The Understudy - update

It looks much more interesting from up here

Jaunty (aka The Understudy) has been here nearly 3 weeks now.
I wouldn't say that life revolves around him but it is difficult to recall what it was like before he came! The ever Alpha Pilot has already 'beaten' him up twice so we've all learned to be hyper careful when going about what would otherwise be routine activities! On the first occasion Pupski decided to cosey up to Pilot on the Aga mat and was firmly ragged for that - much squealing but  no damage. There were mitigating circumstances - tired 'marketed-out' humans and overexcited canines. On the second occasion little pup, as is his wont, rushed home to the back door having done his p's and poops and crashed unsuspectingly  into Pilot who, having been on a long journey round the estate,

He thinks if he pretends to sleep I'll go away - but I won't

was also eagerly awaiting entry. Another ragging. Even louder screaming ensued and when I dragged Pilot off him, Jaunty rushed off squirming and crying as if he'd been torn limb from limb. Much cuddling and cooing on the garden seat eventually calmed the poor thing down; the blood, it transpired, was coming from nothing worse than a sorely bitten tongue. Pup now checks exactly where Pilot is before making decisions about where to dash! A hard lesson firmly learned!

What d'ya mean it's too high?!

He has no such problems with Gunner who, not surprisingly, is an excellent Nanny/mentor and has shown him all the 'interesting' places (including where rabbits hide under the Summer house - naughty Gunner). So much so that Jaunty is as relaxed sleeping in his crate of straw in the barn as in his comfy bed in the house! The horses and pigs are less frightening than Pilot whilst chickens & ducks are just curiosities and if there is a platform to climb onto and leap off  then the day is complete.
"He'll scream the house down when you leave him for the night" said Annie when we went to fetch him. He did make a bit of a noise when he woke up the first two nights but since then not a peep out of him till morning tea. So much so that for the first two weeks he had to be dragged out... "Go out in the dark?Me? You must be kidding!"
The outside world is becoming increasingly exciting though and the mad dash back to the house is becoming more and more delayed. Overall, he's proving quick to learn and shows excellent potential as an Understudy - who knows, he may even turn into a star  in his own right!