Adventures with Charlie

This is the look I get from Charlie when I lay his stuff out on the arm of the couch.

I have his buzzer/ringer collar, his remote, his mini leash, and some tiny treats in a plastic bag. This is how we go places. Charlie is not very tall and he can be a bit bullheaded so the collar has been a huge lifesaver.

I can call him off from chasing skunks or deer with the collar and use it to remind him to stay by my side. We entered a different phase of training with the collar. I ask Charlie to stay with me and not try run to every human he sees. Not all humans wish to pet him. He doesn't really 'get' that. He loves people and just assumes they love him.

So an Adventure to the Subaru Dealership was in order. We'd be there an hour while they did a bunch of maintenance stuff.  This dealership caters to people with pets as well as those with children. They have a nice playroom and and an open waiting room as well. There is a dog 'park' where you can let your pup off leash and he/she can run around smelling all the Pee Mail.

I browsed the 2021 models while Charlie did business. Yeah, this red is my favorite color.

I like the new features that are standard now on all Subaru vehicles. Alex who sold us our last two 'Rus came out to chat with me. A salesman can't help themselves but suggest and hope you'd purchase a new one. 

He ended up showing me photos of his Dachshund mixed dog and talking about dogs.

Charlie was outstanding. He walked on a leash without pulling and was not annoying when we took some tours through the showroom to drool over some of the hotrod 'Rus. 

I checked out the Forresters and went back to the Outback to peer at the new ones. I really do have a dream of one day camping out of the back of the Outback. 

Charlie wears a mask...

The waiting rooms filled up and the show room floor had quite a few people in it, so Charlie and I spent the rest of our time out in the Dog Park working on The Sit.

The air outside was nice even if we were in a city...LaCrosse. When I went to pay for the upkeep, one service guy came over and asked if he could pet Charlie and hold his leash while I paid. 

The service fellow then asked if Charlie could have a treat. Of course! He broke up a big treat and offered a piece to Charlie who took it very gently and gave the fella his big Googly Eyes of gratitude.

I'm so glad that Charlie has a friendly attitude and a pleasant demeaner. It sure makes it easier for me to take him places. 

Last note. I went out to my car and ... wow... it looked so dirty parked next to all those clean cars! Our gravel roads are so dusty and dry right now that any vehicle that moves on the roads appear as a moving dust storm.

Charlie seems to be adjusting more to his car rides. One day he may even look forward to them!

I had NO idea!

When Morris died and a few days later I brought home Charlie, my husband was furious with me for about 5 minutes. He ranted, he raved and he kept on and on until I stuck Charlie in his hands.

"He's too little, his legs are bowed, his legs are short...what good is he?"

Against his better judgement, this tiny dog started to worm his way into the gruff old fart's heart. Xena my crazy terrier was never a fan of Rich's and that went both ways. Morris was ambivalent about Rich but tolerated Rich's presence and listened to him most of the time.

Charlie?

Well, I think the above photo says it pretty good. 
Charlie waits for Rich to awaken most mornings. He rarely gets up until Rich gets up. 

In the evening after supper, Charlie goes and finds a bone or his ball to bring to Rich to play fetch. When Rich reaches for it, Charlie turns his back on it as if to play Keep Away.

He laughs at Charlie and calls him a stinker. Charlie let's me take the bone/ball and give it to Rich. The old fart tosses it, Charlie retrieves it. After several fetches Charlie marches to the couch and does this grunt/groan thing.

It signals Rich to come in and sit with him. Of course! It is time to sit and watch something together. They both wait for me to finish the dishes.

At night before bed, Charlie has to walk into the bedroom to watch Rich get ready. Then he waits until I motion towards the couch where he lets me tuck him 'in' for the night. 

It is down to a routine. If I forget to tuck him in, he walks into the bedroom and grunts.

I had no idea Charlie could control our life like this.

Charlie Charlie ... The Chicken

I thought I'd go visit my MIL in the nursing home early Sunday. I gave Charlie a bath and took him along.

I brought puzzle books and a card. I tucked Charlie under my arm as I made my way down the hallways. I was stopped my nearly everyone. Housekeeping, nurses, staff, and residents who wanted to see the 'puppy'. Charlie wagged his tail and loved all the petting.

