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Today the rain fell sometimes fast
and sometimes slow. I am resigned to walking four dogs in the rain
without an umbrella. I am not resigned to each dog having its own idea
about what to do in the rain.
As a clever maneuver, I thought I will walk two at a time. We always
march out together and it is bedlam for the first 5 minutes. Sometimes
the entire walk can be an unhappy event for me. Oh well, they have to go
for their walk.
Round one of the walk started with the two seniors, Rosie and Sam. When
Sam realized he was missing the other two, he clamped down. Most of the
time, I can budge him or cajole him into cooperating. No dice today. It
took 15 minutes to walk a few hundred yards. He just kept clamping and
looking back to our house. I finally gave up and he happily trotted
home. No time to do anything important ...
Round two - thought I would take all four. No dice. Sam just would not
go. He had a bouvier bee in his bonnet.
Round three - thought I would take the two youngsters, Portia and Gus.
Nope, they would not go without Rosie.
Round four - Portia, Gus, Rosie and I finally make it out the back door.
By this time, I had knocked off my hat and the sky had cleared a bit. So
I thought, I just cannot go back. Must push forward. We were out for
about 5 minutes when it started to pour. We push onward.
Gus decided to really act out and leap up at any rustling. It did not
matter if he could see a squirrel or cat or whatever. He just reared up
like a wild bronco. We pushed onward.
No one is doing anything but being disagreeable. I kept reminding them
that walking is part poopie mission. No response.
Finally, we turned and started to see our street again. I feel like
maybe I will arrive home with only a drenched head and raincoat. We push
onward.
Got home and could not wait to dry everyone and use the dryer on myself.
A little while later, the dogs go outside. Gus escapes. He is an amazing
athlete. My husband cannot figure out his method. My neighbor stopped by
and offered his help. We scanned the neighborhood thoroughly. No Gus.
I knew Gus is familiar with the streets we use and the smells of various
neighbor's yards where we have visited. I had to hope and pray. The
escape was at 8:30 AM.
Throughout the morning, I went out and toured the neighborhood. With the
last tour, I left my station wagon rear door
open. While I was eating lunch in the garden room where I have a good
view of the car, I saw this charcoal grey flash running and jumping into
the car. It kept happening. I realized it was Gus. It is 1:30 PM. I am
relieved but not happy. Gus is happy.
I felt like reading Gus the riot act. I put the leash on him. Reviewed
the dirt, turned on the hose and washed him down. He enjoyed the wash
and rub down afterwards.
So I had a bad Bouvier day. I
would rather have [had] a bad hair day.
Maureen Buck and her loving pack which needs some sunshine. |
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