bar across the gates, if really windy put both across. The gates can blow inside out without.
• Always put the padlock on gates if you go out.
• The campo gate beyond the pool is not locked but kept closed.
• The gate near the pool terrace steps is unlocked but kept closed.
• The key to the campo gate above the house is kept in the bowl on the sideboard with a green tag on saying bottom gate.
• Dog poop bucket (blue) and dustpan and brush are kept under the trees with the plant pots under them. To get rid of poo, walk to end of the pool terrace, right to the very end and throw into the brambles. It’s abandoned land.
• Arko’s paddling pool. There is a pool net beside the gates to take out any leaves or insects or whatever has blown in. I give it a clean before walking so he has a clean pool to dip into on his return.
• Pegs for hanging washing out are hanging on the shutter of the porch windows. You may need to use Arko’s stool for reaching the washing line, I do haha.

Watering - If you think any of the plants around the yard need watering while I am away, attach the green hosepipe.

Greenhouse – Don’t worry about this, it’s likely to disintergrate further in the wind, but the gardeners will water.

Flowers by pool behind white fencing - Gardeners will water.

The gardeners are going to come and water everything while we are away save you doing it. They may need to access to the yard occasionally, they will come and go through the side gates. I’ll give them your number so they can let you know when they are coming and so you don’t get a fright by strangers in the yard haha. They are called Pam and Zeph, fab couple.

Inside

Tap water is fine to drink, it’s town water and runs through a filter.

No paper down the toilet please, use the bin beside the toilet.

There is no hot water in the bathroom sink. If you need hot water use the bath taps.

The hob and BBQ are gas. The gas bottle to the hob is in the cupboard to the left of the hob.

Dog brushes, should you want them, are in the draw on the left of the cabinet behind the sofa.

Bin bags are kept in the draw of the wooden chester draws on the back wall of the spare room. Big black bin bags are for the kitchen bin. Purple bin bags are for the bathroom bin.

Broom and mop are kept in the porch, should you need it. Or vacuum in cupboard where cat food is kept. Don’t stress to keep the house clean, it’s a campo house, with 4 animals, there is always dust and hair everywhere.

You won’t need the mosquito net now. There is a thicker duvet under the bed if you need it, it’s in underbed storage on the right as you look at the bed, but the one closest to the back wall. Also another thinner one (lime green, lush).

Do not unplug the pellet burner (black cable and plug). See the video of how to use the pellet burner.

Prolonged heavy rain may cause a few leaks to appear, but don’t worry too much about it.

If the electric trips the switches are on the wall beside the door in the house.

When it’s bed time Rita now has her bed in the bedroom too. She likes to spend a few hours in there these days, Khumbu did the same as he got older. Just take the bed that is under the orange bed. Place it the window end of the wardrobe, then that leaves space for Arko in his usual places because god forbid Arko can’t get into his sleepy places!

• Richard phone number :- 651532956
• Kiersten phone number :- 711087136
• Richard Email :- [email protected]
• Kiersten Email :- [email protected]
• Emma phone number :- +44 7449095368 use WhatsApp Richard’s daughter in case any emergency re dogs or us
• Sharon Iacono – 711069795 Sharon and her husband (Bongo) know our dogs well if you need any help or advice from them. They live higher up the hill from us, only 5 minute drive.
• Tracy – 622777882 She often feeds the animals for us, she knows them well. She lives just up the hill. She is on WhatsApp.
• Felipe Nieto – 619778537 Our good friend and fixer. If there is a problem with house/car he will solve it or find someone to solve it.
• Antonio - 625649618 he is our neighbour below. He knows how to fix everything with the house, he built it. Any problems with the electric, solar or water he will sort it.
• Nicola - +44 7770607429 she is a neighbour, just a few minutes walk from here. She said to message her if you want a chat, wine, to go out or whatever.
• Linda - +31 628773325 she has stayed here before. She maybe able to help with the dogs if you need help, just message her.
• Lina - +34 627 54 02 50 she is Spanish. She walks the German Shepherd in a morning.

IMPORTANT When using the Skoda never leave the key in ignition and close the doors, the car will lock itself even with the engine running. Always have the key on you. We don’t have a spare key, well we do but it doesn’t work. The windows sometimes work, sometimes don’t. There is no aircon. The blower for heating/cooling only has two functions, on cool, or on hot, no inbetween. The boot does not stay open at all now, be very careful if using. It takes diesel.

You can use the oven or bbq. Oven is electric.

Full time neighbours who live further up the driveway past our house. Both English, she (Jessica) lives there full time but you are unlikely to see much of her. Her husband (Clive) works in the UK so he comes and goes. They have a small brown and white dog (Tuco), who you may find outside the house occasionally, he’s good friends with our dogs, but don’t let him in the yard if you can help it, he pees on everything.

New neighbours beside and below us are doing building work, so there maybe noise from there at times. I think the new owner is called Dani. If they ask to do any changes, just tell them to wait until we get back.

Other neighbour is Antonio, who you know.

Our driveway can be used by mountain bikers, on a Sunday mostly, coming down the GR7 path which goes past our house and up the ridge line. They come down the driveway too fast and don’t think about cars driving up, just take it steady when driving up as it’s hard to see. All the companies that use it have been told by me to slow down or they will end up over the bonnet of a car!

LIVER CAKE

• 500g livers
• 2 large eggs
• Splash goats milk
• Puree with stick blender
• Mix in 200g flour
• Mix well
• Bake in oven for 25 minutes @ the magical 180 degrees

FROZEN YOGHURT

• Litre of Goats Milk
• 1 Banana
• Tablespoon honey
• Tablespoon Peanut/Nutella etc
• Mix together with stick blender
• Put in plastic (Arko) and old yoghurt pots (half full for Rita)
• Freeze

WiFi password is 24887519