Charlie & Gun Season....

 

Charlie is bummed. He misses his friend Basil and the new pup Stella that live up the hill.
They haven't been socializing at all and he misses seeing people.

Here he is the other day all dressed up just for fun in his Hawaiian shirt. He used to wear it when we went to the nursing home. Of course he hasn't seen many people this year at all. Once he got to visit with Tom, the UPS guy and once with Danny the farrier when he delivered my custom made Shepard's hook [more about that later!].

Yesterday I took him for a walk with me to the creek and 'round about to the Rock Fort. I had brought a couple of stuffed toys and thought of doing a little 'toy story' sort of like a storyboard thing. I had some ideas bouncing around in my head after my call from Lin. 

While we were back by the Fort, off in the distance, someone was sighting in their rifle for the start of Gun Deer Season.

Charlie literally became a shaking quivering puddle of Pekinhound. I was photographing the toys in the late afternoon sunlight [perfect!!!] when he became instant mush and literally tried to climb my legs. 

To deal with it and still finish what I wanted to do, I placed my toys then sat down in the leaves and dirt so Charlie could climb into my lap and quiver. I offered him a dog treat and he ignored it.

Damn. Time to rescue the poor guy and head to the house. I picked him up and juggled my things. The shooting abated for a bit so I was able to stop and photograph the Twin Fawns.

Someone closer by started shooting again. Charlie ran to me, then turned and made a beeline to the house. I found him at the porch door quivering and shaking.

I opened up the door and he tried to climb up Rich's leg. 

It may be a long nine days for Charlie.
However, if I can have Rich keep the volume up on the TV while he is watching, perhaps it won't be so bad for him.

If he can hear the shots [which there will be an abundance of] he will become the Shaking Velcro Dog.

Sigh.

Oh Charlie

We had a great sunny morning so I decided to take off with Charlie and go to the creek to take advantage of the low winter morning light. Most of the day parts of the creek stay in the shadow so some parts of the creek freeze up quickly with cold temperatures.

I have a list of to do's before I can take off to go visit my son for a couple of days, so I thought I'd take an early morning walk to clear up my thinking.

Charlie was on a mission, he charged down the trail as if he knew exactly where I was going. He only stopped when I turned to step over the fence to the neighbor's side. He followed and then found the deer trail down into the creek and up the other side.

I followed so I could take a shot from the higher bank on the opposite side of where I normally shoot this little spot.

I set things up quickly.

I took a shot of the upper pond. It is hard to explain but over the years the boulders have tumbled in such a way that there are two little ponds with tiny falls in them.

Charlie sat next to me on the bank and just waited.

When I said let's go, he led the way.

I made a few quick stops to take some shots to make a comparison to earlier in the year.

 Somewhat the same spot right after our

November 6th snowfall.

One of these times I'm going to have to take some spray paint and mark 3 dots in one spot and use those painted spots to take the same shot in all 4 seasons.
I always think I can eyeball it and recall how I shot it previously, but obviously I can't...not very well, at least.

I went to take a shot of these mini falls and noticed that Mr. Charlie was sitting on a rock watching. He'd been doing this off and on the last couple of times we hiked together.
I stop, he stops.
He waits.

We go on.

I did get a nice shot and then turned to look at the place that normally has some rather exotic ice formations on the grass.

Charlie.

Someone who saw this photo said "Oh look at Charlie! He wears hearts on his chest!"
Oh Charlie.


I'd like to think he is filling Mr. Morris's paw prints of becoming the Photography Assistant.

I know it isn't real. But hey. Charlie watches me just like Morris did and when I gather my camera case, he is ready to rock and roll.
And now he is willing to sit and wait while I fiddle around.

Spring Work includes

The dogs of course.

Dixie assisted with cleaning around the fences and checking them. It was hot and she spent most of the time with her tongue hanging out watching me. She has a great respect for electric lines.
Even if they were not on.

There were a few messes to clean up, most of it could be taken care of with branch loppers and my handy little machete.
I'm going to redo the fencing.
One Electric fencer is doing most of the work.

There is a second fencer that was used for the Merry Meadow, but we won't be doing that any more. I will use that fencer to charge what I will call the 'above the creek' woods and the back meadow.

It was time to water the stock tanks when I got back from the woods.
I had helpers.

My black and tan dogs supervised while I watered.
I gathered up two rakes and a shovel and began to do spring clean up on the driveway.
Again, I had supervisors.

I needed a break and joined the dogs on the grass.
Instant Dog Pile.

I worked until my arthritic hands protested and then decided to go sit on the porch for a bit.
My supervisors had a different idea.

I should play ball.

And our day was complete.
Well, after they helped with evening chores....

On the Ropes

So sorry to bore you all. But this is a way I can keep track of my 'tiny' dog training. I can see what I try and what may work for Charlie.
He can be a rascal.
Morris always without fail followed me like a lamb when he was a pup.
Charlie tends to decide that I am not worthy of following once in a while. I think he has an excellent nose and so many things are so new to him.

I am being super patient. Our walks are very short and in areas that he can safely be loose.
He still comes almost without fail when I call him in a large open area with no distractions.
Areas that are packed with deer smell, raccoon, and other wild critters are so distracting!

Rich said he'd make me a nice cord for Charlie.

Well when we got home from visiting his mom in the nursing home, Charlie was full of energy.
I needed to water the cattle, the bulls, and other creatures. And Charlie needed the exercise.

I grabbed my old training cord and hooked it to his collar. I tied the other end to my belt loop.

