Happy First (Seventh ????) Birthday!*

I originally wrote this post four years ago (2010) to be published on the first anniversary of the births of The Hounds from Hell and then for some reason (a busy life, work, study...  laziness) didn't finish it.  So I thought that perhaps four years later I'd go back and revise it to reflect things that have changed since that first year.  Changes - if any - are in blue.  I've added a few pictures - some of which may well have appeared here before - from over the past few years.

*This was the original title but of course it should really read Happy Fifth (35?) Birthday! 

The first day we saw them - March 13, 2009 - they almost fit in my hand.

At the end of their first day with us - April 24, 2009.  It was an exhausting day for everyone.

The Hounds from Hell turned one year old this week - Nora actually last week (February 19), she's the older of the two. (Nicky was born on February 23 - they are from two different litters) There was no party and nobody got any presents but I was reminded of a friend who worked her way through collage as an events planner. At the time there was a television personality called LouLou or something like that, who was very popular in Quebec and she asked my friend to plan a birthday party for her poodle and the other dogs from the off-leash park in Outremont. The party mostly consisted of Loulou and her friends enjoy cocktails upstairs as the dogs scrapped, peed, craped, humped, slept and created mayhem amongst streamers and balloons downstairs. Every twenty minutes a progressively more festive Loulou would call down to ask how things were going - though since she purported to be a psychic you'd think she would have known? Apparently she  missed the guests destroying the rather elaborate doggie biscuit cake while a great Dane tried to hump her beloved Bijoux.  My friend said it was a total disaster but at least it paid for her books for that year's courses at University.

A year later in April, 2010 they fit their lovely big kid collars from Auntie Cecilia and pretty much
owned the house and had the humans trained the way they wanted them to be.

But I digress - back to the kids! In honour of their first fifth year I thought I'd post this adaptation I made of a great e-mail I got from my friend Charlie and added some pictures of the HFH from the past two months five years.

If I Didn't Have Two Dogs ....

• All the carpets would be in place to cover those cold tiled and marble hardwood floors.
• All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

These photos were part of the original post so I thought I'd leave them as is.

Nick really is intrigued and I might add distressed by suitcases - signs of an adventure to come or being left alone! And he does love to pose!

• When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
• When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through barking, fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

Honestly Nicky hasn't been drinking - its just one of his favourite ways of laying - even when he was a puppy.

And another favoured position is this sort of pile-on - which was fine when they were puppies
- a bit more cumbersome when they got a bit bigger.

• I could sit on the couch, at the computer or on my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
• I would be able to get up to answer the phone or the call of nature without having 10 kilos of fur glower at me for disturbing their rest.

Our Nora has always had a Zen side to her - her mantra is the Daschie equivalent of "Kill the Squirrel".

And Nicky is always more interested in things of - or more to the point on - the table.

• I would have money, and no guilt when I go on a vacation.
• I would not be on a first-name basis with 3 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grandkids through college.

Semper iacebat in sole - the Daschie motto!

And sometimes a girl has to forgo elegance to get that all important tan just right.

• The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: NORA, NICKY, out, sit, down, come, NO, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
• I would not have to pretend to eat from the dog dish to establish who is the alpha or at least in my case beta in the household.
• I would not talk ' baby talk' in French and English:  'Mange, mange!' 'DoeDoe'. "Who's the most beautiful girl/handsomest boy on Mcleod St
• I would no longer have to spell the words W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, G-O, R-I-D-E, B-I-S-C-U-I-T.

Yeah well you can say: get off! as much as you want - if you turn the heat off outside
in October we're planning on being warm and comfortable inside until it comes back on. 

• I'd look forward to a gentle fall of rain without thinking "O God! Mud! Puddles!".
• My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
• Walks November through April would not entail unending struggles with boots and coats
• It would not be necessary to go back into a snow bank to retrieve boots that have been kicked off by over-exuberant little back feet.

 

You say Patriotic - I say just plain embarrassing!  And you want me to go out dressed like this?

