Conversations with Dogs

Every time we have a "new" person, they must acclimate to Elka. I don't mean in the "we let her do what she wants and so they have to deal with it" way. I mean in the "this dog is as intelligent as a toddler and that can be kind of mind blowing at times" way.

Elka tries very clearly to communicate with us. I sort of get the impression that a lot of Dobermans, and other intelligent breeds, do as well. They want to get their point across. And because we've always talked so much to Elka, her comprehensive vocabulary is pretty good. I've never tried to count how many words I think she knows. I don't mean cues or commands specifically, I mean words in general.

I guess Elka's used to the new couch?

So, Elka's on the red couch more and more. Which is fine; as I've stated over and over, we are a Dogs on Furniture household.

What's funny to me is her habits with the couch, the pillows, and her toys. Most of her proclivities, I find pretty adorable, and it's always interesting to me to see what habits and preferences she'll develop (as near as I can tell) on her own.

Wordless Wednesday July 10 2013

Wordless Wednesday May 1 2013

Wordless Wednesday April 3 2013

Can't we just cuddle?

I was reading on the chaise lounge part of the leather couch the other day, and Miss Elka decided that she needed to be up there with me. We lay together companionably for awhile, but of course I couldn't just let things be. I had to get the camera.

Black and White Sunday February 17 2013

Elka doesn't snuggle with Pokey often...it's really Gumby who is her pal. But, sometimes magic happens, I guess.

Liebster Blog Award (Thanks Ruby!)

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Share five things about yourself
3. Answer five questions presented by Ruby
4. Ask five new questions to your nominated bloggers
5. Reveal your top five picks {with less than 200 readers} and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Copy and paste the award on your blog
7. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite up-and-coming bloggers and keep it going

Sounds like fun, right?  Right!

A Dog Named Boo: Winners!

The moment you've all been waiting for: the winners to the A Dog Named Boo giveaway!

As has been long-standing Elka Almanac tradition, I wrote the names of the entrants on pieces of paper and threw them on the floor. Then I looked at Elka and said "Pick it up!"

She looked down (notice Gumby? He has to help, evidently)

There was a lot of consideration here. But she picked one! I told her how awesome she was, and looked down again and said "Pick it up!"

Unlike the last time, Elka had no problem with me asking her for the same cue twice, and our winners were selected.

Drumroll.....

Dog Tag Art Giveaway: Winners announced!

Thank you very much, those of you who entered in the Dog Tag Art Giveaway! I always think that free stuff is exciting (that might be genetic) and am doubly excited when I'm the one who can provide it, or help facilitate, anyway.

Per usual, Miss Elka V is the one who presided over the selection ceremony.

Doberman Health: Idiopathic Head Tremors

On Friday I posted about the DNA survey for Doberman health. I got my sample package super quick! I swabbed Elka this morning and mailed it out. She let me do it without any kind of a struggle, but was overall less than enthused.

So, what do I think qualified Elka for the Doberman health study? Well, first off, every study needs a control group. Even if she wasn't "normal", they still might have wanted a DNA sample. There were two things on the survey that Elka displayed, though: Idiopathic Head Tremors, and a specific preference for a toy. We've talked about Gumby Love here before, but we haven't talked about the head tremors.

Wordless Wednesday June 6 2012

 Let's play a game!  Where's Gumby?

136th Westminster Kennel Club results

The Pekingese won Best in Show. Seriously.

I'm actually surprised at how disappointed I am. A Pekingese? I thought it was going to be between say, the German Shepherd and the Doberman. Despite my personal feelings that something is horribly wrong with American show German Shepherd's hindquarters, somebody clearly likes them. But no. It was the Peke.

Elka was sad too.When I told her, she had to go and get Gumby to share the burden.

Wordless Wednesday, January 11 2012

I wish I knew how to quit you!

Rainy days

Elka doesn't really like the rain.

Thunderstorms don't bother her in the slightest; she would in fact love to be outside to watch them.  But Elka does not like sky-water falling upon her, which can make things like potty breaks and exercising difficult on a rainy day, besides the fact that the back yard gets rather muddy.

So, what is there to do on a rainy day?