If you want trouble ...

Miss Manners

2012-02-15T20:22:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about puppy waitlists and how long people have been on my waitlist and whether some of those people are still wanting a puppy - I guess we'll find out when I have a litter! I came across this article that pretty much sums up a lot about how I think and feel about people who contact me. If you are thinking of contacting me, or another breeder, about getting a purebred dog - not necessarily one of mine and not necessarily a Ridgeback - have a read and take notes because this is pretty darn accurate. I am not a store, I am a person, I love my dogs and you get what you pay for.

Puppy Buyer Ettiquette

Doctor Zhivago

2012-02-12T12:13:00.001-04:00

Yesterday it rained all day. It was the 10th of February and I've never seen rain in the middle of winter before so it was a bit of a marvel. Today we are paying the price for the above zero temperatures of 24 hours ago with what looks like a scene out of Doctor Zhivago with sheet ice covering everything. It took me about 10 minutes to get into my truck today and an additional 20 to clear the quarter inch thick ice off the windows, and that was with the defrost on while the truck warmed up. Once that was done I let the dogs into the backyard so I could take them around the side to load them into the truck and realized the gate latch was encased in ice. I had to shut off the truck to use my key to get back into the house to take them through that way and two at a time load them into the truck out the front door. Once loaded we crept our way to where I've been walking them recently and discovered that the frozen creek is no longer frozen, it's about 6 inches deeper and just has a crust of snow across the top which Esme and Cora discovered the hard way - fortunately Raimi and Leeloo avoided it and saved themselves cold wet feet.

We took ourselves on a more roundabout way to the path I've been following, I think it's actually a deer path, and once the dogs were on more solid ground they had a bit of an explore but seemed to feel a little differently about this walk than those of the past. There was hesitation, caution, and a sense of unease which is unusual for them. I think it was the feel of the ground underneath them and the sounds of the woods were different. Everything, and I mean everything, was covered in ice. I think to the dogs, who have been the to woods countless times, it made somewhere familiar seem almost alien. The ice changed the way things absorb sound, the way the trees move in the wind, the smell of them and the atmosphere was a little unsettling. Leeloo was done about 10 minutes into the walk, as her expression clearly says.

Esme, as ever, is game for whatever. She is the only dog who didn't seem to notice anything different and carried on with gay abandon much as she leads her entire life. You can see the ice on the tree with the droplets frozen where they formed. Every branch, twig, tree, leaf, needle, and pine cone had a coat of ice.

Boy spent a lot of time standing a listening to the strange rattling and rustling the trees made as the wind swept above us. He didn't explore as much as usual and he stayed closer than is normal for him - he likes to be taking point and following his nose but today he kept an eye on me.

Cora, like Esme was in exploration mode most of the time although she also stuck closer than would be normal for her. She keyed off her parents for mood and was not as boisterous as usual although this stick got a good working over. Covered in ice ... just like everything else.

Can you see me? I'm invisible. Fortunately she is not as thin as her mother was at this age or you might not be able to see her behind this sapling!

No stick is safe from these two. Despite the effort it took to get into the truck and the hassle to get the dogs loaded and the shortness of the walk (only about 20 minutes because of the cold), I am still glad I made the effort. It's good for the dogs, it's good for me and since I plan on spending the rest of the day watching TV in bed I won't feel so guilty!

Mansfield Park

2012-02-08T12:28:00.000-04:00

I'm still walking the dogs along the frozen creek these days since it's not on any paths other people use and it allows the dogs lots of exploration in a relatively safe space. I'll keep going there until the creek starts to melt and then I'll walk in the woods until the foliage has grown in so much I can't get through. Plus the bugs are very bad in the trees so that will nullify walking there. In the summer I can take them to the beach which I haven't done in some time since the bridge to get to where the beach is suffered a fatal structural error in that it fell down. A snow plow was crossing it and it's unclear whether the snowplow caused it to fall or if it was just unfortunate timing but I'm just glad I was not crossing the bridge when it happened.

The big plan is to list my house in the Spring and move somewhere I can walk the dogs on my own property. I have a nice backyard now but it's really just a potty space for them. They need room to run and explore and the only safe way to attain that is to buy the land they need. Otherwise I am forever walking them off lead against the County bylaws and I refuse to accept that walking them on leash in the town is a) safe and b) gives them the exercise they need.

It's not safe because I have been responsibly walking them on leash in my neighbourhood and had other people's loose dogs approach and attempt to attack my dogs. I won't have it. I think tethering a dog to your front porch is dangerous, stupid and should be banned. The dog that attempted to attack Esme was tethered, ran toward us, hit the end of the rope and broke it, chased Esme around and around me(she was hysterical) while I attempted to hold back Raimi, all 110lbs of him, from attacking the other dog. In the end I fell, let go of his collar and he lunged at the other dog knocking it to the ground. As soon at it realized who and what had body slammed it, he bolted for home. It was not one of my finer language moments but I was proud of Raimi for only knocking the other dog down and then backing away. He didn't continue to attack and he and the other dog both knew he'd made his point. If it had been Leeloo I think there would have been blood, Leeloo takes no prisoners and I have to be very careful with her - she has turned up the intensity of her protective nature since her first litter and she makes no bones about what she thinks about strange dogs near her 'pack'.

So I will continue to 'break the law' as long as I believe that my town is not safe for me to walk my dogs on leash or until I have at least a half acre to fence and turn into our very own dog park.

Crazy, Stupid Love

2012-02-05T09:33:00.001-04:00

The battle over my chair continues. Until lately it was often a matter of who gets to the chair first; me, Leeloo or Raimi. Sometimes Cora sneaks in but she usually defers the chair to her parents. These days though no one is brooking a retreat and things have escalated to somewhat unusual methods. Normally I'll be seated on the chair, Leeloo will hop over the arm and land behind me and then Raimi would wander around the room thinking about the chair until he finally gave up and settled on the futon. The other day things took a turn in his little brain and the result was part sad and part funny and all Boy.

I swear he fell asleep like this. The expression on Leeloo's face is priceless.

Cold Creek Manor

2012-02-04T09:01:00.001-04:00

We had a pretty good snowfall the other day and I like to walk the dogs in fresh snow since it makes everything look so pretty and clean. I found a nice new spot to take them on a creek that is currently frozen over so it's easy to walk along and the dogs can explore the woods on either side.

I also needed to test out Esme's new suit that finally came. It's extremely well made, possibly better made than some of my own coats. The problem is there were a few errors with its construction that make it almost impossible for Esme to use and although I had her test drive it for this outing, it's not going to work for my purposes. I am keeping the boots because they are awesome and have worked out an agreement with the company's new owner for a replacement coat for Esme in the Spring.

One of Leeloo's favorite things is to race through the woods leaping over fallen logs. I worry a little in the snow because she can't see what's under it but so far none of the dogs has twisted anything in a mad dash through the trees.

Cora is so beautiful. I know I say it a lot but boy do I love this girl. If I could have designed her from scratch, which in a way I sort of did, she is pretty exactly how I wanted her to turn out. So far her parent's size does not seem to be playing into her development and I'm hoping there isn't a crazy growth spurt in her future!

Leeloo and her dusting of snow waiting for a cookie to be popped into her mouth. I discovered the new Milkbone tiny treats and put a few in my pocket for every walk. This means on occasion Leeloo remembers I have cookies and pokes at my pocket insistently until I give one or two or three up to her. Who could resist those eyes?

The Boy seems to be incapable of looking less than impressive and handsome on every walk. You'd think I'd get tired of photos like this but I don't. Whenever I see one like this I am reminded of how much I adore this Boy.

Cora is still so much the puppy. She found a stick and was teasing Esme with it. It's not like there aren't a zillion sticks in the woods for them, THIS stick is THE stick. When you're a puppy, being in charge of something another dog wants is extra important!

On a Clear Winter's Day

2012-01-31T13:56:00.001-04:00

This winter has been marvelous so far - this time last year we'd had at least 4 or 5 blizzards and there was about 3 feet of snow on the ground. We're already at the end of January and winter is about half over as far as snow fall and major cold are concerned. No one here is complaining that's for sure. The last few days the sun has come out and everything is gorgeous, sparkly, clean and pristine. Who better to sully the untouched landscape than my dogs?

Esme is in her 'still not new' coat the replacement for which I think is never actually coming despite all promises to the opposite. She doesn't mind that the legs are raggedy, that there are multiple holes and rips in it and that it's almost no longer fitting over her growing coat. All Esme knows is this coat makes it easier for her to smash through the wilderness.

Leeloo surveys her domain. Seriously, I am pretty sure Leeloo thinks she owns everything and the world is just on loan to the rest of us.

Esme and Cora like to play some smack-down whenever they have a chance. It's pretty cute with Esme and all those cords flying and Cora who is just barely coordinated. The winner is never clear cut.

Cora is finally big enough to wrestle with Leeloo who is not in play mode lately. Maybe she realized it's less fun when your opponent can beat you up back. However Cora still tends to show respect for Leeloo because when when Leeloo thinks you need schooling, she means it.

Obviously running and bouncing and being silly is all part of the great fun of being a dog and these two are no exception.

Raimi gets into the act once in a while and takes Cora on a merry chase through the saplings. Cora is game to keep up but she is going to have to grow a little more to even come close to The Boy's skill at high speed antics.

It doesn't look like Raimi is going very fast in this photo but he is by far the fastest dog I own. Leeloo has a pretty good turn of pace and can out corner The Boy because she's smaller and weighs less but on a straight away this boy can move. People who've been run into by Ridgebacks have had it compared to a line-backer tackle or being hit by a car ... so, I try to keep an eye on them when they turn on the turbo.

Cora doesn't take chase games that seriously, as you can tell. She thinks it's more fun at this age to wrestle but she leaps along in The Boy's wake just the same.

All four dogs did two fly-by's and although I was bracing for impact they missed by quite a large margin. I just know The Boy does this because he thinks it's fun to scare me a little. He keeps an eye on me and has a huge grin as he thunders past. If he ever did run into me I'd probably be writing the blog from a hospital bed.

Big Comfy Couch

2012-01-29T14:59:00.001-04:00

I have a chair that is meant for me and only me. Lately Leeloo has been a bit clingy so she always wants to sit on the chair with me. Actually, everyone is clingy so everyone wants to sit on the chair with me although it's really a chair made only for one bottom. When I got the chair I made sure to mention this to all the animals in the house, not just the dogs. The cats didn't listen and really, no expected them to. You can see the chair demonstrating itself as the perfect size for two cats or one cat and one Tamzin or half a Tamzin and one Leeloo or Cora. Boy tries to sit on it behind me sometimes but I always end up with only about an inch on which to perch and end up having to move.

The other day I sat in my chair and Boy decided it was once again his turn to 'cuddle wif Mommy' and so I obliged. Leeloo stood and stared, moaned and whined and used her incredible powers of observation to note that while Boy was taking up most of the chair, he was leaning against some pillows which did not have a dog on them. She stomped her cute little white toes a moment and then leapt over Boy to land on the pillows. No room left for me, as you can see, but because I love them, and can't bear to make them move, I tossed a throw over Leeloo and grabbed the camera. It says something to the persistence of the dogs in insisting on their own comfort. It also speaks rather loudly to how easily I am played and just how spoiled they really are.

The Brave One

2012-01-27T09:13:00.000-04:00

Now that everyone is out of heat life has returned to normal - as normal as it ever is around here anyway. As I typed the previous sentence Cora was looking out the window and when that got boring she turned away and her bum and tail got caught up in the curtain. I watched as she realized there was 'something' holding her and she grabbed the curtain and started to 'kill' it. I halted that little game in a hurry. Cora likes to 'kill' things - she believes she is very brave for a 7 month old puppy.

I saw a poster once of some Ridgeback puppies which said 'When your job is hunting lions you have to be tough'. And it's true, I'd wager anything that the second Raimi or Leeloo saw a lion (bear, cougar, bobcat, coyote, etc,) they'd be after it with no thought to their own safety. This is not an easy breed to own and anyone thinking of getting one should keep that quote in mind. That said, they are not a 'macho' breed, not in my opinion anyway. They are more elegant than 'macho' breeds like Rotties, pitbulls, mastiffs, etc - they are intended to be that perfect balance between power and elegance and it sets them apart from the stereotypical 'tough guys'. If you've ever seen a Ridgeback in action you'll know what I mean.

However, they are not always brave. There are some things that send them scurrying to hide in the darkest corners, to cling to each other, to tuck their tails and run. One is nail trimming time (although they do tough it out for a cookie reward), another is bath time and the last? The vacuum. I'm not sure where the fear of the vacuum came from except it might have been inherited from Halo. Halo was always scared of the vacuum although nothing bad ever happened to her at its hand. She taught Raimi to be afraid of the vacuum, Raimi taught Leeloo, and they both taught Esme and Cora. Where can you find the Big Brave Ridgebacks and one Puli when I'm busy sucking up all the hair they've distributed throughout my house? Why, hiding on the bed of course.

Wild Child

2012-01-24T22:33:00.001-04:00

Cora, as I have constantly maintained, is an absolute darling. I love her to bits for so many reasons. One of them is how much she reminds me of her mother. Leeloo had a habit of sitting and lying on The Boy when she was a puppy and he put up with it because he is very patient and let's face it, Leeloo is hard not to love. The apple doesn't fall far and one of the things that Cora does on a routine basis is to lie on top of her parents with no apparent regard for their comfort. All I have to say is payback is your daughter squashing the air out of your lungs. Cora seems to be saying "This mattress is lumpy."

And as for that famous saying that a daughter will always be her Daddy's Little Girl ... Cora knows this to be true. He makes a good pillow too.

Great Balls of Fire

2012-01-18T21:10:00.001-04:00

Having three bitches in the house who are not altered means that multiple times in the year they come into heat. Having one Boy in the house who has testicles means that multiple times throughout the year he loses his mind. I feel very bad for him because he can't help that he is being driven almost mad by his hormones.

Knowing that doesn't really make me much more patient, or tolerant, with him but I do empathize. It's hard to describe the overwhelming, over-powering, single minded drive that a dog experiences when he is exposed to a bitch in heat. I watched an episode of Myth Busters once where they were trying to see what method worked best to get past a guard dog and one of the methods was to distract the (intact) dog with the urine of a bitch in heat. To me that's no gamble, it's a certainty. Dogs have chewed through doors and walls, climbed fences, dug under fences, chewed their way out of crates, damaged themselves and a lot of property in order to get to that girl who smells oh so very good.

Leeloo came into heat and was quickly followed by Esme three days later. This meant that the period of time they made The Boy crazy was extended beyond what would be normal for either one of them individually. As Leeloo was finishing the time during which she smelled the best - ovulation - Esme was just starting. The Boy has been going on almost 10 days of torture, in a crate, behind a door, behind another door, outside alone, inside alone. Crying, crying, crying, howling, barking and generally making the quiet life I like to lead almost impossible. It's hard to relax when there is a dog on the other side of the door who sounds like his very soul is wasting away.

There is one very simple solution to this problem and one which I need to give some thought to over the next few months. Do I want to neuter The Boy? He is a Canadian Champion, he is not likely going to be shown again in Canada much, if at all, and my main consideration is whether I want to try to finish his American Championship. Mostly, how important is it to me to get that title weighed against the angst and torture he must experience every time a girl in the house comes into heat. Cora is due next and frankly, there isn't a chance in hell he is going to get a crack at that!

The trade off for losing his testicles will mean that the house will not erupt into utter mayhem every six to eight months. Listening to him right now in my bedroom, pacing behind the door, whining, occasionally digging, and generally fussing almost non-stop, makes it seem a small price to pay.

La Vita e Bella

2012-01-16T17:14:00.000-04:00

Sometimes life throws you for a loop and the best thing to do is just roll with it. Just before Christmas I was thinking about all the things I wanted to do in the next year; have a litter of puppies, sell the house and buy something bigger (for the dogs, duh ... who else?), go to shows in places I hadn't been to yet, start to show in the US again, take a trip to the Caribbean ... you know, the plan was for a busy year.

Anyway, after excitedly planning my whole year I looked at the calendar and realised that Leeloo was not due in heat until at least the end of March which made the major event of the year, moving, not probable since you should really list in the Spring and also the selection of houses would be greater. With a breeding in March, puppies born in May and not placed until July, it meant that I'd miss the major house listing season. After giving this some thought and reconciling that although it would be nice to have more room for the dogs, it wouldn't be a tragedy to stay put if need be and wait to move until 2013. And for the record, it would take some kind of act of doG for me to list a house while a litter of puppies was growing up in it ... just never happen.

So what did I do? I took a moment with Leeloo just a couple days before Christmas. I sat on the bed next to her, put my arms around her, told her I loved her, hugged her, patted her head, scratched her bum, and whispered in her ear so only she could hear "Leeloo, I know it's a lot to ask but if you could come into heat earlier, we could have the litter, place the puppies and list the house. Then when it sells I can buy a larger house with a big yard for you that I can fence so that you will stay safe (because you know you're naughty sometimes) and you'll have lots of room to run and explore. I want this for you Leeloo." Then I hugged her, kissed her head and that was that. Christmas came and went in a hurry and then suddenly it was a New Year full of hope and promise and all things possible.

