Tribute to Tess the family ridgeback

As a said in an earlier blog I never met Tess. She died at home on 17th February 2011, resting between John and Patricia's chair in the dining room. I know Tess has been on John's mind. Look at this video John did this morning. Big shoes for me to step into Tess, but I will do my best with plenty of help from Benji.

                                           Tribute to Tess

I told you it was about to rain

That rain from the west just came in. Look at the rain. It's also only 13 degrees C

Keeping watch at the front gate

I am just over 5 months. The front gate is a good place to check what is going on and have a few barks. It's early Sunday so I had better not bark too much. Look at the winter rain coming from the west. (The date is USA time - in future it will be RSA time).

                              What's going on in the big outside world?

Thank you for following

Thank you for following me - 11 countries - remember you can ask for an email update (see top right)

Fascinated by Varied Pitch Whistling

23 June 2011 - I love listening to John when he whistles and makes the pitch go up and down. I hear even better when I put my head on one side. Below is a picture of me listening in super power listening mode. This picture is for real. Don't you believe me? Look at the video below the picture.

                                              What pitch is that?

                                Wow - Listening to whistling is fascinating!
                                                  Look at this video below

                         

Team Indy and Benji strikes back

20 June 2011 - John won't want the dog school to hear about what happened last night.  We were watching the US Open Golf. That young Irish chap Rory is quite good.  I got bored and hopped onto the couch. John had a rush of blood to the head and put my blanket on the couch for me to sleep on. So I jumped up onto the blanket. This was too much for Benji. I suppose Benji thought "If Indy can get on the couch so can I."

So, Benji quietly crept onto the couch as well - right into John's lap. Benji told me he has not been on the couch for years. I smell victory in the battle for the couch.

Important: Do not tell the trainers at the dog school about our success. John may get into hot water. This may make him more determined to get us off the couch.

John's friend Scott took pictures of our two victories. John can't deny we won - last night anyway.

                                     Here I am on the couch

                                 Here is Benji - on the couch as well, following
                                                      my good example

My New Collar

19 June 2011 - Sunday - Here is my new collar. Don't I look smart. I wore it for about an hour and didn't really notice it. I can see one problem - when I wear it on a walk with John I will not be able to yank John around so easily - hmmmm ..... I must think about this one. I hope Patricia doesn't see this picture - I am in flower bed.

                                                      My New Collar

Home Alone

                                       My "Where is the sausage?" look.

17 June 2011 - Patricia has gone to London for just over 2 weeks - So its John, Benji and me, all "home alone" - Its a good chance for me to put John in his place (Patricia is stricter that John) - I don't get on the TV couch much any more but I had a good try when John got back from the airport - I did one of my repeated zoom on and zoom offs - Darn it - John just kept pushing me off - I must admit he gave me a loving pat and  praised me each time I got off  - sorry, each time I was pushed off - We will see who wins this battle.

Did any of you fellow German Shepherds hear the storm last night?- a big piece of plastic guttering blew into our back garden and broke into pieces - I was just enjoying chewing one of the pieces when John took it away from me - Darn it - I will have to look for another piece of gutter- these humans don't get it - chewing broken gutter plastic is fun - John said the sharp bits would hurt my mouth - what does he know?

Tomorrow is Saturday (Vienna sausage day) and so its training at the club at 1:30 pm - I do what I am asked to do just to get the sausage - Those humans are really slow learners!

Indy

Pulling on the Walk - Using a Collar

11 June 2011 - I went to my training school this afternoon. What I expected happened. John asked for advice on stopping me pulling on my walk. You know I wear a harness for walks. He was told that my harness is for pulling and tracking and not for walks (as if I didn't know that!). Anyway. John was told to get a soft collar for walks. John was told he can control me better with a collar. We will see about that! Humans must understand that we German Shepherds are leaders. We lead the walk. We drag our owners. John is in for a shock. When he puts the collar on me I will start spinning round and round. Like when I chase my tail. That will make him put the harness back on...............Hang on........................... What if John makes it a rule: No collar and lead, no walk? I suppose that I will then have to go along with the collar plan. Hmmmmmm..... I will have to think about this one.

I like the training school. It's great meeting the other German Shepherds. It's called socialising. My sister was there this afternoon. The problem is that John is learning all sorts of things about training - that is a polite way of saying John is learning how to get me to do what he wants by making me enjoy doing it.  The joke is on him though - I see John is being trained as well! What a dumb human - he needs more training than I do.

Pulling like a husky

10 June 2011 - This afternoon during my nap I dreamed that I was a husky pulling a sledge through the snow. It was the famous husky race in Canada. I had this super harness on. I pulled and heaved the sledge with ease. We won. Wow, I enjoyed it. When I woke after my nap I wished I was a husky. Then at about 6 this evening my dream came true. Benjie and I went for a walk with Patricia and John. John put a harness on me and off we went. Husky time! I imagined I was back in the husky race. I pulled John for the whole walk. I had great fun darting from side to side as I dragged him along. I heard John muttering about all the pulling. He had better realise that I am a champion husky. Champion of the far north. More pulling tomorrow. John better be ready! Oops, it's training at my Club tomorrow. Maybe John thinks he will get some tips on stopping me pulling. I am ready for anything. I should have been a husky. Beware the power puller is here!
Indy

My Mudbath

10 June 2011 - Wow this rain is fun. I made a mudbath outside the kitchen. It was great fun rolling in the mud. I took some mud into the kitchen - I thought the others would like to enjoy the mud too.
Indy

                                                                  Here is the mudbath

 

                                                 My step brother Benji looking at the mud

                                                                        My mug shot

My weight

1 June 2011           17.8 kg
9 June 2011           18.3 kg

The Battle for the Couch

8 June 2011 - Cold here in Port Elizabeth - So, I hopped onto the TV couch - why not? - nice and warm - Here is Patricia and John's latest trick - they have put my bed in the TV room - Its a really nice bed - look at how Patricia pats my bed - darn it! - I fell for the trick (note: I did not jump on the bed immediately - I kept them waiting to show I am still the boss- what are they going to do about that?) - Indy

The Battle for the Bed

6 June 2011
I have decided to take over this bed as my bed. John and Patricia think it is their bed. Don't they know "might is right"? The trouble is that I have heard them plotting how to get me off the bed. I hope they give me a treat every time I obey and get off the bed. What a pleasure. I will keep jumping on the bed just to get a "get off" treat every time. That will fool them. What might work is if they simply pick me up and put me off the bed. If they do that all the time I may give up the idea of getting on the bed at all.
Secret: I have asked a few other German Shepherds if they like it on a bed. They all say they do. Some whisper they their owners do allow them to sneak on the bed sometimes. Shush ........ No names no pack drill!
Any comments from my fellow German Shepherds? Owners can comment too but remember I monitor comments from non-German Shepherds.
PS I also like the couch in the TV room.

Helping clean the pool (sort of helping)

1 June 2011 - Helping mom clean the pool - late afternoon.

My Food

1 June 2011 - Went to the vet today - had my injection - sounds like I will be spayed at around 10 months - I was weighed - 17.8 kg - I get 400 gm of dry puppy food - I must be weighed once a week so that I get the right amount of food - saw the SA Dog whisperer at the vet - Patricia and John are going to attend the Whisperer's presentation on Thursday - PS I still am not keen on wearing a harness. Patricia and John will tell me about the Dog Whisperer's advice - I will give you a report - I am not worried, I will outsmart these humans any day.
PS My ears have been up s lot today (Between you, me and the gatepost I think I am looking great).