Winter Solstice

Saturday was the winter solstice, the true reason that literally defines the season. It is the first day of winter and it certainly felt like it out there today, especially with that wind, but the sun was shining at least part of the day and we'll be seeing longer days from now on. 

Bear and Cheese stayed in the dog yard after breakfast, but Norman and Bailey came back in for some indoor play time while I made cookies.

A little later we all went out to the pasture and Norman met the puppies for the first time. Cheese played the role of puppy protector but it really wasn't necessary, Norman was very good with them.

Candace met the puppies briefly yesterday, but they were a bit much for her to deal with. She came outside to the yard with Paisley but not to the pasture with everyone else today. 

Candace spends much of the day time on this big bed in the kitchen near the door. In the evenings and at night she's generally on the round fluffy bed in the hallway. In both locations she can keep track of what's going on and can go out with the others when she wants to.

I brought the puppies back into the dog yard and gave them their second meal of the day up on the first level of the playstation. I also added some new ramps so they can access all levels by different routes.

My Solstice bonfire this year was just me burning boxes in the firepit after the wind finally went down and just as the sun was going down.

Cheesecake is ready for adoption

We just call him Cheese. He's about 5-6 months old, neutered male, and is said to be a cross between a Giant Schnauzer and a German Shepherd Dog. The coat and the face are certainly schnauzer-like. Cheese came into the Green Dogs rescue program with a littermate, Apple Pie. Both dogs lacked socialization with anyone other than their sibling, but Cheese in particular seemed almost feral. 

I can't claim much credit for his improvement over the past several weeks, aside from putting up with a few noisy nights, mid-night outings, and crate cleanup. Our household pack of dogs are the ones who have brought Cheese along, brought him into the fold, and gave him a crash course in How to Dog. Bear has been a great big brother to him, putting up with his puppy nonsense and teaching him the ropes. Norman has done his part as well, and Bailey taught him and she's the one who makes the rules around here. The first few days were kind of rough, but his next transition will be a lot easier, both for him and the humans involved. Cheese has learned to use a crate at night, even on long winter nights. He goes into it on his own now, it's his place. He plays appropriately with all the other dogs, having learned who will and who will not engage in play with him. I've taken him on a few hikes and he's learned to walk pretty nicely on the leash. His recall is good, mostly because he wants to be with someone as much as possible, so he's always ready and willing to come when called.

Cheese owes a lot to the other dogs around here, but he has also been giving back in kind by playing big brother to the three younger and smaller puppies from Marvel's litter that we still have. Cheese tolerates their jumping and climbing on him, gives some corrections as needed, but he's also willing to play. 

Cheese probably needs a new name, but what he really needs is a human to bond with and move his training along to the next stage. He may look like a schnauzer, but he's got a shepherd's need for human contact and companionship. I think he will be a very devoted companion once he has a person or people of his own. He would also benefit from having another dog in his new home. Cheese is available for adoption through Green Dogs Unleashed.