Puppies Go A-Bushwalking

This is one of my favourite shots. We got up on the weekend and it was super misty. I'd let them out for a toilet break and couldn't resist taking the camera out.

I love how she blends in with the landscape, and how yellowy golden the grass is. The grass seed/pods have already started bursting and soon I'm going to have to be vigilant about getting all the seeds out of their coats. 

Here is Elsie in 'hunting' mode:

 Elsie: "I'm off to see the wizard.. the wonderful wizard of oz"

Ok, maybe not.

What has Elsie spotted?

Fred: She was chasing after the Wizard of Oz. I heard her singing it!

   

You're a braver person than I, Fred. That stare could ice continents....

But it's hard to take any dog seriously when they can also do a yawn like that...

Now, now. No need to poke your tongue at me young lady.

 

 Elsie: "Me? Poke moi tongue at you?! Don't be absurd!"

 Elsie: "Ok, on second thoughts, scratch that."

The other day we took the puppies out for an off lead walk. I'm amazed at how high Elsie's tail is. I wonder what she smelt.

Fred trying to slink away to find some hoppity hops:

But we're too smart for him and call him back.

 
By now he's had quite a run/walk/sniff which explains why he's got his tongue lolling out. 

Elsie spots Fred's behaviour and tries to do the same thing.

But again, too slow, and she slinks back to us.

Later that evening as we're all curled up in the house, I look up from what I'm doing to see this: 

 And where's Fred?

 

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaww.....

Elsie The Princess and other such stories

We had a very embarrassing Saturday afternoon. It was bright and sunny and the neighbours suggested we check out the Murrumbateman Field Day. They also said dogs were welcome as long as they were well behaved.

My dogs are always popular when we go out for a trip so I was excited to take them with me.

It ended up being a fairly hot day (even though it was windy and cool at home), and soon after we arrived the dogs started panting something fierce. I'd brought a water bottle along but I'd left the foldable bowl in the car. So I had to make do with bottle squirting in their mouths. Fred lapped it up but Elsie wasn't impressed.

The field day was huge. Probably around 150-200 stallholders? Full of tractors and campervans, plants, cattle, eggs and chickens. A "proper" field day, rather than a trash and treasure market (what I wanted) or a fancy high end craft boutique market. I did check out a lot of the plant stalls though.

At one stage we walked past a plant place and a lady offered Elsie a drink from her big bucket of water. We gratefully accepted and Elsie took a drink. We had a nice little chat, until the lady who was petting Elsie grabbed hold of some of her fur and looked up at me cheekily to say, "what's this?!"

I thought, huh? That's my dog......

And she proceeded to cheekily point out it was fat!!!!

 

I know, Elsie! That's what I was thinking too!

Considering Elsie's build, having less than a handful of fat isn't all that bad, and anyway she was dehydrated!!!

On the whole though we had lots of positive comments, from children pointing the doggies out to their parents, to lots of comments about how big they were. Surprisingly we also got lots of people saying, "that's an Irish Wolfhound isn't it???" And we'd have to modestly reply, "yes, but only a cross!"

If the dogs were after admiration, *this* was the place to go. I tell you, I've never been so popular!

However it was all to go downhill rather fast.

As we left the plant lady and proceeded down the next aisle I noticed Elsie slowing down. Fred up ahead was still pulling on hubby's lead, but Elsie wasn't really intersted.

At another plant stall I was eyeing some tomato plants and Elsie slumped on the ground in the shade. Right next to a little boy who kept on looking over his shoulder at Elsie who was probably at least 1 and a half times his size. I reassured him that we'd be leaving soon, but the little boy didn't look too convinced. I gave Elsie a quick break as I looked around, but we headed out again soon after. I didn't want an irate parent freaking out about Elsie lying so close to his kid.

As I caught up with hubby I mentioned Elsie seemed a bit frail and that perhaps we may want to stop etc. 

Hubby: "Nah, nah, she'll be fine."

Next thing you know I'm walking but the lead is pulling dead weight. I turn around and Elsie has decided she's had enough, and has sprawled herself on the ground in the middle of the aisle. She just lay there looking at me as if to say "that's it. No more. I'm done. We are NOT walking ANYMORE!"No matter how much I tugged or called her she refused to get up. It was a little scary and frustrating at the same time.

Calling out to the hubby was in total vain as he dismissed us and kept walking on. I feebly called out "Ok, well, we'll catch up later then shall we?!" and turned to deal with the Elsie Problem.

It did not help that quite a number of people had watched Elsie chuck this little temper tantrum. A lady across from us offered for us to sit in the shade with her, and another lady and her dog commented that she and her dog had just had a rest. As if to imply that perhaps I hadn't been taking care of my dog....

