Since the rains stopped and my front yard is dry, Tikva has been asking to go out around mid-mornings. She will stay out, reading her "mail" and nibbling at weeds to see if she fancies them - come in to pee on a pee pad and go out again. At times she will come in and do a Pereg by sitting by the open door looking out, almost to catch her breath, before she goes out again. BUT I have to try and catch her to clip her tether onto her harness as she rushes around playing "catch me if you can". And when she is finally in I have the same problem with unhooking her. She knows what she is doing and if puppies have a sense of humour then oh boy does she have one. Little booga. BUT Yesterday when Shulamit sent over her Friday couscous [do not ask why she does this - she just does] the two little children came with whoever it was who brought the Friday offering. Probably their mother? I do not know her so she is probably a daughter-in-law. And Tikva was overjoyed to see the children. She was not tethered but I was not worried as I know what she is like with people she knows, especially small children who she seems to adore. And I also know that no way will she try to run off as even though she is now at the Kevin stage and will go out by herself on her tether, she keeps coming back to check I am still here. Today Rafaël brought over some Shabbat Hamin [the Sepharadi/Mizrachi version of Cholent] and he had another of his little grandchildren with him, who had never been here before. What did Tikki do? Took one look and went out for a cuddle. Then shot back in again! She really is a strange puppy with a mind of her own - impossible to train or teach anything. OK so when I have her food ready she will Sit on command - but then get up and dance around on her hind legs, jumping all feet off the floor and twirling and no way will she stay while I put her food down. One Sit and it is get up and dance. Maybe one day she will grow up? But she is only six months old [tomorrow] and although she does not look like a puppy she certainly acts like one. But I love her.
