dogblog

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Labradors are lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky!!!

Those Labradors are so lucky!! They have had a walk for 3 days in a row. A proper walk on Sunday, a little walk on Monday and then a visit to Aunty Cathy's AND a walk as well. They were very good this time. They didn't sit at the glass door and whine piteously the entire time. They ran about a bit. Peri found the watering system and got a wet head!! They didn't want to play with their toys at all, but they went for a 20 minute walk. Harki was loathe to go even 10 metres without turning around to see if I was coming. She would plonk herself down and wait till I caught up!! It was very funny. Peri was already back in the garden by the time we came round the last corner. At the end they both nipped inside and ran about. That was very bad. It did tire them out though and they went to bed early and slept all the way through until I woke them up way after 7 am. They are tired again as the GardyGardeners have been. They bought the Labradors some bones . They are very lucky!!
This morning they played tug of war with the squeak out of the toy in a little bag. They played for about 30 minutes and had a lovely time!!! What good girls they are!!!

Sunday, March 27, 2005

We're into the Timeslip!!!!!

The Labradors have been very playful of late. I think it is the cooler weather. Yesterday they played chasing games inside and out. The rugs were askew all over the house!! Today we had a walk and they went off into the bush and chased phantoms!!! ACMA sent them some green grapes. They love grapes. I have some dark red,almost black, sweet juicy grapes. harki chose a small grape over a big piece of boiled potato. She is a connoisseur!!! Last night Daylight Saving ended so we had an extra hour of sleep. The Labradors woke up at 7-30 am , which was 6-30 am in DST. They were full of life and it was so light and not so cold as the last few mornings. Harki is insistent of playing with her ball now. Peri is outside hoping for a treat.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Hey There Good Girl Peri!!

On Wednesday the Labradors got a lovely Easter card from the GardyGardeners and Peri was "Good Girl Peri" as opposed to "Peri Naughty". It is sad that she chose that very morning to run away to next door!!!!! Harki had a big bone but Peri was so distraught she had to have a little one. The Labradors are very happy today and they have had a pig's ear each too. They get lots of presents - more than me!!!!

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Short and sweet ( The Labradors are sweeter than sugar!!!)

The Labradors are very please half of the Berlin Wall between the houses has been taken down. Now the stray cat is at the RSPCA they can wag their tails and stick their paws and noses through the fence and have a treat to their little hearts’ content!!! Harki and Peri both slept in until 8 am this morning. We didn’t go for a walk so we must tomorrow.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Greyfriars Jessie.

In the news this week was the story of Jess the dog who stayed beside her dead master for several days. The door was open but she didn't leave him. She tried to protect him from the Emergency services, and although rescued, she will be put to sleep and buried with her master as she is pining too much. Some people have complained that such a faithful dog should not be killed, but she had bonded so closely with her master that she no longer had a pack leader, and refuses to eat or drink. It is the kindest thing to do. Dogs are faithful hounds. Old Yeller is the saddest story and even though it is in my Walt Disney book 'The Wonderful World of Disney : America' ( part of a set of 4 I have had, apparently, since 1965!!!) I can never read it. I am too upset by Yeller's death to be placated by the happy ending.
Harki has been being intelligent this morning. She has been doing the using a tool thing. I stuffed her Kong firmly with a piece of old crust ( nothing but the best!!) and she couldn't reach it with her tongue so she stood up and dropped the Kong on the floor. When that didn't work she sat down and then tossed it hard onto the floor. Crows do this to open shellfish. Peri was fascinated. I think she thought Harki was playing a good game. Harki was able to dislodge the bread and eat it!!!!!
The weather is so much cooler now that the Labradors are playful and alert. They like the cooler autumnal climate. This does not, however, stop either of them from playing in the paddle pool, or Peri from almost totally immersing herself. They are outside playing chasings, Peri has a plastic lid which is apparently the most desired thing in the known Universe today . They rush inside, run about and mess up all the rugs, and then off they go outside again!!! I am glad Peri is a good playmate for Harki.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Riding in cars with dogs.

On Tuesday the Labradors had a walk in the bush and then on Wednesday no walk as the GardyGardeners came. On Thursday I was cleaning the car windows, not anticipating that they would go for a walk, but they were desperate to go. Instead I took them for a little walk to the shop. Harki didn't want to go for a walk, she was sitting looking at the car and wanting to hop in. In the end she decided she would go for a walk, not altogether with bad grace, but she would rather have had a ride in the car. They had a nice ride in the car and a walk today. Harki has found her Kong so she has been playing with that. Peri has taken up a new job, guarding us all from the stray cat. She is very happy at the moment and has been having fun playing with her tin. Peri is very much into the retriever part of Labrador Retriever. She likes to carry things in her mouth and finds joy in it!!! She carries the letters, the paper, an empty tin, anything really. This is a step up from puppydom, where she not only carried things, but chewed them to bits as well. Now if I forget to pick up my shoes and I come home, they are outside and a bit soggy from being carried in her mouth, but NOT chewed!!!!

