Back to Business

We are back. The holiday is over, the bags unpacked and we have been back at work for a full week, struggling to catch up on sleep, keep on top of our ridiculous pile of laundry, and re-establish some semblance of the routine that we had just started to master before we left. 

Our 4 weeks in Rarotonga and the United States absolutely flew by. We had an amazing time – and have come home with some awesome memories, a million photos and a few extra belongings. The usual story - spent too much, ate too much (which isn’t difficult in America) – only to return to have reality smack us over the head with its chores and work commitments and crappy weather..the bright spot of course being a catch up with family and friends, both human and animal.

If Mila’s reaction to our return is anything to go by, she had a great little vacation of her own and bonded really well with Mike’s mum, not missing us one bit! When we got home, nice and early on a very dreary Thursday morning, we were welcomed back with little more than a tail wag and a sniff (‘Oh, it’s just you...’ she says).  Not surprising really. From what I hear of Mila’s time out on the Kapiti Coast, there were lots of walks, lots of cuddles and many many opportunities to sniff out wild rabbits (not the lovely domestic ones that live with us...) and to let loose in the backyard. If that doesn’t sound like Greyhound Paradise, I don’t know what does. Apparently, Mila has also shown herself to be a bit of a train lover, making it part of her routine to race outside and listen to the freight trains go past every day.

Of course, Mila’s true loyalties shone through when Mike’s mum had to leave after having picked us up from the airport. As she walked out to her car, Mila raced past us to the window to watch intently as she drove away, lingering for an extra couple of minutes to see if she would be coming back before taking herself, a little sadly, off to bed. It was quite gorgeous really and it took more than a little bribery and a special trip to the park before Mila really perked up again. 

It seems that even Greyhounds get the post-holiday blues...

We’ve spent the rest of our week back trying to remember not to leave edible items out at Mila-height on the bench (failing twice so far, much to someone’s great delight) and doing our best to get back into the swing of 6 am walks (which Daylight Savings hasn’t really been helping us with). You see, there’s no such thing as jetlag to a Greyhound who hasn’t left the comfort of the Wellington region, so it has been a pretty quick turnaround for us there. There is really nothing better than having a personalised wake-up call (the early morning face sniff is particularly effective) to make sure you keep in line with your daily routine!

A visit to Grandma's house

Next week, Mila is going to stay at Mike’s mum’s place while we head off on an overseas holiday for a bit. If I could, I would bundle her up and take her with me, but she would take up all of my luggage allowance (and some) just on her own…and where would I keep my shoes??!  So it’s off to Grandma’s (!!) house for some R&R – life’s tough when you’re a greyhound, isn’t it?!

Grandma’s house is a lot of fun (there are internal stairs to hoon up and down, a yard to run around in and a BIG RED RUG that is the most comfortable thing in the world to laze about on) so I have no doubt that Mila will have a good time without us. She may not even want to come home at the end of it… I am eternally grateful to Mike’s mum for agreeing to look after Mila for such a long period of time. We are away for 28 days and the kennel bill for that period of time was going to be a huge one, so it is fantastic to have someone who is willing to give up her time for us (thanks Mum!!!). Other family members have offered their services too, whether it be for walks or back-up accommodation – so that is really nice too.

The house is starting to look pretty empty already!!

I have spent some time over the last week putting together a list of things that Mila needs to take with her on her excursion (in addition to trying to get myself organised of course). It has made me realise just how much “dog stuff” we have accumulated over the past 5 months and how much greyhounds LOVE their accessories. Mila will have to make do without a few of her creature comforts (the big green couch in particular) while she is away – but she will still have quite a bit of luggage to take along with her. So far, we have a bag with muzzles, food treats, doggy do bags, carpet cleaner (just in case), a brush, dental sticks and her most favourite squeaky toys. Add to that – bedding, pyjamas, raincoat, regular food, her kong, food bowl and crate – and she is going to end up with more stuff packed than we will! Fair to say, our house will be pretty empty by the time we leave.

In case you were worried, Otis the bunny is being looked after too – by my sister who is house-sitting for us while we are away (thanks!!!). I’m sure Otis will appreciate having a bit of a break from the inquisitive Mila and from having to pretend that she is big and tough all the time.

Can I pleeeease take Trevor with me??

