Elsie The Princess and other such stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

However it was all to go downhill rather fast.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mmMmm... we'll think about it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And here is Fred's wonderfully dopey face!

 

Later Elsie slumps down to rest.

But the sound of my camera perks her up.
  

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

 

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

 But really, she's got Plans.

Here are some pictures of Elsie around the house:

 

Elsie: "Is it dinner time yet?"

And then in the morning...

Elsie: "Is it breakfast time yet?"

 Some close ups of the puppies' noses:

 

And here is Elsie contemplating her existence:

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

Fred on the other hand seems quite happy:

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

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

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

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

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

Somehow, I think Fred agrees with me.

Hungry Puppies

Lots of photos today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is Elsie doing her daily neck stretches.

First to the left...

And then to the right..

 

And then just a *little* bit more..

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

*gulp*

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

This is Elsie's version:



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

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

 He looks very concerned...



 I love how his eyebrow is all raised up!

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



I don't think Elsie cares either way.

Nor does Fred for that matter...



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

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

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

Sneaky girl...

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



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

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

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

Thundering Paws on Moonlit Night

Sometimes living in the country with two sighthounds isn't really the best case scenario.

It's frosty out there tonight so in a fit of pique I decided to go out and cover up all my frost tender plants in case they expire from the cold.

Me being the generous mother that I am, also took the puppies out so they could get a drink and have a bit of a pee.

I guess I should really know better, considering it's late at night, the moon is out and they're out for a bit of excitement.

Perhaps the first indication was that they started bouncing around and playing chasies.

Meanwhile I'm too busy putting the covers over the plants to truly keep an eye on them. Rather, just looking up every once in a while to check where they're at.

Next thing I hear is the thundering sound that are my wolfie's paws hitting the ground as they chase after some roo.

Panic ensues as I hear them crashing off into the night interspersed with some wheezing from Fred.

Since I've got a super powerful torch I decide to set out calling for them. I find that if I do it soon enough often they'll both realise they can't catch their prey and end up just roaming around for a while.

The best I can do is try and guesstimate where they've gone and start calling for them.

I know I really should know better than to let them out at night only half supervised. And I really was testing my luck on a moonlit night. But we all make mistakes.

I'm just proud that after ten minutes despite the silence the puppies heard me and ran back.

Fred was first. He was *soooo* loud as he crashed through the trees. Elsie came a little later.

But at least both bounded towards me. And I must say the minute Fred came I immediately latched onto his collar. He was still a bit bouncy from his run and I could tell that if I didn't check him fast he was going to find the trail of another animal and he'd be off again.

I'm just so relieved that they returned. I'd like to think that the little bit of recall training I've done with them is working. Although perhaps (more likely) I was simply very lucky to cotton on fast and start following.

As is the case, where I thought they'd be was exactly the opposite of where they went. All I know is one minute both puppies were busy sniffing around the house and next thing you know all you hear is thundering wolfie paws. *shakes head*

So what kind of recall training have I been doing? Not much really. I was at the neighbours the other day and they showed me some techniques they were working on.

Basically go on a walk with the pups off lead. Load yourself with treats and keep calling them whenever they wander too far from you. Eventually they'll hang around you in the hope of treats.

I almost wish I had the hugest most juiciest bone when Fred bounded up to me. For a little while there I was resigned to sleeping on the couch tonight to wait for the puppies to give up their adventure and come home.

The next best thing I could was pat him and praise him loudly telling him what a great boy he is.

They are now both exhausted lying next to the coffee table far away from me. Well, too far for me to be both typing and giving them gratituitous back/tummy rubs.

I guess they're rather thrilled at the midnight adventure. Pity the same couldn't be said for me!

Fat Dogs

The puppies have been quite the travellers lately. We've been visiting a number of boarding kennels due to a few trips here and there and I must say the majority of my experiences have been pleasant.

Fred had a bit of a scare with an eye infection thing a few weeks back. He came back from the kennels with a red eye and pus. I took him to the vet who said it was just something irritating him and gave him some injections (I'd left Fred there for the day while I went to work) and some antibiotic cream to put into his eye twice a day.

In the process I found out that Fred's put on a bit of weight.....

Last time we weighed him he was 43 kilos. A hefty boy you would say.

After visiting the vet, Fred is now a whopping 52.3. He's put on close to 10 kilos in the last year! We think perhaps that it's an indication that he was still growing.

I'm imagining at close to 4 he is now at his peak size. 

In comparison, Elsie's not one to shy away from competition.

When we got her from the pound she was a measly 26 kilos. Mainly from malnutrition I would guess. You could see her ribs sticking out through her fur.

At the last kennels they weighed her for me, and she is now 34 kilos! 

What on earth...

I knew that she'd put on weight with us, in fact I expected her to be maybe 30 kilos. But 34! Elsie! You're a fatty!

 

Typical, ignoring me as usual.

