Running and Running and Running and.....

Wow.

This week, the boy has really been running a lot! Wednesday night, he and Skally had me chasing them and running from them, and they were having a blast! I was a little fatigued by the time we left!

Rusty was on his feet chasing and sniffing and having a lovely time, while Skally walked about hoping that I would begin again. But no. So, she found a young, un-neutered male who she watched out the corner of her eye; but, alas and alack, he was still a pup, and wanted to run with the other dogs - she demands exclusivity. She's a princess that way.

Well, last night I ran with them, but Rusty kept joining in the pack, and Sonny, a young rescue, decided that he would run away from her, since she LOVES to herd him. So, for nearly an hour and a half, Rusty was going going going going, much to the amazement of the other dog pops and moms who were watching, and have seen him develop over the past 5 weeks.

One thing I noted, was that Rusty is a bit of a pill. He really wants the dogs to run for him to chase them. But he's a good pill. When he and another dog had Sonny pinned to the ground, I called him and he turned and came right away - but then ran back once I gave him permission. He was a dog in heaven!

When we came home, both dogs crashed! I fed them, and they scarfed down their meals (of course I gave them a little steak with their meals - maybe that helped, but it was really only gilding the lily with their hunger!). Then they fell asleep. They awoke only to have their nylabone dessert, and then were comatose until bed time, which was only walking from one room, down the hallway and into the bedroom.

This morning, Rusty was a little slow in getting up - slower than yesterday, which was another slow start - usually he's up and gadding about within a few minutes of my slogging around the kitchen. Skally was a little tired, as well, but she was really raring to go when walk-time came about.

Rusty was quite slow on the walk today - yesterday was a good one, with the challenge to walk all the way up to the top of 185th and through the new neighborhood. I love the sparkle of the lights below - you can see Hillsboro, North Plains, Beaverton, and the West Hills of Portland - but today we went on our usual trek. He seemed inclined to just walk a block and then return. Even this, though, seemed a challenge. But we did it. And once we hit the grade school, he was showing his fatigue. However, he rose to the challenge and came galumphing up to me at the gate and his pace quickened as we headed back up the hill to home.

Now, he's quietly dozing next to me, awaiting his breakfast. Skally is in the hallway with one eye open. We'll see how active they are this afternoon.

To be honest, the pallor of death has lifted from the house. It feels alive again after the deaths of Cubby and Syd, which still smart and make me quite sad. I verily miss them so much, as does Skally. But the enervation of Rusty has helped raise the optimism and life which once was here - we're nearly normal, but it will be difficult to say we'll ever be the same without our wonderful Ba's.

Becoming a dog

After a very long walk in the morning, which Rusty seemed to really enjoy, I was impressed. He is becoming more and more of a dog. He is lifting his leg, doing a paw wipe after pees and poops, and playing well with most other dogs. He really seems to enjoy the park!

I had a chat with Skally and Rusty on Sunday. There still seems to be something missing in their relationship - that there truly is one - and if we're going to be a successful pack, this needs to stop!

I explained to Skally and Rusty that they both have different jobs. Skally's is to hunt, and Rusty's is to herd. They might need to figure out how they are going to blend the two so they can play, but that is up to them.

So, later, after returning from Sunday dinner, I gave them both their chew bones. They lay quite close to each other. I stayed in the room, sat down and watched - just in case. Success!

Yesterday, Monday, I noticed there was a little more interplay between them. And when we got to the park, they sort of stuck around each other. In fact, at one point, whilst I was at the picnic table jabbering with Victor, Aaron and other dog owners, I noticed they were laying side-by-side. Could this mean progress? I surely hope so!

Rusty was attacked by Muffin, a small mixed breed, when Muffin brought his ball over by Rusty and Rusty dared to sniff it. I was impressed that Rusty fought back - but he wasn't quite as spry as the 35 pounder, and his ear was slightly chewed - but no blood, and he seemed shaken, but not stirred.

This morning, though, Rusty kept shaking his head as though something was amiss in his ear. He was much slower this morning, and although we took a shorter walk (he and Skally really played hard last night), he kept shaking his head, which worries me.

Upon our return, I did a little cleaning with some ear swabs, and there was dirt. I mean dirt! I got a bit out, and the shaking stopped. Hopefully this was all it was, but I need to keep watching.

Now that order seems to have come to our little manse, Skally is being a little mischievous, and it does my heart so much good. Now, before we eat and I head out, they are resting happily.

Life is good.

4 weeks and still changing!

Wow!

Rusty is herding. But, there is unrest on the homefront. Skally has decided he needs to leave. She's not very thrilled with his presence. Apparently, she has been enjoying her ability to free-feed, and Rusty has taken it upon himself, of late, to take advantage of that.

This morning, he was caught eating her food - which is quite different from hers. This was my suspicion, yesterday, when he suddenly was pooping up a storm - and I don't mean small ones - I mean gargantuan ones - and his body seemed to have grown a little. Hmmmmmmmmm.

