|
Post by dobermoms on Oct 15, 2013 20:12:09 GMT -5
Happy Thanksgiving.....and here and at the Lake the weather was gorgeous...sunny, warm thru the day and cool nights perfect for campfires.....perfection!
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Nov 28, 2013 20:46:38 GMT -5
Our Adventure with a Coyote
Whoa! Just Jack and I on today's hike. At dusk, we were coming back down the trail when I saw what I thought was a playful young GSD bounce into a clearing about a hundred paces ahead of us. Jack, who was off lead and was motoring along about 20 ft. ahead of me, saw her, too, and immediately went down into his prey crouch. Expecting the dog's owner to show up, I said "plaatz" to reinforce his down, and he stayed down (good boy!) while I caught up and hooked up his lead.
By that point, I had realized that the animal wasn't a GSD. It was a coyote. And when I looked up after attaching the lead, I realized that she was still there. Just sitting in the clearing watching us. When we started to move forward, she ran back across the trail and disappeared into the woods.
Needless to say, Jack was on high alert. Me, I wasn't scared, but I was a little spooked. Night was falling quickly, and it was eerie to walk the rest of the trail wondering if the coyote was watching us from the woods. Jack was certainly convinced that something was there.
|
|
|
Post by Andreina on Nov 28, 2013 21:27:11 GMT -5
OMG Dyanne!!! Creepy... glad u guys are ok. Good boy Jack for listening to mom!
|
|
|
Post by dobermoms on Nov 29, 2013 6:32:38 GMT -5
Very lucky Dyanne....where's there one, there was a pack for sure. She was just the lure to get Jack to go off the chosen path. We now have a dog repellent spray just for the very same experience you just had. Kerrie, Dante and little 6-8 month old Kazi ran into a pack one day, mid afternoon, and it scared Kerrie to the core of her body. They were safe, but we called Kazi "lunchmeat" for a few weeks afterwards, because that's what she would have been.
|
|
|
Post by susanw on Nov 29, 2013 9:40:45 GMT -5
Good job Dyanne. We have lots of coyotes and some wolves in our area. People have reported being confronted by coyotes in one of the conservation areas, that I no longer frequent for that reason. The true wolves keep to themselves and never approach but we have seen evidence of at least one coyote living along our rail-trail.
I walk Quin early in the morning, often with one of the regular dog walkers, but always after the sun is over the horizon and never alone at dusk. Now that snow is on the ground it's much easier to see their tracks and monitor their comings and goings, but it isn't dense bush and visibility is very good on both sides.
Had never actually seen a coyote myself until 2 weeks ago when I was hiking with a friend and her 2 dogs along the Bruce Trail. I just happened to glance up and saw one dash across the trail about 50m ahead of us. The dogs were behind us and never sensed it's presence (Quin was goofing off with his "girlfriend" as per usual) It had completely disappeared when we got to the spot I'd last seen it.
I would never consider hiking those more remote trails by myself with just Quin. There is safety in numbers plus I carry a good pair of pointy walking poles in the winter so coyotes be warned . . .lol.
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Nov 29, 2013 23:13:24 GMT -5
I'm a little nervous of coyotes but not really afraid. We've had several encounters (once with a huge one -- obviously a coyote-wolf hybrid), though this is the first one when I’ve been on my own. This little girl (don't know why I think she was a girl, just a feeling) was actually quite cute and playful. Don't think she even knew we were there till she heard me yell "plaatz" at Jack. But yes, the thought that others were probably around made me feel a little spooked, and Jack was certainly behaving as if there was something in the woods.
Lots of deer and foxes around this year, so I wasn't surprised to see a coyote -- and I expect we'll see more. All this said, though, I'll be happy when the days start getting longer. At this time of year, we move the time of our afternoon hike ahead, but if we're delayed at all (and we usually are), it's dusk by the time we head back down the trail.
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Dec 3, 2013 12:25:44 GMT -5
The Brief (We Hope) Return of Jack, the Brat
Pride goeth before a fall. LOL. Just as Bill and I were getting smug about Jack's good behaviour, he pulled another Jack-the-Brat trick last night.
We were watching TV, with Jack, as usual, snuggled up on the floor next to Bill, who had placed a lovely big white-chocolate-macadamia-nut cookie on the stool beside him. Jack decided it was time to get up for his before-bed potty break, but he was also extremely interested in the cookie. Still, when Bill told him to leave it, he did -- though with more reluctance than usual. He REALLY wanted that cookie.
So Jack went off for his potty break. But then, he couldn't resist. With business finished, he tore back into the house and did a total fly-by, barely pausing as he raced past the stool, grabbed the cookie and headed for the landing on the stairs, where he nearly choked in his haste to scarf it down before Bill caught up to him.
From my chair, all I saw was a flash of black and rust. I didn't even have time to bellow -- and besides, I was laughing too hard. We both were. Little brat!
|
|
|
Post by Andreina on Dec 3, 2013 21:04:34 GMT -5
Hahahahhaha I can picture that Dyanne.
