We are house-sitting in Florida.
What this really means is we are helping two dogs stay home alone while their parents spend some time abroad.
This arrangement is bound to spawn some humorous anecdotes!
I’ll try to sprinkle them sparingly between my show and this blog but there have already been four tellable incidents and this is only week two!
Daughts has warned me not to become one of ‘those’ people…
I suppose she means, don’t only write about the dogs write about me too!
Does that mean ‘me’ as in myself or ‘me’ as in her?
Now to my post!
To look at them they don’t shout barrel of laughs do they?
Let’s see shall we?
Big Dog has a choker collar that he is supposed to wear on his walks. A couple of times I’ve forgotten to put it on (him not me) and I’ve noticed it makes quite a difference when he decides to trot beyond the length of his leash. He almost has me off my feet.
The other evening we were out taking the air when I saw a young girl of about 8 on her bike way off in the distance, her dog trotting beside her. She was having trouble controlling both bike and dog and fell over completely losing her grip on her faithless hound who made a bee line for me and my two charges!
I looked it squarely in its puppy eyes and told it to go on! After two stern commands he finally turned tail and ran.
I also turned tail and led my followers in the direction of home; crisis averted.
The next I knew my two loaner dogs were straining behind me bound and determined to reverse roles. I looked back to find the persistent pup on our heels again.
I pulled Big Dog firmly to and shortened his leash but he continued tugging, with his back to me, determined to have his way and add a friend to his sniffing circle.
I hung on wanting him to capitulate to the Top Dog, that would be me, but he had other ideas; tried and tested ideas I was soon to discover.
He turned to face me and with a look that said,
“Watch this nifty little trick, works like a treat every time!”
He deliberately slipped his head from his collar and took chase.
I gathered up the empty collar and leash berating myself for forgetting his choker and walked briskly across the road with the little White Sweetie by my side.
As I neared the place where Big Dog had led me I half expected to see all hell had broken loose but it was quiet as I entered the massive yard; there are no fences here, and…
Hello Pit Bull Land!
There were two adult dogs and four pups all, with the exception of the one who caused the escapade, were tied up with such long pieces of rope they might as well have been loose. I was worried they would snarl at me encroaching on their property but they were pretty good natured, new parents and all that and I was able to slip the empty collar back over Big Dog’s head noticing, too late, how spacious it was. I vainly tried to tighten it.
The young girl addressed me, she was standing under the tree holding on to her bike,
“That’s a mighty big dog you have there ma’am…” I was taken by her southern drawl. I agreed with her, she was probably taken by my southern drawl too because she looked at me blankly before observing,
“I think you’ll be all right none of my dogs will chase after your big one.”
I struggled to get my big one under control and away from temptation while looking at her worried little face,
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Yes ma’am.”
Little Sweetie nudged up against my leg sending silent messages to pick her up before a blood bath erupted.
After a few more sniffs and leg lifts, God and Dog timing are very similar, we finally found ourselves homeward bound.
And the moral to this little doggie tale?
Never take Big Dog out without his choker.
To that end I’ve now attached his retractable walking lead to his neck restraint.
Later I commented to hubs that Big Dog weighs almost 100lbs and only displays a fraction of his strength when being a good house dog,
but if something catches his eye while we’re out, then, whoah, you’d better have that non-slip choker in place.
Now Little Sweetie has quite another story!
On Daughts’ advice it will have to wait until next week!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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