What's in a Name?

Just like the Harley motorcycles, dogs named Harley come in many different Models.

I had a Miniature Pincher and a Chihuahua named Harley at the same time last weekend.

I have a Boxer, a German Shepard, a Roitwieller, a Shitzu, and a Pomperanian. Those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. Last time I worked on my database, I had about 48 different Harleys and I haven't even tried to type in any dogs from this year.

Buddy is another popular name, along with Sadie, Smokey, Magie, and Roxy. There are two different Boxers named Roxy but, they have never been here at the same time. So getting two Buddy's, both Dachshunds, is some new and unusual and really a bit of a pain keeping them straight and in the right kennel!

Ha, Ha, Ha - I Solved One Problem and Made Myself a Whole New One

I decided to try again and see if I could come up with a mix of dogs that would play together without any growling.

Tessie, Booker and Rocko on one side. So far so good.
The newbies and the shitzus on my side. Looking good.
Tippy and Tank and Booker, staying in their runs for now. (Much barking out of complaints)


The newbies, Butch, Bella, and Chumbs, seem to be getting used to the place. Bella has stopped giving herself a wedgie and was actually wagging her tail. Buddy, the antisocial dachshund, came out into the play yard for the first time all weekend. I even saw him wag his tail. Rambo and Dorie plus Butch and Bella seem to be a hit. They are having a great time. I get to stop being in Referee mode for the first time in days and get the poop scooped. It really needed to get done.

The play yard is clean, the dogs are having fun, except the guys that haven't had their turn outside yet. Time to switch. Okay, maybe too much fun because I can't get any of the 5 into thier runs. The newbies were easy to put in last night, they were pretty freaked out and ready to go anywhere that had less dogs. Not today. Trying to get 3 dogs, all that don't want to be in, into one run is nothing short of chaos. Especially, when one of them is a lab puppy. (you can't steer puppies)

I finally caught the shitzus and then I got Chumbs in, then grabbed the puppy and Bella just walked in like, "Gee, all you had to do was ask."

One of My Better Ideas

I don't remember coming up with it, but putting a gate and dividing the play yard was really a great idea.

This week I had 4 little bits and 2 big and wild things. So, big on one side, little on the other. I hung out with the littles.

I could claim that I was just worried about Zig and Ike running over the little guys as they wrestled with complete abandon, but you all know, I was saving myself from a hit and run just as much.

Ike thinks I need to be included in the play. "Really, my feeling are not hurt, I am just fine doing nothing." Ike doesn't like my excuses and doesn't take 'No' for an answer. Zig went home just before dinner last night. Ike with no one to play with was going to be a very bad thing. I lucked out Ike's parent's train was on time. Yeah! for everyone.

Cast of Characters

Buddy



Emma



Roxie



Teesha



Dexter

Yet Another Cold and Wet Memorial Day Weekend

I am equally shocked and pleasantly surprised when we get nice weather for Memorial Day or Halloween.

But it is still a good day at the Ranch, as Butch finally has someone to play with. Lucky and he are a pretty good match, I only wish that Ziggy hadn't cancelled out. Luck and Butch are getting plenty dirty, wet and worn out, but three in a dog pile is something to watch.

I will stick the camera in my coat and try to get some footage.

Until Lucky showed up this morning, Butch had been trying to play with everyone else. Teesha seems to want to play for about 30 seconds and then she seems to want to take a chunk out of Butch. Butch is unaware of this change in mood. Butch wants to play with Roxie, the boxer, but she seems to have a sore leg. She would have been a good playmate, but she started holding her back leg up just last night. I am trying to determine if it is the leg or the paw, but she is still mobile enough not to let me have a good look. Emma, the white lab, is too old for this stuff and is sticking to playing with Dexter, the cocker spanial. Dexter is avioding both Lucky and Butch as too big and bouncey for him to play with. And little Buddy, the dachshuad, never plays with anyone but his brother Ziggy and they just had a big fight and are spending some time apart. Another talk with the owners over that one, coming up.

Missed the Shot, Yet Again!

I remembered the camera, finally. I remembered to bring a camera with dying batteries, finally.

I was hoping to get some video of this great group of dogs doing some amazing dashes around the play yard with Ziggy in the lead. Ziggy has come into his own and clearly has left his skittish days behind him. Behind him this weekend was a group of dogs panting hard to keep up. Bailey and Max were always close behind with Tessie, never in the group, but always running along side barking the whole long way. She is our orange and white referee. Even the old ladies, Dusty and Emma would try a lap or two. The one dog that could never really keep up would be Ziggy's brother, Buddy. Buddy is a Dachshund. He doesn't seem to realize that is legs are only 2 inches long, but the fact is that they are and he will never be able to keep up with the big dogs.

Buddy, like many little brothers before him, only joins the fight after Ziggy stops to take a break. As soon as the running stops, Buddy starts lunging for Ziggy's neck. With a high degree of skill and determination.