Monday, March 14, 2005

Take me riding in your car, car!!!

I had forgotten to write about what happened to Peri the other day. They Labradors were off their leads and playing near the car when it was time to go home from our walk, and Harki Good-as-Gold hopped straight in, but Peri was smelling something about 25 metres away and was deliberately ignoring me, so I got into the car and turned the engine on. She was there in twice the speed of sound. It was so funny!!! I wasn't moving the car at all, but she obviously knows when the engine starts we are going. She was worried about being left behind. This morning we walked to the shop for bread and met a man who had a Labrador of his own. The Labradors are very good. I tie them up and say sit and until the man patted them, they sat like angels, all still with a corner of their mouths caught up in their teeth as they waited. On arrival at home there has been almost an hour of throwing the ball for Harki. It was so hot yesterday and will be today that I throw it into the paddle pool a lot. Dr Malcolm said it was good for her to cool down in the pool.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Playing away!!!!

Today the Labradors had their visit to Aunty Cathy and her girls. Did I say they ate half a cake yesterday while I was having my trauma??? So the diet is woeking really well!!!! They started getting excited at 3-30pm when I put on my walking shoes, and then were nervous and skittish, running up and down the stairs and waiting at the gate. Aunty Cathy's girls were both nervous and excited. When it was time to leave the weather had warmed up so it was hot in the car. They panted all the way there and when we arrived Daughter 2 ( henceforth known as D2) looked longingly at them and we gave them a drink but they were too excited. When n we got to the dog exercising are the Labradors were so good. They didn't jump up or run at anyone. We did a lap. Daughter 1 (D1) didn't really like dogs, but D2 ran with them and I gave her the treats and they sat for her. After one lap they were very hot, Peri tried top sit on the seat and then they both panted and dribbled. D1 and D2 walked them to the car. Harki delicately lifted her bowl form the front seat into the back and drank the few scraps of water, she is so clever!!! Then we went to Aunty Cathy's for a cup of tea. The Labradors sat with their noses in the door opening and cried for me to let them in. D1 and D2 tried to play but harki was not interested. Peri made crying sounds, but played with the girls and their dad. D1 and D2 took them for a walk and then finally we came home where they drank litres of water and slept a long time till just an hour ago when they wanted to play again. What a day!!!!!!

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Dogs on the run....

Harki and Peri are very happy today as the GardyGardeners came for morning tes. They watch out the window, standing or sitting on Otto ( the ottoman) and then their tails wag like mad as they jostle for position. Harki usually wins. Then there are Olympic class sprints from the window, around the almost 360 degrees corner to the front door and back again. The rug ends up all crunkled up in the dining room. As an added bonus today the parcel postman came right up the stairs to deliver a parcel. They were ecstatic. Harki saw a more than lifesize TeddyBunny and was not please with it at all, she thought it was a threat and was raising her hackles!!! It has been cooler ,though this has not stopped them from having a swim in the dam, and we have enjoyed the nip in the air. It is getting darker and darker as the days grow shorter and I am not looking forward to the end of daylight saving. The Labradors will be slightly bewildered as they are at each end of the change. This is the best end as there is an hour's sleep to be gained.

Saturday, March 05, 2005

It's raining, on dogs right now, their hair is a mess!!!

It has been raining for about 10 hours non-stop, and it is lovely and cool, so the Labradors when for a walk in the rain and have been laying in the rain!! They like the cooler weather and like to be wet too. Harki chased a kangaroo , albeit 100m away from her, and was in true alert mode. Peri ate something indescribable, ao I won't even try. They had early breakfast after their walk and they are both having a sleep now. The Purina people are sending the labradors a voucher, though I have emailed them to say they didn't have enough room on their form for the whole of the Labradors' names, and they are ignoring Peri!!! I said we would mention them , so we are!!!

Thursday, March 03, 2005

A diet a day keeps the vet growls away!!!

Today we had a swim at the dam. Harki fetched a stick and Peri had big swims. They run down the slope and into the water. There was a man in a small boat and Peri was thinking about swimming out to him, luckily I was able to distract her. We saw a gangly Labrador pup with her dad. Peri was especially good twice and came to have her lead on. Harki is on her diet and seems to be happy and playful. At the moment it is tennis balls and occasionally a piece of a TeddyBunny which is very hard to throw. In a fortnight Harki will have to go to the Vet's to be weighed ( technically to have her mass measured!!0 to see if she has lost or gained. I wonder if it will help if I take her before breakfast??? We have missed a walk this week as I have been quite tired. Today we didn't even leave till after 9 am and tomorrow we will stay at home all day.The Labradors had some grapes as a treat today. They are tasty and they are fruit and they are healthy. Now the Labradors are glad to have some cooked zucchini as a treat!!!