You can see her general shape here:

 

I decided the other day to bite the bullet and have her collar reduced in size. Mainly because at the last kennel she was, she was so desperate to leave the place that she'd managed to pull her head out of her collar.  She made a run for it straight down the corridor but didn't make it far as hubby was standing there blocking the way. He laughed and commented that she didn't seem fazed or in fact had any strategy about how to get out of the kennels. She simply wanted out and figured the easiest way was to go straight. Not once did she waver or try to go around him.

Poor girly. My fault for not letting her go sooner (I was busy collecting their bedding).

I must say though, Elsie does love her bones.

 

Her recall is absolutely shocking when she's got a bone in her mouth. She happily sits there and chews all day. I've never met a more food motivated doggie. No wonder she's such a fatty...

 Here's Fred this morning doing his toilette before I put them in the pen:

 

I love that big lick of his lips while he pees. lol

 Whoops! Where did the boy go??

 Here are a few more of Elsie sniffing around. She's such a sniffer..

 And last night looking up at me all adorable-like. Can you spot Fred in the corner trying to figure out why he's not really in the picture?

And an oldie but a goodie. I wish the camera had been steady but I love her look too much to not post. 

Ah, My Classy Elspeth

Every night my puppies commune with the Fire God that is our combustion stove fireplace.

Most nights both puppies can be found staring into the flames.

However by the end of the evening both puppies will have found a spot to curl up and sleep.

In Elsie's case tonight, I caught her all legs akimbo. Which is bad enough, except that Freddie felt compelled to be nearby for comfort.

In Fred's case, comfort consists of being as close as doggily possible to Elsie's bottom.

At least Elsie had the smarts to use her tail to protect her modesty.

Ah Elsie, you're such a lady..

In which Elsie discovers she's a Beach Babe and Harry continues to trail his Beloved

The puppies went to visit Harry again a while back and had a lovely time running along the beach and checking out the ocean views up on the hill.

Elsie discovered the ocean for the first time and voluntarily went in to inspect the water temperature for us. A very different situation to Fred who had to be dragged in the first time.

Elsie: Ooo what's this blue stuff? I might go and check it out..

Elsie: Hrmm.. not too sure about this. It's a touch cold...

 

Elsie: ...But I do smell a little, so maybe I should have a quick wash anyway...

After a shout from us Elsie shakes off, and comes out like one of those beasts emerging from the ocean in a horror movie

  

Only to then be confronted by Fred who's up for a game of Chasies

Fred: Heh! That was fun!

Meanwhile, what has Harry been doing?

Here is Harry tagging after his Beloved.

And then later, Harry takes his two friends up to his favourite haunts

 

Here's Harry waiting patiently for Fred to catch up.

But all Harry really wants to do is follow Elsie around

Now there's true love for you...

Socialising Puppies

I was driving home last night and got a call from a local number I didn't recognise. When I rang back I was met with this conversation.

"Hi, I'm a friend of your neighbour's. I'm just checking in to see whether or not you've got your puppies back yet."

Me: "Huh?"

"You have two wolfhound dogs right?"

Me: "Yeees... but I wasn't aware they were missing!"

"Oh. Whoops!"

Me: "I better ring and check with my husband to see what's going on."


A quick call to the hubby, and I find out that the two mischief makers went wandering while he was busy chainsawing. He had left them off lead, trusting them to stay close to him while he worked.

*shakes head*

"I didn't think they'd wander off like that!"

*sigh*

Luckily about twenty minutes later I got a call asking if I was the owner of two dogs called Fred and Elsie.

So off I went to collect my two wayward puppies and meet another set of neighbours.


When I went to pick up the truants, the minute I saw them and said hello they shot over to me. Elsie practically lay sideways across my feet while Fred sat near me while I petted him and thanked their rescuers for finding them.


It turns out that the puppies had wandered onto the main road and were luckily picked up by this particular set of neighbours. She'd been driving home and spotted them. She'd noticed both dogs looked a bit lost and that they were following her, even when she slowed down. Worried that they'd both be run over she stopped and let them into the car.

I feel very grateful that she did this, because it's lambing season and a farmer could very well unknowingly shoot them before checking to see whether or not they were domestic or wild doggies.

The puppies are now safe and sound in their pen and hubby knows better than to let them off lead when he's out and about. And he wonders why I make a point of walking them on lead around the property or constantly calling them when I lose sight of them. *shakes head*

I'm lucky that these two puppies have such lovely temperments and that their rescuer owned dogs before. Not everyone will let an unknown dog get into their car. I was speaking to a work colleague and she pointed out her blue heeler cross isn't friendly with strangers and wondered if he'd wandered off, whether he'd growl at someone offering to pick them up rather than meekly hopping into the back seat.

My two puppies being the friendly boofers that they are ended up spending the evening helping my neighbours feed their horses and do general farmwork. Apparently Elsie even licked my neighbour's face =/ Least someone was having a good time while hubby fretted at home. *shakes head*

On the plus side, at this rate I'm going to be known as the wolfhound lady, and meet all my neighbours through these two mischief makers. Perhaps that's their real reason for wandering off all along.

"Mum, you need to socialise more and meet your neighbours. Here... let me help you. We'll just go and find some people we don't recognise and get you to meet them."

So really, they're just doing it for me.