Just Not Getting Along

It hasn't been much fun down at the kennel this week.

No one, including me, wants to play with the puppy, Bella. She is just all bounce and no manners.

Grace, the black lab, comes out of her run with her hackles up and never does put them back down. I don't know what she is afraid of, she is the biggest dog here.

Blue wants to sniff and follow every dog around but, growls and gets mad if anyone tries to do the same to him.

Blue wants to play ball, over the weekend, so did Sadie. Only, they can't let anyone else play ball. It gets very ugly very fast if any other dog makes a play for the tennis ball. For the past five day, whenever a tennis ball appears out of the melting snow, I pitch it over the fence.

Tessie seems to want to run with Grace and even seems willing to play, that is until Grace actually tries to engage her. Then Tessie growls and wants to go in.

Poor Grace hasn't had anyone to play hard with since Winchester went home.

And back to Bella, she really gave the pair of pugs, Jack and Jill, a hard time. Just her size but completely freaked out by her. They unfurled their tails so far back, they were giving themselves a wedgie.

Well, the puppy went home, the Pug relaxed and curled up their tails. Tessie is still 'thinking' about playing with Grace. And maybe, just maybe, there are no more tennis balls in the play yard.

Silver Lining to the Recession...

I have had so many new dogs this year! As the regular clients take fewer vacations, I get a crop of newbies each weekend.


This week we have:NEW DOGS!



Skulli and Jack, all bounce and happiness. I am still bruised all over, yet somehow delighted about it.



Winchester in action! If I could only, always have Jack to not play back with him.




Bear! I greeted him with, "Bear!? more like Wolf!" Turns out I was right. He is half wolf.

So new dogs and new breeds, as well, this year.

Bear is a HUGE lovebug in more ways than one.

The picture doesn't do him justice. He has gorgeous slate gray fur and golden brown eyes.

Winchester is Playing!

I was so excited to see Winchester playing with another dog without the horrifying noise. Morning came and I realized why there was no noise of protest from Winchester. When he plays with Jack, Jack doesn't play back. Just what Winchester has been looking for in a playmate. One that doesn't even try to win.

No Fighting On Mom

I established this very important rule when my dogs were just puppies. They can sit and play in my lap, but 'No Fighting On Mom' or you both get unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.

My dogs got this rule pretty quickly and I no longer had to invoke it. They also grew into a 60 and an 80 pound Labrador, so playing in my lap went away pretty quickly anyway.

I resurrected this rule after my second child was born. I was happy to have them pile on me for a book or two, but 'No Fighting On Mom' or you both get unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.

My kids also got this rule pretty quickly and like my puppies, they, too have out ground my lap and the chair as well.

This weekend, I had to pull out that dusty, unused rule again for Smokey Bill and Jack.



Yup, those are my knees and feet.

And the Puppy Teamed Up with Smokey Bill!

For chasing...
And Wrestling!



I taught biting Shane on his tail, but I couldn't get a photo of that.

We really had a Big and Boucey Weekend

Even with a couple of dogs that were kinda small.

I had Shane, a large and very boucey yellow lab. I had Jack, a small and boucey and nippy yellow lab puppy, that will some day grow up to be Shane.

Then there is Smokey Bill, a small and fast terrier. he turned out to be a prefect match for Jack.

And on Saturday, I got Scotty. Scotty lives in St. George, but his grandma lives here in Helper. Whenever Grandma get to go gambling, I get to watch Scotty. Scotty might have aged out of the puppy title, he certainly hasn't altered his behavior. Once again, a perfect match for Shane.

Now, I still have Max, but he is finally getting a break from Shane. So Max is having a good weekend, too.

And this is the match-up I thought would actually happen, Scotty and Jack. These two only got together for a 'meet & greet' and haven't played together at all.

It is Tough being the Newest of the New

Scotty was causing a dog pile-up wherever he went.

Still Having Trouble Getting a Playmate for Jack

Jack is still annoying the little, old dogs to the point that I was afraid that the teacup poodle would eat him. I have never seen a puppy persist in bugging an adult that has shown its teeth and growled. So I rounded up Jack and sent him to play with the big dogs. They continue to ignore him. That was until Patch and Mica started playing together and ignoring BB. She gave the puppy a couple a chances to play after that.

Then on Monday we got another puppy, just here for daycare. His name is Harley. This puppy won't play with Jack either. Harley is mostly a blur of fluff trying to get away from Jack.




That is until they found the peach tree, the great equalizer in the game of chase. You can't get me and I can't get you. Perfect! They get worn out with out any physical contact.

"At last, he is interested in someone else!"

When more than one dog is the 'New Kid'

You get pile up meet and greets,

Congo Lines,

Doggie Trains.

Size doesn't matter to dogs, but sometimes it can be a problem.

And sometimes it can work to your advantage.

This group is driving me nuts

I don't know what the problem is but this group is not gelling like I would like.

First, I had to separate the little dogs from the big dogs and stick the puppy in with the big guys. The little ones were showing their teeth every time the puppy tried to play with them and I can't have that. I also can't make a these little guys play to save my life.

So, I try Jack out with the big guys. This should work like a dream, but NO, they won't have anything to do with him. This reminds me of trying to follow my big brother around the neighborhood when he was playing with his friends. I have never seen a dog try to ditch another dog, but that is what is happening with BB, Patches, Gunny, Amica and the puppy, Jack.

And even Patches, BB, Amica, and Gunny are not really playing together. I just don't get this group, they should be wearing each other out, not annoying the bejeepers out of me.

PUPPY ALERT!

We got a Labrador puppy in today, Jack. He is doing pretty well trying to meet everyone and let everyone meet him. So far so good. Only problem is that he is trying to play with the dogs his size - Teenso, Jake, Lucky and Teddy. These are not what I would call 'playful' dogs. They are old and want to be left alone. Left alone with his ball for Lucky.

Jack will have better luck with the big and bouncy dogs - if he would just give them a chance. I figure by next play time he should figure all of this out and be running with the big dogs in no time.

I hope to have the pictures to prove it.