More on Max

Boy, has it been less than a week since Max joined us?  He has seemed to settle in to his new digs with only one dust up with Raggie, over the one toy I don't want Max to take over.  Is that how it is with kids?  As I said in the last post, Max looked to me to have some Greyhound/Whippet type lineage even though some of the adoption descriptions said he was a Shepherd mix or a Central American Street Dog.  Well Max had his initial check up with Dr. Dana who immediately concluded that he is largely a "sighthound" and his vet file now tags him as Whippet Mix.  For you non dog people, breed info is helpful to identify characteristics that are likely to be found since for much of their history breeding was done to refine behavior that was considered desirable.  Always curious, I have spent some time reading about sighthounds.

Sighthounds are an ancient category of dog that rely heavily on sight for hunting as opposed to scent hounds, who mostly used their nose.  Included among sighthounds are Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Basenjis and Afghans.  Typical scent hounds are Basset Hounds and Blood Hounds.  You can spot a sighthound by the oversized chest cavity, relatively long legs and narrow hips.  They also often have their head up looking into the distance as opposed to my old Basset Hound who always had his nose to the ground.

They can run extremely fast, Whippets being clocked at 35mph in a sprint.  They are very "prey driven."  What that means it you better hold on to the leash.  We are looking for a trainer who can help with recall but one issue according to the Whippet sites is that they instinctively take off after prey and run so fast that once they stop, they may not know where they are and how to get home.

Whippets were breed in England and Ireland by the working class for racing and for game hunting.  The story goes that the kids might eat bread but the dog would get meat since if he won his race on the weekend, he would bring home money for the family.  He would also hunt small game like rabbit for the table.  Some were encouraged to poach.  Looking through the large dog book at the vet,  I thought I had found Max's "roots" when I found the picture of a sighthound called a Lurcher.

        While not a pure breed, it is generally a cross between a sighthound and any other breed, usually a pastoral dog or terrier, dependent on the attributes desired by the breeder; originally stealth and cunning. Collie crosses are popular, given the working instinct of a sheepdog when mated with a sighthound gives a dog of great intelligence plus speed - prerequisites for the hunter/poacher. In the USA midwest, crosses with large scent hounds are fairly common.
 

He looked the closest and the dog is found in England, Ireland and the US and owned by Gypsies who use the dog to poach.  I thought that was quite hilarious until we discovered that they run 50-60 pounds, where Max is 22 1/2.

Whippets are sometimes called "Velcro dogs" as they follow their owner everywhere, even into the bathroom.  They love to cuddle as well and are pretty sensitive to correction and quite smart.  They are very athletic and can jump with ease.  I found this out last night.

One couch backs on to a large counter which covers a stairwell, the other side of which is the kitchen.  The habits from years of living with chow hound Boogs taught me to keep food off the floor and low tables.  He was however, never able to get to the kitchen counter.  Well, it is a short "Max jump" from the floor, to the couch to the large counter over the staircase to the kitchen counter.  Himself and I were out in the back yard discussing what fence "hardening" was necessary to contain Max and exclude the deer.  I had put leftover spareribs and rice in a container covered with saran wrap on the counter, planning to heat it up for our dinner.  When we returned, half was gone.

Dogs have always enjoyed the couch

Kitchen prep space

Chow isn't too bad around here

It must have been Raggie

We are eager to hear from the trainer as some work needs to be done.

Coming home and Max

Much has transpired since the last post in the Keys.  We had a wonderful day in the Everglades,  a day driving through Miami (not my favorite experience) and then west.  The highlight of the trip west was a stop in Fredericksburg, where himself toured the newly expanded Pacific War Museum and I enjoyed the shops and pastries in this lovely town founded by German stonemasons.

Fredericksburg Stone home

A stop to see our friends Larry and Sherrill (and Dude), then to Seal Beach for 3 weeks.  While there we took care of many appointments, including looking for an orthopedic surgeon for a hip replacement this coming fall for himself.  It is always a treat to see old friends and enjoy sunshine.  The trip back was quick but we were able to fit in a stop to see Fern and her family in Lodi at their lovely home on the river.

On the Davis Deck in Lodi

 It is an interesting area as is the adjacent Sacramento Delta.  Lots of wineries and the oldest occupied Chinese community in the US called Locke

Locke

After visiting Fern and her family we headed home.  We arrived to glorious spring weather which has pretty much continued, with temperatures expected in the high 70's in the next few days.  It isn't any better in summer and this is only May!  The conventional wisdom is you don't plant tomatoes till after Memorial Day.

Spring in Vashon

The BIG news is that there is a new family member.  Himself and I have been talking about getting another dog for a while.  Raggie has really missed Boogs and his canine companionship.  It was apparent when we visited Dude in Arizona and Riley in Texas that he would enjoy having a sibling.  I have spent literally hours on Petfinder.  A few prospects were identified and I originally looked for another Cocker.  Some of the rescues make it harder than emigrating to New Zealand, which we would never qualify to do.  Then one day a dog came up on Petfinder, with a Vashon VIPP (Vashon Island Pet Protectors) designation.  

MAX

 Max's foster family fell in love with him and for a while, we didn't thing we would get him.  We did visit and Raggie immediately began tail wagging.  Himself and I were taken with his curiosity which included putting his nose in the adoption coordinator's purse within seconds of her putting it on the floor.  Just what Boogs would have done.  Two days ago we were notified that Max was ours.

Since then he has had his first car trip to Pandora's Box to get food, a proper collar and tag and treats.  He seemed to enjoy his ride and took my seat when I got out.

He is quickly getting used to the house and yard, looking out windows and smelling everything.  He is alert, curious and affectionate.  He slowly tried to crawl up on my lap while I was resting on the couch and was delighted to find that dogs are permitted on furniture in his new house.  He was clearly trying to endear himself so that he could snuggle.  

Max is an athletic dog with the large chest of a greyhound/whippet type dog and he is very fast.  We hope to train him to come so he can be off leash on our unfenced 8 acre parcel as well as at the waterfront.  Until then, I am walking him up the steep private road, about a 2 mile roundtrip.  He is not winded and his muscles don't seem to complain, unlike his human companion.  Five months on the road have taken its toll on my exercise program.  Raggie has a propensity for back problems and is nearly 16, so his walks are frequent, but short.