Now I had both hands free and could carry some water to Stella. Charlie would just have to follow. I walked slowly and asked him to come along. He trotted along side of me and would once in a while pick up the cord with his teeth.
Just one week ago he had a fit if a cord was on his collar and he came to the end of it.
We solved that by putting him out on a tie out under close supervision often on the nice days. Just time enough for him to figure out that he was yanking on himself.

Today he never let the cord get tight on him. I bumped him with a shift of my hip and called. He came running along.

Charlie was not bothered by the cord at all and enjoyed helping me with the chores. Cords and puppies along with hoses make for interesting entanglements.

And then there is the BIG Face Off with Black Bart.

Charlie decided that the big black thing that was huffing at him was not anything that he wanted to play with. After one good look, Charlie turned away and decided to enjoy himself by...

Rolling in the hay chaff that had gathered from where I'd cut bales all winter while feeding them out. He made quite the show of it and enjoyed himself immensely.

He never missed a beat when I called his name. He never got distracted while I was doing chores. He followed like an old pro. Though I am sure that would not have been the case without the cord today.
I would have been chasing him all around.

So I can establish a new routine with Charlie and the cord. Our 'walk' with the watering and the haying took around 45 minutes. Charlie ran or trotted to keep up with me.

We look forward to many great adventures together.

Off tomorrow to see Oncology at the VA for Rich's checkup. Hoping for continued good blood work and a doctor saying... 'It looks good, see you in four months.'

Bitter Cold and old dogs

If you want to call it that. I know that when the air temperature outside is -15 at sunrise and it was only get to something like -2 for the high, it was going to take chores time twice as long.

Of course you have to dress very stylishly when it is frigid.

You would not believe how much these goggles save my eyes from feeling windburned.

Morris used to love going out in the snow and yesterday afternoon he jumped and twirled as I pulled on my 'gear' for running water to the stock tanks. I made him stay in the house.
Watering is simple right? 

Nope 150 feet of hose goes to the large heated stock tank. Each section must be taken apart in frigid weather and drained. The hoses are stretched out on the hillsides after they have been drained and ready for the next time.
Which means to prepare one has to drag the hoses into the proper positions and then connect them, melting the leftover ice on the connections with their hands.

After the upper tanks are done, those hoses too are taken apart and laid out after draining.

Late yesterday afternoon when I came in to swap to some dry gloves Morris jumped and whined. Well, it seemed nicer out, so I went back outside with him.

Morris bolted out the door and ran up and down the plowed driveway. I joined him and then hiked over towards the meadow. The strong hearted little dog joined me, leaping into each of my tracks.

Until, when I turned and saw that he had stopped. He was overcome by a fit of shaking and lifted his paw. He turned and started to walk back.

He was having trouble so I scooped him up and unzipped my flannel jacket and stuck him inside. I took my hands out of their gloves and put them on his feet.
He licked my face. Well yuck. He does have some nasty breath.

We sat in the snow for a bit.

And looked back at our trail.

Morris the adventure dog who used to brave all of the elements no matter what, was not as adventurous any more. I had to face that fact.
No longer was he the young jack russell who flew in the face of cold weather and deep snow.

Photo from 4 yrs ago

Maybe he knew more than me. I didn't want him to age. I don't want him to age. 

But I know he spends more and more time on his 'spot' on the couch taking nice long dog naps.

He can hike in good weather, but cold? Not much any more.

He probably has better sense than I do to stay in from the cold.

I know he won't tolerate booties or a coat. So I'm going to let him be the boss of the couch as much as he wants to be.

Mr. Morris, you deserve your spot on the couch. 

And I promise not to try and take you on any cold hikes, but if you insist on coming, I will most certainly make sure that I can carry you inside my coveralls.

I know even old dogs like adventures.

The Home Invader ~by Morris

I had no warning, no notice that I was going to be invaded over the past weekend by a...puppy.  

Surely my very own 'little people' didn't do this on purpose!

The first thing we had to get done was to go for a walk together.  We went to a hay field and decided to get acquainted.

I know people think this is rude, but this is absolutely the quickest way for dogs to get data collection and information about the other dog.
I have yet to see a human use this method to quickly get an idea of what another human has done and other useful information.

It was hot and muggy but both of us felt like romping in the tall grass.  Angel,... the Beagle had much more energy than I did though.

She literally ran circles around me.

Oh the wonders of being a puppy!  Some days I'd like to have that back and then I think I am sure content to sleep on the couch...

When she needed a rest she just flopped down in the grass and took a breather.

Everyone seemed taken by her beautiful face and floppy ears. Okay, she was pretty.  And pretty annoying too. Although outside and off the leashes we had a pretty good time.

I even think she was kind of cute in a way.

She even gave me a... 'kiss' !!!

I guess I liked it, I didn't bite her or even growl.  Maybe I was just too worn out?
We really did enjoy each other's company while hiking. 

Inside the house it is a very different story.  I don't like another dog invading 'my space' and I admit, I think I was jealous that my little people got a little dog of their own.
Hurrumph.

Angel was very well behaved and SHE and Farm Guy were all gooey over her.

I do know that I got worn out...

And she did too!

I heard that Angel and Ariel had to go take a snooze after one of our hikes.

I guess she can come again.  I'll try not to be grouchy about it, but I am an old man set in his ways.
Maybe one day I'll get used to Angel in the house and then again, maybe I won't.

After all if I get too cozey with another dog, I end up having to share with them...

Like this photo of myself and Teslin in 2006...

But Teslin and I have known each other since puppy hood. 
She can be grouchy too.  I guess maybe we have both grown older and grumpier about our dog spaces.

That said, I will do some resting and await Angel's return.
She was pretty nice, even I have to admit that.