Chemukh and the Kits

These are my friends, Brian and Kim with their dogs Chemukh and Lakota pictured in my training field one day when Kim brought Lakota for a lesson. These are 2 of the most well-mannered, best behaved dogs I've ever been around, and it's a pleasure to have them coming out. But, there's more. Chemukh, the female, helped raise a litter of orphaned, ferrel cats that Kim graciously agreed to take in after learning they were on their way to be euthanized. When she told me she had pictures, of course I had to see them, and here they are for you all to enjoy.

This is Chemukh cleaning her kits. After meeting her, it's easy for me to see how she could be so gentle with them. She is a very happy, well-balanced individual with exceptionally good manners. Kim has done a fantastic job with both her dogs, and this is just too cute not to share.

Kim says that she cleaned them, lay with them constantly, and kept trying to carry them off somewhere, obviously to enjoy all to herself.

Here the kits are a little older, and clearly at ease with their big, black foster mom. I love the expression on Chemukh's face in this photog. Have you ever seen a more contented mother? This is another case of nurture over nature. Good girl, Chemukh.