Due to a "Tia" incident and her overeating habits, we missed puppy class this week-No Nadya story there.  But this morning, we had another break through.  Nadya decided that she was tired of watching Tia, Patches and Woody hogging up the bed every morning and leaped onto the bed and stood looking down at me like a huge, hairy, anorexic vulture.

  As soon as she picked the perfect spot, (with much animated spinning and digging), she plopped down next to me and propped her head on my shoulder.  Begging for ear skritches, she gave me those eyes.  I couldn't help myself.  I started skritching.  She got so comforable, she rolled over on her side and almost fell off the bed!  I had to perform a quick "save and catch" to keep from destroying any confidence that she may have mustered just to get up there in the first place.

  I finally decided that it was time to get up, (actually I think the "kids" decided that for me) and sat up in bed.  That sent Nadya fleeing to the floor.  At least she didn't FALL off.   Before I had a chance to stand up, she came back and laid down next to me and put her head in my lap.  That was just a little too much for Patches to take.  She usually gets up o the bed and takes that position in the mornings. 

  Not to be outdone by this Russian invader, Patches jumped up and took her place on the other side of my lap.  There the two of them butted noses across my lap for a minute or so.  It was really quite funny to see the blatant competition. They are both shameless!

  Tia gets pretty rough with Nadya in the yard and Leonor always tries to jump right in on it too.  As a result, I usually have to muzzle both of them when they are outside with Nadya so that she can get some excercise without being molested.  Today, I let all the dogs out and went with them because I hadn't muzzled the girls.

  As soon as we left the porch, Nadya took off across the yard and did about two laps with all three grey girls hot on her heels.  She stayed ahead of them until the last turn when she skidded in the mud and faltered just long enough for Tia and Leonor to catch up to her.  Just as Tia leaped to grab Nadya by the neck, I hollered and Nadya spun around and darted behind me and Tia veered off.  Leonor came charging up and I stepped out in front of her, sticking my finger in Leonor's face, yelling, "DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" 

  Leonor slid to a squelching stop in the mud and looked up at me with this, "Oh Shit!" look on her face.  Nadya was still curled around my legs behind me, peeking out at both of them.  I'm sure I heard her say, "Nya-nya nya-nya nyaaaa!"  I think she stuck her tongue out at them too!  She's such a clever girl.  She knows which side her bread is buttered on.

  Patches, Leonor and I paid our monthly pet therapy visit at the local State Mental Hospital and had a lovely visit with two different wards of patients.  When we got upstairs to visit with the second group, the volunteer coordinator asked me to tell the story of Nadya.  (These men love dogs and wanted to hear how I acquired such a beautiful animal.  I had shown them her picture.)  When I finished relating the short verson of Nadya's former existance and her new life, one of the patients asked me

if it was true that Borzoi were more ferocious and tenacious than Pitbulls like he had heard.  I sat in dumb silence for a time.  I wasn't sure how to answer that so all that came out was..."Uh...ummmm...sha...(sputter, sputter)...cough....NO!  That's not trua at all!"  Then I added that I had met some very nice Pitbulls over the years. 

  Actually I think he was trying to make a point about the Borzoi's hunting instincts, but it sure sounded funny when he said it.  He also told the group that Borzoi were first bred to hunt tigers!  (It took a few seconds before I remembered with whom I was talking and just let him ramble on.  (Of course, as soon as I finish writing this, Nadya 'n'me's goin' tiger huntin'!)

  Nadya and Tia attended puppy class together again, but it will be Tia's last trip in the car with Nadya without a muzzle.  Nadya was looking out a car window when Tia decided that it was HER window and she nabbed Nadya on her beautious, long snout!   You should have seen me swerving across the road and slamming on the brakes at the same time, swinging blindly behind me while yelling at the top of my lungs at Tia!  I pulled over and checked out Nadya's nose.  It turned out to be a flesh wound, but I was sure PO'ed at Tia!  She rode the rest of the way to puppy class in a muzzle, looking appropriately abashed.