In one day Chezka get used to the moving haunt of our pack. She had a place of her own, but because of the temperature most of time she preferred a place on top of the luggage.

The map of Greece became a favourite place to gnaw at her bone!

Harbour of Brindisi (Italy) After a few days travelling we checked in on board of the ferry Brindisi-Igoumenitsa. First she didn’t like all the noise and strange things. But after a while she accepted the new place of our pack. But a puppy is fast boring when she can't play.

Ferry Italië And surely when she can’t play of leash on board. So as a owner you have to take car for a bag full of tricks and toys! On board there are also no dog places, so you have also a bag full with old papers, plastic bags, and toilet paper. And of cause also his sleeping place, baskets, bottles of water, food rewards etc. So you have to carry a lot of luggage only for your dog!

In Greece she had her first meeting with the sea. First she was only observing everything we did in the water, but didn’t want to get involved! Playing and running on the beach, that’s what she liked the most. But water and specially the waves she didn’t like at all. But after one day she was boring alone on the beach. With a fast run and a high jump she tried to dodge the breakers. But it didn’t work, she went totally under water. But when she came above she swimmed directly to us! The first swimming day it wasn’t totally correct. But with a little help she swimmed fast and perfectly.

It’s amazing how fast a CsW learns when she likes the exercise! (but things which don’t have her interest, it seems she does not learn it at all!) After a day of swimming Chezka was very interested what we were doing on the airbeds in the sea. And also this time she learned quickly. In a few moments she knew how to instruct us to help her on top of her floating place!

Smart as she is, she knew in the shortest time which the towels on the beach were for. So always she was the first one who was out of the water and rolls on the towels till she was dry and gnaw at her bone!

Acropolis Acrocorinth For us holidays means; travelling around, see a lot of things, do a lot of things and also sometimes a few day of relax. It was also a excellent formule for our CsW! Every time we leaved, with a deep sigh she fell a sleep at the top of the luggage. We didn’t hear her for hours, but every time we stopped she went curious out of the car ( with wagging tail and ears up). Always wondering if there were new adventures..

Metro Athene Meteora monastery On the most archaeological sites you can walk around with a dog. But on the archaeological sites in Athens and other famous places dogs are not aloud. But every time there was somebody who likes to take care of our puppy! And Chezka liked it very much when she got attention of new other people. Everything was interesting for her if it was some new experience! Archelogical sites, mateaor monastey, the acropolis, the metro in athens; Chezka thought/thinks the world is one big adventure!

Chezka loved sleeping with her pack in two little shelters. We less, because after this holidays we all need new sleeping bags (it draughts now with all the gnawed holes!) But she liked it more when we all slep in the open air! To be sure she could not ran away when we slept, we put her on leash with a long line. But she had not the attention at all to run away, she wanted to sleep very near to us. So many times one of us awaked with a sleeping puppy in the arms!

The ritual of packing was every time exciting for her. The most of all she liked to drag with the luggage. But when this was not aloud, she lied down on top of the luggage to ensure that we could not forget her!

Milopotamos Canal of Corinthe On the way we had to be very alert . Chezka was very curious and tried to climb on anything. Many times she tried to get under the fences. To prevent accidents we kept her on a leach we carried her. Although she instinctively realised the danger. The great depth of the canal of Corinth was a bit too much, she stayed at the right distance from the fence.

Castle ruin of Castro A disadvantage of holidays with our CsW pup was the different day order than us. Normally I’m not the first to rise on our holidays but because of Chezka every morning I got up at 6.15 to make a nice long walk!!! A pup awakes at dawn and at home when Chezka in her bench she keeps quit until the family awakes. But is she is together with her pack in a small tent, she keeps on husling until somebody will go with her outside. And of course such an early morning walk has its benefits...

On one of those early morning walks we had a special meeting with a group of about twelve wilding Greek dogs. Out of experience I know that the smallest misunderstanding can have fatal outcome. The meeting with these dogs was at a to big distance, so I couldn’t interfere. To my surprise this strange pup was accepted by the pack. I’m sad to say that my pup could better communicate with the dogs than with me…. Then although I tried to call her she left with the pack to the fishing harbour where she ate all the fish that was thrown to her. It took hours before she was really tired and she reacted at her name again. Fortunately all ended well and I could leave with Chezka without any accidents. Ofcourse we stayed alert the whole holidays to prevent this kind of occasions!

Ferry Greece - Italy Going on holidays with a pup is a always great adventure. But as the owner of a CsW pup you must also have a lot of creativity, and humour. Anyway we recommend it to everybody, because it is a very positive experience. If you are a bit flexible it is a nice and special experience for the dog as well for the owner!

Arrival Venice

Mijke van Heyningen