Winter joys



It has been almost three year since the last update. It is absolutely time to do something about that.



Elbereth is spending a long weekend in the mountains with "mom". The snow is powdery, it is - 10 C outside and the stove in the cabin is well fed from the pile of wood in the shed. Elbereth enjoys being here where she can run more freely than at home. At this time of year there are no sheep to hunt here, almost no people to scare and unfortunately no other dogs to befriend (males) or attack (females).



Fashionable pawwear



The snow and the cold gives her a choice between wearing those disgusting socks, or get icy lumps under her paws. Socks or no socks, when coming back from a walk, she does not want to enter the cabin right away.



No thanks! I'll stay out here...



She prefers to be left outside where she can keep a watchful eye over her valley. She has obviously no idea of how small part the part is that is ours. Anyone who dares enter within her hearing distance is told cleary that trespassing to Elbereth's territory is barked upon.

When at last the cold gets to her, she comes pawing at the door.  Then she goes straight over to the blazing stove, lies down right next to it and puts her nose under it. She sighs and goes to sleep, while I worry that she might get fried.

Birthday girl - one year old today!!!

She is beautiful

She is alert

and she is amusing.

Daylight is slowly returning

Elbereth's knees are fine. For the last month we have been able to go for longer walks again and I think that running and playing in deep snow has done her good. With February and longer days here, we have gotten a few walks in daylight during the weekdays for the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure she cares about the difference, but I sure do.

As this has been the most perfect winter for skiing that I can remember, we decided two weekends ago that we had to try skiing with Elbereth. Based on how she behaves when we are out walking on foot - and how she has reacted when seeing other skiers - we had concluded that it would be impossible to ski with her this year. But as the snow continued to fall through January, the urge to try the ski tracks became stronger and stronger.

We went to a flat area with no people aorund and started out by me skiing back and forth and Tom on foot with Elbereth on leash. Her behavior improved rapidly from chasing the tips of the skis to not caring, and then last weekend we did the real thing and it went surprisingly well. After tripping over Tom's skis a couple of times, she realized where she had to position herself. She doesn't run ahead pulling him, which is good as she is still too young for that. Sometimes she stops suddenly, jerking him a little (that's why it is him and not me holding her leash). But when speeding downhill, she runs nicely on his side and then she doesn't care about other skiers.

13.02. Speeding downhill

14.02. Moving uphill through deep snow

14.02. Elbereth keeping lookout before breakfast

Cold days

We have bought socks for Elbereth. When we are out walking in minus 22 centigrades, she is much more happy with socks on her feet. They are very thin and they can't add any warmth, so the positive effect must be from keeping her feet dry and free from ice.  We are happy as long as she is happy.

Yesterday we went to the dog club for the first training session in 2010. Six dogs were present, but it was much too cold to work on obedience, so the dogs were allowed to socialize for some minutes and then we all went home.  Jan Erik had brought Zazza along for the first time and they promised to come back when the weather turns more favorable for outdoor activities.  We are looking forward to getting better aquainted.

On cold days Elbereth prefers to stay in front of the heating source.

Making new friends at the end of the year

Elbereth has had a wonderful Jul. She has enjoyed lots and lots of powdery snow, having her people at home all day and making new friends.
The daughter of a neighbor came home for the holidays with a pack of dogs, mostly Border Collies. Elbereth played with them all, but loved most being with the two ten week old puppies.

We borrowed IQ (his given name) for a couple of hours

Then we borrowed Rubin for a walk

At the last day of the year Zazza came to visit - and yes, she is a lovely, young Picard!!!

Yesterday we received a phone call from Jan Erik in Drammen. He told us that he is the owner of a Picard, Zazza, who is five months old and born in Sweden. What a wonderful surprise! We had wanted to get in touch with other Picard owners, but didn't dream that there would be any that close. And today they have been visiting. Zazza is a beautiful little girl. Her coat is a mix of dark and light (brindle?). She is at that age where they have very long legs and very big ears. She and Elbereth got along very well. We are looking forward to seeing much more of her the coming year.

We are staying at home tonight, hoping that Elbereth will not be scared by the fireworks, but having contingency plans ready. :-) Our primary wish for the new year is that Elbereth knees will get well and stay well. She is now being medicated for her right hind knee which she hurt right some time the last week (it was her left hind knee she hurt in November).

We wish all Picards and Picard owners,
four- and two-legged friends and family
a Joyful and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Elbereth celebrated 9 months on X-mas eve. She got her perfect gift; lots and lots of new, fluffy, white snow to play in. Click here to see Elbereth play in the snow.

In the evening, our traditional Yuletide family feast kept her on her toes almost all night. As the evening wore on, she started nodding in our midst, but wasn't able to give in to sleep until around ten o'clock. After all the guest had left, we went for an after midnight stroll along almost empty roads while Elbereth jumped around our legs trying to catch our frozen breaths. This morning we woke up to even more snow and the sound of dogs on the road, it will be fun holidays for us all.

We wish all our friends happy holidays and a wonderful midwinter feast!!!

December brings better moods

The last Sunday in November, Elbereth's knee was finally up to longer walks again, and we went for a long walk in the woods along paths new to us. All the while thinking of our Picard-familiy in Germany who were attending their traditional Advent-spaziergang the same day.  We felt a little alone, but the trees were frosted and the woods seemed enchanted and bore tidings of better weather the coming month - that lifted our spirits.

That same evening, snow started to fall and the next morning the world was wintery again. After work I took Elbereth out for a walk, and decided I needed to try walking her along the roads. I have mostly avoided this  because of the way she has behaved towards passing cars since we got her. The first she did when we came out the door was to bark at her favorite neighbor - she absolutely adores him, but this time he was holding a dangerous snow shuffle and she obviously doesn't see well in the dark. After she realized who it was, she crawled over to him to be scratched under her chin.

We then proceeded down to the main road which had a lot of passing cars at this time of night. Up until this time I had not had one walk with Elbereth ignoring passing cars, but this walk was the turning point for me. She sniffed her way along the pavement only occasionally looking at a car, but no barking and no pulling. We were almost home again when she barked for the second time on this walk. It was a really scary stone, the size of a shoebox, with a hat of snow on top. :-) I was so relieved after this walk and it was another reminder to be patient and peristent and remember that Things Take Time.