We finally made it to MIL's room and Charlie greeted her with happy wags as she reached down to pet him. He eventually made it to her lap and laid down.

As MIL complained about the terrible beds, the boredom, and how 'nothing' was happening, her hands kept stroking Charlie's coat.
I've also learned with Alzheimer's that you just go with the flow. She told me repeats of the past few events and I listened. No matter that we'd had this conversation before. Her time line and my time line of events are different and that is okay, we still had a very nice visit.
She told me she was going home the next time she saw a doctor. She wanted to go home and sit in her chair and not be bothered and she wanted very strong pain pills.
I reminded her that he kidneys were so frail that they couldn't handle strong pain pills. She made a face and then I decided I should keep my mouth shut and let the pros handle it.

All the time, she just unconsciously pet Charlie and soon Charlie's eyes were droopy. The only time he looked concerned is when he could hear someone coming down the hallway.

When the visit was over I let Charlie walk down the hall on his leash. He is so low to the ground and has such a funny gate. However, he walked as if he owned the place.
Some housekeeping gals asked if the could pet him. Charlie walked up and sat by their feet while they rubbed his ears and talked to him. His tail swished and he sat still.
At the nurse's station, the gals came out and had to see Charlie. Then the residents in wheelchairs saw him and the crowd began to merge in on us. Charlie walked from one resident to another and sat at their feet if they put their hand down or spoke to him.

One lady insisted he was a Chicken. Well why not? Let Charlie be a Chicken. Ever person smiled. Frail shaking hands gently touched Charlie and Charlie just sat quietly.

How old is he? Asked a nurse.
Just over a year.

Please bring him back again.

We got through the group of residents and started down the hall. Charlie peered into each room to see if there was someone in it. I was told that Charlie could visit if they asked him in.
Funny that he'd pause for a bit at each resident's door and watch them, then move slowly on to the next.

Last stop was outside the lunchroom. More workers came out and all wanted to say hi. Charlie sat and seemed to relish the attention. He didn't wiggle, he didn't whine, he didn't bark. He just was like Charlie Zen.

I've concluded that Charlie has an old soul and really can tell things about people. When he meets most folks he is bubbly and excited but calms down quickly.

He seemed to know that all these folks wanted was to touch him and he seemed content and quiet.
On the ride home, he curled up in his car seat and slept.

Charlie, Chuckie, Charlie, Chicken, Puppy, Doggy, ... whatever name he goes by...he is really something special.

Someone said that Morris must have brought him into our lives.
I wonder....

Little Dog

This is the look I get when I am getting dressed to go do something and I tell Charlie he can't come.

I felt pretty sure that when I brought Charlie home that he wasn't going to be much of an outside dog.
Boy was I ever wrong.

He doesn't like the hot summer days as much as he likes the cold snowy days. And he keeps proving that over and over.

We took our afternoon walk on Wednesday to the creek and back. It was a quick walk just to get some fresh air. We hiked part of the way into the Peterson Valley and then I turned around.
I still had to finish up the fixin's for the roast and I had chores to do before dark.

Charlie charged up the ridge road ahead of me. He now knows where I am going and generally which path I chose to follow.
He also accompanies me in all sorts of weather to do chores.

Here is a photo I grabbed with my cell phone...

His chest and legs are snow and ice covered, yet he was not cold. He was searching for mice in tufts of grass and leaves. At times his head would be buried up to his eyes under the snow.

Here is a shot of his tummy...

Look how short those front legs are!
What a hoot!

He can run like the dickens though and is very fast for a dog so small.

I'm so happy to have a tiny hiking companion. Each day Charlie reminds me of why I like to have a pet in my life.
Those big brown liquid eyes that melt my heart, the eager little dog who wants to help chore, the funny little dog that sits and stares lovingly at my husband when he eats.
[He knows who drops food!]

Charlie likes to remind me that it is 'chore time'. He does this little whine thing until I get dressed and then we go out to do our chores. Even yesterday when it was zero degrees, he charged across the frozen snow and led me to each spot I needed to go.
When it was time to go in the pasture and feed the mules, he watched from the yard and porch. I got cold, but Charlie just seemed to take it all in as if IT were his duty to make sure I did all the chores properly...

