Once
in a while we will watch a dog or two for a friend or neighbor. It helps our dogs socialize and also helps the
guest dog meet new dogs in a unfamiliar environment. It helps with socialization
for all of the dogs and can come with consequences, some which drives me crazy.
Their
first day or two they are here, everything is new and exhilarating because they
can run free in ten acres of woods and jump into two lakes that are fenced and some of
them certainly take advantage of it. I
guess I’m an old “mother hen” because I want to know where they are at all
times because I am a worrier.
At
times, I couldn’t fine my dogs for what seemed like an eternity and walked this
farm several times looking in what I thought was every nook and crevice with no
luck only to find “Molly” in the mud room sleeping and when I found her, she was glad to see me, but not as much as I
was to see her.
I
don’t mind any dog exploring including my own, but just like my Mom use to say,
“I want to know where you’re at” and “I” want to know where the dogs are too. This can be exhausting at times because they are
out of our house or kennel from 6:30 am to about 11:30 pm. They sleep well with my dogs on the bed,
porch or kennel and it seems to work well and the guest dog become ours during
their stay.
 |
| Xena and Jack after a round of play |
I
do try to take precautions with them such as using “our” name-tag and collar with our contact information and if they are an explorer I have bells that they wear
on their collar. I know it sounds silly
but just like a clock chiming is peaceful, a dog bell collar is also a sweet
sound and can comfort me.
 |
| Jackson with his bell |
This works
well if the dog is moving but can be unnerving if you can’t find the dog or
hear the bell in the woods. This starts
my mind wondering and then I’m on a mission to look for the poor lost soul. Several weeks ago, I couldn’t find a guest
dog after playtime with all of them. All the dogs were
worn out and were asleep on the covered porch under a ceiling
fan. I was surprised that the guest dog
was nowhere to be found. I called and
called but to no avail and I could not see or hear them. I looked in the kennel, walked the farm
twice, looked in the house and garage and things got serious in my mind. I took off my orange Crocks, put on my tennis
shoes and off we were.
 |
| Doc and I ready to start our search |
I starting the
Gator to go out farther and when I was on the other side of the big lake, here
they came, galloping my way as happy as they can be. As angry and scared as anyone can be, it all
vanishes when you see them because you know they are safe. Back
to the house we went and when I saw Elaine, she quickly mentioned “I found
them”, “really” I said, “they came to me on the Gator.” Elaine corrected me and said that as soon as
I started it, they came out from under the porch, apparently from a deep sleep
because of the play time… so… the next time I looked for them, I learned to go
to the Gator, sit in it and start it.
From anywhere on the farm they came just like we do when hearing a
dinner bell…
If
we ever have a lot of guest dogs, I’m going to put different musical bells on
them and teach them a song and we’ll be a hit in the neighborhood… Ken
See
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