Aussies are a very social breed.
You might think I’m about to write about the wickedly fast and outgoing athletes that frequent the Boulder area during our summer but I’m not. I’m referring to the four legged variety, Australian Shepherds. I have the fortune and sometimes misfortune of living with one. Jake, my Aussie, is the greatest running partner I’ve ever had and if you so much as pick up a pair of running shoes he’ll be all over you till you get at least 5 miles in.
In the winter several compounding issues cause my roommate and I to butt heads on occasion. One is the sun goes down early and it gets cold enough that I’m not all that keen on running when I get home from work. Jake gives me the look but when the TV goes on he knows it aint happening. The other problem is that snow piles up over the fence and he can walk right out of the yard whenever it suits him. If Jake gets bored he’ll venture out to see what’s up in the neighborhood.
Last night when I got home I noticed a ton of dog tracks all over the yard. Something had gone on and by the look of it there were more than a few culprits. It wasn’t much different inside the house. You can imagine the classic scene were parents come home to find their kids had thrown a raging party. Stuff was everywhere…every garbage can in the house had been emptied to the floor, all the pillows had been pulled off the furniture and the bed sheets were stripped off. I knew there was some socializing going on but had no idea it was to the point they were organizing events! Once the snow gets high enough most dogs in the neighborhood have the same opportunistic freedom as fences are no longer effective means of confinement. I’ve got dog doors into the garage and house so once the fence has been neutralized access to the house is a breeze.
I got everything picked up and noticed some stuff was missing. I ended up finding a blanket half way down the block. I’m baffled as to how a dog could pull a large blanket through two dog doors, over a fence and 100 yards down the street. I’m still on the lookout for some clothes. Why would a four legged animal steal a pair of pants?
In a related incident last year I woke up in the middle of the night by the sound of something walking around in the house. Jake had uncharacteristically hopped up on the bed and was sleeping with me. You can imagine my surprise when I flipped on the light to find out it was Jake walking around and the neighbor’s golden retriever had snuck in and decided to take a nap…in my bed, while I was in it! I would’ve expected my “best friend” to have the courtesy to give me a heads up when we had guests.
On the to-do list for this weekend is digging a moat around the fence line. Jake is grounded for the rest of the season.
In the winter several compounding issues cause my roommate and I to butt heads on occasion. One is the sun goes down early and it gets cold enough that I’m not all that keen on running when I get home from work. Jake gives me the look but when the TV goes on he knows it aint happening. The other problem is that snow piles up over the fence and he can walk right out of the yard whenever it suits him. If Jake gets bored he’ll venture out to see what’s up in the neighborhood.
Last night when I got home I noticed a ton of dog tracks all over the yard. Something had gone on and by the look of it there were more than a few culprits. It wasn’t much different inside the house. You can imagine the classic scene were parents come home to find their kids had thrown a raging party. Stuff was everywhere…every garbage can in the house had been emptied to the floor, all the pillows had been pulled off the furniture and the bed sheets were stripped off. I knew there was some socializing going on but had no idea it was to the point they were organizing events! Once the snow gets high enough most dogs in the neighborhood have the same opportunistic freedom as fences are no longer effective means of confinement. I’ve got dog doors into the garage and house so once the fence has been neutralized access to the house is a breeze.
I got everything picked up and noticed some stuff was missing. I ended up finding a blanket half way down the block. I’m baffled as to how a dog could pull a large blanket through two dog doors, over a fence and 100 yards down the street. I’m still on the lookout for some clothes. Why would a four legged animal steal a pair of pants?
In a related incident last year I woke up in the middle of the night by the sound of something walking around in the house. Jake had uncharacteristically hopped up on the bed and was sleeping with me. You can imagine my surprise when I flipped on the light to find out it was Jake walking around and the neighbor’s golden retriever had snuck in and decided to take a nap…in my bed, while I was in it! I would’ve expected my “best friend” to have the courtesy to give me a heads up when we had guests.
On the to-do list for this weekend is digging a moat around the fence line. Jake is grounded for the rest of the season.
Straw
posted by Kevin @ 10:18 AM
1 Comments
