Squirrel Dogs

Having dogs is not much different than having adolescents around the manse.  They eat, sleep and won't listen.  Fortunately dogs, not having opposable thumbs, never ask for money or car keys.

In our neighborhood are half a dozen Lion Dogs, all, save ours, prissy, well groomed grandma dogs while our wild beasts masquerade as sweet dogs.  Neighbors now cross the street when they see us coming.  It doesn't help that we keep odd hours.  Letting dogs out at 2am is not endearing.

Our monsters are hunter gatherers.  They chase everything, especially squirrels.  When you are a Shih Tzu chasing squirrels is about the best fun you can have. Lion Dogs tilt their heads almost 90 degrees, so looking up trees while squirrels taunt them is a great game.    Comparatively, chasing deer is work.

After years of trying, Charley finally captured a squirrel yesterday.  She was like a cat with a mouse, so proud of herself, head high, tail up, until I made her release it.  Every time she has been out since she runs to where she let the squirrel go hoping it has returned to play. It hasn't and Charley hasn't talked to me since.

Toad

A dogs life

If pressed, my darling daughter would happily aver that her father and bonus mother were not condo people.  I would have agreed until we tried it. The transition has been difficult for the dogs. As I've repeatedly explained to our geriatric neighbors, the dogs are like children, moving is new and we cannot explain what is happening to them, they are scared when left alone. Give them a time and they'll adjust, and so it has come to pass.

What has been difficult for Mrs. T and I has been our transition to responsible dog owners. In days past we opened the door, tossed the dogs outside and left them to fend for themselves. That's no longer an option. Now it's Toad, 2 leashes and a pick up bag, rain or shine several times per day and upon command.  My bride frequently reminds me that the dogs are my problem if it is dark, cold, inclement or inconvenient  It could be worse, it's not cold yet.

The monsters still tell time and the younger begins my day with a cold nose and wet tongue licking my ear at 8 am. Since we are up and dressed to go outside at that unseemly hour we've decided to take a walk before breakfast. It is the walk which makes the whole dog in a condo thing worth doing.

In the matter of several days we decided upon our route. If we cross the street and cut through one dodge a walking trail awaits us. The trail circles the neighborhood lake, veers to the right and

takes us to the local copy of Seward Johnson's statue The Awakening. The path then circles back home. It's exactly a one mile walk.

On a treadmill its a 8-10 minute walk. Without a dog maybe 12, one dog 15 minutes, 2 dogs 30 minutes. The perfect way to start a day.  The process is repeated at 4:30 pm.

Toad