Henry, the rescue dog I adopted last weekend, is everything you might expect from a seven month old lab-retriever-whatever mix: affectionate, exuberant, smart, playful, energetic. It is true that he has a good off switch: he can go from pup crazy, to calm and couch happy in the space of a few minutes. But I found out this morning just how pup crazy a big dog of his weight and stature can be.
He woke up a bit earlier and was really nudging me to get moving. Not a problem: he appears to recognize the need to give signals when he wants to go out. Potty training has been (knock on wood) a breeze.
It's still not light out there. Sunrise is at 7:20 today. We're out before that. I can control him alright when he is sniffing the grassy strips that line our sidewalks. Not that he is leash trained, but I have enough tug in me to pull him back.
But then we came to a field with meadow grasses. I had walked here yesterday and I knew he liked it. His nose would dig into the ground and then he'd leap for joy. Today, he did more than leap for joy: he went pup-nuts, running, leaping, all of it. I am strong, but I realized that he is actually stronger. I pulled him away from the field.
To those who would suggest leash training -- yes, he's signed up. But I can't wait that long. This dog needs to save his energy for doggie parks (I registered him for that as well). A reader had suggested a harness: I'm on it! My exuberant, energetic young boy! Oh, Henry!
Breakfast - he is nice and calm, as always, while I eat at the counter.
I have to say, he and I are at war as to who gets the best spot on the couch. Oftentimes, he beats me to it!
Today is my day to take him to the farmette. This is both wonderful and challenging. The cats, yes, the cats. The chickens - uff, that. But, too, it's a new place and I want him to feel comfortable there. Does he manage the visit well?
Yes, though it was an adventure. There were many surprises and some predictable outcomes. Let's start with the predictables: we entered the farmhouse, Dance the cat came down from her nap, saw Henry and went right back upstairs, not to return the whole time we were there.
Another predictable: Henry remembered and loved Ed.
And one I should have anticipated but did not. At least not in the way it played out. Henry loved the farmette lands. Here's my mistake: I put him on a retractable leash so he could romp. And romp he did!
At times I thought they got his markings wrong. He looked like one of those greyhounds painted on a bus. He is both fast and strong and it was hard to get him to tone down his crazies. My huggable pup has a split personality! In the wild, he is wild! At home, he is the sweetest dog on the planet.
I tried to put in a few bulbs. I got twelve in, but it was a challenge. A huge challenge. I kept Henry out on a leash. He got tangled in it repeatedly. Indeed he got tangled in the bushes, the spent flowers too. And once he figured out I was digging (with my one free hand), he joined in the act -- digging up what I had planted. I gave up then and went inside, exhausted.
(no more retractable leash at the farmette until you learn to respond consistently to my words)
I saved for the last the most unpredictable event of all: do you remember the porch feral, Pancake? Ed claims that over the past year, he's gotten more mellow, especially after being neutered. My answer has always been -- then how come Dance is still scared of him? So, enter Henry. The dog was all excited to chase chickens, but I put a stop to that and in any event, they knew to scamper off. He was not especially interested in chasing cats. He reached out to Pancake, to sniff, to form a connection. Unlike Dance, Pancake was not intimidated. Pancake got into his "I'm totally going to attack this damn dog" mode and stayed in it until we left. When Henry and I went out, he followed, waiting for his moment.
And when he failed, because I was there to scare him off, he took out his aggression on the other poor cats, hissing and spitting at them for no reason that they or I could figure out. I told Ed that life would be easier at the farmette for everyone if that cat was placed in a shelter, but of course, Ed wont do that. Give up on an animal? Not him. Like with trees, he believes there's room for them all.
In all, Henry loved his visit and got some great exercise out of the deal. The house isn't dog proofed, and he picked up odds and ends that were strewn about for cats, or for no good reason, but he survived! And I survived. I had a few good minutes sitting on top of Ed's feet on the couch (a favorite place of mine from farmhouse days), but otherwise, I was spent. I earned my couch time at the Edge. And so did Henry.
We had to head out again soon after, because no parent was available to pick up Snowdrop at school.
(happy to see Henry)
When I dropped her at her house, the family was back and Goose was there as well, so we let the two dogs play off-leash inside.
It was mostly a good bonding.
I say mostly because these two young dogs are still getting to know each other. There's some testing going on as well. (I'm looking at you, Henry!) Still, they appear to have no problem being "related." Or BFFs. Or cousins. No, maybe grandcousins?
Evening. I listen to the winners of the Chopin Competition in their Gala celebratory performance. (Henry sleeps through the best parts!) As you know from my previous post, my favorite Tianyao Lyu came in fourth (tied), but there were five additional awards handed out and she picked up two of them: the Warsaw Philharmonic Award for the best performance of a Concerto, and Fryderyk Chopin Society Award for the best performance of a Polonaise.
There is a beautiful sunset outside. I'd take a picture for you, but Henry is snuggled close to me and I know that if I get up, he will follow me. He always does. Big dog, huge heart. Lots of energy. Oh, Henry!
with lots of love...
