New Places, New Faces

One blister (bottom) today

Sorry for disappearing for a bit like I did, everyone. I have moved to the city and have been unpacking. That's right, Ebon is now a city dog. He's adjusting pretty well, though unfortunately on Saturday my dad was along to help and he took Ebon out to exercise and the dog injured both of his front feet. The largest pads on both of his forepaws blistered on the hot pavement and the blisters then sloughed off. I had to put socks on his feet for two days to help him out and keep him from licking the blisters (which would bleed when he licked). I'm a bit angry, honestly, because this is the fourth time this has happened while the dog was under my father's care. The first time was when he was only seven months old and I yelled at my dad over it. He took him on a four mile run. Who takes a puppy on a four mile run? This has never happened when the dog was under the care of anyone else. It seems that no matter how many times I warn him he just won't listen to me. Luckily, Ebon's soreness is gone and he's not stumping around anymore and the tissue is firming up. His pads are still far from normal, though.

I have a roommate, who also happens to be my brother, and the cats Albus and Ginny were left with my mother. Instead I am now living with my brother's two cats: Jen and Ash, who are half-brothers. There are a few negatives, like no private yard and the dog having to be on-lead all of the time. However, there are several parks nearby, including a dog park, and the city is very dog friendly. I will not miss having to deal with aggressive dogs whose owners have decided it was a good idea to let them run free.
Beginning tomorrow, I will be posting double posts to make up for my time away. 

I leave you with Ebon sacked out at the new place.

He's a very tired puppy

Unusual Breed: Thai Ridgeback

A Thai ridgeback in red

A "violin" ridge

This is one of a small number of dog breeds that have ridges of hair growing in the opposite direction along their backs. It comes in several colors and the ridge can vary greatly in size and shape. Unlike the Rhodesian ridgeback, which has only one accepted ridge shape, the Thai has eight, including "needle," "arrow," and "lute" among others.As the name suggests, they are native to Thailand and they are considered to be one of the primitive breeds, often called pariahs.

The breed has been used for such things as hunting and as watch dogs and even as carting dogs. They are known for being capable of killing cobras. Their temperament is typical of the pariah breeds, and reminds me very much of the basenji in the descriptions of its character.

A blue Thai

Thai ridgebacks are very active dogs with strong hunting instincts. They are very intelligent, independent thinkers and can be very challenging to train. Often destructive when young, they need exercise and are best behaved when kept active. They generally hate being bathed but they are also quite clean dogs, so baths are probably not often needed. They are sensitive to the cold and do very well in the heat. Though they are generally very quiet, but make good guard dogs. They can be very territorial around strangers. Tenacious in character, they will hunt anything small and are most likely not the sort of dog to have around cats.

As mentioned on Dogs 101 on Animal Planet, there are few outside of their native Thailand and, though mostly a very healthy breed, they are prone to dermoid sinus.  

Main source is the Association of Thai Ridgeback Owners & Fanciers. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative commons incenses: one, two, three.

Guess the Genotype #19

How about guessing the genotype of this dog?

Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a creative commons license