ahliah.net

The end of March 2009 was an exciting time for the Spotswood Kennel as the new kitchen was finally installed.

Throughout March Ahli watched as the benches got raised so that she has to stretch her neck to look or sniff at what is new on the bench.  She got to meet and spend time with the cabinet makers, the plumber, my brother the electrician and her favourite Romano, our handyman from next door, who fixed the slate floor tiles before Mum sanded and resealed them.  Once the splashback man installed the glass dinner parties started happening.  Most guests are all very impressed that Ahli sits quietly in her crate while Vanilla gets to greet the guests and when everyone is seated Ahliah is allowed to greet people before dinner and then goes to the couch to watch the unusual use of the dining table.

Unfortunately the end of March was not all good news as our friend Charlotte lost her best friend – beautiful Kaya – to the Rainbow Bridge.  Vanilla and Ahliah must have been wondering why they got so many hugs each time their parents checked out the Kaya & Luna web pages – many people from around the world were crying in unison when they read about Kaya’s wonderful but short life.  Click here to read about Kaya. Please check out the rest of Chars blog for lots and lots of photos and stories of Kaya and Lunas adventures.

April  meant holidays and more visitors – Mum invited some friends to stay the night and keep her company over the weekend while Dad went up to Sydney to play ball with Ky the Doberman (Vanilla is jealous of that).  Anyway Kelly – thirteen –  who is a cat lover ended up having to cuddle a Great Dane instead – Ahli wishes we would invite more little people around!

Easter was heaven for dogs – Keira the 11 month old Rottweiler came for a 10 day body-slam and wrestling match.   Keira arrived late Thursday arvo – they played outside in the dark until 10.30 pm  and did not appreciate having to stop to sleep.   On Friday we had great run in the park with Priscilla & Rob’s Dulux dogs however on lead walks are not enough to tire out two spirited pups.  Vanilla tried her best to keep them in their place – again with special attention to being possessive of all tennis balls.  Unfortunately Keira took possession of a ball that really did not belong to her and ended up with a tear in her ear – but the visit to the vet and 3 staples and a couple of band-aids fixed the problem of blood up the walls – on the bedding – on the carpet – on Ahliah.  We all know ears and tails are a bugger to stop bleeding. Click here to view pics of Keira staying with us.

Luckily June (Mum’s sister) who came down from Brisbane to stay in the bungalow loves animals as – being the new human that smelt so good – was the most popular dry-nose in the house.  Ahliah – now stands up and gently rests her paws on anyone she really wants to know – this would not be such a bad habit other than Ahli sometimes come from behind so the surprise could knock someone over.   We went out of our way to disallow her jumping when she was a baby but unfortunately our dogs end up thinking they are human and it is an inherited trait that Ahli wants to stare straight into your eyes.  That was the first thing Mike and I noticed about meeting Tsunami (her Mum) and Kaminari (her brother).   They were in your face and smelling your breath and that is now our Ahliah – that is why I prefer our friends to be sitting down when they meet her so she gets the Halcyondane greeting out of the way without having to jump up to the height of the people she wants to greet.

April ended on a great note with Ahliah passing her Hobson’s Bay Obedience class with a first placing in our Fun day trial. So Mum can now start practising the same lessons that Michael teaches Ahli at Werribee. Apparently Ahli and Michael entertain the trainers with her energetic off-lead recalls that require her Dad to protect his manhood from her exuberant returns – ending with a Great Dane snout or paw in his crutch.

This blog will end with the first weekend in May where we all got to do a home check on Ahliah’s sister Gracie.   Gracie’s home checked out with a five bone rating:
1:  Dogs can wrestle on the lounge floor around and under the table
2:  Dogs have the tap turned on over the drinking bowl so the guest Vanilla can drink as  GD Ahli gulps from the running water while her sister Gracie licks her face.
3:  Some of the dog soft toys still have stuffing left to pull out
4:  There is a cat to chase out of their front garden
5:  Walks in the fresh air include  playgrounds with little kids,  big grassy race tracks between houses where you can gallop up & down and annoy the dogs that are locked behind the fences AND the very best part you get surprised by 4 legged monsters that walk and gallop around the Langwarrin Pony Club.  WOW Ahliah and Vanilla (as long she can hide behind the screen door) want to live at Gracie’s Kennel. Click here to view pics of the girls playdate

Till next time…