house full

When Kate & Jerome asked us to look after either Taika or Minna while they went on holiday for 2 weeks, we didn't hesitate to agree.  Neither of those girls is any trouble at all, and so we ended up with both of them.  After all, if neither is any trouble, then it's almost as easy to have 2 as only 1 of them.  With 4 dogs already in the family, an extra one inevitably means an extra walk if on-lead walks are the order of the day.  And it's just as easy to walk 6 as 5.  So down to Devon they came for their holiday.

Everything would be fine & dandy - even easy! - just so long as it didn't rain.  6 dogs in a relatively small house is no problem as long as they're not wet & muddy.  That's when things get tricky, even with 4.  Or 3.

They arrived one evening and the weather forecast for the next day was heavy rain and gale force winds.  Of course.  So having woken up early to see that it had not yet started raining, we decided to get a jump on the exercise and get them all out for a run while we could.  We bundled the gang of 6 into the car and they were racing around the fields before 7am.

Luckily they all have excellent recall (well, they do before breakfast, anyway), as an unsuspecting small dog ventured into the field and all 6 Lappies went racing over to say hello.  It was quite overwhelming for the small one, and she got scared and ran away from them.  All the older Lappies just wanted to say hello and so they then left her alone, but Tuuli, fired up by pack mentality, thought the little one was fair game and decided to give chase.  After all, when she runs she expects to get chased - that is the game, as far as she's concerned.  And she's quite accustomed to meeting up with dogs in these fields for impromptu games of chase.  Luckily, though, she quickly gave up and followed the others back to me, leaving the newcomer in peace.

Tuuli flying back.  It's a shame this is just a phone pic and too far away for a good resolution.

What a good bunch of dogs.
L-R: Minna, Keskiyo, Taika, Neka, Maija, Tuuli

Minna, Tuuli, Maija, Taika

Taika, Keskiyo

Minna with her little shadow Tuuli

Everyone loves Minna - Keskiyo with his favorite girl.



















Bunch of happy dogs on the way home and ready for breakfast.  Keskiyo is out of shot on the back seat.
L-R: Taika, Maija, Tuuli, Neka, Minna