Alternate Title: Ignore the Signs at Your Peril (that your day may not go well)
Yesterday was a rare day that my hubby got up at 5am with the dogs and I was able to fall back asleep. That should be a good thing, right? But instead I found it difficult to wake up before he left for work and I had a headache. It was one of my stay at home days and I didn’t have any bookkeeping work, so I was free to blog and do chores around the house. But first of all, I planned to take Luke for a run, and then Sheba for a walk. I don’t let headaches slow me down unless they’re really bad. I’ve been suffering with them for years and I just can’t give in to them.
Before heading out I decided to drink some coffee and have a bite to eat, and sat at the computer while doing so. I got into my email and saw a post was up from Heart Like a Dog. Jodi always has a good story to tell, and this one was titled “What Do You Do When Accosted by Off-Leash Dogs?” This is something I’ve dealt with and am interested in. I left a comment saying that I’ve experienced that with Cricket but don’t have to worry about it very often around here. That’s Sign #1. Clearly, I forgot to knock wood (and that’s not exactly what happens).
I was halfway down the driveway when I looked at my feet and realized I put the wrong shoes on, not my running shoes. The girls were already howling when we left, so I didn’t want to go back and change them. It wouldn’t hurt me this one time I’m sure (no, the shoes didn’t). That’s Sign #2. As Luke and I head out, I noticed that our neighbor across the street had tied out his German shepherd, Whisker. Whisker is an old guy, a rescue dog, and Wayne likes to let him sit out front and watch the world go by sometimes. He always barks at us, lunges a bit, but Wayne will come right out and take him in the house when he does so. That’s exactly what he did this time. I had hesitated and considered taking Luke the other way, but decided to keep heading down to the rail trail for our run.
We were on the road for a short way, then there is a short trail through the woods and we emerged on the rail trail, with the option of going right or left. I choose left, but we didn’t get very far before I saw a deer sitting on the trail watching us. I didn’t want Luke to see the deer, because when he sees them in our yard he usually barks and carries on. That’s Sign #3. So we turned around and headed the other way, no problem. Luke was pokey and wouldn’t listen to me, even when offered treats. He definitely needs some work, but we jogged off and on with me coaching him by saying “run” when he’d pick up the pace. We didn’t go as far as I’d hoped since he wasn’t very cooperative and were soon headed back up our street. I was ready to pick up the pace at the top of the hill in case Whisker was back out again.
That didn’t help. Whisker was tied to what I think is an old truck tire rim, and guess what? That old dog can drag that thing and he dragged it right across the street because he really wanted to see Luke and me. I had no idea how either one of them was going to be, and here’s a big dog running across the street at us (I know Jodi can appreciate this) and I started freaking out. Now, I think Luke was more scared of the noise from the tire rim than Whisker, and I was just trying to hold on to his leash to keep him from bolting. Yes, of course, down I went. So there I am sprawled on the ground (feel free to laugh at that image, I was not hurt, having landed in the grass), Whisker was trying to see Luke, and thank goodness neither of them was looking for a fight. I think Luke did emit a growl but since I was yelling to my neighbor, he had come running out by then. Next thing I see as I’m getting up is that Luke has twisted himself out of his harness. Hey, I held on to the leash, for all the good that did!
Now I’m panicking because Luke is loose, and there is traffic going by (I’m pretty sure they all saw what was going on and slowed way down though). I was convinced that Luke was going to take off (his recall is not that great yet), and terrified he’ll get hit by a car, or run away. I’m just praying that since we’re so close to home that if he runs he’ll just run up our driveway. Now, this could be the first thing that went right that day….Luke didn’t run! He stayed right there and waited for me. I was able to get right to him and he followed me up our driveway, staying right with me. Clearly, he was way less traumatized than I was.
