1st sit with my own dog and a Boxer

September 2022 : real fun with 2 dogs and a rabbit

  

 When I applied to look after Ringo (& Crumble) in Nîmes, I asked Paul & Valérie, their owners, if I could bring Tahoe with me. 

Our  young dogs are almost the same age (around 2 years), quite the same color, size and weight.  Both love to grasp Kongs or tennis balls, enjoy running and meeting canine friends. 

Ringo is a Labrador/ Boxer crossed Spaniel , with funny white "socks".  

Tahoe who is a mixed breed too - a Labrador/Golden retriever crossed Spaniel- is a little smaller, with a pink nose and golden eyes.

 I miss so much my own dog when I'm away I enjoyed to have the opportunity to petsit locally with him.  

Tahoe visited me a few times with Vincent, my husband, when I kept other pets close to our home (they could easily came for lunch) but my dog never remained overnight. 

Other dogs like Lola, in St Remy de Provence, Toad & Bowser in Luberon had loved to play with him. So I was pretty confident the 2 would become friends instantly. 

Tahoe has been trained to be nice to much bigger breeds or tiny ones. When he was only 3 months old, he went to a puppy school in order to socialize early. And he sometimes meets 5, 8 or even 12 other dogs, all unleashed, during walks organized between owners in my area.

   

In order to check Ringo would not be afraid by my dog, energic but neutered too, I suggested to introduce him one month ahead the date of my arrival : I live only one hour away.

Valérie sounded a little anxious but the encounter was positive. They sniffed one another, and began to run after the balls I threw. 

Having passed his exam successfully, Tahoe was invited to stay with me in that great contemporaneous house surrounded by stoned walls and olive trees.

When the 2 dogs met again a few weeks later, they seemed obviously confident : they wagged instantly their tails.

 Lucky me, they avoided the pool, none of them ever tried to jump, to swim, or to go down the steps. 

They both feared water and looked totally desperate when a ball fell in it ! They begged me with staring eyes, wanted me to bring it back.

During that week-end, they played all day long together, rather violently sometimes, but never wickedly. None of them was fighting the other one seriously. They were only showing their strength. 

 

 Just in case I stayed always near by, taking many photos. Keeping an eye in case they would become over excited.

 

It was better for all of us they calmed down a little, from time to time, going back inside and having a nap on the sofas.

Left alone in the garden, Ringo looked so sad watching his new companion from the other side of the bay window,  that I let them free together again.

 

 

Sometimes, the 2 were so exhausted they lay down, and kept calm for around... ten minutes. In the afternoon, with the heat increasing, they appreciated longer naps. Calm  at least !

 Playing so much together, both were often very thirsty, but although I had put 2 bowls apart, they wanted to drink in the same one. 

Obviously they loved each other. Nevertheless, I prefered to avoid any further fight when it was time to eat.

It was a real pleasure to watch Ringo & Tahoe have fun. They looked so happy, so glad  to be together !   !          

 Even when Tahoe decided to sleep on Ringo's cushion near the TV the first evening,  Ringo did not protest, he just went under the table to his second bed behind the sofa.

 Did I hear him sigh ??

 

A ginger 6 years old  rabbit was also living in that house but was isolated in a room. Valérie had prefered to keep Crumble far and safe from the two dogs. 

I went to cuddle her a few times, giving her treats, food and hay. She was staying behind a metallic  folding gate, to prevent her from chewing wires and phone cables... 

After a few minutes Crumble was not anymore scared by me. She was a very cute and clean rabbit, used to go to her litter. Hiding in her tunnel, jumping on her mini sofa.

Usually Crumble was put a few hours per day in a part of the garden, totally fenced, but that week-end she was not allowed to go outside. As Tahoe knows how to open door handles, it was much better for her (and my own peace of mind) to be locked up !

Two hours after my departure Valérie sent me a message via Whatsapp : Ringo was looking for Tahoe in the whole house. My own dog seemed neurasthenic during the evening and the following morning as well. I hope they will soon meet again.