Then, Leeloo comes into heat on the second day of January, just because she's Leeloo. She beat Esme into heat by 3 days so I suspect it was more about beating Esme than complying with my wishes but hey, no one here is arguing with it.

Rear Window

2012-01-14T18:57:00.002-04:00

If you've ever been to my house you might have noticed one of the panes of the French door in my livingroom has been removed to allow the cats to go from the front of the house to the back without me needing to open and close the door. Since cats are perpetually on the wrong side of the door this works rather well in the grand scheme. Esme also uses the door because she is small enough and since she can largely be trusted in any area of the house I don't mind her using it. Clearly, Raimi can't get through the door although his head fits nicely.

When I had the puppies I was a little concerned they'd want to climb through but since they were pretty uncoordinated, and there was never anything on the other side of the door they needed to get to, they never tested it. That is, until Cora started using her brain. The first time I found her like this I had visions of having to break the glass and saw through the mullions to get her out but it was simply a case of a gentle, squeezy reverse. Her hips are too wide to get all the way through so she usually just stands there until I come rescue her. This is good because at least she doesn't panic and hurt herself trying to escape and for her parent's stable temperaments I am eternally grateful. What a face on her ...

Since her first foray into the cat hole I've found her like this several times when she has been relegated to the opposite side of the door she believes she should be on. Cora certainly thinks there is a design flaw with the door and that it needs to be rectified immediately. The cats are pretty sure there was nothing wrong with it to begin with except it is now jammed up with Ridgeback puppy.

I'll admit to being a little concerned about her efforts to get through since she is only 7 months old and still has a lot of growing to do. She has now figured out how to reverse on her own for the most part but one day, no doubt, she will attempt to get through but find that the hole has shrunk. I can only hope that when that day comes it is not at the expense of a French door.

Golden Hour

2012-01-09T09:10:00.001-04:00

It's common knowledge, as far as I'm concerned, that the light at the beginning and the end of the day offer the best light for photographing. Since I'm not really a morning person I'm more inclined to take photos at the end of the day. You have to time it carefully because it's quite easy to miss the 'golden hour'. It can make exposures tricky but if you can manage it the fading light can soften the subject, give better highlights, and make silhouettes more striking.

This is The Boy listening to a dog bark across the water. He's always confused by this because he can't see the dog, and can't get to it, but he knows it's there. I like the little glint in his eye and how the light picked up the detail of his puffy coat since it was a bit chilly out there.

Most of my photos are taken by 'planned chance'. When I have my camera I watch for moments that would frame up nicely and I don't often manipulate the dogs into poses. I like them to just being themselves. To me posed photos always look artificial and too often you lose the personality of the dog by making it feel self-conscious. Boy and Leeloo set themselves up nicely against the sun, water, and grass and although in a perfect photo Leeloo would be in front of Boy, I think this one came out quite well. I especially like how the sun outlines each of the dogs but you can still see detail in their faces.

Something about this photo says 'Baby' to me. Cora stopped for a moment to rest her chin on Boy's back. How darling is she with her sandy little nose, big soft ear and sweet brown eyes? Everything about this photo makes me want to squeeze her.

This shot quickly made it to the top of my all time favorites of photos of Leeloo. I'm not sure if it's the abstract nature, that it's a silhouette, or simply that I adore the subject so much, but there is something here that strongly appeals to me. If I were to print it I'd clean up the lens flares a little but otherwise it's just as it should be, as is Leeloo.

Sunset Beach

2012-01-06T21:02:00.000-04:00

I was sifting through the many photos stockpiled on my computer (which really need to make their way to an external hard drive) and remembered that I took about 300 photos in one outing with the dogs and only some of them have made it to the blog. It was just coming on sunset and we were at the beach on a rather brisk day but the dogs found ways to stay warm. There's Leeloo demonstrating that Fast Leeloo is fast.

The only dog who doesn't need to run around to warm up is Esme but she insists on doing about 3 times the distance of the Ridgebacks despite her size. She doesn't have any trouble keeping up with Boy anyway.

She tries to herd the Ridgebacks because she is a herding breed but they don't make very good sheep. Boy loves running in the sand, it's one of his very favorite places to run at high speed. As long as you are not behind him eating sand, or have a natural screen of Puli hair protecting your eyes, it's a thing of beauty to watch.

Lately Leeloo has discovered that Cora has become the right size for wrestling. Her days of unequivocally beating Cora into the earth are coming to an end. I am certain this is good news for both Cora and Leeloo since Leeloo will be more satisfied with the play and Cora is less likely to get injured.

Then again, there is no accounting for Leeloo's intensity. When she plays she means it and although the scales are becoming a little more balanced, Leeloo is practiced and certainly doesn't play fair.

I suppose it's a good lesson for Cora since life isn't always fair, although I think sometimes Leeloo might put too fine a point on it.

Day One

2012-01-01T23:25:00.002-04:00

It's the first day of 2012 and I am happy to welcome the clean slate of a new year. I headed out yesterday to my friend Donna's where we watched Mary Poppins and Muriel's Wedding, and in doing so we missed the countdown to the New Year. Funny how time marches on whether you are watching an awesome comedy from the early 90's or standing in Times Square watching the ball drop. Either way we welcomed the end of 2011 and look forward to making fresh memories in the future.

The dogs, as always, accompany me everywhere I go. If it wasn't for people who allowed me to bring my crew to their homes I certainly would get out a lot less. I love spending time with my dogs and that's a fact. If I can't take them with me I often experience split attention and in some cases guilt for having left them behind. I don't feel this when I'm at work, because that is necessary, but if I'm not working it means my time is my own and often the choice I make is to spend it with the dogs. Undoubtedly this makes me crazy but I don't mind being crazy if it means the dogs are happy and I am happy. Boy is just happy to keep his feet dry on the asphalt.

The dogs had a lovely romp at Donna's where there is a large landscaped lawn for them to run around and explore. It's bordered by acres and acres of trees which we sometimes venture into but the ground is very wet and the dogs spent enough time getting filthy just in the yard near the house, although the bordering trees got a little attention from Cora who thought bark was not just a noise dogs make.

She also worked on her listening skills to no avail. She doesn't follow commands any better with her ears like this than when they are 'normal'. However, when your Momma is Leeloo 'normal ears' are relative. And yes, this is in fact Cora, not Leeloo - a easy mistake someone made since I too have had to double check a couple times to see who I was yelling at.

There's the Momma - hiding in the trees as usual. Much too busy to stop and pose for me, there might be renegade squirrels afoot and Leeloo is on the case.

And there again is the Boy and his Boobles - inseparable. He takes his ques almost exclusively from Leeloo and if I want to know where he is, I just need to find Leeloo. It's quite rare that he will adventure without her which isn't always good news since Leeloo isn't well known for staying out of trouble.

Neither is Esme. She sticks close though and her trouble is more of the getting dirty and making noise variety. Hopefully, assuming one day her new suit arrives, one of those problems will be rectified. Maybe we'll have her new suit by this time next year because that one is just plain horrid.

And so, despite arriving home to a house with no heat and no internet due to a power outage, 2012 has come in with little to complain about. January 1st is almost over and if the worst to happen is that we spent 3 hours snuggled on the bed under layers and layers of down comforters while I read a good book and didn't have to vacuum we'll be very lucky. Let's see what else 2012 can throw at us ... chances are it's nothing a little down, a good book and the company of adoring dogs can't fix.

New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

It's the last day of 2011, in case you haven't been keeping track. I won't be sorry to see this year recede in my rear view mirror. Not that I haven't had some great times in 2011, but there have been some things that have marred the past 365 days, enough to make me question what it is I really want to do with the dogs, showing, breeding and the like. The new year will see the end of some things and although endings can be sad, they must occur to allow new beginnings.

This year started out with some pretty exciting plans, mainly the anticipated trip in February to Westminster Kennel Club in New York City. My expectations were simply for Zero to make the first cut and as we all know he managed much more than that. His Best of Breed win at this esteemed show was more thrilling for all that it was totally unexpected.

This experience remains the highlight of 2011 for me since it is among the pinnacles of wins any owner or breeder can achieve in dog showing. It was the highest entry for 2011 and highest breed entry in WKC history and a win I will cherish for my lifetime. No small thanks to Erin for making it possible for Zero to show in New York.

After such a lofty start to the year the following 8 months had a lot to live up to. I have to give them credit for trying! In April Zero made the front page again by winning his Canadian Championship in one Ridgeback Specialty weekend in BC which gave his mother Halo her 8th Champion of Record. Leeloo also obliged by coming into heat and we made Raimi's lifetime by allowing him to have his way with the love of his life.

Then it was time to just sit back and wait to see whether Leeloo would cook up some puppies. In just a few short weeks it was apparent that she had and how. I felt a little sorry for Leeloo when she was at this stage because it was apparent she didn't understand why she was so uncomfortable, why she couldn't curl into a ball, and what was kicking at her insides.

In short order she was relieved of the burden of being fat and saddled with the burden of 10 healthy puppies. Fortunately she seemed to grasp this task far better than being pregnant and breezed through the care of her litter with hardly raising an eyebrow. Her favorite part was being fed almost 8 cups a day for a couple weeks!

As happens with anything baby they grew up so fast and in the blink of an eye they were almost ready to go home. Before moving to Nova Scotia I was a little concerned about who I would sell puppies to, not knowing the lay of the inquiry-land in these parts, but great homes came up in spades, so much so that I had to disappoint people as there were just not enough puppies. Now that this litter is 6 1/2 months old I am delighted and impressed with the wonderful homes taking care of Leeloo's babies - some are even crazy enough to want another!

Two puppies had to stay for separate reasons and although I was happy to keep them on for their owners, I was more than happy to send them on their way! Zayi was a busy little monster who never tired of getting into trouble and Gotham was a sweet doll who tried very hard not to be naughty.

After a traumatic drive to the airport both puppies were safely on their way and life could return to normal ... as normal as it could be with Cora staying on to annoy her parents every waking second. A more beautiful and sweet Ridgeback baby I have never known and I am grateful every day for her arrival as puppy #10 ... Leeloo sure made me sweat up until then!

I also changed jobs this year and am now working at a great little shop in town where the people are like family, the customers are familiar, although occasionally curmudgeonly, and work is every day a pleasure. My un-ending thanks to my new boss who looked past the fact that I was from 'away' and hired me anyway!

Shortly into the Autumn the American Ridgeback National occurred and Zero once again proved his mettle among hundreds of Ridgebacks from across the continent. He was chosen for an Award of Merit which is a bit like a runner up in a pageant. Zero ends 2011 as the #2 Breed and All Breed Rhodesian Ridgeback and is second only to his half sister (same sire) Fiona. They also share a common ancestor on their dam's side both having the same grandsire Morgan. The top two Ridgebacks in the USA certainly kept it in the family!

The exclamation point on the year was the third breeding in a row of a 3 year old bitch from my second litter and the "Screw you" of it all pretty much sums up 2011. Not a tragedy but certainly not what I had hoped for little Light Wheaton Girl when I sold her. I can only hope that she comes through safely and is finally spayed before the end of 2012 - that is my wish as her breeder.

Today the year comes to a close and I look back at this entry and see that besides the above paragraph - which I could have done nothing about anyway - the year appears to have been a resounding success. As I wrote I made some selective omissions and maybe one day, when I'm far removed from the circumstances, I can put into words why 2011 won't necessarily be looked upon with resounding favour. For now though there is hope and expectation for 2012, big plans are in the works and I am excited to turn the calendar over to the blank days that stretch ahead. I hope that along the way you might stop in to see how we are faring and to share in some of our adventures. Best wishes to all in the New Year and I hope it holds as much promise for you as I hope it does for me and my 'crew'.

Babes in Toyland

2011-12-30T08:48:00.001-04:00

When I went to my parent's house for Christmas I knew there would be Puli puppies there to squee over - they were 4 weeks old which made them the absolute most adorable age for puppies of any breed. This is because they are old enough to be past the boring 'sausage with legs' stage but too young to be destructive and annoying.

The difference with these Puli puppies is that they are not all black, two of them were born a sort of brushed bronze color which is the color their mother was when she was born although she has never produced this color in previous litters. I am most interested in this because these puppies are half-siblings to Esme who will one day produce little Puli babies of her own and maybe, if I wish hard enough, something this color.

It's interesting to see puppies of another breed after having your own litters because of the size difference. Puli puppies at 4 weeks are about the same size as Ridgeback puppies at about 2 weeks although Pulis do not possess the same dense bone and weight that Ridgebacks do so they are a lot lighter and more like wind up toys.

I think their color is just to die for - it makes them so much more interesting than just black. I often wonder what it would be like to have a breed that produces color patterns since Ridgebacks, although different shades of wheaton, are all still basic brown when they are born. Pulis are usually black so to have these little bronzed babies is fascinating. The wise little owl pattern on this puppy is just too adorable for words.

This little group was a cheerful lot who wagged their tails, played happily with each other and gave little puppy kisses with no hesitation. They can't see very well so everything is interesting ... even fingers.

The two 'black' puppies weren't even really all black because they had brown hair under their tails and on the front of their legs although they will likely be black as adults. Even the bronze puppies will likely just get darker and darker until they are a faded black as is their mother.

That little brown bottom is far too cute to be legal. She was busy digging up the towel from the corner so she could wrestle with it. They were a busy bunch!

That nose certainly invites kisses and I was happy to oblige!

Coast to Coast

2011-12-27T19:33:00.000-04:00

When a person says 'I went tobogganing with my Daddy on Christmas Day' I can imagine it would bring to mind images of a little girl dressed like the Michelin Man and her Daddy carrying her up the hill while pulling the toboggan behind him. Not so this Christmas Day. I had to walk up the hill myself and pull my own sled; however, the Michelin part is about right. Although there are 30 years to separate the ages of my Dad and myself I think it would be hard to guess who had a better time. My mom obliged by taking photos of the day and managed to capture some great shots of not only me, my Dad and the dogs, she also got the view of the water in the background.

The dogs thought it was a strange ritual we were performing and didn't immediately catch on that they needed to get out of the way or they'd get the legs taken out from under them. Esme was almost used as a speed bump on the first run so after that she made a point of sticking pretty far off to the side when we were heading down - she's the little black speck by the treeline.

In Pictou County tobogganing is called 'coasting' and apparently in Newfoundland it's called 'sliding', I have also heard it called sledding. Whatever you call it the process is the same; bolting downhill on flakes of frozen water while sitting on something smooth and flat. Crashing is also part of the 'fun'.

As happened the last time we did this Leeloo thought it was pretty stupid although on Christmas Day she insisted on running next to me for most of the trips down, I think she liked 'holding my eye' while she ran.

I could tell she thought it was silly but she was game for a run every time and never failed to keep close tabs on my progress. Or maybe she just wanted to show off her pretty new pink collar that she got from Santa.

Boy was a little less focused on me and a little more interested in winning the race to the bottom after which he'd tackle me and attempt to mash me into the snow. I think he could probably make himself more useful by pulling us back up the hill ... maybe next year.

My Dad and I had races down the hill and there was a little unsportsmanlike conduct - for one of the races there was a photo finish - this one was my dad by a nose. Cora thought the whole thing was terribly confusing but since she is a puppy she took it all in stride and had a great time.

The top of the hill was a bit of a gong show because the dogs never did seem to figure out that we were preparing to head down hill. They'd cross over and stand on the track waiting for us to do something interesting besides sit in the snow. Raimi was big on giving kisses before the race ...

In all it was a riot and although we were only out for an hour it didn't feel that long. Neither my Dad nor I are young folk so the haul up the hill pretty much determines how long we'll be out. I think a tow rope is in order for next year!

If you ask me that's a pretty nice view to behold as you are screaming down a hill of snow with 3 hundred pounds of dog breathing down your neck. If careening down that hill looks a bit treacherous it's because yes, that's a highway at the end of the driveway and also a stand of trees and beyond that the ocean. I think to get to the ocean is a largely unobtainable goal but both my Dad and I did reach the fence which borders the highway, it's still debatable who got the most distance at the end of the day. Based on ground covered I think the dogs safely beat us all by a long margin even though they weren't sledding.

I have some pretty amazing childhood memories of Christmas with my parents but I think it's just as important to enjoy each other's company as an adult - whether at Christmas or any other time of year. Going 'coasting' with my parents and my dogs for Christmas 2011 ranks pretty high up there as an experience to tuck safely in my memory banks.

The Santa Clause

2011-12-26T18:29:00.001-04:00

We are back from Christmas spent at my parent's house where the food was great, the gifts were awesome and there were some adorable Puli puppies to squee over. Perhaps next year, if all goes according to plan, I will be hosting the Christmas dinner ... must remember to take the batteries out of the smoke detector Christmas morning.

