Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

It's All About Perspective….Day Two Hundred, Eight

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We’re all different.  I’ve heard it said that if we were all alike and all thought the same what a boring world it would be.

That being said, each one of us approach and digest the same situation based upon our opinions, our beliefs and our experiences.  We can all see the EXACT same thing, but in the re-telling there will be differences.

Check it out:

Jodi’s perspective: We had taken a hike through the woods and were finishing it up with a lap around the field, Sampson was snooping just inside the woods and Delilah was enraptured by something on the ground.   Suddenly I saw movement to my left, I looked across the field and there stood a full grown doe.

I looked at Delilah and she hadn’t seen her, so I called the dogs to me and pulled my camera from my pocket.  Delilah immediately came to me and sat on my left, I reached down with my left hand and grasped her collar.  With my right hand I tried to zoom the camera in to capture the picture but had no luck.  Sampson approached me on my right, so I pocketed the camera and reached down and grabbed him by the collar and waited to see what the doe would do.

The doe looked at me and then started running across the field towards us, but with about 15 to 20 feet between us.  At this point the dogs noticed the doe.  Sampson stood and growled, Delilah started barking and whining.  She began to struggle, twisting and turning trying to break my hold on her.

The doe approached and as she ran past us, she looked directly at us as if to say, “Nah, nah, nah, nah your mom won’t let you chase me.”

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

She ran into the woods,  I decided it was probably best to leash Delilah so I said, “Sampson stay!” and let go of him, where he promptly ran after the doe into the woods.

Sampson’s perspective: I was wandering in the woods sniffing about for chipmunks when mom called.  I ran up to her to see what she wanted and she grabbed me by the collar; then I saw it.   It was a deer, and it was running directly towards us!  I growled my pleasure and barked, but mom wouldn’t let me go.  Then all of a sudden as the deer ran past us mom let go of my collar.  It was a miracle, my prayers had been answered.  Mom said something and I’m sure it was “Go get the deer Sampson,”  so I took off after it, but I couldn’t catch it. 🙁

Delilah’s perspective:  I was investigating something on the ground when mom called.  I ran up to her because I thought she was going to give me a treat, but she grabbed me by the collar instead!  Sampson came up on mom’s other side and she grabbed him by the collar too!  Then I saw it, that big deer that chased me through the woods last week.

“Hey you!”  I barked, “I want the opportunity to even the score.”

The deer started running toward us and I barked to mom, “Let me go!” “Let me at her!”  I twisted in mom’s hand but she wouldn’t let go of my collar.  The deer got right in front of us and looked me dead in the face as if to say, “Today’s just not your day, pal.”

Mom let go of her hold on Sampson and said, “Sampson stay!”

But that lucky dog took off after the deer; then mom had the nerve to slap the leash on me!  She called for Sampson and led me away from the deer.  Thwarted again!

The deer’s perspective:  I had just stepped out of the woods, as I was going to cross the field and check the other side for those berries I love to eat.  As I looked up the woman across the field looked up too.

Then I saw her, that brown dog that scared me last week.  I had chased her for a bit just to scare her off.  The woman said something and I saw the brown dog run up to her and to my amazement, the woman grabbed hold of the dog.  Then another dog came out of the woods and the woman grabbed that one too.

I saw the perfect opportunity to cross the field without being chased so I started running.  The dogs were barking and whining but the woman held tight to them, as I approached I slowed down slightly and looked at the woman.

“Thank you for not letting the dogs chase me.”

I hope my eyes said it all.

Always Have Your Camera Ready…Day Two Hundred, Seven

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I can’t tell you how many times I have missed a great photo opportunity, yet still I never seem to be ready with my camera.

Take today for instance, I headed out to walk with the dogs, I had two leashes and the water bottle hanging over my shoulder, a fanny pack (with keys, poop bag, mosquito bands, cell phone and pepper blaster inside it) in one hand I had the remote for Delilah’s collar and in the other hand a bag of sliced hot dogs.

My camera was in my back pocket.

Chet joined us and as we were leaving the woods for the field a group of young ladies were walking in.  We tried to call the dogs, but the girls had already seen them and said, “Oh look at the dogs.”

So we introduced the dogs, and after a minute or two headed out into the field where I was chastised by Chet.  “Where’s your camera? That was a perfect opportunity to take pictures and put them on your blog!”

