Bianca, from her home in Georgia
Bianca's photo album
3.5 months
Bianca is doing very well. She and Ochie are best of buds now. This afternoon I found them sleeping in a patch of sunshine on the kitchen floor, Bianca cuddled right up next to Ochie. I went for the camera but of course they figured I was off on an adventure and got up to be in on the action!
I am so glad that Bianca has joined the family. She most noticeably seems to be relieving much of Ochie’s separation anxiety. In addition she is a true little sweetie and we are bonding very well.
When my friend Jill comes back from the cabin up north I will have her take a picture of my little family . . . it would be cool to include Saffie and Corey the cats, but I suppose getting that many “children” posed at once might prove to be impossible!
4 months
As all puppies do, Bianca grew. She outgrew her carrier and her puppy-sized collars. And she grew into a beautiful young lady with deep brown, almond-shaped eyes, lithe and agile body, feathery tail and lovely black earrings that wisp from her ears and frame her face. Bigger than most Kooikers, Bianca weighs in at just less than 31 pounds, all muscle, bone and fur, yet maintains the beauty and characteristics important to the breed. To maintain the smaller size within the genetic line, Bianca will be bred to males smaller than herself.
Bianca still takes her role as queen bee very seriously. She has assumed the duty of squirrel patrol now that we have moved to Georgia. The tall, straight pines in the generous fenced back yard are a haven for squirrels that entertain and frustrate Bianca with their antics and their abilities to climb and leap from branch to branch. Often when I am working at the computer, Bianca will come and let me know that she wants to “show off” her yard-guard skills. So off to the back door we go, she exiting out the doggie door, me, being just a bit larger, out the people door. Then around the perimeter of the yard she goes, tail flying, ears feathered back as she demonstrates her cleverness at being the queen bee and the guardian of our yard. Her feet seem to barely come in contact with the earth as she races along the perimeter of the fence, stops waiting for me to tell her what a marvelous girl she is, then speeds around again, just in case something appeared since her first circuit.
Bianca, like most Kooikers, is very athletic and seems to have unending energy. In addition to her yard patrol activities, she enjoys taking me on long walks in the evening in tandem with brother Ochie and going to the Ogeechee River for a swim. Sometimes her doggie friend Lucy (a black lab) comes for a play date and the three four-leggers have a marvelous time romping and running, chasing and being chased.
But beyond Bianca’s decidedly in-charge command of her surroundings and her exuberant energy there are her gifts of love and joy . . . gifts she gives freely and without greed everyday. Her enthusiasm for life and her curiosity are contagious; she makes me smile and laugh. At night, when it is time to go to bed she snuggles up to me and in the morning she greets me and the new day with wiggles and licks. Just as each child brings a unique set of personality, outlook and talent to a family, so Bianca brings her own set of intelligence, doggie smiles, unending energy and love to my home. I simply cannot imagine my life without her!
1 year 4 months
Here is just a bit of an update on Bianca. Bianca is definitely the alpha female of the family. She dominates Ochie, bosses him around, chews on him, pushes him aside when loves are being given out, etc. And the funny thing is that Ochie puts up with it all! Also, her energy NEVER runs out! She is ready to go any time of the day or night at the drop of a hat!
The back yard is Bianca’s favorite place. She races out the doggie door and makes a circuit around the perimeter of the yard at top speed, tail flying and ears pushed back in the wind. If I am at the computer and she wants me to “notice” her, she bugs me until I ask her if she wants me to watch her at which she zooms out the door. She reminds me of a kid that says “Mommy, watch me!” I tell her what a good girl she is and how pretty she is and watch her for a few minutes. That makes her completely happy and I can go back to writing or checking e-mail . . . for awhile!
-Jorie