Happy Ginger goes on a Big Walk

 A big walk today. Took both pups out for a round the world trip of the property.

It was also a test to see how Ginger would do off lead. To be honest, we haven't really put her back on lead. As long as her recall is good, there's no need for her to be on lead at home.



She's only been with us a week and her recall is pretty good.



She responds well to her name, and interspersed with a few 'come! come! come!s' she comes back relatively quick. She roams pretty far ahead with Fred, but if all else fails, I call Fred, and she comes with.

I think it's a case of her wanting to be with him. Perhaps she's a little smitten.

It's only to be expected, Mummy. After all,  I am a handsome boy..

The other test was her interest in water.... the minute she spotted the dam, she went straight in. *sigh*
 




Looks like I have another water dog on my hands. To be fair, she did eventually get out when I asked her to. Although she did try to dabble back in when she thought I wasn't looking. Sneaky girl.

Fred on the other hand, only went down to have a drink. Good boy.

Once we got home though, I gave Ginger a wash down and was amazed to see her stand patiently and quietly as I wet her up, sudsed her down and rinsed her off. That's the easiest wash I've ever done in my life. Fred will fight it until he realises it's a lost cause. And then he'll suffer it until I let him go.

Rosie used to fight for her life.

And Elsie... actually, I don't remember what Elsie did, but I don't remember ever feeling like it was easy...

Ginger just... stood there. I was completely and utterly amazed. Suffice to say, she got a few chicken necks for that.

Overall it was interesting watching her on her walk. I really do like how her fur stands out in the bush. It makes it easier to keep track of her. She was soooo excited at the beginning, sniffing here, there, and everywhere. Not surprisingly, really, I guess.

 

She definitely seemed to relax into the walk, which was lovely to see. Her sits have gotten a LOT better too. She still jumps up a little bit, but not half as much as she used to. It's only been a week with us, but I think she's settling in well, and hopefully she's enjoying staying with us as much as we're enjoying her. She's certainly given us a few surprises, that's for sure, vomits and poos in cars notwithstanding.

I know that face. Elsie used to have a similar one on her walks.

Yes! Let's! Let's go for another walk!!

Ginger the Vomit Girl

The good news is that we've managed to convince her that getting into the carboot isn't a bad thing, and she willingly goes in there. When we got her on Sunday, and tried to get her in on Thursday she point blank refused, and we had to carry her in. After going to the Vet's, the Vet managed to convince her to go in voluntarily, and it seems like that lesson has stuck at least...

The bad news is that she is still throwing up in the car.  At least it explains the look that Fred gave me through the rearview mirror on the last 1/2 hour home. I had assumed perhaps that he was just happy to see me and was showing me Looks of Love. But it turns out that it was more a reprieve from the smell on his lead and in the confined space that is the back of the car, and perhaps a Look of Distress, that Muuuuum.. Ginger had done it again.

I thought perhaps the first time she did it, was because I'd grabbed her around her tummy in the wrong spot when I put her in. But she managed fairly well on the drive home yesterday, and yet when I opened the car door, this is what I was met with..




So that's the end of the fancy dog beds for good. I'd brought them home anyway, thinking the stuffing may be torn up, but they still have half a life left in them.

On the plus side it meant that the mess was on the beds and not in the car. No to say it didn't spill over and I still had to wash it. But at least it's not as bad as it could be. After this incident though, I just gave up and put them in a bin bag. Bye bye expensive fancy beds. Sorry Fred.

They are now sleeping on an old wool blanket folded in 4. Sorry pups. I tried, I really did.

Next time I might try her in my car rather than wolfieboy's and see if that will make a difference, as I find his car a little too sensitive on the steering (perhaps another reason why Ginger got carsick).

Ginger the Homewrecker

We're up in Sydney for the last few days, which means the wolfies get to stay with my mum. On the plus side, it's completely enclosed in 6 foot colourbond steel, so it's safe. On the negative, mum's not a big dog person, so they have to spend the night outside, not inside with the Humans, and they have a nicer yard to wreck.

And true to form, within 12 hours of leaving them there, I was getting text messages telling me, "my backyard is a war zone."

Ginger....



No, don't make those sappy brown puppy eyes at me... I know what you did..





Ack, ok, looks like we're going to have to go to the evidence instead...

See Exhibit A:



Brand new bed, barely a month old. It's stuffing pulled out.

Exhibit B:



And Exhibit C, D, E, F and G!!!!

 




And tell me... do I really want to know what you were doing with this?! Drains to unblock? I repeat.. do I want to know?!

No, no, no, don't tell me.

Arrrrgh!!!!

