As previously posted my prime objective was to ensure that Kuje was able to relax with us and, as also posted, it certainly seems as though this has been achieved.
Spending time with Kiva and Mylo seems to have benefited him no end - he has even picked up some of their endearing (sic) habits.
When coming downstairs each morning Kiva and Mylo stand up against the dog gate to the kitchen patiently awaiting their morning greeting - Kuje's first few morning saw him hanging back, head on one side, whilst I greeted Kiva and Mylo - this morning saw 3 happy Lappy faces at the gate as Kuje joined in for the morning ritual.
Kiva is in the habit of sitting next to me and, if I ignore her, putting her paw on my leg to remind me that she is there - this morning, whilst doing the crossword I had a paw on each leg, I looked down and saw Kuje - OK, leave the crossword and stroke 2 dogs :-)
As I write we have just returned from a walk across the fields - 3 other dogs met en route, all of whom were additional fun for Kuje who, as I write, is asleep under my desk again.
As Kuje was so relaxed I even managed to take his harness of him - he approved as he then enjoyed a head to toe shake and luxurious stretch.
Saturday evening saw Kuje discover the toy box and he spent much of the evening enjoying one of Kiva and Mylo's well chewed cow's hoofs - well that and sharing the sofas - this time with me (and Kiva).
Yesterday saw a potential D2S customer visit and the house, and garden, was full of the sound of 3 Lappies and a 14 month Parsons Russell having the time of their lives - Molly (pictures to follow) will be coming to stay in June. Kuje was totally unfazed and appeared to enjoy the new guest.
So, how has Kuje changed during his stay? His confidence levels have risen, he is more assertive, he is happy to lie on his back and be stroked on his stomach, his tail is up and wagging, he goes on to his hind legs to reach up to touch me, he is happy to play with Kiva and Mylo when they want to and is even inclinded to start a game of chase with Kiva, he is happy to have his harness taken off and put back on.
Kuje will be going home later today - would I keep him if offered? You bet - he is a truly wonderful dog, sensitive and inquisitive and without a bad bone in his body. I think he will be missed.
Lappy days
When plans were made for Kuje's stay I was determined to achieve one thing, namely to ensure that he was able to relax with us as a member of the pack. 48 hours after his arrival we now have a dog that follows me almost everywhere, settles on the sofa next to Lou, interacts perfectly with Kiva and Mylo (as they do with him), eats his meals (given 1/2 the chance he would probably eat Kiva's and Mylo' s too), enjoys his walks (complete with correct tail posture), accepts the cats (as they do he), readily accepts treats from Lou and I and even lets us give him the occasional stroke. Is he happy? I would like to think so :-)As previously posted Kuje normally sleeps with his hufamily - something he seemed more than content to do here for his first 2 nights. Last night was somewhat different though as, about 15 minutes after we had retired for the night, some incredible noises were heard from downstairs - they weren't alarming in any way but were enough to make me come downstairs to check on the dogs.
Opening the door to the lounge resulted in Kiva and Kuje greeting me, well they were fine - that left Mylo. He wasn't in the lounge nor the kitchen so I checked the dog run - yup, there he was snuggled into his kennel with his tail wagging. No need for any major concerns then. Before returning to bed I thought I would spend a few minutes with Kiva and Kuje (Mylo choosing to stay in his kennel) - For the next 10 minutes Kiva and Kuje played together like puppies, taking it in turns to chase each other around the lounge like mad things - no noise other than the sound of happy lappies playing. There were times when Kuje even came up to hide behind me and allow me to stoke and pet him - he certainly has made himself at home.The pictures below show Kuje under my desk, this time with Mylo lying chilled beside it - a champagne moment indeed. 
Trick (or prank) is the literal translation of Kuje - the no treat in the title refers to Kuje's reluctance to take a treat from my hand, well that is until he got more used to me.
Yesterday saw us go out on a couple of walks, sadly on-lead as new surroundings might not be ideal for a dog that managed to get lost for 3 or 4 days. However both walks were very pleasurable and, so it seemed to Kuje, quite interesting. He certainly isn't spooked by other dogs having had the opportunity to meet the boisterous Tinkerbell (JR) and Masie the brown lab that live around the corner.