Our Nora - every vigilant!  Just in case some other dog walks by four floors down
- she'll sound the warning!  And god help the dog that dares come up here!

• I would not have to explain to concerned joggers that I am NOT "doing anything" to that dog its just that she's seen a squirrel and that's her hunting howl.  

• Okay let me say this more slowly - she is a hunting dog,  yes she is small but you wouldn't want to see her take on that squirrel!

Explain to me again why I left a warm patio in Roma for this?

Yes red is "my colour" but honestly enough is really enough!

• I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.
• I would not have to answer the question "Don't two dogs really interfere with your life?" from people who don't understand that yes they do but the joy they bring into my life more than makes up for it.

Your coffee table?  Where on earth did you get the idea it was your coffee table?

Yep the Hounds from Hell are still pains in the butt but they are our pains in the butt and we love them almost as much as they love us - particularly if we have a two biscuits in hand.

February 21 -  1739: Richard Palmer is identified at York Castle, by his former schoolteacher, as the outlaw Dick Turpin.

HFH* - Long Overdue GPP**

Its been so long that most people have probably forgotten the acronyms *HFH (Hounds from Hell) and **GPP (Gratuitous Puppy Pictures) but rest assured that Nicky and Nora are still running around the household.  Mind you they are no longer puppies however as far as I'm concerned they will always be my puppies.

This is now their third winter here in Canada and much like the humans they own they are still not use to or happy with it.   And they are particularly not use to (or happy with) winter arriving at the end of November!  They have however learned the difference between the temperature and the temperature + wind chill.  As an example this past Monday it may well have been only -24°C but with a sharp blowing wind that -30°C was more like it. They've learned that when it gets that cold the stylish doggie coats come out.

They've also learned that when there is snow and ice on the ground plus salt to melt the snow and ice  - and our super uses generous amounts of salt - then those detested red booties are also necessary.  The past week or two the boots have become de rigueur for even the quickest trip into the cold. 

But of course this winter sartorial splendor requires that the human equation in all this do some fancy work to get puppies clad and booted.  Not having a great experience of it  I am only guessing but I would think it is less work to get a child ready for skating on the canal.

Particularly with our Nicky.  First he runs and hides on the couch, then reluctantly creeps towards the entrance hall - trembling in (feigned) fear and trepidation.  A furtive look up and an attempt to placate the demanding human with a quick lick face-wards.  Then the real fun begins 

 Okay so the left paw - nay won't fight you on that one:

 The back paws - hmmm well okay I'll let you win that one.  In fact I may even lift my leg so you can get them on without too much trouble.

Ah the right paw - not sure on that one.... how about I just put it over here out of reach and push real hard against your paw. 

Gosh you weren't able to get it on that way - how about I push the other way.  Oh sorry that doesn't seem to be helping much, does it? 

Well okay that one is finally on - hey it only took three minutes this time, if you want I can do a repeat of the morning I went for the record?????  Okay I'm ready!  Hurry up I have to go!

Nora is a bit more of a stoic about it - no fuss, the odd furtive look and attempted lick; she won't fight you but she'll be damned if she'll help you with this form of canine torture.  She is not really happy about this; in fact if she had a cell phone the Humane Society  would be on speed dial!

 Okay now I'm ready!  I don't like this one bit but damn it red is my colour isn't it?

Okay torture - not to mention the indignity of being seen in those damned boots - over!  Biscuits given as a rewards for doing what we were aching to do anyway.  Time for a doe-doe.  Wake us when it's summer!

December 21 - 1913: Arthur Wynne's "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World.

HFH Discover Winter's Wonderland

The HFH discovered the joys of the winter wonderland that will be their home for, if memory serves, at least the next six months.

And if truth be told they probably handled it better than I did.

27 novembre/November - San Primitivo

HFH - Updated Gratuitous Puppy Pictures

Settled into their new home the HFH seem quite happy in the one chair they are allowed to be up on in the living room.

