Sunday 14 November 2010

Pups just wanna have fun!

Zurie and Rafiki have really formed a pack now - I think, now she's big enough to really rough'n'tumble and go proper walks with him he's enjoying her company more.
Little Ebs still has games with her occasionally but Zurie tries to get involved too, instead of remaining aloof.
The games the spoos play can get quite riotous- playing tag all through the house- diving onto the sofa or chairs (which seem to be "home") until they're both exhausted or we call a halt then they rush to the water bowl and both drink together :-)
It's great watching them and it keeps them both fit.
I do try to take each one out alone at times too though- it wouldn't be good for them to get too reliant upon the other one- but there's no doubt that Zurie makes Fiki's training easy -he's her hero so she's very keen to copy him.

We took them out to lunch this week - a walk around some beautiful gardens on the coast then lunch in the dog-friendly area of the restaurant - Zurie knew "the ropes" he's a regular visitor there and LOVES it - Fiki followed his lead and tucked herself quietly under the table beside him - so good -we were very  proud of them both.

We had a grand walk in the fields in the sunshine today.It was very wet last night so we had to paddle through some huge puddles in the lane to reach them first. Rafiki was a little reluctant at first but once the first one had been negotiated and she saw we didn't drown or sink without trace, she bounced through them happily.
come play!
my teeth are bigger than your teeth
end of game- time for a drink together!
race you back to mum
girls just wanna have fun!

It did mean they both needed their paws showered when we got home though -Zurie is very used to the proceedure so again "showed her the ropes" and she was very co-operative- bless her-she really tries very hard to please!

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Life with Rafiki

Rafiki - (swaheli word for "friend") - is now 4months old.
She's ,fortunately, been the easiest pup I've ever owned up to now -occasionally I wonder if this is "the lull before the storm" but although she's playful and inquisitive she's very responsive and keen to please so she learns very quickly.
All in all life with Rafiki is delightful :-))

She plays so well with Zurie (my big white spoo boy)- his name is swaheli too meaing "handome" - he didn't like her much at first but now they're great pals.He's her hero I think -she copies everything he does which makes training very easy - Zurie just objects when she tries to help him unload my washing machine - that, he views, is his own personal job but a quick "rumble" sets her straight.
She learnt "dog manners" so well at Itzapromise,where she was bred, and responds instantly to any friendly "advice" the older dogs give her!
Can't really say the same about "advice" from the cat though!
They, too, are great playmates but I have to call a halt when their games get a little too boisterous in the house sending lamps/ornaments/phones etc flying in their wake - both Caspurr and Rafiki appear to thoroughly enjoy it though ;-)
'Fiki now weighs 13kg and the silver is showing through in the roots of her  coat -she's very beautiful and,on the odd occasion when she stands still, it gives me great pleasure just to look at her.
On the lead she trots beautifully beside me and her influence has even produced better heelwork from Zurie.
Ebs, our 4kg toy poodle, has great fun with 'Fiki too - she can still manage to knock the pup off her legs if she lines herself up and throws her whole body at her shoulder- there's never any malice though , it's all taken in good part!

She's already living up to her name too- whenever I'm not feeling so well and need to rest, she's right there beside me and soon makes me feel better -all in all life without Rafiki now would feel very empty.