The weather obliged by sending us just enough snow to make it beautiful but not too much to make travel hazardous - I literally drove through a winter wonderland out to Malagash. Christmas Day dawned bright and early for the dogs whose alarm clocks are set for the same time everyday no matter where we are sleeping. I had them out briefly first thing to get the wiggles out and as usual they love visiting their 'grandparents'.

Cora in particular thought this was a thrilling adventure and enjoyed the thrill of deep snow for only the second time in her life. Isn't that the face of a little girl experiencing the wonder of her first Christmas?

Esme demonstrated a sincere need for her wayward body suit by attempting to pick up every snowflake on the property. Thankfully she didn't succeed.

Leeloo didn't much care that it was Christmas morning except that it might mean more food for her.

And Boy was incredibly patient while I took multiple photos of him in front of this tree heavy with snow. He sat patiently even though his boy parts got a little chilled.

There was lots of playing, wrestling, running, and leaping like deer across the fields ... but not too much since in the afternoon we'd planned a tobogganing expedition and they needed to save their strength ... photos of that Christmas day activity in the next day or two!

All About Eve

2011-12-24T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today is a special day for Invictus since it's the day my second litter of puppies was born and it's the day, two years later, that Esme was born. I guess there really is something about Christmas. I welcomed 12 beautiful puppies into the world and they have done nothing but light up the lives of the people who own them. Here's to the Christmas litter from 2007; may your holidays, and birthday, be bright.

And for little Esme, who is currently not speaking to me because I have spent the last 3 days grooming, bathing and trimming her, she is certainly not enjoying the 'special attention'. For her birth date anniversary I got a plush sheep for her to carry around and my apologies to the sheep who started out intending to be a toy for a child but got waylaid when I spotted it in storage at work. It really is a very cute sheep. Cora thought so too. Esme is in the photo, she's the black blob Cora's ear is resting on.

Once I started playing with Esme and the sheep Boy thought he'd like it too so for a while there the sheep almost became dismembered before it had a chance to get a look at its new surroundings. Boy has its head, Esme its middle and Cora has hold of its cute little bottom. In the end the sheep survived the melee and is now resting on the dog bed trying not to be noticed.

Leeloo thinks the fuss is not worth the effort and where is Tamzin with the damn binkie service already? She is surrounded by no fewer than four binkies, none of which are covering her as they ought to be. Once the sheep photography session was over she got her wish and service was restored.

Esme was triumphant in the end with her sheep and she can claim a start to her own little herd. I can say one thing for sure, herding this plush sheep will be a damn sight easier than herding Ridgebacks!

When you are born so close to Christmas it's easy to just combine the two and give only one gift. I don't like to do that; however, through no fault of my own, I do only have the one gift for Esme. She is getting a new body suit which was special ordered and custom made ... in the middle of October. I have yet to see this Wonder Suit although I am assured by the company it was on its way last week. I had rather hoped to have this gift for Esme not only before Christmas, but before the first major snowfall of the season. Since it's Saturday, Christmas Eve and there is 5 inches of snow on the ground, I suppose I must give up on any miracles for this holiday season. Hopefully the sheep will be enough to satisfy the birthday girl although I am eager to get the new suit to keep sand and snow away from the hair of this busy little Puli.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to the babies of Christmas Eve!

Man Up

2011-12-22T22:43:00.000-04:00

As you may have been able to tell I've been slightly PO'ed about a bitch I bred and sold in good faith to a family who has now bred her for the 3rd litter in a row on back to back heats before she is even 4 years old. It's caused quite a stir in the Ridgeback community coast to coast and thankfully, no one is looking to me for answers. Good thing too since I have none. I'd never advise three litters in a row that's for sure. I tried to mentor as best I could and gave it up as a lost cause over a year ago - there is only so much I can do.

When I heard about the possible breeding, as the bitch's breeder, I took the time to send a thoughtful and informed email to the person who owned the potential stud. It was a thinly veiled attempt to get the stud owner to reconsider allowing the breeding since the timing was based on flawed logic (that to skip a heat the bitch would be 5 next breeding and that was too old - it's not by the way) and the bitch didn't need to be bred again so soon. As an added point, the male has been used so extensively that you can't throw a dog cookie in Western Canada without one of his get catching it ('get' are the puppies produced by a male, bitches produce 'progeny'). The stud owner's reply to me was vapid and useless and told me my efforts were wasted. Next I heard the poor gal had been bred.

Let's be honest, it's not just the person who owns a bitch who is responsible for breeding her. The stud owner is a key component and needs to know as much about their dog as possible. They must also ask all the right questions and be able to evaluate the structure, pedigrees, temperament and health of the bitches who approach them. They must be diligent and particular. Added to which, males should be even more carefully scrutinized and managed than the females since they are able to produce many more puppies in their lifetime than a bitch. A good stud manager not only knows who to breed to, but who *not* to breed to and the most important thing they can say is "No" to a bitch's owner. It's a big responsibility to have a dog with testicles in your house, particularly one who is sought after.

In truth I have no objection to the male that was used on my bitch, the point is she has already proven herself and had earned an easy retirement. It's not fair to breed her again and again when she has gone beyond expectations and produced much better than herself. To say that she is a 'great mom' and 'loves her puppies' is just all kinds of horse-hockey - she doesn't have a choice - she HAS to take care of them. Frankly, if she never had another litter in her life she wouldn't care. The stud owner should have looked at the bigger picture and not been seduced by the thought of more 'grand puppies' but she didn't, it was too easy to say yes and disregard the bitch's welfare for one more stud fee.

I was asked if I'd ever offer Raimi as a stud and the answer is no. I'm no stud manager. Having other people's bitches in your house is a big deal. It upsets the dynamic of the house, it's a hassle, you have to be so careful with them ... to my mind it's just not worth it. Plus, Raimi is just not popular stud material. I adore him but as a show dog Raimi is an aquired taste to say the least. I haven't made up my mind about his future but in the end he will likely wind up being The Boy who can sing with a slightly higher octave.

Days Gone By

2011-12-21T15:00:00.000-04:00

As you may have been able to tell the photos from yesterday were taken at the beach. It was just coming on sunset when the light, according to my eye, is the best. Especially if you have golden colored dogs and they are set against a backdrop as serene and peaceful as Caribou Island, Nova Scotia. Or a little black Puli who is finally stopping long enough on walks to pose.

It's not hard to find serenity here. Just drive for 10 minutes and you are exploring deserted beaches, listening to the gentle lap of the high tide and basking in the warm glow of some pretty happy canines. And their behinds. My favorite thing now is to look at Cora's tail and see the little shepherd's crook she inherited from Leeloo ... so cute.

Something was sure interesting to Leeloo in that one spot and long after Cora lost interest Leeloo insisted on staying on to investigate further. Also, it's important for Leeloo to win so to stay after everyone else has left is a minor victory to her ... Leeloo FTW!

Cora spent a lot of time looking for me to make sure I didn't desert her on this little spit of land. She's only been here a couple times before so she was not sure how much exploring was 'safe' to do.

This little piece of land is totally safe for the dogs. I can see them no matter where we are and the entire area is surrounded by water - something the dogs refuse to venture into even when it's 32 degrees Celsius. There are lots of interesting sniffs because several birds and animals make stops here and when it's not blowing a gale it is truly one of the best and safest places to walk them.

Those eyes agree. Even gangly, awkward, bum high and totally out of proportion, Cora is my image of an ideal Ridgeback bitch. I cannot express in words how much I adore this puppy. How could anyone deny those big soft baby browns?

It's thirsty work looking beautiful and exploring the wilds of Nova Scotia. However, Leeloo and Cora quickly discover that the water here is not for drinking, much to their disappointment. Never mind, shortly thereafter we headed home to snuggle on the couch and dream of beaches gone by.

The Shape of Things

2011-12-20T18:14:00.000-04:00

If you are going to breed your bitch on back to back heats (but not three in a row because that seems excessive and possibly motivated by greed in my opinion) perhaps your bitch should look something like this:

You know, in excellent shape and well recovered from the last litter. It's almost as if she never had a litter 6 months ago except for the reminder from the annoying whining Baby Booble on my couch next to me.

Or maybe this one is a better example.

Or perhaps this one.

Leeloo is not a puppy factory. She trusts me to make the right decisions about her life. That's right ... her LIFE. Because having babies is hard damn work and bitches can actually end up with complications and some do die in the process, particularly ones who may have have been overweight their whole lives. I am Leeloo's only advocate and I have to know when to say 'enough'. Sadly, in our material world, people make excuses for their actions at the expense of the only creatures on the planet who trust us without question. May I never be that person and more importantly, may I never put a puppy in that position again.

Tree Mail

2011-12-18T23:39:00.001-04:00

Time for something lighter, it is the Christmas season after all. I have a 4 foot tree which I've put up the past couple years and since I haven't had any young puppies at Christmas in previous years it was relatively safe. The cats don't fuss with it too much and although we've lost a few ornaments to rowdy playtime the tree hasn't suffered too badly in the face of four dogs.

Enter Cora. While the tree hasn't actually hit the floor, no ornaments have yet been broken, and everything seems to be going very smoothly, the tree has been closely inspected by one 6 month old puppy several times. Fortunately the tree has a couple bells as ornaments so I know when it has a puppy browsing it for toy selection. Also, browsing it for cats ... that's Ceilidh thinking the tree is good cover from an inquisitive nose.

There are two ornaments of particular interest to Cora and they are The Grinch and his sidekick Max. They are made of plush material, such as you would find on say ... a dog toy ... and both The Grinch and Max have been delicately tasted. They haven't been removed because each time I caught Cora I gave her a stern warning that they were not for puppy teeth. There's The Grinch up in the top right corner and you can see one of Max's feet by Cora's nose.

So far so good except when it comes to putting anything under the tree. I haven't even tried that since I know it would end in disaster. Bows. Ribbon. Tissue. Crinkly paper. A puppy's curiosity. We know who'd be unwrapping my gifts. That little white marshmallow bobble is actually the top of a Santa hat - where the rest of the hat is ... Cora isn't telling. So ... no gifts under the tree.

I also have a little chicken dressed as a Christmas tree and when you press his wing he dances and plays the Chicken Dance. This is beyond a puppy's wildest dreams of delight. Cora play bowed to it several times, carried it around by its 'star' and attempted to remove its clothing. In the end, as with anything, it got boring and she eventually ignored it but for about 10 minutes it was her entire world. He dances slower and slower each year but he's cute so as long as he remains unscathed he'll keep making an annual appearance. Hopefully the worst of the Christmas tree inspections has passed and we can enjoy the holiday season in peace.

Qui tacet consentire videtur (Silence Gives Consent)

2011-12-17T19:10:00.000-04:00

Hard to imagine so soon after deciding that I'm going to my Happy Place with the blog that we have come to a rant. I am not sure how to start this blog, or whether I should even write it. My mom would say even questioning it is a good enough reason not to. She is likely right but when have I ever done the thing I ought against the will of my temperament?

Some schools of thought would have you believe that breeding a bitch requires you to give her a break between litters. Others say that as long as the bitch is healthy, sound and recovers well from the prior litters, you can breed her back to back with no ill effects and some even argue it is better for her and your chances of a successful litter might be greater.

I have done back to back breedings - Halo's first two litters were 9 months apart and used the same sire. She took her time recovering from her second litter of 12 (she was slightly overweight) so I gave her an extended break until her last litter when she was almost 5. I bred Leeloo when she was 2 1/2 and will breed her again right away - that is no secret. It will, however, differ from Halo as Leeloo will never be bred again (unless something happens to beautiful Cora). We will attempt an American Championship and then she will retire to do the things she loves; beat up Cora, snuggle with The Boy, look for squirrels and sleep on the couch under a binkie.

I don't have a problem breeding a bitch back to back as long as the motive is sound.Certainly Halo's second litter was created specifically to produce a dog like Zero and two foundation bitches for separate kennels. So mission accomplished with that back to back.

But what if, allegedly, there was a bitch you sold who allegedly might have been overweight her whole life and that might have allegedly been bred 3 times before she was 4? No excuse fabricated can convince me the reasoning is sound if such an alleged breeding has taken place. So if there is a bitch out there, with my kennel name on her, and you hear she might have a third litter in a row then I have nothing to do with it. I have no say, cut off contact with the owner a long time ago, and I don't condone the alleged breeding of this alleged bitch with Invictus as her prefix.

I am sorry Light Wheaton Girl - I did you wrong. And that is not alleged ... that is fact.

Rocky II

2011-12-15T22:23:00.002-04:00

After my last post I heard from several people about how much they enjoy what I write and I am touched they would take the time to express such sentiments. The overwhelming theme of their comments has also been that I should just write for me and write from the heart. I don't know any other way to do it. I don't answer to anyone for what I put on the blog because it is essentially just my opinions. So what I've decided to do is simply write whatever I want and whenever I want. I have found myself the past couple days thinking 'That would be good for the blog' which means that I obviously still want to express myself via this medium.

Something else stuck in my brain ... there has been a lot of talk of late over the precarious position of purebred dogs in society now. I do understand the outrage over some of the actions of the Canadian Kennel Club and various bylaws, laws and politicking that is going on regarding purebreds vs crossbreds vs animal activists vs animal welfare and I'd love to lambaste various groups along side my fellow purebred dog lovers but ... I'm just not that kind of writer.

I think commentaries done on those issues are best left to people more eloquent in expressing the outrage that I feel but cannot articulate. One blog called Knobnotes said it best - the blog's author Suzi, whom I have known since I was too young to show a dog but just old enough to get lost at a dog show, writes it best about the danger purebred dogs are in. I have opinions along the same lines but my style of writing is not the same as Suzi's editorial expression which is why I'm thinking of writing a fiction novel ... not magazine articles or as a journalist. One particular point she made struck a chord with me though - that there aren't many purebred dog blogs out there compared to general or 'pet' or 'rescue' blogs.

So this is my contribution to the fight to save purebred dogs from extinction. To write about how great they are, why you should own one, and what it's like to deal with a relatively sane purebred dog breeder. I like to think I err on the side of mostly sensible when it comes to my dogs and trust me when I say I have known and hated some of the crazies that Joe Public thinks is the majority. We are not all obsessive, fanatical, control freak, sociopaths ... I promise.

I like to think I give my dogs a normal 'pet dog' life which is interspersed with a dog show now and then and the occasional litter of puppies to keep things interesting. I do normal stuff with them like go for walks, sing to them, let them sleep on the couch, give them treats and yes, take Christmas photos with them. That's baby Cora on the left, then Esme, then Boy and Leeloo. Aren't they beautiful? What will Santa bring them ...?

Where the Heart Is

2011-12-12T10:10:00.001-04:00

Obviously I realize I haven't posted in about 10 days and I apologize to anyone who was looking for updates. This will be my 1086th post since 2007, that's a lot of writing about dogs and the things I do with them. I've posted through the course of 3 litters so far and it's been interesting and fun. Initially I started the blog so that I could keep people who were getting a puppy from the litter up to date without having to send individual emails as the puppies grew, I found with my first litter I got frustrated with my lack of organization so the blog was a shotgun attempt that worked very well. It got a lot of people interested in the process of breeding, how hard it is, how heartbreaking it can be, how frustrating and how rewarding.

Part of me wants to keep the blog going out of some sense of duty to people who are looking for regular updates but at this time I can't promise anything like regularity. I will write when the mood strikes me, or when I have cool photos like the one below, or when something funny or interesting happens.

It's not that I don't have time, it's that my heart isn't in it. I adore the dogs and I love taking photos of them but I feel like I repeat myself a lot from previous posts and have had to censor a lot of late. I do realize on occasion I have said too much but even more often I feel I have not said enough - I'm usually a "tell it like it is" sort of person so to mute my opinions almost seems like a physical pain. In the past few months I've been disappointed by people and as a result have made some decisions about my future in dog breeding. I recently realized that what's most important to me about the dogs is demonstrated in the following photograph. They don't give a rat's ass about all the garbage that comes with dog breeding and showing - they have simple needs that are easy to fulfill. Right now, I want simple.

I'm not going to disband the blog altogether but I am going to post when I feel like I have something to show off or say. I haven't decided whether I will post about the next litter of puppies we might have, or major events - it will depend. So I don't know when my next post will be, could be tomorrow, could be Christmas or the New Year. I realize this will reduce readership but I need to write for me, I never was good at writing for others (too demanding), and so until the next post I've left you with some pretty pictures we took this past couple days. I'm particularly proud of this last one because the movement effect is as cool as the subjects.

The Cat's Meow

2011-12-01T15:38:00.001-04:00

"Stop chasing the cat!" is an often repeated phrase in my house. Usually it applies to Cora who is busy chasing a cat who has teased her into pursuit. You'd think the cats would know by now that if they goad the dogs there are consequences that sometimes end in being tasted by a large puppy. It doesn't seem to matter how many times I say "Don't chase the kitty!" at least one dog falls for the bait and races through the house to attempt to latch onto the furry orange bullet, or in Ceilidh's case, marshmallow.