Its been a long while since I've posted photos, let alone any news, of the HFH. Actually its been a long time since I've posted anything regularly, this working for a living is interfering with my living but I keep meaning to remedy that - the posting thing I mean.

Nick and Nora have adapted fairly quickly to their new home - perhaps more readily than the humans in the family. Fortunately we found a very pet friendly building - there are two other dogs on our floor alone - plus at least 10 others in the building including a snappy schnauzer and two pugnacious pugs that even I won't ride in the elevator with.  So far no one has complained about the odd barking or even a occasional ruckus in the hallway.

Nora has always had that thoughtful side to her
- or perhaps she is just annoyed about that flashy thing going off again!

Though here she does seem to be "at one" with herself,
almost as if she is taking her inspiration from my little Buddha.

Nora has discovered squirrels and they are the enemy! She's also discovered and seems quite captivated by Toby the Portuguese water dog who lives across the hallway. Unfortunately her reaction to him is almost the same as her reaction to the squirrels - full hunting howl! Neither the squirrels nor Toby seem impressed by this display of interest. The former run like mad chattering excitedly and poor Toby just wants to get away from this mad little creature as fast as he can. This ear piercing howl which no doubt serves her mother well when hunting boar in Tuscany has led to several embarrassing incidents in the boarless environs of Ottawa.   One peaceful Sunday morning around 0700 just after we moved in she and I were walking along the Rideau Canal and a squirrel was sighted. The Sunday calm was shattered and the air rent with a series of high pitched bays which echoed across the water - a noisy concerned jogger stopped in his tracks, ran back and indignantly demanded to know what I was doing to that poor dog! And just last week we encountered Toby coming in from his walk early morning walk as we were leaving for ours. Its odd how an apartment hallway amplifies sound - almost every door on the floor opened and be-housecoated occupants poked their heads out to see who was being murdered! Well at least I know that I live amongst concerned neighbours.

Nicky is proud of his Italian heritage but the idea of wearing an Italia jersey doesn't seem to appeal all that much.  We'll see how he feels when it drops to -30c, the display of patriotism may be welcomed at that point.

Our Nicky is another story - as he always has been. He's an extremely timid little fellow at heart and responds to people cautiously. Unfortunately that shyness turns to aggression on occasion so we have to be very careful with him in the elevator and on our walks. He looks so sweet as he trots along the Canal with that "I'm a sexy little Italian stud on the catwalk" strut of his that everyone wants to pet him. Fortunately the schools seem to be teaching kids that it is always best to ask first before petting a strange dog - it saved us some possibly sticky situations. In an attempt to avoid trouble we brought in Barkbusters and he has responded to their system remarkably well. As their Uncle Pervy said the other day - Nicky's the perfect pack dog he actually wants to follow orders. Nora however is a little less willing to follow anything but her hunter instincts... or poor Toby. But we're working on it and us - as the Barkbuster motto, rather snidely to my way of thinking, puts it: Dogs are great trainers of people!

Nora - ever the instigator - to Nick:  Okay we're not suppose to be up here but its sunny, its soft and its warm.  Don't move and old what's-his-name won't even notice us - we'll just blend in.

Though I'm not looking forward to Ottawa's famous snow days - normally from sometime in late November until sometime in late May as I recall - I'm anticipating the HFH's reaction to their first encounter with snow. I have a feeling Nicky will look at it as an insult to his dignity and Nora will revel in it. What ever it will be I want to have the camera at hand to record the event!

20 novembre/November - I Santi Avventore, Ottavio e Solutore

Long Overdue HFH Videos

Its been a long while since the Hounds from Hell have made a video appearance here - not because they have not been the subject of cinematic projects on my part but because I've been lazy.  Well okay I do have an excuse I have been in moving mode for 11 weeks now and frankly its wearing me down.

I though I'd post  two little clips - one is BC - Before Canada and the other AI - After Italy.

