Post by GreyPoopon on Aug 10, 2010 22:47:28 GMT -5
Of my five remaining 98/99 vintage dogs, Betsy is the one who shows her age (11 3/4) the most. She seldom plays, has a chronic slight limp, displays possible early signs of both LS and LP, and her handling of stairs--always problematic--is now frightening.
But Tuesday afternoon she proved that she's still got it.
The Core Four (Perry, Minnie, Betsy, Edie) had been for a brief pee walk, and returned to the yard for a play session. Here are a couple of pics to help you follow the story:
The left side (Betsy lying down and Edie standing):
The right side (Edie's hind end and Minnie):
I was picking up pears under the tree at the top left. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the dogs were on alert near the cedar tree at the bottom of the yard, and I turned to see a small rabbit fly up the right side with all four dogs in hot pursuit. I yelled, "Leave it" to no effect. I lost sight of everybody as they ran up the side of the house. I hoped that the rabbit would reach the hole in the fence near the front. I didn't hear it scream or the dogs snarl, and I heard the dogs returning, so I thought it was safe. By that point, I was in front of the deck near the tree at the top right. The first dog to reappear around the corner was Betsy. She was running. With the rabbit in her mouth.
I wailed, "Oh Betsy", and, as if I were watching a horror movie, put my hands up to my face and briefly closed my eyes. That wasn't going to help, so I reopened my eyes to watch her cross the top of the yard, noting that the rabbit was upright, head on one side of her mouth and tail on the other. I hoped that it had expired instantly, wondered how I'd get it from her, hoped that the others wouldn't compete for it, and so on. As Betsy reached the left side of the yard near the pear tree, I yelled, "Drop it!"
To my surprise, she did. Then, to the amazement of all of us, the rabbit stood and started to run. Unfortunately, it didn't head for the front of the yard where it could escape under the gate. Instead, it raced toward the bottom, right past Minnie, who was under the pear tree, and who immediately started after it, followed by Betsy. Then it crossed the yard just before the mulch area, and in front of Perry and Edie--still at the top right--who joined the chase.
The rabbit made it to the fence less than 10 feet in front of the dogs, slipped under it, and ran across and then up the neighbour's yard to safety.
The dogs ran up and down the fence a few times, doubtless hoping that the rabbit would magically reappear. Eventually I was able to intercept Betsy. She was still vibrating with excitement, but otherwise alright. I hope that if the rabbit had fleas, none managed to leap onto Betsy.
It was clear from how the rabbit ran that it's legs and spine were fine. I hope that it didn't suffer any internal injuries, or expire later from fright.
I'd like to think that living with retrievers (the poodles) had taught Betsy to have a soft mouth, or that learning to retrieve helped her understand how to carry an object without destroying it. But I think the rabbit actually saved it's own life by freezing.
As soon as the excitement was over I got my flashy box out so I could photograph the miscreant.
Here she is, The Great Red Hunter, still pumped:
She soon decided to lie down on the job:
But still keep an eye out for stray rabbits:
"Hark, what's that?"
"OK, OK, you can take a portrait for the Forum."
"I wish I hadn't let that rabbit get away." (She'd dropped it near the red ball.)
I guess I'll just have to watch for another one.
I'm glad Betsy's still got it, but I'm even happier that the rabbit escaped apparently unharmed.
But Tuesday afternoon she proved that she's still got it.
The Core Four (Perry, Minnie, Betsy, Edie) had been for a brief pee walk, and returned to the yard for a play session. Here are a couple of pics to help you follow the story:
The left side (Betsy lying down and Edie standing):
The right side (Edie's hind end and Minnie):
I was picking up pears under the tree at the top left. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the dogs were on alert near the cedar tree at the bottom of the yard, and I turned to see a small rabbit fly up the right side with all four dogs in hot pursuit. I yelled, "Leave it" to no effect. I lost sight of everybody as they ran up the side of the house. I hoped that the rabbit would reach the hole in the fence near the front. I didn't hear it scream or the dogs snarl, and I heard the dogs returning, so I thought it was safe. By that point, I was in front of the deck near the tree at the top right. The first dog to reappear around the corner was Betsy. She was running. With the rabbit in her mouth.
I wailed, "Oh Betsy", and, as if I were watching a horror movie, put my hands up to my face and briefly closed my eyes. That wasn't going to help, so I reopened my eyes to watch her cross the top of the yard, noting that the rabbit was upright, head on one side of her mouth and tail on the other. I hoped that it had expired instantly, wondered how I'd get it from her, hoped that the others wouldn't compete for it, and so on. As Betsy reached the left side of the yard near the pear tree, I yelled, "Drop it!"
To my surprise, she did. Then, to the amazement of all of us, the rabbit stood and started to run. Unfortunately, it didn't head for the front of the yard where it could escape under the gate. Instead, it raced toward the bottom, right past Minnie, who was under the pear tree, and who immediately started after it, followed by Betsy. Then it crossed the yard just before the mulch area, and in front of Perry and Edie--still at the top right--who joined the chase.
The rabbit made it to the fence less than 10 feet in front of the dogs, slipped under it, and ran across and then up the neighbour's yard to safety.
The dogs ran up and down the fence a few times, doubtless hoping that the rabbit would magically reappear. Eventually I was able to intercept Betsy. She was still vibrating with excitement, but otherwise alright. I hope that if the rabbit had fleas, none managed to leap onto Betsy.
It was clear from how the rabbit ran that it's legs and spine were fine. I hope that it didn't suffer any internal injuries, or expire later from fright.
I'd like to think that living with retrievers (the poodles) had taught Betsy to have a soft mouth, or that learning to retrieve helped her understand how to carry an object without destroying it. But I think the rabbit actually saved it's own life by freezing.
As soon as the excitement was over I got my flashy box out so I could photograph the miscreant.
Here she is, The Great Red Hunter, still pumped:
She soon decided to lie down on the job:
But still keep an eye out for stray rabbits:
"Hark, what's that?"
"OK, OK, you can take a portrait for the Forum."
"I wish I hadn't let that rabbit get away." (She'd dropped it near the red ball.)
I guess I'll just have to watch for another one.
I'm glad Betsy's still got it, but I'm even happier that the rabbit escaped apparently unharmed.