The cats get watched with interest in almost everything they do that involves movement. Walking across the floor, jumping on a shelf, walking across the TV stand, cleaning themselves on a chair ... it all holds riveting fascination for the dogs. Esme is not immune to the allure of the cat and she attempts to herd them whenever possible. Clearly Esme has never heard the term 'as difficult as herding cats' and even if she did it wouldn't make any difference, she couldn't stop herding if she tried.

I can often stop the dogs with a sharp NO! when I see them eyeballing the cats but sometimes they catch me unaware and the chase is on. Usually this ends in a stand off of "Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!" for the dog and feigned indifference and a little disgust for the cat. There are lots of places for the cats to jump to out of reach so I don't often worry for their safety however once or twice I have caught a certain puppy's jaws wrapped around the back of a cat's neck. Said cat usually looks a little bedraggled and spit-ified but is otherwise unharmed. Whenever I see this activity I say "Don't touch the kitty!" and Cora's expression is always "I was just tasting it" as she walks away a little chagrined. I don't worry too much about actual damage to the cats because one time a 'tasting' got a little too involved and when the cat made a yowling protest Cora let go and leaped backward like she'd been stung. I've never seen a cat scratch a dog and given the resident cats I don't think I ever will - they are just too good natured.

My cats are like the Supreme Dog Tolerant Cats of the Universe. Ceilidh actually behaves much like a dog and both she and Weasley often meet me at the door when I come home. I don't generally like leaving them for a weekend because I know they like my company and miss the activity in the house when we're all gone. Perhaps not so much being 'tasted' but certainly the noise and company. Mallaig is a little more shy and she gets shut away when I'm not home, is less inclined to meet guests at the door and is a little more suspicious of the dog's true 'tasting' intentions. However, she has never raised a paw to a dog, good thing too as she is not declawed. She also likes to 'relax' in unusual places ... like on the drying rack.

Anyone who has visited me can attest to Ceilidh's determination that if you don't like cats you will before you leave or if you do like cats you will hate her by the time you leave. She's like a burr that won't let go. She is extremely insistent about being paid attention to by strangers to the point that she sometimes needs to be shut away because when people come to my house they are often here to see the dogs. It is probably difficult to believe but it's hard to see a Ridgeback through Ceilidh.

Weasley and Boy are kindred spirits. He was born on Boy's first birthday at my brother's house in Calgary and when I saw him at 3 weeks old, even though I already had two orange kitties, I had to have him. He has the most unreal and amazing orange eyes I've ever seen on a cat. He certainly suits his name; he's mischevious, smarter than he acts, a bit dramatic about things, takes a lot of his cues from the girl in his life (Ceilidh), and is Boy's devoted best friend. What's not to love about that face?

Even though he is now 3 1/2 years old he is still very kitten-like and is often the cat responsible for goading the dogs into playtime. As evidenced by this photo from when he was a little kitten, he is certainly the most connected to the dogs - Boy clearly being his dog of choice.

Even if you have a cat that doesn't like dogs they can live in harmony quite easily, my dogs are never loose with the cats when I'm not home so I don't worry about them hurting each other. If there is a chase it's pretty obvious and I try to put a stop to it right away. The chasing is less about attempting to do damage and more about the pursuit of fun but accidents happen so I try to be diligent about supervising. However, woebetide any stray, neighbour or feral cat that gets into my yard or is seen out on a walk, those cats, according to Leeloo, must all DIE. Cora and Boy just want to taste them.

Cover Girl

2011-11-30T09:45:00.001-04:00

I woke up this morning to discover I was lying on my side on about 8 inches of bed. Behind me was a short drop to an uninviting floor and in front of me were three very close Ridgebacks. Boy was up by my head curled into a tight Ridgeball, Leeloo was jammed into the space between me and Cora who was on Leeloo's other side. Everyone was very ... close together. I know this was a result of the blanket falling off of them in the night and in an effort to stay as warm as possible they all migrate toward me and each other. If the blanket is over them they are inclined to allow me a little more space.

Normally I'd wake up in the night to put their blanket back on but for whatever reason last night I didn't and they spent a most of the tragic night with no binkie. The only dog who is binkie obsessed is Leeloo to the point where she demands it be placed back over her when it falls off. If we are in the living room and it falls off it is simply a matter of me noticing and replacing it, if I don't notice there will likely be some pointed whining, increasing in urgency and volume until I take action.

At night she used to be quite subtle about the binkie service where she would start to quietly wake me up - it was a sort of half sigh, half wistful whine like 'I wish my binkie was on me' or 'Gosh, I miss my binkie'. The whining would often be integrated into my dream - something like a door creaking or the wind blowing but it sounded like a whine from a dog. Eventually the whining would become so insistent that it would wake me up and I would realize I was not dreaming of the whining, it was actually happening.

Lately though Leeloo has taken a more direct approach to late night binkie emergencies. I'd be fast asleep, usually lying facing the edge of the bed, and would be awakened by Leeloo standing with her nose about 6 inches away from my face and emitting the binkie whine. I would wake up, say "Whuh wid Doodle?" and she would dance on the spot for a moment and whine again. When I sit up, she would race around to the other side of the bed, hop on, lay down in her usual spot (between Boy at the head and Cora and Esme at the foot) in a Ridgeball and make her self ready for the binkie. I would throw the binkie over her, Boy and Cora (Esme gets too hot) and she would, without fail, emit the Happy Leeloo Groan of Satisfaction and fall asleep within seconds.

Sometimes the binkie demands can happen multiple times in a night which means lack of sleep for me. Lately I find that Leeloo has trained me to wake up and check on the binkie situation before it reaches critical mass. I don't mind catering to this strange demand of hers because for some reason that Happy Leeloo Groan of Satisfaction fills my heart every time I hear it and even if it's 3:32am all is forgiven.

White Out

2011-11-27T09:19:00.001-04:00

Right after the storm that we had last week I took the dogs out to get some photos of Cora's first walk in deep snow. The consensus of the dogs is they don't like deep snow because it means they can't run at top speed like maniacs and it's a lot more work to explore the bushes and undergrowth. They do still enjoy it though and one of Leeloo's very favorite things is catching snowballs.

She has perfected the art over the last couple winters and she happily eats the snow she's caught as though it's a treat. She is also very competitive so to catch the balls first is her main objective, to the point of roaring in the face of any dog who dares to try and beat her.

The dog who has the most trouble in the snow is obviously Esme. She does not love snow. She smashes through it as best she can but she would certainly have preferred some snowmobilers had come through before we got to the woods so that she could get around a little more easily. The Ridgebacks to a fine job of mashing down the drifts but she still has some of her own work to do!

Raimi has the longest legs but of the three big dogs he likes the snow the least. He doesn't really want to break trail, he wants to explore the smells of the woods ... hard to do when you are faced with several inches of snow and bits of your body you'd prefer not to get chilled.

Still, they had their moments of racing down the paths, then they'd come racing back. It was nice for me because they flattened some of the snow but it didn't prevent me from getting some into my boots. The soft wet heavy snow on the day we went for this walk is not conducive to staying dry.

Cora certainly enjoyed herself once she got over the change in the landscape. She spent quite a lot of time playing with Leeloo, and Leeloo obliged by wrestling her into snow drifts multiple times. As always they were 'herded' by Esme who is on their heels.

I caught this one of Cora giving her daddy a kiss. For some reason, although it's not perfect, it's a photo that I really like.

This one is pretty neat, they were both sniffing the same scent and had each turned - to me it looks like they are dancing.

Leeloo stopped on our way back to the truck to take one last look at the winter wonderland. In the last few days the snow has all but disappeared with above zero temperatures and the dogs are much happier with the walks!

Still, this is a pretty happy Boy!

And Baby Cora. I love this girl so much I can't even begin to describe it. Those eyes are sure hard to resist and that long pokey nose, giant ears and ready kisses are what makes her annoying puppy habits easy to forgive.

Cold Mountain

2011-11-23T21:13:00.001-04:00

I think I mentioned it was supposed to snow. And how. It started at about 1pm and has continued to snow for the last 8 hours. By the time I got home from work at 3pm it was already a couple inches on the ground. I let the dogs out and although Raimi and Leeloo ran out with no problem, Cora screeched to a halt when she saw the scary white stuff on the deck. It certainly took some convincing to get her to step onto the deck but in the end a little push on her bottom resulted in her very first 'real' snow experience. Once out in the yard it was all excitement and plant chewing for her ... what a little cutie pie!

It's not really cold enough for the snow to stick to the dogs, once it lands it starts to melt but I did get some nice pictures before it became too dark to take any photos. Cora was very hard to photograph because once she committed to the snow experience it was hard to get her to stand still. Leeloo and Raimi were a little more cooperative because they were constantly expecting me to open the back door to let them into the house. These are the "Let me in, it's snowing and cold" faces.

I did get some nice photos of them looking like I wasn't deliberately torturing them. Leeloo perks up if she thinks I have some food for her, otherwise she reverts to the Sad Face as above.

Boy is better about looking handsome and regal in the snow. Personally I think all the wrinkles of concern make him look rather thoughtful. Snow dandruff is so cute and sparkly.

Leeloo managed to convince Cora to play a bit but since Leeloo doesn't care if she is mashing you into soft tufts of grass or cold wet snow, Cora wasn't sure playing should be on the agenda.

Once everyone was suitably cold, wet and tired we headed inside to the warm livingroom, lots of blankets and throws and the space heater kicking out warm air. Cora snuggled down with her Momma and although the storm still rages outside we are safe and warm, as it should be.

The Princess Diaries

2011-11-22T21:37:00.001-04:00

It's supposed to snow a lot in the next day or so and I'm okay with that. A lot of people don't like snow much and although I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's hard to hate something so innocuous. It's just ... there. It won't be our first snow of the season but it's likely to be the first one that sticks around for more than a few hours.

Cora had her first snow a few days ago when it was coming down in lovely great soft flakes and settling on the deck. I opened the door because she asked to go out, she looked out at the falling sky, backed up way into the kitchen and barked her biggest puppy bark to date. I couldn't convince her to go out unless one of the other dogs went first. She's like the royalty who has someone else taste her food to make sure it's not poisoned (only that would SO never happen with food) but with the snow it was to make sure it didn't sting or melt her or something.

Eventually I got Leeloo to go out and Cora happily followed her like "Oh yeah, that's cool, I knew it was nothing. I was just testing you." She didn't appear to notice there was snow on the deck and ground, just that something was coming out of the sky. Leeloo almost rolled her eyes and demanded to be let back in because as we know snow does melt when it lands on a warm body and she didn't appreciate her warm body being Cora's test subject.

I'm sure tomorrow when the snow is thick on the ground Cora will have another moment of horror and then she'll do what all the dogs do with the snow ... love it. For whatever reason snow on the ground is much more acceptable than snow in the air or rain so I look forward to a winter of frolicking and fun with a puppy and her parents and one naughty Puli. Hopefully we won't have the number of snowstorms we had last year (one every week for 6 weeks straight) but even if we do the dogs and I are prepared with warm coats and booties.

Circle of Friends

2011-11-20T18:54:00.001-04:00

Archer came up for a visit so he could get in some RR time which he adores, Cora could play with someone who was not constantly beating her up and all the dogs could get worn out before we tackled the Christmas photo adventure. Through the Pictou County Kennel Club, of which I am a member, Director and Sectretary, we were offering Christmas photos done by a professional photographer. I was suggested as someone who could do the photos for the club but I don't do studio photography and wouldn't be comfortable asking people to pay for something I was pretty sure I could not do as well as a studio photographer could.

So before our photo fiasco I did what I do best and took some candids of the dogs playing to wear them out. Archer is a bit of a card, he has a very hard to suppress joy that can sometimes get him into trouble. He also, for whatever reason, completely, utterly, and totally adores The Boy. It tends to go a little beyond 'Aw cute' and often tips over into the realm of slightly awkward moments. I have so many captions for this photo floating in my head I don't even know where to begin. It's just so ... bizarre. Is he playing "Guess Who?", trying to see down Boy's nose, is Boy a blow up doll, playing Boy like a trumpet ... you decide.

Next to Boy Archer is a bit of a femme. Let's face it, he's kind of girlie in a sweet, Avatar way. Sandra, his Mommy, and her family think he would be a good Avatar. I'm inclined to agree - who wouldn't want to run like that - well, maybe not like *that*.

Nothing gets Archer down really and being chased by Esme is one of the highlights of his visits. She remembers him and chews on his legs, chases and body slams him just like always. It's so great to see good friends remembering each other and enjoying their renewed company.

He reminds me a bit of a carousel horse, just stick a pole through his body and you're set. I can even hear the carnival music.

He was Big Time showing off for Cora who is his little dream girl. She is small enough to play with but not big enough yet to win. Makes a nice change from being beaten up by Leeloo.

Cora likes him too, he doesn't grind her into the dirt like her Mom and he stops to catch his breath and 'stand play' sometimes which Leeloo isn't a fan of - go big or go home is her motto.

Archer looks so different from Boy that I have to remind myself that Archer is actually the more correct Ridgeback. It's lovely to see so much Halo in him, it makes her feel closer. He does have his Daddy Zuli in there though and what I don't see of Halo I know is Zuli for sure.

Archer is thriving in his 'new' home - hard to believe he's been there over a year now. It seems like yesterday that he was in my house and I was worrying about him settling in to someone else's life. Looks like I was worried over nothing since Donnie and Sandra are the greatest parents.

The Christmas photos are yet to come but here's one last one of Archer with his nose to the wind, ears flapping out of control and and eye on the future. A new Ridgeback addition is planned for Archer's life in 2012 and although he won't know what hit him but I bet he loves it.

Pressure Point

2011-11-17T21:34:00.001-04:00

It is said that the outside of a dog is good for the inside of a person. I'm pretty sure this is true for most people, or at least people who appreciate what they have in the dogs that live with them. My dogs do cause me stress sometimes, mostly when they steal enough cat food to make me to worry about bloat, or disappear into the woods for 10 minutes looking for a deer they'll never catch, or stealing Esme's food, or flossing with the laces off an old shoe. These things are minor stresses compared to what they offer me on a daily basis as they breathe through their lives.

I provide the dogs with food, shelter, warmth, a soft bed, the (more than) occasional dog treat, walks everyday, and whatever love I am able to express in my feeble human way. They give back not only everything within their power but more than I will ever deserve.

Earlier tonight I was sitting on my (their) futon surfing the internet and I took a moment to look around. Esme was lying on the floor in one of her usual spots, leaning up against the big comfy chair. Leeloo was in my (her) big comfy chair, impossibly squished into a Ridgeball but owning the space just the same. The Boy on my left was curled into a ball next to me on the futon, touching me just enough so we both knew we were there. Cora on my right stretched her impossibly long legs out as much as they would go and slept the deep slumber of which only a tuckered out 6 month old puppy is capable. Ceilidh, my fat cat, was sleeping on the far chair in one of her newly christened favorite spots and her best bud Weasley was behind my head on the back of the futon with two legs dangling while he dozed.

Aside from the click of the mouse the only sounds came from the deeply contented dogs and cats fast asleep in my livingroom. To say my house is full is an understatement but each animal still gets their fair share of cuddles and attention. Boy could hardly miss my notice since he is rarely more than a few feet away, even when I'm in the bathroom, but his special time is in the morning just before I get out of bed and he soaks up his cuddles. Leeloo offers me her bottom, twists into a C shape and wags her tail so hard it smacks the side of her the face and it only gets worse when I oblige by scratching her bum. Cora is as demanding as any puppy could ever be and expects, and gets, hugs and kisses whenever she looks at me. Esme can hardly be ignored with the barking and carrying on and I always oblige with praise and admiration when she is showing off her latest sock acquisition. The cats hardly need me to come to them since they all attempt to smother me whenever I sit down.

If I have a bad day, which honestly is rare these days, it doesn't take much more than stroking Leeloo's ridiculously soft coat for a few minutes, giving The Boy a hug, getting a little chin nibble from Cora, or appreciating the high pitched reception from Esme who, if she could be beside herself to see me, she would.

So given the amount of stress reducing animals in my house, it will come as no surprise that my blood pressure, on average, is 110 over 70. Breeding and showing dogs can be pretty high stress sometimes but if you take away the nonsense of competition and judgement, you are simply left with dogs who adore you.

Sweet Home Alabama

2011-11-16T20:44:00.001-04:00

Here's one more puppy to update so I think that brings us to 9 recent photos of the puppies. Cash lives in The Valley and is quite a large boy, as a few of them seem to be, but he is all love so that makes it okay. His Daddy Boy is certainly something to live up to if you want adoring and beautiful! Cash looks like he's well on his way. He gets to go visit his Mommy's horse who is beyond gorgeous so one day I'd like to photograph the two of them, for some reason dogs and horses just go together and Cash is no exception. His ears slay me!

He also has an orange vest because here in Nova Scotia it's hunting season. I walk the dogs on town property and have never heard gunshots nearby. However, just because I am within town limits it doesn't mean people won't still hunt there so I really must get orange vests for everyone ... including me!

