Clare is still lame and we are unable to go for a bicycle ride. The 'good' side is that she has no intention to chase other animals or explore the surroundings on herself. Laying in front of the house and just watching what's going on [please admire the new registration tag: this year sunny yellow].



Because I thought she is a giant dog I finally measured her: 70 cm at the withers.

The standard:

Height at withers:
For bitches is 56 - 63 cm.
56 - 57 cm is small / 58 - 59 cm is medium height / 60 - 61 cm is large - correct height / 62 - 63 cm is very large
Weight: approximately 42 kg

"Hindquarters: Seen from behind, legs straight and not too close together. When standing free, obtuse angles are formed between the dog`s upper thigh and the hip bone, the upper thigh and the lower thigh and the metatarsal."

So far the theory (FCI Standard http://www.adrk.de/5_standard_e.htm ). But due to her extreme height Clare developed bow-legs. Seen from behind she looks like an old cowboy who spent his whole life sitting on a horse. Together with her temperament those crooked legs are a disaster. Since a couple of weeks she needs medication. She started to lame on the right hind leg but improved with 'Metacam'. Last Sunday we went for a walk and in no time she escaped chasing an animal (Oh wonder! No pain at all!). When she finally returned she was exhausted but okay. After a short rest she wanted to get up but couldn't put weight on her left leg (and struggled with her right leg as well). If she hasn't already - someday she will suffer from ruptures of the cruciate ligaments. Now I have a 22-month-old dog who moves like a 15-year-old one. No bicycle rides, no playing with Miss Piggy. I bought some fish oil/ glucosamine capsules and also administer (enteric coated) aspirin tablets to fight the inflammation in the knees. Too much pain relief ('Metacam') is counterproductive - she is too energetic when she is without pain and the weakened joints are strained again ("complacency makes you reckless" or so). Unfortunately the warranty has expired and I'm not able to exchange her for a new one .

In the shed an obviously giant rat chewed through a bucket of maize.

The stray tom cat 'Mr Verner' opened the bag with dog food (that I forget outside).

And Clare managed to destroy the cover of her sleeping place.

'I'm innocent!' She seems to say.

A new gunnysack for $ 5.-. (Please admire my suture technique!)

I allow Clare to roam around in the evenings. There are so many foxes on the property - you may trip over them when not careful enough. When she recognized an intruder she runs away and returns about five minutes later - pretty exhausted but happy to have chased away our enemy. Yesterday she didn't return. I was waiting then shouting and whistling. Nothing. I thought - take it easy. She will come soon. 2 hours later I decided to go to bed. It's impossible to find a black dog in the black night. So I postponed the search for the next morning. I couldn't find sleep. Where the hell is she? Has she jumped into a sheep paddock? Is she now in a savage frenzy? Killing one lamb after the other? In the morning we went to our own property and she spent the whole time watching neighbors' sheep. As soon as she started to move into their direction I jelled at her to let it be. All those emotions now relieved? I rolled from one side of the bed to the other. Somehow I must have been falling asleep because at 1 a.m. I suddenly awoke by the barking of Clare! But the noise didn't come from the front it came from the backyard! I rushed outside and there she was: all the time caught in the back. The gate was left ajar so she was able to go in but not able to get out. And this stupid dog didn't utter one single word when I was looking for her. We both spent the rest of the night pretty relaxed.

Miss Piggy invites Clare to explore the surroundings.



First they visit Honey and ask her to follow. But she is not really interested in the ground staff.



So they concentrate on heavy earthmoving - someone has to do the hard work.



"I'm the greatest, am I not?"



And there is always someone watching you! This time a Galah and two Black Shouldered Kites.

Today I received a call to look after two birds. Now they are at my home and the Indian Ringneck is a ripper!



He is loud, demanding and keeps me really busy. I love him.

PS: Someone else loves this quirky bird!



And the interest is mutual.

When I looked out of the window this morning I recognized some furry guests - 2 of the 3 ponies belonging to the neighbour.



Clare thought they came to play with her. Here her invitation:



But the ponies didn't want to play! I tried to convince naughty Clare to let it be. But she still doesn't follow my orders!



So she has to learn the lesson the hard way: Never approach a horse from the back. It might hurt.



Kitty couldn't watch it any longer. She left the scene quiet distressed.

experiment

this morning:



and still hungry. Yesterday I caught her eating the chicken food!

and already an atheroma!. I discovered this epidermal cyst today. Around pea-sized in the region of the haunch. I slit it with a scalpel and also removed the inner layer (capsule) so it will not return. Clare wasn't happy at all. I had to convince her with a) shouting at her and b) rewarding her with a piece of dried chicken meat.

An atheroma looks like this:



In a short haired Rottweiler it's not so easy to take a photograph