She Can Tell Time.....I Think

It seems as if Cinder The Wonder Dog can tell time. Every day after dinner, around 6 pm. Cinder sits at my feet and looks expectantly, her eyes darting from me to the place I keep the leashes. It's somewhat disconcerting because our other dog, Climber (who can climb a vertical river bank quicker than Spiderman) has begun to emulate her younger sister. The only difference is that Climber sits at the front door and "tells" me that it is time to go for our daily constitutional.

We use a splitter on the lead with one side a touch longer than the other. Climber, the smaller and eldest of the two, is the alpha and must be in the lead. She's really quite tolerant with Cinder, but when it's necessary, the smack down is swift and effective. However there are times when Cinder, having had enough of Climber's bossy ways, puts her foot down. No, really, she literally puts her foot on Climber's back and flattens her, holding her down just long enough that Climber gets the message. When they are walking they frequently "push" each other back and forth across the road or path. It's quite funny to watch and often my daughter and I pretend that they're calling out to mom.

"Mom, Climber's touching me!"

"Mom, Cinder's in my personal bubble!"

And so we carry on, laughing almost uncontrollably. I'm sure our neighbours think we're slightly twisted.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

ZOOM

This is Zoom. She's an overweight, but loving Mini Rex and is as soft a crushed velvet.

She loves Cinder because Cinder loves her.

She's also quite upset with me for clipping her nails. We had to put her in a half-nelson hold.

She also loves to snuggle with my father and, in appreciation, she usually leaves a pile of bunny poop and a puddle on his lap. She loves to hop around the yard, but hates having the harness put on in order to do so.

Rabbit Stew

FRISCO

Meet Frisco. He's a Dwarf bunny that I adopted when a friend moved into a house that refused to allow pets.

He's sweet natured and loves to cuddle with my daughter.

He also loves to torment Cinder by hopping on top of her while he's in the exercise run.

Today we clipped his nails and my daughter thought it would be funny to put him into a pot.

I really don't think he was very impressed with us.

So close....and yet so far

Oh so close to

Catching the rope

And then

Gravity

Takes

Effect!

Down By The River

Remember you can click on the picture and see it full size.

Every day we take the dogs for a walk down to the park beside the North Thompson river where we can let the girls run and keep an eye on the water levels.

Right now it's way low after the long winter, but that will soon change drastically as the snow pack has begun to melt. This also means that the water in our taps is about to grow silty and brown. Spring is the time of year when we're never quite sure if we were cleaner getting into the shower than we are getting out!

Cinder desperately wants to swing.

She seems to be able to get the air time without the help of the rope.

Obsession, It's a Cinder Thing

She has an intense personality. Though she's also one of the smartest dogs I've ever known, she is consumed by her obsession. Every fibre of her being is hardwired for herding. As you can see, it's working.

Faithfully she stands, or sits guard over my great nephew. Just in case he should move or something.

Near or far, Cinder is feeding her obsession.

She's Done It Again!

Cinder did it again. You can tell by her eyes that she's found a lovely fresh pile of unmentionables. I think they're even watering.

She even tried to pretend to be sleeping on her bed. But she knew what was coming.

Her eyes begged for clemency, but....

there was none to be had.

She is so not impressed with us.

But she smells so much better!

Cinder did it again.

Roll. Roll. Roll.

It's Time to Go Walking Again

Now that spring is finally here and temperatures are creeping up into the teens (Celsius that is) we've begun taking the dogs for their daily walks again. By that I mean that we actually go farther than the back yard.
Yesterday was our first foray into the community, and I planned an ambitious journey from the house to the store some 2.5 km away, then to the school park to let the girls off the lead for a run. It was at the school that I realized just how old Climber was getting when she trotted, not galloped across the field and I quickly did the math.
Climber was born on September 10th, 1998. In human years that makes her eleven years old. In canine years, if I've done it correctly, she is 71 years old. The first year of a dog's life equals 1 human year, and then each human year is counted as seven dog years.....I think. That makes her almost as old a my father(he's 78)! No wonder she doesn't run like she used to and prefers not so crunchy foods.
Cinder was born in 2003. Oddly enough she was born on September 10th as well. How convenient, right? No we didn't know her date of birth when we went to adopt her. Again, if I've done the math correctly, this makes her six in human years and 41 in canine years. The one difference between the two dogs is vitality.
Cinder loves to move. Any sort of movement is acceptable, be it running an agility course in the back yard, running along the dyke at the river, herding the bunnies in their pen, or riding in the jeep. As long as she's moving, she's happy.
Climber loves to curl up in a corner and sleep. Except when she is going for a walk.
All dogs love walks. It's quality time with their people.