How can it be that our shelter belt ash trees glow more golden than green, that blackbirds gather and fatten on our garden corn before I can claim the ears for personal enjoyment, that this week's flip of August will reveal September's hopes and happenings? I note these autumnal omens only peripherally, for canine commitments have driven my routine and continue to be my focus.
My promised birthday gift to Katrina, honoring her late cocker spaniel, Ash, is matted, framed, and delivered. Katrina provided the photo--taken on a special camping trip that she and Ash shared during her senior year at U. of Puget Sound--and asked that I render it in a blue medium. Katrina visualized the scene in colored pencils; I pictured the moment in watercolors. The finished piece satisfied both of us.
Additionally, Toot and her duo of pups--Dozer and Dot--are on track to share life with us forever.
All three had their 8-week check-up at the animal shelter early this week. Toot received booster shots, and her pups each received preliminary shots, de-wormer, and an identity chip. Dot weighed in at a sinewy 13 pounds, while Dozer crushed the scale at 16 pounds. Their vet appointment, set for mid-September, will squelch any further puppy mill nonsense. In the meantime, Jim and I, both neophytes to puppy rearing, have learned the following:
1. Cucumbers, nicely chilled in the fridge, are the best sort of chew toy. Here's Dot resting with one that she claimed.
My promised birthday gift to Katrina, honoring her late cocker spaniel, Ash, is matted, framed, and delivered. Katrina provided the photo--taken on a special camping trip that she and Ash shared during her senior year at U. of Puget Sound--and asked that I render it in a blue medium. Katrina visualized the scene in colored pencils; I pictured the moment in watercolors. The finished piece satisfied both of us.
Additionally, Toot and her duo of pups--Dozer and Dot--are on track to share life with us forever.
All three had their 8-week check-up at the animal shelter early this week. Toot received booster shots, and her pups each received preliminary shots, de-wormer, and an identity chip. Dot weighed in at a sinewy 13 pounds, while Dozer crushed the scale at 16 pounds. Their vet appointment, set for mid-September, will squelch any further puppy mill nonsense. In the meantime, Jim and I, both neophytes to puppy rearing, have learned the following:
1. Cucumbers, nicely chilled in the fridge, are the best sort of chew toy. Here's Dot resting with one that she claimed.
2. Serious dogs need serious toys. Dot's on the skull while Dozer deals with a cow's leg bone. Both toys arose from an ancient cache that Toot discovered I know not where--certainly not Petco.
3. Barricades and closed doors are essential. Behold Dot resting ever so angelically behind the porcelain throne, shortly before attacking its tempting soft hose.
4. Consummate foodies beget consummate foodies. I have no pics, but Toot's frequent forays to the basement--where we have stored a box of nectarines and a box of peaches--confirm her love of fruit; Dozer stations himself underfoot to catch and devour any cherry tomatoes that roll off the counter during their sorting and washing; windfall apples inspire fierce battles between the pups; as for Fritos . . . they are best dropped on the floor if one values ones fingers.
5. Weaning house pet pups from house pet mum demands more energy than weaning either lambs or calves. Thankfully, both Jim and I are retired from 8 to 5 routines so we can focus on 24/7 canine responsibilities. We hustle puppies outside to tinkle, toilet, tear at each other, tread water in their feed tub wading pool, terrorize low hanging branches, and traumatize our flower beds until they are exhausted and ready to return to their kennel for a nap. In between, Toot is out and about with us. Of course, we could relegate either the pups or mum to a barn, but that would entail hard-hearted self-weaning from the joy of their constant companionship. It ain't a gonna happen!
For now, Dot and Dozer respond to "No", "Out", "Come", and "Kennel up." In the upcoming days, they will experience a collar, a leash, and a few more voice commands. Toot kinks and high-jinks in anticipation of her role in our morning and evening sheep chores. She remains too eager to charge and move the ewes too fast, so when we're trailing out to pasture early and back to the corral at dusk, she must be leashed, but within the constraints of that leash, she sweeps back and forth and moves them effectively. She's not the quick, eager-to-please, strategic thinker that Weed was, but she's devoted, she's trying, she's helpful, and I am grateful to have found her.
5. Weaning house pet pups from house pet mum demands more energy than weaning either lambs or calves. Thankfully, both Jim and I are retired from 8 to 5 routines so we can focus on 24/7 canine responsibilities. We hustle puppies outside to tinkle, toilet, tear at each other, tread water in their feed tub wading pool, terrorize low hanging branches, and traumatize our flower beds until they are exhausted and ready to return to their kennel for a nap. In between, Toot is out and about with us. Of course, we could relegate either the pups or mum to a barn, but that would entail hard-hearted self-weaning from the joy of their constant companionship. It ain't a gonna happen!
For now, Dot and Dozer respond to "No", "Out", "Come", and "Kennel up." In the upcoming days, they will experience a collar, a leash, and a few more voice commands. Toot kinks and high-jinks in anticipation of her role in our morning and evening sheep chores. She remains too eager to charge and move the ewes too fast, so when we're trailing out to pasture early and back to the corral at dusk, she must be leashed, but within the constraints of that leash, she sweeps back and forth and moves them effectively. She's not the quick, eager-to-please, strategic thinker that Weed was, but she's devoted, she's trying, she's helpful, and I am grateful to have found her.
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