Look lady, it wasn't my fault that Elsie refused to drink straight out of my water bottle (she kept on moving out of the bottle's reach) and it's not even like she hadn't drunk at all! Not ten mins before she'd been drinking from the plant lady's big water trough!!

Suffice to say I managed to drag her out of the way of foot traffic and she lay down on the grass in the shade for a good fifteen minutes.

I always thought it was children that chucked temper tantrums. Not dogs. 

I was absolutely mortified. I'm not a bad dog owner I swear! Even when we moved into the shade she refused any water I gave her, and every time I dripped water down her head and the back of her neck she just shook it off.

Even when I found a tap and switched it on for her she wasn't interested. She just didn't want to walk.

Brat.

Elsie: "Yeah well, I'm a Princess ok? I require a litter with a little fan boy. Oh and a lovely, comfortable and sunny spot to sunbathe in.  I don't ... Walk."

If any dog was going to collapse I would've thought it would have been Fred, with all his mass. But no, he was still pulling by the end, two hours later. Elsie is *such* a delicate little flower...

We were joking later that perhaps this was the reason why she was let go in the first place? I still stand by the idea that Elsie was in a home to be trained to be a hunting dog. She came to us knowing how to walk on lead, shake hands, sit, and toilet trained. Yet she was also skinny as a rake and stinky.

Elsie: "Me? Stinky? It's called Eau do Elsie thankyouverymuch! I worked *very* hard to get that unique scent!"

Yes, Elsie, we know.
And if we have it our way you'll never need to work that hard again.

So my latest theory is that she would've run with her pack during training to chase after some such thing, and when her Boss came by to see what they had found, would discover Elsie busily sunning herself in a comfortable little grass hollow looking up at him exclaiming "that thing was dirty! I'm not chasing after that! It's much better to sit here and get a tan.." And the owner would've let her go in disgust, after which she would've wandered around scavenging until some kind samaritan found her, picked her up, and dropped her off at the pound.
 

Elsie: "Aren't I just the sweetest?"

Least that's my theory anyway. And I'm sticking to it!

Of course after all that drama at the Field Day, she was absolutely fine when we got home.

Elsie: "I'm so exhausted. No more walking from now on, d'y'hear???"

mmMmm... we'll think about it.

Now with daylight savings kicking in the doggies are getting a walk around the property more often.

Here is Elsie waiting patiently as I stop the walk to take some more piccies of the native orchids we have around the property.

Elsie: "Where are we going, and where are my litter boys?"

She's better on lead than Fred, but Fred's better off lead than Elsie. Go figure.

If you take Elsie off lead she tends to wander off fairly quickly. But if you put her on lead she'll still sniff and do her own thing, but will stay within reach and the lead remains slack.

Fred on the other hand will wander back and forth sniffing but will always stay within reach. If you put him on lead he tends to pull. And I can't always correct him while also keeping an eye on Elsie. It's easier to just let him off lead, and keep Elsie on lead if I want to take pics etc.

After our walk I let the dogs off lead around the house to play around.

I love this one of Elsie's worried face and the way that Fred is pouncing on her. 

And later when she gets caught, check out Elsie's teeth!
 

And here is Fred's wonderfully dopey face!

 

Later Elsie slumps down to rest.

But the sound of my camera perks her up.
  

I tried catching her unawares, and managed a few shots where she looks like she's hunting. That, or trying to plot a cunning plan to Take Over the Household.

 

When she realises I'm onto her, she pretends that she doesn't know what I'm talking about.

 But really, she's got Plans.

Here are some pictures of Elsie around the house:

 

Elsie: "Is it dinner time yet?"

And then in the morning...

Elsie: "Is it breakfast time yet?"

 Some close ups of the puppies' noses:

 

And here is Elsie contemplating her existence:

Elsie: "I'm just not sure where I'm going in life at the moment.
I really don't like the idea of Walking On My Own."

Fred on the other hand seems quite happy:

Fred: "I wonder when dinner is. Or maybe I can get mum to give me a cuddle!"

Here they are best of buds checking the place out. They do practically everything together.

The puppies are great friends, and it's lovely watching them egg each other on. Sometimes Fred can be quite rough though with the play. And I often watch Elsie hesitate to come when called if Fred isn't nearby. A smart move really, because chances are Fred's waiting in the bushes for her to run towards me so he can pounce.

Having said that, Elsie's not perfect either. Every night I still hear squeals coming from the laundry when Fred dares encroach on her side of the dog bed. 