Yes, I miss Morris every day. Yet Charlie is still easing that pain.

Now I am wondering how I can accommodate him if I were to go x country skiing on the ridge. Or...how can he come with when I snow shoe in the deep snow?

I guess I will find out this winter. [I may have to devise a way to carry him!]

Little Dog...
You make my
heart
Happy.

Thank you Charlie.

Froufrou Doggy?

Thursday afternoon I gathered a few items together and stuck them in a backpack. My goal had been to get back to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve for working on some of those trails in the Trail Challenge. I'd given up hope on completing that after my MIL's hospitalization, rehab, and return to her apartment.

Between her and Rich I had nearly a full time job going on and had no real breaks other than walks around the farm with Charlie and Dixie.

Charlie started to eye me carefully as I put some trail mix into a snack bag and a few tiny dog treats. When I put on my gun belt and old coveralls he perked up his ears. I was under Charlie watch.

Even with the set back in the Trail Challenge, I didn't want to lose the strength in my legs from ... not hiking. Besides, it is so convenient to just walk out the door and go when you are surrounded by woods with little obscure trails. Hiking in cooler temperatures is just more pleasant.

"Where are you off to?" asked my husband. He was watching Netflix, sitting in the folding metal chair right next to the flat screen and the old computer that is hooked up to screen.

We'd finished up with his Telehealth appointment and he said he'd watch a show and then take his meds and a nap. He decided that it was too cold, muddy, windy, to take his walk... And.
I am not allowed to nag him, only ask once and then let it be. However I do repeat asking if he forgets his medication.

"Where are we off to?"
I looked down at Charlie.
"Adventure!" I said.
Normally I have a route planned out for one of our little walks, but this time I didn't.
"Adventure?"

"Yes, Charlie and I are going and I'm not exactly sure, but we may go the the Back Valley."  There, at least I did have an idea of a goal.

"Okay." My husband frowns and looks at Charlie. "Think he can make that hike?"

"Well," I answer, "I guess we will find out. Besides, he will let me know if he wishes to 'get a lift'."

I check my .22 pistol and decide that it really does need a good cleaning again. I check the safety and put it in the holster.

Charlie and I depart and head up the trail that the bulldozer man had made for us. Down into the creek we go, cross it and head up the other steep hillside.
Charlie is happy. His nose is working overtime and he darts back and forth, then runs ahead and stops to check on me.

I haven't brought my DSLR camera. This is a hike, not a photo journey, though often I do combine the two. I just wanted to hike. The route I sort of had in mind would be about 3 miles with several steep hills.

We come out of the woods and skirt along some cropland. There are some guys who come out and hunt this area. I find a tree stand on the fence line to our property and it annoys me as it is set up to point into my wooded area. I sigh and move on. I find another one perched on my neighbor's fenceline along the snowmobile trail along with a trail camera. I've cut across about 30 feet of this other person's land and get caught on the camera.
I stop and wave at the camera and then move on. [This is the only person in our area that has not been a very good neighbor...he doesn't live on the cropland but considers it and anything around his fence to be 'his'. I'm sure we all know folks like that.]

Charlie is happy to bounce and run along the deer trail on the snow mobile trail. He dodges the tall grass and stops to the smell scat of every critter that has passed through.

Charlie and I cross the ridge and stay alongside the woods, the wind is cold but refreshing. We dip down on an old obscure logging trail that hasn't been used in 13 years. This is one of those places that opens up into an old forest stand that is not been over run with brush.

Those spots of yellow are not leaves from the trees above, but thousands of seedling trees sprouting up.

We head down the hill towards the stream in the back valley when we hear sirens. The highway is about 3/4 of a mile below us and the way the land lies in the spot we were in...the highway sounds echo up between the hills.
Charlie stops and puts his paws on my leg. I find a log and sit down so he can sit in my lap.

He scrambles up and listens to the sirens with me.

As the sirens start to fade, another eerie sound bounces off the hillsides. This sound makes me feel a bit chilled.

Coyotes voices drift up to us from below. It sounds as though dozens of them are calling and sounding off for a hunt. Charlie shivers and looks at me. I check my pistol and it is there. The sounds of those voices chill me too.
During the coyote mating season, I don't walk with any dogs as the 'yotes tend to be territorial and I've had two dogs stalked while I've hiked with them in years past.


