Shupa's Quest for Lions

Summer Video's

2011-10-22T10:22:00.001-06:00

Summer 2010 Shupa meets a neighbour RR puppy

2010-10-17T20:35:00.006-06:00

This Little guy is about to deliver some puppy payback! We think this was one of Karma's litter of Charisma Ridgebacks.

Winter 2010

2010-04-13T21:03:00.001-06:00

Shupa loves to lay on made bed, a good spot to both watch you in case you decide to burst into furious action and go for a walk....or stand on the bed to scout for rabbits outside...

When the dog was about 8 months old we decided that we needed a bigger space to put her in for the mornings and afternoons we weren't at home. I know for some the idea of confining is a bit of a hot topic, but properly done, with toys and chewable things, and a tired dog, it is a great solution. Hence we have a policy, if she is sleeping or tired when we leave, we leave her in the house to roam, but is she is awake, we put her in the expen. It is a size L expen, and comes in one size larger for great danes and such. As you can see it is big enough for 3 people.

She wanted to be in the sled until she realized that it moved...not so cool after that.

This is what the house would look like if we left her out in the house awake...alone...

Happy Birthday Shupa!!! You are ONE!

Dog Park Culture

2010-01-16T17:04:00.006-07:00

Lucky for all dogs in Edmonton, the dog parks here are vast and pleasurable. We take Shupa to romp whenever possible. Over the months we have been able to get to know many Terwilligar dog park regulars- and we present a few here.If you aren't playing, you will get play-barked, forever, all of the time, until she is tired, which may never happen.

Dog parks-have their own doggy culture. Prior to 8 months ago we were oblivious. The unwritten rules of park etiquette- while mostly common sense- are interesting in their own right. here are our observations so far:

1) It is acceptable to only know the names of dogs, and not of people, even if you have walked dogs with them for months.

2) Not picking up poop is social suicide (hmm I agree with this one!)

3) Designer Labradoodles, or doodles of any sort are all mutts out of their owners earshot. Their owners all overpaid :). I prefer "muppets".

4) If your dog humps someone, it will get thrown.

5) Everyone knows the local baddies, there really aren't that many..but if your dog gets into fights, humps, or growls, you are almost America's most wanted and the regulars all know who you are!

The joy of the chase!

Shupa loves to play with boxers, lucky for her we hooked up with a regular pack of boxers plus a small pack of two Weimaraners. Some of the pictures we took sadly ended up overstaturated, but some came out nicely.

The new coat, still in one piece.

One of the Weimaraners (Ruger sp?) loves the camera- we have at least a dozen handsomely posed pictures of the big boy.

Loooves the camera!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-02T11:52:00.002-07:00

We are back! I lost the family camera this summer, and so we had to wait, portrait-free for the Christmas present camera to get us back into action.

Shupa recently turned ONE! For her first birthday she received a dog coat and booties. This was sorely overdue. Past -10 C, she gets cold fast, and is really unable to walk outside for any length of time. She got an Obtrack jacket, and I am really impressed; great fit, stretchy, covers most of the belly and is pretty styley.

First time in the new jacket, chasing my parent's dog into deeper snow. Stay tuned for pictures of Shupa in dog boots.

One year old...sigh..I don't even remember what the puppy was. We are really happy with the puppy Shupa is, and the adult she will become. So far she has been easily taught, calm and overly friendly. Cheers to another year!

Messing up the living room rug..again...socks, rawhide bits- the playground of a nibbler.

Digging through old photo's

2009-08-07T11:20:00.004-06:00

Who are you?

"They" say once you let a puppy on the couch ONCE you will have a hard time getting them off. Our favorite house guest-Jay- broke the no couch rule. Since we have him to blame for this behavior, we cuddle Shupa guilt-free on the couch regularily.

≈

Camp Kariba

2009-07-14T19:20:00.004-06:00

We went on a short road trip this summer and let Shupa go back to her birthplace, KaribaRidge Ridgebacks (Brooks, AB) for the week. Here she is with some of her family. Shupa's sister, BG, is lying down beside her and just won her Can. Championship at age 9 months! They are a good looking bunch. I am sure getting them to pose like this was easy-peasy.

First In July

2009-07-13T19:11:00.003-06:00

We live very close to the U of A farm, this is a blessing with a dog. Here are some pics of our daily walks through and around the farm. Shupa is now 6.5 months old, still growing and starting to see some muscle development. Her eyes have fully turned fully amber from the blue-green they used to be.

Straw Bales

2009-05-31T12:37:00.003-06:00

We live right beside the U of A farm, where there are great big round Straw bails around. Shupa loves to jump around on them, she is starting to look the sleek athletic Ridgeback at 5 months old.

