Ragamuffins Take 4

I love two ragamuffins, Max, my second youngest grandson, and Remi, the seven month old Golden Doodle across the lake with whom Kenya and I play every day. Max and Remi have a great deal in common besides their untidy appearances. They are both truly gentle souls even when they are putting up big boy fronts, and both are beautiful under the the mud and mess.

Yesterday I took Kenya and Havoc, our ten month Doberman houseguest, over to play with Remi. The contrast between the two puppies is striking. Remi bounces; Havoc struts. Remi is covered in tangled unkempt apricot curls and resembles a rag mop. Havoc is elegantly muscular, every sinew and tendon evident under the tight skin. Even his ears are crisp. Remi is floppy, a rag doll, so completely covered in curls that it is impossible to imagine his body structure. Havoc was wearing a red collar and coat that contrasted with his shiny black pelt that didn't provide enough warmth on this winter day. When Remi meets new people he leaps up on them enthusiastically. Havoc stiffens, assumes and intimidating posture and growls menacingly. He waits for a proper introduction before letting down his guard.

Remi's toys are just like him. He has a grubby yellow stuffed duck, a rubber chicken, and an old sock stiff with ice. Havoc owns a black Kong that reminds me of black jacks and lugers.

At Remi's house Havoc played with Remi's toys. There was something ridiculously incongruous about an elegant Doberman waving a dirty yellow ducky in Remi's face to get him to chase him, and when, dressed in all his finery, he began to prance about with the stiff old sock in his mouth, I laughed out loud and wished I had the camera with me.

Kenya left them alone to wrestle and dash about, intervening only when their exuberance bordered on the aggressive. She behaves like a mother with these puppies, and like human mothers, loses patience when they wear her out.

She takes all her mothering duties very seriously as you can see from the last photo.