February 16, 2010

Dog Guests

Bella had her half-sister, Molly, here for a long weekend while Moll's owners sought some sun and warmth in southern California. The dogs had a great time together and played hard. I wish I had taken some pictures!

I brought them to visit a dog-buddy of Bella's, Amber. Amber is the sweetest girl. She's part Lab/part Chow, but looks and behaves like a Labrador. She in advanced middle age and not very interested in playing, so although she greeted the other dogs, she was comfortable sitting with us (and getting rubs) while the two sisters played. Bella led Molly into the bushes on the side of the yard and pulled out a huge tree branch. The two girls tugged and chased (as much as they could dragging this limb) and had a wee of a time. They were so cute to watch. Bella discovered a lost tennis ball (What does she have—T.B. radar?) under the deck and scrabbled that out. Amber was still disinterested. I felt a little badly that the two dogs were having so much fun and Amber didn't join in.

Things are so much easier with Bella than Lucy (God Bless her). Meeting other dogs is a piece of cake. Having another dog over? Piece of cake! Molly and Bella played until they were exhausted, then napped, then started all over again. Our back yard shows evidence of their four days together. They grooved a race track into several corners of the yard as they chased each other around endlessly. The lawn is sporting several small holes where they either dug or chewed their way to China. And sticks? Remnants of them are everywhere in the back!

Molly, being an Australian Shepherd, has a thick, woolly coat. Her coat hasn't been well-managed, so there are lots of mats. Needless to say, the brushing she needs doesn't happen because she doesn't like being brushed. Her owner is going to take her to a groomer and get her bathed and brushed out. With a coat like hers, if brushing doesn't happen daily at home, she should go to the groomer frequently! Lucy had a similar coat, but I brushed her regularly and her coat wasn't matted, therefore, she liked the grooming. But Lucy "blew" fur just like Molly. I vacuumed when Molly left (as four days with playing pups in rainy weather makes for a messy abode) and got a mound of fur. Just like in days of yore with Lucy...who got brushed! So you can imagine the fur-load Molly carries. Never again will I have a long-haired pup. Bella's short coat is just too easy!

2 comments:

Megan said...

I thought Bella was just a special short coated Aussie. She's not?!

Sounds like the girls had a great weekend!

Annie said...

Megan: Bella is part Aussie/part lab. Her mother and Molly's were the same, but Molly is a purebred Aussie. Bella's daddy was an "oops." He's the next door neighbor's black lab. The interesting thing about the two girls is their mother has no brown on her and Molly's dad had no brown. Guess there is a recessive gene somewhere in the mother though!