Yesterday was my last day of vacation and I had the hardest time getting up off the couch and finding my motivation.
It didn’t help that Delilah got me up at 6:20 am and it was pouring out. I wasn’t up to walking the dogs in the rain so we decided to wait it out and see what happened.
The rain finally stopped and the sun came out with all the humidity. 🙁 I managed to drag myself to the grocery store and as soon as the groceries were put away, I found myself back on the couch.
Around 5:30 I finally decided it was now or never so I prepped the dogs and myself for a walk.
I’ve been working with Delilah going in and out of the house without her leash. It is a lot of trust on my part, because one time she darted across the street to confront out neighbor….in HIS yard. Yeah, that was embarrassing.
When she is excited for her walk it is a good chance to test her and have her succeed. I usually check to make sure there are no cars coming and no-one walking down the street. I open the door and say, “Go to the car.” She has been doing very well at this.
Yesterday I checked as usual and opened the door. Sampson made his way down the steps and over to the car. Delilah took off, straight across the lawn! I was caught off guard and could not see what she was heading for until…
I saw it leap about two feet off the ground.
She darn near almost caught it too!
If it hadn’t ducked into its hole in the ground.
Sooner or later she is bound to catch one. Which brings me to a most important question.
What happens if Delilah eats a chipmunk? Can it hurt her?
Dawn Nardone says
Probably won’t matter Jodi…it is all natural, raw meat…. that is my opinion.
Jodi Stone says
I just worry about rabies and other diseases Dawn. 🙁
Donna Corcoran says
No, just don’t be surprised if she swallows it whole; and then vomits it back up (SOPHIE).
Jodi Stone says
UGH….gross Donna!! I would probably vomit too! LOL
2browndawgs says
Thunder ate field mice when he was a pup out pheasant hunting. Caused a little diarrhea. Just make sure the dogs are up to date on shots and they should be OK. But generally we discourage chasing or eating of birds and rodents. 🙂
Jodi Stone says
Ok thanks! I admit I don’t discourage her from doing it. She loves it. Does that make me a bad dog owner?
Margaret says
Chase caught one and then just tried to paly with it. I agree with the comment above, it will probably just come back up. Now, how do you get rid of chipmunks?
Jodi Stone says
Margaret I would love to know that too! We have a ton of them in the yard and they have a tunnel system!
lexy3587 says
I doubt it’ll hurt her to eat it. Gwynn catches mice, but so far, hasn’t eaten one (that i’ve seen)… since it’s almost always on an evening walk. When my parents ask what they should do if he ever actually catches one of the pidgeons or squirrels in our back yard, i tell them “Don’t let him into the house with it!”, but I’m hopeful that they’ve got more survival instinct than he’s got prey-drive… or speed.
Jodi Stone says
LOL Lexy, I like your philosophy! Do you think he could actually catch a bird?
lexy3587 says
I hope not… but we have rock doves in our yard. They are pretty grey tiny-pidgeon-things… and stupid as rocks. One built a nest in our garden once… poor thing trembled and stayed perfectly still while we stood over her, desperately convinced that we (and the raccoons that I believe emptied her nest shortly afterwards) couldn’t see her if she wasn’t moving. I’m just hoping that Gwynn’s ‘sneak attack’ of bounding out into the yard with great exuberance is not as sneaky as he thinks 😛
Jodi Stone says
Oh poor little things.
Delilah is the same way Gwynn is, she goes tearing out of the house making a helluva racket and she can’t figure why she can’t catch them! LOL