Buster, Kismet, and chaos

I laid off walking for a couple days but got back to it this morning. It was cooler but the rain last night had the humidity maxed out and there wasn't a breath of wind moving so I had to check to temperature to make sure it really was better.

I took Maya and Buster. They are a really great walking pair. Both dogs do their own thing but they share the walking space very well and don't trip me up or pull me. They are both senior dogs now, eight years old, and that's a real golden age. Buster is an absolutely awesome dog. He must have been trained at some point. because he walks on my left in a perfect "heel" position. He really enjoys the walks and looks disappointed if I take someone other than him. Buster is a great dog indoors too. He barks when he wants out, but he's low-key and not demanding. Buster is the first dog who has slept in bed with us in a long time. I hope he'll get adopted, but we certainly don't have any problem with him being around here for a while.

You have to push him into the position you want him, but
after that he's really pretty good.

He and Maya are both about 8 years old.
It's really the perfect age.

There were two stumps here but of course
they didn't cooperate for a group photo.

I had Luna and Bruno out in Daneland today with Kismet and Journey and happened to get
this really nice picture of Luna in motion.

And then there's Kismet. Actually, Kismet is a very sweet dog. She sits really fast for a food dish and she's sweet, friendly, and loves attention. She's just over a year old and she's a Dane, so she has a lot of energy. She's been occupying Daneland, sharing it during the day with Journey and sometimes with Bruno and Luna as well. She really likes the air conditioned shed and she's sleeping in there at night and during the hot afternoons as well. Kismet learned to use the doggie dog almost instantly. I think she's actually a pretty smart dog. She just needs someone to work with her.

Luna, Kismet, and Journey

Mowing and Running

Late evening mowing has become a regular thing this summer. The half hour before and after sunset is the best time for mowing and the best time for the dogs to be out running in the pasture. The low light, dogs in motion, and me in motion on the mower are three strikes against picture quality. Let let your eyes run over the pictures rapidly, adding yet more motion, to get a feeling of being out there with me on the mower. Some of these were taken when Jackson was still here. He hasn't been returned and the report I received is that he's doing well in his new home.

Jackson following Della

Max and Jackson in the rear, Theo and Della in front.

Della and Buster

Buster is now sleeping in bed with us.

Jackson sporting the windblown ear look that is
common with Danes running outdoors.

Even in the evenings, occasional trips back
to the water tank for a drink, dip, or splash
makes for a welcome respite from the heat.

Max is beginning to blow his coat.
He needs a brush and a bath.

Serena 

Della and Theo

Serena

Serena and Theo. If we aren't playing ball, Theo will
find a spot to lay and watch as I mow.

Della, hunting

A cow dog has no natural camouflage, except maybe
in a snowy woodland.

Bruno's first pasture run.

Max, Bruno, and Serena

Bruno mostly followed Max. He may still be trying to
figure out what makes Max tick, all new dogs go through it.

They sleep solidly after a run, but Della is up before sunrise each morning, ready to go again.

Brindle Buddies

It's been a while since I mentioned Journey. He goes out to Daneland during the day with Kismet and comes in to his crate in the kitchen at night. We've kept that routine going consistently for long enough that it's now his habit. I think he'd go from the house to Daneland without a leash, but I haven't risked that and probably won't. The same goes for coming back inside at night. He still wears the harness he was wearing when he arrived here, but I don't leave the leash attached to it all the time.

He's slightly less skittish around me. He keeps his distance from me when I'm bringing food, but runs immediately to the bowl when I leave it and walk away. He knows that he'll have to let me approach to leash him when it's time to come in. That has usually involved me chasing him around until he finally comes to the gate so I can leash him. The chasing time is gradually getting shorter. I put him in the air-conditioned shed a couple of times in the morning so he had to make his way out the dog door, and he did so, but he hasn't gone back in on his own, even in the hottest part of the day and even though Kismet pops in and out of there all day long.

He takes treats as gently as any dog I've ever had.

He has been fine with Bruno and Luna when I've put them out in Daneland along with Journey and Kismet during the day. He clearly has no problem with dogs, it's people he distrusts, so he shows some good judgment too.

One evening I brought him before we were ready to go to bed so he had some free time in the kitchen where the other dogs were milling about. This was after Buster's friend Jackson had been adopted, and Buster went up to Journey and tried to engage him in play. Journey responded, somewhat awkwardly, but he tried. He has learned to play with Kismet and he seems to know that he may have to play differently with different dogs, but he hasn't yet mastered the art of dog play.

Here's a short list of musts for any prospective home for Journey: A very secure fence, another dog who will engage with him, a person strong enough to handle him on a leash by brute force when required, time, love, and patience.

Journey, Buster, and Maya

Lady Luna

Luna has finished with motherhood and is ready for a life where she is the one being cared for, loved, and pampered. She came out of a bad situation but seems to have survived it unscathed. Luna is about four years old. She is crate trained and seems to be house trained, at least she's never done anything inappropriate in our house. I don't know how she would be around kids or cats, but she has lived with 10 or more other dogs without having a problem with anyone.

Luna enjoys our walks but she also enjoys just hanging out in the open door crate in my office during the day. She's a female shepherd, but she still seems to be a pretty easy dog. She responds well to positive attention. She hasn't really had the chance to bond with a person, but I know what she can and will do so. Luna is available for adoption through Promises Animal Rescue and you can contact Luna's foster home at vadogrescue@gmail.com.

Bruno and Luna on this morning's hike.