Meeting new puppies in the desert!

One of the best things about living in Namibia, is learning all about the different dog types here and what their uses are. Namibia is largely farmland and agricultural, with a lot of conservation land smooshed in between. This weekend I went to a farm where I met 2 types of interesting dogs. Previously, I didn't really understand the appeal of a Dachshund (no offense), but this weekend I got to spend time with quite a few. Most excitingly, I got to spend time with 2 Dachshund puppies! Absolutely adorable. It was pretty funny to see them jump up stairs and stuff with their shorty-short legs, but they were excellent watch dogs and can really move when they want to! I also discovered they have vibrant personalities and are very loving. The two puppies (in the picture), were absolutely adorable. Little furry hotdogs if you ask me!

The second pair of dogs I met were also very lovable, but had a work-based purpose. They seem to just know it from birth, as they were never trained but can herd sheep and goats instinctively. They are known as 'Kelpies" here, more generally known as Australian Kelpies. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture of them standing still because they were so excited to see us. With natural threats like leopards, jackals, and cheetahs, it is important to have simple, sustainable, and non-deadly ways of keeping large carnivores away from the livelihood of the farmers. Dogs like these not only help keep the sheep and goats together, but also make sure that other animals are discourage in doing anything sneaky

. Obviously, the shepherds help also, but dogs have many extra handy senses. These dogs know exactly when to slow down for the sheep and goats and will naturally wait to continue. They are a hardy breed and have few health problems. That's really important for terrain like Nambia, where it is VERY hot and VERY cold, depending on the time of the year. Crazy cool dogs!