Oh Piper. She's a busy girl, there's no doubt about it.

I'm always so curious about both my sweet little dogs lineage. We have not much of a clue beyond their looks, and their mannerisms, what they are a sum total of, because they are “Rez” (Indian Reservation) rescue puppies. Unfortunately at these reservations, there are dozens upon dozens of dogs of every size and shape running amok and making puppies on a daily basis. Guessing breed specificity is certainly a crapshoot. My guess is that, by far, both my girls heritage is Jack Russell terrier. But you can never be 100% sure that there isn't a skosh of something else exciting tossed in there for good measure.

Given that Declan is a bit longish, and is very blondish, maybe that's an indicator for a smidge of Corgi DNA introduced along the way. Or maybe a Chihuahua great grandmother, as she is fairly small. But that blond color seems pretty common in Corgis and Chihuahuas. Whatever combination she is, it's a good one. She is extremely smart, well mannered, quiet (when the Buffalo Gal isn't exerting her delinquency tendencies onto her), and is always anxious to mind and please you; the perfect definition of a little lady. She can be taught a trick in less than 10 minutes, and she never forgets it. She's very trustworthy, and I never have to worry about her not being on a leash from the gate to the car, or when we go outside at the cabin. But, I guess you have to factor in that we got her when she was just 8 weeks old, so she hadn't been forced to deal with too many hardships. Coming into a loving forever home as a little baby I'm sure has to be an advantage.

Miss Piper, on the other hand,………… She has a heart as big as the moon! And loves you with every ounce of that big heart. She's fearless, energetic, smart as a whip, and more than a little bullheaded. Lordy, she's entertaining! But you really have to keep a handle on her. Being the free spirit that she is, she wants to run. If she's taken outside the yard without a leash and sees a bunny, she's a kickin up dirt in your eye – gone like a streak. Ditto with deer (and cows, and horses, and moose, and the list goes on and on). We drove to the cabin once last Spring, passed a doe and her fawn, continued on the 1/2 mile to the cabin, and when we parked and opened the truck door, she hadn't forgotten that deer. She was out like a bullet, tearing down the road to find that doe. We called and whistled for 10 minutes. Bruce was just getting the 4-wheeler out to go look, when here she came, sopping wet and covered with mud, her tongue hanging out to her knees. (That's why any photo you see of her at the cabin now, she is on a long lead, tethered to the cabin.) But, she came to us at around 1 year old, after having run loose and uncared for on the “Rez”. And I'm sure there would be horrific tales, if only she could tell us. Most likely it was a situation of survival of the fittest, and most Rez dogs run pack-like, looking for food, and fending for themselves to the best of their abilities. I'm fairly certain she had been abused, also, as she was terrified of boots, hats, and anything stick-like (brooms, yardsticks, sticks in general) for many months after we adopted her. She still has spells where she is afraid of Bruce and my son, especially after dark. But for the most part, it's all good, because after 2 years she knows deep down she can trust us. What a hoot she is! Maybe she has a dab of bird dog in her. Any time something catches her eye, the first thing she does is assume a “pointing” stance. The magpies tease her mercilessly in our yard, so she spends a lot of time zipping around the yard, or on the deck rail, or highest point of the wood pile, trying to catch them.

Come on you darn magpie, just a little closer...

There was a major, very concentrated, staring out the window session at work not too long ago.

Because of this –

Then a few hours later, this –

Note the tarpaper decoration dangling from his antlers. Don't know what that was all about. He moseyed right past our window at work, and wasn't deterred in the least by her barking.

Piper is very interested in her surroundings and pays rapt attention to all the goings on. I watched her sitting on the woodpile for the longest time last weekend.

I used the zoom on my camera to see what she was watching so intently.

She was really taking it all in. I think I see a sledding party in our future! I bet she'd really like it! I already know she and Declan both love riding on the snowmachine and 4-wheeler. And I'm sure up for some sledding!

I feel so lucky and blessed to have these 2 fuzzy little gifts in my life. It seems like there is never a dull moment with them around. So darn lucky 🙂

TTFN,

Teresa

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