A very doggie day

Saturday morning I took Bonnie, Zippy, and River over to Green Dogs for some vetting. Bonnie surprised us by already having a microchip and her vaccines were current. She just got a dose of wormer. Zippy was also already microchipped but she got her rabies and parvo/distemper vaccines, and a dose of wormer. River just had his rabies vaccines updated, about a month ahead of schedule. 

In the afternoon, Maddie (formerly Allie) came by for a run in the pasture. I took the other dogs out as well, except Zippy. Zippy had just been spayed two days ago and I knew the level of play out there would far exceed the recommended level of activity for her. Maddie was ready to play and with Zippy not being there, and Della not being cooperative, she and River went at it for a while. I had to extract Della from the scene because Maddie tried to play with her while she was on her back rolling in the grass and the two of them got into a fight. Then I brought over Axel and Bonnie who had been in Daneland. It was Bonnie's first time in the pasture, first time meeting Max, River, and Della, and she really wasn't prepared for Maddie's size and energy. Axel, however, makes up for what he lacks in size with more than enough energy. Before long he and Maddie were running around and eventually Bonnie joined in. 

Later in the afternoon I took Zippy for a walk up at Pleasant Grove, just the two of us, just two miles. She's easily controlled with the gentle leader and it really helps with her tendency to be reactive (barky) with everyone we see. I need to take her for a walk on the downtown mall and to some breweries - maybe tomorrow.

Serena is beginning to use that rear right leg and she's been carrying off the ground for the past several weeks. My elation at this development is tempered by the fact that she isn't eating well. I think her avoidance of food is because I've been hiding pills in it, without much success. Serena is adverse to taking pills. "Adverse" is an understatement. It seems like a phobia with her, not exactly phagophobia (fear of swallowing), it's more pharmacophobia (fear of taking medication). I've given up because I just get so frustrated and it's causing her to avoid her food because she suspects me of putting something in it. The one thing I've tasked Clay with doing now is giving Serena her pills, putting them down her throat and holding her mouth closed until she swallows. Giving her food untainted with pills or even any supplements, she finally ate all her dinner this evening. 

I was a pain in the ass as a kid refusing pills as well. I remember that they had to give me liquid medication for beyond the normal age when children were expected to swallow pills. I feel my mother's pain and frustration. I don't think I ever apologized to her for this, but I should have. 

Bonnie has a sweet face.

Zippy is a fine looking shepherd. Even she shadow is pretty.

Who wouldn't?

Erika sent me a message about 4:00 this afternoon asking if I wanted a five month old black Dane. The only possible response to that question is "who wouldn't?" And that's how Bonnie came to us about 8:00 p.m. this evening.

The youngsters around here, Zippy and Axel, are thrilled about it. The older dogs, not so much. But she will be a great playmate for Axel especially, who is about the same age and energy level.

Della and I got out for a 3.5 mile walk before Bonnie arrived. There weren't many people out and about at Pleasant Grove late this afternoon, which made for better wildlife viewing opportunities. We surprised a hawk, or he surprised us, he flew down out of a tree not far from us, apparently after some small prey on the ground. I'm not sure if he got it or not, but he then flew back up, almost vertically, and disappeared in some trees. A little way farther down the trail we scared up a wild turkey, who also flew almost straight up and away from us as fast as he could. Yes, wild turkeys can fly. And to round out the wildlife adventure we spotted a couple deer. I didn't see them until they started running and then just had a quick glimpse of their white rear ends disappearing into the woods. I was glad I had the gentle leader on Della.

The three young dogs played in the house for a while this evening until they were annoying me as well as the older dogs and I put them all in crates for the night. More on Bonnie in coming days, I'm sure.

Her initial descent down the steps was not graceful.

It was chaotic, i.e. "fun." 

She quickly improved on the stairs.

I think she likes it here.

3.5 miles

Zippy

Zippy was spayed today. She'll be getting her vaccines updated on Saturday and then she is ready for a new home, and Zippy is ready. Yes, she was a big much when she first arrived, but Zippy has got with the program and routines around here, and she's matured a bit, particularly in comparison to the younger and wilder Axel. 

She's just shy of one year but she's crate trained and house trained. She's a shepherd so she sticks close to you, believing that a human's activities are the most interesting thing going on. She has learned to walk on a gentle leader, and she will learn anything you want to teach her. She's an eager and attentive student and highly motivated by both treats and attention.

Everyone at the vet's office commented on how nice and sweet Zippy was today. She went into the building with a total stranger but not an ounce of fear or apprehension. Much of the world is unknown to her but she is ready to take it all on. She's at the perfect stage for a shepherd person. She's clay that is ready to molded, ready to learn and explore.