A new puppy

This funny looking wee girl (on the left) is the soon to be new addition to our family.

2 weeks ago I went in to the Waitakere Animal Shelter to sort out Pepper's registration for the year (as we'd moved to a new area and needed to change some details) While I was there I was told that a litter of puppies had just arrived and would I like to see them. (This is where I should have said no!!!!) They had been left at 5 weeks old in a box on the side of the road with a sign saying "Free" beside them. They're heeler cross (probably with a short coated border collie/heading dog)

One of the hardest things for me is that they must be spayed prior to leaving the kennels, so she will be spayed at 8 weeks. I understand why they have this rule, and certainly agree that it's necessary to control the overwhelming population of unwanted dogs that they and the SPCA have to deal with. But I still feel 8 weeks is a bit young! I've done lots of thinking and research and have spoken to 4 different vets and have decided that while it's not ideal, it's also not the end of the world and that alot of the information (both pro and con pre-pubescent spay) is not based on scientific studies more just hear-say. And the vets I have spoken to have much me feel much more confident.

Let the fun begin!

My dog is smarter than your baby

....

What canary????

New house plus Cambodia & Singapore

Its been all quiet on the blogger front from me for the past month but far from quiet at home. First of all, we moved into our first home. Very exciting, I'd been packed for about a month before we moved. The house is a renovated three bedroom 1960's bungalow, its got awesome safe and high fences all the way around, including a double fenced area around the garage (so Pepper can't get onto the road when we open the gate to drive in/out) The yard isn't huge but is more than enough to throw a ball or Frisbee or set up weaves and a few jumps.



The week we moved in we went down to Hamner (in the middle of the south island, a few hours from Christchurch) for a wedding, was a fantastic weekend and a gorgeous location.

Then the next weekend we traveled over to Singapore and Cambodia for a wee holiday (which was planned way before we brought our house, not very fortuitous of us!) I was totally unprepared for how muggy and hot it would be! We had a great time, particularly in Cambodia.

Incredible temples in Cambodia.

Cute wee dog that lived in the hotel in Siem Reap (actually not all that cute, tried to bite me!)

Singapore sling - not really all it was cracked up to be, very sweet.

Ridiculously huge Marina Bay Sands

Ben getting a fish spa! (I couldn't bear to put my feet in there, too tickley)

Singapore Zoo - amazing!

Animal tricks show!

The concept for this show was apparently a new one, the set was really cool.
The dog tricks were pretty unimpressive to be honest - the three bigger dog were elderly and overweight, they each did only one trick. This one turned on a light.

This little one did jump tricks (but had very little focus, kept running over to the crowds in between jumps)

Hoop jumping border collie

On the other hand, the cat tricks were GREAT! The cats (4 or 5 different ones) would come out of one side of the stage, saunter over to the other side, climb a pole and then run through the cat doors. They had one even jump into a rubbish bin!

And some wee rats performing too!

Cute baby pygmy hippo

On the agility front, we're having big weave issues in competition, 4 out of 4 runs disqualified at the weaves. She's definitely getting more focus and drive though and has stopped skipping round jumps.

And as for obedience, we've only had one competition. I thought heelwork was decidedly average but only got 2 points off. Then the recall, little beggar ran and sat behind me! Stays were fine. So we've been training recalls religiously since and have decided for a new "word" for the present, so instead of saying "OK, Pepper come" I say "OK, In front" as I realised that when we're walking and I call her back to me casually, perhaps to avoid a person or another dog, I say "Pepper,come" and so had been confusing her. So far it seems to be working.

Now we need to get moving on DWTDS!!!!!

Rex in the frost

Here's an old video I wanted to share. This is Rex (or Fairhaven's Sexy Rexy) He was I think 5 or 6 years old in this video that was taken about 4 years ago. He was a 15hh black purebred Morgan stallion. (Since gelded) A total dude to ride but a bit of a nightmare to handle. He was particularly fond of sharking anything he could get his teeth on, including body parts, not maliciously, just cause he liked to. This video was taken from the top story of a house that overlooked his paddock, I think he knew we were watching. It was one of those days when its so cold the frost never melts. Somehow he got so much joy from sliding the bin over the ground, it went on for quite some time. The blue bin that he is carrying is h-e-a-v-y, like, I would have to use both hands to pick it up and struggle.

If it rains it pours.....

Just two weeks ago I made the comment that wasn't it great that Pepper hadn't injured herself or had to go to the vet at all since November. Well I totally jinxed myself, In the past 10 days we've had to go three times. First she lacerated three of the pads on her feet again (this time they weren't too bad and I just got off by just showing the vet and dressing her paw myself).

Then three days later while on the beach she got explosive (like you would not believe!) diarrhea. We were 30 minutes aways from the car and after 20minutes she refused to go any further due to constant bum leakage. I would not recommend to anybody to try and carry a wet, squirming, sandy dog, especially one that is violently leaking out of its rear end. I was really worried so took her straight to the vet (we were in Muriwai so 40minute drive there) Of course, y the time we arrived she had made my car smell unbelievable (in a bad way) but had perked up quite considerable and was happy as a clam. A quick check up showed no temp and no sore tummy. It continued to a much lesser extent over night but fine the next day.



The final insult was yesterday when she was playing in the hedge in the back garden. She came out shaking her head and holding her right ear off to the side. I had a good look, couldn't see anything. It seemed to bother her for a couple of hours but then she seemed fine the rest of the day/night. This morning not so much - lots of head shaking/tilting and funny ear positions. So off to the vet who saw a piece of stick embedded right down the bottom of her ear canal. She needed to have an anaesthetic to have it removed because it was so deep. Since she's come home she's been hugely incontinent so I really hope that she doesn't get another UTI on top of everything.

Tonight shes still as happy as ever and was not impressed about not being able to go to training tonight, destroying one of the boxes I was using for packing to make her displeasure known!

Swimming away all her troubles

Up periscope!

To finish, some very cute photos of a friends 8 week old working kelpie puppy, Kep.

Another ridiculous trick

While trying to train a handstand, I have inadvertently taught Pepper to do a wee jump on the spot. It's pretty funny.