Whippet Snippets

A Merry Whipmas

Ribsy celebrated a quiet, cat-free Whipmas this year. He got lots of presents this year -including a travel pet bowl, homemade doggy biscuits by Linda and other treats, a reflective light for safe walking, a doggy blanket, and a squeaky soccer ball toy to replace the one that he hadn't seen since puppyhood.

It's interesting, though, that the soccer ball didn't stir up memories for him, of running around the backyard in large, dizzying circles, with the ball in his mouth, playing a tough game of keepaway. (And when a whippet wants to play keepaway, there's nothing you can do about it. Except train.) But old human folks like Boy and Girl, they love seeing things that remind them of their childhood - everything from My Little Pony dolls, to rotary telephones, to Pong - because it takes you instantly back, in a special way, to a moment frozen in time that you can never get back. 

But speaking of seeing things, you've seen the Mona Ribsy already. Check out the original, true Mona Whippet here. Now who looks more mysterious and potentially mischievious here?

Officially Captured

 

Coming soon to a computer slideshow near you - Boy and Girl's official wedding photos arrived in the mail yesterday. Here are some of their favorites. There are many, many more awkwardly tender moments, but Ribsy prefers to share them in-person (and in-dog) with family and friends over the holidays and the weeks to come. Check your local listings.

The Mona Ribsy

  From Ribsy's number one fan comes this unbelievable likeness of a being! Every whippet of a happy newlywed union deserves a wedding present too, and this painting will likely be hung proudly above his pet bed in the living room. Ribsy hasn't quite decided yet. He is still toying around with all the options, and is also slightly distracted by the sights and smells that Christmastime brings. If he's already got a stunning portrait of himself, what could possibly top that?

Oh just you wait, Ribsy. Just you wait. Oh wait. Nothing probably will top this! Thanks so much, Number One Fan, thought Ribsy. Hope to see you again one day! Merry Whipmas! 

Christmas Rules for Dogs

Today is the shortest day of the year, yet Ribsy has been extremely happy. Boy and Girl have been around him constantly, leaving only for the briefest periods of time - well, it still feels like days, but Girl assures him that it's not very long at all. As Christmas time rolls in like a Victoria windstorm, Ribsy would like to share with you these tips that he got from his latest Pets Can Stay newsletter (Pets Can Stay, by the way, is a Victoria-based pet travel services organization who can help you with your next pet-included trip).

A Dog's Rules for Christmas

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:

• Don't pee on the tree
• Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree
• Mind your tail when you are near the tree
• If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open
• Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part:

• Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans
• Don't eat off the buffet table
• Beg for goodies subtly
• Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa
• Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important:

• Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important)
• Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house
• Tolerate children
• Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM!!

To sign up for the Pets Can Stay newsletter go here. 

New Zealand Trip Pics

Ribsy is cozy in a blanket, safe from the lashing wind & rain that is hammering Victoria right now. And Girl? She's spent the evening putting together the New Zealand trip pictures from their cameras.

Come on in and take a look at the trip photos! Captions included at no extra charge. Click here to view the pics, or click on the New Zealand 06 album link on the right hand side.

The official photographs are coming soon. Girl received a note from their photographer today, that they've just been dropped into the mailbox.

All packed up

Ribsy's excited that his forever pack is back from doing whatever they had to do without him. He was jumping, twirling and scooting all over Boy and Girl when they came by his pal Blitzen's house to pick him up. And it's been non-stop playing, sleeping and coddling ever since. He's been so busy getting reacquainted with them that he's only found time now to blog again.

He did sniff out some photo evidence of their travels. And he was distraught to see Girl with another hound!

"Oh that's just a random greyhound from the races we watched in Cambridge," said Girl. "I don't even know her name."

And to Ribsy's relief, the rest of the pictures contained lots of human bonding, but no further evidence of Kiwi canines. Girl is working on getting all the photos together - hundreds and hundreds of 'em - in between snuggling with Ribsy of course.

Hangin' by a thread in NZ

Guest blogger Girl writes from NZ.

Where did I leave off? It seems that as the trip draws to a close (we head back in three days, very sad) the time goes that much quicker.

So ah yes, Waitomo where we rappeled, black water rafted, caved, explored, and rock climbed. Boy managed to squeeze himself through some rather narrow cave openings, and all the physical effort was worth it to see the glowworm lit cave and cool stalagmite formations. We had to first abseil down to the cave almost 30 metres below and at the end had to rock climb it back up.

From Waitomo we drove up to the seaside city of Tauranga, and continued onwards to the Coromandel Peninsula with its spectacular beaches, coastal scenary and laid back towns...and sketchy roads. One of the quaint highlights was a lavender farm just outside from Whitianaga, set in a beautiful valley off a gravel road. Some of you folks will know that our dream is to run a lavender farm in NZ, and this one was straight out of a fantasy novel. There was a stream trickling through the property, which was dotted by Japanese maples, and the storefront was part of a cottage with a big front porch overlooking the lavender gardens. Plus, the owner makes the best chai tea latte ever - she adds lavender water to take out some of the sweetness in chai, and the end result is a delicious brew. Perfect complemented the lavender shortbread biscuits. Heavenly.

Yesterday we hit Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach yesterday. Despite Boy's amazing sand-digging skills, we were unsuccessful in unearthing some of that yummy hot water buried below despite digging for over two hours at low tide. We both managed to get sunburned yet again - do you know that the UV index for NZ is something in the range of 11? It's absolutely crazy how easily you can burn down here. Perhaps it's something to do with the polarity?

We rewarded ourselves for our efforts at the beach with yet another jaunt to a hot springs resort, the fourth so far. Today we're going to be poking around in some secondhand shops in Thames, touring an ostrich farm, and most likely winding up at yet another hot springs resort near Hamilton. Plus...on the horizon - greyhound racing! Can't wait!