Happy Puppies

Every evening when I come home I let the puppies out of their electrified pen and they run out and start chasing each other. 

After their little mad dash for freedom they come back happy but exhausted.

Here is Fred saying thanks for letting us out:

And here is Elsie with her big happy smile saying the same thing.

 I like this picture too. It looks like she's telling Fred what a great chase that was, but Fred looks totally disinterested. LOL

 

Over the past week I've noticed that Elsie has gotten quite chubby. Well, maybe not chubby. But she's filled out and feels a lot weightier. You can now grab hold of her skin on either side of her ribs and get a handful and a bit of fur/skin/fat. Elsie's a Fatty. LOL

I wonder if she's getting enough exercise, or if we are perhaps feeding her a little too much. I've already started reducing her meals. It also makes for our routine to be a little less tortured.

Every night both dogs get fed. Fred gulps his down practically in one gulp, while Elsie eats every. single. piece. of. dry dog food individually. She takes FOREVER. By the time Fred has finished, gone off to do his toileting, come back, had a drink and is ready to come inside Elsie is only just finishing her dinner.

Last night with her reduced meal she finished about the same time, and I think she was a little confused/surprised that she had reached the bottom of her bowl so fast.

Mind you it's probably for the best that she eats slowly. Makes her less likely prone to bloat which is something that hounds are partial to. But gosh it drags out the mealtimes something fierce!

Getting caught unawares by In Your Face Elsie

Elsie is an inquisitive little dog. No matter what you are doing, be it watching television, reading a book, chilling out on the couch, or sleeping in bed, she will come up with her pointy noise and investigate.

She has been known to wake me up with a cold wet nose in my eye/ear/nose/mouth. She has also been known to use her nose to move the covers off me to better investigate.

So it seemed no surprise that she also seems to have a penchant for beer and technology.

Here she is investigating the hubby while he conducts some Important Human Business:

Elsie: mmMMm! Beer!

Of course being a girl, she's an indecisive little thing.

mmMmm! Iphone 4!

 Unfortunately she can have neither.

Oi! Get away from me!

Feeling very forlorn she sets out for something more interesting to do

In  this pic you can see the wolfie in her very clearly:



I love that tuft on the bridge of her nose and the little bearded chin.

 Here she is caught in mid scratch. You're such a dignified little lady, Elsie!

Oh dear, it looks like I've offended her highness again.

She's filling out quite a lot now. Feels a lot more heftier in body and you can see her coat is a lot healthier. Those blonde highlights of hers practically gleam in the sunshine.

Here are some more pics of their new house which is still currently in construction. Fred is busy trying to convince Elsie that Sharing is Caring.

 Elsie is not convinced and they decide to agree to disagree, with Freddie making faces while she's not looking.

In a huff Fred decides to walk away, and Elsie is very satisfied with the outcome.

which of course results in a very sullen and morose Fred

Of course that doesn't mean that they aren't friends anymore. Here is Elsie looking disapprovingly at whatever it is that Fred has found



And later on, catching them when they are spending some quality time together:

First I sneak up on them..

But then I get caught. Fred's not interested but Elsie sure is protective about their privacy!

Elsie: "YES? Is there something you wanted?"

...such a demanding stare.. *mutters*

In which Fred and Elsie go on a doggy playdate

Fred and Elsie went on their first doggy playdate this weekend.  These doggies are the same ones that Fred and Elsie went and visited the morning they both wandered off for four hours in the morning.



Meet Dexter:



 

 and Rascal:





These two are very different dogs from my two sooks. They run around, play with sticks and are qutie vocal in their playing.

It was a pleasure to watch and experience what it must be like to own two very different dogs. I've never thrown a stick to a dog in my life. But Dexter soon sorted me out and very quietly hinted I might want to play with him by dumping a stick at my feet.

Here they are with hubby and their Boss playing with sticks:





Here is Elsie trying to figure out what the "stick throwing game" is all about. She looks so attentive like she's in school!



And if it's stick throwing school then Dexter surely gets an A! Look at that straight Sit!



And that crazed look on his face. I've never seen a puppy so excited about getting a stick!



 There were lots of barking, growling and running involved. Here's Freddie taking a break from his playing. I love how his tongue's just lolling to one side:



And another quiet moment in between play:



I was very excited when I spotted Freddie trying to do a dominance romp. But taking a look at these pictures it looks like he was trying to mount from the wrong end. Does it still count if he's trying to mount another doggy's head as opposed to coming from behind? Or is it just about who's on top?





This picture made me laugh. The sheer wickedness in that smile from Elsie as she romps my way with Freddie busy trying to pretend he's Top Dog in the background is just hilarious!



Here they are later having fun. Dexter looks so sweet grinning up at Fred



And even later, some Boy Bonding Time:



Or maybe they're plotting together to figure out how they can get into the chook pen



Fred: Ok Dex, here's the Plan. I distract my mum while you head on over to the pen, and then I'll lead mum to Elsie and come around from the other side. While she's busy with Elsie we'll be able to make the Biggest Haul! Whaddya say?

Here they are all running together, with my doggies showing what rough play is all about







And this shot is just amazing.

It's a plane!

It's a bird!

NO! It's FLYING ELSIE!



Here are the boys again. They seemed to get on really well together. Interestingly Elsie spent half her time sniffing around the place and chewing on bones, while Fred spent most of his time being chased and romping with Dexter and Rascal.



 No girls allowed, Elsie!



I reckon she preferred it that way. After all, she's a Princess Comfort Hound and doesn't really play with dirty noisy boys anyway.

By the time I'd thought to get my camera out she'd realised that while the boys spent their time playing she could soak up all the human attention without sharing. Sneaky girl!

All in all I'd say it was a very enjoyable playdate for all concerned! Even if Freddie still hasn't figured out the Power Moves for Top Dog.

romping in the grass and other shenanigans

A few weeks ago we finally got around to getting the electric fence put up. This resulted in two dogs who are now terrified of coming out of their dog house. For the first few weeks Elsie would go inside the pen, go straight into the dog house and all you would see of her would be her black nose until you came home in the evening and let them out.

The poor girl refused to pee, drink or play in the pen. I think what happened was that she must've got hit a few times when they were playing since Fred is so rough and she tends to bound along all the time.

We're pretty sure Fred got hit a few times too because the first night we came home when he saw us he was shivering like a leaf!

After the first week, they refused to go in there willingly, and had to be dragged in. Elsie more so than Fred. I must say for a while there I was starting to feel a bit like I was a bad parent. However since I started walking in first, they have now started to get over their fear and follow me into the pen. Little baby steps.

Hubby has also got around to starting on the new dog house, since the original one was only big enough for one dog (i.e. Elsie) and we'd come home every night to Elsie in the dog house and Fred sitting outside it. My only regret is that I didn't take a picture of Elsie in the dog house - I swear all you saw of her when she was in there was her little black button nose!

Here is the new house, with Freddie looking on indifferently wondering where Elsie has gone:



And here are the puppies romping in the grass. You can just see the roof of the original dog house at the back.







It's funny watching them play. Elsie always has such a look of glee on her face as she runs!



Here's one of her in motion:





Here they are later. I love how Elsie looks back at me all cheekily as if to say, "should I go up and scare him from behind?"


And even later, Fred yawning after a long day's work (as you do)



And a cute pic of the girl contemplating what life is like in her new electrified pen.