The journey from there to here was a relatively good one - a little bit of excitement at Fumicino as Nicky tried to attack anyone that came near his cage - they weren't going to take him away from his homeland without a fight.  Nora was a little more placid but complained in her own inimitable way.  And for anyone who wasn't aware they flew in the cargo hold of the aircraft: a. - They are too big to fit under the seat and b. I don't believe in animals (or children) in the cabin of an aircraft.  And no we didn't give them any tranquilizers - 33 years experience in the airlines taught me the dangers of that, so we simply put a used bit of worn intimate apparel from each of us in each kennel.  That way there was a familiar smell.  Believe it or not it is the best way to calm an animal in that situation.

They were fine upon arrival and despite some whining made the car trip up to Ottawa with their Uncle Pervy without a problem.  Our dear Betty Jean - to whom be all honour and glory - took them in and they had a wonderful time at Summer Camp Culley.  Even Nicky's attempt to claim - in true canine fashion - her sofa as his own, or at least a lower corner of it,  didn't seem to phase her -she remained calm, cool and... well Betty Jean, then and through the whole 3 weeks she had them.

As for the new apartment - well much is still in boxes so free reign is not possible and the geography of their current area keeps changing as boxes are moved around, wine is stored and pictures hung.  But there is always the daily walks along the Canal - three a day, sometimes four - with new smells and squirrels!  Oh yes there are squirrels and as you may recall Nora's lineage is firmly in the hunting hound world - her mother is a champion boar hunter - so on the odd morning the neighbours have been treated to a full hunting hound howl.  And at 0630 it tends to echo very distinctly across the water.

The future holds some obedience lessons to see if we can get them both socialized a bit better with other dogs and maybe turn Nora's hunting frenzy to a more practical bent.   And then, of course, there will be their first walk in the snow to look forward to - now there's a thought to give me nightmares for a few weeks!


30 agosto/August - San Fiacre

Gratuitous HFH iPhone Photo

God lord, Debra may have been right in her comment on the previous post - I'm taking photos with my iPhone like some teenager called Ashley.   Here's one of the kids first thing this morning.

Nicky loves the sun and I'm sure he thinks its hiding the ceramic jar in the alcove. As with much that happens in our house Nora lets him do the work and she'll bask in it once he's found it.

20 aprile - San Teodoro Trichinas

HFH - Dog Day Morning

With the temperatures running in the 40s both Nicky and Nora have preferred to stay indoors where its cooler though both of them make the odd foray onto the balcony.
Nora's main purpose for going out is to bask in the sunshine and to make sure that dog from two blocks away that she can hear doesn't climb up to the second floor and invade her space. She really does hate the camera and gives me such disgusted looks when I brandish it her way.
Nicky takes the term "bedding plants" seriously. His escape of choice is to make himself comfortable amongst the foliage of this spreading plant.

18 luglio - Arnolfo di Metz

An Update for Aunt Cecilia and Uncle Pervy

Its very quiet around here right now. The Hounds from Hell have been sent off to boarding school for the next week as Laurent and I head up for our annual Whitsun trip to Salzburg. Its very, very quiet around here - not sure I like that!

Our friend Jack took most of the photos of Nicky and Nora when he was here at the beginning of April. The Deadly Duo didn't mind posing for a few shots for their fans.

Nicky and Nora both turned a year old in March – Nora, as you may recall, is a week older than Nicky. We were going to have a birthday party but there's a bit of a problem: our Nicky is terrified of other dogs. Oh he's all bravado, bark and snap when he first sees them but the running in terror when they accept the challenge is heart rending. Yelping piteously he immediately seeks the protection of one of us. Nora is a little braver and a few Sundays ago at the farm even tried to join in the other kids' games. So this year the party was a bit low keyed: them and us, an extra few biscuits and quite a few more hugs and cuddles -if that is possible.

Nora and Nicky show off their lovely collars sent to them by Aunt Cecilla. We were hoping they would grow into them but we finally had to have them altered to fit. As befits a young lady Nora, and in honour of their favorite scarlet lady, wears the snappy red one and Nicky sports the green one that he thinks set his eyes off perfectly.

