I’m small, I’m small.
Zekie thinks, if it’s ok for the cat, it must be ok for me too. I want to see out the window. At times this boy is frustrating, but he makes me laugh.
Tag Archives: Dogs
Geese Begone
Zekie has indeed found his calling. Our neighbor phoned again yesterday and said the geese were back and would I come over again with the dogs. It took us longer to walk next door than it did for Zekie to run the geese off! Baxter came along to supervise and leave extra canine scent.
As we approached the pond, I reached down and slipped Zekie’s collar and leash off. I don’t leave them on just in case he should get tangled in some weeds under the water. The birds were on the water swimming but Zekie immediately ran at them and into the water just far enough to drive one out on the opposite shore. Then Zekie got out of the water and sprinted to the opposite side of the pond. The goose on the shore and the one still in the water took flight and were gone, honking their displeasure as they left.
Zekie didn’t even go after them. He knew his job was done and he should stay near me. He check out a nearby shed but still stayed nearby. He looked so proud. He knows he was a good boy.
A Proud Moment
Zekie was a good boy yesterday. Here he is, resting up.
Zekie has a new job. He chases geese off of our neighbor’s pond! Our neighbor called on Thursday to ask if I could come over with a dog and try chasing the Canada Geese from her pond. My husband had spoken with her previously and suggested it. He knew I would be happy to give it a try. So, I took Baxter and Zekie over to see what we could do.
I knew that Baxter was the most obedient of the two, but Zekie had the intensity that I thought might be needed for the job. Both dogs enjoyed running the perimeter of the pond. I kept instructing them to “get those geese” and pointing at the birds.
Walking around, I could see why our neighbor wanted to be rid of the birds. That was a lot of poop! She had already tried a pair of swan decoys, to no avail.
The dogs seemed to catch on to the idea, but the geese swam into the water and kept away from us. The dogs both went in the water up to their ankles, but that was it. We finally gave up and went home. We reported to our neighbor that we didn’t have much luck and she thanked us for trying.
On Monday, our neighbor called and asked if I could bring the dogs back. Turns out that the geese left later on the day we had been there and the pond was goose-free for a few days. We thought maybe just the scent of the dogs had keep the birds away. So after lunch, I leashed up Zekie, and took him and Baxter for our second attempt at goose removal. Baxter doesn’t need a leash. He responds to voice commands.
Baxter didn’t have much interest in the geese this time, but he did enjoy running around the pond. When I let Zekie loose and told him “get those geese” and pointed, he began frantically circling the bank and jumped in the water up to his knees. I keep praising and encouraging him to get the geese. I could tell after a few repetitions that he had figured out what we were doing. Zekie kept running the shore to where the geese were and jumping in the water towards the birds!
Finally Zekie jumped in the water up to his shoulders and the geese took flight! Our neighbor was on her deck near the house and began clapping. The geese flew away toward the tree line and Zekie chased them the entire way. They crossed the tree line and flew out of sight. Zekie was still chasing them at a full sprint. Finally, he reached the trees, and realized I was calling him and turned to start back. He had the biggest smile of joy on his face.
I knew Zekie’s intensity would have a use. We only had to find it.
Watch Dog
Zekie got the loft bed, while Cassius got the lower bunk.
Zekie was happy with his location. He could see out the window to bark at the mailman when needed. He could also watch birds on the feeder and keep an eye on passing traffic.
Although that energy expended on being a watch dog apparently tired him out.
Good Dog
Dog parking lot.
Everybody is tired after their walk. Nikki, in the back row, didn’t even walk.
A tired dog, is a good dog.
What To Do?
What do I do when I’m staying at home to avoid the coronavirus? The same things I normally do!
We walked dogs of course. That goes without saying.
But I also baked bread. This was a Pinterest recipe for Italian bread. I wanted something a little heartier, so I replaced one of the cups of flour with whole wheat flour.
It was quite delicious, especially warm from the oven with butter and strawberry-rhubarb jelly.
Sharing
This is the first time I have ever seen Nikki and Zekie sharing a bed.
Nikki is our oldest dog and Zekie is our youngest. Nikki is also our least active dog, while Zekie is a hyper wild child. Normally they ignore each other. This afternoon they went to lay on the bed at the same time and apparently decided to share.
Afternoon Recess
Afternoon Recess-Cassius, Zekie, & Shelby
Playground Attendant-Shelby
Goofy New Kid-Claire
Class Clown-Cassius
Seniority Has It’s Priveleges
Seniority has its privileges.
Nikki sleeps upstairs in our bedroom now. She previously slept downstairs with the other dogs.
Only Zekie slept upstairs with us. He sleeps in a crate. We moved him upstairs only because he carried on so terribly due to his separation anxiety that we couldn’t sleep. Once he moved to a crate next to me, he sleeps like a baby.
Nikki has been barking to wake us up at first light recently. It started when foster dog Claire arrived. Claire was getting us up and then Nikki followed suit. Claire doesn’t get us up as early now. But Nikki is still trying.
Nikki has only minimal hearing left, so you can’t yell at her to be quiet. She barks, then stops to listen. Hearing nothing, she barks again. And so on. Since moving upstairs a few days ago, she has been quiet.
Ah, the joys of having a senior dog. I wouldn’t trade them for anything!
Banana Time!
This is what happens in our house when someone tries to eat a banana.
You must pay the banana tax to the canine collectors.
Orange Kitty (the big O.K.) remains unconcerned.
Sanctuary Acres 