I love to update the blog with how the puppies are doing since their owners are so proud of them but a recent incident on Facebook (completely unrelated to me but involved people's statuses and comments that I could read) reminded me that I do not need to be in my puppy owner's back pockets. I don't want to hassle people, I don't want anyone to feel they need to update me every moment. I have made my decision to sell someone a dog and after that transaction has ended, the dog is their property. And make no mistake, the dogs are property and you want them to stay that way under the law ... but that is a different subject for a different day.

Still, I am interested in their livelihood, how they are maturing, if their owner has any questions or concerns I am happy to help and I am certainly interested to hear from puppy buyers any time they want to contact me. It helps that of the almost 40 puppies I've sold at least half of them are contacts on Facebook. I don't necessarily use this tool to 'spy' on anyone, it's just a good way to stay current, and sometimes I do sift through photo albums to catch glimpses of my puppies in their everyday lives. I am delighted to spot the dogs in some photos in the background, as the subject, with comments attached, and just living their everyday lives.

Not everyone is on Facebook so I get occasional photos from people via email and that's fine too, it's a slightly more personal way to contact me and I appreciate the effort. Hearing from puppy owners is important but if I don't hear from someone I do not immediately assume the worst. What I assume is that the people who bought the dog are carrying out their daily lives with their dog as part of it and the person who sold them that dog is not part of the daily, weekly, or monthly functioning of that family. Every person who has one of my dogs should not feel me breathing down their neck, they should simply know that I am here if they need me. I have had people only contact me once a year to let me know that the dog is fine, they are doing great and thanks so much for the awesome Ridgeback. There is nothing wrong with that scenario and there is no reason to panic.

I always breathe a sigh of relief after the first year is up because let's face it, the first 12 months of owning a puppy is absolutely the hardest. Particularly a breed like the Ridgeback who can find itself on the wrong side of the law a lot in those formative 'years'! I have been incredibly lucky with my puppies, so far none have been returned, shown up on the doorstep of Rescue, or found themselves in trouble and needing assistance. Given the wonderful people who have given my dogs great homes, I am confident the trend will continue!

Lost

2011-11-15T22:58:00.001-04:00

With the most recent litter of puppies quickly approaching the 24 week mark it's probably a prudent time to remind everyone that Ridgebacks are an independent hunting breed. Although as puppies they might be a little insecure and stick close to you on walks, when they are mature and capable of making bad decisions (such as chasing whatever crosses their path) they will ignore you for the thrill of the hunt. This might take them into the woods and they might get lost for about 10 minutes or so which is enough time for you to imagine about 100 scenarios which result in the worst outcome.

So last Thursday Raimi lost his tags for the third time since we moved here. I'm not sure how or why he does this, chances are it's not deliberate, but the result is the same. He has no identification and worse, he is silent on the move. He had a bear bell, which he also lost but that was some time ago. Leeloo has a bear bell because she is more apt to belt into the woods after some unseen prey and Raimi is more likely to chase her. Since they stay close together chances are where one is, the other is not far away. Esme doesn't need a bell because she always stays very close and Cora is still insecure enough to not venture far. That will change but until then I'll enjoy the illusion that she 'needs' me.

Enter Monday morning. Leeloo was all totted up with tags and bear bell, Raimi was a ninja. We were on the last 5 minutes of the walk which takes us down a path bordered on both sides by large bushes and trees so you can't always see straight down the path. I was just thinking, or rather, talking out loud to myself, about where I was going to get Raimi's 4th replacement name tag and what the town office was going to think of me as I asked for yet another town tag.

Leeloo was about 30 feet ahead of me since she knew we were on the road to the truck when she spotted something cross the path in front of us. I didn't see it because it was beyond a bend in the path but she only moves like that when it's a legitimate animal and not a figment of her imagination. Raimi, who was just in front of me, saw her go, shot up the path and dodged into the bush at an angle to cut off whatever it was Leeloo was chasing. Cora and Esme bounced around in the first twenty feet of bush trying to see where Leeloo and Raimi went but without success.

I started calling Leeloo right away, thinking she would have lost the trail and Raimi would be with her. I could hear her bell jingling so I knew she was still in the immediate vicinity. I put Cora and Esme on lead and kept calling Leeloo who circled a bit but eventually popped out of the bushes and she was then also put on lead. No Raimi.

I called him but there was just silence. Obviously, since he had nothing on his collar. I walked into the bushes a little bit because they cleared just beyond the path and I could see a little further into the area the dogs had run since I was on a bit of a rise. Brown dog in a sea of brown grass, bushes and trees. Marvelous. Cora, Esme and Leeloo bounced around me but didn't make any indication that Raimi was on his way or could be heard approaching. I considered taking them to the truck and coming back to find him but decided to give it some more time before I left him alone in the woods.

The whole time I was calling, "BOY! COME! BOY HERE! RAIMI HERE! RAIMI! COME!" and getting more and more concerned. I mean, how far could he have gotten? In 10 minutes a dog can easily travel several miles and he was out in bush, fields and woods chasing what was probably a deer given how long he'd been gone and how fast he'd have to be travelling.

After a few more minutes I was making up my mind to take the other dogs to the truck when Raimi staggers out of the bushes about 20 feet to my right. I didn't see or hear him prior to that which means he can move very quietly and blends very well indeed. He was exhausted, panting heavily, and his whole underside was soaked with muddy water. I'll never know how far he travelled but for a dog as fit as he is he'd had to have to run full out for a long time to get into that state of exhaustion in just under 10 minutes. The only thing that can run like that is a deer.

Fortunately I still have 4 dogs but it easily could have ended another way. Today I bought not one but two bear bells for both Raimi and Cora. Raimi's new name tag is in the mail and I'll be heading to the town office, yet again, to replace his tags. Not walking them off lead isn't really an option because I don't believe a dog like a Ridgeback gets the mental and physical stimulation needed for a healthy, stable temperament without being allowed to run and explore. Jogging on a road or biking is not the same thing and to me, doesn't offer the same kind of experience. Besides, I don't think there is anything much more satisfying to me than watching my dogs gallop across a field with total abandon ... as long as they come back!

Teach a good recall - and by that I don't mean just to come when called, but also to find you. Raimi and Leeloo look for me with their noses, not their eyes, and if they know to scent me and to trust their noses then they are a long way toward finding me before they even know they're lost. Plus, staying in one spot while calling helps them to zero in on your location, especially if you are in a wooded area since sound can bounce around quite a bit. It's tempting to go looking for them but they will almost always return to where they last saw you because they often follow their own scent back - I have absolutely seen them do this. A dog's sense of direction outstrips a human's by a very large margin, while we are busy walking in circles looking for them, they are waiting at the truck. Also, super glue your dog's tags to its collar and for doG's sake ... buy a bear bell and tape that velcro! And therein endeth the lesson.

Deep Cover

2011-11-13T17:00:00.000-04:00

In case my photos give the impression that my dogs are always outside and active I thought I'd dispel that myth and show some photos of what they do 90% of the time. This breed, well mine anyway, are couch potatoes extraordinaire. Once they have their 30-50 minute walk in the morning, they are ready for the rest of the day's activities. This involves such excitement as lounging, napping, snoozing, sleeping, dozing, resting and relaxing. All this preferably involves a couch or bed but a dog pillow will suffice in a pinch.

There really are dogs in this photo - Cora is on the far right, Boy is on the left and Leeloo, although it may be hard to believe, is in the middle. They all prefer to have a blanket over top of them while they sleep, I'm not sure why but it seems to be a recurring theme with this breed.

Esme doesn't sleep on the couch much, not that there's room, but it's mostly because she gets too hot and prefers to lie on the floor where it's a bit cooler. This is her normal spot at the back corner of the comfy chair.

Leeloo was determined, for many weeks, that my chair was her chair. We had several arguments about who's chair it really was and those arguments sometimes ended with us both sitting in the chair. Given the size of Leeloo it got a bit cramped. However, since the advent of the futon she now prefers the futon because that is where I started sitting. If I sit in the chair for a while she reverts back to wanting to sit in it also. Power struggle? Definitely. It's strange because the chair, when she's in it, doesn't appear particularly comfortable ... but she is determined.

Raimi likes to sleep with his head on something. This can be uncomfortable because his head probably weighs about 20 pounds although Cora doesn't seem to mind being a pillow. He has a habit of needing to turn in a circle about three or four times before lying down which can be annoying in the middle of the night. Cora, being a puppy, will sleep almost anywhere but prefers to be cuddled. Don't we all?

Leeloo is never fully satisfied until she has a binkie over her body, most especially her head. She makes that darling groaning noise of contentment and curls into a tighter Ridgeball when I put the blanket on her. It's very comforting to sit in my livingroom surrounded by peacefully slumbering dogs, to listen to the heavy breathing of their deep sleep and watch the gentle rise and fall of various throws and blankets. To that Leeloo says "As it should be."

Long Distance Relationship

2011-11-12T10:51:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was an unreal day in which about a foot of rain fell, the wind blew down trees and fences (not mine fortunately), my power went out and I was forced to do things other than waste time on the internet. When everything was back online I opened my email to find some really great photos of Gotham and Zayi who I have to say I feel the closest to of all the placed puppies because they stayed so long. I am more than pleased with not only how great they've settled into their homes, particularly Zayi who had to learn a new language, but also how nicely they are maturing.

Gotham didn't have a lot of exposure to children (any) before he left so when Kathryn took him to the park one day and he was confronted with an excited child, he decided they were not worth his time or effort and actively avoided them. Fortunately, he has come around to the idea that they might be fun after all and has possibly even discovered that they taste good (but are not for eating).

Zayi, as I remember her, was what I refer to as a high maintenance dog - she was constantly busy, looking for stuff to do and was invariably the puppy who got into trouble the most. Now apparently she gets to go for long walks on the beach to wear her out and according to her Dad Pierre she is a good girl in the house and spends her time napping on the couch or her dog bed. When he told me she'd get the best of everything he was not kidding! I am really blown away by how beautiful she is becoming, I love her face and I can see that she will be a traffic stopper on the island of St Pierre.

A Family Affair

2011-11-10T13:40:00.001-04:00

Here we continue the updates on the puppies - if you haven't sent me recent photos please do! Franco as he was about 3 weeks ago, he is certainly growing into a handsome and adventurous boy. In this photo he was practising for his role in Children of the Corn. Creepy Franco ... very creepy.

Aw Shelby! She was a little busy bee for Halloween. Her Mom wanted me to be sure that she doesn't dress up her dogs as a habit, just on special occasions. I think it's cute and I wouldn't mind if she had an outfit for every day of the week although I'm sure Shelby would have something to say about that.

Zeppelin is starting to outgrow his crate! This is the same size crate that his mother has so it's obvious that Zep is going to be a big ol' boy. No matter, it just means there is more of him to love!

Growing Pains

2011-11-09T19:24:00.001-04:00

The puppies are just over 5 months old and it's time to update with how they are all doing. Hopefully I can get some more recent photos of each of them but I'll start with the ones I just got in the past few days. They grow so quickly it's hard to believe that they were once little babies I could hold in my hand. Cora is currently taking up about a third of the couch and when she tries to lie on my lap things get a bit crowded! Here she is in all her glory ... choosing a piece of grass to floss with.

These guys seem to spend a lot of time napping. Since they grow the most while they sleep it's no surprise they need frequent snooze breaks. This is Jax in Newfoundland who is certainly turning into a very big boy and following in the footsteps of his Dad. Fortunately this line pretty reliably grows very fast to about 9 months and then spends the next year or so filling out rather than up. Let's hope so otherwise Jax is going to need a bigger couch.

Delta now lives in Halifax where her family moved shortly after adding her to their home. She is obviously no stranger to being totally spoiled and just like a Ridgeback, knows precisely which chair is hers. She gets this from her mother who insists that my chair is her chair and I need to find somewhere else to sit ... just like who's ever chair this used to be!

Hook, Line and Sinker

2011-11-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

I haven't done an 'information' blog in a while, mostly of late it's been pretty pictures and innocuous chat which is fine when I don't want to think too hard. However lately I've been reading some fabulous articles about breeding, discussing some of the finer points with other breeders and making some decisions about what my own program will be doing in the coming months and years. Dog breeding is largely a lot of guess work because the results of a breeding take months and years to become clear. However, you can take a lot of the guessing out of the equation by line breeding.

A lot of people do not understand line breeding. The average person thinks it's in-breeding which in a sense it is because the two dogs being bred are related, closely or otherwise, but line breeding means you are deliberately using the pedigree to your advantage. It is an attempt to set certain traits that should consistently appear in later generations. The idea is to minimize the bad things and accentuate the good. There is a program called the co-efficient of inbreeding which tells us how close, exactly, the dogs are related but that is for another day.

Line breeding sets type. If you look at certain kennels you can see that their dogs, across generations, have a similar look, or type. For another it sets virtues which the breeder wants to keep or faults they can accept as something to be corrected at a later time, probably with an outcross. It also offers consistency - you can quite easily predict how a dog will develop, how big it will be, where in its growth pattern it will hit certain milestones, and what its health and temperament will most likely become. This means linebreeding can make or break your kennel because if you breed the wrong dogs you could end up with faults that are hard to correct.

You can't line breed without knowing your pedigrees so you need to be able to dicuss the dogs behind your breeding stock with the people who bred them. For a person just starting out in the breed, having the support and information of the people you got your dogs from, the studs you've used, and even the dogs behind their dogs, is very important. Without this knowledge you are breeding blind.

And what of the outcross? This is also important because you must introduce new genes. Granted, all purebred dogs in a breed are descendents of the same foundation stock which created the breed but it is assumed that if there are no, or very few, common ancestors within 5 generations on both sides of the pedigree, the breeding is considered an outcross. Usually this is done to correct a fault you know exists in your line, to get something that you need, or to improve health or temperament.

To be able to successfully outcross you must have an understanding of structure and movement, be honest about your line, know where your problems lie, and have a good idea what your line consistently reproduces so that you don't lose the virtues when breeding to an outside source. The safest outcross is a dog that has produced puppies already so you have some idea what you might get. Sometimes outcrosses are a success and sometimes they are not, genetics are always a gamble no matter what geneticists might think!

As I say, linebreeding is important to establish type and offers predictability. The opposite of this is too many outcrosses. If you don't breed back into the line your dog or bitch came from you are taking a big gamble. Let's face it, anyone can throw two dogs together to get puppies! It results in an absolute quagmire of genetics and the resulting puppies will likely be not only unpredictable but also widely variant within the litter. The pedigree will show no clear plan and the DNA will just pick and choose where to go instead of already having an established pattern determined by the line.

What we are aiming for is predicatability but just how long does it take to establish that? Probably about a decade ... at least. People who might have an outcross to an outcross must go back to their line in order to set some sort of consistency in the puppies. You may get some very nice puppies from an outcross but there is little hope they can reliably reproduce their virtues without common genetics that make the resulting puppies predictable. Can you tell I love line-breeding?

After all is said and done though, you can be sure that your dog's genes will sometimes throw you a curve ball and produce a puppy, or puppies, that do not follow the established genetics in your program. In my opinion that's just Mother Nature making things interesting and keeping egos in check!

Mother Dearest

2011-11-03T22:09:00.001-03:00

I blink and it's Thursday. I'm not really sure what happened to Tuesday and Wednesday but they seem have have come and gone without much notice. Yesterday was another beautiful Fall day which we spent out in the fields. These days we tend to worry a little because it's hunting season and although where we walk is within town limits it doesn't mean people can't cross into the town without realizing it. Leeloo looks remarkably like a deer, actually they all blend pretty well, so much so that I have to really keep an eye on them or they disappear into the background.

Leeloo seems to be able to sense that the forest animals are on the move preparing for winter. She is forever jamming her nose into the bushes and standing with her nose atwitch picking up on scents brought to her by a considerate breeze. When she gets the super concentrated look in her eye and makes a beeline in one direction with that nose high in the air I know she's caught whiff of something Interesting and Chaseable.

Fortunately I am often able to distract her and she sets upon Cora as back up prey. Cora is getting bigger every day but she still doesn't have the skill or weight to be able to outrun or out-tackle her mother. At least she looks like she's having fun ... right before the nose plant.

This isn't a very good photo but how cute is Cora? You can't tell but she has hardly any teeth so she is constantly gumming things and wanting to chew on stuff to make her mouth feel better. Daddy Boy licks her sore gums for her but there really isn't anything for it but time. All I can say is thank doG those damn puppy teeth are gone! Then again ... she now has exactly nothing to counter attack Leeloo with.

Fright Night

2011-10-31T21:40:00.003-03:00

It's Halloween and I don't usually get that many little ghosts and ghouls to my door. The sign that says 'Property Guarded by Rhodesian Ridgebacks' with a silhouette of a dog on it probably deters most people. I'm not sure I want people to the door much; the house erupts into total mayhem for about 10 seconds and I have to stop whatever I'm doing to give away candy. Candy! I love candy so to have to give it away stings a little each time there's a knock at the door.

