Frost!

Outside, there is a layer of hoarfrost. It has always been a big deal at the farmette -- that first day of cold weather, at night, laying down all the annuals in the pots, chilling the air for the first time, transitioning us to the season that follows Fall.

It is exhilarating!  I don't have to take Henry for a long walk this morning, but I want to! I have my cap and gloves on for the first time. I'm warm, he's happy, we're so in step, together on this magnificent morning.

 

I'm rewarded by beautiful colors, radiant in the rising sun.

 

Breakfast.

And then I wait for further instruction. I was to take my daughter's Goose to day care and if he goes, so goes Henry. But I need to know if that's still the plan. We wait.

 

[Ed calls while we wait. Guess who doesn't like it when I talk on the phone with someone?! Do I have a toddler or what?!]

The upshot is that health-wise, my daughter is doing better, though not great yet. Goose is at home with her. Henry and I have the morning to ourselves. I start in on training. Departures: one minute alone without howling. Twice. Oh yeah! Name: definitely responsive to me, but of course, it's just him and me in the room -- no distractions. Commands: good at "back up" in the elevator (would you like a dog lunging to get out when you were trying to get in?), good at "come," almost perfect at "sit,"  and pretty good at "watch me." And as a reward, we go to the off-leash doggie park. Just ten minutes up the road.

I am a tiny bit apprehensive, having had the report from day care that Henry doesn't always listen and can get rambunctious. 

But are we talking about the same dog?? 

Henry was perfect. He came every single time I called. He was playful with one dog, but again, came back to me when I thought he should leave the older dog to his own explorations. 

(time to go home...)

Of course, you could say that this was "first time" behavior. That once he gets comfortable with the park, he'll go wild. And yet, I think that his disposition will lead him in a better direction. There were only two other dogs there, with older owners. One said to me as our pooches sniffed "what a beautiful dog! great markings!"  I beamed in the way proud parents beam, when their child is liked by another.

 

Henry was plenty happy with his walk and his doggie park, and still, I put him in day care for four hours in the afternoon. It's the grandkid pickups that leave me wondering what the best strategy may be. It's really not cool to keep Henry in the car for all those back and forths. It remains a problem especially since his seat belt hasn't arrived yet. (Henry got bounced around a bit today when I had to brake for a sandhill crane crossing the road.) Too, my daughter is still sick and so Goose is on the loose at their house. I dont want the chaos of two dogs there in between the two pickups. In the car, out of the car, wait in the car, out of the car, wait some more in the car, out of the car then to return home -- in the car, out of the car, in the car out of the car. Henry will be fine once I can leave him at home for more than... one minute! Right now, I think he is better off playing with other doggies on these afternoons.

I brought Sparrow home after school and we walked his family's Goose. 

 

 

It's funny how different these animals can be. On paper, you'll read a similar description: good with people, good with children, loves cuddles, lively walking partner, quiet, agreeable. And yet... 

It could be the age -- Henry is much younger. But it's also true that they come with their own set of personality traits, insecurities, assets. For all the leash training that lies ahead for me, I am so grateful that Henry presents no problems in two things that can be a real headache: potty training and destructiveness. (To say nothing of aggression, but then I would never have brought home a dog that has to assert himself with a growl or bark.) Henry is a champion in these areas. 

Goose is, of course, so lovable that he made me reconsider dog ownership. Both canine boys have really big hearts which is surprising given their histories.

 

 

 

We pick up Snowdrop, with Henry still at doggie day care (much to her disappointment).

And toward the end of the day, the three of us drive over to pick up my sweet pup. The kids, once completely "cat people" are now "dog and cat people."  And that's a good thing. More to hug, to love, and be loved right back.

 (pickup joy)

 

 

yep, with so much love...