This morning, after he was caught, I re-fed Skally, and he had nothing (it was all left over from last night, and she had barely touched her food - about 2 cups worth). He is currently lying, repentant, next to me as I write this.

This week, I went back to the old grind. Upon my return, Rusty went straight outside and did his deed. It was rather warm, and neither of the pups wanted to go outside much - they preferred the A/C in the house, which was nearly 20 degrees cooler. I couldn't blame them.

We walked, though, and day-by-day, Rusty has grown stronger. Our walks are longer, and faster. Skally appreciates this, and Rusty has begun to demonstrate some interesting personality traits.

Rusty now barks at me if he feels I'm not doing what he wants. This was a shock, from a dog who, I was told, doesn't bark. When I give him a direction, he seems to understand and then does it - as in, "Go chase those dogs!" We spent nearly 3 hours at the park yesterday, before the temperatures got above 85, and then home before noon, so they could rest, and cool off.

On Friday evening, I played with Skally in the backyard, and Rusty joined in. Skally liked ME playing with her, but when Rusty came into the picture, she glared at me, barked, and then turned and went inside. Obviously, she believes him to be the alpha now, and after 13 years, this doesn't sit right with her. I don't blame her. Yet, at the park, they go their separate ways, and she is somewhat content.

However, I did take Rusty to meet my neighbor's dogs, and when I opened the gate, Frenchie rushed Rusty, and began to attack him. Rusty just sat there. Luckily he has thick fur around his neck, and Frenchie is a boxer, so no damage was done. So, this didn't work out well.

He is still my shadow. He is still galumphing around the yard and the park. He rolls around on his back and has fits of energy that are truly delightful. He loves bones. He loves lying in the doorways and hallways blocking any and all traffic. He is becoming a little more comfortable. Whew!

This morning it's to the park, walk, and then yard work. The pups should be spending some time outside despite the temperature of 95. They prefer to be with me in Hell, rather than sit around luxuriating in the cool of the house...at least for a few minutes.

Rusty avoids water like the plague, so while Skally splashes around in the kiddie pool, or the pond, Rusty simply sips water from the pool, and walks away. Water is not his friend, I believe. It's supposed to rain a little next week, which may prove to be rather interesting to deal with.

I think I can wait.

August 28 - Sunday, Monday Tuesday and Wednesday.

Watching a dog become a dog is rewarding!

Sunday, Rusty began really playing at the park. He and Skally were barking at me after we played in the open field.

There were a couple of dogs who were playing roughly, and one of them was a 7 month old pitbull mix. He was a wild one. Rusty took him on, galumphing after him and barking orders. Skally began playing with a giant schnauzer, and wasn't at all interested in Rusty's shenanigans (it would seem they are finally beginning to bond). After Rusty's romp with the pit, he was proud. He ran over to where Skally and I were, and chest bumped her with a huge grin. Skally was somewhat shocked. Never had anyone, least of all another dog, chest bumped her. This was the beginning of the bond.

On Monday, Rusty was a little tired from all the running about he had done the day before. But we still took our walk - it was 20 minutes longer than normal, but he did it. I went to work, afterward.

Upon my return home, we headed for the park and guess what!? More galumphing and running about! Skally's corgie friend showed up, as well, and they played for quite some time. Rusty tried to play with them, but they shut him out - so he ran after some other dogs.

His energy level is increased, and it's obvious he's losing some weight! He is still having some troubles climbing stairs, but that's about pacing, at this time, rather than an inability; you see, he tries to charge up the stairs which, with his weight, forces his legs to slip. When I walk slowly before him, he tends to have fewer problems. He is getting much better, though.

Tuesday, a brisk walk (how about that!) in the morning, and out to the park in the afternoon. We went to the big dog park, and Rusty began chasing Sonny, the dog from the news who had been stolen from PetSmart's dog adoption program (no, his current people adopted him - he had been returned). Sonny's owner told me that Rusty had bitten his dog, but everything was okay. So, I watched Rusty a little more closely - He did it again with another dog - but it wasn't a bite. In his attempts to herd & chase the other dogs, Rusty mouths them or jabs at them with his nose - quite interesting. I told Sonny's dad, and we watched and realized this was true. Thank goodness - I thought I was going to have a problem! Pepper, the park mascot (for all intents and purposes), has begun to like Rusty. She caters more to Skally - they're both alpha females, but Pepper, a pit bull mix, succumbs to Skally's wishes, and is quite submissive to her!

We then took a good walk, and home for dinner and bones.

Wednesday, more of the same. Good walk, and in the evening (I was a little later coming home) the park. Tonight Rusty demonstrated dominance. He began to hump Sonny as Sonny was dominating another dog. I was a little shocked! But we laughed. He did it again later, but it did me good to see his joints were becoming a little looser.

He ran a little more, and with more dexterity - his turns and his moves showed more finesse. Impressive!

A walk then dinner and chewies. He slept quite well!