Every dog owner has probably been in that scary dream; To lose your dog. That scary dream became unfortunately a reality for us. Let me start by saying all ended well but still you go into cold sweat that moment. During a walk with the pack Floris had suddenly disappeared. He ran together with Eva into the bushes to hunt a pheasant. Not unusual, but when only Eva returned on the wistle it was rather strange. Moreover because Floris is the one Drent who reacts to the wistle best. After calling him a few times still no repsons from Floris. About fifteen minutes later, it seemed like an hour, Floris appeared behind me. Squeaking with joy (me too) he almost jumped into my arms.
Leashing him he skewed his head staring like “boss, where were you?” Like we were the ones who disappeared. Floris an experience richer, we too and also a day older..
Just recovered from one adventure, Floris “pops” into the next adventure. A journey of about three weeks what will happen two times a year per female in the pack. An adventure that makes the hormones of males in the pack quite shaky. Known to Geoff but something completely new for Floris: a bitch in heat. And then the bitch in heat is also your girlfriend Bryn. Floris initially did not understand why Bryn no longer wanted to play as the days before. She also acts differently in his opionin. But he’s smart and looks at Geoffs respons. That brings us hilarious moments.
When Geoff sniffs Bryn, Floris does. If there are little drops of blood then the floor is carefully cleaned up by two men. When Bryn has been sleeping somewhere, the spot is examined thoroughly. Outside Geoff and Floris flawlessly find the place where Bryn has just peed. It is impossible not to get the giggles when you see both shivering. If I may make the comparison with a human child then Floris would now have the age that he thinks that girls are weird. (And girls of course think that of boys) But that stage he has beaten; girls are very nice and interesting. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb. Of course nature and instinct have an important role but this experience is quite useful for future career as stud.
The first days of the heat the pack can still live together. Of course under the watchful eye of one of us. But after about 6 days they will really have to live separately in the dog room. We are very curious how Floris going to experience this. If he really is copying Geoffs behavior plus the influence of his hormones, then we have two howling dogs that are more like a fire alarm next week.