Eden, the Rhodesian Ridgeback/Boxer mix...

So, the other day, Chris heard some barking in the backyard, so he went out there to see what all the fuss was about. He saw Eden, mad at Rai, with the hair down the lower half of her back, standing straight up! That is the first time we have ever seen her REALLY mad, usually she just gets fussy and trots away. Mostly, though, she is extremely easy going. Anyways, so that got Chris thinking...maybe Eden is part Rhodesian Ridgeback? So he looked up other Boxer/Ridgeback mixes, and he found some pictures. I can't find the ones he did (they were better), but here are two...

Does she look just like Eden? Same face, same black nose, same tuft of white on her chest...

And she doesn't look like Eden as much, but there is still enough similarity...

Here's Eden with me.

And again...

Our dog book says that Ridgebacks are loyal and affectionate. They also get to be upwards of 85 lbs. The other day, I lifted Eden, and she's got to be at least 70 right now...I made that up, but I think it could be true...Anyways, they were bred to trail big game and then bark to attract the hunter's atention. And funny enough, the other day while we were hiking, a couple of deer bounded across our path. Rai just looked at them and got in a little bit of a frenzy. But Eden took off after them, trying to climb up a steep hill...Looks like she is a true hunter... 

Puppies first Thanksgiving!!!

This was our dogs first Thanksgiving, so we made them up a plate/bowl, and let them go at it. We figured, since they probably could smell it much more than we could, it would be unfair not to let them taste it. Plus, with my "cook for the multitudes" affliction, we could more than afford to give some to the salivating puppies.

Here are the two bowls all filled up.

We gave them a slice of ham, a slice of turkey, a green bean, stuffing, mashed potatoes with a dollop of gravy, and a roll, broken in half to allow full chewing action.

Here's Eden, making short work of her feast. We did give them a scoop of kibble also, when they were done.

Here's Rai. He learned the "Do you like Seafood?" game. 

Eden, our cuddle dog

Eden has always been the more affectionate of the two dogs. When I sit in the corner of the kitchen, she will inevitably budge her way in to sit or lay at my feet. She also likes to just lay down and watch you walk around. Rai, on the other hand, will sit for a minute, and if he doesn't fall asleep in that minute, he will be up jumping on something he's not supposed to, within a few seconds. So, Eden is our good cuddle dog. Rai is a pain in the butt, but definitely TRIES hard.

Eden loves to get her belly rubbed. If you start to pet her, she sometimes rolls over to show you her belly. And if you stop before she's done, she nudge you or nibble your hands, basically saying "Keep going."

Eden also falls asleep pretty soundly. She doesn't mind of you move her around. Not that we did. She just happen to fall asleep with Chris JUST like this!

She really is sleeping, though. She just looks at you when you move her, then closes her eyes. And she's super soft, so as long as she smells okay, she's a great pillow. 

Huachuca Canyon hikes

Chris and I have been taking Rai and Eden for walks on Ft. Huachuca, up the canyon. We have begun putting them on 10ft long tethers, because Chris is going to try to train Rai to be a bird dog. He has to work on coming back, not just going. Probably a good thing. Anyways, since Rai gets to, Eden does, too. (On a side note, we think that Eden is part boxer, part....Rhodesian Ridgeback!!! So that makes her a hunter of LIONS...pooh on Rai's birds!...more on that later...) Anyways, we walk with them up the canyon, threw a few small streams or trickles. It's a lot of fun, except for the part where I sprain my ankle EVERY time (except the last one, where I wore ankle braces on each ankle, and mostly watched the ground for those rocks that jump out of no where.). In these pictures, we just walked up a super steep incline because I wanted to see what was up there (more steep incline). Then, we turned around and walked back down. I'm much better with the down, than the up.




 

Please, please, please, Eden???

Eden is what the dog books all call a "power-chewer." I'll get the giant edible dog bones (Nylabone), and she'll have finished it within a half hour. So, she's taken to chewing the edges off the sheet that she has in her crate. Usually she'll just eat it (we know it comes out the other end, if you know what I mean), but a few days ago, she hauled a large chunk outside with her. Rai will bark at her, begging for a nibble, and when that doesn't work, he'll jump on her. And when that doesn't work, he'll lay down next to her, or across from her, and look longingly at the coveted item. Poor Rai.

Here's Eden and Rai. You can see the edges of the sheet hanging out of Eden's mouth.

And there it goes.

Self-Explanatory...

It's hours of fun to put a fitted sheet over Eden and Raisin, and see them try to figure out what the heck is going on.

Rai: What the heck? What's this white thing, and why is it hugging my bottom?

Eden: Hey, this is MY sheet. But if I can't get out, I'm not letting you out either.

Rai: Eden, Jeez, stop sniffing my butt!!!

Rai: Eden farted.
Eden: Rai, whoever smelt it, dealt it. 

Puppy update

Well, I've been working now, so I haven't had enough time to post new things on the blog. But here is a quick update...

I've started working at a local bagel shop. I do the coffee, but I also do the register, make sandwiches and bagels, etc. I work a lot, so the dogs have been in their crates a lot. The first few days, Rai didn't like it, and let us know. He got really bitey and misbehaved a lot. Eden was fine. But then we started a new pattern, and he's gotten better. They are getting better, and they especially love to play outside. Though, as they've gotten bigger, they've begun to be "power chewers", even destroying the "virtually indestructible" toys.

Recently, we moved the table and chairs. The dogs have made this their new thing to chase each other around. You can see the circle they have worn out in the rocks. It's funny to watch, and even funnier to hear Rai whine as he chases Eden around.

When they are all done playing, they like to sleep next to each other out in the sun. It's very common to see them laying near each other on the rocks...super cute!

When they are inside, they have begun to use the dining room table and the coffee table as the two things to chase each other around, often in a figure eight pattern. Then, Eden will make a sharp turn, and dive under the table. Then, with amazing speed for a dog as large as her, she will wiggle her way under the chairs. She's too big to fit, so she moves all the chairs. It's pretty funny!

Here's a picture of the two happy puppies!