The difficulty with walking 3 dogs is in trying to determine which combination to have on the brace - simples - on the outward walk Mylo and Kiva and on the homeward walk Kuje and Kiva with Mylo lagging behind.
Seeing Kuje next to Mylo brings home their physical differences, putting Mylo's weight to one side Kuje is far smaller than Mylo - though he does have HUGE paws. Kiva and Kuje next to each other allows one to see the difference in colour, Kiva, a black tri is really BLACK, Kuje in comparison is almost auburn and his coat glows in the sun.
Kuje is still reluctant to be stroked unless he is under my desk or on the sofa next to Louise and Kiva though I am tempted to re-name him Shadow as wherever I go he goes :-).
I have no idea where the 3 of them spend the night however I am inclined to think that it is in the lounge as this morning when I came downstairs there was no sign of them in the kitchen, well until 3 heads poked round the lounge/kitchen door - a new day had begun - I wonder what it holds in store.
Lappy days
Kuje is an authentic Finnish Lapphund, by authentic I mean he actually comes from Finland having spent his first 3 years living there. I first heard of him through our Finnish Lapphund Yahoo group back in November 07 when we heard that he had got himself lost in a local forest. I met his humum Mari when I took Mylo and Kiva into the forest to see if we could help find him - sadly we didn't though he was found my Mari a few days later.
Kuje is a nervous little dog - wary of strangers and unsure of new surroundings. He, and his hufamily, have been on a couple of our monthly mass Lappy walks and it was evident that Kuje was coming out of his shell and relishing the opportunity to run free with other Lappies.
I was flattered to be asked by Mari if we could look after Kuje for a few days whilst they were on holiday and their normal dog minder was also away. I just hoped that I could make Kuje comfortable.
As I write he is at my feet under my desk - he arrived yesterday evening and soon settled in, he seems quite taken with Kiva, choosing to spend the evening either on, or next to, the sofa with her. Kuje normally sleeps in the same room as his hufamily and though we were more than happy to have him upstairs he decided he wanted to stay in the kitchen with Kiva and Mylo.
All was quiet through the night, as he is used to an early start each day he did wake us with the quietest of whines - nature was calling and a new day had begun.
Meal times at Dogs to Stay are exactly that - meals are served and dogs are expected to eat them .....
After breakfast the dogs joined me on the patio and, for the first time I was able to stroke Kuje (an achievement because he does not like being stroked by strangers - no aggression, he just slinks away) - perhaps he no longer sees me as a stranger because he is now asleep on my foot.
Lappy days indeed
When we first met Mylo's breeder back in 2006 I said that I would much prefer to do agility or training with him than show him. Ironically I did end up taking him into the ring a few times, though he hated every minute of it, however the thought of doing agility training still appealed.
The opportunity arose (thank you Milly) to take him and Kiva to a beginners agility class in a nearby village. I was convinced that Kiva would love it as, last year at an agility display, she seemed to be fascinated by it. Off we went on Tuesday for our first taste of, our neighbour Jean accompanied me so that I would have someone to look after one of the dogs whilst I went round the course with the other.
Bizarrely it was Mylo who enjoyed the experience more - Kiva was reluctant to jump the hurdlers (far easier for her to go under them) and hated the dog run, as did her brother Kanto who was also there. Perhaps Kiva's future lies in the show ring or being a mum.
Mylo took to agility like a duck to water - the dog run was completed (though Milly did comment that it seemed to bow in the middle when he was on it) - the hurdles were cleared and the tunnel eventually mastered. The one hiccup was Mylo's wish to try the A frame and seesaw, not a problem for him but we were told off by the instructor as "those are for more experienced dogs" - oh well, perhaps he can do those next week.
If Mylo continues to lose the weight at the rate that he is and also continues with agility I am sure that he will soon be down to the correct weight - as I always say "if you want to lose weight - eat less and exercise more".
Hopefully I will get some pictures at next weeks session.
Ola hupeeps, com esta?
I met the 2 cats that live here and had the chance to get close and personal with the smaller of the 2 of them - the other one is a bit intimidating and I might well leave him be.
I hope your flight was OK and that you are having as nice a time as I am. As Simon would say;
Posts
