Kirislin

I took the itsy bitsy puppy Secret, (who is staying with me at least for a while) for another walk on the lead a couple of days ago. We went into my little town and we walked past the shops. She was so good, very confident, trotting out with her tail up. She can keep up with me at a medium paced walk, I dont know how those little legs can move so fast. She got lots of pats and I got asked lots of questions, and heard some silly (nasty) comments, you get used to them when you have an IG or a whippet. Some of the questions asked. Is that a designer dog? Is she fully grown? How big will she grow? Are they expensive? Is that the only colour they come in? (honestly, some people think they're a product you can just order in the colour you like), will you race her? (to which they were surprised when I said yes I intend to) Is that a rat? What is it? Is she cold? Why is she shivering? An Italian what? As cute as she is while tiny, I'm really hoping she will grow because right now she's like a miniature miniature! I still weigh her every few days and although she's not skinny and still in good condition with lots of energy, I was surprised to find she'd actually LOST 20gms in the last 5 days! She seems to have stopped growing. I'm hoping it's just a little pause and she'll start up again. She was 10 weeks old on Friday. The last 6 months have just flown by, from when we realised Neko was coming in season earlier than expected and then the wonderful opportunity that Bipsy was getting out of quarantine right when she was ready to be mated and that his owners were willing to let him be used over Neko. The stars just all seemed to be in alignment. At this stage she looks to be a beautiful shape, lovely top and underline, and I'm not an expert in movement but she looks to at least be sound and straight to me, no flippy paws or elbows, no cow hocks or bowed legs. When she stands naturally she stands square which is good. I cannot say about drive or lift or the other stuff show people look for. I'm more interested to see if she can run. It would be fun to get her going after the drag lure and maybe even lure coursing. I'll start her off on blow flies :laugh: they're about the right sized prey for her at this stage.

I didn't know that about Scottish Folds, but I'm 100% in agreement with you regarding soundness. With some breeds now it seems routine to have to do corrective surgery due to droopy skin on eyes, so many breeds cannot give birth normally, and that's been going on for decades. I remember my mum telling me when I was a kid that boxers and chihuahua often need caesars because the puppies heads are too big, and the bitch's pelvis too small. Even back then I thought that just seemed wrong. I'm horrified by the appearance of some dogs, for me the worst would be the Cane Corso. How it ever got to look like it does now and be considered good is beyond me. I always feel sorry for those dogs when I see them lumbering along with all that skin drooping and flopping about.

what are they going to do with that many puppies?

not just dogs. I was shocked when I went to a cat show a couple of years ago and saw the tiny tiny nostrils on the persian cats, and the way their eyes are almost lower on their face than their nose. It should be banned. It's not cute, it's cruel. http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/images/persian-cat-health.jpg

Oh my! I played the first video on page 15 and poor Neko was very anxious about the squeaking puppies, and even little Secret recognised puppies and started looking for her siblings. I had to stop the video, it was cruel to make her listen. They look very vigorous. I'm barracking for green in a race.

that's so funny you should say that. It's already come up in conversation. We actually have a theme for their registered names in mind, but I dont want to jinx it so will wait and see if we get them. Still waiting on the paperwork. One lot's already gone astray. Aust Post isn't what it used to be.

I need to let the earth settle a bit before planting her tree I think, but I've placed a fibreglass pond there as well, which will probably have to be re-placed at some stage but for now it's OK. Yesterday I heard a noise and saw something out of the corner of my eye and looked down to see a very happy magpie having a real good bath in the pond, which is now known as Pagans pond. :) It's all looking very temporary there at the moment but in the future I hope I can make it look fairly natural with plants around the edge and a place native animals can come to cool off on a hot day.

Secret it is then. :D

Yes! how true! I didn't think of that. Neko certainly kept her a secret, it was such a surprise and shock to see a tiny 3rd puppy get pulled out.

:laugh: this has actually crossed my mind. All my other dogs answer to multiple names

that's kind of why Marcus called her that, because her nose is like a drop of ink. It appealed to me because her mum's name Neko is Japanese for cat, and the Japanese are famous for turning their beautiful writing into an art form with ink.

I took her and her mum for a walk in town. She hasn't really learnt how to properly walk on a lead yet but was fantastic! I took Neko for moral support but I would have been better to leave her at home. She was anxious and I started thinking I hope her attitude doesn't rub off on her baby who trotted out confidently, with her little tail up. People were amazed by her and she got lots of pats and smooches and handled it all well. She would even go up to people wagging her tail, I think she's got a fabulous temperament. I hope she stays that way.

I called her Secret just before and the clever little girl remembers it and answered to it.