We got back in the house and he and Sheba started romping around….next thing I know Luke steps in our nice new water fountain dish (seen here) and sends water everywhere! It’s broken and I’m so disappointed, we really love it. I should go back to bed now, right? Or at least sit down and have a good cry? No, I’m a trooper (or just plain stubborn). I mop up the spilled water, get everyone settled down, and take Sheba for a walk. My hand was a bit sore from the leash rubbing on it (I ended up with one small scrape and cut and I think that’s it), but I didn’t even stop to clean it. I’ve been slacking off lately on running and walking, and I had decided this week that it was time to get back into it. It’s been such a bad year for ticks, and we finally got them under control in our yard. Every time I’d take anyone out of the yard, they’d come back with ticks. I was just tired of dealing with it, and the dogs love playing in the yard anyway.
However, I know it’s good for them to have a change of scenery, and some variety in their exercise (and I need more exercise too). Usually by mid-summer the ticks are better because it gets drier or they go deeper into the woods or something. I had taken Cricket running already this week, and I was damned if anything was going to stop me now from Sheba getting her turn. So take that, bad day! You didn’t defeat me! Just to be on the safe side we did, however, stay home the rest of the day.
BTW: My neighbor did come over shortly afterwards to make sure I was OK. He’s a nice guy and really did feel bad.
No one ever said trying to stay fit with your dogs would always be easy, right? 🙂
We are happy to be joining our blog hop hosts SlimDoggy, To Dog With Love and MyGBGVLife. Please visit their sites and others through the links below to learn more about keeping your dogs fit and happy!
Wow that’s some serious tenacity! Congrats for sticking it out, I probably would have done the same! Love Dolly
Thanks! We just can’t let the bad things win, right? And it could have been far worse too, so knowing that helped to keep me going as well. 🙂
So glad that everything turned out ok! Yay for Luke staying with Mom! 🙂
Thanks, Sheryl. Luke can certainly be a good boy when he wants to!
Oh poor you. What a day. I’m glad you weren’t hurt and Luke stayed by your side what a good young boy. Guess you shouldn’t stay in bed.
There is a reason Ben Franklin said “early to rise”, right? I am just so grateful that Luke was such a good boy!
That’s way more excitement than anyone needs to handle in a single day, glad it turned out okay. I’m sorry I laughed a little picturing everything going on.
That’s quite all right. As long as it ended well I can laugh about it now too!
Glad you guys are okay! I think I would have gone back to bed!
Thanks!! Next time I will heed the signs, and do so. 🙂
Or just not get up at all….LOL!
Mama doesn’t let us sleep in, ever! Wooo!
Ah, Mom is an early riser then, huh? That is definitely a good thing! The dogs never sleep in, but they do get up, have breakfast, and then come back to bed with their lazy Mom!
Some days you’re the bug and others you’re the windshield! ☺ ALWAYS knock on wood!! I’m glad that your neighbor is a nice guy, but seriously…he ties his dog outside to a truck tire rim?!?! BOL!! That is not the best idea in the world of dog teethering! ☺☺
I know, so true! He told me that usually the sound of that behind him would make Whisker stop running if he tried to. I guess he learned that’s not true! I do hope he’s going to come up with a better idea now.
I’m usually good about knocking wood….I am superstitious about tempting fate, and all this reminded me of why! 🙂
Holy crap, I couldn’t laugh, I just couldn’t. I sat here reading with my hand over my mouth. I would have freaked out too (well you already know that. LOL) I’m glad it all worked out well for you. Who would have thought an old dog could drag a tire rim!!
Thanks for the shout out too. 🙂 BTW I think you do have something for the Round Robin, Kobi. What you did for him, what choices you made, those are relevant. 🙂 No pressure though, I just don’t want you thinking you have nothing to contribute.
I think Whisker’s Dad was pretty shocked that he dragged that tire rim too! I’m just so relieved that Whisker is a friendly old guy. He’s blind in one eye….as I was laying on the ground I could see that!
Oh, I hadn’t even thought about Kobi for the Round Robin, thank you so much for what you said about that. Since he wasn’t really ill for long I didn’t think of it, but there certainly are a lot of decisions and choices to be made when you have a senior pet, especially towards the end like that. I will think about it for sure.
