Civilization

The new year isn't off to a great start around here as far as adoptions are concerned. Norman did great with meeting prospective adopters but they (or one of them) decided they weren't going to adopt any dog right now. Today we had a meeting with prospective adopters for one of the puppies, Rogue. Once again, the two people in the couple didn't seem to be on the same page when it came to adoption. Disappointing, sure, but also rather amusing in the case of today's adopters. Upon meeting the three pups, one of today's adopters specified that they were looking for a "more civilized" puppy. Umm, I don't think they come like that. 

Rogue, Elektra, and Storm may not be "civilized" but they are very well socialized, both with people and with dogs. They are bold, adventurous, and confident puppies. That's the kind we raise around here. It was obviously not a good match and I doubt that any puppy would be for them. They went on their way and Rogue spent the rest of the day with her uncivilized sisters while I had a good laugh.

This handsome dude is Fletcher. He belongs to a friend and is just with us for a short time. He's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, which is a lot like a chocolate lab but with a short, tight, curly coat. He loves the retrieving business more than anything. 

And here's a few random pictures of the rest of my uncivilized pack from the last few days. 

Gus

Norman, kicking up his heels running in the pasture.

Paisley

Bear

Gus and Bailey

Bailey and Bear

Gus

Bailey

Gus again, he's very photogenic.

Candace out on a stroll in the pasture.

Bear

Elvis and Norman

Paisley

Bear

Candace

New year changes

Clay is currently on a 12 day trip to Portugal and France. He's looking at the cities of Porto in Portugal and Lille in France to assess them as possible places where we may move in the coming year. Note that this post is early in January, not on April 1st. This isn't a joke, we are serious. I will be retiring in March. He has long wanted to move overseas to see and experience more of the world. If we are ever going to do it, this is the time. We are still young enough, I hope, to make a big change and be able to actively enjoy it. 

Why now? Well, like I said, I'm retiring in March, and we've been in our current location and its associated lifestyle for 25 years. Of course it's no secret that I've lost faith in this country, which seems unable to take even a small step forward without following it up with two steps back. There's a predominant culture that prides itself in ignorance, ugliness, and hate. We are ready for a change and this seems like the time. 

It will be a change. A big change. We realize that there will be things we don't like about it, but we hope and expect that there will be even more things that we do like, particularly the opportunity for new experiences and new adventures. If we really hate it, we can come back, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. There are a lot of things to be worked out, the when, where, and how. We are actively investigating myriad factors and options but unless we run into some insurmountable roadblock, we are moving forward. 

Here a few pictures he sent from Porto today:

New Year's Day

This was the day I had intended to take Norman for a second meeting with prospective adopters. They backed out before we had set up the meeting, however, saying that they loved Norman but had decided against adopting any dog at this time. Well fuck. But Norman is happy here and he just becomes more adoptable every day, so we will wait until his home comes along.

With my day opened up and the sun shining, it was a good day for a walk. Yesterday's rain had everything muddy again of course, which limited my hiking options. But I've got two Bernese Mountain Dogs in the house right now and I really wanted to take them out together, knowing what an impressive pair they would be, and when would I have another chance to walk two Big Hairy Beasts at the same time?

I got them both in the back of the van and off we went to Pleasant Grove to walk the two mile route on the road through the park. The foster dog, Gus, is the one on the red leash. Cosmo (former foster boarding with us until Friday) is on the green leash. I needed to figure out how to tell them apart because Big Hairy Beasts have very consistent and similar size, shape, coat, coloring, and markings. Gus has a broader white patch on his chest, and also a more prominent white stripe on his forehead and between his eyes. Of course, those distinguishing characteristics only help if you see them from the front. Walking them together I realized that they differ from the rear view in how they carry their tail. Cosmo's tail may vary in height and position, but Gus always carries his tail high over his back in a perfect "C" shape. 

Gus isn't wonderful on the leash but he wasn't too bad. If just one of them wanted to stop to sniff something I could get him moving again with a tug on the leash. However, if they both stopped at once, we stopped until the sniffing was done. I outweigh one of them, but maybe not both of them. 

It was a chilly, windy walk and there weren't a lot of folks out to take in the impressive sight of two Berners walking together, but we enjoyed it anyway. 

Gus, red leash, white stripe on forehead

From this angle it's hard to tell them apart.

Gus, notice the tail position and the broad white area on his chest.

This was one of the "We WILL be stopping here to sniff" moments.

Cosmo

Cosmo again

Gus

This shows the difference in the tail carriage.