So, it will be radio silence here for a while as we swan off to enjoy our respective adventures - but I can guarantee that we will have plenty of stories to share upon our return (if Mila remembers us of course!)

Doggy Day Care

On Fridays, Mila Grey goes to a place called Club Fido in Porirua - a Doggy Day Care where dogs of all different shapes and sizes go to socialise, exercise and have a great time. In my mind, it is a place straight out of the Hairy Maclary books, except with fences and human supervision.

Bitzer Maloney, all skinny and boney - from Lynley Dodd's Hairy Maclary

I have to admit that I initially really struggled with the idea of being the sort of owner that sends her dog to Day Care. I already have a reputation amongst my family and friends as a Crazy Greyhound lady and, rightly or wrongly, this seemed like a bit of a tipping point to me. I resisted for a while, citing monetary and time constraints as reasons not to go down that path, when really I just didn’t want to do it. You see, MY dog is just FINE at home without that sort of thing - thank you very much! She would go along to something like that just to curl up in the corner and sleep all day – right?!?!

But then a friend of mine told me about how Club Fido had done wonders for her dog’s social issues and had made interactions with other dogs at the park enjoyable, rather than stressful. Her dog had been a few times and would recognise the man who came to get her every week – wagging her tail enthusiastically and leaving without so much as a goodbye – to return that evening completely shattered and totally relaxed. ‘Well worth the money!’ she told me ‘You’d be mad not to’. Mila wasn’t getting a lot of exposure to other breeds (mostly due to the severe shortage of fenced dog parks in our area) – and even though she is a Greyhound, I always felt a little bad about leaving her by herself 5 days a week without more to do, so I decided to take the plunge.

I emailed the owner, Paul, and discovered that he was a Greyhound person too – owning a few himself and knowing all about their mannerisms and tendencies. He confirmed that they had an opening the following Friday and we were all booked in.

Friday morning rolled around, and the van arrived to pick Mila up and take her off on her new adventure. The van itself was a sight to behold. I don’t know what I was expecting but it was like a school bus for dogs…little caged compartments to different sizes so that the dogs could all enjoy the ride out to Porirua. Mila was bundled into the Greyhound-sized compartment at the back and off they went.

Upside down on the couch after our first visit to Club Fido - a sign of true relaxation!

When I got home after work, Mila had been dropped off and was sound asleep on the couch. I could see remnants of sand and dirt in her coat and on her paws which told me that she had at least been busy exploring. A report from Club Fido confirmed that she had taken to the new environment like a duck to water, played nicely and was particularly interested in her new Greyhound mates – just the kind of thing you want to hear when your child dog goes somewhere new without you.

The true test came the following Friday when the van arrived again. Mila was UP, helicopter tail going full force, doing a little dance around the room. When she saw the man at the door, she was ready to go, without even a look back to see if I was okay. We were on a winner, alright.

So, my dog probably IS fine at home without that sort of thing (thank you very much) but it is SO much more fun that what she would otherwise be doing on a Friday. And if that makes me a Crazy Greyhound lady, so be it.

A few of my favourite things

The list of things that Mila loves is about as long as my arm - she is very easy to please. She likes runs, pats, sleep, frozen peanut butter, the beach (and water generally), the big green couch, ice blocks, bush walks, and rides in the car to name just a few of her most favourites. 

But if there is one thing that Mila rates more than anything else in the world, it is her collection of soft squeaky toys. She loves them to pieces. Literally.

This picture is a bit blurry due to the ferocity with which Mila was attacking her pig. Luckily, the pig survived the onslaught and, having lost only a little bit of its interior, is still a favourite today.

Unfortunately, this toy was less fortunate.

This is Trevor the Mallard. Mila is very protective of her friend Trev and will often sleep with him tucked under her chin. Trevor is yet to lose any stuffing and remarkably, after more than a month, still quacks!

Mila's Christmas skunk lasted us about 3 weeks before it was completely destroyed...

...and her latest victim was a blue dog who was just 3 days old when he suffered the same fate. This photo was taken late one night when Mila discovered how to get directly to the source of all that squeaking.

The Adventures of Mila and Otis

We have a pet rabbit at our place named Otis. She is a matronly, slightly grumpy, lop-eared lady who has lived with us for nearly 6 years. Yes - a bunny and a greyhound are an interesting combination – but we try to make it work.

