Run Like the Wind
Siru accelerates in the deep snow of a soccer field. January 2001.
One of the most exhilarating things about sighthounds is all that running which takes place after they have slept for most of the day. Watching them catapulting over the fields, up and down hills and around small and large animate and inanimate objects can be a breathtaking experience.
Siru makes a sharp turn in powder snow. January 2001.
Our dogs are off-leash three times a day. We find that silkens and whippets can be kept loose in public places. Both breeds are sufficiently obedient to come when we call (well, most of the time anyway) and to stay away from places where we do not want them to go. This is great because most of the open spaces where we can set the dogs loose are in close proximity to homes, roads, the railroad... The only thing we have to watch out for is traffic, so our dogs go back on-leash when we get to within ten or fifteen meters of a road or a street.
These pictures, taken in the small clearing beyond the little woods next to our house, are from November 2000 when Siru was one year and eight months old. Hippu skillfully snatches the ball from right in front of Siru so the younger dog overshoots, passing within thirty centimeters of the whippet as she does so. Siru will never be as good a ball-player as Hippu because her motivation for fetching the ball is entirely mercenary - she knows that she will on occasion be rewarded for doing it. Hippu on the other hand chases the ball for the pure love of the chase and the excitement of having her own tennis ball.
Pullin' G's ! Siru demonstrates her agility by cornering at very high speed. Silkens are able to turn on a dime even when going at full tilt. Looking at the angle of her body to the ground one has to wonder how fast a human would have to run in order to get into this kind of an angle without falling over. The G-forces in such a maneuver must be considerable. Only a dog in excellent physical condition, confident of her strength and cornering skill would attempt a turn such as this. And just look at how much fun she is having !
Happy to have her ball, Hippu seems to be standing still though she is in fact jogging towards the camera, as Siru rockets back for another high-speed pass at the ball... but Hippu cannot be fooled by such attempts and keeps a firm hold on her treasure.
Siru and Riinu run in Kajaani, in December 2001. The temperature was -14° C (7° F). Still a puppy of ten months, Riinu is simply too weak to keep up with Siru when it comes to serious running. As Siru launches herself into yet another full-power, high-speed, high turning rate maneuver, the younger dog finds that she has to slow down to almost a walk in order to keep up with Siru's turn...
Siru and Hippu at play, December 2000. Hippu is wearing an army-type
sweater of natural wool with high collar from her Fall 1996 collection.
All of our sighthounds will take off after a rabbit. Thanks to the local terrain which gives plenty of ground cover, none of them have actually caught one yet, which is fortunate as hunting with chasing dogs is illegal in this country - and rightly so. We do not know if Ali, Siru or Riinu would attempt to actually kill their prey. We do know that Hippu would not, but she does nevertheless try to match her speed against them.
At times Hippu has been confused by other priorities. A few years ago her tennis ball landed within two meters of a huge hare who was having a lunch break in the woods. The hare bounded a few steps and then stood there on his hind legs, waiting to see what would happen. Hippu screeched to a halt next to the tennis ball. She looked at the huge long-ear, five meters away... Rabbit ! She then turned to look at her beloved ball at her feet... Tennis ball ! ... Rabbit ! ... Tennis ball ! ... Finally Eero made the decision for her: Hippu, bring the ball. Hippu picked up the tennis ball and returned to him without looking back. The bunny slouched away into the bushes.
Hippu chases Siru in Kajaani in January 2001. Hippu is wearing a Marlboro Country
jacket with a wide sash and artificial fur lining from her Winter 1997 collection.
Other prey animals that our dogs will attempt to hunt include squirrels and large, black birds. The birds are Hippu's particular favorites. She will tiptoe closer, ostensibly uninterested and headed past them... when she gets close enough she suddenly pounces at them, scattering the surprised birds in all directions. Looking smug and very pleased with herself, Hippu then returns to us while the scandalized birds complain loudly of her behavior. A few years back one crow was so incensed by this that he flew atop a lamp post and then sat there cawing furiously after us until we were no longer in sight... Riinu is another enthusiastic chaser of birds, sometimes tripping over herself trying to run while scanning the airspace.
Ali dashes after the lure during coursing practice in August 2000.
Coursing is a great way of exercising the hunter's instinct. After a coursing practice our dogs are dead tired from the excitement of meeting so many other dogs. We were not very successful with coursing in 2000 and unfortunately we did not make it to a single practice in 2001. We will have to try again this summer.
Siru in June 2001.
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