If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I could afford a lot more obedience classes! Fortunately Cane loves people and attention. He especially loves kids. During walks, we’re constantly stopped and someone says “what a pretty dog”. Most kids these days seem to have watched enough TV shows about dogs that they know to ask permission before petting a dog. When they do, Cane is happy to oblige. He generally falls over and expects a belly rub.
Once kids get their fill of petting Cane, they usually tell their parents that they want a dog “just like this one”. I laugh inside and just shake my head to let the parents know that this might not be an easy dog to care for. Don’t get me wrong. Cane can be sweet as honey and although he growing on me, he’s still a HUGE time commitment and patience tester.
Cane attracts so much attention that cars have actually pulled over during walks to ask about him. Some ask if he’s a white shepherd but a few recognize him as a husky. Occasionally when people comment on how awesome he is, I joking ask if they want him. That’s usually met with puzzled looks so I say” just kidding” even though in the early days I probably wasn’t.
We’ve had a couple people say that he’s so pretty that they want to steal him. I’ll show them where I live and tell them that one day with him and they’ll be bringing him back tomorrow. Since we’ve had him just over six months now, and he’s made tremendous progress, I guess I should knock off that joke.
As I sit here typing this, he just ran past the back door with a clump of grass in his mouth. So much for contemplating his endearing qualities. I’ll be back after I check for new holes dug and the obligatory evening walk.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Vampiro
Cane gets an evil look when he plays. We call it “Vampiro”. He’s finally learned a little bite inhibition but when you have this looking at you, it’s still freaky…
Boat rides and Cactus
Cane’s family loves boating. So he has to adapt and grow his sea legs. His first boat trip in St. Aug was a little shaky. He couldn’t really balance and was enamored by the splashing water at the back of the boat. Not an ideal vantage point but he was almost hypnotized by the boat’s wake.
We finally find what is believed to be a small island near some condos. Still skeptical of letting Cane off-leash at this point, we head around to see if it connects to the mainland or not. Too bad this doesn’t matter. Cane slips the leash and off he goes. He heads thru the marsh and up to the condos. He is found on a back patio biting at his underside. Closer inspection reveals that he ran through a cactus patch and is covered in prickly pears.
Daddy tries to assist him in removing them but it’s incredibly difficult when Cane is biting you and the thorns are sticking in you as well. With the situation finally under control, the leash is tightened and the return trip begins. Althought short-lived, it was another fun and exciting day with Cane.
As mentioned before, Cane has come to love the boat. He even attempts to climb on it while trailered in the backyard. Can’t wait for summer so Cane can really get the chance to become a “boat dog”. Just have to remember to recon the area for cacti.
We finally find what is believed to be a small island near some condos. Still skeptical of letting Cane off-leash at this point, we head around to see if it connects to the mainland or not. Too bad this doesn’t matter. Cane slips the leash and off he goes. He heads thru the marsh and up to the condos. He is found on a back patio biting at his underside. Closer inspection reveals that he ran through a cactus patch and is covered in prickly pears.
Daddy tries to assist him in removing them but it’s incredibly difficult when Cane is biting you and the thorns are sticking in you as well. With the situation finally under control, the leash is tightened and the return trip begins. Althought short-lived, it was another fun and exciting day with Cane.
As mentioned before, Cane has come to love the boat. He even attempts to climb on it while trailered in the backyard. Can’t wait for summer so Cane can really get the chance to become a “boat dog”. Just have to remember to recon the area for cacti.
Predator Mode
Midnight. Cane wants out. But instead of the usual trip outback, he finds Daddy awake and gets a special walk. Cane’s typical jaunt to the east side of the neighborhood is distracted but a smell on the ground that drags across the road. Cane is incessant on finding out the source of the smell. He has his nose pressed to the ground as he pulls along at the leash almost begging for satisfaction.
As soon as he turns the corner of the wooded buffer zone, there it is; a doe and her fawn. Cane is baffled by what to do so he just sits and stares. He is rigid and almost shaking from anticipation of what’s coming next. The doe sees him and freezes too. There is a stand-off that lasts seconds but seems like forever.
Then the doe summons her fawn and bounds into the bushes. Cane goes berserk for a while and has to be dragged off, then the normal walk follows. What excitement! Cane was on high alert for the remainder of the trip.
This would actually be the first of many wildlife encounters. So is the benefit of living in a neighborhood with a nature buffer zone. Every few weeks we are greeted by deer, armadillos or the occasional possum.
There were a few incidents where he had to be dragged away and one destruction of the mechanism in a retractable leash. But lately Cane has learned that he cannot chase them so now he just sits and watches for a while then trots off with constant “rear-view mirror” checks until a new smell or sound distracts him.
I wonder what he would do if he caught one? [Oh yeah (remembers “monster encounter”)!]
As soon as he turns the corner of the wooded buffer zone, there it is; a doe and her fawn. Cane is baffled by what to do so he just sits and stares. He is rigid and almost shaking from anticipation of what’s coming next. The doe sees him and freezes too. There is a stand-off that lasts seconds but seems like forever.
Then the doe summons her fawn and bounds into the bushes. Cane goes berserk for a while and has to be dragged off, then the normal walk follows. What excitement! Cane was on high alert for the remainder of the trip.
This would actually be the first of many wildlife encounters. So is the benefit of living in a neighborhood with a nature buffer zone. Every few weeks we are greeted by deer, armadillos or the occasional possum.
There were a few incidents where he had to be dragged away and one destruction of the mechanism in a retractable leash. But lately Cane has learned that he cannot chase them so now he just sits and watches for a while then trots off with constant “rear-view mirror” checks until a new smell or sound distracts him.
I wonder what he would do if he caught one? [Oh yeah (remembers “monster encounter”)!]
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