Laijka

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Laijka (aka 'The Muffin' and 'Mufferelli') is a New Year's Eve dog (born Dec 31/98) and so now (summer 2005) 6-1/2 years old. She's a light grey Miniature Poodle. Initially she was owned and named by Merike's brother. (Laijka is the Russian breed which was the first dog in a Sputnik). She came to us in late 1997 after Merike's brother found he couldn't look after her in a city apartment. Laijka drove out to SwallowHill here in Cobourg (about an hour from Toronto) sitting on Merike's lap in the driver's seat with her paws around Merike's neck. She's been a faithful shadow to Merike ever since. When she arrived here the senior dog already here was Mady (who needed a new friend with the recent death of Bibi) and Laijka right from the beginning followed Mady around faithfully as if Mady were her big woofing sister. Indeed, Mady was very tolerant -- letting Laijka lie on top of her (a little grey accent on top of a big apricot vowel).

Now that Mady is gone, Laijka is a little lost. She doesn't have her big friend to follow outdoors (and tell her where to pee). Now promoted to "senior dog" she's learning that there's a certain loneliness at the top. But one day, we'll perhaps find a small canine friend for her. In the meantime all the cats keep her quite busy. She'd been well trained by Kiisu that cats are friends. Nonetheless, they have to be playfully chased now and then.