I don't expect that Mila and Otis will ever truly be besties. After all, Greyhounds are trained to chase small fluffy objects for a living and it takes time, effort and patience before we can be confident that they can live together in perfect harmony. So far, we just haven’t had the chance to sit down and properly introduce them to each other, allow them to spend time together and keep an eye on them to avoid any disasters. For the moment at least, any idea we may have had of the two of them enjoying cross-country adventures like their namesakes Milo and Otis have been abandoned and they go contentedly about their daily business in their own little areas (Otis in her hutch, Mila far away from the hutch).

Otis poses for the camera

I'm working here on the assumption that it is Mila that is likely to cause the biggest problem. But I'm not sure that is entirely fair. A couple of times we have ended up with the two of them meeting unexpectedly - and it has been Otis who has reacted most strongly. Once, the front door was accidentally (he tells me…) left open and Mila found her way out to where the hutch is kept, wanting to find out more about this thing that moved about inside and ate hay! When we discovered our mistake and made our way outside, we saw both greyhound and rabbit ears at attention. Safe behind bars, Otis was standing right at the front of her hutch looking directly at Mila with an expression that said "Bring it On - I dare ya" and Mila didn't know what to do. She took one look at us standing on the doorstep watching events unfold, decided that we looked like the friendlier option right at that moment and trotted back inside. The second time, we had let Mila out into the back yard to toilet having forgotten that Otis was out there in a makeshift pen having some grass-time in the sun. Mila got a bigger fright than Otis did to see something else bounding about in her space. Otis bounced into her cardboard box hidey-hole and there was a single bark from Mila before she rushed inside as if to say ‘HELP - what is SHE doing out there??!’

I have little doubt that Otis would give as good as she gets.  The first few months of her life (before she came to us) saw her share a living room with two very boisterous Waimaraners – which has seen her develop a defensive side that can border on aggression. Until just recently, it was a mission to pick her up (and sometimes even pat her) without being nipped or scratched if she was in a particularly grumpy mood. However, Otis’ idea of self-defense doesn’t really stack up to the attentions of a 30 kg dog…so while she might be a brave (and angry) wee girl, I wouldn’t put my money on her to win that particular battle.

In an effort to foster Greyhound-Rabbit relations, Mila has very diplomatically been practicing her best "ignoring" – walking past Otis in the mornings on the way out for our stroll around the block without paying her any attention. Pretending that the grumpy bunny isn't even there saves us a telling off (and a death stare from the depths of the hutch) and leads to pats and lots of praise. Its a no-brainer really.

While we might not be at the stage of racing off into the sunset together, a life of tolerance (even if it is only on the part of the Greyhound) is the next best thing. If only we could convince Otis to be so accepting... 

Lost in Translation

You know that heart in your mouth feeling when you realise you’ve lost something important and have absolutely no idea where it is or how you are going to get it back? You feel sick, start to panic and suddenly it gets really hot. Well, that was us on Waitangi Day when we lost Mila for the best part of an hour at the dog park. 

We had gone out to the park in Newlands for a run and to practice some recall training. It was a beautiful afternoon and a great excuse to get out and enjoy the fresh air. This of course involved pulling Mike away from the couch where he was watching both the cricket AND the Super Bowl – so it wasn’t a particularly popular decision from his perspective, but I digress. 

The park out in Newlands is basically a big, secluded field tucked away (generally) from houses and roads and surrounded by bush. The park is popular place for all types of dogs (and their owners) to hang out. It is an excellent place to let loose, sprint around, meet some other dogs and if you’re lucky, jump into one of the many “water features” about the place which of course, guarantees the need for a bath when you get home. 

There are also a whole heap of different paths and walking tracks around the outside of the park – and the bushes provide an excellent opportunity to explore. There are known to be rabbits hiding in them there gorse bushes! 