Seriously, I don’t think he’s ever even read this blog nor does he know how to find it.  Yet here he is scolding me for not being prepared.

“We could go back in and find them and ask them” I said.

“They’re right there” he said.  “Go over and ask them, it would be weird if I did.”

I could see his point, so I started walking back to where they had entered the woods.

“They’re right here” he said and walked over to the wood line, “Girls? Excuse me, ladies?”

“Yes” one of the girls replied.

“Could you do us a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Would you have your picture taken with the dogs?”

“Yes, of course.”

So the girls came out of the woods and into the field and then my husband, to my utter shock said, “Sampson has his own website.”

“Really, he does?”

I piped up, “Well I maintain it for him, but yes he has a website and I also write a blog about the dogs, your pictures will be up there tonight.”  Of course to my dismay I didn’t have any business cards in the pouch.

Be right back…

I just put some business cards in the pouch.

So without further ado, here are a couple of pictures of the lovely ladies and the puppies.

Ladies, I thank you for your kindness and if you somehow find your way to this page and are interested in getting a copy of your photo, please drop me a line.

I promise the next time we meet, I will have a business card!

To Be or Not To Be…Day Two Hundred, Six

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For a while now I have been considering the idea of  pursuing a career working with dogs; specifically helping people train their dogs.  I have spoken with my trainer (Sara) about possibly shadowing her to gain the experience.  I have been attending Thursday night drop in obedience as often as I can to 1) help Marcie with Zoe and 2) see what training is all about.

I admit I stopped bringing Delilah to the drop in class because I saw a marked improvement with her and other dogs and because the class was drawing in a few VERY aggressive dogs.

Last night we had a situation at class with a very aggressive pit bull; Van Gogh.

Let me say, that as far as I know both dogs are ok.

I got to class late, it was just about break time so I went in said my hellos to Sara and headed straight for Marcie and Zoe at the back of the room.  Marcie and I started chatting, Zoe leaned into me and I was petting her.

Everyone starting coming back to class from their potty break and were taking their places.  Van Gogh was in the front with his mom and Brockway (a big Alaskan Malmute) was next to Van Gogh, since I was in the back of the room I didn’t see what took place, but I heard that Van Gogh went at Brockway and Brockway went right back at him.

The next thing I knew, both mom’s were on the floor as were both dogs.  Sara ran and tried to separate the two dogs, but couldn’t.  Van Gogh’s dad ended up on top of his dog and we aren’t really sure what he did to get the dog to release Brockway, but release him he did.  Van Gogh’s dad stayed on top of him until after Sara had examined Brockway and determined he needed to be seen by a vet because  he had a couple of deep puncture wounds on one of his paws.  Van Gogh had a couple of scrapes on his face.

I had stayed with Marcie and I have to say that throughout the entire fight, Zoe remained very calm, I did see a few dogs get their dander up, but thankfully all owners remained in control.  Marcie and I were petting Zoe and letting her know that she was ok, and we were taking care of her.  Zoe was a superstar through the whole thing!

After Sara had determined that Brockway needed to see the vet; I went over to make sure Teri (Brockway’s mom) was alright.  We walked out to their car and Brockway limped a little, but he was walking on his leg and he did get into the car under his own power.  While we were getting Brockway and Teri settled,  Van Gogh’s parents got him out to their car.

Once we got back inside Sara stayed up front with Van Gogh’s parents, while we continued with class.  After class a bunch of us stayed to talk with Sara to find out how Brockway was and a couple people expressed concern about Van Gogh continuing with the class.  I found out then that Van Gogh had got into it with another dog two weeks earlier and the dog had gotten a punctured lip.  Van Gogh is no longer allowed in the class.

Sara explained when pit bulls bite they tend to lock their jaws.  According to Sara when you try to pull the dog away, they tear the skin because their grip is so tight, sometimes they even crush bone.

While we were chatting Teri called to say they were keeping Brockway overnight because he did need a couple of sutures and they would have to anesthetize him.

Everyone was really unsettled, and no-one really knew what to say; Marcie described it best by saying, “I just feel really sad.”

I left class last night really questioning whether I want to pursue the dog training, I don’t think I could handle a situation such as what took place last night.  I guess I have some real soul-searching to do.

On a positive note, I did hear from Sara today that Brockway was home and both he and Teri were feeling better.  Van Gogh’s parents offered to pay for the medical bills and so it would seem that things are ok.  But are they?

 

 

 

 

 

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