Hmm water

2009-05-07T11:23:00.002-06:00

Will our Ridgeback like water? It would seem not. This is a blessing in disguise, although we have encouraged her to swim, her lack of interest in getting her feet wet= cleaner dog.
The first spring bone. Bones are off limits inside the house, but was soon as the grass started to green we got Shupa a few bones. Sweet beef knuckle.

Meeting our fist Ridgeback at the dogpark! We have been aware that Shupa isn't the only Ridgeback in town, but they are still a rare sight. We walked around the park today with two Ridgebacks rescued from Texas. One was even a livernose..both deeply wanted to eat squirrels.

Shupa meets Misha

2009-04-27T15:08:00.002-06:00

Our good friend Wendy has wanted a dog for quite some time..we thought Shupa would act as a distraction until Wendy could find a good doggy match. But this plan backfired, and she rescued a dog from Mexico. Enter Misha! Misha is about a month younger than Shupa, adult size unknown, breed unknown...unknowns all around!

Digger wonders what happened to the little puppy....

2009-04-27T15:01:00.003-06:00

Scott took some great photos of Shupa and Digger romping in the back yard. Enjoy!

Fireplace

2009-04-27T14:52:00.004-06:00

Shupa's first fireplace. I hope she gets accustomed to it, because in our next place we are SO having one.

Getting really close. I would be happy to say that Shupa knew it was hot, but it took a SSssss on the nose to get her to back off. No damage done. hopefully that will be the last near-frying.

First day in landsdowne

2009-04-14T15:21:00.004-06:00

We recently moved. Our new place is next to a ravine and will be a great place to walk and eventually run with Shupa. Here is our puppy just before the spring flush.
The round provides way better traction to rip around on than snow. Shupa can feel it and sprints around. New nickname is little turbo.

New smells, dirt and grass.

Packing Day

2009-04-14T15:17:00.003-06:00

Today we are packing up to move! The house is sold, and we are moving closer to the river valley. Packing up with a new puppy in the house however is totally impossible. Everything requires tasting, nibbling and tossing. We eventually sent her to a puppy sitter...
Playing with my old toy snake.

What's this grass thing?

2009-03-28T18:53:00.008-06:00

Shupa's first time seeing ground in Edmonton. We have had a lot of snow this year, and he puppy is fascinated with the grip, and texture of the grass- and spent considerable time snorting and eating dirt.

Is it wrong to love your puppy this much?

Dashing through the snow

2009-03-28T18:43:00.002-06:00

This was Shupa's second time out in the snow. We don't have a coat for her yet, so she gets cold fast so we have to wait for warmer days to bring her out. Also, we are trying to balance the play time thing with the fact that she hasn't had all of her vaccinations yet. Hence, we took her to a more remote ravine, where there are no dogs- dog poop around to come into contact with.

I need a bigger bed

2009-03-25T21:05:00.002-06:00

Shupa would really like to have a bed in every room, beside every heat vent. A bigger bed has been ordered little thunder!
Rolling around in the hot air from the furnace.

House Cleaning

2009-03-25T20:32:00.006-06:00

Shupa loves brooms and the vacuum. We are grateful that she isn't afraid of them.

Note who is lying on the floor, and who is taking up the couch.

Digger is a toy hog

2009-03-16T18:36:00.002-06:00

Riley come's for a play

2009-03-08T14:44:00.005-06:00

Jay is a bad influence

2009-03-08T14:42:00.003-06:00

Two concepts: note Jay, note puppy on the couch. Precedent set. Battle lost.

Pick up Day

2009-03-07T08:55:00.003-07:00

Oh a pile of 12 sleeping puppies, bliss.
I just want to say...I have a permanent scar form this visit. One of Shupa's sibling's "attention" got me in the arm pretty badly. Puppies are like armed two year olds! Beware!

This puppy Scott referred to as "Stomper", very friendly, pouncy, could be a whole lot of trouble!

Shupa (9 weeks) meets Digger and my Mum for the first time.

11 weeks in and already counter surfing

2009-03-02T19:43:00.003-07:00

Our Nephew visits

2009-03-01T17:09:00.001-07:00

Already a beggar

2009-02-24T17:23:00.003-07:00

Even Happier after the Vet

2009-02-23T21:15:00.002-07:00

Eating my bed

2009-02-22T18:49:00.002-07:00

Bath time!

2009-02-21T10:23:00.004-07:00

First Afternoon Alone

2009-02-19T17:33:00.001-07:00

She loves the heat vents

2009-02-18T12:36:00.002-07:00

Day One

2009-02-16T18:04:00.003-07:00

Shupa's First Visit

2009-02-09T13:08:00.003-07:00

Our First Pictures

2009-02-08T13:21:00.001-07:00

Oh Sh$% Kittens

2009-02-07T16:25:00.002-07:00