Which is an old sock of mine. :laugh:

:laugh: OK 2 days old 5F6A5064dppt Secret by kirislin, on Flickr about 3 weeks old Secret by kirislin, on Flickr and today IMG_2880dppt by kirislin, on Flickr so, does she look like a Secret or an Inky?

according to the poll so far 5 votes for Secret, 1 vote for Inky. :D

I've already had a Penny (whippet) dragonwoman so that's definitely out.

I dont know, but the way it's going I might be keeping a puppy from Nekos litter. Not saying it's definite, but if I do I can call her what I want. There's only a choice of 2 names. I had originally started calling her Secret and she learnt to come to it within 3 treats handed to her, then Marcus said he wants to call her Inky, so I stopped calling her Secret and trained her to come to Inky. She's excellent, once again learnt it quickly and comes when called by that name. I've sort of gotten used to it myself, I think it is a cute name for her, except that it rhymes with Stinky. So the big question, what should I call her, Inky, or Secret?

Poor little Inky, perhaps reverting back to Secret, in her hand me down sock jumper, sitting with her only friend in the whole wide world IMG_2880dppt by kirislin, on Flickr "It's just you and me now weird red honky duck" IMG_2883dppt by kirislin, on Flickr

those white hairs all over her sock jumper are whippet hairs. They're just about on everything here.

thankyou both. I had to move Inky/Secret out of the laundry because it would have been cruel to make her suddenly sleep alone in there, even though it is a warm snug bed, so I let her come into the lounge room while I watched TV. She's never done that before and thought it was heaven on the couch, under a blanket suckling on her mummy! She was almost weaned as Neko wasn't letting them get a drink much because they were all getting a bit rough, but now it's just back to one she didn't seem to mind. I would like her to dry off but for now I let it go as both seemed to enjoy it. She slept.......eventually after much whimpering in her little cat crate by my bed but had me up very early to let her out for a wee and didn't stop crying after that. Aah the joys of puppy training. Speaking of which I will start in earnest today, if I'm up to it. Marcus and I made her a tiny limited slip collar yesterday with the limited part being a little ladybird button that will stop the collar tightening on her neck. It's pretty cute. I'll see if I can get a photo of her wearing it. It's only for walking on leash, not a wear around collar. It's a really chilly morning here and in typical Iggy style she's shivering, although it really is probably from the cold today and not just because they're shivery dogs. So in my typical rag bag style I've just fashioned her a little jumper out of an old sock. She panicked a bit when I was trying to put it on her, but once on, she hasn't tried to get it off, it's as if it's been on her all her life. I'll try to get some better pics later today Puppy fashion icon by kirislin, on Flickr puppy vids 2april2016 006 by kirislin, on Flickr

Well - he's clearly a poo head. With bad eyes. :laugh: exactly! well today didn't turn out as I'd expected. Marcus comes up at least one day every weekend to see the puppies. Last week he took Obvious, Lazlo, Mr Fat, Thumper, Spyder Pyder with him because he was getting too rough with his sisters and too cheeky with his mum. Then today he realised that he really needs to spend some time settling them in to his home while he's on holidays so it was time to say goodbye to them. But it doesn't quite end there. He really wants me to keep one for him, same conditions as Neko, and I've been resisting, but we both realised that Inky is just too small to cope with being hammered by her big brother so it looks like she's staying here for now. He's started jokingly calling her Secret again, which was my name for her. I dont know what to do long term. My health is deteriorating and I'm not sure I can give another dog the active life I used to offer them and that I think they deserve. I am torn, but for now, I have one tiny little black dog staying here and I had to say good bye to Crickett. I dont know if I'm happy or sad.

I took the 2 little girls to the Sunday market this morning. Just put them in the cat crate to take them there and then stuffed one at a time down my zipped up cardigan and did a circuit of the market. I could tell it was a real brain overload for them, but they got lots of pats which is good and I dont think they were frightened, just a bit overwhelmed and glad for the security of being snuggled close to me. Every one was kind except for one stupid man who called Crickett a spoiled little brat.

Mr Fat is doing well. Apparently he hasn't done anything requiring discipline by the other dogs, he must be treading carefully. He's eating well too and playing lots so all in all it was an easy transition. He will be coming up here tomorrow to visit the rellies. Remember when you were kids and you used to visit the reliies on Sunday, well it's like that here. Here's Inky meeting a weird honky duck for the first time this morning. puppy vids 2april2016 006 by kirislin, on Flickr puppy vids 2april2016 004 by kirislin, on Flickr

well done to all involved. I know this must have been a hell of alot of work.