Ziggy doesn't seem to mind and it does keep Buddy out of the herd during the stampede where I worry that he might just become a little furry speed bump.

I'd Like My Usual Room, Please!

I try to put dogs in the same kennels each time they come. It doesn't always work out, but for the most part dogs have a 'usual room'. I thought that it made them feel more secure that they had a room of their own here. Maybe a bit too secure.

Last time Buddy was here, the first kennel wasn't open for him to have his regular room. So I stuffed him in two doors down without giving it any thought. When I tried to grab his collar and steer him away from kennel number 1 to kennel number 3, he made a pass at taking a chunk out of my hand. I wouldn't have been more surprised if he had stood on his hind legs and did a River Dance. This is the calmest, nicest dog in the world. Okay, so he is serious about his room, but otherwise really nice.

Needless to say, BB got kicked out of kennel number 1 when Buddy showed up yesterday. See, I can be taught.

Mingle, Mingle!

It is not normal for me to get this many dogs in one shot. It is a pretty big play yard and the dogs don't usually clump together like this.

Clumping makes me nervous, so mingle, mingle.


Gee, we really did have a crowd for Easter.

I thought I was going to die.

This morning, I was having a nice first playtime of the day. The dogs were all having a blast and I wasn't freezing. It was gray and dreary, but clearly into the double digit temperatures.

I spotted a kestrel coming in low over the play yard and was watching for where it landed in my back yard. I rarely get to see one that up close. When out of the corner of my eye, did I spot Maki, Smokey, Paco and Buddy coming straight at me, shoulder to shoulder like the four doggies of the Apocalypse.

Maki veered off at the last moment and they never even touched me.

Maki is a big girl, and a rough and tumble kind of a a girl, and she is having no problem keeping up and even beating my 'wild boys', but at least she remembers her manners.



I guess it is not true about your life flashing before your eyes - maybe I would have found out where I left my cell phone.

Kibble Envy...It is Never a Pretty Thing

Little Buddy, Little Buddy, Big Buddy...

too many Buddies for me.

How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

The One with the Waggily Tail?

With All This 'Getting Comfortable' with the Kennel, Comes Some Annoying Side Effects

Yesterday, I was just delighted that Jaxson had re-curled up his tail and was playing happily with the big dogs. I was equally excited that Buddy is now one of the dogs and having a good time.

Only they have just gotten a little too comfortable at the ranch and are making a pain in my tush out of themselves.

When Jaxson was still just a bit overwhelmed by the bigger dogs, he would run right into his kennel. Now that he gets 'play time', I have to catch him and put him in his kennel. Before I was his savior and he would run right into my hands. Now, I am the enemy that puts an end to all his fun and I really have to 'catch' him.

Buddy spent those early stays completely freaked out and completely silently in his kennel run. Now that he is out and about and 'being a dog', he has found his voice and it is loud and persistent.

I now have happier, more socialized, less fearful dogs...with atrocious manners.

Well, there is always the next stay to work on that.

This Kind of Progress Makes My Job, The Best Ever

Buddy stayed in his kennel for his first 2 or 3 visits. Then I would get him out maybe once or twice in a stay. This week he has been out every play time and actually interacting with the other dogs. I couldn't be more proud and pleased. A dog figuring out how to be a dog amongst other dogs - also priceless to me.

Using Your Size to Your Advantage

Buddy is Now Just One of the Dogs

This is a GREAT thing!

The first time Buddy came, he wouldn't leave his kennel and come out to play. The second time he came, he came out for the first play time and then never again. The third stay he came out for a couple of playtimes, maybe once a day. This stay, his fourth, he came out for the first play time and then he stayed in his run for the rest of that day and most of the second day. I was worried he had had a set back and I'd never get him out again.

When he is out he is calm and friendly, not playful yet but doing okay with the other dogs. When he is locked behind a fence, he is barky and fond of fence fighting with the other dogs. I have seen this before, somehow being restrained makes the dog insecure and frightened and therefor they act aggressively.

Well, yesterday afternoon Buddy not only came out, he came out to play. I had a mass rough-housing with BB, Millie, Nila, and Buddy. They were having a great time and Millie was not playing in her hyper-aggressive style. They were just have a big furry ball of fun.

I couldn't have been more pleased. Only problem was that Buddy when home shortly after that and the others couldn't seem to work back into a fun wrestling match with out Buddy.

Buddy, Buddy, Buddy....

I think I may have won over Buddy. Finally. For his first stay, he refused to come out of the kennel at all. This time he came out for the first play time, but then refused to come out for the rest of the day. Today he has joined the group each time. I am very proud of him, though I think that Tinker is terrorizing him.

Labrador-Rottweiler MIX?

No, Buddy is more of a SPLICE than a MIX.
He has a Labrador head and a Rottweiler body.