Nobu Close-ups

Japanese Dream

Nobu indulged in the ultimate Japanese male fantasy, ear cleaning with his head in my lap...He got so comfy, almost falling asleep, I didn't want to get up and disturb him.

I took him to the vet on Thursday because he kept scratching at his harness and neck on walks in an attempt to get at his ears, and they were getting quite hot and sore...I also spent one night with my hand over his ear to stop him scratching, so it was about time when we went. It seems the ears have deepseated dirt which is irritating him, and he's on a week's course of antibiotics and anti-inflammation pills, plus I'm supposed to wash his ears with solution every day. Both dogs love it when there's medicine, because I add Fish4dogs Salmon Mousse to their kibble, hiding the medicine in the tasty mouthful, and of course it wouldn't do to give only one dog the special treat, so they both get lucky. Real Mary Poppins, just a spoonful of mousse, just a lap and an earclean, makes the medicine go down, in the most delightful way.

Mirage

Twice now on our walks Nobu has gone up to porcelain dogs, tail wagging and sniffing, quite certain these are doggie friends sitting there. I haven't yet managed to get a good shot, by the time I get out my cell the overtures are over, and I wonder how many times it will take before he realizes they are not interested and don't respond, so gives up on greeting them...He's such a cutie, loves other doggies and even when the play gets rough he remains ever soo gentle. Nobu now weighs 22.75 kilos, up almost three kilos from when he came a month ago! Hooray! Claire is getting decidedly tubsy in the process but it suits her :) 

Under her wing

Another new day...

Nobu's been with us a full three weeks and is beginning to mark his territory like a man, standing up to pee. When he first came his legs were to weak to balance, and he had to crouch to pee. He likes to pee on top of Claire's markings, and then some inbetween. In the meantime Claire is frozen chasing pigeons on our morning walk, so I had time to snap these shots...when Claire made her move and dashed after them, the camera fortunately dropped in the poopie bag in the muddle of leashes and sudden impetus, otherwise we would have had Mum distraught picking up smashed pieces.

Tosh kept saying wouldn't it be fun if Nobu went after pigeons with Claire...this is a completely fake shot seemingly granting his wish: in actual fact Claire is busy about her hunting, focused, intent, aligned, and Nobu is wandering across her path, getting in the way and flushing the birds with little interest in them at all - what's all the fuss about, he says, beginning to set up a gentle whine if things take too long.

 The pigeons flew across the road, settling on the streetlight across from the park, and Claire stopped at the entrance and wouldn't budge!

Forget birds, says Nobu, I'm on the lookout for doggie friends! I spy with my little eye...

Alluring Poses

Claire with a new scarf, and a soft glow of satisfaction on her face...the reason being a walk in Shinrin Park with umpteen pigeons..

We had no sooner arrived than Claire went into full hunting mode, stiff as a ramrod and then slowly creeping in, stealth on four paws...only the birds took flight, what a flock of pigeons, a flurry, a whirring, an upward beating of wings...impressive...

But by now Claire is a veteran, and she knows that these overweight spoilt critters don't go too far, and she'd be wasting her breath zinging after them. With a seasoned eye she follows their flight, and goes straight back into stalking mode as they alight on a nearby tree...

Meanwhile Nobu and I wander on by hither and thither as takes Nobu's fancy, but Claire never blinks an eye, oblivious to the world, Diana lost in the moonshine of the eternal hunt, her prey etched against the grey blue winter sky...

With two dogs on long leashes these are about the only times we can get snapping with the camera lately. When Nobu gets in his element and meets up with all the exotic dogs in the park we're doing all we can to make sure the leash doesn't get tangled, the dogs don't get nervous or aggressive, and Nobu doesn't go zinging off after the next dog he spies. Plus Claire likes to hide safely behind legs, not being the socialite, which means other dogs come up and try to sniff, ending up in python wrapped setter mums and dads...

And back home Claire's I put the finishing touches on Claire's new scarf, so I can wash the teddy bear one, and she is so pleased with the exercise, the excitement, the loving attention brushing out the invariable seeds and burrs, the new scarf, in a word, life... 

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