Holy Dressup, Batman!

Gotham got mail today. A lovely little parcel from some extended Ridgeback family, Odin and Kika. Now he's all set for Halloween. I've never had a dog with a Halloween costume. Really, what's better than a Batman costume for a Ridgeback named Gotham? I guess Odin and Kika's owner figured she just couldn't pass this up.  I'm thinking Gotham wished she had.

Truthfully though, Gotham is so easy going I'm not even sure he knew anything was different. He let me put the (extra-large, by the way) costume on him, headpiece and all and didn't even bat an eye.

Okay, bad pun.

He was even pretty happy to strut his stuff as Rory looked on from a distance, in horror. Probably hoping like heck we weren't going to go to the park with Gotham dressed like THAT. Or dressed at all, even.

...or perhaps it was jealousy.

Nope. Horror.



Noob

{Posting for Rory...as technical difficulties abound on his outdated version of blogger. Why doesn't that dog keep himself up to date?}




Some days ago, the red-haired lady formerly known as my Momma (just kidding) went to run some errands. That happens sometimes. I don't always get to go with her. After she was gone a while, Pops took me to the dog park. Just me 'n him - that doesn't happen hardly ever. I would have been uber excited, except it was freakin pouring rain out. Who does that?

Guess who we found at the park? Momma! And also this dog that looks like me, but littler. He was pretty shy. But not so shy that he couldn't follow us home. And that part? That never happens. I never get to bring dogs home with me. Except for Kiri. But she's crazy and never stays long. This dog came home. And stayed. And he's still here.

I mostly like him. He has some stuff to learn though. I taught him about power tools and that you can pretty much sleep right through the drilling and banging that goes on in this house. He's cool with that. He also rang the bell to go outside. I don't even do that normally. Just when I'm feeling cooperative. We play a lot. And wrestle. And chase each other around the park. Of course he does some other stuff too. See the white leather in the photo?



Yeah, well, buster thought that since the couch was delivered yesterday and there was no room for it in the living room because the floor wasn't finished yet, so they put it in the dining room, so it must be meant for him to sit in, right? Oh, I could have told him that was a big negatory (at least when the parental units are home), but sometimes you just gotta learn these things on your own. And sometimes it takes three times. I totally get where he was coming from. I mean, there isn't a dining room table in the dining room. Not till Tuesday anyway. And since our beds are in the dining room, well, that couch is a better spot to catch the sunbeams. I get it. But I know better. ba ha ha ha ha. Me. The angel dog. Can you imagine?

That photo IS pretty angelic. Try this one in which Gotham gets schooled by Rory; though I have been told it won't be long and the tables may turn. Whatever that means.

Today's Special

While I've been busy STILL installing hardwood, Norm was building a bulkhead to hold the pendant lighting between the living room and dining room. Since I got to a point in the floor where it couldn't go any further because we need some stair nosing (hard to come by on a Thanksgiving Monday) I was enlisted to help with the wiring. Rory supervised, as usual. And Gotham? Well, I know he's coming out of his shell because any cardboard and bubble wrap that landed on the floor was promptly carted away by a playful puppy.

Gotham Under Construction

This is a very wary Gotham right after I picked him up from the airport. Happy to be out of his crate and no problem getting him IN the truck (it was raining and cold though, so he probably wasn't so interested in me or the truck as he was in staying dry).

His first meeting with Rory was at the dog park, where we went directly after the airport. I had Norm meet us there with Rory so they could get to know each other at the park and then Gotham could just `follow` us home. That was fun for Rory. For a while. But then he didn't leave. So far, they are pretty much even on the 'instigator' scale. Here they are having a discussion about Rory's favourite toy.

 This one is Gotham's second trip to the 'big' dog park yesterday. He ventures forth a bit more each time. We've been going to the park a few times each day. There is a lot he needs to get used to, including dogs other than the ones he lived with, and traffic. He's taking things in stride, walks beautifully on a leash, and liver treats and general  "are you still there?" worry ensure his recall is excellent.

Rory and Gotham tag team the little white dog that loved being chased.

Friday afternoon Gotham met some delivery people at the house. Saturday he met my mother and aunt, and he was introduced to power tools. Today he met the floor nailer. I was a little concerned since it's really loud and sporadic. Gotham pretty much slept through the drone of the drill while I screwed down some subfloor yesterday but today I had to lay more hardwood down. He's not as interested in sleeping right beside where I'm working like Rory does, but happily plunks himself down a little further away and plays, sleeps or watches. Though this photo is from yesterday, you'll get the idea of how he's fitting in.