Monday, February 11, 2013

I must have done something good...


The growing bond between our two-year-old, TOBY, and our 10-week-old pup LEXI is something to marvel at. I can sit for hours watching their sweet interactions.
They are well on their way to becoming life-time companions.  It really is beautiful!






I have been enthralled by the obvious gentleness displayed by our "Sweet Hooligan" as he's set about getting to know the little one and showing her the ways of our household.  

They spend hours lying together, playing quietly with Lexi's minefield of toys, interspersed with some energetic rough and tumbling.  7.2kgs of puppy weight is no match for our 39 Kg Toby.  Yet, Lexi pounces on Toby like he's one of her siblings, using him as a jungle gym, pulling his tail, grabbing his jowls, licking his lips and bringing him an endless variety of sticks and leaves to investigate with her. My heart lifts as I watch their growing bond.  This added dynamic is EXACTLY what I'd hoped for during the planning stage for getting this pup.

As many of you know, our dear Aunt Tam is ageing.  Although she is a generally healthy 12-year-old, arthritis has caught up with her.  


She struggles up stairs and has become noticeable slower.  Her wisdom, however, has allowed her to embrace her age and encouraged her to slow down and take things easy.  Lexi's arrival is a welcome reprieve.

However, she still controls the pack in her gentle, hands-off way.  One notices it in the way she observes Toby and Lexi and the subtle nod she gives to their interactions.  Both Toby and Lexi are always aware of her. Occasionally she'll saunter up to them and lie down next to them to be part of their game.  Although she doesn't actively initiate play with the young pup, I have watched Lexi and her stroll around the garden together (without Toby), investigating all the news.  Their own bond is respectful and educational but also sweet to watch.

 As for me, I just LOVE this young pup.  Lexi is an absolute treasure to me.  She is intelligent, adventurous and confident, but there is a prevailing softness in her nature, and a need to 'give'.  She loves cuddling up with me, on her back, to have her tummy rubbed, paw-pads massaged and ears fondled.  Trimming her nails is a breeze (usually dogs balk at this). And her little bark is music to all of our ears.

Yesterday, I took her out on her own for 45 minutes to our local shopping centre, to the entrance of 'Woolworths food store', where hordes of customers buzz around with their noisy shopping trolleys. (Sorry, no photos - I had to concentrate!) My goal is to socialise her into as many different scenarios as possible in her early puppy stages.  Armed with treats, a clicker and a doggie-water-bottle, we settled down next to one of the outside potplants to wait for people. Pretty puppies are always people-magnets and in no time we had 'visitors'.  Lexi needed no encouragement - she loves people!  Her gentleness was a hit.  Her happy personality is contagious and, as expected, we had a number of folks stay a while to ask questions and to share their own tales of their canine companions.

Back home, Toby and Lexi settled back into their companionable routine - playing happily on the soft, cool lawn outside our house, then venturing inside to join their humans.

That old tune from the "Sound of Music" is singing in my ears:
"...I must have done something good..."

Sending lotsaluv

15 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Oh one's heart melts looking at those photos of Toby and Lexi.
Cheers, Gail.

MySpecialDoggies said...

Great pictures Caryl - reminds me of when Elle was little and was playing (oops, pestering) Neeli a few months ago.

Woofs
Nadine & goldens Neeli & Elle

How Sam Sees It said...

I love the last photo! It shows how well she is "blending" into your family.

Sam

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Oh the squeeeees coming from PA!

I know all of Khyra's Golden Angel Khousins (Sierra, Lexi, and Merdie) are smiling along with Max!

Once again, thanks for sharing (and for the kind words on our posts)

Angel Tucker, Daisy and Leo said...

Just loving all your pictures of Lexi. Her pictures of bonding with Toby are so sweet. Reminds me of Tucker when we got Daisy, they also had a beautiful bond and she does miss him terribly. I am so happy that you are enjoying such a wonderful time in your life.

Heidi and Daisy

Furry Bottoms said...

You're such a good photographer. I keep wanting to say frame this, frame that!! And frame this one too! But the truth is, all your pictures are frameable. I love them all. Especially #13, with the three of them goofing off together. Priceless!

Mrs. JP said...

I agree with the last comment your photos are great and the one with all three of them is hysterical. Toby is so funny in that one. But I enjoy seeing how she likes to be in contact with Toby too. Bringing him things to play with and laying on him. Speeedbump did that with Daisy when we rescued her. She was determined that Daisy was her new pal and won her over.
Good idea to take her to the shopping mall. She is a true ray of sunshine!

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

So very very beautiful. What wonderful pictures and how gorgeous is it to see how the bond grows.. Hugs GJ xx

Molly the Airedale said...

We just love the pictures of Toby and Lexi! They look so deliriously happy together!

Love ya lots,
Mitch and Molly

NanaNor's said...

Greetings to you all, I'm so very happy to hear about the bond that Toby and Lexi already have. She sounds like a dream. Our Hunter was at our daughter's this weekend, while we were away, and she said that since he turned one he has become quite the watchdog.
You make me want to add another pup to our home.
Enjoy dear friend!
Love, Noreen & Hunter

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Hi Maxmom, great photos. Gee my dad thinks it's time to get another puppy but mom always puts him off. There's already four here...oh well. Acupuncture may help Aunt Tam with her arthritis. It helped my angel uncle Max. Three treatments and he was getting up with less difficulty. Of course Max went for weekly treatments for well over a year for maintenance. And he later went swimming every second week when they cut his acupuncture sessions back to one every two weeks.

Millie and Walter said...

Keep the updates coming. I can't stand how cute little Lexi is and her interactions with Toby are so precious. You are lucky to observe it all first hand.

Cindy

24 Paws of Love said...

So wonderful all that bonding and sweetness. Such a beautiful sight. Nothing brings the joy back in life like a puppy. :)

Mary Lou said...

MAXMOM....
I love picture number two!! Bonding time!! ;)
Wait.... They are all "bonding time" pictures!! Sweet!! ;-p
Love, Raelyn.... Plus Rose, my BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE "Mystery Dog"!!



The Black and Tans. said...

All the photos are brilliant but we particularly love the nose to nose photo.

Molly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie