Invisible biter

So Asparagus is a utility dog. He needs work. If he has no work to do he will find work. This may constitute finding a ball and bringing it to a human so as to have it thrown creating the work of retrieving. Usually it is not that easy around the house as there are not many balls around. So he will follow us closely, pocking his nose into our faces just in case he can find some work to be done. If we go into a room to get something, he will promptly follow us. This may backfire for him if we do not notice him and he gets locked in that room. Unfortunately it is normaly far from not notice him.

So this morning I was puttting my son's shoes on. He was sitting on Mum who was on the couch. I was knealing and Asparagus could not help but stand over me. His head was between the shoe and me, right in my line of sight. Sure if he was utility enough to put a toddlers shoes on great but he does not seem to go much past ball retrieving.

I got one of my fingers and flicked him near the nose. It was like electricity had struck him. Asparagus was out of there quick smart. That corner of the lounge now contained a "biter" in his mind. Of course there is no better place for him to go but to the close comfort of his master, so he went of to my other shoulder and stood backed away a little. His eyes fixed on the biting corner of the room. His face worried, as much for his master as for himself should the biter bite again.

What better way to spend Easter but with Family. Well this is the first time in over 6 years that it was spent with my Parents. We came close 2 years ago when on the Monday before it was decided that if the dogs are comming then we are not allowed to go. My family rents a house in the pretty mountain town of Mt Beauty. The rules of the rental house are no pets. We warned them that the veggie dogs are part of the family. As Easter is a family event, they are to be involved. I certainly could not bare putting them in a kennel. Well 2 years ago it was no go! but now with our 20 month old son, how could any grandma and grandpa say "No"? The whole family was invited including the dogs.

As for the no pets policy, well what do you do? just ignore it! We all had a great time and with all the walks, swims and fresh air, Zucchini and Asparagus were on best behaviour, asleep.

I started preparing for the trip 1 week prior by taking them for walks. Yes I have been slack lately and they have missed walks for up to a week at a time. This is all controlled by the destruction factor. A low destruction factor, everything looks fine, and I put dog walks on the back burner. A medium destruction factor, a new hole in the lawn, and I strat thinking about taking them for a walk. Chaos in the form of chewed collars, chewd washing on the line, torn bed, nappies disappearing, then it is time to walk them. So a week out from the holiday they had a few surprise extra walks. This was in prepration for the car trip.

The drive is around 4 hours plus a stop somewhere along the way. They are good car travelers and they did not disappoint this time. There was one time when Gus was in the boot of the station wagon which just seemed a little too far from his owner and he started squeaking (whining). I moved him to the passanger seat behind me and Zucchi into the boot and things settled. I must mention that I went up with my Dad so there was no kids and wives involved just yet.

We arrived at the accommodation around midnight. It was a quick hello to my Mum and off to the master bedroom to find my wife (pregnant) and son(20 month old) taking up the whole double bed. Just as I expected, I was to sleep on the floor. I set up the dog beds in the corner and lay myself down on a sleeping mat under a doona (quilt). We were all tired. At 3 am a wet nose told me that he was not that tired. It was Gus wanting a little warmth from the doona. I was tired, I wanted more sleep, I lifted up the edge and he bolted under. In no time at all Zucchini was out of her bed and nosing at the other edge. Again it was just easier to give in and let her under. I did have a Queen size doona so it was not all that bad. One dog on each side warmming me up, quite cozy.

I must explain that short haired pointers, are just that short haired. Gus is not only shorthaired but sparse haired. Very warm to touch but that is because he lacks the insulation and he loves any help he can get, like another dog, a human body, a doona.

I think I got another hour of that precious morning, I know I will get up soon, sleep. Then the dogs started to get restless. One got up and went to the door, a whine to let her out for an explore. I encouraged her to come back. Then the other got up and tried to re-arrange himself under the doona. He swung around 360 degrees in the process wrapping the doona around himself like a corkscrew. I was uncovered I was cold and lethargic. Zucchini wasn't she quickly jumped on Gus still tangled in the doona and tried to get under it. Paws on my tummy, on my head, everywhere. I managed to resettle them another couple of times.

It was 5am by the time that the dogs together with my wife's "I think you better let them our for a wee" caused me to get up. I let them outside. They disappeared for at least 10 minutes giving me time to get dressed. Then it was off on a walk. Just on sunrise at around half past six they were in a lake swimming after ducks. At least Zucchini was, Gus just sits on the bank and barks at the ducks and at Zucchi. We finaly got home for breakfast around 9am. Dogs ate and went to bed.

That is how it continued for the next 3 days. The morning walks turned more and more into just letting them out in the morning and waiting till they had decided that they want to come back. They slept all the time they were inside unless someone was cooking, which happens to be most of the time in a Polish house hold which this was, or if some fresh legs had come in for a visit to be sniffed.

Keeping them well walked lowered destruction to almost nill. There was a few scratches in the deck from Zucchini boning (eating smoked bones) and at one stage she did try to take a plastic bowl left for dog licking for an excursion to her bed but that was all.

I did mention that this was a Polish house hold and what better way to celbrate Easter Monday but with "Smingus Dingus", a traditional water squirting of everyone in preperation for a good harvest. Well this is all turned upside down now days. First of all this is done by everyone and anyone in Poland. Especially teen boys, living in appartaments with balconies over popular walk ways and a few spare buckets. The other is that as far as Australia is concerned, we are heading into autum and not spring, so the water is not going to help any harvest. All the same it is wise to have a bottle of water handy or a water pistol.

Now Zucchini and Asparagus are gun dogs. They are good with loud noises but when something is aimed at them they can be a cowering mess. Zucchi is tough, she can handle it and run out of the room. Gus finds a table to stand under and just shivers. His frame ususaly supporting his trim and athletic muscles somehow hunches over and shakes. His face which never shows any tiring on a walk turns old and worried as if the end of the world is comming. For heavens sake Gus, we are not even firing at you, pull yourself together.

As the public holidays drew to an end, we packed everything and everyone into the car and it was off home. Everyone slept. Well the driver didn't nor did the toddler so no one probably did but we did make it home and it was the end of yet another successful holiday.

The start of Veggie Dogs

So this is the start of Veggie Dogs. A live history of my 2 dogs Asparagus and Zucchini. This is correct, 2 German Sorthaird Pointers (GSP's) named after vegetables. In fact my wife and I are planning to hold with this theme till "death do us part", name all of our dogs after vegetables.

So this is the start of spreading the word about Veggie Dogs. A blog and hopefully soon a podcast about the antics that our dogs get upto. See you soon.