Eventually they quiet down and I set off with Charlie again, though I've changed our route. We won't go into the back valley we will stay above it. I walk with Charlie's cord in my hand and he goes back to smelling everything he can.

[It dawns on me a bit later that the coyote howling was probably in response to the sirens from the emergency vehicles.]

I finally stop at the place I refer to as the Overlook. It is a point of land that overlooks the valley. It is a rock outcropping high above the valley. I sit on a log and we have our snacks. Charlie has forgotten the eerie noises and is enchanted by having a dog treat way out in the woods.

The drop off is just beyond those ferns. The trees to the left hang on rocks.

We spend a bit of time just sitting there and enjoying the sounds of the woods around us.

I keep a hand on Charlie's cord as we negotiate the deer trails and climb past The Ice Cave. I can see that something has used the structure to eat small animals. Little piles of fur are matted against the sandstone bottom.

We climb out of the woods and hike through the tall grasses. Charlie leaps and jumps and I finally drop the cord and follow him. I decide to take a different way home and we go through another steep rocky dry run.

We get to the creek that leads back to our property but I decide to cross it instead of following it back to our bulldozed trail.

The water is up with all the rain we've had. The ground is so saturated that any amount of rain is cause for a flash flood.
Charlie charges through the cold water.

I want to see how the snowshoe trail I have used over the years faired over the summer and all of the wind storms...

The trail is still there but several trees have come down and I have to reroute through berry briers and multiflora rose.
I'll have to use the machete to clear a few areas or just use the trail that the 4 wheelers had left.

We come to the Merry Meadow where our 'herd' used to graze until November. It is overgrown now but we use an old cow/horse/mule/donkey/deer trail to hike back to our gate.

Charlie runs willy nilly, bouncing along in only a way he can do it.

When we get to the house he greets Rich with enthusiasm after I towel him off and remove his cord.
He promptly jumps on the couch and falls asleep.

Someone told me I had a Froufrou doggy.
I don't think so. I think he believes he is just a tough little hound.

Travels with Charlie

Today was one of those days when I didn't have to run someone to an appointment, mow, fix something, or go anywhere. I decided to ask Rich if I could just take Charlie and head out to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

He said he didn't care, he'd sleep anyway.

Sunday would be a 'get hay' day and unload the truck too. That is if I can handle that job again.

So without a guilty conscience, I packed a lunch and Charlie's crate into the 'Ru. I laid a towel out on the front seat for on the way back.
I grabbed two bottles of water.
Charlie made an inspection before we left.

Charlie doesn't really 'like' riding in the car much. He still gets car sick. Unless I hold him so he feels comfortable and can look out the window, it seems he gets car sick.

Off we went. Charlie made some gruesome noises in his crate about half way there. I pulled over to check and he'd just been sick. He then laid on the other side of his crate and gave me a dirty look.

We parked and headed across the parking lot and didn't get perhaps 10 feet before a little girl asked her mom if she could see Charlie. Charlie whined and wagged and even peed a bit he was so happy.
I was stopped 3 more times before we got out of the parking lot and onto the trail.
By now Charlie just was wagging and greeting everyone who asked to pet him.

Charlie was over his car sickness and ready to hike.

It was hot in the valley. We both quickly felt a bit overwhelmed by the heat. On the ridge there had been a nice breeze.

So I took Charlie where I knew we could cool off. Bridge 18 in KVR is covered and makes for a nice spot to rest.

Our picnic spot. Charlie had some water and some treats. I ate a sandwich.

The Kickapoo flowed under us, the breezes flowed through the bridge. And we were happy campers.

We finally cooled off and then headed back towards the ponds where we decided to turn around. It was getting hot again and I am not sure how a Pekinese X mini doxxie would handle the heat. Charlie was panting. I knelt in a spot of shade and gave him water for about the 3rd time on our hike.
He lapped it up and then tried to drink out of my water bottle.

His attention was taken by two young ladies walking towards us. I waited in the shade for them to pass.
Charlie stole the show again.

Charlie is loved I guess. I just sat back and beamed. It is nice to have such a well behaved young dog. His temperament and size make him very approachable.

