This is going to be short. I am snatching a few minutes whilst the puppy sleeps.
Long story short; our beloved Biddy, who has been with us for 15 years had to be put to sleep. In our grief we made a truly daft decision and immediately got a puppy AND moved house in winter. My mother said it was compliment to Biddy that we wanted another dog straight away. I think she was being kind, but she does love animals so maybe not.
So enter Effie. Or the “Scruffy One” as my husband called her as we watched her and her sister (our choice of two) cavort around the farmer’s yard with great energy. This was the one my husband picked.
She was covered in mud (poop) and slightly pink from blood. Her litter-mates picked on her. The farmer said ‘I think she will be the kinder dog”. Kind means gentle in this part of County Derry. Yes we picked the underdog.
So we took home a mucky pup and gave her a shower. She has dealt with the transition to indoor life with three cats very well. We, the humans have found it a tougher transition.
There is a lot to learn with collies. They are not like other dogs. They are super smart but also very sensitive. We are exhausted from trying to keep up and understand her. I have been doing a lot od reading. I find Barbara Skyes’ books on Border Collies really helpful. We still haven’t quite finished moving house!
She is pretty much house-trained after 3 weeks (probably slow for a collie) but needs to be made to chill out and nap several times in the day or she gets fractious and grumpy at night. Every morning is a new start even if she went to bed sulking with us, and greets us both with a kiss (lick on the ear) and chest (to gently rub).
And the red squirrels? We saw two this week. For the first time in my life. They are very rare in Britain. They are more common in Ireland but shy. We saw two on Inch Island when we were out exercising Effie.
She has to be exercises away from other dogs and grass until we’ll after her second vaccination. We saw them scampering across a lane from a wooded area. They are very different from their grey American cousins. They are smaller, delicate with russet red coats and tuffed ears. When they run their bodies and tails undulate in an elegant way. The second time I saw one I could see it had a white chest. It was fleeting sighting so I don’t gave a photo but I can offer a couple of paintings I did many years ago.
Times up. Effie stirs.
Welcome to Effie. May she bring you much joy.
Thank you, joy and exhaustion. I am full of respect for new parents of all babies, human or fur!
She’s so cute! But collies are devils, because working dogs. My advice is—get a crate. I have a 7 month old ridgeback puppy at the moment and it is a lifesaver. I always thought, I’m not putting my dog in a cage, but the breeders suggested it and the dogs love it. It’s their nest and also if you have to leave you know they’re not going to chew the electric plugs or destroy your sofa.
You are right. The advice pages are full of advice on getting a crate. We have one but need to get her in it, and sleeping! It’s all work in progress.
Effie is divine! Good luck with the chewing and puppy mayhem, how lovely.
She is very sweet but I have have eyes like a hawk to watch what she is doing. I still haven’t unpacked my studio! We are still getting used to each other.
Congrats to the new parents on their beautiful baby! Effie sounds like a real handful. And the cats are good with her? That is quite a full house. Best of luck during the puppy stage.
Love those squirrels with the fun ears. Our squirrels are different but we have chipmunks that are adorable. (Don’t have them in Florida though.)
Thanks Pam. We are slowly falling g into a routine and the humans (and puppy) are getting a bit more sleep. She’s learning manners with the cats…slowly. Artie is a wise old hand and he’s cool with her. Nellie and Flossie are younger and Essie knows she might get them to run so she’s on a line when they are around. The grey squirrels I am used to in Britain are American in origin and are a bit like chipmunks. The red squirrels are smaller and very cute. Everything we visit Inch Island we have our eyes peeled for them but we haven’t seen anymore lately!
Cats are a work in progress – she’s getting better. I have her on a line when the cats are about. Her problenm is that she wants to paly with them “puppy-style” (jumping on them) which is too rough for them.
How lovely – best of luck with the new arrival…..
Thank you Marie, so many times we say to each other ‘what we’re we thinking?’ But we have fallen in love with her now! Lol!
Effie is gorgeous! I well remember the exhaustion of caring for a puppy, and snatching a few moments to write when Lyra was asleep – it was like having a baby with the agility and mischief of a monkey. Whippets are crazy when they’re puppies!
That sounds both delightful and exhausting
That’s good to hear. I think all babies (fur or otherwise) are exhausting. I remember Flossie and Nellie having crazy amounts of energy as kittens, and you had to watch them lile a hawk as they had no sense.