Ginny Across the Road

Have you seen Rusty's blog with photos of Ginny and Maggie playing? They look fierce there. That's a different kind of play than when they go for walks. This is the third successful trip Across the Road With Three Dogs. I think we've got it down now that Ginny will walk on a leash without trying to play with the others. Once we're to the dirt road along the canal I can let her go and all three dogs run free. I don't worry about Ginny as long as she is with Rusty and Maggie. She stays right with them.   When I take my camera Across the Road my walk could not be considered a workout. It turns into a pretty leisurely walk because I get easily distracted by envisioning things in photos. I guess the dogs like that because we're out longer.

 

Can you believe this blue sky? What a day for January! But it's very troubling that we haven't had any rain since December. Another thing about a blue sky--it shows up the slightest dirt on my lens or in my camera. But I'm too tired to fix it now.

Ginny - 3 months old

Ginny has been here a month and will be 3 months old on Monday. I still feel this pressure to turn her into a Well-Mannered Dog, but I think we are doing OK. I have decided that puppyhood is like condensing the childhood years from 0 to 15 into about 8 months. That's how much time I have to get it right. She has a smudged face from rough-housing with Rusty. He is still stand-offish a lot of the time but he has his moments. In the early morning I can see Rusty playing with Ginny in the yard but I think he doesn't want me to know. After doing chores Ginny and Maggie play (me bribing Maggie with treats) and Rusty will chase, but not get involved in the actual tussling. When I am finished at the computer it's Rusty's turn for a blog post and he'll show the photos of this morning's play time.Here is the doorway. Rusty is in his regular spot at the backdoor. Maggie has the mat to the right and Ginny has a couple of towels...and a stick. It's a good thing that when Dan built this back porch  he used two doors. We are now using the door to the right that leads directly to the laundry room because if you go in the usual door you have to climb a puppy fence. When we all go in I open that door for Ginny and the other door for the rest of us.  Yesterday I tried to take all three dogs for a walk Across the Road. That was a mistake. Ginny was way too excited and distracted and trying to play with Maggie and pull on the leash. Today I took her on her own walk and she did very well.  This is the latest photo while I'm at my desk.

Maggie the Babysitter

All three dogs come to the barn when I do chores.So that I can keep track of her Ginny is on a chain while I'm cleaning the barn and putting out hay. After chores it is play time.Maggie has only rarely shown an inclination to play and maybe that's because Rusty doesn't either. Once in awhile she will show the "play-bow" move and run off in what I think of as the cartoon-dog run. Ginny, of course, is desperate to play with anyone who shows the least interest. I have figured out that I can bribe Maggie into playing with Ginny--at least for awhile. When she responds to Ginny's play attempts I have given Maggie a treat and said "play with the puppy". It seems to be working because I can prolong playtime that way. The longer the better to wear out that puppy. That doesn't look like play, but it is.  Rusty just watches, wanting nothing to do with them.  Maggie coming back to me for another treat before she goes another round with Ginny.

Ginny Gets Around

Ginny has been here a week and a half. I have been taking her with me on errands so that she'll be used to going in the car and to help get her socialized. Her first trip to the big city was when I delivered woven pieces to The ClayGround in Winters for a holiday sale.  Ginny's selfie when choosing a Christmas tree. Ginny at her first visit to the veterinarian. Socializing at home with some of the spinners.  Christmas shopping in Vacaville. We're watching cars go by. More Christmas shopping. I learned that it's best to go during times of heavy rain because most people stay home (or maybe they are at the malls instead of walking to stores). Even in  town you can get off the cement.Back home at the shop. Rusty is fairly tolerant but not always happy about having Ginny around.View from inside looking out.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

I sat at the computer most of the day while it rained. These are iPhone photos taken from my chair of Ginny in between chewing on toys, cuddling, and potty trips outside. That's a tired puppy.Ozzie and Sunny on their perch.

Ginny

PuppyWorld. That's the world I've been in for almost 36 hours now and it feels as intense as motherhood. (Maybe every decade of age adds to that.) Rusty has already blogged about his impressions on Day 1 and Day 2. Here's Day 1 for me in photos.On Wednesday I drove to Mendenhall Wool Ranch, where Rusty was born, to pick up Ginny who is 8-1/2 weeks old (born October 12). There were two litters of red Border Collie puppies born in the same week. This photo shows what it is like to walk around there. Rusty's blog shows photos of Ginny being introduced. This one just has cute puppy photos.I was trying to get photos of Ginny but she was nervous and every time I squatted down for a photo she ran over and sat on my feet.

 Eventually I moved over enough with my foot still in place that I could get some cute shots.

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Notice that she is still sitting next to my foot.

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I tried to get all three dogs in one photo but Maggie and Rusty didn't want to cooperate.