Lexi Lickalot

Meet our new family member, Lexi. She's a 8 or 9 month old kelpie. 

Her history is sad. She (and her parents) were starved until Lexi was a few months of age. From the way she behaves, it looks like she was also abused in other ways.

She was taken in by a lovely couple, who got her used to people, children, cats and other dogs (though she's scared of Buffy).

She's quite small - I don't think she'll get much bigger.

My humans have decided that over the next few days, we're fattening her up, and slowly introducing her to Buffy and myself. My mum has been super attentive while it's all happening, so now we just need to get used to each other.

My growing family...

As you know, there's another dog in my family. I also have 3 human children, and 2 human adults in my family.

Mum also got a cat that glares at me and Boof through the glass door, and there are 4 chickens and a rooster, too.

Dad made a decision today. We're getting another kelpie. Lexie (Lickalot) is a 9 month old bitch. We pick her up tonight.

The Brainless Boofhead

Did I mention we got DD a friend?
And by "friend", I mean, a living breathing furry chew toy?
Meet Boof

Boof is a Rottweiler cross Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

She's shaping up to be somewhere between the two breeds in size, but is built like and has the colouring of a Rottie.

Just her head is Staffy... Though hopefully with more brains ;)

Isn't she pretty?

An update

DD is officially a year old.
She also has something new to look after.
We bought some chooks a few weeks back - 4 ISA Browns for those who are into that kind of thing - and they're in a chook run down the back of the yard.
DD wants to play with them, though I think her idea of "play" may well be a bit rough for the chooks.

Also, we moved house. We're still in the village, one street over, in fact. DD loves the back yard here much more - there's less clutter in it, so she can run more freely.

My poor foot - see? I need to limp permanently now

A few weeks back, Dumbarse Dog was hit by a car. It was her back right leg, and nothing was broken.

On the 4th of April, we took her back in to the vet (pictured above), mostly because she'd chewed the 5th dressing off and ripped out her stitches the week before. 

And tonight, she started limping. I think it's just so she can come back inside where it's warm, and I am.

Wait... I'm not in charge around here?

Miss I loves playing outside.
Dumbarse Dog is always outside.
Miss I is difficult at the best of times.
Combine the two, and I need to go outside, call Dumbarse Dog over (she ignores me), and make her sit so Miss I can play without being chewed on, barked at, or rounded up.

Take today for an example. Miss I was a wonderful child this afternoon (I bribed her. I told her that if she was good, and helpful, she could help me cook some cakes, dinner, etc. Turns out she doesn't think of cooking as a chore, but something to be enjoyed.)
So, while I was doing a few other things and she was waiting for me, she went outside for a minute in her (sheepskin) slippers. Dumbarse Dog decided to chew on said slippers. Miss I was still wearing said slippers.
I walk outside, tell Miss I to smack Dumbarse Dog on the backside. Dumbarse Dog decided that was an invitation to chew on Miss I's arm, hand, legs.... and still the slippers.
So, as The Boss, I step in.
"Dumbarse Dog! Stop! Heel." I growl.
*Dumbarse Dog ignores me and continues chewing on Miss I*
*I walk over to Dumbarse Dog and smack her hindquarters*
"No! Sit!" I growl again.
Dumbarse Dog walks onto the grass and growls and barks at me.
"No! Sit! Down!" I growl again.
Dumbarse Dog finally sits, and we all walk inside, making sure she knows that she's now in trouble.

See? I'm a good girl! Now praise me, and pat me, and I'll chew on your feet!

Today was Miss K's 10th birthday party, and she had a few friends over. (Five. My house had an extra five girls, taking the number up to eight. Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment. And one is staying over the night.)
It also was the day the InfoxicatedMan decided to replace the alternator.
The father of one of the girls who was here offered to help, and who're we to say no? Especially when it only costs us a few beers ;-)

So, J took his daughter S home, and came back to help. While the InfoxicatedMan and J were out the front working on the rust bucket vehicle, Dumbarse Dog was allowed out of the front yard.
And she behaved.
Only twice in a 2 hour stretch did she get roused at. The first time, she decided to see if she could sneak off. The second, she decided to see if the fluffy lap dog, who really is worth more than our car, had actually been walked more than 3 houses up (It hadn't. Dumbarse Dog decided to pursue. Dumbarse Dog came slinking back).

I'm quite proud of Dumbarse Dog today.
She (as a friend would say) "done good, run strong"