I was a little more in the spirit this year because I grew a perfect Jack o' Lantern sized pumpkin in my backyard and wanted to carve it. I saw something similar online so decided I could do it too. I took an ad for a certain dog I bred and copied it onto paper. Then I cut it out and traced it onto the pumpkin and somewhat carefully carved out the shape. I think it looks very nice although I can see where I'll need to either pay more attention next time or just get better carving tools. It's pretty darn cool that I grew this pumpkin, bred the dog and carved the whole thing myself. Happy Howl-oween everyone!

The Good Year

2011-10-30T14:36:00.001-03:00

It's that time of year ... actually, it's a little later than I've been in the past but better now than never. For the past couple years I have offered a Ridgeback calendar for sale as an addition to a calendar that I print for myself. This calendar has sold well in the past and is usually purchased by people who either have my puppies or just like the photos I take and enjoy looking at gorgeous photos of Ridgebacks in the course of the year.

Most of the photos in the calendar are ones I have posted either here or in my Facebook albums but I don't always post every photo and certainly not everyone has seen every photo I've ever taken. The bonus to this year is the addition of puppy photos since it's the first year of doing the calendar that I've had puppies to add. There were some pretty cute photos of the babies so don't miss your chance to look at them all year in glorious cardstock!

If you are interested in getting a calendar from me please email me at invictushounds gmail.com and make your request. I plan to have the calendars in the mail before Christmas but if you want one as a gift please let me know and I'll try to get it out sooner. As an example of what might appear in the calendar here is one of the Boy taken a few days ago while we were enjoying a sunny Autumn day at the beach.

Shallow Hal

2011-10-27T22:53:00.003-03:00

I have been fighting with Leeloo about her weight for a few weeks now. She is about 4 pounds over what I'd like to see her at and as they say, those last few pounds are the real challenge. I admit I spoiled her for a while after the puppies were born mostly because I just couldn't say no. She has a way.

However, this past couple weeks I've gone concentration camp on her butt and she has finally started to show the result. She's not quite there yet but if we have many more walks like we did a couple days ago it won't take long.

Leeloo likes to do the 'silly run' at least once per walk. Most people who have owned a dog know what the silly run is. They don't need to be chased, they don't need to be encouraged, they just get this crazy look in their eye, assert the silly tail and dash in loops and circles with utter abandon. Leeloo does this when she's trying to get Cora to chase her but once she realized Cora was not big or fast enough to keep up she just started show boating. It was a delight to watch. See the 'silly tail'?

Here she is actually dive bombig Cora who has already collapsed on the ground in a puddle of puppy goo because she knew she was going to get smashed there anyway. Leeloo doesn't care, she does a quick fly-by and is off again on another circuit through the grass.

With a few more days of walks like this and you'd never know Miss Leeloo was ever anything but svelt. Keep up the good work Doodles - you'll be running marathons in no time.

The Tree

2011-10-26T22:28:00.001-03:00

It's so easy to love my dogs. I'm sure that's true for a lot of people but mine are special. It's hard to know when you get a new dog how it will fit into the house and how you will feel about it. It doesn't go without saying that you will automatically bond with or adore a dog when it enters your home, sometimes the bond takes time, sometimes it doesn't happen at all. I put a lot of pressure on Cora from the moment she was born because she was essentially my only option out of this litter - if she didn't turn out the way I wanted I'd have to try again.

Thankfully Cora is easy to love. I'm not sure if it's because in her I see so much of each of her parents, or just because she has the right temperament to suit me. I've never owned both the parents of a litter before, I've never met Raimi or Archer's sire so I have no real idea how much of them is Halo and how much is their dad when it comes to temperament and habits. Every time Cora does something I think, "That is so Raimi" and sometimes it's "That is so Leeloo" and occasionally it's even both.

She is developing into a credit to both dogs and seems to be a balance of their virtues which means they each corrected what the other had wrong with them. To get this in the one puppy I really wanted to keep is a blessing. Then again, I knew Boy would do anything for me if he could.

The one thing I had hoped would be corrected in Cora from Leeloo does not appear to be so. Cora is, after all my prayers to the doGs, developing Leeloo's ears. Well, one ear. Poor Cora - although I guess if you have to choose a fault then ears are pretty low on the list of things that can go wrong. We tried and tried to correct it but the stubborn thing just won't listen ... and for an ear that is some kind of feat. I suspect I'm the only one who will ever notice her wonky ear because some people can't even see it on Leeloo ... or perhaps I just obsess!

This puppy is hard not to love. She is so sweet, gentle, calm, smart and loving it's incredibly difficult not to want to look at her every moment. At night she lays her head on my knee and gazes into my face with her big soft brown eyes and a strange calmness comes over me. Perhaps she is hypnotizing me into believing she is never going to do anything naughty again ... or then again, maybe it's simple adoration.

First Contact

2011-10-25T22:22:00.001-03:00

Last week Cora went to the beach for the first time in her life - actually, it was the first time we've been able to go since before the puppies were born. Not going to the beach all summer when it's about a 10 minute drive away seems strange but it was a rather busy summer for me. Next year I'll be there a lot more!

Apparently to Cora the beach is just like the woods only with fewer trees since she didn't appear to notice anything particularly different ... until we got to the sand. Then it was "Ooooh, what's this?" for about 3 seconds and then she was off playing. Here she is at the start of the walk in the classic Boardwalk pose.

Her parents didn't waste any time re-aquianting themselves with the beach and ran around like maniacs for a few minutes. This shot reminds me of cutting horses skidding after a cow ... then again, Leeloo can be kind of a cow sometimes.

Hanging with Leeloo can also be kind of fun sometimes, especially when she lets you lean on her while she trots down the beach.

Eventually Cora noticed that there was water at the beach. It took her at least 20 minutes to approach the shoreline and her reaction was disinterested at best. It was a totally calm day and there were no waves at all so I suppose the lack of roaring surf didn't exactly make her hair stand on end.

Leeloo was the exploration expert on this walk and mountain goated her way down this cliff with considerable dexterity. I love Raimi's expression, if you can see it, pretty much saying "Watchadoin'?"

I switched up the setting on the camera to black and white just to see what I could get. A Weimeraner is what. Good thing I didn't bring one of those home.

Raimi against the rocks was pretty neat - he was fascinated by watching stones fall from the cliff where Leeloo had dislodged them. I never said he was smart ... only handsome.

A family of three bottoms trailing back toward the truck. It was yet another satisfying, peaceful and beautiful day on the North Shore of Nova Scotia. I think we'll go back one day soon.

Play Niece

2011-10-24T19:39:00.000-03:00

The day after our lure coursing Archer came out to the property again for a walk with Leeloo, Raimi and Cora and he had a great time. He loves to chase and be chased and he especially loves to show off and who better to show off for than a neice like Cora who is uncoordinated and much slower than him. He spent quite a lot of time teasing her ...

She was pretty game though and didn't appear to mind him showboating even when he left her in his dust. He always let her catch up.

Just so he could grind her into the ground again. Despite the pounding Cora took Archer was still nicer to her than her mother ever has been, Cora should be grateful for small mercies.

Leeloo learned that sometimes you get your own back and Archer took care of that nicely. She wasn't very happy he ambushed her and told him so. Fortunately Archer just thought she was playing and not really trying to kill him for biting her bottom ... I suspect Leeloo feels he doesn't take her seriously.

It's all fun and games when you're young, carefree and have a lot of energy to burn. Archer will be so excited to have a little nephew of his own to play with ... maybe next year Archer. Meanwhile, Leeloo and Cora will have to do.

The happy family watching from the woods; brothers, cousins, uncle and niece ... aren't they a picture?

Play On Players

2011-10-23T10:29:00.001-03:00

It has been a lot longer than I intended to space between posts, not that I intended a space at all, but for some reason the spirit didn't move me. Plus I was painting walls in the house and between trying to keep a puppy from turning a lovely shade of Aqua Fiesta and moving picture frames and furniture around, I felt like I didn't have much time.

The photos from last weekend's lure coursing really need to start with this one of Raimi actually coursing. He's not determined, he's not intense but he's doing it. I am so proud of my Boy. Thanks to Cash's mom Jill for providing this photo.

The puppies fell to playing basically every single chance they got. I am told only one puppy picked up a tick - sorry Franco - and all were completely comatose for the evening which is the best kind of puppy to have. Tara's boy Rhone was very interested to say hello to Cora and Cash - he is young yet so maybe he still remembers what it's like to be a baby Ridgeback.

Cash and Zeppelin had a great time playing. They are both very big boys so they played fairly evenly for most of the afternoon.

Zeppelin had a few pounds on Cora but she still managed to hold her own. Better him than Leeloo although Leeloo probably thinks she's taught Cora some good life skills, like how to lose gracefully.

Franco is no fool and apparently has a good memory. This stare from Leeloo means a storm is brewing and he would be best to run for shelter. Leeloo took it easy on him though ... I hope Cora wasn't watching.

It was great to see the puppies and for the Moms and Dads to be able to chat with other Ridgeback owners besides me. It demonstrates that I'm not the only crazy Ridgeback owner in Nova Scotia! Hope to see everyone again next time and thanks to all for making our first lure coursing event a success!

The Fox & The Hound

2011-10-16T09:11:00.001-03:00

Yesterday was the RRCEC lure coursing day. Despite the weather's determined efforts to convince us the night before that it was going to be a miserable day, the sun came out at about 8am and although the field was soggy, it was a gorgeous day to be outside with the dogs. We had in attendance about 16 dogs and 3 of Cora's siblings managed to come so she got to play with someone her own size for a few hours.

Since no one had ever coursed their dogs before we weren't sure who would chase the 'bunny' but the only way to find out was to try. We didn't have a particular order of go, just whoever was ready so I can't remember who ran when. I think Shiraz was first up and she is pretty gamey as a bitch but didn't really understand what the fuss was about with the plastic bag - she wanted to know why Momma Tara was running through a field with her.

Next up Leeloo who, in true Leeloo form, did precisely the opposite of what was expected. She took one look at the plastic bag on the line and promptly ignored it. I ran with her a little way, I'm sure there's video and photos (to come), until she decided that "This is stupid" and just bounced along with me much like Shiraz did with Tara. She did investigate the bag when it was stopped and if she could have shrugged her shoulders she would have. I have no doubt about Leeloo's tracking and coursing ability with real critters, but a plastic bag just isn't her gig.

Ruby pulled out all the stops and showed dem bitches how it's done. She wasn't sure at first but once the lure picked up speed she was off. She followed it pretty closely for most of the course and it was an impressive demonstration of a dog that "get's it".

I ran Archer for his owner Sandra and although at first he was confused and anxious, as Archer tends to be, once the lure gained some speed it caught his eye and he was off. I ran with him a little way and shouted encouragement but when I stopped running he glanced back and left the lure to come to me. We caught it again as it rounded the corner but by then he'd lost some interest. We did do a second run with him but he was not so game - best not to over do it.

Mayla also had a go but she had a bit of a problem focusing, a bit like the other bitches, and didn't think the lure was all that interesting, more fun to visit people and get attention. Mayla is a bit of a social butterfly so no surprises there!

Ruby and Pearl are housemates and did a run together which was neat to see. Ruby showed Pearl how it's done and they ran very well together. A 'demo dog' can sometimes make the lightbulb go on ... certainly I think it helps. Unfortunately Ruby cut her foot on the line and couldn't run again, that sometimes happens when they step on the line while they are running and it slices them open, just one hazard of chasing the plastic bunny.

Junior took a turn and although he didn't get it the first time he was a little more game the second time and chased it fairly well and it was a good introduction to the lure. He caught it up when it slowed down and he was running along side watching it.

The comedy of the day was provided by Boy - he was the largest dog at the event by several pounds and not exactly the picture of cowardice. As I walked to the start of the course bunny was moved into position and as it did the line made a zinging noise on the pulley. Boy thought the bag made the noise and spooked backwards. He then refused to step over the line to come inside the course to start. I took off his collar so I wasn't dragging him across the line but he wouldn't come to me. Scared Boy. John, who owns Zeppelin(one of the puppies) put the slip collar on him and encouraged him over to me. He was very leery of the line but once the bag started to move Boy was off. Phew. He chased it very well and got up some good speed, lost it on the corner and then picked it up again up the other side. He stayed true to the lure but shied back away from the line every time it made a noise, he didn't like that noise! I had waited until later in the runs to bring him up so I suspect if I'd brought him sooner so he could hear the line for longer he'd have been okay. Since there were lots of people taking photos and video I know there is proof of the cowardly Boy and his redemption as a courser!

Tannin is almost 10 years old and he was also given a chance to prove his ability. He is a multi-titled dog in agility and obedience as well as being a Canadian Champion, Tannin is a truly versatile Ridgeback and he proved that he also has what it takes to be a coursing dog. He bounded along with the lure although he had a habit of spotting people taking photos and going to visit them!

Including the photographer in the middle of the field.

Rhone is Tara's other male dog and he was also very game to the lure but like The Boy he was unsure about the sound the line made so while he stayed on course fairly well he didn't get too close to the line. At least we know Boy and Rhone won't cut their feet! Hopefully someone got photos of Rhone because I didn't!

The puppies had a chance to do a 30 foot puppy scramble and most of them chased the lure pretty well and then the fell to playing. They spent most of their time wrestling and getting to know each other again. I certainly know that Cora was completely exhausted and spent the entire evening comatose. I'll post some photos of them tomorrow. The boys are certainly big!

In all it was great day, very fun and the dogs had a marvelous time. It's nice to get together with everyone and their dogs with no pressure of competition, to talk about training, habits, tips and tricks and to share stories about how great each of our dogs are. Huge thank you to the RRCEC for hosting such a wonderful event, to my parents for the loan of their property and to everyone who came out to enjoy the day. I hope it was worth it enough for you to want to attend another and hopefully we can do this again before too long.

Family Ties

2011-10-15T12:00:00.000-03:00

Today is coursing day and I hope to have some photos and updates on that event tonight, if all goes according to plan, but until then we can all gaze lovingly at a small family of Ridgebacks. Well, I can gaze lovingly, you can admire or not as you wish. Some of my favorite photos are of the dogs just being together and this one of Raimi and Cora in the sunlight and shadows is so like a father and daughter going for an evening walk together. If he could hold her hand I'm sure he would - he's just that kind of Daddy Boy.

And although Leeloo can be a bit intense sometimes, she also has a softer side that shows she doesn't actually want to kill Cora. She looks much like a proud Momma here that it almost wipes out the image of her smashing Cora into the ground. Almost.

Field of Dreams

2011-10-14T16:00:00.000-03:00

As mentioned we were at my parent's house last weekend and this coming weekend it is the location of the RRCEC lure coursing event is being held. I took a walk across the field just after my Dad had mowed it to see where the boggy spots were since it had been raining for a few days. It's looking very good and the dogs decided to test it out. Cora gave it two ears up.

Raimi tested the area near the trees. Looks like all systems go. He especially likes how short the grass is. My Dad got a new mower and spent some time testing his new toy in preparation for a bunch of Ridgebacks to chase a lure.

Both Raimi and Leeloo spent quite a lot of time racing around and showing off how fast they are. Fast enough to catch a lure? I guess we'll find out in less than two days!

Leeloo. What a show off. When she's not pummeling her daughter into the grass or on a serious squirrel hunt she's chasing Boy who is doing his silly run around the trees. Looks like the field gets the A-okay from all the dogs and that means we are green lighted for coursing!

Old School

2011-10-13T18:00:00.000-03:00

Now that all but one puppy are gone life has taken on almost a frenetic quality of Things to Do hard believe considering what things were like with the puppies here. I finally have a chance to sit down and relax for a bit so I thought I'd update with little Cora and her life without siblings. She certainly noticed that she's the only one left of her age group but it hasn't slowed her down much. She was playing hard core with Esme up until last Monday when I left her with my parents to take to New Jersey for a dog show - Esme, not Cora. While at their house we went for a walk and a new partner in crime emerged although I'm not entirely sure Cora is keen to have this particular playmate.

As mentioned before, Leeloo doesn't really pull her punches. I can tell she is a little frustrated that Cora is unable to engage in the level of play to which Leeloo is accustomed. It doesn't stop her from schooling her baby girl with a vengeance.

Cora takes the beatings with all the frightened innocence of a 4 month old puppy and I have to constantly correct Leeloo's intensity. She doesn't listen because she's Leeloo and 'in the moment' so mostly I just make sure Cora is not getting hurt. One thing I know for a fact about Leeloo is that she is one tenacious bitch.

Cora, to her credit, accepts the attention and although she sometimes hides to get away from Leeloo's constant badgering, she usually emerges ready for more play.

That is, until Momma mashes her into the ground and clearly feels no guilt. The expression of glee on Leeloo's face is almost criminal considering what she just did to Cora.

Their play is harsh and often looks like Cora is in danger of getting badly damaged but this is how Ridgebacks play. I say Leeloo doesn't really pull her punches but in actual fact she does, just not always as much as she should - otherwise Cora would get seriously hurt. If Leeloo played with her the way she plays with The Boy, Cora would be in serious danger. Being trounced into the lawn doesn't look like much fun but seconds later Cora is up and ready for more action.

