This is a photo that epitomises the best of having a dog and living in the countryside. The sunshine only serves to make it all better. We all know that taking exercise is good for us, but sometimes…….. well it is harder than at other times. Especially now that the tennis-playing days are over. I tried to like golf, but despite having a few lessons I never really got the hang of it.
Having an enthusiastic little dog is the best incentive there is. She starts looking hopefully before lunch. Then, if there are no signs that a walk is likely to happen soon, she takes herself off to the spare bed to be wait patiently. She rallies a bit if dusters and vacuum appear – that means a good game of playing squeaky ball in between the chores. Then, after lunch there is the heavy sigh while the adults have a snooze. After that, if no signs are evident, there is great sighing and definite sadness as she creeps away to be very, very sad.
But Oh the joy and excitement if the “signs” are there. (Changing trousers, shoes, locking the front door, and eventually reaching for the collar and lead………) Then, it is as if she had never been for a walk before. Dancing around is a great feature, as is bumping – rather heavily – into the collar-holder’s legs. By this time, everyone is smiling and we set off for the adventure of the day.
Every walk is a great new experience: deciding whether to walk from the house or take the car, then smells that have changed or are new. There is always Mum and/or Dad to protect her from other dogs that are too big and bouncy – though it is usually only the regulars. There are strange rustling noises in the grass that need inspection, and mice to pounce on, never mind butterflies to chase……. Oh what joy to be a little dog and her minders.
The photo is from one of our favourite walks. You have to look closely to see Misty, she is so well camouflaged being a brindle; she seems to blend in wherever she is.
Aw, Misty is so darn cute and all the more so after knowing her through your description here. She has a little spot of heaven for her walks, most definitely.
It made me sad to read about your being able to protect her from other dogs. In 2007 a month after we rescued then-seven-year-old Abby (Old English Sheepdog), I had her and our Standard Poodle, Bonbon, on our regular beloved walk around the neighborhood and over to the middle school where there is a field with big oak trees the dogs love to roam through. I heard some peoples’ voices echoing around the neighborhood, obviously calling for their dog(s), but didn’t think anything of it. Then suddenly from the dirt road from the oak grove came charging a Blue Healer and a Pit Bull mix. One latched onto one of my dogs, the other got the other. There was horrible lashing and growling and yiping. I held the leashes for fear of losing my dogs, and stood still and screamed my head off (swore too, I admit), knowing that if I bent down to help or attempted to kick that I would soon be the victim of both dogs. It got so horrible that my poodle actually pulled herself out from her own collar…then she and her attacker rolled on the school grounds until Bonbon broke free and I watched her speed-run down the street in the direction of our home street. That meant that poor Abby suddenly had two dogs on her and my screaming intensified at the owners who had come into the scene but could do nothing really to stop their dogs. Finally, a neighbor drove by and used her cell phone to call the police. The owners ordered their dogs enough times to get off that they finally listened and when the police officer arrived on scene the dogs were in their yard and Abby stood shaking and bleeding. The officer said she would meet me at the house after she interviewed the owners of the other dogs (and issued citations to them…we found out later that it was a second offense and the owners opted to put both dogs down). My husband was home by then and we gave our statement to the cop then took the dogs to the local vet where Bonbon had 13 puncture wounds and needed a sedative (she had run straight home, dear girl), and Abby had a gash that required stitches that was so close to her carotid artery it was amazing she survived.
Sorry to go on and on. But I got lost in the beauty of your sweet surroundings and wish I could take my dogs for a walk in a place like that. I never have taken them without my husband since that day. It left an indelible impression on me…and certainly on Bonbon. Abby, amazingly, still greets other dogs and all children. She never held it against me that I was with her that day. As I write this my eyes are filled with tears because she has become my favorite dog in my lifetime. Such a special girl.
What a lucky dog and what lucky minders, not to mention the luck of having such a beautiful place to walk and live.
What a nice post. Our little dog also gets excited if he thinks he’s going for a walk. They are good little motivators.
I love this story. My dogs are much the same. When I ready for a harness or the lead, they all go bonkers! Bounding around and vying for the position closest to me to be first to be ready to go! It’s a madhouse, and one that I love. 🙂 Don’t they bring joy with their joi de vivre?
Lydia, I do so feel for you with that horrible experience and am only thankful that the dogs survived, though there is damage done that can never be repaired. I think that dangerous breeds should be limited or done away with, and those owners shouldn’t be allowed to have dogs at all. I hope you enjoy your walks with your husband and the dogs nowadays. When I am hoping for less anxiety for me with our little dog I shall remember you as well.