Tawzalt’s Puppies are 11 Weeks Old
February 24, 2013
Tawzalt’s puppies have been placed.
It’s been a big week for the little ones. They had a visit to the vet — as they say in Zimbabwe — to have their “jabs”. Azelouan and Tawzalt also made the visit to the doc. The buzz at the office was how amazing it is that Tawzalt has recovered her figure after only 11 weeks. She’s like those supermodels who have children and are modeling again in 3 months.
The puppies had a second excursion to the school to be handled by a mob of children in two classrooms. Frankly, they handled that better than I did. I wasn’t sure I would make it out alive. “Puppies!”
Tawzalt and Azelouan are busy teaching the puppies about appropriate behavior and their place in the pack. Azelouan is the disciplinarian, teaching manners. Tawzalt is interested in teaching hunting and digging techniques.
Azawakh Family
February 5, 2013
It is (somewhat) cold and cloudy today. It feels like rain. The puppies are now 8 weeks old. They can manage to scrabble up onto the couch and are very proud of themselves. All four of them are lying together in a pile.
This sort of snuggling behavior is common for Azawakh when the temperature dips a bit. It is quite endearing.
Their bodies are adapted to tolerate the extreme heat of the Sahel and souther Sahara. Their behavior is adapted to tolerate the cold nights in the desert when the temperatures plunge.
(The couch color was not my choice. It is government issue, I’m afraid.)
Dusky Blurs
October 2, 2011
At twilight, playful wresting often preceeds warp speet chase gams.
Tawzalt capers through the bamboo thicket at dusk.
Two Speeds
August 7, 2011
Zero
I awakened with too many mammals in our bed. Cassandra was curled up with Azelouan and Tawzalt was apparently displaced so that she decided to flop down on my face which was a minor obstacle in the way of the pillow.
Zoom
Tawzalt is having a game of chase with Zel in our garden in Ghana. She is careening around a stand of bamboo. Zel is faster than Tawzalt on a straightaway but when she is in the mood to run she is very fast and can turn in any direction in one stride. She can also keep going and going and going—I think because she is so light.
Preposterous
January 6, 2010
Tawzalt just walked casually into my office, stretched and curled up on top of Azelouan.
Backyard Shenanigans
April 19, 2009
Azelouan’s new game is jumping the pile of wood that I have left over after building a new fence. The wood pile is over 8 feet long and 2 feet high. He easily clears it every time.
On the way out.
The return journey.
It’s nap time
March 8, 2009
Theodora and Tawzalt
Cassandra and Tawzalt
Unfortunately, this lasted about 10 minutes. I should never have let the girls eat chocolate cake at the coffee shop.
“Help” with the snow removal
March 2, 2009
We had a pretty big snow storm last night, about 6 or 7 inches or hock-deep on an azawakh. The dogs are a little ambivalent about the stuff. They have fun with it until they start to get really cold. For Tawzalt, this is her first experience with proper fluffy snow that hasn’t been adulterated by a nasty skin of ice caused by freezing rain.
They were very helpful at un-shoveling the snow as I cleared it.
Tawzalt is starting to feel the cold after some crazed digging
What is this crazy stuff?
Snow Digger
Azeloan with his snow ball
Havoc wreaked, it's quittin' time.
West African Working Bush Dog
February 26, 2009
These are photographs of photographs I took in 1997 in The Gambia. The dog is one of three that serve as guardians for a beautiful herd of Fulani cattle. The structural conformation is very much like an Azawakh but many of the “bush dogs” in that area tend to be quite rustic and unrefined. Specimens with one or both ears erect were not uncommon, tails tendto be thick-ish and the hair was usually somewhat longer than is typical of Azawakh. The temperament is the same as typical of Azawakh. I believe these dogs and Azawakh are very closely related.
It was common practice for male working dogs to have cropped ears. I’m not sure if the primary purpose was to proactively prevent torn ears or to identify the dog as owned by someone (and therefore not to be killed).
West African bush dog protecting his cows
After thieves, the biggest risk to cattle might have been hyenas. The bush dogs that guard herds were expected to keep hyenas at bay.
West African Hyenas, the enemy of the bush dog
The Warm Spot
February 5, 2009
Today it is 15 F outside and a wicked wind is blowing. Azelouan found himself a nice warm spot in the sun to warm his bones.
Azelouan in his warm, sunny spot
Aidi wan n'Eezel: the loyal azawakh 