It will only be a few more months before Cora will be able to engage in the kind of play Leeloo wants from her. Until then Cora will have to put up with being beaten up on a daily basis and I will have to get used to uttering the words "Leeloo! Back off!" I'm sure Cora appreciates my supervision!

The French Connection

2011-10-08T22:27:00.000-03:00

Both Gotham and Zayi are busy settling into their new homes and I am hearing good things about how they are adjusting. I knew Gotham wouldn't have much trouble since he was going to a home that already had a resident Ridgeback who would make him feel welcome. Well, if not welcome at least more comfortable!

Zayi's situation is different not only because she has no Ridgeback welcoming committee but also because the people she is now living with speak French. You wouldn't think another language would make much difference to a dog because they don't speak at all, but a change in tone and inflection in your voice is important to how a dog reads your behaviour.

French has a different cadence to it than English, the rise and fall of the speech patterns aren't the same and words that would be familiar to Zayi, even if spoken in English, are accented in such a way she would likely not understand them. So along with new people, place and smells she has to learn a new language.

Add to that her age. Part of the reason why it's good for puppies to go to new homes at 8 weeks is because at that age they are little sponges. They are not in the habit of questioning anything that happens to them, they usually just accept it and embrace each experience. By the time a puppy is 4 months old it has learned the question "Why?" Zayi would be the equivalent of a 4 year old right now, not really knowing or understanding what is happening but being aware enough of 'danger' to question what is happening around her. Just now her little brain has a lot to take in! Still, she looks fantastic even when she's wondering who that is taking her picture.

Fortunately Zayi naturally has a very outgoing and inquisitive nature so it will likely take just a few days for her to accept her new life and blossom into the spunky little trouble-maker I have come to know. She is already cuddling with her new Poppa Pierre and exploring her new home - soon they won't be able to stop her! Her new French family is taking is slow, being very sensible and allowing her to come out of her shell naturally. Given the last few months with Zayi I'd offer these words of advice: enjoy the time she is shy and tentative because once she unleashes that inner monkey you can't put it back!

Flight Plan

2011-10-07T22:45:00.002-03:00

Inquiring minds want to know ... how many puppies do I have now? The answer is a blessed, blessed one. Cora is currently rasslin' with Esme on my bed while I recovered from a day I have no wish to repeat any time in the future. Gotham and Zayi were scheduled to fly out today on seperate flights - Gotham's was Westjet to Calgary at 7:25am and Zayi's was Air St Pierre to St Pierre at noon. Each puppy needed to be at their respective cargo bay 2 hours ahead of the flight's departure so Gotham had to be at Westjet for 5:25am. I live almost 2 hours from the airport so I had to leave my house no later than 3:45am to get there in enough time. Make sense?

I'd suspected that the Universe had been conspiring against me with these two puppies for quite some time. Each for different reasons had to stay additional time in my house and my patience was wearing thin - perhaps one day the details of Gotham's extended stay will be detailed but for today let's just say he could have left earilier had I been smarter. Such is not the case and anyway, both going on one day saved me a trip to the airport.

To the story ... there was a bit of a concern about Gotham even getting on the flight because Westjet already had a dog booked to go, if the flight was full Gotham would have to be rebooked for another day. After several calls back and forth to get confirmation I went to sleep still not knowing if he was going to fly. I was up at 3am after only a few hours of sleep and checked my email - voila ... he could fly!

In the wee dark hours I had everything ready since I'd prepared the night before, I just needed to load the crates and puppies and be on my way. Loading the puppies in the dark cold morning was kind of a hassle but I managed it without too much incident ... until I realized that I'd walked through some crap the neighbour's (seriously inappropriate expletive) cat left on my lawn. Not only had I walked in it, it was now spread through my house and embedded in the tread of my shoe. The only saving grace was that I discovered it while still at home and not partway to Halifax with the heat blasting at my toes. Some extremely unbecoming and unrepeatable language ensued as I cleaned up the poop. It cost me at least 10 minutes and I was not in the fairest mood... Raimi was in fear for his life (GET IN THE ROOM! NOW NOW NOW!!!!) and I left the dogs to nurse their battered egos.

The previous few day's weather had been very, very wet and quite a bit colder than is usual for this time of year but I didn't think anything of it. I knew that driving over Mount Thom (coming from Alberta the word 'Mount' creates rather a different image but I digress) sometimes results in heavy fog, slush and possibly snow depending on the temperature. It's safe to say I was prepared for changeable conditions.

On the highway my first obstacle was Zayi who had pooped in her crate. I stopped and clean her out, using a flashlight because my interior light doesn't work, then got back on the road. Clear sailing for about another 15 kilometres before I come upon flashing lights and a group of teenagers standing by the side of the road looking forlorn with police and tow trucks at hand. They were clearly driving too fast for the conditions.

The conditions? It was just wet ... until I passed the accident scene and then the road became severely heavy with slush. Here in Nova Scotia this is called a 'dirty' road. The slush stayed thick and heavy for some time and I kept my speed down a bit waiting for it to clear. How long could it last?

It lasted until it started to snow. A lot. Like ... more than you'd think was possible. I'd say for the next 30 kilometres the snow was as heavy as any white-out I've ever driven in. Ever. I could see about 10 feet beyond the front of the truck, if that. The only thing that kept me sane was telling myself to just stay between the lines. Stay between the lines. Why? Because beyond those line I couldn't see the road, the shoulder, the ditch, the trees ... anything but snow.

About 10 seconds after I thought "Just stay between the lines" a cruel cruel Universe planted a sign on the road that stated 'Reduced Lane Markings' and took my lines away. The road is being resurfaced. The language I uttered at this new development is also unprintable (it was not my finest hour), I slowed even more and crawled along the highway willing the truck to just stay on pavement. Every so often one of those ridiculous and useless little white markers would pop up to let me know that I was indeed still on the highway.

Eventually the road gave me back my lines. Ha! I met that challenge and beat it. The new challenge was even more snow. Heavy, wet, sticky, white, white, white. This went on for miles and miles at 4:30am after only 4 hours of sleep. My back is so sore from crouching over my steering wheel with a death grip I'll need a deep muscle massage to ease out the kinks.

I passed the turn off for Bible Hill so I knew I was close to Truro where I had to turn south to go to Halifax. I didn't know what I would do if this weather continued all the way to the airport but I was determined to not to give up. Nothing was going to stop me putting these puppies on a plane - even if we were late we were at least going to try. I couldn't turn back and there was nothing for it but to keep driving.

And then, like a miracle, the snow eased up within 500 meters and suddenly I could see stars. A clear, crisp black night above me with bright stars and a flat, smooth, snow-free road ahead. I breathed a huge, but slightly confused, sigh of relief and crept back up to highway speed. I looked to the south and saw nothing but clear bight sky ... this was now going to be a cinch and the puppies will fly away safely.

I knew a split second before I got there that I was about to hit black ice. It is that moment in which you know you cannot do a thing to prevent it but because your brain works so fast, you can see the potential for disaster looming large. When the truck tires met the icy surface of a bridge over a railway line the vehicle was suddenly and completely out of my control. In 50 feet of highway it zigged sideways from the right lane into the left lane, the rear started to skew around to the right and then the tires grabbed at the wet pavement on the other side of the bridge and we zagged back into the right lane again. So when the road sign says 'Bridge freezes before road' ... they friggin' mean it.

At this point I'd had just about enough of the last hour of my life. I allowed myself a few panicky tears, shook my fist at the Universe and took the exit to Halifax. From then on down to the airport the road was clear, the stars were bright and we arrived safely at the Westjet terminal with 15 minutes to spare.

Worth it? I'm not going to say "absolutely" because it wasn't just my life that was being put through the ringer this morning, it was also the lives of the two puppies I needed to get to the airport. I couldn't bear the idea that something might have happened to Gotham or Zayi, or that they wouldn't be able to fly today. My consolation prize for this mornings trauma is hearing from two great homes that both puppies arrived safe and sound. Below is a photo of sweet Gotham in his new home in Calgary with Uncle Rory. They will have so much fun ruining that gorgeous new hardwood. Photos of Zayi have been promised but for now we can close the book on another successful litter of Ridgeback puppies all safely in their wonderful homes. Hugs to all the babies this Thanksgiving weekend but most especially to Gotham and Zayi for being so brave today - it's been kind of a big day for them!

Mess Hall

2011-10-05T21:51:00.001-03:00

In just 36 hours both Zayi and Gotham should be on a plane to their respective homes. They have made themselves quite comfortable here but alas, it is time for them to go. I'm sure Gotham will find another couch/bed/soft surface to sleep on in unusual positions and Zayi will have a person who adores her to rest her little head on. They are currently wreaking havoc in the dining room because it has been pouring buckets for days as the tailend of some hurricane or another brushes against the coastline.

Inside time is fine up to a point but today I learned a valuable lesson. When you get up at 3am to use the bathroom and open a new toilet paper roll, make sure to put it on the holder because if you leave it on the floor you'll forget about it and this will happen. It took the puppies about 2 minutes of unsupervised play to create this mess ... imagine if they'd had more time.

Busy Bodies

2011-10-03T09:56:00.002-03:00

It's been a while since I last posted, things are a bit chaotic here and I keep running out of time to do anything more than breathe and clean up after a whirlwind of puppy destruction. I don't like my life complicated, I like things simple. So far in the last couple months my life has been the opposite of simple but most of it is my own doing so I shouldn't really complain but I will anyway since it makes me feel better. This past weekend I was at a canine reproduction seminar in Halifax with my mom so had to take the puppies to my parent's house. The reason why is complicated but the point is the puppies had a great time despite the pouring rain. Big thanks to my Dad for putting up with 6 dogs he doesn't own for 12 hours - they can be super annoying especially when they are not in their own house. My parent's property is where we will have the lure coursing in two weeks so the dogs were testing the newly mown grass and making sure the field was well broken in for bunny chasing.

This is the last kick at the can for the puppies to play. In 4 short days Cora will be on her own and the other two puppies will be in their new homes. They best be getting as much quality time in as possible before then since they will never see each other again. I just love this photo, they clearly are having a grand ol' time!

Despite the heavy mist that was rolling up the hill from the Northumberland Strait they enjoyed a good long run in the grass. Cora is in the lead, which follows since she's clearly the Captain in their little pack, with her Number One Zayi and then Ensign Gotham.

One day the puppies will be able to run as fast as they want and their legs will actually do what they expect them to. They are still a few months from that kind of coordination so until then they will have to look on enviously as their parents gallop effortlessly across the clearing. Puppies are cute and fun but there is little I enjoy more than watching the Big Dogs (and Esme) thunder past in reckless abandon with clear expressions of joy on their beautiful faces.

Small Things

2011-09-27T17:00:00.000-03:00

Esme takes it in turns with being irritated with the puppies and then wanting to play with them. There doesn't seem to be any consistency when she will allow them to engage in play or will roar at them in irritation. Kind of like all the rest of us. She is now outweighed by about 10 pounds compared to Zayi who is the 'smallest' puppy so she needs to do some pretty serious roaring to get any respect.

A common Puli joke is to ask which end is the head. Zayi knows it's the end with the little pink tongue.

It's also the end with the teeth. If you try to smack Esme on the head with your naughty white foot it will end up getting gnawed on by one irritated Puli.

And if you persist in being annoying your ear gets chomped and there is a lot of growling, snarling and fur flying. If you're Zayi you tend to just ignore this display of ferocity and treat it as some silly game Esme is playing. It must be hard to be a little black Puli all full of ideas about how tough you are and to be bowled over 100 times a day by an annoying 16 week old Ridgeback puppy. No doubt Esme is counting the days until she only has one to deal with too.

Run Lola Run

2011-09-25T18:00:00.000-03:00

In three weeks the RR Club of Eastern Canada is holding a lure coursing event in Nova Scotia. I think this is the first time this has been arranged in this province, or the Maritimes. It's a pretty exciting opportunity for east coast Ridgebacks since in Canada they are not considered a coursing breed. What is lure coursing? Essentially it mimics the flight of a rabbit across a field with the dogs being encouraged to chase it as is their natural inclination. The 'rabbit' is actually a plastic bag which is attached to a closed line that loops so the lure is dragged across the ground. The dogs have a great time and although they are not allowed to compete in Canada, lure coursing for Ridgebacks in the USA is a quite a big deal.

This video from the most recent RRCEC event in Becancour, Quebec is pretty much exactly what we expect to see from the dogs. Some are true to the lure, as in they follow it quite religiously, some are distracted, some can run in a pack and some aren't even Ridgebacks! Thanks to Sarah Lebrun for this video and our viewing pleasure.

Of my dogs I anticipate both Raimi and Leeloo will chase the lure pretty consistently although I expect Leeloo to be more intense about it. If they prove successful in being true to the course and follow it without getting distracted I might try to pop down to the US to attempt a lure coursing title on them. I certainly appreciate the chance to test their skill before making the trip!

The event is being held in Malagash on the North Shore of Nova Scotia - that's just under 2 hours from Halifax. It's near Tatamagouche and is my parent's property. If you've seen any of the dozens of photos I've posted of their land you'll know there is a very large cleared flat field behind their property that is great for this kind of activity. So far I think we are anticipating at least 12 -15 Ridgebacks to attend but we'd love to see more!

If you can make it out on Ocotober 15 and 16 we plan to have lure coursing on Saturday and a walk at a beach on the Sunday. The cost to non-members of the RRCEC is $10 per dog and that gives them 3 chances at the lure. Everyone must sign a waiver and lame or unfit and fat dogs will not be allowed to run. Dogs should be social and friendly and should have a solid recall since the area is not fenced in. All are welcome and it should be a fun day as long as the weather holds out! Contact me at invictushounds @ gmail.com for directions and more details! Hope to see you there!

Two Weeks Notice

2011-09-24T22:24:00.000-03:00

It's less than two weeks until both Zayi and Gotham go to their new homes. Sometimes I think 'It's only two weeks' and other times I think 'It's still two weeks'. I tend to harp on this a bit, probably to the point where people are sick of hearing about me having these puppies. It's through no fault of the puppies or their owners, it is what it is, but what it is keeps peeing on my floors, barking incessantly at each other and I live in constant fear one of the ones I don't own is going to get hurt while in my care.

Their expression say's "We'd never do that!" but life's lessons have instructed me otherwise and the sooner they are under someone else's purview the better. Once they are on their respective flights, instead of my couch, the happier everyone will be; their owners, the puppies, their parents and me.

Speakign of ... their parents have had ENOUGH. One at a time is okay but all three with Raimi and Leeloo and things get ugly. Leeloo's patience is at an all time ebb which means much of the time they have to be separated, even when I'm present to supervise. There is not much to my life at this point except chasing puppies and trying to monitor pee breaks and I'm just plain tired. Gotham understands and willing listener to my troubles ... he's all ears.

Good Genes

2011-09-22T19:29:00.003-03:00

It's incredibly uncanny how the puppies look and act like their parents but in different ways and for different reasons. Zayi is the little white footed girl who is long on leg and too clever for her own good, just like her Mommy. She doesn't really have a lot in common with her Dad except being very sweet and kissy.

She sure looks like Leeloo! She has those sweet eyes and great intelligent expression, I just love that face.

She is also really good at manipulating you so her new owner Pierre better keep one step ahead of this girl. Behind those sweet puppy-dog eyes is a little brain aiming to get whatever she wants.

Who me? Never! I would never do anything bad ... it's just impossible.

Reclining like the little princess that could do no wrong. Zayi certainly know how to get her way!

Twins

2011-09-21T16:00:00.000-03:00

As much as I might want the puppies to head to their new homes I am still very fond of each of them and their individual personalities. It's hard not to love Gotham since he is so much his Daddy it's uncanny. This is a photo of The Boy when he was just about Gotham's age.

And this is Gotham. See any resemblance? It's easy to predict the future for this Boy-in-Training.

Gotham also has another similarity to The Boy. He's made more adorable because he is large and goofy.

Nope ... no similarities here! The only difference is age and item. This was Raimi's third birthday and he was being given a marshmallow bunny.

It's not hard to like dogs like Gotham and Boy. They may not be exacting to the Ridgeback standard but they are exacting to great temperaments and easily invite adoration where ever they go. Sometimes being perfect has nothing to do with appearance.

Fly Away Home

2011-09-19T14:00:00.001-03:00

October 7 will be a banner day here at Invictus. It's the day I get to wake up at some undoGly hour and drive to the airport so that Gotham and Zayi can fly out to their new homes. Gotham is headed to Calgary where his Uncle Rory eagerly awaits his arrival. For the past few months Gotham's new home has been in a flurry of activity preparing for his arrival ... new floors, new kitchen, new almost everything. What a lucky guy. I understand he will get to meet the kitchen counter installers and a few other trades but most of the work will be done by the time he gets there. I've never had someone renovate for a puppy but I guess there is always a first time (I'm kidding - renovations were well underway long before Gotham was a twinkle in his parent's eyes). If you want to see the incredible job Kathryn has been doing on what I suspect was already a pretty nice house, check out Rory's Ramblings (which morphed into a reno blog) and see what all the fuss is about. Gotham won't need a hard hat to enter the site but he will need to turn on his charm to win over Rory who is not accustomed to sharing his sunbeams. It's a good thing Gotham is going soon, he's already outgrown two crates ...

