You Can’t Ignore the Snore.
Dolly.
We’ve been hearing from the kids! Phoenix’s brothers and sisters (three of whom sisters are pictured here) are scattered around the country, and thanks to the wonders of email and stuff, all the new parents have been able to compare notes.
What we’ve learnt:
1. HWV’s like to snore (or at least these ones do).
2. HWV’s like to snore LOUDLY.
3. But it’s cute snoring.
4. All of this crew are big – they’re all taking after their mum rather than their dad in terms of stature and frame. Leggy is the key word.
Maize.
5. They’re a very good looking bunch (although we would say that wouldn’t we?).
6. They all have really cool names.
7. Everybody really loves their puppies and it’s just one great big happy puppy family.
Pogo.
There’s going to be a puppy posse reunion on the 9th Maywhere there are due to be around 30 or more HWVs, including six of the eight puppies from the litter meeting up again for the first time since they were seven and a half weeks old. AND they’ll meet their sire, Mallard for the first time. Hankies at the ready!
The Graduate.
Officially Socialised.
Phoenix graduated from Puppy Gurus tonight! She’s officially socialised. She is now the proud possessor of a purple rosette and a certificate. We haven’t attempted to pin the rosette on her crate because she would just chew it into tiny purple shreds. But it’s there in spirit.
Phoenix can now “do” – sit, up (which is stand), down (which is er…down), wait, come, stay, fetch, drop, shake paw, stand (which is stack), heel, off.
'Stifficate.
About two weeks ago she suddenly clicked into “learning mode” with a vengeance and is now at the stage where she can be taught just about anything and can pick it up almost immediately; so far we’ve taught particle physics (God don’t get her started on quarks), brain surgery and hatha yoga. We think this is because she has settled into her environment and is really happy and confident in every aspect of her home and routine. She knows what’s what and what’s expected of her. She’s also sleeping through the night now too. Which is nice.
How to get Your Dog to Do Whatever You Want.
All of these except the chive flavoured one.
Who knew that Primula Cheese contained a secret ingredient that initially captures your dog’s attention and then cunningly hypnotises it into doing whatever you want. One squeeze of the tube and your animal companion is your cheesy chopped love slave forever more… Hurrah!
Mmmm! Cheesy Goodness.
In perhaps not an unrelated link, we weighed Phoenix today and she comes in at 14.1 kilos which is quite a lot for her breed and her age. She’s gonna be a big gal (as nearly everyone who meets her says after glimpsing the size of her paws.)
Trip to the Sea.
Digging at the Beach.
Collecting Shells.
We are blessed here in North Devon to be located very near to several of the countries best beaches, and we figured that at 14 weeks old, it was about time that Phoenix was introduced to the joys of the sea and sand. With this in mind we headed to Saunton Sands on an unseasonably warm and sunny Winter’s afternoon (alongside half the working population of North Devon who had also bunked off work at the first hint of sunshine).
Striding on with Fred and Ad on an "overcrowded" beach.
Phoenix met lots of dogs (including a 12 week old Weimaraner boy, the world’s largest Labradoodle and an even larger and exceedingly bouncy, playful Bernese Mountain Dog) alongside many human admirers.
Into the Sea.
She enjoyed digging in the sand and hunting for shells, although she was a little more dubious about the icy cold Atlantic Ocean. Tim, Freddie and Phoenix all suffered chilly toe syndrome which took some time to recover from. Chips helped to chivvy along the cure…
Water Baby.
Fishing Lesson.
It’s come to our attention that Phoenix (and doubtless other Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas too) is at least part dolphin. Be it the river, the pond or the stream, Phoenix is rarely happier than when swimming, wading, paddling in or barking at various forms of water around the garden.
The Pack Expands.
With Fred at the River.
Although they met when Phoenix was six weeks old, Freddie (who is Tim’s son) had not spent some “quality time” with Phoenix since she arrived here, due to his pressing international engagement schedule and general jet set lifestyle. The two were reunited today and much play ensued gilded with yaps, barks, nips and squeals from all parties.
Puppysitting for Dummies.
Tim went to collect Fred, leaving Adam alone with Phoenix all day. Adam went into a panic, unsure what he was supposed to do if the dog vomitted, howled or freaked out. He knew that unlike with babies you can’t slip the pup some brandy (damn those animal welfare laws) or chocolate (because this would lead to death). So in the great British tradition, a leaflet was prepared and all was well in the land of mutt:
Instructions for Adam 1.
Instructions for Adam 2.
Trading up homes.
Trying Out the New Crate.
New crate arrived today, bigger, more cushion-ier and with a better view of the pack outside. Phoenix hopped in immediately and the net result was a better night’s sleep for all concerned.
What Could Have Been…
Y’know we could easily have made this blog a document consisting of every meal, trip to the toilet and snooze that Phoenix has had since day 1. That’s because it’s all been documented on daily report sheets. Then in years to come if anyone was wondering what time Phoenix went for her morning walk on say, today, they could simply access our database and get all the info they ever wanted. Luckily for everyone we are not that sad. Nearly, but not quite:
There's more where this came from!
Much more.
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 