It happened that the girls were also going back the way we were going so I asked if they minded if Charlie and I walked with them.

An adorable dog is an ice breaker indeed. We chatted and walked back to the  parking lot. I gave the girls some other places to visit and hike while they were visiting our area. They thanked me and Charlie and I left for our next stop.
The trail above the little known ice caves.

I think that only local folks know about this parking spot. Most any vehicle can get in and out. Of course, I was driving the 'Ru so... no problem.

We set off for the deep woods.

Charlie was a trooper, he was tired and walked slowly, so I gave him a lift.

We looked down on the ice caves which of course don't have ice in them this time of year. If you didn't know they were below you ... you'd never see them.

[Ice cave from last February...there is a hollow behind the ice.]

We got to the bluff and I had to really keep an eye on Charlie. He isn't as nimble as Morris was and I was afraid he'd try and go over the side of the rock to explore.

He did get stuck in that crack in front of him.

The view is never disappointing from this bluff.

We then stopped for another water break and I set up the Teddy Bear for some photos.

And this happened...

Charlie is always willing to help make trying to photograph this particular Bear very difficult.
I had to catch the bear so he wouldn't roll off the steep bluff.

Of course I figured this would happen. The middle photo was actually what I was looking for!

We headed back to the car. Charlie was tired and I carried him most of the way. Those short little legs aren't made for hard hiking in the heat.
I set him in the passenger seat and took this photo after we got to LaFarge.

He looks miserable doesn't he?

By the next stop sign, he was sacked out enjoying the a/c on the Subraru.

It took him only a few minutes to get back to himself when we got home.
I'm going to have to ask the vet if there is something I can give him for these jaunts we go on. He is a pleasure to have along.

And I'm going to invest in a booster seat. I think that will help a lot.

Charlie was fawned over by everyone he met. I'll bet I could have been dressed in a clown suit and no one would have noticed.

We had a great afternoon.
I'm looking forward to more short jaunts with Charlie.

Charlie

So what has Charlie been up to lately?

Well he has been busy but I've been careful because of the high heat and humidity. 

He comes with me in the evening and some mornings to help me do the chores. Well, he thinks he is helping, but he mainly just follows me.

My husband thinks Charlie is bull headed and won't come when called. And that is sometimes true especially if he can hear the neighbor kids or the golf cart that the parents have. I explained to Rich that all the children and Lauren come down on the golf cart to visit Charlie and take him for walks when we are at VA appointments.

Charlie adores the neighbors and absolutely loves the kids. They in turn love him back as he is not big nor is he intimidating.

Charlie still watches for birds to chase willy nilly through the yard. He enjoys sitting on the porch and overseeing his kingdom from his 7" perspective. He watches cattle, birds, mules, the sky and turns to listen to noises from afar.

He has learned that the porch fan is great for blowing away bothersome bugs and gnats.

Taking a snooze with someone on the couch while they are reading is also a popular 'sport' of his.

He prefers children to snuggle with like this. Occasionally I do lay down and read and he will come and stand on the couch and stare at me until he finally decides I'm worthy of his company.

He understands electric fences now too. Last week he touched a bottom wire and since then he refuses to walk by that particular spot.

He supervises me while I move the yard pony from one place to another for spot grazing around old equipment. He wants to become friends with Little Richard. But I think the size difference puts him off.

He will dart in to grab a fresh pile of pony manure and take a big bite. I think he does that just to make me screech "NO NO NO, ICK ICKY ICKY!"
I swear he smiles at me.

He likes bugs. He likes toads.

He loves to wake Rich up in the morning by laying on the bed next to him. I set him on the bed and the two of them go through a morning ritual of sorts.

Charlie sometimes prefers to just lay back down and snooze.

He has a new funny and odd habit. He loves to go behind the couch where I have the clothes rack and the baby gate stored. Sometimes he just lays there and other times I think he plays games back there....

I need to figure out how to get him to grab the dust bunnies and do some cleaning back there too.

Charlie remains a sweet tempered dog with a huge heart.

He loves slippers and flip flops. He doesn't really harm them anymore, he just likes to carry them around and rearrange them.

Charlie ... the charmer.