A Heartbeat At My Feet

View across the Constantia Glen vineyards from the verandah of the estate's Tasting Room, which we visited on Sunday.

Aside from feebly trying to keep abreast of all the wonderful blogs I follow, this has been a most unproductive week for me, blogging-wise.  Since last week on Thursday, my life has been usurped by an adorable, fluffy-eared, little sweetheart and it's not even mine!  It belongs to my daughter, but as she works away from home for two days a week, and has other intermittent commitments on some weekends, I've been coerced into puppy-sitting this bundle of love, both here at home and at our daughter's home, until he's fully house-trained and able and ready to be left alone at home for short periods of time.

Hi!  Pleased to meet you...I'm the new pup on the block!

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I put myself here...don't you think the couch matches my colouring well?

He's 13 weeks old and was adopted from an Animal Rescue Centre.  What is it about the little so-called "mutts" of the canine world?  They have no claim to pedigrees, nor any status to speak of, yet they arrive with so much in-built charm, such wily little ways guaranteed to win over even the most steely-hearted disposition and, before you know it, they're 'here to stay'! 

This is so comfy, I think I'll test it out for some 'shut-eye' time until I'm spotted!

Regular readers of my blog know that we have three dogs of our own.  We love them to bits and have given them a safe, comfortable home.  In fact, we're their own private butlers, truth be told. 

Oops!  Think I've been spotted!!!

Maybe if I just lie 'doggo' they'll allow me to stay!  It really is such a cosy, quiet spot...

We are definitely not looking to taking on another puppy/adult dog.  Yet, here we are, puppy-sitting as eagerly as if we'd become grandparents!

Our three having a happy time at Rooi Els recently.

At not quite 11 months of age, our Toby is not yet over his own puppyhood.  He belies this fact because, compared to our daughter's tiny pup, he's positively gigantic!  He, however, knows he's still a pup inside and feels this little newcomer has muscled in on his territory.  He doesn't like the situation at all and so, for now, we've had to keep them separated, definitely neither wise nor ideal, but we're working on it! 

The 'neutral territory' where we'd hoped to get the initial 'introductions' off to a happy start on Monday afternoon!

Our initial attempt to introduce them all to each other on Monday afternoon, on neutral ground, failed abysmally.  We'd preceded this arranged meeting to occur post plenty of exercise (ball chasing) and were ready with a selection of tasty treats (bribes), but our carefully engineered plans were foiled! Subsequently, we tried (later) in the garden back at home, again after plenty of exercise (swimming), but that proved no better.

Oh yes!  Please do come closer...I'd really like to get my teeth into you, you little intruder!

Bonny and Heathcliff, however, have taken to him in a big way.  They think he's just too marvellous, especially once he'd put aside his show of bravado and willingly submitted to them.  They both want to be around him all the time.  Heathcliff has become quite the 'show-off' with his repeated diving into the pool to retrieve balls whilst furtively eyeballing the pup to make sure he's watching ALL THE TIME!  Bonny at age 10 & 3/4 years, has the irresistible compulsion to follow the pup devotedly and drool all over him, CONTINUOUSLY!

This, however, will cause problems for Toby, as they're 'his' mates and so we've had to restrict Bonny & Heathcliff's playtime with the puppy to shorter periods, whilst the unhappy Toby is kept isolated in a different part of the garden. Again, definitely not ideal!!!

Lovely views across the vineyards...

I could live here!

Rugged mountains keeping watch...

Don't let those wispy clouds fool you...it was a blisteringly hot day and we'd come to fetch....

Yes!  You guessed correctly!  He'd spent the morning here with our daughter (she has been helping out on odd weekends) and we fetched him to take back to her home for the afternoon...but only after we'd first enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch at the farm :)

Our daughter has booked her puppy in for socialising classes with an Animal Behavourist, starting on Saturday and will discuss the 'Toby situation' with her.  If necessary, we'll engage her services to help Toby overcome this hurdle, as it's important for all concerned that he learns to accept the puppy.

For today, at least, life in our household has returned to normal.  Our three had their walk, followed by their swim and are now contentedly napping.  Tomorrow evening, the pup will be back to overnight with us, as our daughter and her boyfriend have a prearranged function to attend.  She will collect him first thing on Saturday morning, to take him to his first puppy class.

Never let it be forgotten: 

Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend.

  

~ Corey Ford ~