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Puppies' Diary - Epilogue.
This page was last updated: 2004-02-27
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September 2002
This page tells you about Kanzi as a single pup, after Fuji and Aibu left.
15. September 2002: Kanzi
"alone" in the house....
Now, this will be the last chapter - the epilogue of the "Kindergarten tales". Both Fuji and Aibu have now left for their new homes.... Both are by the way doing very well and have settled in with their new packs and families very easily.... Fuji has found a playmate in our first "foster-puppy" Keiko, I knew in advance the two of them would have a lot in common and a great time together... But, it makes you wonder a bit, if they somehow sense, they have something in common due to their "upbringing" here that precisely those two youngsters are getting along so fine, doesn't it ?
Aibu has also found new playmates in her new "pack" - both Hana and Chiki seem to accept her as member of their pack without any problems. Maybe this is due to the upbringing in a group of dogs that they both have settled in with new, strange dogs so easily? Or maybe it is because they both after the shock of being "taken away from their homes" have been overly happy to find some other dogs in their new homes to bond with? I don't know... But, I am very happy that they both are doing so well. Makes the separation so much easier to bear for us.
I think, it has been a bit harder on Kanzi to be "left back". She didn't come to new people to start a completely new life, but stayed here with us and Ikiru and Tora and had to adjust to a completely new routine as an "adult" dog...
Well, first thing that happened was that she came into her second heat... It only lasted about 12 days, but according to Tora, she was VERY interesting most of those 12 days, so we had to keep them separated. And, I am quite sure, during these days she missed her little playmate, Aibu very much. In her first heat, we kept the two girls together, so she didn't have to stay inside with us all by herself too much of the time.
Now that her heat is well overcome, things are slowly getting sort of normal here. As I no longer have to walk with more than one group of dogs a day, I have more time driving somewhere "interesting" with them. So, during the last weeks, we have been more times to the forests and other "exciting" (read: lots of game) places, than I did the past several months.
Ikiru and Tora clearly enjoy being somewhat back to normal. Kanzi, I guess, is on one hand happy to now be together with her idol, Tora all the time, on the other hand I do think, she misses her playmates. Though she and Tora are playing everyday, Tora also has to play with Ikiru (or else Ikiru gets jealous, and therefore mad at Kanzi) part of the time. But, on the other hand, Kanzi is as fond of car driving and "getting to know new places" as Tora has always been, so she obviously thinks it is so much fun walking a bit longer walks - and getting a chance to hunt mice and birds in new places more often than earlier.
Yesterday, we were in the forest for a 2½ hours walk - about the longest, I think we should do with a dog her age. We brought a cup of coffee and a biscuit for us, and a sip of water and some dry liver for the dogs. And it was just SO MUCH FUN being out for so long in an area with lots of deer and birds and rabbits, although they were also VERY tired, when we got back home. But I think, as Kanzi comes to realize that there will be much more trips like this, now that we "only" have three dogs left, she won't be missing her playmates as much anymore.
As for her "fear" of strangers, she has somewhat improved. Especially, when we are out, she no longer tries to run away, every time she sees a human being. On the other hand, as Dennis' brother and his wife and children visited us today, she was as scared, as she has been every time, we have had guests over. But, I still do hope that she will improve further, now that she has the "support" of Ikiru and Tora every time she faces something new (or somebody new). Next weekend we are visiting Dennis' parents, and this will be the first time, we bring all three dogs with us for a weekend-stay, since the other youngsters left. So, I do hope that she will be a bit more calm, than she was, when we visited them in May.
Anyway, there are still lots of things regarding Kanzi, and
regarding our little "pack" that remains to be explored. But this is,
what makes life with our animals, dogs so interesting. To watch them grow and
mature over time, watch their personalities develop, adjusting to the situations
we let them meet, and whatever experiences they will learn.
I am glad that it seems that our two foster-puppies seem to have started their
new lives with a positive attitude. Kanzi still have some issues, but I am sure,
she will improve as she gets more experienced and learn more about life. She is
still fairly young and has a lot to learn.
Whether or not, I am going to write her continued story, I haven't decided upon yet. But if, it will be a new chapter and a new story - no longer a part of the "Kindergarten tales", but tales from our own life with the dogs, because this chapter is supposed to be the end of this Kindergarten stories.
But, who knows - maybe - in some time, there will be another
Kindergarten here?
That will then be a whole different story to tell!
- The End -
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