Monthly Archives: August 2008

Qannik's Outtakes

As you saw yesterday, it is possible to get great pictures of The Herd.  However, not every picture comes out quite as crisply as you might like.  For example, here is one of the early pictures that I took yesterday of Mr. Qannik:

Qannik sitting pretty

Not bad, huh?  But it was not quite right, so I had to keep going.  

If you were a human TV star, before the picture, some make-up artist would powder your nose.  But, of course, a dog would never allow such a thing.  Instead, a talented dog like Qannik would handle the nose all by himself:

Licking his nose

The other problem as a famous model is that sometimes the camera operator is a little slower then you would like.  It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a focus and a discipline for the modeling session.  So when it gets too much, you may just start getting a little sleepy:

Qannik starting to fade

So the photographer continues snapping pictures, but with no treats in sight and no other humans coming up to tell you exactly how handsome you are, it just gets harder and harder to keep those eyes open.

Qannik slipping away

Inevitably, with the camera snapping away, that particularly unflattering shot is made that is the perfect tabloid fodder.  Kind of looks like a mug shot after a particularly hard night, huh?

Qannik about asleep

And so it goes in the life of a supermodel.

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Resting in the Jeep

A little warm here today, so we opted for three shorter hikes rather than a big hike.  Still, we put on a little over 5 miles, so we were all a little tired.  I was sitting under a shade tree and took these pictures of the dogs in the Jeep.

Qannik resting in the Jeep

Handsome Mr. Qannik resting inside the open door

Natasha posing

Beautiful Queen Natasha looking regal

Rusty laughing

Rusty the Rooster laughing at some joke

Kiska on alert

Kiska on alert

Kodiak goofing around

Kodiak goofing off as usual

By the way, those are not Kodiak’s paws to his left in case you are thinking he is quite the contortionist.  Nope, those are Qannik’s paws and he was fading fast.  And, in case you think getting pictures is easy with the Herd, stay tuned tomorrow for some outtakes from Qannik.

 

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The Rain has Finally Stopped

Ok, the bi-peds were happy that we received 4.15 inches of rain at the house this week thanks to Hurricane / Tropical Storm Fay, but the Herd has not been happy.  Walks in the rain.  A mudpit for a dog yard.  

The first day was cool.  The second day was ok.  By the third day, the dogs were in a full fledged “I think I can hold it longer please don’t make me go outside” mode.

Today is sunny and clear and most of the weekend is supposed to be that way.  Now we are just watching Gustav and Hanna to see if we will get some more rain next week.  Would be a big help against the drought and keeping a fire season from getting out of control.

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Cool Siberian Clock

Ok, on the side bar, I have added a cool Siberian Clock that I had seen appearing on many of the other dog blogs out there.  In case you want one for your own blog (or one of the many others that are on the site), you can check them out at Oorvi’s Playground or take the link from Oorvi’s Blog.  And, by the way, Oorvi is pretty cute (despite lacking that Siberian-ness).

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Rock Stars

There was a girl’s soccer match in Asheville today.  How do I know that?  We parked at a Panera Bread for lunch when a mob of early teen girls wearing Knoxville soccer shirts came out and crowded around the Herd.  The dogs ate up all of the attention until the girls’ mothers came out to get the girls to leave – and then, of course, fawned over the dogs too.  Pictures were taken, ears scratched, and general stroking of the already inflated egos of the Herd.

As soon as the Knoxville girls left, the opposing team – from Greensboro – came out of the restaurant and we repeated the experience.

Oh, yeah, and throw in the various others who came out to meet the Herd.

Never a dull moment.

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Have we gone to sleep?

No postings all week?  What’s up?  Not the dogs.  Apparently, they actually have to do things in order to create postings.  So, today, we dedicate to laziness:

Natasha

Natasha in a rare cuddly moment

Natasha donut

Natasha in a far more common “Why are you bothering me” moment

Kodiak

A Kodiak moment

Kiska

Kiska

Rusty

Rusty

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Lead Dog

Natasha has always been my best lead dog.  She knows her Gee, Haw, On-by (when things are not too interesting), whoa (usually), wait (a hiking command to give me an extra couple of seconds to scramble over a rock that their four little paws have no problems with), etc.  

I have also long realized that the key to controlling the Herd is controlling Natasha.  A strange dog is walking up to us and I need to make sure no one overreacts?  Make sure Natasha is calm and the others will follow her lead.  Need everyone to go out or come in?  Get Natasha to and the others will follow.

And like all good lead dogs, sometimes you expect her to lead without a command.  To see a situation that needs to be solved and just make it happen.

