Barbara's pups

17 Jun '07 2:21 am

This morning Suzie Quatro of the four white feet took the lead by not only being the first to get out of her box and come to greet me, but also later to return when she wanted more heat. The others didn't even try! Then when I took them outside at lunch, she was the lead dog all the way, sturdy on her legs, loud, and excited - little tail went like mad. Abbey wasn't far behind though. Well, she had to be, my money is on her! Of the boys the black and white one is dominant (originally I thought he and Abbey were the strongest. He needs a name: any suggestion for a general who sees/saw things in black and white, slightly shaggy in appearance? (Well don't they/ aren't they all?)

The second strongest boy has oodles of personality, and the quaintest little face. His markings make him look like he's wearing theatre make-up in order to look like an old man. I've called him Winston after Churchill. Might not have been a general, but Admiral of the Fleet is a pretty good approximation! The weakest boy is all black. I've called him Mzilikatse, after the general who ran so far from Chaka Zulu that his descendants, the Matabele, ended up in Zimbabwe where many were massacred by Robert Mugabe's troops in the 80s... Have you noticed that he has not made much of an impression on me. Little Lucia, far from being able to warble her way through a passionate mad scene, should be rechristianed Violet - as in Shrinking Voilet. No compliment to my friend Sally there. So Violet she is.

17 Jun '07 2:33 am

Our next dog will have to be a puppy. Fletcher came to us at the age of almost 4 years, but Sophie we got as a puppy. That second picture of Susie Quatro has smitten me. She looks so perky and curious. I'd be over there haggling for her if you weren't quite so far away and if we didn't already have our hands full with two. Yep, definitely a puppy next time.

21 Jun '07 5:21 am

Oh Jack, I don't know how you can resist any of them. They are soooo cute! Have you decided on the keeper/keepers (?). I also love the names you have given them. Such a deep thinker you are.

16 Jul '07 4:40 am

On Thursday the pups were 8 weeks old. It is time for them to find homes now, but everyone seems to have waited for me to return and do something about it... Only Suzie has left, to join a family who are colleagues of mine. My folks say they don't want a pup, but I must take one... they believe they aren't on the farm often enough to bond fully, I in turn want them to have a young, wide-awake INSIDE-dog.

Where does that leave us? With Suzie gone, Abbey is definitely the top dog. Second is the little black male, at one stage the 'runt'. Yesterday I walked with all the pups to my house, some 200m (yards). They were the only two who came all the way - and were fed here for their trouble. Violet, the shy one, turned back very quickly. Winston, the clumsy, lazy one turned back after some consideration. The black and white boy, the only one still nameless, agonised about turning back for a long time and eventually did so when we were nearly here. And then stood by his decision when I called him urgently. Help please: the name of a general who retreated in the face of victory???

So the black boy has been rechristened: he is now Hani after Chris Hani, the young intellectual and military leader of the ANC who was assasinated by a madman in the early days of the negotiations towards a new South Africa. Hani is a South African icon. And my grandfather had a wonderful dog, the closest in looks to Barbara I have ever known, called Heiny. So Hani it is. And I'm considering keeping him (as well as Abbey). But then perhaps the beautiful but timid Violet with the black ridge down her back would be the better dog for old people. I'm scheming, you see.

Must add this: after this afternoon's photo session I was walking home, when I suddenly realised that Abbey and Hani were right with me. They never considered not joining. In fact I first went to the tunnel to check on things, and they walked up and down inside with me, then came home. Where they were of course rewarded with a bite to eat! A good 300m, before they had to walk the 200m home, all accomplished in a bouncy, inquisitive, it's-good-to-be-a-puppy kind of way.

17 Jul '07 6:16 am

This morning two dogs followed me home: Abbey and Winston (the 'old man'). Abbey came right in as if this was home. Winston hung around outside with his funny-forlorn look. (I'm sure there is Chow somewhere in his bloodline - what a mix their blood must be!) Then he ran back. I watched him for a good 120 meters as he ran (well: puppy-hopped) back home. After a while Abbey wailed a little, realising that neither her mother nor her siblings were present. So I picked her up as I drank my morning tea. And this was the result.

