He took great delight in watching the others .....
Finnbar was born in July so could enjoy the freedom and adventure of exploring the garden.
He took great delight in watching the others .....
.... and then leaping off the bank and down onto the now-disused
tennis court and 'hunting' them
Indoors and out, all the adults took turns to scruff him, to pounce on him in the long grass, to sucker him out for a game and then squash him flat, to chase around with him, to let him 'attack' them. Ziggy in particular, spent hours shaking him, making him 'submit' on his back, letting him up, pouncing again, scruffing him. It was enchanting to watch. And very obviously in her mind it was a necessary lesson that an aunt (great-aunt) could impart to a small boy. When she tired of him, his grandmother Shani would take over and wear him out. Slightly different tactics - but more of the learning process.
Grandmother Shani demonstrates 'submission' while Mum-Plessy
watches
Finnbar is not quite sure, so sits back typically Basenji-style,
and ponders
The whole pack groomed him and they all allowed him to climb all over them and bite their tails and chew their ears Deedles was the least keen on this and told Finnbar so in no uncertain terms.
Here he is chewing Shani... Like human grandmothers she often has more patience than his mother !
...and here he is hiding behind his mother. Perhaps he went
too far ?
Finnbar would advance, get growled at, retreat and lie down, watching, chew a blade of grass or just dance away. They were all very patient with him and there was never any question that they might hurt him. In fact they kept watch whenever he was out and about -
"Well, at least we know where he is, so can be sure he isn't up to anything !"
Nobody is entirely sure if he is running away from trouble
or towards mayhem
No Basenji is adequately trained unless they learn to undo shoe-laces.
Finnbar was no exception !
He came to apologise to me -"No, Mum - I didn't do anything.
Honest I didn't"
He went to live with a 12 year old Basenji and within minutes had ingratiated himself to her and she adores him. The first evening, she lay awake, watching him sleep. I am sure he looked angelic !
"Butter would never melt in MY mouth !"
We are reasonably assured that, thanks to the combined ministrations of six adult Basenjis, Finnbar left here a well-rounded, well educated little doggie able to take whatever life throws at him.
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