We have now had Tessa (Jessie) for about 3 months, when we first got her we thought of her as a
Tired Tessa
gracious old lady, well she was 9 ½. Little did we know once her personality came out just what a mischievous rather than gracious wee thing, she would turn out to be.
She was timid to begin with, but took a shine to our other dog Sasha (lab x, 4 ½) straight off.
They are great mates, they love to play, with either one initiating the fun. Often Tessa will lie on the ground holding one end of a toy and Sasha holding the other both pulling like mad and eventually Sasha in desperation to get the toy will pull Tessa around the floor, still hanging on to the toy for dear life. No toys suffered in this fun but it's really only a matter of time!We have discovered that Tessa is blind in her left eye, but this doesn't slow her down as she races
Tessa and Sasha Playing
up the side of the property and turns a tight 45 degree angle to get around the corner of the garage at speed, she somehow seems to miss all obstacles along the way including Sasha who if she runs into her path she just hurdles over the top.
We took both dogs off to a basic manners course. Sasha took to itimmediately but Tessa is not motivated by food at all, so we provided plenty of amusement to everyone at our lack of ability to follow the sit, down, stand commands. However she was a hit and loved by all and we came away with a sense that we knew her better and from having no recall at all to getting her back 5 out of 10
Sharing the sunshine
times, we felt it was worth spending the time there. Needless to say when we go out she is never off the leash unless in a completely secure area.
Tessa has proven to be the dominant dog but they share toys, beds and us. She loves to dig and is currently trying to dig us a lap pool. When you tell her off she just drops over the hole and smiles at you as if nothing is wrong. This is cute except when you have put her outside for being naughty, she goes to that area of the garden which is in full sight of the lounge ranchslider and digs up a storm, we figure this is her attempt at a toddler's tantrum. It's very funny and the garden gets a good rotary hoe. Luckily it's always the same area so we have labelled this as hers now.
We noticed that when she is hot and water is around she will beeline for it and have a wee lie down, we for Christmas we got the dogs a pressie of a little paddling pool and it is getting plenty of use - well while we have sun anyway.
Tessa has truly our stolen our hearts and we thank all involved in GAP for letting us have her.
Stressed out Tessa
Robert & Jude
PS: We had a DNA test done on Sasha and it came back with Lab Retreiver/Greyhound - go figure!!