"mouse" is now settled in, cant wait till weekend to get her bathed. has to be that long so i dont hurt the stiches where she was speyed.
first dog i have owned that wasnt a bull breed, but couldnt handle that after bo died.
Quite a few times I've been out for walks and cross paths with people and other dogs. Nikau will start showing a strong eye and lock his head on the other dog, he'll drop low and stalk in slowly. dropping to his belly on every "noho" (sit) command, waiting for me to allow him forward to the dog. Which leads to some interesting conversations. "ooohhh, look he's submitting to my dog", "is he aggressive, he looks like he's going to attack", "why is he so skinny? do you feel your dog enough", "What breed is he?"
While i get a read on their dog i normally respond with, "This is Nikau, he's a heading dog, this is his nature and he's not aggressive, but he is still whole. Is it OK if the dogs say Hello?"
"He looks like a huntaway, are you sure he's a heading dog. He looks like he's got something else in him?"
Make me want to ask them as a joke, "Are you sure you're from New Zealand? you look like you have Nazi in you.... "
Photo of Nikau during a local bush walk. Going for his 1st hunt tomorrow, hopefully all goes well.
Is he still intact? He might be good to put over my girl.
Yeah, I'm keeping him whole for the mean time. He has great sheep dog trial blood lines, I'm only hoping his hunting is as good.
His nature is good, although he's still in that stage of understanding why some male dogs wanted to fight him. They'll try stand over him and now he get defensive sometimes because of it. The hair on his neck starts to stand up more often now, which im trying to get out of him. The tail still wags fast and wants to play more than often.
We'll be looking to stud him out eventually @Chur Bay
Spud: Why we sitting out here in the cold when I told you the deer are down there in the bush Dad?
Dad: Because they'll come out of the bush soon and they'll be a easy shot.
Spud: Where's the fun in that? It's boring here.
Dad: Just wait you'll see.
1 hour later
Spud: I don't think they are com........
Dad: Shut up
Well Nikau had his 1st attempt in the bush, hunting fallow in a small local doc ballot block. It'd been a couple years since I'd hunted the area. But the last time there was plenty of sign and I was hopeful.
Nikau started out testing my nerves, he was too keen and I felt like all the training was pointless. He was pushing his boundaries very early, the long line came out along with a couple smacks on the rump. He got the message and in return some freedom off the line.
It took a couple hours but he'd finally settled down. He would check his dance regularly. And even if he tracked out of sight he'd wait or come back to me. He sat on command, or at least freeze a scout ahead thinking I'd spotted something. He worked ground scent well and followed trails, if the breeze picked up I'd stop him, he'd naturally lift his nose and work the wind. I tried to put all my faith in him and follow his lead, but with no sign it seemed like there was no animals in the area. But it seemed like he knew what we were in the bush for and he was trying his hardest.
My little mate Pip
I Have Sexdaily. I mean Dyslexia! Fcuk!
A couple more I found.
I Have Sexdaily. I mean Dyslexia! Fcuk!
I took my whippet out into the Tararuas yesterday for the first time. When we encountered a stag she did very well, stayed still, was scenting the air so she knows the smell now. It was the opposite of what she does when there's a rabbit nearby (imagine a starving dog with food just out of reach).
Covid took most of my sense of smell so it was great to have someone doing the smelling for me. She also followed ground trails after the stag winded us.
Here's a couple of pics of Candace doing her thing while we camped out in a likely spot. That nose got a good workout.
Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.
Purebreed whippet. Awesome dogs, a curious mix of stubborn independence and velcro.
Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.
This little bloke could have potential if anyone is looking for a pup
Pack out heavy
As Izzie has aged I've stopped taking photos of her with animals we've taken together, she's got me many, but more of where we are and what we are doing. She's now 11 and her hard days in the hills are just about done.
Was BINGO the name of the farmer or the dog?
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