Unfortunately that's a regular occurrence here with miss piggy!! It's funny how "sorry" they sometimes look after but just couldn't resist.
|
|
|
Post by dobermoms on Dec 4, 2013 5:53:39 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that Jack is back. After all, it is the Christmas season and is the time of sharing with eachother....right Jack?
Give him a big hug and kiss....
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Dec 5, 2013 22:31:34 GMT -5
Yes, Jack certainly has a way of reminding us not to get smug.
But Miss Piggy? Awwww, poor Scarlet. LOL.
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Feb 20, 2014 18:05:10 GMT -5
Another little Jack story
Jack is very fastidious about poop. His own, another dog's . . . it doesn't matter. He avoids poop at all costs. Just says, "Eee-ew!" and takes a big detour around it. With all the snow we've had this year, he has a trail blazed through the backyard, and he likes to stick to this path he has made. He likes his path so much that yesterday morning, that's where he pooped. Right in the middle of the trail, about halfway down the yard. And we didn't rush outside to pick it up immediately.
Then, late last night, Jack was agitating at the back door, so we knew that some kind of critter was outside. And sure enough, when Bill finally let him out, he charged down the path to the end of the yard, barking all the way. He soon stopped, though, and calmed down. But when he decided to make his way back to the house, he realized that in his enthusiasm to get at the critter, he had charged right past the poop, which now stood between him and the house. Uh, oh! No way was he going to walk past that poop. So he stood outside on the path and yarked and whined at us for help. No amount of encouragement would persuade him to come in.
I finally had to throw on a pair of boots, go outside and blaze a new trail through the snow and around the poop. Otherwise, I think Jack would have spent the night in the yard. And yes, today we picked up the poop. What a huge baby we have! LOL.
|
|
|
Post by Dobereich on Feb 22, 2014 1:49:24 GMT -5
Another little Jack storyJack is very fastidious about poop. His own, another dog's . . . it doesn't matter. He avoids poop at all costs. Just says, "Eee-ew!" and takes a big detour around it. With all the snow we've had this year, he has a trail blazed through the backyard, and he likes to stick to this path he has made. He likes his path so much that yesterday morning, that's where he pooped. Right in the middle of the trail, about halfway down the yard. And we didn't rush outside to pick it up immediately. Then, late last night, Jack was agitating at the back door, so we knew that some kind of critter was outside. And sure enough, when Bill finally let him out, he charged down the path to the end of the yard, barking all the way. He soon stopped, though, and calmed down. But when he decided to make his way back to the house, he realized that in his enthusiasm to get at the critter, he had charged right past the poop, which now stood between him and the house. Uh, oh! No way was he going to walk past that poop. So he stood outside on the path and yarked and whined at us for help. No amount of encouragement would persuade him to come in. I finally had to throw on a pair of boots, go outside and blaze a new trail through the snow and around the poop. Otherwise, I think Jack would have spent the night in the yard. And yes, today we picked up the poop. What a huge baby we have! LOL. OMG, I don't know if Jack would be happy that you told on him. LOL. I miss that boy, can't wait for spring so we can get the gang together.
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Mar 13, 2014 13:47:49 GMT -5
Happy birthday, G-litter!!!
Jack and the G-litter pups are five years old today. Jack the Brat sends his congratulations and best wishes to Cynder, Tyrion, and all his sibs.
Jack, there were times when we figured we'd murder you before you ever made it to five months, let alone five years . . . but here you are! And what a wonderful boy you have become. Long may you run, Little One!
Pix with his special present to come.
|
|
|
Post by hooligan on Jul 19, 2014 22:22:47 GMT -5
Count on Jack to make a liar of me. Just today, I was talking to someone about her incorrigible counter-surfer -- and I remarked with some pride that Jack doesn't counter-surf. Well, you can guess, I'm sure, what happened next. Little bum.
Bill had popped out to run an errand, and while he was gone, I made us some sandwiches, which I set on plates that I pushed to the back of the counter to await his return. Then I set out Jack's dinner, which I thought he was happily eating while I went into the family room to make a quick phone call. Got off the phone to hear a tell-tale thud in the kitchen. Jack had decided that Bill's ham and cheese on ciabattas were MUCH more interesting than his own dinner. And somehow he managed to reach all the way to the back of the counter to grab them and scarf them down.
So of course, I now realize that the reason Jack doesn't counter-surf isn't because we have taught him not to but because we make sure he doesn't have the opportunity. Most of the time. But it sure doesn't pay to get cocky! LOL.
|
|
|
Post by susanw on Jul 20, 2014 13:19:26 GMT -5
Oh Dyanne that's too funny. But you're right. Just when you think you can let your guard down the little monkeys remind you how smart and resourceful they are.
Happy birthday to Jack and all his siblings.
|
|