Now I must prepare a picture sheet to advertise the pups at school and in the village. Three or four must still find a good home...

18 Jul '07 2:16 am

I dont think there is anything better than a puppy. I love the cornbread breath! I wish I lived even close enuf to you to come sit on the ground and play with them! Lucky lucky you!
I had a mama cat with 4 kittens and loved them all so much I kept them all! Heres hoping you and Abbey have a good life as I think thats the keeper! Wink

May they all find lovely homes and have a dogs life!

30 Jul '07 6:02 am

Abbey has been with me 9 days - and a joy. But as it is the pay-day long weekend I have had 5 visitors... Suzie is happy in her new home, one of the boys was going to leave us, one of the boys will most likely leave us this week - and then Phineas wants to keep one of the boys and I might keep Violet as my parents are relenting into puppyhood. Perhaps they will accept that when they get back to the farm they have their own puppy... I want them to! Be it as it may: 5 of the 6 are still with us after 9 or 10 weeks!

Several times I wished I had a camera with me: 5 pups running towards me up a slope; two pups locked in battle rolling DOWN a slope; pups building courage to jump out the tailgate of my wagon; 5 pups (and their mother) all trying to be carressed by one hand (that one left me bleeding.) But I only got them when they crashed. So here they are.

31 Jul '07 7:33 am

I love it! They are so cute all squished together. Just makes you want to give the whole lot a giant hug.

25 Sep '07 8:45 pm

So - all the puppies have found homes. Two are with colleagues and their children, one is with friends in the village, one Phineas found a home for and two are with us. I carefully say 'two are with us' and not 'Phineas kept one and I kept one' because it aint that simple.

By day during the week they are with him on the farm or at his house. I've been stopping when I get home, often late at night, and collecting Abbey on my way in, but now she comes running home when she hears my car. Over the weekends Winston moves in with me. It looks as though we'll set up a perfectly workable relation, just as we have with Stompie. When my parents are here she moves home and becomes the matriarch there; when they are away she moves down and fits into my household demurely but well.

The first pic I took an hour ago; since I am on holiday and the weather miserable, they are perfectly happy here with me still. (We've just had a long weekend in SA) Earlier they were romping allover, now they're on Taubie's sofa, which she good-naturedly vacates when they take over. Monty has been away up the valley at Cheerio Gardens most of the weekend, checking on guests, making sure they are welcomed and generally showing all the visitors around. I've accepted it: he is where the action is.

The second picture I took last week. It is not often that you get a the three stationary at the same time! The third is a hopeless photo, but it is the best of several, a delightful moment with the puppies playfighting in a heap of wintery oak leaves that they completely sank away in, and that rustled in a way to make any child (of any age!) want to play.

25 Sep '07 9:13 pm

But they have become such cuties these puppies!! With such magectic names, too! I have been wondering for years , if I could handle adopting a little fellow like yours.. My heart starts beatting quickly at the very moment the thought passes my mind....You see my cats, ALL the cat family members during these recent years, were well disciplined children : not sitting on sofas , or chairs, not climbing on tables. They had their own perfect clean and soft beds, and some clean, warm carpeted spots, if they wished to take a nap...Perfectly using their cat toilettes -- if it was rainy outside...How could I discipline a baby pup, not making his pipi on the white carpets and not climbing the sofas -- except if I am myself sitting there? Dogs, are much less independent creatures than cats... More human oriented...Where/howcome could I leave them alone during holidays --- IF I have to? There are lots of practical and sentimental problems , when adopting a darling doggy, you see....

Barbara's pups

Progress Report: Suzie takes the lead

That does it!

Adorable pups

Eight weeks plus...

Do I have any choice in the matter?

Weekend visitors

Puppies, puppies, puppies

Pup update

Heartwarming scenes!