Fred's an absolute saint compared to her. Elsie can be such a whingey bossy boots.

Somehow, I think Fred agrees with me.

Hungry Puppies

Lots of photos today.

The puppies went in for their yearly check up a few weeks back. The vet confirmed what we already suspected. Our dogs are FAT.

Fred needs to lose about 7 kilos and Elsie about 4. We've reduced their food intake and they're a bit shocked at how little is in their bowl. Every night inside is spent scrounging around the living room and Fred has made a thorough deep clean of my carpet.

Here is Elsie looking very concerned at the Vet's Verdict.

Fred also shows his concern over the reduced intake of food. 

The puppies now no longer sleep in our bedroom every night. Instead they've been relegated to the laundry when a few months back we were woken up by the most horrific smell two nights in a row.

Elsie had vomited at the foot of the bed. Let me tell you, nothing will wake you up faster than the smell of regurgitated puppy food...

She may look all innocent in that slumped posture but I assure you it happened. She's a vomiting machine!

Ever since they've been moved she hasn't vomited at night in bed again. Typical.

Perhaps it was just her subtle way of telling us that she wanted her own room?

Elsie: I can't believe you're telling them about my midnight vomiting stories..

Alright, alright then. Let's change the topic.

 A few weeks ago a kind neighbour dropped off some mulch and alpaca poo for my garden. The mulch and poo was mixed up in the trailer, but the doggies have been very kindly offering their services to separate the poo from the mulch. A bit too generous and quick to offer their services if you ask me. I can't even begin to count the amount of times I've had to shoo them away from my poo/mulch pile...

When they aren't eating poo the puppies can still be found eating bones. I think they've managed to collect quite a stash around the place. Here is Fred picking up a specimen near the water tank.

And here is Elsie looking pretty bummed that he's got the bone and she hasn't.

Elsie: "I'm soooo hungry! So weak and hungry.."

No matter what they say though I can already see that Fred's looking better. Here he is looking nice and fit. A fine specimen of a boy!

Now Now Elsie, no need to get worried. We haven't forgotten about you..

Here is Elsie doing her daily neck stretches.

First to the left...

And then to the right..

 

And then just a *little* bit more..

 Fred would join in but he's too busy meditating while chewing on his bone.

 

 Elsie: What?! He's still got that bone?!

 

 Fred: "Yup. Ha. Ha. And there's nothing you can do about it.."

 

 

*gulp*

Now when they're not busy watching each other with an Eagle Eye over bones and poo they're busy keeping an eye on me.

This is Elsie's version:



Funny to see such a big girl curled up into such a small croissant.

Now I would've taken a pic of Fred doing the same thing but he got distracted when he heard hubby walk into the yard.

 He looks very concerned...



 I love how his eyebrow is all raised up!

Here is a great shot of Elsie's reduced collar. I'm still very happy with it. Although sometimes I think that they're not as easy to spot as they could be.



I don't think Elsie cares either way.

Nor does Fred for that matter...



Last weekend I let the puppies out for a bit of a wander while I did some gardening. I happened to look up and spotted Elsie walking off with one of my plastic watering jugs daintily in her mouth. I made a noise to stop her and watched her jump a mile, drop the jug, which then spilled water all over the ground. It was pretty funny. Despite her size and confidence around us she's still quite a jumpy little thing. I don't know if she'd decided to pick up the water jug to chew on or if she simply wanted to drink some water in peace. Either way we'll never know now because she spilled it all when I caught her. I only wish I'd managed to get a photo of her sneaking away with it. She looked so sneaky and prim with it dangling between her teeth.

No matter what though Elsie does tend to push the boundaries when she thinks no one is watching. She still prefers to go to bed earlier rather than later. Some nights I stay up. I have my showers at night, and there's been a few times when I've stepped out of the bathroom to see her sitting near the bathroom door waiting patiently for me. I'm always surprised and praise her for it. Yet one night I happened to peek into the laundry afterwards and noticed that the bed had been disturbed.

So what would have happened was that the minute I went to have my shower Elsie would sneak off into her 'bedroom.' When she hears me finish she immediately hops out and sits near the door (because it's closer than sneaking back to the living room) and pretends that she was there at the bathroom door waiting for me all along.

Sneaky girl...

Elsie: C'mon Boss! Tell it like it really is! They haven't heard MY side of the story. Don't believe her dear readers. She's making it up!



No I'm not. I know what I saw!

Now I'm sure that Elsie probably has a lot more to say, but she's too weak and hungry to say much more.

Elsie: I'm hungry! Too weak to defend myself anymore. Anyone got any food?