I’m really sorry, but I couldn’t help but laugh a little! We had several similar situations with our first dog, Kaeto. We kind of tend to make a fool of ourselves in those situations!
That’s quite OK that you laughed! We never look good when we’re freaking out or panicking, right? Not our best side for sure! It all ended well so that’s all that matters, we can laugh about those things afterwards. 🙂
Wow, I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit at trying to imagine all of this going on. But good work being a good boy Luke! You doggies always like to keep us people on our toes with adventures and mischief lol.
That’s for sure! There’s never a dull moment when you have pets! I am proud of Luke for doing so well, and on the other hand, embarrassed that people drove by and saw me sprawled out on the ground…LOL!
I would have taken it as a sign to go back to bed lol. Is the harness Luke slipped his old one? I think I remember you talking about he gets out of his harness and were looking for a new one. The ruffwear webmaster (while pricy!) is pretty escape-proof.
Thank you for remembering that! It was actually Cricket that happened with, but they all have the same type of harness (step-in). I was going to ask for recommendations, but my post had already gotten so long I decided to wait for another time. I will check the ruffwear one out for sure.
UGH!!!! What a day!!! Good for you to keep going though! Way to be!
I have days like that…..probably more often then I should. They are definitely a pain, and miserable! But I applaud you for continuing on! Thank DOG Luke didn’t run away! That was a wonderful part of the story!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
That was definitely the best part….I’m so proud of our young boy!!
I expect to have bad days when I have to work….not when I’m lucky enough to be able to be at home! LOL
I know the feeling! But you just got to roll with the punches and know a really good day is on it’s way.
If they were all good days, we’d have nothing to gauge it by, and we’d probably get bored!
A good day to have stayed in bed. It’s funny how once one thing goes wrong, it just keeps going downhill. Glad you’re okay and good boy Luke! Thanks for joining the Hop!
I know, I am so proud of Luke for staying with me! That was my only saving grace for the day I think! (that and the fact that Whisker was friendly).
Glad to join the hop!
Some days are just like that…one bad thing/sign after another and we all just want to go back to bed. Mom has had us come out of our collars while running many times. She thinks it shocks us to be without a collar and in that instance she can grab us back. We always have our collars on outside, so we don’t like not wearing them. Now we always run with a chain choke collar. No, it isn’t used to choke us at all, but if we get scared and bolt, it will stop us. It rarely happens, but gives Mom piece of mind. We almost always run in heel position, so it flops around loosely. Thanks for joining the FitDog Friday blog hop!
Our dogs hate it when we take off their collars as well. I definitely need to come up with another plan…these harnesses are just not working.
Glad to join the hop, even though I got a little bit off the subject of staying fit! 🙂
Oh my! What a day. Glad everything turned out ok. I know it’s just a fountain but I’m bummed about that. Can it be fixed? Most importantly, of course, you and the pups are ok.
I know, I’m really bummed about the fountain too. My hubby thinks maybe he can fix it, but where it’s broken, I just don’t know. It’s the bowl itself that’s broken where the post is and when I looked quickly it didn’t look like I could replace just that part. But I’m going to email the company and find out for sure.
I am glad it all turned out and you sure are a trooper.
Thunder used to pull me over regularly when he was a pup. He didn’t mean it. He is just so strong and if he wants to go somewhere, he will. One time was into a snow bank, but like you…I held that leash! That is when I adopted the “all dogs must remain strictly at heel when I walk them” policy. It helps that hubby works on moving them in the show ring where they hold roughly the heel position even while moving at a faster pace.
My hubby is supposed to be working with Luke on his heel. He just won’t listen to me when we walk, even with treats! I think we need to go back to the beginning on that command for sure.
That is definitely more excitement than anyone needs in one day! Glad that everything turned out relatively ok in the end, though.
It certainly was! All’s well that ends well, right? It could have been far, far worse for sure.
You are a trooper. I may have just gone back to bed. LOL.
That probably would have been the better plan! Though by the time I considered that I think it was too late! LOL