What sometimes amazes me is the amazement that Tina, our dog, doesn’t go out of our motor home. She was trained not to leave. The people that go by constantly comment on that fact and are amazed by it. A training manual states that dogs have the intelligence of a four year old. And they can count to four – at least some breeds. We have trained her not only to stay in, but to come when called. But at times she is distracted by birds, dogs, etc. and wants to point or play. One time she was on the beach one early morning and she saw a couple of sandpipers. I could not see them. She was slowly creeping and pointing. I looked at her and said you crazy mutt, you are pointing at rocks! Soon the birds I did not see took off and so did Tina. Unfortunately, she was half way to San Clemente. No matter what I tried, no commands could curtail her enthusiasm to chase those birds. As they stayed close to the sand near the waves, so did Tina. They disappeared into the sunrise over each dune. She kept going until I could not see anymore. So, I being out for a short walk, started walking south, figuring I would catch up to her just before the border. Just then, I caught a glimpse of our motor home heading in the same direction. My wife was attempting to cut her off at the pass but ran out of park and had to stop. She headed out for her yelling for Tina to come. Five minutes later, here comes Tina. Tongue hanging, tuckered and tired, Tina walked slowly to the motor home. Jennifer was yelling Truck! Truck! Tina had been trained to go inside the motor home with that command. I wanted to kill Tina at first, but I knew it was my fault for not having her on the leash. I let her off the leash so she could run around and so she did. Tina was so happy that day. We would love to have the run around like that every day, after all, she is a bird dog. We have found an unconfined space where she can run. Now, dogs walk by on leashes and Tina cries. Is it because she feels so bad for those dogs and wants to tell them where to run?
No comments:
Post a Comment