Soft sunshine today, after days and days of rain, overcast and drizzle. However, the moisture has been more than welcome. At last, our Labradoodle, Yanqui, can get a bike run. He has been trying so hard to hold himself in and not be Crazy Boy. He's fine until I try to play with him, then he gets so excited he stomps on my feet and keeps bumping me with his nose, so he really needs this run. When my sisters visited over Thanksgiving, the weather was fine and we biked most days and also walked. Since Thanksgiving it's been rain, rain rain.
Last night, we got out under the stars. Poppi was snoozing, but the dogs and I walked beneath a blue moon. There was a bit of mud, but - according to the dogs - everything smelled delightful. The frogs are back, singing in the vineyard ponds. Tonight is the Christmas Parade and I am hoping we can make it into town to see it. The parade is a very "small town" event, with some floats but mostly regular cars, lit with strands of bulbs and carrying hometown revelers. There are always families with dogs in the parade: dogs in antlers; dogs in Santa hats.
We met Yanqui's Sir-to-be at the first Christmas Parade we attended here. It was so cold, and, after introductions, I "asked" the Standard Poodle next to me to keep me warm. During most of the Parade, he either leaned on me or sat on my feet, despite having a loving owner on the other end of the leash. He was also a very well set-up dog with excellent bone and a nice solid head. So I asked his owner about him and she said he was going to be at stud, but not for Standards. She was going to raise Doodles. Mikey, having had a long term love affair with Labradoodles wherever we met them, got her name and number. Two years later, Yanqui was born. I had just had surgery and didn't feel I was yet ready for a pup, having only the use of one arm at the time. But we went to see the last pup left from the litter, also the biggest, and I took him for a walk. At 14 weeks, and with little previous experience, he responded perfectly to leash pressure, and had a very nice, easygoing yet friendly and chummy way about him. Mike was sold when he went back to the car to get something and the pup ran after him, as if to say, "Aren't you taking me home, Mister?"
We met Yanqui's Sir-to-be at the first Christmas Parade we attended here. It was so cold, and, after introductions, I "asked" the Standard Poodle next to me to keep me warm. During most of the Parade, he either leaned on me or sat on my feet, despite having a loving owner on the other end of the leash. He was also a very well set-up dog with excellent bone and a nice solid head. So I asked his owner about him and she said he was going to be at stud, but not for Standards. She was going to raise Doodles. Mikey, having had a long term love affair with Labradoodles wherever we met them, got her name and number. Two years later, Yanqui was born. I had just had surgery and didn't feel I was yet ready for a pup, having only the use of one arm at the time. But we went to see the last pup left from the litter, also the biggest, and I took him for a walk. At 14 weeks, and with little previous experience, he responded perfectly to leash pressure, and had a very nice, easygoing yet friendly and chummy way about him. Mike was sold when he went back to the car to get something and the pup ran after him, as if to say, "Aren't you taking me home, Mister?"
We had to leave Yanqui (then "Samwise") with the breeder that afternoon, but were back the very next morning to pick him up. On the first day in his new home, Yanqui donned his "Raksha collar" (made from her fur). We hoped that his being a pup, plus smelling like her, might encourage or fool her into accepting him as one of her own. With a slow, 2-day introduction, they met and were comfortable together from the beginning. He wanted to play, but she wanted him to be a good boy, and stand back a bit - puhleeze! Now they are a team - a weird team, admittedly, but a team nonetheless. If he hears her bark, he runs to back her up (while staying out of her way - very diplomatically!) If she notices that he hears something she can't hear, or sees something she hasn't seen, she responds to his cue. Yanqui is the only creature, besides myself and Poppi, who is allowed in Rocky's sacred Laundry Room space (which contains the food bins and a well-used and well-loved orthopedic dog bed). Rocky won't even allow our cats in there. Due to her advanced age, we permit her this small grudge.
Below is the Dynamic Duo. Who says opposites can't attract?
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