When we got to the park, we wandered around for a bit with the lead and muzzle on before deciding that Mila could have a bit of freedom. We played a couple of hide and seek games, some fetch and Mila attempted to race a Beagle and an overweight Chocolate Labrador.  Of course, Greyhounds have 2 settings: super fast and super slow. All of Mila’s meetings with the other dogs involved the former, sprinting up to them and standing with her ears straight up as if to say ‘C’mon! Why aren’t you racing with me!?!’ We always joke that Mila lacks the ability to “read the room” when it comes to interacting with other dogs and has no sense of tact when it comes to introducing herself. It is an endearing trait when you know that it is all in the name of good fun – and is Mila’s way of saying ‘Hi! Let’s be friends!!’ As you can imagine, it took the Beagle a few seconds to realise that the big black cheetah barrelling towards it at a million miles an hour was actually just playing around. The Lab on the other hand, was super keen to play chase but was also super slow (10 points for effort!)

Eventually Mila found the pond – and being a hot Waitangi afternoon decided to sit down and cool off – ensuring that the mud wasn’t restricted to just her legs but made it all the way up to her neck. At around this time she also developed selective hearing. Suddenly there were things more exciting in the world than wondering about with us and even our possum meat treats weren’t up to scratch anymore. 

And it was then, that she trotted off down a track and disappeared completely. 

At first, we weren’t overly concerned. Even if she didn’t immediately respond when she was called, she was pretty good at keeping us within eye sight and sprinting back to us if she got too far away. But as time passed – and 5 minutes turned into 10 and then 20 – we started to worry. We followed her most recent path, calling out all the way, to no response. The houses and roads seemed much closer than they were before and we knew that if she had seen something that she wanted to chase, she could be miles away. After 20 minutes of helplessly looking (and Mike heading back to the car to scan the surrounding area) and just as we were about to reconvene to consider our next move, out from the bushes comes a black waggy tail with a white tip and a big tired grin. Totally oblivious. After lots of pats and being securely back on the lead – we were back in the car (hooray!) and off home for a bath. That was more than enough excitement for one day! 

Aww - C'mon! I didn't get THAT dirty...did I??

As we packed up the car we discovered that along the path Mila had met a man who was out walking his two dogs – and decided to join their party for a bit. How lovely for her!!

So, Lesson #589 learned – Mila loves to hang out with other dogs and other people and is happy to spend time exploring with them – fantastic!!! However, in order to avoid knocking 10 years off my life due to stress, reading the signs (body language etc) is important. If it looks like I’ve lost her attention, I probably have and reverting back to a nice relaxed on-lead walk might just be in everyone’s best interests.

Pet names

Like most human friends of mine, Mila has earned herself a few nicknames in her time with us. Some of them based on her mannerisms and others which are entirely random – based on nothing more than how we are feeling on any given day.    

Most of the pets I have owned have been subjected to a similar fate. Our rabbit was originally named Toffee but became Otis after she showed extreme excitement every time we gave her pellets for a meal (what we called Bunny Oats) to the point where she ate so many of them we had to put her on a diet. Until recently, my family had a female German Shepherd (Ashika) who was dubbed “Warren” for some (still) unknown reason. We had a black cat (Harlem) who became known as “Kurtley” when she jumped up on the chair just in time to watch (her favourite player) Kurtley Beale scored a try in the rugby and Mike’s Waimaraner Oscar was known to everyone simply as “Doggie”.

Mila has been given many names – and most of them have actually stuck. I would love to be a fly on the wall during some of the conversations we have with her. She is variously referred to as “Big Black Shadow” for her love of following people up and down the hallway to see what they are up to and the imposing figure she cuts when she does so; “Flicker” for her long and enthusiastic tail which can tip over drinks and make a fantastic metronome for anyone learning the piano; “Milly” after Mike’s brother forgot her name and introduced her as Milly to his friends; “Millicent” for the times when she sits very majestically (and with an air of superiority) on her couch in the dining room looking out the window  at the world below in a very Upper-class sort of a way (“Millicent” of course has to be said in your most posh-sounding voice. Imagine here Downton Abbey); and “Pig Dog” as a bit of a poke at the fact that her bloodlines can be traced back to the 1700s and that her favourite soft toy is a fluffy pink pig.

Funnily enough, she answers to them all – which supports my theory that it is all about the facial expressions and the tone of voice, rather than what you are actually saying that makes the difference. I definitely get some funny looks when I forget where I am when we are out visiting and I call “Come here Pig Dog” for Mila to go out for a toilet – but it’s all in good humour of course.

Mila takes a break from looking at the world from her throne to wonder why she hasn't been served her evening meal yet.

And then pretends like it's actually no big deal. I didn't want dinner right now anyway!