Category Archives: photographs

Running loose

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What were you doing on the road yesterday afternoon?

I was looking for you. I heard your truck on the road.

But how did you get out?

The neighbour’s dog showed me.

That little hussy is leading you astray. She’s an escape artiste of note.

But she’s so much fun! Much more energetic than Kharma.

That may be but she’s street-wise, you are not. It’s lucky we live on a farm but there are other hazards out there for wandering dogs. Snares for one. Envious people for another.

Snares?

Pieces of wire that catch you around the neck and slowly strangle you. Nasty.

Nasty. But you weren’t very cross!

How could I be. You reminded me too much of Jenni who did the same thing.

Jenni was very special to you wasn’t she?

Yes. Be careful. I don’t want to lose now we are becoming close.

Ah, so you DO love me!

Mostly…

Staying in control at the microlight club

Staying in control at the microlight club

Waking up the human

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Just pondering...

Just pondering…

It’s getting lighter earlier these days and I cannot see why my human should be asleep when I want to get up! Here are my tips on getting humans out of bed.

1. Yawn. Make it loud and theatrical. It’s a good subtle starter, not too extreme.

2. Lick. Anywhere will do – whatever works for you. Licking the other dog is OK too. Drives my human scatty.

3. Scratch. Most effective when you “miss” and thump your leg on the bed.

4. Get off the bed. A goodie this one as it creates a sense of panic – “He must be desperate, is he going to go in the passage?”. It works well in my bedroom as there is a trunk at the foot of the bed (to help me get onto the bed – thoughtful my human) and it makes a nice hollow thump as I get off.

5. Start a play fight with the other dog. The other dog likes to sleep in so this is not so effective for me.

6. Combine any or all of the above.

I usually start these tactics when the alarm goes off – hey, I like to help out where I can but this morning I started a good half  hour before that. Well, I’m a Ridgeback and we like to be a bit individual. I dont’ recommend this sort of thing on Sundays – it can provoke a bit of a “reaction” and Sundays are bone-days and we don’t want to compromise that do we?

I welcome feedback and any new ideas – so come on guys, lets collaborate on this one shall we?

Where has my puppy gone?

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We are all grown-ups now!

We are all grown-ups now!

You are not a puppy anymore!

Well no, we do grow up you know. Is that why I only get 2 meals a day now?

Yes, vet Clare said you could grow too fast if I fed you too much.

So don’t complain when I go scrounging then.

You have ALWAYS scrounged!

Does that mean you don’t love me?

No, I just don’t love you very much when you scrounge.

Now that I am grown-up will you stop calling me “Little Zak”?

Probably not. I was still a “horrible child” at 32. I see no reason why you cannot always be Little Zak!

Nyanga

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Taking in the view

Taking in the view

So what do you think of Nyanga?

Definitely some great views. Nice smells too. And nice things to eat like sheep skeletons and..

Yes, I get the picture. You were quite revolting at times. What did you think of the paragliding?

Oh that bit where you went off in the air? Don’t think I’d like to do it. But you had fun.

Yes I did. Would you like to go back there?

Only if I can find another sheep skull!

Sulk

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You are going without us!

You are going without us!

You are going without us! How could you?

But..

Your two best friends and you are leaving us behind!

Well, I do try..

We are always here for you – this is desertion!

Hey, give me a break. I DO take you when I can it’s just that at Mutoroshanga there is no-one to keep an eye on you when I paraglide.

Oh, I have never been to Mutoroshanga, what’s it like Kharma?

It’s great. Nice view, lots of things to see and smell and he’s leaving us behind, again!

Well, I AM taking you to Nyanga next weekend.

That’s next weekend. We are talking NOW. How could you do this to us?

(Mutter…..)

 

Fixed

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That's sorted that collar out!

That’s sorted that collar out!

Well that “Elizabethan collar” did not last long.

Yes, less than a day!

You seem curiously proud of your destructive qualities.

No. It was just a poor quality product.

You are meant to be taking it easy after your operation, not crashing into things and running through foliage. I can see the “fixing” has not slowed you down at all.

Well, if I cannot focus my energies on the girls any more I’ll have to focus it elsewhere. I am Zak the Destroyer after all!

I noticed.

The witching hour

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Parents of human children tell that over time they learn to identify the various screams and what they mean. A frustrated scream; give me my toy back. An annoyed scream; I don’t like what you are doing. I’ve fallen down cry; might need intervention after you’ve finished your cup of tea. A broken bone scream; rare, but needs intervention now. But when there is silence is when the real mischief is happening.

As a parent of doggy children I’ve learnt to identify the various puppy sounds. The excited, let’s play bark. The frustrated I want your bone bark replied by a don’t get too close to my bone growl. The clatter of the broom being dragged from the cupboard (sacrifice it in the name of minimal damage). The crack and pop of my ventolin inhaler cap being destroyed; requires limited intervention to rescue the cartridge. But the real damage is done during periods of silence. This is the witching hour sometime between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Yes, that’s when I have the most fun (until you come and spoil it)!

The culprits

The culprits

Farm dog

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Are we going now?

Are we going now?

It’s fun being a farm dog.

Why’s that?

I get to ride in the back of a pickup and put my head out of the window and get my ears flapping and smell interesting things.

And fall out.

Um, yes that did happen. Once.

I hope that’s the last time. Just as well I was watching and saw it coming.

Oh, and I get to eat interesting things.

We  won’t go into that!

Space

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Look, we kept your space for you.

Look, we kept your space for you (the old bed).

So what do you think of the new bed?

Oh, it’s a really nice mattress with memory foam and all that.

No, I meant do you appreciate the extra space on top.

It’s bigger?

Yes, wider by a whole 15cm and longer by 20cm. I actually bought it for me.

Oh. Well it is nice and firm.

Great. I thought you’d appreciate that. Now will you move over, please!

This is the new mattress? We like it!

This is the new mattress? We like it!