Pennie's Page....

Welcome to the Kennel Klub.

Our Dog's Diary........by The Ed. (Lal)

Born 6th May 1998, Pennie was a present, given to Haidee in July 1998 by her boyfriend - Daniel - and spent her early weeks between our home and Daniel's parents' home. That September Haidee decided (because of college commitments and lack of funds, to make Pennie my 'birthday present'. I had, by then, been won over by her lovely temperament and funny mischievious antics, and accepted, with the proviso that she was still really 'Haidee's dog'.

Pennie's mother was neglected and underfed by her original owner, and he was reported to the RSPCA and she taken away and is now doing fine in a good home. Pennie herself was tiny, as were the other pups from the litter - due to her mother's treatment - but she has made up for it since, and is now spoilt rotten.

Around 75% Alsatian and 25% Rottweiler, which gives her a classic Alsatian 'shape' but with the lovely glossy fur of the Rottweiler. Pennie responded well to our unprofessional 'training', although mischievous, she is allowed anywhere in the house without fuss. and is a very contented canine. Her favourite place is the back garden, where she will sit surveying her surrounds and listen to the various noises even in the darkness of late evenings. She likes to 'chase' birds, and although blessed with very fast reactions and a fair turn of speed, hasn't got anywhere near one yet.

This picture was taken in August 98' with Pennie gaining size rapidly and weighing in at 32 lb. She had become the essential 'family pet' by now and had learned just how far she could go with each of the family members. She was not allowed to 'bite' Amy, and did not expect any 'play-fights' with her; John however, could be pushed into play-fighting or 'football' or 'catch' and would succumb to a bit of sad-look begging during mealtimes; I am the one she expects to be preparing her meal at around 5pm and complains noisily if I am still watching TV or doing some other unimportant non-food task; Haidee or Daniel however are the 'Big Easy' with endless goodies to be had, all gained by various devious doggie means.....

Known affectionally at various times as: 'Cerberus' (Haidee's (Hades) Dog); 'Wolfie'; 'Aardvark' (eats insects); 'Penelope Petshop' etc., she has become an 'alarm clock' by demanding a walk when one of the family's radio alarms has sprung into life or even waking someone up in order to be allowed out into the back garden to relieve herself on those mornings when a 'lay-in' used to be the norm.

Daniel & Haidee, with the canine cause of this page, they always give Pennie cause to 'go mad' when they arrive on the scene. She will bark at anybody arriving at the front door, normally as soon as they open the front garden gate.

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Observations

July 98'- I watched fascinated from the stairs, late at night, as Pennie (still a small pup) deliberately upset her water bowl onto the tiled kitchen floor, then took a long run along the passage from the front door to perform a perfect high speed 'reverse turn skid' across the length of the kitchen.... Alas, I had to stop her enjoyment just before a repeat performance in order to save any possible damage and to clear up.
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September 98'- Accidentally locked in the bathroom as the family retired for the night, Pennie slept uncomplaining on the soft cushioned carpet until a worried Amy missed her presence and went looking for her at 4am, no one knows who or how it happened.
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October 98' - Now weighing in at 50lb, Pennie takes a distinct dislike to any stranger that decides to knock on the front door and try to sell something, especially if that person waves a clipboard at one of her favourite people. Regular callers are always greeted enthusiastically however.... 
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December 98' - 60lb +, Walking 'off lead' quite well, with occasional lapses when other dogs appear nearby and she lopes off needing several commands to obey a recall (she DOES know she is doing wrong). Very well behaved indoors when visitors call (after initial mad greeting session) and received 6 Christmas presents (more than me....).
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January/February 99' - 64lb, Has minor operation locally, which removes a unwanted 'claw' on her hind leg. Now responding well to walking off-lead, with just the occasional distraction from other dogs. Loves chasing one of her frisbees across the local park. Saw snow for the first time and tried very hard to 'catch' it in the back garden.
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May 99' - Decided to 'pave' a large part of the back garden as Pennie was doing drastic things to the lawn. As we were about to lift the final couple of square metres in the corner by the front of the shed, Pennie, after having watched us intently, loped over and laid on this last bit of greenery, daring us to move her..... She now has her own personal square bit of unpaved area which she uses as her one and only toilet.  (This small square was eventually converted to a purpose built area for her use - a fairly deep pit filled with beach pebbles and stone cobbles which makes it easy to clean and hose off.)
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September 99' - Major re-building work in the house confuses Pennie as her favourite 'laying' place in a doorway disappears along with the door and a wall. plus a new polished wooden floor turns her into a tap dancer when she walks on it. She quite likes skidding around on it when play-fighting though.
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March 2000 - Pennie, now nearing adult-hood, but still spoilt more than anything we have ever known, by neighbours, friends and family. She is even gradually 'getting round' those who are normally terrified of even the smallest pooch, by insisting that they acknowledge her presence by talking to her. this is achieved by using her personality and a bit of bullying - the only exception is the regular postman, poor chap, because Pennie feels that someone that tries daily to 'enter' her home, but then is not allowed across the threshold, must be the enemy.... that's our theory, anyway.

May 2000 - The arrival of a baby into the family circle throws Pennie into a new era, we insist that Pennie is greeted first by those visitors arriving to inspect the new family member and this does the trick nicely and she joins in the fuss-making and has become the unofficial guardian of her new un-talkative but noisy friend. She is unhappy if the baby cries and checks her out quickly, satisfying herself that nothing is badly amiss.
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November 2000 - The baby has moved out, along with her Mum and Dad, and Pennie has now grown used to the coming and going of her former 'ward' as she arrives most days for a few hours stay while mum attends college. Pennie tends to position herself next to wherever the baby is, and as a result the baby tends to get fascinated by the fur and often tugs it, Pennie is completely indifferent to this treatment although the rest of the family try to discourage the activity.
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February 2001 - Pennie has noticed that the baby has become quite mobile (crawling) which makes the baby a candidate for 'catch me if you can' type games, and Pennie deliberately drops a doggie toy close to where baby is sitting, then as the poor kid closes in, repeatedly pulls it away just far enough to keep it interesting, funny and fascinating to watch...
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September 2001 - The above game has developed into a full blown game of 'chase' now that the kid is up and running on both feet, when they are in the mood one or the other will seek out a ball of some kind and the fun begins. One new football has gone west via Pennie's claws (she doesn't treat the balls with the same concern as she does the baby...).
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2002 - It has become regular practice for Pennie when bored to seek out one of her 'toys' - a ball or squeaky item - which she brings into the family room and promptly demands a play session, wanting the toy thrown along the room for her to catch or chase, this normally occurs around 9pm when the rest of the family are quite content to sit and relax in front of TV or to do a bit of light reading.  She always gets her way.
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As the years go by, Pennie sees more Canine friends come and go, like 'George', the Border Collie from next door, who was there when she arrived as a pup and died at a quite decent age around 2002. 'Snowy' - a West Highland Terrier - for several years a favourite playmate most mornings, has now moved house with his owner, which caused obvious distress for a while, but confusingly for Pennie, he still visits now and again. 
As the pictures below show lots of others are around during 'walk' times.

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August 2001
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February 2002
 and the first chance for some fun in the garden this year, with her pal.
As the saying goes - 'they're thick as thieves them two....' (the ball is Pennie's)

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2004

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