Liquorice’s day starts with her morning brushing which lasts from 30 to 45 minutes depending on how energetic I am. Liquorice gnaws on a pressed rawhide bone or a basted knotted rawhide bone while I slave away making my little darling even more beautiful to my eye! Then Liquorice goes out onto the lawn to relieve herself of that which polite young ladies do not talk of. A play is next followed by a walk around the property to splash a bit of water on the gardens or do some little odd jobs and make sure that everything is as it should be. A walk along the road follows this for up to 45 minutes. And at last Liquorice can have her breakfast. First she has a cup and a half of milk, 97% fat free milk! I place some “Ester C” into it for her. Ask the pharmacist in a loud voice for some “Ester “C” powder” and look at the faces turned toward you. <vbg> Then try to explain that it is not for you but your puppy! Great fun! Anyway her milk is followed by a single handful of kibble to which I add an equal quantity of boiled rice. This is more to let her have “a breakfast” rather than to feed her. Sometimes she eats it other times not. Liquorice no longer needs her morning feed. The boiled rice is to prevent those unsightly “brown” patches in the lawn, now they are lush green patches! If my little darling’s tootsies are nearly dry she follows me inside and lays near me in my little office while I, at last, have my morning cup of coffee! I look on the Internet and check e-mail until the resident “oldies” are up and ready for breakfast. Liquorice remains snoozing peacefully and melodically until the sound of Dad’s knife slicing slowly through the cheese two rooms away interrupts her slumbers where upon she is at his side in flash! She helps us to consume our breakfast then rests. Sometimes she will join us for morning tea but usually not. She does not do lunch herself however will be sociable and sit with us, accepting but not demanding tidbits, unless of course cheese is available! Afternoon tea she likes, especially when I have my hot “Chili and Black Bean” sauce on some savory biscuits. She loves those better than cheese!
It should be mentioned that Liquorice is also on the receiving end of various canine treats during her waking hours, beef chews, a pig’s ear, ginger nut biscuits, bones etc. Not to excess though!
Her evening meal comes after another brushing, and another chewable to occupy her time. Liquorice’s evening meal usually consists of more kibble and rice followed by 600 to 700 grams (about 1½ lbs) of chicken (drumsticks, wings or sometimes necks) or whatever steak is on “special” at the time. I keep three different types of kibble for my little darling to give her a variety of shape/textures, hopefully flavours and mineral content. For convenience I have tried her on canned food which she will sometimes eat but clearly does not enjoy. The pieces of chicken I hold in my fingers as she eats releasing a bit at a time into her powerful crushing molars so that she breaks all the bones into small pieces. Although she is most careful, a few times now my thumb has wandered too close to those teeth. The instant shocked look of concern on her beautiful face alerts me to the problem before I realize what has happened. She is total tenderness as she ministers the end of my bleeding thumb. And she refused to eat the meat my blood has contaminated! I am overdue to have this happen again! When I have to be away at for her evening meal I purchase “cat mince” at the supermarket so my father does not have to adopt my feeding technique. This mince is mainly kangaroo, liver and beef, hopefully not too many cats! It is then time for Liquorice’s people to have their meal followed by Liquorice’s evening walk in the cool. At bedtime my little darling receives a snack of two ginger nut biscuits, two beef “flat strips” and two round “chew-ups” to see her through the long night.
That rounds out Liquorice’s intake of sustenance for a day.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice