Barbara's pups

25 Sep '07 9:36 pm

You're quite right, Liza! It kept me from having a dog here for... well, about 3 months after I came to live here permanently. I've had to drop my standards of cleanliness quite a bit, what with a small house and a big long-haired dog who swims all year, and muddy paws on the many wet days. Finally giving up on the sofa as Taubie grew older was a further deterioration. (She had a very bad leg fracture at 18 months and still does amazing things like running 2m up vertical trees, but she pays for it later in the day...)Jack Russels are notorious for thinking the furniture is there for their comfort, and these pups are a stage worse than their father... I have to admit that I'm getting soft in my old age Embarassed

But I've also realised that the close interaction with them is what makes having them worthwhile - and so we deal with it, and I accept that my once lovely persian carpet is now rather a rag...

But a dog in your beautiful and immaculate house - no! Only a powdered, manicured, stuffed toy sort of dog, and that is cruel and unnatural! Rather think of bringing up a kitten or two again!

26 Sep '07 4:53 am

Unfortunatelly, Jack, this very house that you know, was created for humans and cats from the very beginning, plus the two cat-toilettes and cat-doors included ( : special holes made on the exterior and interior walls of the house...). But look at my dearest-dearest pup-friend of 5 months , I met again today, while I was --trying-- to work in the front gardens, a lovely Cocker Spaniel!!( My jealous and posessive Jeany lady cat was not there!! Ha!) Of course, I ran and took my camera! We were cuddling and kissing each other, and neither him , nor myself would love to be separated from eachother! Dear me!! What a blessed, heartwarming, morning incident!! They promissed they'll pass tomorrow again!!

PS: I forgot to say yesterday, that we are all in the family psychologically ready ( especially Nicholas and myself), to adopt two kittens, when old Jeany moves....to the other Plane of Existence. We cannot do it now, because she is pathologically jealous , and apart from her own balance within and the kittens, we wish to protect our new DVD from another series of.....pipi attack..

27 Sep '07 6:22 pm

Liza, what a beautiful dog visitor! And that's great news that you just might get a couple of kittens, and you are thoughtful to let Jeany have the space to herself for now!

Just don't fall into my trap and offer to foster any cats, or dogs for that matter! Cheers.

28 Sep '07 2:17 pm

I won't say "I told you so." to Moosey, but her advice about foster animals should be heeded. Once an animal crosses your threshold, he or she is most likely yours for life.

Two kittens (or puppies, for that matter) together are just the perfect pet situation for any home. They provide hours of entertainment with their curiosity and playfulness.

17 Dec '07 2:27 am

Seven months old, but still pups at heart, Abbey and Habana only leave each other alone when there's a human to entertain... or sleep on. Winston became Habana when South Africa made its way through to the finals of the world cup rugby... After all, his father is called Montgomery and it was perfectly useless to explain he was named after a long-dead general rather than a hot rugby player - especially with his "I'm the hero"-attitude!

By night they are my dogs. By day they move with Phineas, the farm foreman, and delicate little Abbey is a farm dog of note. She adores Phineas, probably more than me if the truth be told, and Habana probably prefers me to Phineas... there will be, I expect, a whole negotiation before Phineas retires in the early part of next year.

2 Aug '08 6:58 am

Or Aberdeen (which is how she really got her name)or Abi, because mostly she's become Abigail, gentlest of homedogs and fiercest of farmdogs...

Here three of my four dogs lie on 'their' couch of a winter's night: my beloved Taubie on the right; father of Abi, Montgomery, he of the Queen Anne legs, lording it on an upper level, and Abi exhausted after a day's work. Habana went home with Phineas in January when it became clear that two lively puppies scooting around their feet were dangerous to my folks. Phineas then retired at the end of March. But Abi took to Amos, his successor, and rushes off when I let her out around six to go and greet her co-workers.

I return around 8.30pm at the moment from rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet, and Abi rushes up the (very steep) public road when she hears my car coming. I can only pray she doesn't greet too many passing cars in this way... I open the door and she jumps in, climbs onto my lap and snuggles up for the trip home. At one time I tried carrying a towel on my lap to save my clothes. No matter how I arranged it, she always managed to surface UNDER the towel instead of on top of it. I get through a lot of laundry in a wet week...

3 Aug '08 2:57 am

Abbey's a lot smaller than her dad or uncle. Can you imagine life without dogs? How quiet and empty that would be. That there should be another animal that so enjoys living with us is pretty special, let alone one that shares that joy so readily.

The dog couch is a good idea. My poor mutts aren't allowed any furniture in any room except my office. There they have our old queen sized bed covered with a tarp.

3 Aug '08 4:53 am

You're right, Mark. And along with flowers, butterflies and tropical fish, dogs make me believe that God exists and that he/she/they is/are filled with joy.

3 Aug '08 10:42 am

Jack, your dogs are a lovely assortment of shapes and colours! Funny how you had Bull Terriers in the past - I don't know too many people who are into them. I am toying with the idea of getting another but as you've said before, they're not the easiest dog to have around. People's perception of them doesn't help either. In NZ they've got a name as a gang dog or pig hunting dog. Sadly these dogs are far removed from the purebreds. I love them - they're silly and generous and love a good laugh, but when I had Doris I spent my whole time telling mothers that she wouldn't eat the children or maul their cats! Doris loved cats. And kids. And food. She was harmless and a useless guard dog. In fact aside from being great company and an endless source of entertainment, she was pretty useless at most things!

Love the pics of your dogs. What a happy contented lot they are! Very Happy

6 Aug '08 3:34 am

I'm not sure which breed you both are so fond of. Are they the short, muscular guys with the enormous, underslung jaws?

Barbara's pups

'Dog friendly' living

A cat house..

Cats and dogs of the heart

Puppy update

Update on Abbey

A docile looking pack for the moment.

Proof of divinity

Kerole, got any dog photos?