Beautiful, AND patient…
Category: alki
Sunbeam
Alki and Mouse take a break from Barclay by resting in a sunbeam.
More Barclay (big surprise, huh)
Alki is still not too happy about Barclay, but sometimes they can tolerate being in the same space. Here they are begging for popcorn in the kitchen. Actually Alki is begging for popcorn. Barclay doesn’t know what they’re doing there!
Mighty watches Barclay playing, with a surprisingly relaxed pose. I don’t know why the cats are even on the floor around him, but they seem to be warming up to him. I think they will be buddies someday.
After a hard day of playing, Barclay collapses wherever he happens to be. I can even pick him up and move him around and he doesn’t wake up!
Dave is holding Barclay in a submissive position, which we practice with him everyday, at our vets advice. It’s supposed to be a gentle way to remind him what his place is! Sometimes he just lays there, and sometimes he pitches a fit before he gives up and relaxes.
Barclay!
Introducing our new puppy – Barclay!
Barclay is a standard sized American Eskimo, at least he will be someday. Right now he’s only 8 weeks old. He can barely run across the room without falling over!
Of course this has thrown the household into an uproar. The cats were very disturbed by this new creature.
Alki wants nothing to do with him until he learns some manners, and at 13 she figures she’s old enough she shouldn’t have to be the one to teach him.
Chester is handling it best. Since he is kind of a big puppy at heart, they seem to be most likely to play. Chester has no problem telling him what to do, and several times we’ve seen Chester let out a loud BARK in his direction, causing Barclay to roll backwards across the floor as if hit by a mighty wind. Then Chester wags his tail in approval.
Luckily for all of us, Barclay only goes for about half an hour before collapsing for a nap.
Snowday!
What do a couple nerdy geeks do when it snows? Build a Darth Vader snowman, of course! Come’on dogs, let’s go!
An Alki photo-essay
Alki and I were playing in a sunbeam this afternoon.
The funny looks on her face is because she is muttering and grumbling – talking to me while I try to get her in a good position for a shot.
Lots of talking!
And occasionally stopping to keep an eye on what the other critters in the house are up to, in case she needs to go intervene.
Close up.
Mid bark!
Is that what you wanted? Now where’s my cookie?
At 12 years old, she is the smartest, most beautiful, most playful and loving dog I’ve ever had. All dogs that come after her will be cursed with having to live up to the legend of Alki 🙂 I don’t know why everyone doesn’t have an American Eskimo!
Alki blocks the doorway
It is the alpha dog’s right to control the movement of the dogs under him or her. Alki takes this very seriously, and either to frustrate him, or just to make sure he still knows who’s boss, she will block the doorway, hallway, etc, and refuse to move to let Chester pass. This results in his sitting and crying about it until we make her move. He would probably just sit there and cry and pee on the floor if we didn’t intervene. He certainly does not have the authority to pull rank and step over her – she’d put him DOWN if he tried. Here she lounges across the hallway, trapping him in the office until his whining annoyed us enough to step in.
It’s been raining…
It’s been raining for a solid week, and the forecast is for more rain as far out as it goes , it must be fall again. Alki still wants to go for her daily walk, so I grabbed an umbrella and bought her a raincoat, and we’re off!
This little coat, BTW, is made by Doodlebug Duds right across the river in Oregon, and it’s nicer than some coats I’ve had! Nylon on the outside with reflective strips, fleece on the inside, and the collar turns up or down for really nasty days. It fastens on with a big velcro chest strap and a wide tummy strap, and comes off again just as quick. The first walk out she was putting up a good fuss, pretending she couldn’t figure out how to walk in it, but in no time she was romping around! I highly recommend it!
Alki – dinner theif
We eat dinner at a coffee table, sitting on the floor. Alki always sits right between us, hoping to snag scraps. She will stare into your eyes and sigh, and lay a gentle paw on your leg or arm. (no, Dave’s not naked behind her, he’s just wearing shorts. It was about 85 that day!)
Sometimes she’ll peek over the table, zeroing in on a crumb or scrap on the table (or even near the edge of the plate, she’s not picky).
Then if one of us stands up she thinks the table is fair game, and she’s right there! Unfortunately this has led to some misunderstandings if one of us has to get up to answer the phone 🙂
Steff Does Stuff! 