Shanti has been rather delicate of late. Her fourth 'season' has just concluded; the fourth time she has been on 'heat' - which happens every 6-7 months in the life of an un-neutralised Bitch. The first three times it happened she appeared confused, as if she didn't know what had hit her. The last time was pretty severe and she lost her playfulness for an awfully long time.
This time around she seemed a lot calmer, although there was the expected loss of interest in food and play. She'd lie around with a listless look about her, just feeling her feelings and letting the process play out. At times like these I cut out the teasing, for I sense that there are deep yearnings and urges in motion which vibrate with cosmic energies of fertility and motherhood, and which I do not understand. Nor does Shanti by the looks of it, although she does now seem resigned to them. I treat her with the respect a Princess in State is due - plenty of TLC and no kitchy-cooing baby talk about how cute she is 🙄.
Personally, I melt in delight at the thought of a Shanti litter of pups. But it ain't my decision. I'm not her human and I would not have to shoulder responsibility. It is just not feasible. Part of Shanti's depression may be feeling that the decision has been taken out of her paws, and she's not wrong 😩.
Anyhow, last Saturday the DJ (Shanti's human) went down to Manchester for a night of music. I hung out with Shanti and @howiemac by a bonfire at the bottom of the garden. This we got going in an old car wheel which serves the purpose very well. Shanti's receptive period (no pun intended 😋) was over and her liveliness had returned. We enjoyed some quality stoned play as I dodged her teeth under the stars by the fireside and rolled about on the grass playing the underdog.
Next morning, Shanti and I set off through the woods. We passed by @howiemac's for brunch after which we all headed out for a walk through the Dell. As it was warm and sunny I took my camera along. Shanti, now 'out of season', was free to wander around in the mindful and delighted manner that dogs have not yet been able to teach humans how to master.
This is very much a topDAWG post with around two dozen photos of Shanti's walk. I guess she was still giving out scent, for she encountered male interest of her own kind. Shanti appeared to enjoy these interactions in a coy, flirtatious manner and she even received a marriage proposal 😂 from the 'parents' of one of her admirers!
All images are sized to a width of 1600px so you can zoom in for more detail if you wish.
Thanks for stopping by 🔆
@barge
Off goes Shanti, into the woods and through the water. Barge is a boat but he stays on dry land.
With @howiemac now alongside there's plenty more water and some tug-o-war stick-splash action to be had.
At this point Barge forgets about his camera coz a beautiful black German Shepherd called Misha starts nuzzling Shanti and she's enjoying the attention. Misha's humans are asked to call him back for she's just come out of season. The humans say that Misha is looking for a girlfriend and how about it, such a beautiful couple innit? Barge points out that even though this is not his decision, there are fundamental issues of principle regarding breeding dogs (byooootiful as the pups would be) and making money without knowing what kind of life they would sent off to. "But Shanti came from somewhere, didn't she?" Fair point! However lovely the fantasy may be to indulge in and in spite of good vibes from you guys, proposal turned down. "Sorry Shanti".
Almost as soon as Misha had left the scene, two handsome Huskies turned up. "They've been neutered. They may wanna, but they canna," shouted out their human, amused to see his boys 'at work'. The smaller of the two had to give way to the boss after the initial introductions and he went off to stand forlornly on the sidelines. The Princess herself was a sight to behold, smitten as she was by this gorgeous hunk of a wolf lookalike. They danced in the water and they danced on the land. Shanti drooled bitchy teenage mutterings of infatuation into his ear and for just a moment they pondered the potential of what could be, what might have been. Then they let it go and returned to the Present Moment.
Shantisauras Rex then turns into a Kangaroo as she goes off chasing sticks. Barge keeps his lens out of the way of Howie's hurls as he chases after a flying multi-animal Dog.
Another stretch of water and another stick session. In pursuit of the stick, Shanti crosses the river's broad expanse without thinking. She's a little nervous when she realises that she has to cross back again but does it anyway, brave girl that she is!
"Woof time is it?" asks topDAWG. Indeed it is, and off we woof through the streets of Hyuman Suburbia sometimes tugging, sometimes chilling. We woof past the kennels where the Dogs of War reside, but there is no response from the 'Guard Dogs' that patrol. "Ach well, perhaps Peace Time has finally arrived or else they got the sign the wrong way round", suggests Shanti sagely as we make our way home through a suitable Magic Portal in the undergrowth.