Today, we had been hiking for some time and the dogs were getting tired (which is the goal – a Tired Sibe is a Good Sibe).  We were working our way down a hill and I was focusing on not losing my balance.  After all, I am using a High Sierra Walk-A-Belt from White Pine Outfitters, so I am being guided down the hill by three Sibes (we each have three connected to us).  This is a death defying move because if they all three decide to run down the hill, I am solidly connected to them.  Anyway, one hand is on my walking stick and the other is by my side – no hands connected to the leash since the leashes are connected to my belt.

Qannik picks this opportune time to decide to wander off to the side of the trail and sniff the flowers (or whatever – I don’t want to know).  Natasha, who was tired, thirsty and hungry, was having none of that and took command as a good lead dog does.  She grabbed Qannik’s leash in her mouth, snapped her head to give him a correction, pulled him back onto the trail, and then let go.

Couldn’t have done it better myself.

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Feeding the Queen

When feeding, each dog must sit before I put their bowl down. Then they must wait until I release them to eat.  Simple rule used every time and for my sanity in feeding the Herd.

Queen Natasha the Evil is usually offered her food first, but she often wants to prove that she does not actually have to sit.  This morning was one of those times.  I offered her food, she stood, not sat, and watched me.  This has happened before and she never gets fed, but her choice.

After a few seconds, I shrug, turn to Rusty and offer his food.  His butt is on the ground instantly.  He gets fed.  I turn to Natasha who is doing her snorting, huffing and puffing – indignant that I would feed the Rooster before I would feed her.  Sit I say.  Sit she ignores and continues to stand and look at me.  Very rare that she will not sit at this moment, but it has happened.

I shrug and go inside (Rusty and Natasha are fed in the dog room, Kodiak, Kiska and Qannik in the den and Cheoah in her crate).  Each dog sits, each dog gets fed.  I go back out to the dog room and Natasha is really snorting, huffing and puffing.  Sit I say.  Sit she ignores, standing there confidently.  I go back inside the den with her bowl full of food.

By this point, I figure she really does not want breakfast.  Sibes are known for regulating their intake and some of them skip a meal every now and then.  Nothing to worry about.  Everyone is finishing and I am gathering bowls.  Gathering does not require separation so everyone is milling about the den.  With the bowls all gathered, I turn to shoo dogs out.  Dogs go out except for Natasha, who is sitting in the middle of the den.  Butt firmly planted on the ground.

On her own time and at her own pace, but she finally complied.  And finally ate.

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Hole? What hole?

Kodiak & the Hole

Hole?  What hole?  Oh, that hole behind me?  The other dogs dug it.  Really.  I had nothing to do with it.  The dirt on my nose?  What dirt?  Oh, that dirt caked in my nostrils and on my mask?  How did I get that there?  Well, see, I was trying to push this dirt back in the hole that the other dogs dug.  Really.  I didn’t do it.  I need my Attorney at Claw. – Kodiak

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How difficult can a photograph be?

As you saw yesterday, getting a photograph should be a fairly easy task.  Dog jumps up on a proper platform of some sort, in this case, a rock wall.  Background is provided courtesy of Mother Nature with bright slue skies, scattered white fluffy clouds, a beautiful summer mountain scenery.  All the dog has to do is look at the photographer and the picture is made.  Right?

Enter Queen Natasha the Evil.   Up on the rock wall.  Photographer steps back.  Whistle.  Look here!

Natasha Craggy 1

Oh, look, a bug over there.

Hey, kid!  Look at me.  Smile now.  Hold it, hold it . . .

Natasha Craggy 2

Ooooooh  - a bug on this side of the wall, too.

Look, kid, hold still now.  Look here at the camera.  I will make this quick.  Smile . . .

Natasha Craggy 3

Ooooooh look.  Bugs are down here, too.

Hey, Fuzzy Butt.  I mean, your Highness.  Don’t wander away.  Come back toward me.  Look at the camera.  And, now . . .

Natasha Craggy 4

Is that the same bug as earlier or a totally different one?

Argh.  Ok, forget the bugs.  Concentrate.  Hold it.  Now.

Natasha Craggy 5

Is that someone coming up the trail?

Ack!  Your siblings can do this.  How hard can it be?  Just stay on the wall, hold it, hold it, stay on the wall . . .

Natasha Craggy 6

I’m done.  Jump off the wall.

The real story is that I showed you only a very few of the many, many, many pictures I took.  Sadly, these are the ones where she was the most cooperative.  

Since she would not pose, here is a picture from 2005 I like.  Natasha with some storm clouds rolling in behind her.  How fitting.

Natasha 2005

 

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