Another Dog Day

Ginger: Ahoy, who goes there?

Day 4, and Ginger is settling in slowly. I am getting indignant barks when she doesn't get her way in the morning. It's almost like the same issues I have with the wolfiepup. Dealing with a 3 year old is the same as dealing with a dog. 

Fred has kept control of the dog house, and I'm wondering if some of the barks I heard today (there were less than yesterday) were from her request to move in with him. When I went out to check on them during the day I noticed that she'd just lay on the ground. Ginger's no Comfort Hound. Good ol fashioned hard ground will do just fine, thankyouverymuch. 

 I think I've given up guessing what she's crossed with. I looked up Great Dane today, and really, their face shape (with those jowly cheeks) and triangle ears are not part of Ginger's face structure. Her feet are though. Perhaps she is another greyhound x wolfhound but just more wolfhound than greyhound? No idea..

She certainly has a bit more of the staghound look here:

 We had another walk down the driveway today and she had a few good runs up and down. I watched her run towards me, and was super impressed at her control as she managed to put on the brakes despite running very, very, fast. Her long body helps with that of course. Three bounds, and she's crossed the Atlantic.

Here is Fred trying to give her a run for her money..

It wasn't all running shenanigans though, and Fred spent some time just sniffing around, making sure everything was right in his world.

Fred and Ginger do the Tango, and Ruby joins the fray

Day 3 of Ginger being home, and it's been a busy day. Fred and Ginger are still getting to know each other, and enjoy the chance to do some dancing to see who was going to lead.

Fred: Your footwork's not bad, but could be with a bit polishing up.

Fred: Whoa, easy there...

Fred: um, we're doing the cha cha, not the kangaroo hop...

And then the tables turned..

 

But Fred got tired of the dancing lessons...

Ginger: Whoa, dude. Easy does it....

Ginger: Let's just start out as friends, eh?

 Ginger takes a bit of a breather and goes for a bit of a walk.



But the fun and games aren't over yet, as Ruby comes by for a quick visit and playdate.

Ruby: Hi guys, nice to meet ya!

And all too soon a game of chasies ensues.

Ruby: C'mon slow pokes. Bet you can't get me!

Ginger gets right into it



 But realises quickly that she's not going to be able to keep up

Ginger: Geez that little pocket rocket is fast. Need a break!

 Ruby is quick to commiserate....

Ruby: There, there, there... it's alright. You just keep practising, and you'll be able to catch up to me one day. Maybe.

Fired up by the chase, Fred decides it's time for another dancing lesson, and starts directing everyone.

Fred: Alright people. Now, left, right, left right, that's the way!

But soon his patience comes to an end and he starts demonstrating himself.

Fred: So what you do is lift your pinky toe first...

Fred: And then you go UNDER. That's the secret trick..

Fred: Hey now, don't give up just yet.
Ginger: How's it going back there? Get your lump out of the way Fred, I wanna see..

 But all Ruby wants to do is play hide and seek...

Ruby: And, RAAAAAAAR!!!! I SO GOT YA!!

Ginger's a Talker and Barker..

In all the time I had Elsie, I don't think I ever heard her bark.

Ginger in comparison is a bit of a talker.

What do you mean, I'm a bit of a talker?!

Wolfieboy was suggesting perhaps she was crossed with some Great Dane. That perhaps might explain the talking and the big feet. Neighbours suggested perhaps German Shepherd based on her muzzle. Who knows.

Either way, she starts whining when she's hungry or things don't go her way. She's also been barking at the wildlife, and just now started barking at me in protest when I told her to chill out.

She gave Fred a run for his money this morning, and they spent some time playing before coming inside.

Fred and Ginger doing the Tango

 

Fred: I'm going to get you.
Ginger: C'mon old man, give it your best shot!

Fred: ooooofff! Take that missy!

Ginger: Ok, maybe that wasn't so bad.

Ginger: But I reckon I can give as good as you gave. Here I come...

Fred: Whoa dude.... easy, man. Oh wow, Man, what IS that smell?! What did you find on the walk yesterday? I wish I'd spotted it too. Smells just like decayed kangaroo poo! Alright!!

When I let them inside, she was sooo hyper.

She obligingly spent the morning in the house with us posing for some additional photos. And has spent the rest of the afternoon outside. She has roamed the home paddock a few times and I hear barks intermittently through the day. Her bark echoes through the valley. A little disconcerting, and makes me think that perhaps she'll be a better guard dog and in the Summer will keep us awake - as she'll be sleeping outside to protect the grapes, roses and veggie patch.

What?! Sleep outside in Summer?! WHAT?! I never signed up for that!