Zayi is headed to France or rather French owned islands off the coast of Newfoundland. I was hoping she could go sooner because although she is a delight, she is not my dog and needs her own people. The fly in the ointment to shipping her when I initially thought she could go was the airline, Air St Pierre, will not ship puppies younger than 16 weeks. According to French import regulatrions she could actually ship 10 days sooner but because of the airline she has to wait. In a way it's good because it saves me a drive to the airport, it's a 4 hour round trip, and both puppies can now go on the same day.

Cora, for her part, is not going to know what happened. Her whole life has been in the company of her siblings. One day she wakes up with two little buddies and the next she is alone. I'm sure she'll get over it soon what with squirrel hunting season upon us.

Keeping puppies a little longer is okay if there's just one extra or even two if you are not keeping one yourself. But three makes it difficult to house train, they have a hard time learning their names and it's just a gong show most of the time. I can't wait for them to fly to where they really belong and can pee on someone else's floor! They deserve their own people and I know for a fact that their people can't wait to get them!

The Big Country

2011-09-18T19:51:00.000-03:00

Today was Zayi's turn to come out on a walk with us. We headed out to a couple of cleared acres that are for sale since I wanted to take a look at it. I am still undecided whether I want to buy a piece of property and put a house on it or buy a property with a house on it that might not have ideal location, house and land size. Anyway, I let the dogs out to see for themselves if the land was suitable and if the drive to its location, while I plan the house that would eventually sit there, was acceptable. I like it quite a bit but I won't be actually looking to buy until next year so all my ideas of having a place to walk my dogs (that is completely within my control) will have to dance in my head for a little longer.

Zayi thought being on this walk was a little over-whelming since her parents kept bolting off across the field with no regard to where their baby was. Fortunately Esme and I are pretty good babysitters.

She spent quite a lot of time looking at whatever Raimi and Leeloo were doing - possibly thinking about joining them but not quite getting up the courage to bound through the grass to follow their lead.

Esme is pretty reliable about wanting to keep everyone in check so she'd often race back to Zayi to encourage her to play. Esme is the sort of dog who wants everyone to have a good time, just as long as the best time being had is by her.

This isn't the sort of activity Zayi could effectively participate in anyway. Boy and Leeloo smashing through grass and weeds is something you want to get out of the way of, not join, when you weigh a fraction what they do. Unless you're Esme of course.

Leeloo was showing off her fast skills. Perhaps warming up for the lure coursing she's going to be doing in a few weeks.

Zayi did attempt to keep up momentarily, just on the fringes of the fun, but sensibly avoided being in the line of fire.

There is just no way you want to be in the path of this bullet. Raimi is easily 110 pounds right now and colliding with him would seem like you'd been hit by a car. Injuries sustained by large dogs colliding with people and other animals is no joke, they can cause some serious damage. I tend to brace myself when he does a run by.

Zayi however usually does no more than trip me when she's underfoot. It's just less than three weeks before she will get on a plane and have to learn French - fortunately NO! and NON! sound pretty much the same so I'm sure she'll be fine. Apparently St Pierre et Miquelon is beautiful but since I know the places I walk the dogs are also pretty darn nice, her expectations are pretty high.

All in all I think The Boy liked the property we looked at. Potentially one day it could be all his ... I mean mine. For him.

National Security

2011-09-16T08:03:00.000-03:00

Big day for American's Ridgebacks yesterday as it was their National Specialty. Actually, it has been going on all week since there were about 400 dogs entered and each sex and class division takes hours to judge. Yesterday was the Specials class which is comprised of the dogs who have their American Championships - the Best of Breed dog is usually out of this class. Zero was entered and although I was at work while the judging was being completed I got home to discover that he won one of only a few Awards of Merit! I think he was the only Canadian Bred dog to be awarded one of the top prizes of the day. His brother Raimi and his niece Cora here in Nova Scotia are so proud of their family! Leeloo would be proud if she cared at all about showing; if he was the Champion Squirrel Hunter of the USA she'd be interested ...

Zero continues to exceed expectations in almost every way this year. The highlight being, obviously, Westminster Kennel Club in New York City because I was there to witness his big win but being recognized out of an entry of over 400 dogs at a National ranks a pretty close second. Currently he is the #1 Ridgeback All Breed and #2 Breed Ridgeback (based on dogs defeated) and is still going strong.

As always I can't thank his owner Erin or his handler Juliet enough for all the hard work they've put into Zero. I can't do much more to help than to cheer him on from afar and hope he manages to finish the year on top of the podium. It's pretty safe to say I'll never own or have bred another Ridgeback who is able to accomplish all that Zero has but perhaps little Cora will be able to follow her uncle's footsteps in some small way one day!

Batman Begins

2011-09-14T16:13:00.000-03:00

Still taking the puppies out individually on the walks - Cora goes the most but Gotham and Zayi do get their turns. I took Gotham yesterday and he had to borrow Cora's collar - I was sure she wouldn't mind. Gotham is like his Daddy in so many ways it's uncanny. He will clearly be a big ol' boy and when he leaves I'll miss his silly little ways. He is pretty smart though being the first puppy to ask to go out when he needed to - it was a break through day let me tell you. It's not easy house training 3 puppies at once.

He channels his inner Mommy sometimes too with those ears. The set of his ears seems to be resolving into mostly his Daddy Boy's but when he's 'thinking' he gets his Mommy ears on. I guess that makes sense since his Daddy isn't exactly known for his thinking ability and his Mommy uses her brains rather too much in my opinion.

Now channelling Daddy - this is because he's doing nothing more diffifult than trotting through the grass, something The Boy is an expert at since it requires little to no brain cells.

I love this photo because it's so damn Leeloo. Look at her totally gorgeous head, lovely planes, fill in the cheek, perfect underjaw, soft, dark, round eye, smooth neck and gorgeous pigment ... and the ear. I know I go on a bit about her ears but it really is the one thing that can ruin a beautiful head. I love them on *her* because she is Leeloo ... that is all. Gotham loves them too.

I didn't order a Pointer but I got one I guess. Puppies being Serious are always so cute, Gotham thought he spotted something worth stalking, it was probably just Esme.

All puppies love to hide in the grass. Gotham in particular loved to roll in it, then jump up and leap about, get tangled in the tufts and then race about like he meant to do that.

There is a huge blackberry patch on our walk and I look forward to exploring it every Autumn. The blackberries are almost ripe now, they are mostly a deep maroon color so just a few more days and it will be a bumper crop. I have strange ideas of making blackberry jelly this year but like last year I suspect it will remain an idea. Gotham thinks it's cool to explore because the canes make tunnels.

Eating grass and weeds is fun I guess, if you're a puppy. I love the 'quiet moment' photos where the puppies are just doing what they do and I can sneak a photo of them just Being.

Caught in the act. He is certainly a handsome little fellow and I am more inclined to think so because he is so like his Dad at the same age. Frankly, any dog that has the potential to turn out like The Boy has nothing but a good future in store.

Hot Under the Collar

2011-09-12T17:27:00.000-03:00

I got new collars for Esme and Cora a few weeks ago. Cora's came already but Esme's is still in transit. Cora's, if I do say so myself, is just gorgeous. I love this collar on her. I had to 'borrow' it for Leeloo this past weekend and for some reason it doesn't look as good on Leeloo as it does on Cora. Cora's new collar is purple because she was Miss Purple when she was born. There are lots of purple collars out there but it had to be a martingale style and the design on it had to be pretty because she's a girl. When it arrived I realised it's also the colors of Westminster Kennel Club ... maybe one day she will go to New York!

I got this one on Ebay because my usual collar supplier, where I got Raimi and Leeloo's, didn't have quite what I was looking for. This one I wasn't even really sure about when I saw it online but I got it anyway because the price was right. I love it. It suits her perfectly and on the smallest sizing it actually fits her quite well. In the 10 days I've had it she's grown enough that I had to enlarge it already. Or maybe it's just those ears that grew.

She didn't think being on lead was the coolest thing ever but has come along great with some guerrilla training. However, she, like any other dog I know, prefers to be out sniffing the grass, unsullied and unhindered by the tethers of ownership. She still sticks close by on walks because she's a little insecure but once her totally adorable tag arrives she'll be set to explore the wilds of Nova Scotia. Check out those eyebrow whiskers ... all set for detecting squirrels.

Esme's collar is a lovely green with a paisley pattern but it hasn't arrived yet. Right now she is stuck with a default collar that I can't even remember where I got. Her collar needed to be bright so hopefully the green will easy to spot in all that black. Raimi and Leeloo's collars are looking a little worse for wear. Leeloo isn't exactly easy on her collars, the one she has was totally gorgeous but it's been through the washer a few times due to her rolling shoulder first in something unmentionable in the woods. I got them a couple years ago and hers at least is probably going to be replaced this Christmas. She can still rock the red silk brocade though!

The Boy is easier on his collars than Leeloo but general wear and tear will see it replaced in the next year or so. I hate to throw away collars so these two will be relegated to the truck once they are demoted to second string. You never know when you need a spare collar. Cora will also do her best to help Raimi wear down his collar; once she's approaching her 'teenage years' she won't want to be seen with her Dad unless he's looking cooler than cool ... and that includes a shiny new collar. For now though she's not above giving him a kiss on the cheek; hang onto these moments Boy, they grow up so fast.

The Show Must Go On

2011-09-11T09:50:00.000-03:00

This weekend I am at a show in Pictou - it's going to be one of the hardest shows I've ever had to attend because last weekend, at a show in Halifax, the dog world and Pictou County Kennel Club lost Anita, our club Secretary and fellow dog lover. We tend to joke about dying while doing what we love but unless you are Evil Kneivel or a bullrider it's not really something we mean. It's been a rough week preparing for the upcoming show without Anita who was almost the lifeblood of the club. She put her heart and soul into her dogs, the club and was passionately involved individual. She knew everyone, understood what needed to get done and was a driving force when it came to getting things organized. I will miss her great stories, her unsullied opinions and her pure honesty - there are precious few people in the world with whom you know exactly where you stand. The show will go on in the memory of Anita and we will strive to ensure its success. My heartfelt condolences to Anita's family and friends - she will be greatly missed at the shows and the Pictou County Kennel Club will never be the same.

The Stand

2011-09-10T15:39:00.000-03:00

As a show dog person whenever I'm out on walks I'm always looking for the show stack photo - the one where the dogs are standing four square looking marvelous. With puppies it can be a very rare occurence partly because they are too busy being busy and also they tend to stop facing away from me and if they're facing me and I crouch to take a photo they come running. The only puppy I was able to successfully capture in a natural pose from the side was Cora and this one is crooked because I was in a hurry to catch it, in fact the second after I took it she was off on some bouncing adventure. She's still crazy beautiful even with a slight downward tilt.

I never did get Zayi from the side although this one shows her pretty profile and her cute little bum. I think this was in fact the only moment she stood still the entire walk.

And after sorting through 130 photos I didn't find a single one of Gotham not in some sort of superhero activity. Ah well, when you're fighting crime in the fields of Malagash there isn't really time to stop and smell the roses.

Chase

2011-09-08T16:17:00.000-03:00

Esme joined us on our walk, as if she'd allow it any other way. She loves to race around in the grass and attempts to keep the Ridgebacks in order. It's not an easy job you know. Zayi was happy she was with us because Esme is funt o chase.

However Esme prefers chasing since it's in her blood. Raimi gives her a run for her money but she is totally game. Nothing deters this little black bullet. I love the 'vapour trail' she leaves behind her in the grass (Raimi doesn't leave one because he's got longer legs).

Occassionally she stops for a break to catch her breath and let it all hang out. That's a tongue that says "Life is grand and I'm loving every minute."

And showing off why she's such a kick ass Puli; every time she stopped she'd free stack like this ... perfection.

Growing Pains

2011-09-07T16:04:00.000-03:00

The puppies think they can run really fast. If I'm chasing them after doing something naughty they sure can but out in the fields where the ground isn't level, there is grass to trip on and their own feet to coordinate, running often turns into stumbling and ending up in a tumbled heap. Sometimes though, things come together and they demonstrate the lythe athlete they will one day become. Zayi is all rippling ears and wrinkles.

Gotham, although a little on the slower side given his bulk, makes a good effort at being fast. He will grow like his Daddy and be completely uncoordinated until he's about 2 and then suddenly everything will work like it's supposed to and he will be really really fast.

Cora looks like she has managed to avoid her mother's gazelle gene and seems to be growing reasonably in proportion to herself. She will likely be quite in control of her moving parts for much of her growth although she won't be able to avoid the big feet and big ears common to the adolecence of the breed.

Ears: case in point. I just had to add this one ... bunny hop gives you bunny ears.

The Fly

2011-09-06T16:44:00.000-03:00

Out at Malagash where the trees are green, the fields are big and the sun is bright there are also strange creatures in the grass and the air. There is an insect here known as the Daddy Long Legs (where I grew up that name was reserved for a spider also known as Harvestmen) but they are also called the Crane Fly. They are these weird winged insects that are completely harmless and reside in Malagash in the thousands. So I was taking photos of the puppies bouncing around and every step they took these DLL would drift up out of the grass and then settle. It was an interesting experience to have these rather large insects, who are very bad at flying, rise out of the grass at your feet, float away from you and then disappear into the grass again. The puppies did not appear to notice them at all but my camera did. They are surrounding the puppies, both in and out of focus, in this one. If you want a closer look at the bugs (why would you?) click on the photo to make it larger.

The big splodge just left of centre is one of the insects that is not within my focal range but large enough to be seen out of focus ... they are quite big bugs! They only hang around for a couple weeks of the year, are completely harmless and presumably fatten the birds of the area for winter. As I walked with my mom and discussed what they were called (DLL as a flying insect in England vs DLL spiders in Alberta) we both agreed that whatever they are called, at least they are not spiders with wings.

The Three Amigos

2011-09-05T16:21:00.000-03:00

The puppies celebrated their mother's birthday with her and they did it in style. They had a marvelous time and I took lots and lots and lots of photos but here's just a few to get us started. This sequence took some time to capture because to get it the puppies had to be in a group and at least 100 feet away when I called them. They also all have to come at about the same time (so everyone is relatively in focus) and in the same direction. This instance was the only time all elements came together. From left to right it's Cora, Gotham and Zayi.

Cora is looking at Gotham with a view to tackle. Although he got a bit of a head start she is more lightly built and a little more coordinated so she is a little faster. He, like most boys, is completely clueless he's about to get schooled.

He's still thinking he's out for a harmless family romp with the sisters. Out of the corner of his eye he can see her, "Look, there's Cora! Hi Cora! Wheeee!" Cora has him dead to rights. Zayi is on her way to catch up and since she's the lightest of the three it's no problem.

Incoming. The joy has gone out of his gallop and he's bracing for impact. He knows it's inevitable.

Wham! Gotcha! Going for the shoulder and neck is the best way to take down your prey because it's the centre of gravity. Cora instinctively knows this.

Gotham makes one failed attempt to shake off the predator but it's no use, he's going down. He doesn't stand a chance since Zayi on his other side is honing in to tackle.

And that's it. I'll spare you the carnage of the kill. Today Gotham learned an important lesson: when you have a Ridgeback bitch on your 6 you don't stand a chance.

Love Bug

2011-09-04T22:49:00.000-03:00

Three years ago today my world, and the world in general, became a better place. Leeloo was delivered safely to planet Earth and from the second she was born she was special. Those darling white feet set her apart and she somehow knew it. To many she is now a fully a mature Ridgeback bitch but to me she will always be my Darling Bubbalicious.

She recently graced me with a beautiful litter of puppies and barely missed a step doing so. She makes me smile every day for various Doodlebug reasons; her earnest interest in food preparation, the insistence she get regular bum scratches, her absolute determination to sleep on my pillow, and the contented moan when I put her binkie over her head to sleep. Her self assurance that every demand will be met is defined by her unequivocal reason: 'Because I am Leeloo'.

Leeloo gets what she wants because there isn't really a No in her life. This is strictly because she is the most sublty manipulative dog I have ever owned. Despite knowing I am being out-smarted by a dog she still manages to make me love her just a bit more each day. It's hard for us all not to love that crazy gal ... happy birthday my Darling Bubbalicious Doodblebug - here's to many more years of your evil ways.

Mommy Dearest

2011-08-30T19:42:00.000-03:00

I don't have any recent photos of Gotham and Zayi although I did intend to take some tonight. I've been fighting a stomach thing for the past few days and it makes it hard to want to crawl around with the puppies in the grass and dirt. Soon enough I'll have more recent photos to post. For now though, because Cora is staying, I was indulging her a little the other day and letting her nap on the bed. A slippery slope I know. She was all cuddled up against Leeloo and it was so sweet. Leeloo doesn't mind cuddles at all.

Momma's tummy makes a nice pillow and Momma makes a great snuggler ... when she's not pretending to snap your neck.