Puppies and Chickens don’t mix

What a week this has been.  Zelda, our new (?) pup visibly grows before our eyes and Gypsy seems astounded that this once-small pup is becoming a monster-dog.  However, Zelda’s mild personality is a welcome change from hyper-Gypsy. (With Caruso watching over them!)  They both thoroughly enjoy all the chew-treats I’ve been getting for the pup—i.e. pigs ears and bully sticks, but I’m beginning to think we should own stock in those companies with all we are buying.

Here are two pics---one from the time we first brought Zelda home (at 2 mos.) and a more current shot (about 3 mos.):   

As you can see, Zelda is outgrowing being a lap-puppy, even though she is still so incredibly soft!

Early last week, Gypsy had a too-close encounter with our girls (chickens) and, unfortunately, I found Fluffy (the beautiful Orpington) in a mass of feathers on our back porch.  Several of the other girls are nursing injuries, but the 5 of them seem to be coming back from the tragedy.  Needless to say, the yard is shut up tight and Gypsy is no longer invited in---ever.  Believe it or not, we actually got a couple of eggs again yesterday!  So, they’re on the mend!  Spot is one of the lucky ones.

There’s nothing like a growing puppy!

Just look at the size of those feet!  Can you tell which set is the pup and which is the adult? Zelda is really growing these days.  When we picked her up (at 8 weeks old), she weighed 12lbs.  Today she weighed in at 27lbs! 

As you can tell by the size of her sturdy legs and feet, she promises to be a larger dog than Gypsy is now.  We figured Gypsy was about a year old when we got her and we just got notice that she is due for her yearly Rabies shot, so we’ve had her a year (that makes her two). 

Zelda adores Gypsy and follows her around the best that she can.  Gypsy is fast and can out run and out maneuver Zelda, but the pup still seems to wear her down.  Sometimes Gypsy will hide from the pup, just to get a few minutes of rest.  Both cats seem to tolerate Zelda well, even though the pup is constantly kissing both cats.  Caruso will sink his teeth into the pup to stop her, but Kit-Kit just out jumps and out runs the pup. 

All in all, Zelda has a sweet disposition and is very devoted to her people.  She doesn’t shy away from Gypsy or us, but will around strangers (at least, at first).  She is indeed quite adorable!