My latest adventure is that my landlords are away in Hawaii and I am looking after their dog. Which is a learning experience for a person with two cats. My prior experience with dogs was on a farm where they looked after themselves and except for a cold-nose-on-your-leg reminder when the food dish was empty, were happy to go their own way.
City dogs need: medicine, food and water, walking, kenneling and bedding down at night.
Arrow and I went out for our first walk on Tuesday. I took the short leash because I hate those extendable ones that don't really control the dog. Turns out he is pretty good on the leash, so we went further than I anticipated (How long do you walk a dog for? He'll go as long as you want). Arrow is a mid- to large-size rescue with long hair that is stripped down his back. I've never seen a dog with stripes, like a zebra or big cat. Looks shepherdish. Doesn't bark and sits on command, I was pleased to find out.
Since the snow from Monday was gone, I tackled a climb I've been meaning to make up a steep hill. It was strange to have a four footed critter attached to my arm, even stranger that he moves faster than I do - especially up that hill. I am just getting my summer hiking legs back, so was huffing and puffing and needing to rest the screaming calves. Arrow just charged up the trail, pausing only at my commands to "Slow down!" He'd give me a few seconds to catch my breath, then head uphill again. "Sit!" I'd bark, but the joke was on me, the hill was too steep for him to sit.
It wasn't pretty, but we made it up. I was pleased I recovered my breath as fast as I did. For sure I would not have taken it that fast on my own.
And I have two weeks to get my legs back so I won't have to yell at Arrow. Maybe even pass him, or keep up.
In just a few days, I have found him a quiet, handy companion. He flushed some deer yesterday that I didn't see in the woods. He didn't bark, just stopped to look and off they went, their white behinds waving like flags in the trees. I thought I was being very alert watching for cougars in the area. Apparently not.
Good dog.
Another great adventure brought to me by Life.
May we all have many.
SLI
