I went to a good friend's house with Nutmeg this past weekend. Quick back history--my friend was very active in high level dog showing for many years and has a Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch who recently lost her older dog (also a Ridgeback) companion. "Rumor" is turning 6 years old this year, but really doesn't know how to play with other dogs. She doesn't understand the play bow, doesn't know how to really play with another dog. Nut is in desperate need of social skills, so we used the opportunity to give Rumor a nice, friendly, playful, energetic puppy (now dog, she's 8 months old now?) and gives Nut a chance to learn how to play nicely too.

Rumor play bowing for the first time with Nut:

Rumor's getting the idea.....

This is like Dueling Banjos! Rumor, tired of the rambunctious puppy, gets on the couch with Lisa and I to get away. Nut is trying to entice her into playing again but Rumor will have none of it. All of a sudden, the Ridgeback begins matching her, tone-for-tone in a strange contest of sound!



Sorry for the angle, but just listen instead:

Those are so great. I love Nut! She's a total goofball!!!

You're so right--she is a COMPLETE goofball :-) What made me really surprised, though, was her size compared to Rumor.

For the last couple years, my husband and I have been guests at Lisa's house during Dressage at Devon. She has box seats, we take the weekend off and stay for a long weekend. I've gotten to know her Ridgebacks over the years and have always thought of them as REALLY big dogs. Rumor stands up on her hind legs and she reaches my shoulders easily, and I'm 5'10". Her large male dog just passed away, and so only Rumor is left now and is very happy as an "only" dog.

I thought when I took Nut up for her play date with Rumor that Rumor would dwarf little Nut. I hadn't realized how much Nut has grown, so it was a COMPLETE shock to me when their backs were just about the same height. Now, Rumor was hunkering down alot, so that skewed the perspective a bit, but still.......little Nut is growing up! She's DEFINITELY not so little anymore.

what fun!