It hardly seems a year since we first saw the little bundles of fluff that were to change our life style so radically. They have both grown though sadly neither one grew fully into those beautiful collars their Aunt Cecilia sent them. But as the pictures will attest we had the collars altered to fit them and they now proudly show them off to all and sundry. Next week we are having the tags engraved with their names.

Nora was frankly very leery of our friend Jack when he approached her with his super duper zoom lens does everything but pop corn camera. She figured it was going to flash the way that silly one does that I am forever pointing at her.

Our Nora is a chunky girl – not fat understand, just big boned bespeaking her Hungarian heritage. She's also very cuddly and loves nothing more than giving kisses. Nicky is pencil thin in the style of his Italian parentage and always will be from the looks of it. Oh he eats but he's sleek and slender by nature- the perfect Armani model. And to suggest that he is a bit high-strung – well understatement is always advisable. There are, as at least one of the oriental carpets can attest, territorial concerns and the pack positions are still an issue. The fights can sound ferocious – Nora has a big growl for a little girl – and there is much leg, tail and scruff biting with the odd water break or things come to a standstill after the nipping elicits a loud yelp.

Nicky has been learning his posses by watching the Fashion Channel. If in doubt flash them the profile - that gets them every time.

And training daschies is always an issue – they are bright but stubborn. And Nicky took me completely by surprise last week when he suddenly got the whole idea behind “down”. It came as a complete shock. He and I were out for a walk – because he tends to be more aggressive when Nora is around, protecting his “bitch” we've been told - we often walk them alone. Out of the blue I decided to try a few of the training commands – sit, stay and down. Miraclo! He did all three – perfectly and stayed down until I gave the “ok”. We tried it 10 times during that walk until I finally got a very exasperated look that suggested “basta” enough was enough – point proven I can do it!

Nora really doesn't understand the point of this whole “sit, stay, down”. Oh she can do it, she just doesn't see why she should. Nor does she understand why both food dishes can't be her's – I mean if he doesn't want it why let it go to waste?

Nora knows the angles that show off her best features - like that rubbable pink tummy. And it sort of flashes the red collar to!

In North American the best known breeds of daschie are the standard (like our girl Bundnie) or Long Haired (like my best buddy Reesie), the wire-haired is less well known.. However here in Italy they are fairly common (I'm sorry Nora I know there's nothing common about you baby, nor our boy Nicky, its just a turn of phrase). Of the three types they are the ones most frequently used for hunting and one of the reasons – aside from their tracking abilities, tenacity and ferociousness – was because of their thick water-proof coats. The wire-haired actually has two coats – a soft short undercoat like the smooth daschie and that thicker coarser top coat. Often the colour of the two coats is different – as indeed it is with both Nicky and Nora. This changes their appearance as the top coat grows. That top coat has to be stripped every so often to allow the undercoat to breath and frankly to lessen the appearance of being an unmade bed. The last time the kids were coiffed was sometime back in late October so it was time in early April that they paid a visit to their barber to have that top coat stripped. It is possible – in fact it is mandatory for show dogs – to hand strip the coat but that's a long and laborious job. Just getting the dog to stay still as you tug at lose hair can be a challenge and with those two would be a major campaign.

Sunshine and puppies - two of my favorite things!

A few weeks ago when Laurent and I were spending a weekend in Palermo our friends Catherine and her mom Jocelyn took care of the kids. I was absolutely stunned when Catherine told me she had taken them on not one but two bus rides and that they had behaved like perfect little angels. Laurent and I are fast coming to the conclusion that perhaps permissive parenting is causing the little spurts (both figuratively and literally) of misbehaving that seem to happen when we are around.

And these have to be my two favorite photos of my little Hounds from Hell. It wasn't posed - I found them that way in the den one afternoon. They weren't very happy when I woke them. Poor Nicky often goes frantic when Nora isn't around - Nora could care less one way or the other. Heartless female!

18 maggio - San Leonardo Murialdo